X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

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.

Holiday Special! Save 50% on any Premium Pass using discount code THANKS. Win more with our DFS, Betting and Season-Long Pass, get expert tools and advice from proven winners! GAIN ACCESS

 

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.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Projections
Articles & Tools
Weekly Planner
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Maxx Crosby

to Undergo Meniscus Trim, "Evaluating His Future" in Las Vegas
Jaylen Waddle

Questionable to Return in Week 17 With Rib Injury
Harold Fannin Jr.

Questionable to Return With Groin Injury
Travis Kelce

to Evaluate his Future in the Offseason
Lamar Jackson

Likely to Return in Week 18
DJ Moore

Added to Injury Report, Questionable for Week 17
Josh Allen

No Limitations for Josh Allen Against Eagles
Tyler Herro

Showing Progress but Still Without Timetable
CFB

Jay Hill Expected to be Next Michigan Defensive Coordinator
Zach Collins

Exits Late With Lower-Body Injury
Chris Boucher

Ruled Out Sunday for Personal Reasons
Harold Fannin Jr.

Officially Active Against Steelers
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Suiting Up Against Bengals on Sunday
Chris Olave

Active for Week 17 Against Titans
Tetairoa McMillan

Active for Week 17 Against Seahawks
Gabe Vincent

Out Again Sunday With Back Issue
Green Bay Packers

Packers Not Ready to Name a Starting Quarterback for Week 18
Jrue Holiday

Remains Out Sunday Against Celtics
Green Bay Packers

Packers Expected to Rest Key Players in Week 18
Collin Murray-Boyles

Unlikely to Play Sunday Due to Illness
Tetairoa McMillan

Expected to Play in Week 17 Despite Illness
Tetairoa McMillan

Added to Injury Report, Questionable to Play in Week 17
George Kittle

Highly Unlikely to Play in Week 17
Andrei Svechnikov

Extends Scoring Run With Three-Point Effort
Auston Matthews

Bags Three Points Saturday Night
Alex Laferriere

Records First Career Hat Trick
William Nylander

Sustains Lower-Body Injury Saturday
Zach Werenski

Unlikely to Play Sunday
Ashton Jeanty

With the No. 1 Pick on the Line, Ashton Jeanty Still Expected to Play
Jake Evans

to Miss 4-6 Weeks
George Kittle

is a Game-Time Decision for Week 17
J.J. Moser

Inks Eight-Year Extension
Ajay Mitchell

Cleared to Return Sunday
Bogdan Bogdanović

Bogdan Bogdanovic Ruled Out for Sunday
Kyshawn George

Iffy for Sunday
De'Anthony Melton

Sits Out First Leg of Back-to-Back
Jaxson Hayes

Unlikely to Play Sunday
Derrick Jones Jr.

to Return From Knee Injury Sunday
Jock Landale

in Danger of Missing Another Game Sunday
Vince Williams Jr.

Won't Play Sunday
Robert Williams III

Inactive on Sunday
Jerami Grant

to Sit Out Fifth Consecutive Game
Brandin Podziemski

Probable to Play Sunday
Jakob Poeltl

to Miss Another Game Sunday
RJ Barrett

Listed as Questionable for Sunday
Paul George

Probable for Meeting With Former Team
Joel Embiid

Won't Play on Sunday
TreVeyon Henderson

Clears Concussion Protocol, Will Play in Week 17
Davante Adams

Downgraded to Doubtful for Week 17
Ryan McDonagh

Misses Saturday's Action
Jordan Kyrou

Jimmy Snuggerud Back for Blues Saturday
Tanner Jeannot

Misses First Game of the Season
Rasmus Dahlin

Won't Play on Saturday
Elias Pettersson

Ready to Return Saturday
Leo Carlsson

Available Against Kings
Jack Eichel

Still Out Saturday
Ilya Sorokin

Lands on Injured Reserve
Bo Horvat

Returns to Action Saturday
Kimani Vidal

Inactive on Saturday
CFB

Michigan Targeting Kyle Whittingham as Next Head Coach
CFB

Texas Leading Rusher Quintrevion Wisner Set to Transfer
Pete Fairbanks

Marlins Agree on One-Year Deal
Brooks Koepka

Leaving LIV Golf
Connor McDavid

Finishes Battle of Alberta With Five Assists
Karel Vejmelka

Battling Upper-Body Injury
Alexandre Texier

Suffers Upper-Body Injury Against Bruins
Alexander Nikishin

Dealing With Apparent Ankle Injury
Denver Barkey

Exits Early Tuesday
Ryan O'Hearn

Pirates Agree on Two-Year Deal
CFB

Jeff Brohm, Eli Drinkwitz "Names of Interest" for Michigan Head Coach

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP