FantasyPros Staff | Thu, Oct 17th 2024, 12:23pm EDT

Fantasy Football Week 7 Start/Sit Advice: Sleepers & Duds (2024)

Identifying Week 7 sleepers and avoiding potential duds can make all the difference for your team. Whether you’re looking for under-the-radar players poised for a breakout or trying to dodge early-season letdowns, our team of Featured Pros has you covered. In this article, we’ll dive into the key players you should start and those you might want to bench based on expert insights and analysis.

Week 7 Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice

Sleepers

Which player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is a good sleeper start, and why do you think he has upside this week?

David Njoku (TE – CLE)

“David Njoku: With lead WR Amari Cooper now donning a Bills’ uniform, who’s left for Deshaun Watson to throw to? Whether Watson’s the right QB for the Browns right now is a separate matter. But regardless of who plays QB, David Njoku will see an increase in targets out of necessity.”
– Neema Hodjat (Real GM)

Greg Dortch (WR – ARI)

“I’m only considering Greg Dortch if Marvin Harrison Jr. sits out. Arizona plays on Monday night, but chances are, the rookie’s concussion will keep him sidelined vs. the Chargers. That would put seven targets per game up for grabs.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)

“With Marvin Harrison Jr. extremely questionable headed into Monday Night after he suffered a concussion last week, how about Greg Dortch as an interesting flier? The Chargers have been good against WRs this season (5th fewest points to the position thus far), yet Kyler Murray has to throw to someone. If there is no MHJ, Dortch should see plenty of time on the field opposite Michael Wilson, making him an interesting start for managers that have serious bye or injury issues this week.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL)

“Rashod Bateman is quietly having a career year. That isn’t saying a lot, but he is on pace for 51 receptions, 819 yards, and six touchdowns. Considering the Ravens run a notoriously low passing offense, and Flowers is the true top target, Bateman has been consistently involved. This week, Bateman should benefit from the abysmal play of the Ravens’ secondary. This team can’t stop anyone and now runs into a red-hot Baker Mayfield and company. The Ravens don’t want to pass but may be forced to since the Bucs are averaging the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game over the last three weeks. This has shootout written all over it, so give me Lamar Jackson‘s top outside target to have a nice week.”
– Ellis Johnson (RotoBaller)

Jalen Coker (WR – CAR)

“A player still a relative unknown to fantasy managers, Jalen Coker has been quietly building a consistent role in the new Panthers passing game with Andy Dalton. Over the last two games, he has seen his snap percentage grow from 53% in Week 5 to 65% this past week. Over this span, he has seen seven targets and caught each one for a total of 98 yards. In Week 7, he will be facing a tremendous matchup against a Commanders’ secondary that is among the worst in the league in points allowed to the position (39.67 FPPG). With this game currently tied for the highest implied total for the week (51.5), the expectation is for plenty of points to be scored, likely putting the Panthers in a trailing gamescript and running plenty of 3-WR sets to keep pace. If this is the case, Coker stands a good chance to see several targets in this matchup as the Commanders focus on limiting Diontae Johnson. With injuries playing a major role in fantasy and the ability to build a starting lineup currently, some managers may be in a pinch and need to shoot for the long shot to plug in as a WR3 this week, and you could do worse than Jalen Coker.”
– Brandon Murchison (RotoBaller)

Tyler Goodson (RB – IND)

“Tyler Goodson has great sleeper appeal in Week 7. If Jonathan Taylor misses another week, Goodson has looked better than backup Trey Sermon on the ground. Goodson has shown the ability to hit big runs and is running at a 5.9 YPC. The Colts play the Dolphins, who are one of the worst run defenses in football. Goodson should be a nice surprise finish in Week 7.”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)

Sterling Shepard (WR – TB)

“I like Sterling Shepard as a deeper play in Week 7. He’s seen at least 65% of Tampa’s offensive snaps in each of the last three weeks and gets a Monday night matchup against a Ravens’ defense that is allowing the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. While Shepard is behind Chris Godwin and Mike Evans in the Bucs’ receiving corp, Evans was dinged up in Week 6, and I’m expecting enough pass volume to go around in a game with one of the higher projected totals of the week (49.5).”
– Jason Willan (Gridiron Experts)

Darius Slayton (WR – NYG)

“Darius Slayton can be the answer to this question every week. The guy is a wtf flex play against the Eagles. Why? We don’t know, we don’t care. Daniel Jones sucks, but he likes to target Slayton on those deep routes. The overrated Eagles are going to let Slayton slip open at least once this Sunday. That is an FFG guarantee!”
– Fantasy Football Goonz (Fantasy Football Goonz)

Dalton Schultz (TE – HOU)

“Dalton Schultz has low-end TE1 appeal with upside in Week 7. The veteran has averaged only 5.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the past two weeks, with Nico Collins out of the lineup with a hamstring injury. However, he had at least six targets in both games, ranking second on the team over the past two weeks (13). More importantly, Schultz has the same target per route run rate (25%) as Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell with Collins out of the lineup (per Fantasy Points Data). Meanwhile, he faces a Green Bay Packers team that has given up the third-most fantasy points per game to tight ends this season (10.8), including 10.5 or more in four consecutive contests. Schultz is the perfect bye-week replacement for Jake Ferguson or Cole Kmet.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)

Duds

Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?

Brandon Aiyuk (WR – SF)

“One of the biggest fantasy disappointments in 2024, through six games, Brandon Aiyuk has yet to catch a TD pass while only crossing the 50-yard receiving threshold once. Missing the entire preseason in a contract dispute appears to have muddled the connection between Aiyuk and QB Brock Purdy. Don’t expect the situation to get fixed this week against a stingy Chiefs’ pass defense.”
– Neema Hodjat (Real GM)

Garrett Wilson (WR – NYJ)

“Garrett Wilson: Interim HC Jeff Ulbrich confirmed that Davante Adams will play against Pittsburgh. His presence adds a potential target obstacle, while the Steelers have allowed only 4 WR scores all season.”
– Kevin English (Draft Sharks)

Jordan Mason (RB – SF)

“Even if Jordan Mason has fully recovered from his shoulder injury last week, I am worried about this matchup. Same with Isaac Guerendo if Mason ends up missing the game. This game is must-watch TV as the 49ers take on the Chiefs in a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl. Unfortunately, it might be tough sledding for the 49ers running backs. Per game, the Chiefs have allowed only 53 rushing yards and the fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs. Mason could volume his way to a decent week; however, it’s hard to imagine he will get a full workload coming off his shoulder injury. He’s a risky RB3 for me this week.”
– Ellis Johnson (RotoBaller)

“Jordan Mason is poised to disappoint fantasy owners in Week 7. After suffering a sprained AC joint last week, he appears to be on track to return to the 49ers backfield on Sunday. However, Mason is likely to be managing a certain amount of pain in his shoulder, and there is a risk of re-injury. On top of that, San Francisco is facing a Chiefs’ defense, conceding the fewest fantasy points against opposing running backs this season. Don’t be surprised if Mason finishes outside of the top 25 at his position this week.”
– Jason Willan (Gridiron Experts)

“Jordan Mason has partaken in practice this week, giving him a fair chance to play in the Super Bowl rematch this weekend. However, fantasy players better temper their expectations if they start him. The third-year pro lacks a role in the passing game, totaling eight receptions for 75 receiving yards this season, making him a touchdown-or-bust running back. Mason has averaged 11.6 fewer half-point PPR fantasy points per game when he fails to score a touchdown compared to where he finds the end zone. Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs have held running backs to 12.6 fantasy points per game, the fewest in the NFL. More importantly, they’ve surrendered only two touchdowns to running backs, the second-fewest in the league.”
– Mike Fanelli (FantasyPros)

DK Metcalf (WR – SEA)

“After a strong early season push, DK Metcalf was among the league leaders in fantasy points with three 100-yard games through the first four weeks. But even though he has averaged nine targets over the last two games, Metcalf has been extremely under-productive with just 103 yards and no scores. This has caused him to drop from a surefire WR1 to now ranking as the WR22 on the season with 14.3 FPPG. The string of bad luck could continue in Week 7, as he could be drawing a tough matchup in coverage against the Falcons’ A.J. Terrell. With what could turn into a physical game between the two players, Geno Smith could be forced to move his reads to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett to keep the offense moving. Although Metcalf will be locked into fantasy manager’s lineups, tempering expectations should be advised as he could have a hard time exceeding double-digit fantasy points in this game.”
– Brandon Murchison (RotoBaller)

Chase Brown (RB – CIN)

“Chase Brown is someone who could likely disappoint fantasy managers. Brown is on the up after a solid game in Week 6 and outsnapped Zack Moss. This backfield is still going to be a committee between the two of them. They faced off against the Browns, who haven’t allowed a running over 60 rushing yards this year. They were able to shut down Saquon Barkley last week. If Brown can’t score, it could be a poor day.”
– Steven Pintado (The Fantasy Coaches)

Josh Jacobs (RB – GB)

“Josh Jacobs kind of sucks sometimes. Although a solid buy-low, Jacobs may struggle against the Texans this week. We are expecting a shootout, and we do not foresee a game script that favors Jacobs. His value may reach its low after week 7. We shall see.”
– Fantasy Football Goonz (Fantasy Football Goonz)

Kareem Hunt (RB – KC)

“It is almost as tough as it gets for Kareem Hunt this week, as he faces an away trip to San Francisco to face the 49ers and their defensive front. The 49ers have allowed RBs to go over 100 yards against them once so far this season, all the way back in Week 2 against the Vikings. It is hard to say flat-out sit Hunt this week, especially with bye weeks factoring in this time of year, but expectations must be tempered. If Hunt scores, that might be considered a very good day for him.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)

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