ZB’s Start’ Em, Sit’ Em Week 7 & TNF Preview

By ZachBrook@Zbrook Oct 18, 2018, 10:00am EDT

QB that needs to be in your lineup in Week 7:

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons:

Matchup: vs. Giants

Week 6 Stats: 355 Passing YDS, 3 TD, 27.5 PTS

Monday Night Football is going to be brutal for the New York Giants. After narrowly defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, look for Matt Ryan to rebound against one of the league’s biggest disappointments. I’m calling it now. Julio Jones scores this week.

QB I like in Week 7:

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions:

Matchup: @ Dolphins

Matthew Stafford comes of the Week 6 Bye with a terrific matchup in South Beach against a Dolphins defense that gave up over 300 passing yards and 3 scores to Mitchell Trubisky in an overtime slugfest just a week ago. With the emergence of Kerryon Johnson, as well as the arsenal Stafford has at his disposal, he is a must start option for Week 7.

QB I am hesitant about in Week 7:

Tom Brady, New England Patriots:

Matchup: @ Bears

Week 6 Stats: 340 Passing YDS, 1 Passing TD, 1 Fumble, 2 Rushing YDS, 1 Rushing TD, 21.8 PTS

I know. I know. I know. Tom Brady is arguably the greatest football player in NFL history. But Khalil Mack, one of the most talented pass-rushers of this generation, is gunning to bring Brady down. After a shootout on Sunday Night Football for the Pats, and an embarrassing Sunday afternoon overtime defeat in South Beach for the Monsters of the Midway, I’m expecting a high-scoring shootout in the Windy City, and not quite the cake-walk that New England is prepping for.

Kansas City Chiefs v New England Patriots

QB that I am avoiding in Week 7:

Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans:

Matchup: @ Jaguars

Week 6 Stats: 177 Passing YDS, 1 Passing TD, 2 INT, 1 Fumble, 2 Rushing YDS, 5.3 PTS

Deshaun Watson is not 100% healthy, and his decimated offensive line doesn't help the issue. After being battered by the Cowboys and the Buffalo Bills, he now faces one of, if-not the best defensive unit in the National Football League. Look for a streamer this weekend, because Sunday in Jacksonville won't be a fun day for the Texans’ offense.

RB that needs to be in your lineup in Week 7:

Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers:

Matchup: vs. Titans

Week 6 Stats: 132 Rushing YDS, 3 Rushing TD, 2 Receptions, 18 Receiving YDS, 35 PTS

Look for Melvin Gordon and the red-hot Chargers offense to roll through the Titans on Sunday afternoon after making a mockery of the Cleveland Browns. The Titans are a mess on both sides of the ball. The only team in the NFL that has scored three offensive touchdowns in every game this season will extend that streak, courtesy of Melvin Gordon.

RB I like in Week 7:

Corey Clement, Philadelphia Eagles:

Matchup: vs. Panthers

Week 6 Stats: 43 Rushing YDS, 1 Rushing TD, 3 Receptions, 26 Receiving YDS, 15.9 PTS

Man, do I like Corey Clement. One of my preseason sleepers, who’s shown bits and pieces of being an every-down back earlier in the 2018 campaign will now be in a committee with fellow halfback Wendell Smallwood as a result of Jay Ayayi’s season ending knee injury. Unless Smallwood unlocks another gear, look for Clement to cement himself as the bell-cow in the City of Brotherly Love.

RB I am hesitant about in Week 7:

Jordan Howard, Chicago Bears:

Matchup: vs. Patriots

Week 6 Stats: 69 Rushing YDS, 1 Fumble, 4.9 PTS

This isn't what I expected going into an extremely feasible matchup with New England. Jordan Howard has been nearly phased out of the passing game after showing major strides to start the year. If that wasn't bad enough, third-down Swiss Army knife Tarik Cohen has been racking up a wealth of touches. Hopefully Howard regains his stellar play from early-on, but if the contest turns into a shootout, look for Mitch Trubisky to air out the pigskin, which most likely brings Cohen into the backfield, leaving Howard on the sideline.

WR that needs to be in your lineup in Week 7:

A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals:

Matchup: @ Chiefs

Week 6 Stats: 7 Receptions, 85 YDS, 15.5 PTS

A.J. Green will single-handedly provide the blueprint to Kansas City’s second straight loss of the 2018 campaign. Their defense is decimated without Justin Houston and Eric Berry. Andy Dalton will rely on their passing game to finish this one. I’m looking at the Red Rifle to find his main man time and time again, leading to Green’s best output this season.

NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

WR I like in Week 7:

Devin Funchess, Carolina Panthers:

Matchup: @ Eagles

Week 6 Stats: 5 Receptions, 74 YDS, 1 TD, 18.4 PTS

I am one to own up to my mistakes, and unfortunately I made a grave one last weekend. For the first time in my life, I was not “Rollin with the Funchess”. I’ve learned my lesson, and while doing so, realized that even with the return of Greg Olsen, Devin Funchess is still a BAAAD man. This week he will matchup against Jalen Mills. That’s enough for me.

WR I am hesitant about in Week 7:

DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans:

Matchup: @ Jaguars

Week 6 Stats: 5 Receptions, 63 YDS, 1 TD, 17.3 PTS

DeAndre Hopkins was held in check last week against one of the up-and-coming cover corners in the league while matched up with Tre’Davious White. This weekend he faces the best that the National Football League has to offer in Jalen Ramsey. The latter was embarrassed in Week 6 against a mediocre Cowboys’ offense and will surely look to regain his edge against the Texans. If you have Hopkins, you are most likely starting him, but if you do, expect a similar output to how he performed last week.

WR that I am avoiding in Week 7:

Corey Davis, Tennesse Titans:

Matchup: @ Chargers

Week 6 Stats: 1 Reception, 24 YDS, 3.4 PTS

As much as I like the former first rounder, the Titans’ offense is absolutely abysmal. Corey Davis has one touchdown in 17 career games, and Marcus Mariota is in for a tougher matchup than he faced last week, when he was sacked 11 different times.

TE that needs to be in your lineup in Week 7:

David Njoku, Cleveland Browns:

Matchup: @ Buccaneers

Week 6 Stats: 7 Receptions, 55 YDS, 1 TD, 18.5 PTS

I’m starting the former Miami Hurricane this weekend. David Njoku has developed a better rapport with Baker Mayfield than any other receiver so far and a terrific matchup against the Buccaneers (who fired their defensive coordinator on Monday) this weekend should provide the platform for Njoku’s best game so far of the season.

TE I like in Week 7:

O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers:

Matchup: vs. Browns

Week 6 Stats: 4 Receptions, 62 YDS, 1 TD, 16.2 PTS

I’ve been enamored with O.J. Howard ever since he excelled in Tuscaloosa. I expected a drop off last weekend while he was battling an injury and due to the fact that Jameis Winston has a better relationship with Cameron Brate, but I was surely mistaken. I’m starting him this Sunday and advise you to do the same.

TE I am hesitant about in Week 7:

Evan Engram, New York Giants:

Matchup: @ Falcons

As much as I like the matchup against the Falcons’ defense that gave up two touchdowns to tight ends this past Sunday, the entire Giants’ offense is out of whack aside from playing through their star-rookie Saquon Barkley. I think Eli Manning is on the outs, I’d be hesitant to start Evan Engram this week coming off a lingering knee injury.

TE that I am avoiding in Week 7:

Benjamin Watson, New Orleans Saints:

Matchup: @ Ravens

The defense in Charm City is the real deal. With the return of Mark Ingram to the lineup, I see the ground attack being used exclusively this weekend aside from a swell performance from Michael Thomas. Benjamin Watson isn't on my radar whatsoever. Find another streaming option.

Washington Redskins v New Orleans Saints

Thursday Night Football Starts & Sits: Denver Broncos (2-4) vs. Arizona Cardinals (1-5)

Broncos:

Case Keenum: Sit

Phillip Lindsey: Flex

Royce Freeman: Flex

Emmanuel Sanders: Start

Demaryius Thomas: Flex

Broncos D/ST: Start

Brandon McManus: Start

Cardinals:

Josh Rosen: Sit

David Johnson: Start

Larry Fitzgerald: Sit

Christian Kirk: Flex

Ricky Seals-Jones: Sit

Cardinals D/ST: Start

Phil Dawson: Sit