Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 7
SSSQ is a weekly look at the under-the-radar fantasy players you should consider starting, and the potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut. For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 7 rankings.
Start
Jared Goff, QB, Rams
vs. Cardinals
Goff is coming off his two most disappointing games of the season with just one touchdown and two interceptions over the past two weeks. He's completed less than 50 percent of his passes in that time, throwing for just 124 yards last time out. The Rams have still found themselves in competitive games, while Goff can correct the downward trend against a Cardinals team allowing more than two passing touchdowns per game.
Fearless prediction: 268 yards passing, 3 TDs
Other QBs to start
- Tyrod Taylor vs. Buccaneers
- Blake Bortles at Colts
Joe Mixon, RB, Bengals
at Steelers
Mixon entered the Bengals' Week 6 bye coming off his best game of the season, rushing for 51 yards and his first touchdown. He was again held below four yards per attempt, but he can have some more success with the Steelers allowing 4.7 yards per opponent carry.
Fearless prediction: 91 yards rushing, 22 yards receiving, TD
Other RBs to start
- Adrian Peterson at Rams
- Tevin Coleman at Patriots
- Alvin Kamara at Packers
Josh Doctson, WR, Redskins
at Eagles
Doctson has garnered some attention this season with two touchdowns on just four receptions. Fantasy managers can't bank on the touchdown likelihood with such little usage, but he's been a focal point of quarterback Kirk Cousins in the red zone, ranking T2 on the team with three red-zone targets. The Redskins coaching staff talked this week about expanding the sophomore's workload.
Fearless prediction: 104 yards receiving
Other WRs to start
- Robert Woods vs. Cardinals
- Taylor Gabriel at Patriots
- Pierre Garcon vs. Cowboys
Austin Hooper, TE, Falcons
at Patriots
The bulk of Hooper's fantasy production this season came via one play in the season opener against the Chicago Bears, but he received a total of 16 targets in the Falcons' past two games while making up for the void left behind by wide receiver Mohamed Sanu. Expect him to have a significant role for at least one more week against a Patriots team allowing more than 60 yards per game to tight ends.
Fearless prediction: 74 yards receiving, TD
Other TEs to start
- Jack Doyle vs. Jaguars
- Hunter Henry vs. Broncos
Sit
Andy Dalton, QB, Bengals
at Steelers
Dalton is quickly making Bengals fans forget his horrendous start to the season, scoring seven touchdowns in three games before last week's bye. He topped 300 yards just once in those three contests and threw two interceptions on 36 attempts. Only one team is allowing fewer passing touchdowns per game than the Steelers, with no team allowing fewer passing yards.
Other QBs to sit
- Eli Manning vs. Seahawks
- Joe Flacco at Vikings
Javorius Allen, RB, Ravens
at Vikings
Allen's up-and-down season rolls on with Alex Collins now seeming like a viable threat to his production on the ground. With fewer carries allotted to Allen, managers will have trouble relying on his passing game contributions against a Vikings team allowing just 25.2 receiving yards per game to running backs.
Other RBs to sit
- Doug Martin at Bills
- Matt Forte at Dolphins
- Orleans Darkwa vs. Seahawks
Nelson Agholor, WR, Eagles
vs. Redskins
The Redskins have Football Outsiders' third-best DVOA against opposing No. 2 receivers. They've allowed just four targets and 17.4 yards per game to secondary options. The Eagles have too many other options to need to force the ball to Agholor in a tougher matchup.
Other WRs to sit
- Donte Moncrief vs. Jaguars
- Tyler Lockett at Giants
- Tyrell Williams vs. Broncos
Martellus Bennett, TE, Packers
vs. Saints
Bennett remains widely owned despite extremely low usage this season. While he's the biggest target for inexperienced quarterback Brett Hundley, wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are significantly more reliable. Don't expect Bennett to produce with Hundley when he wasn't doing so with Aaron Rodgers.
Other TEs to sit
- Jason Witten at 49ers
- Coby Fleener at Packers
Stash
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Steelers
Smith-Schuster has received between three and six targets in each of the past five weeks. While he's scored two touchdowns, he topped out at a high of 58 yards in a single game. He's worth monitoring, and stashing, in the event of a potential Martavis Bryant trade.
D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texans
Foreman outproduced incumbent starter Lamar Miller by 18 yards on three fewer carries in Week 6, breaking a run longer than 20 yards for the second time in as many weeks. Miller oddly took over in the passing game, but Foreman extended his advantage over the veteran in yards per carry.
Quit
Jamison Crowder, WR, Redskins
Crowder is averaging more than five fewer yards per reception this season than he did a year ago. He's received at least five targets in four of his five games, but with those looks coming strictly between the 20s, he has extremely low potential for touchdowns. Docton, Terrelle Pryor, and even Ryan Grant are looking more appealing at this point. A healthier Jordan Reed would also cut into Crowder's work.
Andre Ellington, RB, Cardinals
Ellington played just 20 percent of the offensive snaps in Adrian Peterson's debut with the Cardinals. He was used solely in protection, receiving no carries or receptions, after catching nine passes in each of his last two games. He can be dropped outright with his floor now set at zero.
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)