In the interest of football science, last week’s start ‘em, sit ‘em was an experiment.
The conceit: Start players from teams with high-octane offenses, and sit players who were facing high-octane defenses.
I’m not ashamed to say that it didn’t go as well as I’d hoped.
Some of my less-than-notable starts from Week 6:
- Packers WR Matthew Golden (WR59)
- Packers QB Jordan Love (QB16)
- Panthers WR Tetarioa McMillan (WR18)
- Buccaneers TE Cade Otton (TE20)
- Rams QB Matthew Stafford (QB22)
That means exactly 50% of my start suggestions tanked.
To my credit, none of my sit ‘ems blew up the spot — mediocrity across the board — but none of them stunk. So for that side of the equation, I’ll give myself a C-.
But I’m a never-say-die kinda guy, so this week, we’re gonna try another experiment: Defense vs. position. Using NFL.com’s stellar Fantasy Points Against page, I’ll put together eight start ‘ems and eight sit ‘ems, two at each fantasy position utilizing the opposing teams’ fantasy points against averages from the past month. The start ‘ems will include one high-end player and one mid-tier option, while the sit ‘ems will be, y’know, sit ‘ems.
We’ll use the same caveats as last week:
- In terms of start ‘ems, no obviousness allowed. Like if the numbers might say, “Start Falcons RB Bijan Robinson,” you’ll all be like, “We know, dummy,” so I’ll go to the next guy on the list.
- In terms of sit ‘ems, no silliness allowed. Like even though the numbers might say, “Take a pass on Bijan Robinson,” I won’t take a pass on Bijan Robinson. Unless it's Christian McCaffrey (see below).
- Players who have even the slightest whiff of an injury don’t get to start or sit. So there.
Now let’s see what the numbers have to say for themselves.
(All fantasy points and rankings via FantasyPros.)
NFL Week 7 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels: Start ‘Em
Commanders @ Cowboys - 4:25 p.m. ET
Truth be told, the Cowboys and their league-worst defense can’t stop anybody, regardless of position, so in a certain respect, you can’t go wrong starting anybody against Packers EDGE Micah Parsons’ former team. But Commanders QB Daniels, in his one full game against Dallas last season, dropped 275 yards and a couple of tuddies on the ‘Boys…and that was with Parsons in the lineup.
After a rough, turnover-filled Week 6 performance against the Bears, Jayden could feast.
Browns QB Dillon Gabriel: Start ‘Em
Browns vs. Dolphins - 1:00 p.m. ET
Credit where credit is due, in his two games as a starter, Browns rookie QB Dillon Gabriel hasn’t been tragic — and that’s notable, because the poor kid is saddled with a less-than-great, injury-riddled roster. The fact that in his two starts, he’s had to deal with two of the league’s better pass defenses in Minnesota and Pittsburgh hasn’t helped his cause.
The good news for Gabriel is that Sunday’s opponent, the Miami Dolphins, doesn't sport one of the league’s better pass defenses — matter o’ fact, they’re the NFL’s 11th-worst. And in terms of fantasy points allowed to QBs, we’re talking 22.12 per outing, so the freshman might be in for the game of his professional life.
Then again, Browns.
Dillon Gabriel PrizePicks Projection: 192.5 Pass Yards
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold: Sit ‘Em
Seahawks vs. Texans - 10:00 p.m. ET (Monday Night Football)
I was always of the opinion that Seahawks QB Sam Darnold’s magical 2024 in Minnesota was a mirage. And it turns out I was right. Sort of.
Here in 2025, the eighth-year man isn’t lighting the world on fire, posting 17.4 fantasy points per game, landing him at QB16, down from last season’s QB9.
Over the last month, the Texans have allowed an average of — wait for it, wait for it — 8.34 fantasy points to opposing QBs. So good night, Sammy.
Sam Darnold PrizePicks Projection: 229.5 Pass Yards, 6.5 Rush Yards
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts: Sit ‘Em
Eagles @ Vikings - 1:00 p.m. ET
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is FantasyLand’s QB7, which, considering how he looks (and the eye test means something), is kind of a shocker — but 5 rushing touchdowns will do that for ya.
If Hurts is going to be a useful fantasy piece here in Week 7, he’ll need to do it on the ground, because the Vikings have allowed just a total — a total — of 788 passing yards.
So yeah, it’s possible that come Sunday, Hurts will flunk the eye test.
Jalen Hurts PrizePicks Projection: 205.5 Pass Yards, 37.5 Rush Yards
Steelers RB Jaylen Warren: Start ‘Em
Steelers @ Bengals - 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday Night Football)
While he hasn’t set the turf on fire — he’s currently fantasy’s RB25 — Warren has looked the part, landing second in the league in yards after contact (84) and tied for tenth in the league in broken tackles (10).
The Bengals D hasn’t at all looked the part, giving up a whopping 33.46 points to opposing RBs.
A recipe for potential disaster for the Bengals. A recipe for potential digits galore for Warren.
Jaylen Warren PrizePicks Projection: 50.5 Rush Yards, 18.5 Receiving Yards
Saints RB Alvin Kamara: Start ‘Em
Saints @ Bears - 1:00 p.m. ET
Since the year 2000, the Chicago Bears’ defense has delivered just eight seasons in which they allowed less than 4.0 rushing yards per carry — and 2025 isn’t one of them, having given up 5.7 YPC.
Yikes.
The Saints' backfield is becoming a timeshare hell, with Alvin Kamara and Kendre Miller logging, respectively, 83 and 46 carries. Some mental gymnastics tell us that against a lousy run D, whoever gets the most runs has the better chance to thrive. And according to the abacus, that’s Big Al.
Alvin Kamara PrizePicks Projection: 37.5 Rush Yards, 20.5 Receiving Yards
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey: Sit ‘Em
49ers vs. Falcons - 8:20 p.m. ET (Sunday Night Football)
You never, ever, ever, ever, ever see Christian McCaffrey’s name in the sit ‘em column, and with a career per-touch average of 6.6 yards, frankly, he never should be.
Unless he’s playing a shockingly solid Falcons D that allows a minuscule 13.8 fantasy points to opposing rushers.
Listen, if he’s on your season-long roster, he’s a plug-and-play starter. But if we’re talking DFS, maybe take a beat.
Christian McCaffrey PrizePicks Projection: 60.5 Rush Yards, 54.5 Receiving Yards
Dolphins RB De’Von Achane: Sit ‘Em
Dolphins @ Browns - 1:00 p.m. ET
Achane balled out last week to the tune of 27 fantasy points (t-RB3), but before that, he averaged 13.5, which had him at RB9. Not bad, but far from mind-blowing.
So logic would dictate that you throw him into your lineup. But before doing so, you and logic should have a chat.
As noted in the Dillon Gabriel portion of our program, the Browns aren’t good at offense, thus wasting an oftentimes stingy run defense that gives up a mere 15.1 fantasy points to opposing RBs. That all being the case, maybe this would be a good week to give De’Von some R&R.
De’Von Achane PrizePicks Projection: 63.5 Rush Yards, 32.5 Receiving Yards
Broncos WR Courtland Sutton: Start ‘Em
Broncos vs. Giants - 4:05 p.m. ET
Before the season kicked off, I had Sutton squarely in my crosshairs, so much so that I drafted him in three of my five leagues.
To this point, it hasn’t worked out super-well, as he’s currently fantasy’s WR20, averaging 9.4 fantasy points per game. That said, he’s had three games in which he topped 12.1 fantasy points, and his 17.8 point performance in Week 3 landed him at WR2.
So the chops are there. All he needs is a soft opponent. And the Giants — who give up a stomach-churning 41.8 fantasy points to wide receivers — are just that.
Courtland Sutton PrizePicks Projection: 56.5 Receiving Yards
Chargers WR Ladd McConkey: Start ‘Em
Chargers @ Jaguars - 9:30 a.m. ET (London game)
After angering the hundreds of thousands of fantasy managers who selected him in or around the fourth round of their draft, McConkey finally had himself a game last Sunday, compiling 18 fantasy points (WR5).
Despite the fact that they’re being mentioned as an AFC contender, the Jags allow opposing wide receivers to collect 38 fantasy points a week. If his fellow Charger receiver Quentin Johnston remains sidelined, McConkey could, once again, eat.
Ladd McConkey PrizePicks Projection: 233.5 Pass Yards, 13.5 Rush Yards
Eagles WR A.J. Brown: Sit ‘Em
Eagles @ Vikings - 1:00 p.m. ET
Brown has arguably been 2025’s biggest fantasy bust, averaging just 5.6 fantasy points (!) per game, parking him behind the likes of Tory Horton, Luke McCaffrey, and Cedric Tillman.
As noted in our Jalen Hurts breakdown, the Vikes defense is good at defending, so it could be an empty day for the former Pro Bowler. Emphasis on former.
A.J. Brown PrizePicks Projection: 67.5 Receiving Yards
Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers: Sit ‘Em
Raiders @ Chiefs - 1:00 p.m. ET
After semi-sleepwalking through the first month of the season, the Kansas City Chiefs are awake and scary. But you know who’s not scary? Raiders QB Geno "Interception McGoo" Smith, that’s who.
Last Sunday night, the Chiefs D held Lions stud WR Amon-Ra St. Brown to 4.7 fantasy points. I shudder to think what they’ll do to Vegas’ theoretical WR1, Jakobi Meyers.
Jakobi Meyers PrizePicks Projection: 56.5 Receiving Yards
Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson: Start ‘Em
Cowboys vs. Commanders - 4:25 p.m. ET
Dallas TE Jake Ferguson is a legitimate beast.
Since his Week 1 bed-poop (2.3 fantasy points), the Wisconsin product has averaged 10.0 fantasy points, making him TE3 over that span. The fact that he’s catching balls from the league’s QB2 in Dak Prescott isn’t a bad thing.
For all of their positive attributes — and there are plenty — the Commanders are inexplicably unable to keep TEs from going off, allowing 16.3 fantasy points to the position, exactly 3 points behind the league-worst Steelers.
In a home division game, things could get ugly for Jake. And I mean ugly in the best way possible.
Steelers TE Darnell Washington: Start ‘Em
Steelers @ Bengals - 8:15 p.m. ET (Thursday Night Football)
Right now, a goodly number of you are like, “Darnell who?”
Welp, over his last two games, Darnell Who has nabbed 6 catches for 82 yards, semi-cementing himself as Pittsburgh’s TE1. Ish.
The Bengals defense is lousy up and down the field, so Washington could join his aforementioned teammate, Jaylen Warren, in a good ol’ fashioned Bengal beatdown.
Chiefs TE Travis Kelce: Sit ‘Em
Raiders @ Chiefs - 1:00 p.m. ET
Remember that thing I said about it never being a good thing to sit Christian McCaffrey? Same deal with the future Mr. Taylor Swift.
That said, the Raiders defense is suddenly good — they racked up 16 fantasy points (DST2) on Sunday — and they’re exceptionally good against TEs, giving up a paltry 7.6 points per game to the position.
As is the case with C-Mac, probably start Kelce in season-long, and probably fade him in DFS. [Insert your favorite Taylor Swift joke here.]
Travis Kelce PrizePicks Projection: 47.5 Receiving Yards
Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson: Sit ‘Em
Vikings vs. Eagles - 1:00 p.m. ET
As long as Carson Wentz is Minny’s starting QB, I’m not super-stoked about rostering any Vikings pass catcher not named Justin Jefferson. And with Hockenson lining up against the team ranked sixth-best against TEs, I’m even less stoked. Like, not stoked at all.
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