Week 7: Felix Jones, RB1 - 15 comments

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With DeMarco Murray expected to miss Sunday’s game against the Panthers, Felix Jones enters RB1 territory in our rankings. He was the top waiver pickup this week; if you got him, use him. In other injury news, it looks like tight end Jimmy Graham may not be able to play. We’ve ranked him as if he’ll be active, but you obviously want to be ready with a backup plan (pick Brandon Myers, he’s still not getting enough love). At wide receiver, we’re expecting absences from Greg Jennings and Pierre Garcon, so you won’t find them below. Who are you thinking about starting and sitting? Let us know in the comments section, as always, and join us for our weekly Sunday morning chat if you still have questions leading up to kickoff.

Start: Andrew Luck, Colts. Luck came into last week’s matchup with the Jets on fire, with three consecutive two-TD games to his credit. However, he was held off the scoreboard in New York and threw two picks. He should be back to lighting it up this week, facing a Browns defense allowing more than 300 yards per game to fantasy QBs as well as 2.5 passing TDs per game. They’re the second best QB matchup to exploit, so that’s what we’re going to do with Luck.

Bench: Christian Ponder, Vikings. I’ve been a believer in Ponder over the last few weeks, but he’s a guy you want to avoid when he draws a tough matchup. That’s going to happen this week when he faces a Cardinals team that’s made life difficult for fantasy QBs this year, ceding just 235 passing yards per game to QBs while allowing less than a TD per game on average. With six byes, it may be difficult to scratch up a different starter this week, but if you can, do so.

Start: Chris Johnson, Titans. OK, CJ0K, I don’t want to believe in you again, but after rolling up your second productive day in three weeks, I can’t keep you on the bench any longer (theoretical bench, as I’m lucky enough not to actually own him in any league). While he still hasn’t reached the end zone this year, Johnson did manage 114 total yards against the Steelers two weeks after posting 157 yards against the Texans. Buffalo isn’t an imposing run D, so run him out there (and cross your fingers).

Sit: Daryl Richardson, Rams. Richardson essentially split time evenly with Steven Jackson this week, so it’s got to be pretty tempting to use him against an average Packers run defense this week. However, he has just two solid fantasy performances and four lousy ones this season, and the first good one came way back in Week 2. Richardson also hasn’t reached the end zone this year. He seems like a borderline flex play rather than a RB2 option until we see more.

Start: Domenik Hixon, Giants. The Giants receivers draw the best possible fantasy matchup at their position this week, taking on a Redskin defense that has been run over by WRs this year. It was nearly enough to make Victor Cruz our No. 1 receiver this week, and it’s enough to push Hixon into WR3 territory. He’s managed to grab 15 balls for 247 yards over the last three weeks, and I expect him to at least hit that average in this great matchup.

Sit: Chris Givens, Rams. The rookie has been a big-play threat over the past couple weeks, leading to him getting some love on the waiver wire this week. But he’s strictly a modest-boom-or-bust guy, because if he doesn’t catch his one deep ball, you have a dud on your hands. He did manage to catch three passes last week after hauling in just one per game in his previous two weeks, but unless I’m desperate, I’m not touching him, even for the flex.

Start: Scott Chandler, Bills. The Titans have allowed 82.5 yards and 1.17 TDs to opposing TEs per game this season, making them a great target if you can find a solid TE playing the team. Chandler has been quiet the past two weeks but does have four TDs this season, so this seems like a great matchup to exploit.

Sit: Fred Davis, Redskins. Davis hasn’t caught a touchdown this year, leading to pretty mediocre numbers over the first six weeks. Now he’s facing the Giants, a team that hasn’t allowed a tight end to catch a TD all year. The Giants have also held opposing TEs to under 50 yards per game, which adds up to another disappointing performance for Davis.

Start: Minnesota Vikings. The Cardinals are surrendering 4.5 sacks per game, which is great news for a defense predicated on pressure from Jared Allen. He’ll also likely get to feast on backup QB John Skelton, who will play in his first game since Week 1. If he’s rusty, the defense could scoop up multiple turnovers to go along with multiple sacks.

Sit: New York Jets. I still see the Jets defense owned in a lot of leagues, and I just don’t get it. They’ve been pretty bad over the first five weeks of the year, managing their first good performance last week against the Colts. Now they have to go into New England and play a team that knows their weaknesses better than anyone. I’d definitely look somewhere else.