By MIKE HERNDON

Tyrod Taylor, P.J. Walker and Gardner Minshew were starting quarterbacks in the NFL last week. Taylor Bagent and either Brian Hoyer or Aidan O’Connell will be this week, and C.J. Beathard might be too.

It’s rough out in these fantasy streets.

The injuries have been coming fast and furious so far this season, and when quarterbacks go down it can affect an entire offense. Sometimes a backup can create a spark in an offense, but after defenses get a week or two of tape on them, that spark tends to fizzle.

There is one bit of good news on the quarterback injury front, however: Kyler Murray has been designated to return from the PUP list and has resumed practicing. If he’s on your wire, make sure to rectify that situation before one of your leaguemates does.

On top of all the injuries, last weekend may have been one of the crazier slates of games in recent memory, with the league’s last two undefeated teams, San Francisco and Philadelphia, falling to Cleveland and the Jets, respectively.

Break out the cigars for the ’72 Dolphins, and check out these start/sit recommendations for your fantasy playoffs in Week 7:

QB:

Starts:

Geno Smith, Seahawks: It’s been an up-and-down season so far for Smith. Arizona, while more competitive than any of us would have though, still represents a get-right spot.

Matthew Stafford, Rams: LA will be down to its third and fourth running backs this week. Stafford’s going to throw, and the Steelers’ secondary hasn’t been enough to scare anyone off. Fire him up.

Sits:

Kirk Cousins, Vikings: His first game without Justin Jefferson wasn’t pretty – he threw for less than 200 yards. Now he gets an angry 49ers squad eager to put its upset loss to Cleveland behind it. Oh, and it’s on Monday night. Prime Time Cousins without JJettas? Fade.

Gardner Minshew, Colts: Minshew is among the league’s more capable backups, but he tossed three picks in his first start last week after Anthony Richardson was lost to what we now know is a season-ending injury. And this week, he’s facing what may be the best defense in the league in the Browns.

RB:

Starts:

Aaron Jones/AJ Dillon, Packers: If Jones’ hamstring has sufficiently healed enough for him to play, he’s in a smash spot against Denver’s turnstile defense. If it isn’t, it also wouldn’t be a bad spot for Dillon, who emerged from mediocrity to run for 76 yards and a score against the Raiders last week.

Jerome Ford, Browns: Whether Deshaun Watson returns this week or not, Cleveland’s offense starts with the ground game. And even with Kareem Hunt siphoning 15 touches last week, Ford still got 19 touches and put up 91 yards. Hunt missed practice on Wednesday with a thigh injury.  

Sits:

Alexander Mattison, VIkings: If you haven’t already guessed, I’m not high on the Vikings’ chances on Monday night – which likely means negative game script for Mattison.

Rachaad White, Bucs: Tampa has had trouble all year trying to run the ball. White saw his snap share drop in last week’s loss to the Lions, and Atlanta has been surprisingly stingy against the run, holding opposing backs to 3.7 yards per carry and only one touchdown on the ground.

WR:

Starts:  

Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers: Deebo Samuel is banged up and questionable for Monday night’s tilt with Minnesota. An absent or limited Deebo leaves that many more targets for Aiyuk against a thoroughly beatable Vikings secondary.

Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins: It’s taken some time, but Waddle is slowly ramping up his role in the Dolphins’ offense. He’s gotten 19 targets in the past two games and has scored in each. The way to attack the Eagles this year has been through the air, and Miami should do just that.     

Sits:

Calvin Ridley, Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence may try to give it a go on Thursday night against New Orleans after suffering a knee injury last week, but one has to wonder his performance will be affected. And Ridley is likely to square off against Saints shutdown corner Marcus Lattimore.

D.J. Moore, Bears: It’s a darn shame that Justin Fields got hurt right as Moore was beginning to emerge and finally live up to the talent we all know he has. But I’m not sure you can trust Bagent to consistently get him the ball in his first NFL start.  

TE:

As always in these trying times, start whoever you can find that’s getting targets. Some of those targets will dry up, but if you don’t have Travis Kelce, Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson or Sam LaPorta, you’ve got to take what you can get. A bonus is that Kyle Pitts appears to have rejoined the ranks of tight ends we trust. It may not last, but enjoy it while it does.

Categories: Fantasy Football