Fantasy football start/sit: Look for more Joe Mixon in mix
Every week, our friends at Bruno Boys Fantasy Football take a look at every NFL game on the slate and offer up their recommendations of players to start or sit, based on that week's matchups.
(Disclaimer: Some picks may not agree with -- or may run counter to -- the rankings and other opinions expressed elsewhere on this site. As always, fantasy owners are encouraged to absorb as much information as possible to make an informed decision for their teams.)
Fantasy rankings: How the players stack up at each position in Week 7
Start
Raiders RB Marshawn Lynch. Despite Lynch’s slow start, he has a shot to return to his previous form this week against a Chiefs rushing defense that allows more than 130 yards on the ground per game.
Bengals RB Joe Mixon. Mixon has led Bengals backfield for three weeks and had his first rushing touchdown in Week 5 against a tough Bills run defense. The Steelers have given the second-most fantasy points to running backs this season.
Bills QB Tyrod Taylor. Coming off a bye, Taylor gets dream matchup against a Buccaneers team that has allowed quarterbacks to average more than 300 passing yards per game. Look for Taylor to deliver possibly his best performance of the season.
Vikings TE Kyle Rudolph. After a slow start, Rudolph is coming off back-to-back games of seeing nine targets. With Stefon Diggs dealing with a groin injury, Rudolph should be featured heavily once again.
Dolphins RB Jay Ajayi. Ajayi is coming off his second game this season with more than 100 rushing yards and his second consecutive week of seeing more than 25 touches per game. This week, Ajayi faces a Jets team in the top-10 for most fantasy points allowed to running backs.
Cardinals RB Adrian Peterson. Peterson found new life in Week 6 with 134 rushing yards and two touchdowns. The Cardinals face a Rams defense in the top 5 for most fantasy points allowed to running backs.
Panthers QB Cam Newton. Newton has begun to resemble his past MVP form. Though the passing numbers were down last week after back-to-back 300-plus-yard passing games, Newton showed he still likes to run the ball.
Titans TE Delanie Walker. Walker has proved he can remain a relatively productive pass catcher no matter who is throwing him the ball, and the Browns have been shredded by opposing tight ends this season.
Saints RB Mark Ingram. With Adrian Peterson gone, Mark Ingram gained 150 yards from scrimmage, looking like a true feature back ready for a larger workload.
Jaguars defense/special teams. The Jaguars are the top scoring defense in fantasy football. Though Colts QB Jacoby Brissett has shown improvement, Indianapolis still has given up the most fantasy points to defenses this season. The Jags have scored a defensive touchdown in half their games.
49ers WR Pierre Garcon. There has been a changing of the guard at 49ers quarterback, but Garcon has provided solid production no matter what. Having seen double-digit targets in 4 of 6 weeks this season, Garcon faces a Cowboys team that has been generous to wide receivers.
Seahawks TE Jimmy Graham. After getting a bye week to rest up, Graham gets the team that has given up the most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
Chargers TE Hunter Henry. After not being targeted in two of his first three games, Hunter has either scored a touchdown or recorded 90 yards in his past three games. Though the Broncos have a tough defense, they do have trouble defending tight ends.
Falcons QB Matt Ryan. The 2016 MVP has been a disappointment and was embarrassed at home by the Dolphins last weekend. But he’ll be motivated by a Super Bowl rematch, and the Patriots pass defense ranks last in the league. If he can’t get right here, it’s time to panic.
Eagles TE Zach Ertz. Ertz has tied his career best with four touchdown catches with more than half a season to go. He’s going up against a Redskins defense that has been one of the most generous to tight ends this season.
Sit
Chiefs QB Alex Smith. Smith is coming off a down game in Week 6 where he completed fewer than 20 passes for only the second time this season. In two games against Oakland last season, he threw for only one touchdown.
Buccaneers RB Doug Martin. With Jameis Winston looking less than 100% heading into Week 7, Martin faces a Bills defense that has only allowed one running back to rush for more than 60 yards this season.
Steelers WR Martavis Bryant. QB Ben Roethlisberger is still struggling to find his form and he and Bryant are facing a Bengals defense fresh off a bye that has been stingy against opposing wide receivers.
Ravens RB Javorius Allen. After looking like the Ravens lead back in Week 5, Allen took a back seat to Alex Collins in Week 6. Allen also faces Vikings defense that is among the NFL’s best against the run (78.7 yards per game).
Jets WR Jermaine Kearse. Kearse has seen four targets in consecutive weeks and couldn’t capitalize against a poor New England pass defense. Inconsistent usage makes him a risky start.
Rams WR Sammy Watkins. Watkins has only two catches for 28 yards over the last three weeks. Watkins now likely faces top cornerback Patrick Peterson. Even if Peterson is limited by a quadriceps injury, Watkins cannot be trusted.
Bears RB Tarik Cohen. After storming into the league to start the season, Cohen has become more of a situational player on one of the leagues worst offenses. He faces a tough Panthers defense that is on a roll.
Browns RB Isaiah Crowell. Crowell has yet to rush for more than 60 yards in a game. And for all the Titans’ shortcomings as a defense, they have been solid against running backs.
Packers TE Martellus Bennett. Even before the Packers lost QB Aaron Rodgers, Bennett couldn’t give fantasy owners anything to get excited about this season. With a new quarterback, Bennett becomes a must sit until he shows signs of life in this crowded group of pass-catchers.
Colts WR T.Y. Hilton. Hilton has been up and down without QB Andrew Luck. He’ll be down this week because the Jaguars defense has shut down all wide receivers not named Antonio Brown.
Cowboys TE Jason Witten. Hot and cold this season, Witten gets a matchup against a 49ers defense that hasn’t been great but has been one of the toughest against tight ends.
Giants QB Eli Manning. With his wide receiver corps decimated, it is no surprise Eli Manning struggled in Week 6 despite beat the Broncos. Now he faces a team that has allowed an average only 216 passing yards and fewer than one touchdown pass per game.
Broncos QB Trevor Siemian. He sprained his shoulder during Week 6. He is expected to be fine to play, but the Chargers have held opponents to fewer than 200 passing yards four times this season.
Patriots WR Brandin Cooks. He has topped five receptions once this season and he has one 100-yard game. Plus the Falcons have been somewhat tough against opposing wideouts.
Redskins TE Jordan Reed. Reed was taken off the injured list last week, but he looks far from 100%. He is averaging less than 8 yards per catch this season.