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Fantasy Mad Libs: Starts and Sits for Week 7

One of the greatest criticisms of the NFL, besides anything that happened in the commissioners office in 2015, is that the Pro Bowl game is virtually meaningless. As we are in the throws of the baseball playoffs, which thankfully do not take place within a month of the game meant to honor the league's best players, I find myself thinking of the game.

It's a fun event because the fans are begged to participate in the form of voting, and nearly every healthy player voted for runs to the host city to play. NFL players? You will maybe get the sixth or seventh best quarterback representing each league, given that he is not in the playoffs, didn't just exit the playoffs, doesn't "need a break". In a season where we are encouraged to vote in a way that is more billed as a "civil duty" and not "manically clicking an internet button every day to get your 3B to a game solely because he's on your team," I think about what would an All-Star fantasy team look like. Yeah, ok, just go click the first and second guy per position. But what about factoring in bias? Does it cause us to overlook people?

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.

Editor's Note: The FFPC Playoff Challenge #2 is back with a massive $100,000 grand prize and $203,250 total prize pool, paying down to 100th place. Here's the deal: no salary cap, no draft, no pickups, no subs. Choose 8 players, and as NFL teams get knocked out so will your players, so choose your team wisely. The entries will sell out quickly, and registrations will close on Saturday January 17th at 4:30 pm ET . Don't wait - get your team now and end your fantasy football season with a shot at $100,000! Sign Up Now!

 

The Fantasy Season To Date

In 2016, we would have to remind ourselves that Matt Ryan is the best fantasy quarterback, and the top five does not actually include Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, or Tom Brady (...yet). We have to keep in mind that while ESPN discusses whether the Cowboys should move on from Tony Romo, his backup Dak Prescott is playing as a top ten QB that is startable in most any league. We do our best to ignore that Carlos Hyde and Christine Michael are top ten RBs, and Todd Gurley and Mark Ingram barely crack the top 20.
It's a long way of saying that as we begin to figure out trades, figure out who the best players are, anticipate rising and falling, I sometimes forget that Terrelle Pryor is a Top-10 fantasy WR as I write this column, and Jordy Nelson isn't. And I would definitely vote for a fantasy All-Star lineup that featured Pryor's name on it.

 

Running Back

Matt Jones will either be on my bench or will ruin my week.

I love Matt Jones in general, and will be forced to play him, but he doesn't have anything working in his favor this week. Jones was seeing a bit of a split in carries in the first half of Week 6, and some extra work in the second half took a bad performance to a good one. Jones may be losing a bit of time to Kelley again in Week 7, and the Detroit Lions defense has yet to allow a rushing touchdown all season.

Dear Todd Gurley, do you like like me? I like like you this week.

I've always been very anti-Gurley, as I didn't buy into the offensive line. But it's undeniable that the Rams offense runs through the young RB, and the New York Giants have allowed four RB touchdowns over the last three weeks. The London game is always one of the flukey ones, so no one enjoys any home field advantage here, but Gurley fans will be relieved that he is a virtual lock for a hundred rushing yards and hopefully a TD.

Am I going to really start Mike Davis in Week 7?

Shoutout to the reader who sent me a chat in the middle of my writing this column (whose name I am unfortunately forgetting, feel free to tweet me) asking me if he should be starting Gilislee or Mike Davis in Week 7. I like Gilislee, but as I told him, it's high-risk, high-reward play that I don't love if I'm looking for a fill-in RB2. Mike Davis is facing a running back defense that isn't as great as advertised, and the 49ers will still lean on a rushing attack as they find their feet in the passing game. I don't love the option, but if you are one of the many, many players looking for some relief, Davis is the lead back for San Francisco, and will be bailing you out whether you want to be bailed or not.

 

Wide Receiver

Don't hand me my money back, I'm going double-or-nothing on Demaryius Thomas

Hear me out; Demaryius Thomas and the Denver Broncos offense haven't been exceptional most weeks. Thomas is a double digit fantasy producer in nearly all leagues, and we have yet to see if the Texans can succeed consistently on the road. Thomas is a red zone target for Denver, after over a week to gameplan. I expect Houston to struggle this week and Denver to do work on the ground, but don't be afraid to start Thomas as a WR2.

I will be discarding my Jordan Matthews and replacing him with two cards from the deck

For anyone excited over the full-fledged injury-free return of Matthews into a bustling Eagles offense, temper your expectations. Any flame of desire is extinguished by the fact that Matthews is not factoring in for more than four receptions a game in his last three match-ups. Matthews is either falling out of favor with his QB, or his knee injury somehow limited his targets.

I am out of options, and will be swiping left on Marqise Lee (owned in less than 2% of leagues)

No one is enthusiastic about starting the wide receiver out of USC who never quite got going in Florida, but Lee has seen only eight targets less than Allen Hurns and is the solid WR3 for this team. They face a cushy home matchup vs the Raiders secondary, and a shootout is all but assured for nearly every Raiders game so far this season. Lee shouldn't be started with a ton of confidence, but if you just now realizing Eddie Lacy is injured and you need a FLEX, go forward.

 

Tight End

Parachute? I don't need no parachute, I have Tyler Eifert

I refuse to change my great caption fill-ins because I'm hilarious, but if you need a TE or aren't thrilled with your options, Eifert is available in almost 30% of leagues. The leading touchdown scorer in the position last season, and he's freely available in quite a few leagues. A cushy matchup, and a talented TE finally practicing fully and looking healthy; the Bengals offense will look different with Eifert back in the mix.

Don't cry kids! We will bury Jacob Tamme in the yard

In two of his last three games, Tamme hasn't hit double digit yards, let alone receptions. Most everyone has let Tamme go, but don't forget to let his go free.




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Mikko Rantanen

Out Tuesday
Andrew Peeke

Returns to Action Tuesday
Rodrigo Abols

Expected to Miss Several Months
Harry Hall

Looking to Have Another Solid Week in Coachella Valley
Luke Hughes

Out Tuesday
Jonas Brodin

Will Miss Olympics
Carlos Beltran

Andruw Jones Elected to Baseball Hall of Fame
Rickie Fowler

Hoping to Keep Train Rolling at the AMEX
Alexandre Texier

Won't Play Tuesday
Kirby Dach

Rejoins Canadiens Lineup
Mark Williams

Active On Tuesday
Harris English

Starting Off the Year at Questionable AMEX Tournament
Brice Sensabaugh

Unavailable Tuesday
Luke Clanton

Still Trying to Settle Into PGA Tour Ahead of AMEX
De'Anthony Melton

In for Back End of Back-To-Back
Draymond Green

Considered Questionable for Tuesday
Al Horford

Sidelined Versus Raptors
Lauri Markkanen

Unavailable for Fifth Straight Game
CFB

Alberto Mendoza Expected to Land at Georgia Tech
Steven Adams

Will Not Play Tuesday Against the Spurs
Tari Eason

Could Be Back Against the Spurs on Tuesday
RJ Barrett

Will Not Return Against the Warriors
Cam Christie

Could Miss Tuesday's Contest in Chicago
Patrick Williams

Could Be Back in Action Tuesday Against the Clippers
Malik Nabers

Giants Hope Malik Nabers Will be Back for Start of Training Camp
CFB

Duke Suing Quarterback Darian Mensah
Naz Reid

Upgraded to Available Tuesday Against Utah
Collin Murray-Boyles

Will Not Play Tuesday
Cam Skattebo

Should be Ready by OTAs
Mark Williams

Uncertain to Play on Tuesday in Philadelphia
Paul George

Could Return Tuesday
Joel Embiid

Will Not Play Tuesday
George Kittle

Expects to Return "Well Before November"
CFB

Alberto Mendoza Entering Transfer Portal
Mookie Betts

Plans to Retire at the End of his Current Contract
Tennessee Titans

Titans Set to Hire Robert Saleh as Next Head Coach
Josh Giddey

Could Return Tuesday
Zaccharie Risacher

Ruled Out for the Week
Kristaps Porzingis

to Sit Out at Least One More Week
Jalen Williams

to Be Re-Evaluated in Two Weeks
Tyler Herro

Out Indefinitely With Ribs Issue
Ludvig Aberg

Making Season Debut at American Express
Ryan Gerard

Heads to PGA West With Momentum After Strong Week in Hawaii
Miami Dolphins

Dolphins Expected to Hire Jeff Hafley as Next Head Coach
Ondrej Palat

Ready to Face Flames
Chris Kreider

Returns From Two-Game Absence Monday
Corey Perry

Back With Kings
Bobby Brink

Available Monday Night
William Nylander

Misses Second Straight Game Monday
Kiefer Sherwood

Sharks Pick Up Kiefer Sherwood From Canucks
Matthew Tkachuk

Set for Season Debut Monday
Sepp Straka

Eyes Repeat At The American Express
Si Woo Kim

Poised To Contend At The American Express
Zach Charbonnet

has Torn ACL
Zach Charbonnet

Needs Knee Surgery, Out for Rest of Playoffs
Tennessee Titans

Mike McCarthy a Finalist for Titans Head-Coaching Job?
Colston Loveland

Suffers Concussion in Divisional Round Loss
Kyren Williams

Scores Two Touchdowns in Divisional Round Win
Buffalo Bills

Bills Fire Head Coach Sean McDermott
Tom Wilson

May Return Monday
Henri Jokiharju

Moved to Non-Roster List
Frank Nazar

Returns to Practice
Oskar Sundqvist

Suffers Skate Cut Sunday
Kasperi Kapanen

Considered Day-to-Day
Zach Whitecloud

Joins Flames
Rasmus Andersson

Moves to Vegas
Rhamondre Stevenson

Returns in Sunday's AFC Divisional Round Game
Ha-Seong Kim

has Finger Surgery, Out 4-5 Months
Rhamondre Stevenson

Questionable to Return on Sunday With Eye Injury
Woody Marks

Returns Following Brief Exit on Sunday
Dalton Schultz

Won't Return in Sunday's AFC Divisional Round Game
Aaron Rodgers

Steelers Open to Aaron Rodgers Returning in 2026?
Jarrett Stidham

to Start AFC Championship Game
Zach Charbonnet

Questionable to Return Against 49ers
Atlanta Falcons

Falcons Hiring Kevin Stefanski as Head Coach
Bo Nix

Suffers Broken Bone in Ankle, Done for Playoffs
Green Bay Packers

Packers Sign Head Coach Matt LaFleur to Multi-Year Extension
CFB

Darian Mensah Entering Transfer Portal
J.T. Realmuto

Signs Three-Year Deal to Return to Phillies
Bo Bichette

Agrees to Three-Year Contract With Mets
CFB

Weber State Signs former Ohio State, Cal Quarterback Devin Brown
Bo Bichette

Phillies the "Overwhelming" Favorite to Sign Bo Bichette
Josh Lowe

Angels Acquire Josh Lowe in Three-Team Trade
Kyle Tucker

Signs Four-Year Contract With Dodgers
Clayton Kershaw

to Pitch for Team USA in World Baseball Classic
CFB

Auburn, Ohio State the Lead Suitors for Kyle Parker
CFB

Oregon QB Transfer Bryson Beaver Linked to Georgia, Kentucky
CFB

Jake Merklinger Commits to UConn

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