Vladimir De Wet breaks down the second half of the Week 7 matchups for the 2015 NFL football season. Each week of the NFL season, we will be breaking down each of the NFL 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.

Below, you will find part one of our Week 7 NFL matchups & fantasy football start/sit analysis, which should help you prepare your lineups to win this week. It’s essential to analyze the weekly NFL matchups to find lineup sleepers and gems, while also avoiding those players who may turn out to be busts.

Be sure to check out part one of this week's early game matchups as well.

 

Texans @ Dolphins - Sunday 10/25 @ 1:00 PM EST

Matchups We Love:

Lamar Miller, RB, Dolphins - Miller got a season-high 19 carries last week against the Titans. He averaged six yards a carry and both he and the Dolphins offensive line looked good. The Texans have given up the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing backs this season, including 100+ rushing yards to opponents in three out of six games (as well as 97 and 83). Hopefully the Dolphins remember to keep handing the ball to Miller this week.

Keith Mumphrey/Jaelen Strong, WR, Texans - Cecil Shorts III is out for Sunday and Nate Washington is dealing with a hamstring injury. If Washington is also ruled out then it will only be Mumphrey and Strong left to suit up opposite of DeAndre Hopkins. With Shorts out Mumphrey gets a bump up anyway, but if Washington also misses then both Mumphrey and Strong are serious considerations for a start.

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Dolphins - Last week I said Tannehill would be better than he had been all season. I was wrong--he was predictably mediocre, but his team still blew the doors off the Titans. I am doubling-down and saying that Tannehill will have a great game this week against a Texans defense that has so far given up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing QBs.

Matchups We Hate:

Alfred Blue, RB, Texans - Blue's fantasy value is non-existent after getting just six carries in each of the last two weeks. After Arian Foster the Texans seem ready to use a committee of Chris Polk, Jonathan Grimes and Blue. Blue is also battling a turf toe injury, which can linger for weeks sometimes. I would say it's time to cut Blue.

Notable Players:

Jarvis Landry, WR, Dolphins - Texans corner Kareem Jackson is out this week with an ankle injury making Landry's matchup even more enticing. He's the number one guy on the team and always ahs a shot for a huge PPR week.

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Texans - There's a good chance he has the best season of any receiver when the year's done even though his team might not win five games.

Arian Foster, RB, Texans - Foster doesn't quite look like his old self but there's no doubt he's still a RB2 if not RB1. He's a threat in the passing game with 17 receptions through three games and looks like he will only get better as the season goes on.

 

Jets @ Patriots - Sunday 10/25 @ 1:00 PM EST

Matchups We Love:

Eric Decker, WR, Jets - The Patriots have given up the eighth-most points to opposing WRs. Decker has a receiving TD in every game this season and has been a consistent part of the offense. Brandon Marshall and Chris Ivory should get all of the attention, leaving Decker to make plays if the Jets want to win this game.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Jets - Fitzy hasn't looked good by any means, but he has put up some fantasy points and been able to move the ball for the Jets. With Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, and Andy Dalton on a bye this week there are worse options out there than Ryan Fitzpatrick for those in need of a bye week fill-in.

Matchups We Hate:

Patriots Running Backs - The Jets are the league's number one rush defense. Legarrette Blount may not play due to an unknown injury, but that's irrelevant as Blount and Dion Lewis will see their toughest challenge of the year.

Notable Players:

Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots - The entirety of the Jets number one overall defense should be focused on stopping Gronk this week. While he is always a must-start option this week he might be better served as a decoy with the amount of talent and eyes that will be surrounding him.

Chris Ivory, RB, Jets - Ivory has had back-to-back weeks of looking like one of the best backs in the league. Bill Belichick has already said the Patriots' focus will be on stopping Ivory . So far this season the Patriots have been average defending against the run. Despite that, I just don't see Ivory having three good weeks in a row, especially when the champions are intent on shutting him down.

Brandon LaFell, WR, Patriots - If LaFell suits up Sunday he should be picked up in all leagues. Assuming he's healthy after missing the first six weeks of the season, LaFell might see another eight targets a game come his way like he did last year when he was healthy.

Julian Edelman/Danny Amendola, WR, Patriots - Someone is going to catch passes against this Jets team because the Patriots are just too good to be denied right now. I just don't know if it'll be either of these receivers as they will be going against Revis/Cromartie/Skrine.

 

Raiders @ Chargers - Sunday 10/25 @ 4:05 PM EST

Matchups We Love:

Latavius Murray, RB, Raiders - Murray has a hurt shoulder but should be playing on Sunday. The Chargers have given up the third-most rushing yards this year and just don't look good against the run. Murray hasn't been spectacular this year but this week he has a very favorable matchup and should do well.

Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers - Rivers became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 500 yards and zero interceptions in a losing effort in Week 6. The Chargers are going to throwing all over the field against a decent Raiders pass defense.

Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers - One of the league's best tight ends against a shoddy defense that's notoriously bad against tight ends? What's not to love?

Matchups We Hate:

Amari Cooper, WR, Raiders - The Chargers shut down opposing WRs. They've given up the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers and their vaunted bunch of corners are fully healthy. After a stretch of amazing performances the last two weeks have been mediocre for Cooper. He's going against a rough matchup this week and may continue looking like an inconsistent rookie.

Notable Players:

Derek Carr, QB, Raiders - Derek Carr has looked like an improved player but his fantasy value just isn't quite their yet. Until Carr can prove he's consistent there are better options out there.

Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers - Every week I can I will scream that Keenan Allen is an underrated receiver. He is a WR1 and there's a good chance the end of the year looks like DeAndre Hopkins as the top receiver with Allen a close second.

Stevie Johnson, WR, Chargers - Johnson has been limited in practice but there's a chance he might start this weekend. If he does then Johnson is a WR3 with high upside in this pass-happy offense.

 

Cowboys @ Giants - Sunday 10/25 @ 4:25 PM EST

Matchups We Love:

Reuben Randle, WR, Giants - The Cowboys have given up an average of 32 points over the last three weeks. While their offense has sustained major injuries the defense now has Greg Hardy, Randy Gregory, Rolando McClain, and Sean Lee all healthy. The Giants offense sputtered last week against the Eagles with costly turnovers and an inability to do anything the second half. I believe the Giants offense gets back on track against a healthy but so far sub-par Cowboys defense. Randle has had six targets each of the last three games. There's no reason that shouldn't continue if not increase this Sunday.

Rashad Jennings, RB, Giants - During their Week 1 matchup Jennings had a score and 52 yards on the ground. The Giants back has begun to separate himself from Andre Williams the last few weeks and seems to be the preferred option right now. The Cowboys have given up 100+ rushing yards three straight times before their bye week. Jennings will eclipse his season high of 13 carries at home in this divisional matchup.

Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys - Matt Cassel is getting the start just two weeks after signing with the Cowboys. The Giants have trouble stopping the pass and have always had trouble against Witten. I'm treating Cassel like a rookie quarterback and assuming he will be looking and finding Witten as a safety valve all day.

Matchups We Hate:

Cowboys RBs - DeMarco Murray was able to run on the Giants last week. They gave up the most rushing yards of the season and looked average. With Cassel playing and the good offensive line I usually would have picked a Cowboys back to have a good day, but because they have looked so pathetic running I just can't. With some reports that Christine Michael will start over Joseph Randle and Darren McFadden there isn't a backfield I'm more wary of in the league.

Larry Donnell, TE, Giants - Donnell had a ball ripped from him and also had some big drops in Week 6. The Giants tight end might not have the overall talent to be an every-down receiving option and the team is beginning to recognize that. Donnell was always touchdown-dependent but he may not even get those chances with the way he's been playing.

Notable Players:

Odell Beckham Jr, WR, Giants - Beckham has been battling a hamstring injury the last two weeks but still looks explosive and dangerous. After a good first half (seven receptions) the Eagles shut out Beckham in the second half. Expect him to get the ball early and often again against the Cowboys.

Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys - Bryant practiced this week and might even play on Sunday. I don't think he will, but if he does you have to play him.

Matt Cassel, QB, Cowboys - Cassel was beat out by EJ Manuel for the Buffalo backup job and he just got to Dallas. He may be a better option than Brandon Weeden, but he's not a good option by any means.

 

Eagles @ Panthers - Sunday 10/25 @ 8:30 PM EST

Matchups We Love:

No one really seems to be under the radar or unknown. Both teams are being lead by their defenses right now with few stars on offense.

Matchups We Hate:

DeMarco Murray, RB, Eagles - Carolina is one of five teams in the league that hasn't given up 500 yards on the ground yet this year. Murray got loose against the Giants but a lot of his production came after turnovers and late in the game once the defense was gassed. The Eagles looked messy on offense and they're going against a Carolina defense that seems to be getting stronger every week.

Greg Olsen, TE, Panthers - The Eagles have given up the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing TEs this season. Olsen has been dominant as Cam Newton's first option and should still do alright, but this week's matchup won't be his best.

Notable Players:

Cam Newton, QB, Panthers - Cam has put up good passing and rushing numbers on a more consistent basis this year. He is a top-10 fantasy QB and looks like he'll be carrying the Panthers and fantasy squads into the playoffs.

Sam Bradford, QB, Eagles - Last week I put in a column that Sam Bradford had to show me what he really was on a big stage against the Giants. After four interceptions he showed me that he's just not that good and that's not changing.

 

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