This is the Fantasy Nerd's look at the best and worst matchups for Week 7 of the 2021 NFL season. Analysis is aggregated from multiple sources including FN. Rankings are based upon PPR (point per reception) scoring. Given the known conditions, these matchups are the ones to watch and/or avoid.
Please Note: This list does not generally include the elite players that you are going to start regardless of matchup. You don't need us to tell you to start Alvin Kamara, Travis Kelce, or Davante Adams. Instead, we take a look at other players on your team that we believe either have great matchups or should be avoided for multiple reasons. Factors like opposing defense, performance trending, and peer comparisons may influence our decisions.
Bye-maggedon Edition
Start 'em Ryan Tannehill (TEN, QB)Tannehill hasn't exactly lit the fantasy world on fire in 2021, but this is definitely a get-right game for him. The Chiefs give up the 2nd-most fantasy points to quarterbacks - largely because their offense is so productive that teams are forced to throw to catch up. The Chiefs have given up multiple 30+ point games this season.
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2nd Most Pts to QB
Start 'em Derek Carr (LV, QB)Ranked 9th this week on Fantasy Nerds is Derek Carr who has four games this year with at least 340+ passing yards. While he may not put up another 300+ yard game against the Eagles, the matchup is good enough that Carr belongs in fringe-QB1 discussions for Week 7.
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14th Fewest Pts to QB
Start 'em Matt Ryan (ATL, QB)Fresh off a bye, Matty Ice and the Falcons will face a Miami secondary that ranks inside the Top 10 in most points allowed to QBs on the season including 37 points to Brady, 21 points to Carr, and 18 points to Wentz. With six teams on bye this week, Ryan could finish Week 7 as a QB1.
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8th Most Pts to QB
Start 'em Darrell Henderson (LAR, RB)Ranked 4th among running backs this week on Fantasy Nerds is Darrell Henderson who doesn't seem to have any lingering injury issues. In fact, he's delivered an average of 19.4 points since missing Week 3, and we expect that fantasy goodness to continue against a Detroit defense that is giving up the second-most points to backs this year.
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Most pts to RB
Start 'em Chuba Hubbard (CAR, RB)Christian McCaffrey owners have to be angry with the IR designation after what seemed to be just a short absence. If you managed to get Chuba Hubbard off waivers, lucky you. This is another week where he'll be a startable fantasy option against a hapless Giants defense that has been torched the past two weeks.
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4th Most Pts to RB
Start 'em Cordarrelle Patterson (ATL, RB)Ranked just inside our Top 10 is the dual-threat Cordarrelle Patterson in a great matchup with the Dolphins. James Robinson, Leonard Fournette, Jonathan Taylor, and Zack Moss all put up double-digit points against them. Add in Patterson's average of five receptions per game, and this is an RB2 situation that screams for a starting spot on your roster.
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5th Most Pts to RB
Start 'em Brandin Cooks (HOU, WR)It's not a great matchup, but Brandin Cooks has the volume to make him a WR2 even against a tough opponent. He hauled in 9 catches off 12 targets last week and remains the focal point in the Texans' passing game. We'd expect the game script to have Houston playing from behind which is not great if you're a Texans fan, but awesome if you have Brandin Cooks in your lineup.
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9th Most Pts to WR
Start 'em Darnell Mooney (CHI, WR)Ranked 29th this week on Fantasy Nerds is Darnell Mooney - essentially the new Allen Robinson in Chicago. He's averaging 6.5 targets every week and seems to have developed a rapport with Justin Fields. While you can't run on the Bucs, you can certainly throw against them. Mooney should be a safe flex option for you this week.
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7th Most Pts to WR
Start 'em Jaylen Waddle (MIA, WR)It will be interesting to see how the return of DeVante Parker impacts Waddle's targets, but last week he was targeted 13 times - the second time that has happened this year. He's going to be a boom or bust type of player, but still warrants flex consideration in this matchup.
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11th Most Pts to WR
Start 'em Dallas Goedert (PHI, TE)Assuming Dallas Goedert comes off the COVID list, he becomes an instant TE1. Zach Ertz has been traded to the Cardinals leaving the top spot in Philly all to Goedert. That's fantastic for fantasy owners - especially in a matchup against the Raiders who just gave up 15 points to Noah Fant last week and 13 points to Jared Cook two weeks prior.
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7th Most Pts to TE
Start 'em Hunter Henry (NE, TE)Is your tight end on bye? Hunter Henry may be a fantastic filler here. He's coming off three straight games with touchdowns and double-digit fantasy points playing a Jets defense that has been susceptible to short passes underneath. The Jets are the team that Kyle Pitts had his breakout game against in Week 5. Henry could make his fourth trip to the endzone in this one.
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8th Most Pts to TE
Start 'em Matt Gay (LAR, K)Matt Gay is the 6th-best fantasy kicker after six games. He's behind Tyler Bass by only 10 points and could close that gap this week against a Lions team giving up the second-most fantasy points this season.
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2nd Most Pts to K
Start 'em New England Patriots (NE, DEF)Nobody gives up more fantasy points to opposing defenses than the Zach Wilson-led New York Jets. It almost doesn't seem fair, but if you have the Patriots D, you're playing them.
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Most pts to DEF
Sit 'em Daniel Jones (NYG, QB)Do you smell that? The stink coming off of Daniel Jones after posting back-to-back 4 point fantasy days is overwhelming...especially after he started the season so strong. With injuries to himself and his teammates mounting, it's very difficult to trust Jones to do much against the Panthers even though Carolina has given up some big games recently. The Panthers are allowing the 2nd-fewest yards through the air, so Jones will likely have to do it with his legs.
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15th Fewest Pts to QB
Sit 'em Mac Jones (NE, QB)The Patriots are a different team and it's going to take time for Mac Jones to hit his stride. Don't count on that happening this week though. The Jets secondary is tough. Not only do they give up the 3rd-fewest fantasy points to QBs, but Mac Jones managed just 7 points against them in Week 2.
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3rd Fewest Pts to QB
Sit 'em Jared Goff (DET, QB)This will be a fun game to watch given the revenge game narrative when he faces his former team, but Goff has been awful this year posting 9 points or less in half of his games. Over the last two weeks, the Rams secondary has kept both Daniel Jones and Geno Smith to a combined 13 points.
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9th Fewest Pts to QB
Sit 'em Le'Veon Bell (BAL, RB)Yes, Le'Veon Bell found the endzone last week, but we still wouldn't start him. This is a crowded backfield and Bell averaged just 2.2 yards per carry. His touchdown run was from two yards out with effective blocking by Mark Andrews. Bell will need to fall into the endzone to have fantasy value. Don't be fooled by the brand name. The 2017-version of Le'Veon Bell is long gone.
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14th Fewest Pts to RB
Sit 'em Kenyan Drake (LV, RB)Kenyan Drake is coming off a fantastic 21 point fantasy day, but context matters here. He did that largely off a touchdown run and a receiving score - both of which were the firsts of the season for him. Over his last three games, he's averaged just 2.3 carries and less than 1 reception. He's simply not being utilized enough to warrant fantasy consideration beyond a potential flex play.
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7th Most Pts to RB
Sit 'em Damien Williams (CHI, RB)After missing last week due to COVID, there's a chance that Williams could play in this one. Regardless of whether it's him or Khalil Herbert, a matchup with the Bucs isn't great. Tampa Bay is giving up just 3.4 yards per carry and the 10th-fewest fantasy points.
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8th Fewest Pts to RB
Sit 'em T.Y. Hilton (IND, WR)It was nice to see T.Y. Hilton back on the field last week; however, an injury sidelined him in the 4th-quarter. He may very well suit up for Week 7, but further injury risk is a legitimate concern making Hilton a risky play even for the flex spot.
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15th Fewest Pts to WR
Sit 'em Tyler Boyd (CIN, WR)In what should have been a plus matchup last week against Detroit, Tyler Boyd managed to haul in just one of his three targets for a whopping 1.7 fantasy points. That followed a 6.4 point fantasy day the week prior. Boyd is a risky play against a tough Ravens secondary that kept Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Tyreek Hill, Courtland Sutton, and Henry Ruggs to less than 10 fantasy points each.
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7th Fewest Pts to WR
Sit 'em Kenny Golladay (NYG, WR)After sitting out last week due to a knee injury, Kenny Golladay carries additional risk in Week 7. The Panthers have largely contained the opposing team's top receiver including limiting Justin Jefferson to just 6 points last week.
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11th Fewest Pts to WR
Sit 'em Gerald Everett (SEA, TE)Gerald Everett has largely been a disappointment this year. He had two 10-point games with Russell Wilson under center, but he also has two doughnuts in his game logs as well. There's just not enough volume here to warrant starting - especially if it comes down to you needing points on Monday night.
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9th Fewest Pts to TE
Sit 'em Robert Tonyan (GB, TE)We had Robert Tonyan as a Sit last week and his 3 fantasy points confirmed that choice. Baby Kittle always has potential, but he'll need to find the endzone against the Washington Football Team to be relevant. Travis Kelce, Kyle Pitts, and Jared Cook couldn't get into the endzone so the odds for Tonyan remain low.
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16th Fewest Pts to TE
Sit 'em Cairo Santos (CHI, K)It's tough to put points on the board if you can't move the ball. That's the dilemma facing Cairo Santos and the Bears. Santos has not hit double digits so far and will likely miss that goal once again in this matchup.
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14th Fewest Pts to K
Sit 'em Kansas City Chiefs (KC, DEF)The Chiefs offense is a well-oiled machine, but their defense is going to struggle to contain Derrick Henry who is on pace for a 2K yard season.
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10th Fewest Pts to DEF
