Week 7 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: Kickers and Team Defenses

Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey or Justin Jefferson. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2023 NFL season.

Fabs’ Top 10 Defenses

1. 49ers defense at Vikings (Mon.)
2. Bills defense vs. Giants
3. Browns defense at Colts
4. Seahawks defense vs. Cardinals|
5. Packers defense at Broncos
6. Raiders defense at Bears
7. Commanders defense at Giants
8. Saints defense vs. Jaguars (Thur.)
9. Buccaneers defense vs. Falcons
10. Ravens defense vs. Lions

Week 7 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Byes: Bengals, Cowboys, Jets, Panthers, Texans, Titans

Week 7 Start ’Em: Defenses

Start of the Week

49ers defense at Vikings (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): The Niners defense had just seven fantasy points in last week’s surprising loss to the Browns, but I like this unit to rebound against the Vikings. In their first game without superstar wideout Justin Jefferson, their pass attack finished last week with a meager 181 passing yards.

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Start ’Em

Raiders defense at Bears (1 p.m. ET, Fox): The Raiders defense can be an asset when the matchup is favorable, and that’s the case this week. Chicago will be left to start the inexperienced Tyson Bagent, as Justin Fields is out with an injured thumb. That makes Las Vegas a solid starting option for fantasy managers.

More Starts

Bills defense at Patriots (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Browns defense at Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Rams defense vs. Steelers (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Browns defense at Colts ($3,400)
Seahawks defense vs. Cardinals ($3,200)
Giants defense vs. Commanders ($3,000)

Week 7 Sit ’Em: Defenses

Sit of the Week

Patriots defense vs. Bills (1 p.m. ET, CBS): The Patriots defense was drafted as one of the top units in fantasy football, but instead injuries and bad offensive play has turned into one of the worst. That won’t change against Josh Allen and the Bills offense, which is averaging nearly 29 points per contest after six weeks.

Sit ’Em

Chiefs defense vs. Chargers (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Kansas City’s defense can be a nice option against lesser opponents, but that’s not the case this week when the Chargers visit Arrowhead Stadium. Their offense is one of the NFL’s most electric units, averaging 25.4 points while committing just three giveaways this season.

More Sits

Chargers defense at Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox)
Dolphins defense at Eagles (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
Vikings defense vs. 49ers (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Colts defense vs. Browns ($3,400)
Steelers defense at Rams ($3,100)
Falcons defense at Buccaneers ($2,800)

Fabs’ Top 10 Kickers

1. Jake Elliott vs. Dolphins
2. Harrison Butker vs. Chargers
3. Justin Tucker vs. Lions
4. Tyler Bass at Patriots
5. Jake Moody at Vikings (Mon.)
6. Brett Maher vs. Steelers
7. Jason Sanders at Eagles
8. Jason Myers vs. Cardinals
9. Dustin Hopkins at Colts
10. Riley Patterson at Ravens

Byes: Bengals, Cowboys, Jets, Panthers, Texans, Titans

Week 7 Start ’Em: Kickers

Start of the Week

Tyler Bass at Patriots (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Bass has hit the statistical skids, scoring a combined four fantasy points in his last two games combined. He should get back on track this week though, as he’ll face a Patriots team that’s allowed 17 field-goal attempts and the second-most fantasy points to opposing kickers this season.

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Start ’Em

Riley Patterson at Ravens (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Patterson has been a good but unspectacular fantasy kicker, scoring at least eight points in three of his last four games. He’s a nice streamer this week, as the Lions travel to Baltimore to face the Ravens. Enemy kickers are averaging 10.5 points per game against them.

More Starts

Dustin Hopkins at Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Chris Boswell at Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox)
Jake Moody at Vikings (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Week 7 Sit ’Em: Kickers

Sit of the Week

Greg Joseph vs. 49ers (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Joseph has scored 19 points in his last two games combined, but he could be in for a tough night against the 49ers. Their defense has allowed just 11 field-goal conversions, not to mention an average of just 7.5 fantasy points to kickers n their first six contests of 2023.

Sit ’Em

Matt Gay vs. Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Gay has been a fantasy machine in the last few weeks, scoring 10 or more points in three of his last four games including one where he had 24 points. I would temper expectations this week, however, as Gay faces a Browns defense that’s allowed just five field goals this season.

More Sits

Blake Grupe vs. Jaguars (Thur. 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video)
Daniel Carlson at Bears (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Wil Lutz vs. Packers (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)