close
close

Guiltandivy

Source for News

    • 10 RBs to start or sit
    Update Information

    10 RBs to start or sit

    Kathleen William Posted on

    play

    Bye Weeks reduced fantasy football running back rotations in Week 6, with Kyren Williams and De'Von Achane among the top players out of action. Week 7 will be much friendlier for fantasy football managers.

    Only the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys will be out in Week 7. That eliminates D'Andre Swift, Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott from the running back conversation, but in that group only Swift has been a starter every week.

    As such, there will be plenty of running back options to trust in NFL Week 7, giving fantasy owners the opportunity to eliminate big-name players in difficult-looking matchups. These start/sit-em decisions are often risky, but the right combination of true stars and waiver-wire streamers is the key to any successful fantasy lineup.

    Who can you trust in Week 7 of the 2024 fantasy football season? Here are five running backs to start and five to sit.

    OPINION: Tom Brady's conflict of interest reflects superstar privilege in the NFL

    Fantasy Football starts them: Week 7 RBs

    Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos (at New Orleans Saints)

    Williams is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry this season and has yet to find the end zone, but that could change against the Saints. New Orleans has allowed an average of 169 rushing yards per game during its four-game losing streak and has conceded multiple rushing touchdowns in three of those contests. Cheer for Williams on Thursday night with the expectation that he could be a high-end RB2.

    Austin Ekeler, Washington Commanders (vs. Carolina Panthers)

    The Panthers have given up a league-leading 803 yards and 12 touchdowns to running backs this season. Ekeler could be Washington's No. 2 back if Brian Robinson Jr. is able to return from a right knee injury for the Week 7 contest, but he could still perform as a top-15 running back.

    A typical example of this is Atlanta Hawks What the running back duo did on the ground against the Panthers in Week 7:

    With that in mind, don’t be afraid to use Ekeler as a true RB2 in a favorable matchup. If Robinson is out, Jeremy McNichols could be a good sleeper flex in a favorable matchup.

    Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. New England Patriots)

    Travis Etienne Jr. will likely miss this game as he battles a “week-to-week” hamstring injury. That will push Bigsby into the lead back role in a favorable matchup against a Patriots defense that has given up at least 133 rushing yards in every game since the loss of star linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley. The Patriots have also missed at least one rushing touchdown in every game this season, so Bigsby should have a good chance to score in his second straight London game.

    AMARI COOPER TRADE QUALITIES: Did the Bills or Browns make a top deal for the outstanding receiver?

    Antonio Gibson, New England Patriots (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)

    Gibson's matchup is similar to Bigsby's. The Jaguars have given up at least 99 rushing yards in five straight games and have allowed a touchdown on the ground in each game this season. If Rhamondre Stevenson (foot) is unable to play in this contest, Gibson should handle most of New England's hectic workload. Additionally, the Jaguars have allowed the second-most receiving yards to RBs this season and Gibson has RB2 potential at this point.

    Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Detroit Lions)

    Aaron Jones (hip) may not play for the Vikings against the Lions. If not, Chandler will likely handle the bulk of the workload unless new trade acquisition Cam Akers is able to split the carries with him.

    Chandler is playing against a Detroit defense that just lost Aidan Hutchinson to a gruesome leg injury. This should create more space on the edge for Chandler to operate. So if he gets more than 15 touches, he should score double-digit fantasy points in most formats.

    Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 7 RBs

    Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns (vs. Cincinnati Bengals)

    Chubb will finally return from the gruesome knee injury he suffered in Week 2 of the 2023 NFL season. While it may be tempting to bet on him given his penchant for strong, physical runs and his ability to score touchdowns, it's hard to trust him without seeing him in game action. The Bengals just held the New York Giants' running backs to 63 yards on 20 carries on “Sunday Night Football,” so this isn't a great game for Chubb since their defensive tackles are now healthy.

    Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Baltimore Ravens)

    Irving made his breakthrough in Tampa Bay's 51-27 win over the Saints. He faces a much tougher test in Week 7, as the Ravens are allowing just 59 rushing yards per game this season, which is the lowest in the league. Irving could still be a solid flex player with Rachaad White out, but the Buccaneers expect to rely more on Baker Mayfield to carry their offense through the air against a porous Baltimore secondary.

    Zack Moss, Cincinnati Bengals (at Cleveland Browns)

    In the Bengals' 17-7 Week 6 win over the Giants, Moss suffered a critical fumble in the second half and was effectively benched afterward. Chase Brown handled most of the work, outscoring the veteran, who managed just 15 yards on seven touches. Cincinnati may give Moss another chance to prove himself, but at this point it seems more likely that he remains second fiddle to Brown, which will relegate him to a touchdown-dependent flex.

    NFL POWER RANKINGS WEEK 7: Where do the Jets end up after losing to the Bills and Davante Adams?

    Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)

    Mason's status for Week 7 is unclear as he's dealing with a shoulder injury, but trusting the 49ers' running backs against the Chiefs doesn't sound like a great plan either way. Kansas City has allowed a league-low 263 rushing yards to running backs this season (52.6 yards per game), so the 49ers' backs may just be low-end flex plays, especially with Kyle Shanahan tries to split the workload to evenly protect Mason.

    Devin Singletary, New York Giants (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)

    Singletary could return from a groin injury in Week 7, but he likely lost work to Tyrone Tracy Jr., who had back-to-back games with more than 100 scrimmage yards in Singletary's absence. The Eagles have allowed at least 113 rushing yards in all five games this season, but without knowing how New York's workload will be divided, it's hard to trust Singletary as anything more than a TD-dependent flex.

    Fantasy Football: Start'em, Sit'ems, Week 7

    Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports offers you:

    → Do you need an edge under the center? Here are the best quarterback options to start and sit in Week 7.

    → The wide receiver position has been decimated this season. Protect yourself in Week 7 with start 'em, sit 'em advice for wideouts.

    → Tight ends can be the perfect x-factor for any fantasy team. Here's who you should start and sit with in week 7.

    → Good defense can shut down your fantasy opponent's offense. Here are some D/ST options for starting and participating in Week 7.

    → Kickers are people too: Here are some of the most clutch kickers your fantasy team should have in Week 7.

    Tagged:

    LEAVE A RESPONSE

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Kathleen William
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like

    ads