Fantasy Football Start/Sit Week Today: Who to Start and Sit for NFL Week 7

Setting fantasy football lineups can become increasingly difficult as the season progresses. Injuries, changing roles and emerging players can quickly alter how we should view a player who looked like an obvious starter only a few weeks ago.

With NFL Week 7 here, several borderline options have matchups or workloads that can help push them into -- or out of -- starting lineups. Let's break down four players to start and four players to sit in fantasy football this week.

Using our fantasy football projections as a guide, let’s get you prepped for this week’s fantasy football decisions.

This article is geared toward 12-team, half-PPR scoring formats with only one starting quarterback -- though the general advice can be loosely applied to most formats. Injury information may change after this article is published. You can stay up to date with this week’s injury news via our NFL player news page.

All betting references refer to the NFL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. All statistics via NFL Next Gen Stats and Pro Football Focus unless otherwise stated.

Week 7 Fantasy Football Start/Sit

Start: C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans

After a relatively quiet beginning to the year, C.J. Stroud has heated up at exactly the right time for fantasy managers.

The Houston Texans’ quarterback has thrown for 920 yards with 6 passing touchdowns over his last three games. He's completed 71 of 99 attempts (71.7%) in that span and has topped 20 fantasy points in all three contests.

Stroud's Week 6 performance was particularly encouraging. He completed 24 of 34 passes for 312 yards and 3 touchdowns against Jacksonville, producing 24.0 fantasy points.

There is a good chance the hot streak continues against the New York Giants. New York has allowed 21.1 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the seventh-most in the NFL.

Volume is another plus. Houston hasn't consistently generated offense on the ground, leaving Stroud with an elevated role in the offense. He's averaging 36.5 pass attempts per game, giving him plenty of opportunities to take advantage of this matchup.

Stroud belongs in the QB1 conversation for Week 7.

Start: Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions

The production hasn't always matched the opportunity for Jameson Williams, but Week 7 looks like a good time to remain patient.

Williams and the Detroit Lions host the Green Bay Packers in one of the week's most appealing fantasy environments. Both offenses have shown significant scoring upside, creating the possibility of a back-and-forth game that forces Detroit to remain aggressive through the air.

Williams has been more involved than his overall fantasy numbers suggest. While he enters the week outside the top 30 wide receivers in PPR points per game, his expected fantasy production has been much stronger, indicating that his usage has been better than the box scores might imply.

We also finally saw the big-play receiver convert that opportunity into touchdowns in his most recent game, when Williams scored twice against Arizona.

With his downfield role, Williams doesn't need double-digit catches to produce a useful fantasy score. A handful of receptions can turn into a big day, particularly in a matchup with significant scoring potential.

Consider Williams a WR2/WR3 with plenty of upside this week.

Start: Germie Bernard, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Germie Bernard deserves consideration again.

Bernard has carved out a meaningful role in the Pittsburgh Steelers' passing attack, and Pittsburgh's injury situation should help solidify his playing time against the New Orleans Saints. The rookie has quickly become a player the Steelers are willing to feature rather than simply use as a rotational receiver.

The matchup helps. While the Saints have been especially vulnerable against the run, their defensive struggles create an appealing overall environment for Pittsburgh's offense. Bernard's combination of target volume and big-play ability gives him a viable ceiling for managers dealing with injuries or bye-week issues.

He doesn't need to be treated as an automatic starter in shallow leagues, but Bernard is a worthwhile WR3 or flex option in Week 7.

Sit: Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans

Volume has kept Tony Pollard relevant for much of the season, but volume by itself hasn't been enough to make him a dependable fantasy starter.

Pollard enters Week 7 averaging only 0.54 fantasy points per touch. Among the 39 running backs with at least 50 touches this season, that's the lowest mark in the league.

That's concerning before we even account for the matchup with the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland's defense has been one of the stronger units in football, making this a difficult spot for a running back who hasn't been generating many explosive plays or touchdowns. Tyjae Spears is also questionable for Week 7, and his availability could further complicate the backfield workload.

Pollard can still get enough touches to produce a usable score, but the ceiling looks limited. He's better viewed as a low-end flex than a player fantasy managers should feel obligated to start.

Sit: Cam Skattebo, RB, New York Giants

Cam Skattebo was shaping up as a reliable fantasy option before his role suddenly collapsed in Week 6.

Skattebo had recorded at least 15 touches in each of his first five games, but ball-security problems finally caught up to him. After fumbling four times over that opening stretch, Skattebo played only six snaps and didn't receive a single touch last week.

That creates enormous uncertainty heading into the Giants' matchup with Houston.

The Giants have Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary available in the backfield, so there's no guarantee Skattebo immediately returns to the workload that made him fantasy relevant earlier in the season.

His talent and previous usage make him worth keeping on fantasy rosters, but that's different from trusting him in a starting lineup. Until we see his role rebound, Skattebo belongs on the bench.

Sit: Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons

Michael Penix Jr. hasn't been asked to carry the Atlanta Falcons' offense, and a difficult Week 7 matchup makes him tough to trust as a streamer.

Atlanta has leaned heavily toward its running game, with Penix averaging just 27.5 pass attempts across his four starts. Low passing volume puts significant pressure on efficiency and touchdowns for Penix to deliver a useful fantasy performance.

That's not an ideal formula against the San Francisco 49ers.

San Francisco enters Week 7 undefeated and has been one of the NFL's stronger defenses against the pass. The 49ers rank sixth in pass-defense DVOA and have surrendered the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.

Penix can certainly make plays with Drake London and Bijan Robinson around him, but the combination of limited passing volume and a difficult opponent lowers both his floor and ceiling.

He's a QB2 rather than a preferred Week 7 streamer.

Sit: T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings

T.J. Hockenson is a recognizable fantasy name, but that alone isn't enough to justify keeping him in lineups.

The tight end position is always thin, so there will be leagues where managers don't have a compelling alternative. Still, Hockenson enters Week 7 as a player whose name carries more weight than his current fantasy outlook.

The Minnesota Vikings have other options capable of commanding targets, most notably Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, which can leave Hockenson needing either strong efficiency or a touchdown to deliver a difference-making fantasy score.

The matchup with the Indianapolis Colts doesn't provide enough of a boost to offset those concerns. Hockenson sits outside the top group of tight ends for Week 7 and is more of a touchdown-dependent TE2.

If you have access to another tight end with a stronger target projection or red-zone role, Hockenson is someone you can leave on the bench.

Fantasy Football Start/Sit FAQ

Who should I start in fantasy football this week?

The best starts are typically players with strong recent usage, favorable matchups and a reliable path to touches or targets. Matchup-specific factors and changes in workload should also be considered before setting your lineup.

Who should I sit in fantasy football this week?

Players can be worth sitting when they face difficult matchups, have seen their role decrease or carry significant risk due to injuries or inconsistent usage. Even proven players can be matchup-based sits in a given week.

How do you decide who to start or sit in fantasy football?

Start/sit decisions should account for a player's expected volume, recent production, matchup, offensive role and game environment. Comparing those factors against your other lineup options can help determine which player offers the best combination of floor and upside.

Should I start a player with a difficult matchup?

It depends. A difficult matchup can lower a player's expected production, but high-volume players can still deliver strong fantasy performances regardless of the matchup. The player's role and expected opportunity should usually carry more weight than matchup alone. Another huge factor is whether or not you have quality alternatives on your roster.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.