Welcome back, RotoBallers! Below you will find part two of our Week 7 NFL matchups & fantasy football start/sit analysis for the 2016 NFL football season. Pierre Camus (@pfunk00) breaks down the second half of the Week 7 matchups to help you prepare your lineups to win this week. Be sure to also check out part one of this week's matchup analysis by Ben Ruppert (@Ben_Ruppert_21).

Each week of the NFL season, we will be breaking down individual matchups and providing you with some fantasy football advice and lineup recommendations based on matchups that we love, matchups that we hate, and some high-risk/high-reward players, as well. It’s essential to analyze the weekly NFL match-ups to find lineup sleepers and gems, while also avoiding those players who may turn out to be busts.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on Fantasy Aces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive our full season NFL (or NBA) Premium Pass for free, a $59.99 value. Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium pass.

 

Week 6 Recap

Greatest Hits: Rob Gronkowski (TE, NE), Brandin Cooks (WR, NO), Terrelle Pryor (WR, CLE)

You could see it coming in Week 5, but this week marked Gronk's first "I'm back" statement game of the year. Martellus Bennett was limited in practice throughout the week and therefore not a factor in taking targets away. Brandin Cooks did indeed take advantage of the Panthers' swiss cheese secondary for a huge day in the Big Easy. He will have tougher matchups in the coming weeks, but remains a solid WR2 based on his big play ability. Terrelle Pryor is proving to be no gimmick. Just imagine once Josh McCown comes back and brings the deep ball back into play.

Greatest Misses: Eli Manning (QB, NYG), Matt Jones (RB, WAS), Cameron Meredith (WR, CHI)

Two weeks in a row I've been on the wrong side of the Manning coin. He continues to be bafflingly inconsistent, but it was a relief for fantasy owners to see the Giants passing game come to life, that's for sure. Matt Jones seems to have turned a corner with two 100-yard rushing efforts in the past three games. Hopefully he can keep rolling in Detroit this week. Apparently Cam Meredith isn't a one-game wonder. He was targeted a whopping 15 times and managed to top 100 yards again. I'm a believer.

 

Bills @ Dolphins - Sunday 10/23 @ 1:00 PM EST

Matchups We Love

Mike Gillislee (RB, BUF) - LeSean McCoy is undeniably the hottest RB in football right now. The Dolphins defense might barely be able to slow him down, but his own body may do the trick instead. McCoy left practice early on Wednesday with tightness in his hamstring and it is unknown whether he will be available on Sunday. Enter Mike Gillislee, career backup. Although the Fins played inspired defense last week against Pittsburgh, it's hard to envision a team ranked 31st in rushing yards allowed per game posing much of a threat to a team that has had so much success running the ball. With top safety Reshad Jones out for the season, Gillislee could carry the torch more than adequately.

 

Matchups We Hate

Ryan Tannehill (QB, MIA) - Things aren't going well when you can go for 252 passing yards with zero touchdowns and call it progress. Tannehill managed to not lose the game for Miami last week, but it was Jay Ajayi who did all the work on offense. Buffalo has been a terror to opposing QBs lately, with 20 sacks and 12 takeaways on the season. The Bills have allowed a total of four touchdowns in the last four games, making it unlikely Tannehill suddenly breaks out.

Tyrod Taylor (QB, BUF) - Statistically speaking, this should be a great matchup for a quarterback going against the Dolphins, especially without Jones at safety. The problem is that the Bills' receiving corps is looking more like a MASH unit these days. Robert Woods and Charles Clay both missed practice on Wednesday, putting their availability in doubt. Without Sammy Watkins, Buffalo's offense ranks 31st in passing yards, which is not a deal-breaker when your running game and defense are dominating. Potentially not having McCoy could hurt the passing game, but it is still unlikely the Bills will be playing from far behind, limiting Taylor's opportunities in the air. He could do some damage with his feet, but he doesn't figure to be higher than a QB2 in 12+ team leagues.

Marquise Goodwin (WR, BUF) - Again, this may seem like a nice sleeper play due to the Dolphins depleted secondary, but Goodwin has done little to inspire confidence this season. Outside of an 84-yard TD in Week 2, Goodwin has produced a total of seven catches for 81 yards over six games. He simply isn't worth the risk, even here.

 

Notable Players

Jay Ajayi (RB, MIA) - The biggest question of the week: what to make of Ajayi's career day? Arian Foster is clearly not 100% and we are finding out now that he was activated ahead of Week 6 for his "leadership qualities" alone. Ajayi should be leaned on heavily in this matchup, but whether he can repeat last week's feat is up for debate. Before Week 6, he had never run for more than 48 yards in an NFL game. He routinely put up big games in college, including three 200-yard outbursts, but that was against the likes of Utah State, Colorado State, and Nevada. The Bills are middle of the pack against the run, making Ajayi a high-risk/high-reward RB2/flex play.

 

Colts @ Titans - Sunday 10/23 @ 1:00 PM EST

Matchups We Love

DeMarco Murray (RB, TEN) - He didn't explode last week as many anticipated against a weak Cleveland team, but Murray still delivered a score for fantasy owners. You can pencil him in (hell, use a Sharpie at this point) as an RB1 each week, but it's reassuring to know that the Colts allow the second-most fantasy PPG to running backs this year at 25.8 (that's six more than the Browns at 19.7).

Marcus Mariota (QB, TEN) - While a pair of rookie quarterbacks were off to hot starts, second-year man Mariota was anything but impressive. He posted a dismal 4/5 TD/INT ratio after four games. The last two weeks he has been a revelation, however, with three TD passes in each and a rushing TD to boot. Granted, Miami and Cleveland are two of the worst defenses out there, but points are points. The Colts will pose more of a threat, but they still rank in the bottom ten against QBs this season. A couple of touchdowns and 250+ yards, with the potential for damage on the ground, are fair projections.

Delanie Walker (TE, TEN) - Walker disappointed last week against the Browns with a lone catch for 21 yards. Meanwhile, backup tight end Anthony Fasano found the end zone on a 15-yard score. This week, look for luck to swing back Walker's way. The Colts allowed C.J. Fiedorowicz to exploit them for 85 yards and a touchdown on Sunday night. Walker should see a fair amount of success, keeping him in the TE1 conversation this week.

 

Matchups We Hate

Andrew Luck (QB, IND) - Luck is establishing a clear pattern this season. In three home games, he has passed for more than 300 yards each time with a combined 7/1 TD/INT ratio. In three road games, he has passed for 197, 234, and 252 yards, with a combined 4/3 TD/INT. Common sense dictates you sit Luck for this matchup, especially if Hilton is not 100%.

T.Y. Hilton (WR, IND) - Hilton is a breakaway threat every game. He has a 14.6 Y/R  and has posted two games over 170 receiving yards. He is battling a hip injury this week and could be limited if he plays. Even if he goes, he won't face a pushover defensively. The Titans have allowed six receiving TDs this season, the longest of which came on a 24-yard pass to Anquan Boldin. Hilton may not find room to break loose for a long score this game, dropping him to a low-end WR2.

Tajae Sharpe (WR, TEN) - It is Sharpe who may draw the most coverage from Vontae Davis this game, making a dicey play even dicier. Sharpe has been on a steady decline since Week 1, culminating in a Week 6 with no catches on just three targets. He should be dropped in all formats, especially with Kendall Wright back to steal away snaps from him.

 

Notable Players

Rishard Matthews (WR, TEN) - Matthews has found the end zone in consecutive weeks, but his targets have actually declined as of late. In Weeks 1-3, Matthews saw 18 targets, compared to just nine in Weeks 4-6. He could find some room to work underneath the soft Colts' secondary, but simply won't see enough volume to be stream-worthy unless you are desperate for a receiver.

 

Chargers @ Falcons - Sunday 10/23 @ 4:05 PM EST

Matchups We Love

Matt Ryan (QB, ATL) - The league's leading passer gets a breather this week by heading home to face San Diego. The Chargers did limit Denver to 166 passing yards last week, but that was more a result of injuries to Trevor Siemian and Emmanuel Sanders than anything. Prior to that, they had allowed over 300 passing yards in three consecutive weeks. Start Ryan with confidence in all formats.

Julio Jones (WR, ATL) - You have Julio, you're starting Julio. On the daily side, Julio could stand out as a top WR play again this week. The Chargers are again without CBs Jason Verrett and Brandon Flowers and their replacements will have a hard time chasing Julio across the Georgia Dome. If he can go off for 139 yards and a touchdown in Seattle, imagine what he could do this week...

Hunter Henry (TE, SD) - It's a good thing the Chargers drafted Henry because Antonio Gates continues to fall apart at the seams. Gates is questionable again for this week, but even with him in the lineup, Henry has been highly effective. The rookie has scored in three straight games and has gone over 60 yards in four straight. That trend should continue against the Falcons, who allow the third-most fantasy points to tight ends.

Tevin Coleman (RB, ATL) - Coleman is very much a product of game flow. He does his damage through screen passes and sweep plays when the Falcons are in pass-first mode. This game has the potential to be a high-scoring affair and the Falcons should face far less resistance than they have the past two weeks. The Chargers have allowed almost as many receiving yards to RB (416) as rushing yards (441). Coleman has proven to be a scoring threat each week, making him a strong RB2 contender in this one.

 

Matchups We Hate

Jacob Tamme (TE, ATL) - Should Tamme owners be concerned that Levine Toilolo came on to catch 69 yards and a touchdown last week? Not necessarily. Should we be concerned that Tamme has caught a total of eight passes for 48 yards over the past four weeks? Absolutely. Tamme's days as a prime target for Matt Ryan in Weeks 1-2 seem to be short lived. Never a high volume receiver, Tamme is best left on waivers these days.

Tyrell Williams (WR, SD) - If someone will get a big dose of Marcus Trufant shadow coverage on Sunday, it's likely to be Williams. Travis Benjamin is iffy for Sunday, making Williams the primary target. The Chargers will have some chances to exploit the Atlanta pass defense, but they spread the ball around too much to rely on any one receiver. Even on a good day, Williams isn't higher than a WR3 in deep leagues.

 

Notable Players

Melvin Gordon (RB, SD) - Atlanta allows the eighth-most fantasy points to RB this year, but a lot of that damage comes through the air. This is still not a strength of Gordon's - he only saw two targets last week and one the week before. Gordon is still touting a below average 3.4 Y/A in six games. As usual, he is TD-dependent, which makes him a boom-bust play.

Travis Benjamin (WR, SD) - The de facto top receiver in San Diego, Benjamin is highly questionable for this game. He was not only absent from practice Wednesday, he was seen wearing a sleeve on his right leg. The risk doesn't outweigh the potential reward, so it might be best to keep him on the shelf.

 

Bucs @ 49ers - Sunday 10/23 @ 4:05 PM EST

Matchups We Love

Jacquizz Rodgers (RB, TB) - It appears Doug Martin is unlikely to play again in Week 7, which makes Rodgers a must-start at RB. There is little chance he will carry the ball 30 times again, but if there's a matchup to exploit, this is it. The 49ers have allowed opposing RB to run all over them for a staggering 894 yards and nine TD on the year. For the sake of comparison, Oakland is next with 751 rushing yards allowed. Rodgers could be the best value play of the entire week.

Mike Evans (WR, TB) - Only the Ravens (12) have allowed more touchdowns to WR than the 49ers (10). Evans already leads the NFL with 62 targets. That number may actually increase with the loss of Vincent Jackson for the season. San Fran simply doesn't have anyone who can stop Evans, who has scored in four out of five games.

Adam Humphries (WR, TB) - The Bucs have precious little depth at receiver, so news of Jackson's trip to the IR makes Humphries a WR2 in Tampa. Humphries has 20 catches on 31 targets this season, but is yet to reach the end zone. He will surely see those numbers increase, but is not a high ceiling player. He is only worth consideration in full PPR leagues, but could be a worthy waiver add for those seeking depth or a bye week fill-in for the coming weeks.

Colin Kaepernick (QB, SF) - Tampa Bay has allowed a total of 11 rushing yards to QBs the entire season. Bench Kap, right? First, let's look at the QBs they have faced so far: Matt Ryan, Carson Palmer, Case Keenum, Trevor Siemian, Derek Anderson. Had they faced Cam Newton in Week 5, it would be a different story. The Bucs are just average against the pass, so if Carlos Hyde is limited this weekend, Kaepernick could be forced to pick up the slack himself. I don't recommend starting Kap over your regular QB in H2H, but if you need a value for your daily tournament play, this could be a week to roll the dice with him.

 

Matchups We Hate

Jeremy Kerley (WR, SF) - Kerley's sudden revival peaked in Week 5 when he caught 8-of-14 targets for 102 yards and a TD against a tough Arizona defense. Last week, in Kaepernick's return to the starting lineup, Kerley pulled in two catches for 12 yards. His value may not be totally shot, but it would seem the 49ers are going to go vertical more often, rather than relying on short-to-intermediate routes as Blaine Gabbert is apt to do. Fade Kerley this week and for the foreseeable future.

 

Notable Players

Carlos Hyde (RB, SF) - Chip Kelly seemed to have no idea that Hyde was even injured when asked about it early in the week, yet he was seen with his arm in a sling on Tuesday. Hyde is now listed as doubtful for Week 7, so be sure to substitute for him. Look away from the San Fran running back situation completely. Neither Mike Davis or Shaun Draughn are worthy of playing, regardless of matchup.

 

Patriots @ Steelers - Sunday 10/23 @ 4:25 PM EST

Matchups We Love

LeGarrette Blount (RB, NE) - Maybe they were just caught off-guard like the rest of us, but the Steelers defense got shredded by Jay Ajayi for 204 yards on the ground last week. Blount is not a speed back and will surely not put up that type of performance, but he keeps finding the end zone. Even with Tom Brady back, Blount has scored 22.7 fantasy points the last two weeks. Keep him locked in as an RB2 for Week 7.

Rob Gronkowski (TE, NE) - Yup, he's definitely back. Gronk went for 162 yards against Cincy and will try to exploit a Steelers defense that gave up 81 yards to fourth-string tight end MarQueis Gray last week. He is definitively the top TE in all of fantasy football once again and makes for a safe daily play if you've got the budget.

Danny Amendola (WR, NE) - Predicting how many targets a Patriots wide receiver will see on any given week is like trying to guess how many Papa John's commercials featuring Peyton Manning you will see during the game. Although you might be tempted to say "way too many," it's not always that clear cut. Amendola has the best matchup out of the slot against Sean Davis and could have some sneaky value this week.

 

Matchups We Hate

Sammie Coates (WR, PIT) - A lacerated finger and wrist injury weren't the only things holding Coates back last week. The Steelers offense suddenly disappeared against a weak Dolphins secondary and now Big Ben is gone. Coates was a hot add just a week ago, but he is looking very droppable at the moment. Landry Jones doesn't instill much confidence for me in Pittsburgh receivers aside from Antonio Brown. With a backup QB, a tough matchup and a bye next week, you could use your roster spot on another receiver this week.

 

Notable Players

Tom Brady (QB, NE) - Were this game played a week ago, Brady might be a top five QB play. This might not be the shootout it otherwise could have been, unfortunately. Brady will likely be his usual efficient self, but may not be forced to pass a ton.

Le'veon Bell (RB, PIT) - Bell might be hampered by the absence of Roethlisberger in the passing game, but they should call his name early and often in an attempt to keep Brady and co. off the field while preventing mistakes by Landry Jones. The Patriots are allowing 14.4 fantasy PPG to opposing RB, which is sixth-fewest in the league, but Bell should rise above that total. Don't expect a huge game, but don't go crazy and bench him either.

 

Seahawks @ Cardinals - Sunday 10/23 @ 8:30 PM EST

Matchups We Love

Larry Fitzgerald (WR, ARI) - By working out of the slot, Fitz could avoid Richard Sherman and take advantage of a matchup against Jeremy Lane instead. Fitzgerald has caught at least five passes in every game this year, with five touchdowns to show for it. Larry Legend (football version) is performing like a WR1 this season and shouldn't be overlooked in this game.

 

Matchups We Hate

Russell Wilson (QB, SEA) - Wilson hasn't played badly, but in fantasy terms it has been a disappointing season thus far. He ranks 20th with 1,334 passing yards and has thrown just five touchdowns, three of which came in one game against the Jets. A road game in Arizona doesn't figure to be the remedy he needs. Opposing QBs have a 5/9 TD/INT ratio against the Cards and only three teams have held them to less fantasy points. If you have a better option, you may consider keeping Wilson on the bench.

Carson Palmer (QB, ARI) - Aside from the fact Seattle still boasts the top overall defense in the game and allows 209 passing YPG, Palmer just doesn't look like himself. A far cry from last year, Palmer just broke the 60% Comp% threshold on the season after last week. It could be Father Time catching up with the 37-year old, but Palmer is also best left as a QB2 until he gets right.

Jimmy Graham (TE, SEA) - If Russell Wilson's going to have a tough day, it logically follows that his main receivers will too. The Cardinals have not allowed a touchdown to an opposing tight end yet this season and are statistically the stingiest against the position. Graham's revival season is a welcome sight for fantasy owners, but this week may present a bump in the road back to stardom.

 

Notable Players

David Johnson (RB, ARI) - Johnson has proven himself to be a fantasy stud with back-to-back huge performances. His eight rushing TDs lead the league and he has scored multiple TDs in half of his games played. He will get his toughest challenge yet, but is undoubtedly a top 10 play regardless of matchup.