Latest / Upper Hand Fantasy / 2026 Week 7 Starts and Sits: 22 Calls and What To Do With Your Waiver Adds

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2026 Week 7 Starts and Sits: 22 Calls and What To Do With Your Waiver Adds · Upper Hand Fantasy

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: If you picked up guys like Jeremy Bernard or Woody Marks off of waivers, you're probably wondering if they go right back into your lineup.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: I've got answers on both, plus a bunch of start sits, and desperate starts to help you win your matchup in week seven.
• 0:10
  SPEAKER_00: We're covering every position.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: Stick around because as a receiver, I've been banging the table for all season that I'm actually benching this week.
• 0:15
  SPEAKER_00: And there's one defense where every quarterback who's faced them has finished top six.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: I'll tell you who gets that matchup.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_00: So that's what we're gonna do today.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: Let's get right into it.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: Now, even with Rico Daddle coming back, I still want to start Jalen Warren against New Orleans.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: Daddle definitely took a little bit out of Warren's workload this past week, but the usage was still excellent for Warren.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: 74% of the snaps, 63% of the carries, 46% route participation, really good usage.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: You also got Pittsburgh's first goal line carry of the season.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: You compare that to week one when Daddle played more snaps, ran more routes, and had most of the third down and two-minute work.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_00: Not the case anymore.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_00: Warren had the third downs and more of the two-minute snaps this past week, and the matchup is about to get as good as it gets.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: The Saints give up the most points per game, the most rushing yards, and the most rushing touchdowns to running backs, plus the third most yards per carry as well.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_00: Tyrone Tracy just got it done against them in a negative game script.
• 0:59
  SPEAKER_00: Pittsburgh has the eighth highest implied total of the week, and they're favored by three and a half.
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: Warren's still a strong start.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: Now, staying in that game, I want to start Jeremy Bernard versus New Orleans as well.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: In the last two weeks without Michael Pittman, Bernard had a 96% route participation, team leading 28% target share.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: He's a wide receiver 11 in points per game during this two-game span, and he's become Aaron Rodgers' go-to guy.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: The matchup with the Saints isn't amazing at first glance for wide receivers, but they do allow the eighth most touchdowns to receivers plus the 10th most fantasy points per game to the slot, which is where Bernard ran the majority of his routes last week.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_00: So if you pick them up off waivers, you can start him right away as your wide receiver too.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: You don't leave this kind of volume on your bench regardless of matchup.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: I'm also starting Bucky Irving against Carolina this week.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: This is the best usage he's ever had in his career, including his rookie season.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: Last week he hit career highs and snapshare at 85%, a carry share at 90%, route participation at 62%, and now Baker Mayfield's coming back, which should give this whole offense a big boost.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_00: Carolina allows the most yards per carry to running backs, the second most points per opportunity, the third most rushing touchdowns, and the fourth most fantasy points per game.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_00: Tampa's a three and a half point underdog, so Vegas expects this one to stay close, and the game script shouldn't take him off the field.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: With that workload in this matchup, Bucky's in my lineup everywhere.
• 2:09
  SPEAKER_00: I'm also going to start Woody Marks against the Giants.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_00: The box score didn't really show it last week, but he's quietly been a workhorse without David Montgomery.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: We're talking 78% of the snaps, 61% of the carries, 61% route rate.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_00: He had all the short yardage, long down distance, uh all the two-minute work as well.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_00: That's very good utilization.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: Now he gets a Giants defense that allows the fifth most rushing yards and the fourth most yards per carry to running backs.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: Houston has the third highest team implied total of the week, and they're favored by 10 points.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: So if this plays out the way Vegas thinks it will, Marks could get some volume.
• 2:39
  SPEAKER_00: I wouldn't let Jawar Jordan scoring last week scare you off.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER_00: Same game.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_00: I'm starting CJ Stroud as well against the Giants.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: The Giants have given up the fifth most fantasy points and the fourth most passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this year, and quarterbacks not named Jacoby Brissett or Cam Ward are averaging 25.7 points per game against them.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_00: Stroud's looking to make it four straight games with 20 or more fantasy points, and he's been a top five quarterback in two of the last three weeks.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: Houston's got a top five team implied total, like I mentioned, so Vegas expects them to put up points.
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_00: And for some reason, he's only being started in 39% of leagues.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: I've got him as a locked-in QB1 this week.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: I'm also starting Jordan Love against Detroit.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_00: Here's the matchup.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_00: They give up the most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
• 3:15
  SPEAKER_00: They rank second in both passing yards and passing touchdowns allowed.
• 3:18
  SPEAKER_00: No quarterback who's faced the Lions has scored fewer than 21 fantasy points.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: Every one of them has finished top six, including Geno Smith and Jacoby Brissett.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: Think about that for a second.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: On top of all that, this game has the highest over-under of the week at 53 and a half.
• 3:31
  SPEAKER_00: Green Bay themselves have the seventh highest team implied total, and love is coming off back-to-back top eight finishes.
• 3:36
  SPEAKER_00: So he's getting hot at the right time.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: I love starting him everywhere I have him this week.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: And in that same game, I'm starting Tucker Kraft as well.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_00: Detroit is number one across the board against tight ends.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: They allow the most points, the most receiving yards, the most touchdowns per game to the position.
• 3:49
  SPEAKER_00: And schematically, it lines up too because Kraft is top 12 in target rate against single high safety looks, and the Lions run single high at the eighth highest rate in the league.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: He's actually tired with Christian Watson in target share since week three, believe it or not, which puts him top eight among all tight ends in that span.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_00: Again, highest over-under of the week, a top 10 team implied total.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: I just can't leave him on the bench.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_00: Now it might go without saying, but I am starting Josh Jacobs against Detroit.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_00: If you've been snatching him, like, yeah, you're gonna play him.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: It's a tough matchup on paper, sure, but Detroit's middle of the pack against running backs, not too bad.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: 11th in yards per carry allowed.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_00: I have to think he steps right back into the workhorse.
• 4:23
  SPEAKER_00: And again, he's doing it in the highest over-under of the week.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: You didn't hold him all this time to bench him in a game like this one, right?
• 4:28
  SPEAKER_00: I got a desperate start at wide receiver for you, and that's Keenan Allen against Minnesota.
• 4:32
  SPEAKER_00: Now it's a tough matchup on paper for Allen.
• 4:34
  SPEAKER_00: Like the Vikings don't give up a ton of fantasy points to wide receivers, but schematically, what Minnesota does defensively kind of fits what Allen has been performing against.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_00: They play two high safety coverage at the second highest rate, and Allen has averaged more than two yards per route run and has a 33% target rate against two high.
• 4:49
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, and the volume he's been getting, you know, makes him low-key really hard to bench because he's giving you a safe floor.
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_00: He's been out-targeting Josh Downs more often than not, unfortunately.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: And the Colts are six and a half point underdogs in this game, so they they could be throwing it a lot.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: And in that same game, I'm gonna sit Josh Downs against Minnesota.
• 5:06
  SPEAKER_00: You know, I can't believe it either, but I'm benching my guy Josh Downs.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_00: He's been extremely unreliable lately, obviously.
• 5:11
  SPEAKER_00: Keenan Allen has been out-targeting him more often than not.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, Minnesota allows the ninth fewest fantasy points per game to receivers and the sixth fewest to the slot, which is where Downs runs most of his routes from.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_00: His target rate and yards per route run gets cut in half also against too high safety coverage compared to single high.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_00: So Keenan Allen's the better play there, to be honest with you.
• 5:28
  SPEAKER_00: Vikings run too high at the second highest rate.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_00: So it pains me to say it, but it's really hard to trust Josh Downs right now.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_00: I'm looking to sit Xavier Worthy against Seattle.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: You know, it Rashi Rice might play this week, he might not, but it is worth noting that in games with Rice, Worthy's averaging only seven fantasy points per game, only a 15% target share.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_00: Without him, 13 points per game and a 23% target share.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, even if Rice sits, the matchup isn't great.
• 5:53
  SPEAKER_00: Seattle allows the seventh fewest points and the fifth fewest yards per game to receivers, plus the eighth fewest fantasy points per game to outside receivers, where Worthy runs most of his routes from.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_00: So either way, he'll be a flex at best, even if Rashi doesn't play.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_00: But I'd rather shoot for more upside if I can.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_00: I'm sitting all the Seahawks running backs, you know, if you're desperate, maybe you want to play Zach Sharon if he's back.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_00: And it does sound like he'll be back this week.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_00: We'll see.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_00: But if he if he is back, this backfield could just be a mess, right?
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_00: George Helani took over the backfield a little bit more last week.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_00: Like he had more snaps and routes than Emmanuel Wilson.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_00: He had the goal line carry, the third down and passing down work, but it is because like they were kind of in this like, you know, two-minute offense a whole lot.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_00: So, and you know, even if Charbonnet plays, it's hard to see him taking over the backfield in his first game back from an ACL tier.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, plus it's a tough matchup anyway, right?
• 6:38
  SPEAKER_00: Kansas City is bottom five in rush yards and yards per carry allowed to running backs.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_00: I just need to see how this shakes out before I trust any of these guys.
• 6:44
  SPEAKER_00: If you're hurting at tight end, I'm looking to start Tyler Higbee.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_00: He ran the most routes by far of any Rams tight end last week.
• 6:50
  SPEAKER_00: The route participation was very high.
• 6:52
  SPEAKER_00: The production just didn't follow.
• 6:53
  SPEAKER_00: I know Colby Parkinson had more production ahead of the touchdown last week, but I'm going back to the well with Higbee because the matchup is pretty good.
• 7:00
  SPEAKER_00: He had the better overall usage, he had more routes, all that.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_00: So I think the production will follow with Devontae Adams being out.
• 7:07
  SPEAKER_00: The Raiders allow the second most touchdowns and the fifth most fantasy points per game to tight ends.
• 7:11
  SPEAKER_00: Um, the Rams also have the fourth highest team implied total on the slate.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_00: And again, Terrence Ferguson still out, Devontae Adams also out.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_00: I think he should see some targets in this, you know, this week to lead to better production.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_00: Now, on the other side of the game, I'm looking to sit Trey Tucker against LA.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_00: He came through with two touchdowns last week, but I'm not counting on him to do it again.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_00: There were very specific reasons we like Tucker against the Bills last week.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_00: In this episode, we talked about it, right?
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_00: Just not seeing similar reasons to start him this week.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_00: The Rams allow the sixth fewest yards and the eighth fewest points per game to wide receivers, their bottom five in points allowed to outside receivers, which is where Tucker runs most of his routes from.
• 7:46
  SPEAKER_00: He's also adjusted 17% target share on the season.
• 7:49
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, nothing too crazy.
• 7:51
  SPEAKER_00: In the four games also that he hasn't scored, he's finished outside the top 45 every single time.
• 7:56
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, his bread and butter is big plays, and the Rams also allowed the sixth lowest rate of explosive pass plays this season.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, it's there could be some volume there because the Raiders are, you know, underdogs, but I'm still not chasing last week's touchdowns.
• 8:09
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I don't know how much I can trust Cam Scattaboo after last week.
• 8:12
  SPEAKER_00: I'm probably gonna sit him.
• 8:13
  SPEAKER_00: You know, they're obviously down to two backs now, really, in terms of like, you know, Najee Harris got cut, right?
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_00: So it's between him and Tyrone Tracy, but who knows who's gonna get the work?
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I want to believe Scatterboo is out of the doghouse after zero opportunities last week and a big donut in your lineup if you started him.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER_00: But this is a tough matchup overall, and JJ McCarthy is a starting quarterback, so who knows what to expect.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER_00: But Houston's bottom 10 in yards per carry, rush yards, receiving yards, and points per game allowed to running backs, and the Giants are the lowest implied team total of the week.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_00: I'm probably gonna try to find another option for Harold Fandon Jr.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: too, if I can.
• 8:44
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, he led the Browns with a 23% target share through the first three games of the season.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_00: Fandon's fourth in the team in targets over the last three games, just a 12% target share.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_00: He's behind Denzel Boston, Casey Concepcion, and Jerry Judy.
• 8:56
  SPEAKER_00: He's just running a lot of cardio right now.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_00: He just has one catch in each of the last two games, and he gets a Titans defense now that allows us six fewest receiving yards per game to tight ends.
• 9:04
  SPEAKER_00: He struggled against two high safety coverage this season in terms of like at least production.
• 9:07
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know if he struggled against it, but the production hasn't followed.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_00: Tennessee runs it at the seventh highest rate.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_00: He's still being started in nearly 70% of sleeper leagues.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_00: I'd rather start a streamer this week.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_00: It's it is what it is.
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_00: But in the same game, Denzel Boston, like, I want to start him, right?
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_00: Because he's one of the most consistent wide receivers.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_00: He didn't come through last week, and the implied total, you know, is low this week, but I'm running it back.
• 9:28
  SPEAKER_00: Tennessee gives up the sixth most receiving yards and fantasy points per game to receivers.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_00: You know, same two high covers I just mentioned with Fannon, but Boston ranks eighth in the NFL in yards per route run against it.
• 9:38
  SPEAKER_00: 21% target rate compared to just 14% against single high.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_00: I like him to get back on track this week.
• 9:44
  SPEAKER_00: And if I'm desperate with Quinshawn Judgins back, I will play him.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, Juggins is expected back this week along with Dylan Sampson.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_00: It's it's sneaky okay, you know, as a matchup.
• 9:54
  SPEAKER_00: Like no lead back has had a bad day against the Titans this year.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: They're ninth in rushing yards allowed to running backs, 14th in both rushing touchdowns and receiving yards.
• 10:01
  SPEAKER_00: Um, the Browns are slight favorites in this game, so Vegas expects a close game, so he could get some volume, right?
• 10:07
  SPEAKER_00: When he was healthy, the usage was okay.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_00: It was solid.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_00: I'd watch how Samson's return affects him, especially in the receiving game.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_00: And that, you know, that target rate where he was leading the league at some point is probably gonna go down.
• 10:16
  SPEAKER_00: I'm fine with him as a desperate play.
• 10:18
  SPEAKER_00: On the other side, I think Tony Power is also a desperate start if you need one.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_00: On paper, it might be a little bit of a tough overall matchup, but Cleveland does allow the fifth most yards per carry to running backs and the 10th most rushing yards as well.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_00: And in Tennessee's first win of the season last week, he hit season highs in snapshare and carry share.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_00: Vegas has this as a one and a half point spread, so this is another winnable game for Tennessee.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: The game shape might be fine.
• 10:37
  SPEAKER_00: A desperate start at wide receiver who I think actually has some upside this week is Wando Robinson.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER_00: You know, one more from this game here.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_00: Robinson's one of the sneaker plays this week if you're in a tough spot.
• 10:46
  SPEAKER_00: Cleveland's allowing the fourth most touchdowns and the ninth most fantasy points per game to receivers, plus the eighth most to the slot over the last four weeks, which is where he runs most of his routes from.
• 10:56
  SPEAKER_00: He's averaging a 23% target share this season, which is actually pretty solid, right?
• 10:59
  SPEAKER_00: There isn't much of a ceiling to chase normally, but you know, he has a floor, and this week might be a little bit higher than normal in terms of his ceiling.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: So I have no problem pivoting to him if I have to.
• 11:08
  SPEAKER_00: I'm perfectly fine starting Ali Gordon against the Jets, like, you know, kind of in between the desperate and a start.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but he's been pretty solid, man.
• 11:15
  SPEAKER_00: Like he's been a kind of a mini workhorse since Devon A-chan went down, playing 71% of the snaps.
• 11:20
  SPEAKER_00: He's handling 60% of the rushing attempts overall, running around on 54% of dropbacks, which is a big number.
• 11:25
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and the matchup isn't bad at all.
• 11:26
  SPEAKER_00: The Jets gave up the sixth most rushing yards so far, the 11th most fantasy points per game to running backs.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_00: Not dying to start him, but he's been productive with this kind of role three weeks in a row, even on a bad offense.
• 11:36
  SPEAKER_00: So there are a lot of worse options if you're scrambling.
• 11:38
  SPEAKER_00: That's everything for week seven.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_00: Keep an eye on the injury report through Sunday.
• 11:41
  SPEAKER_00: A lot of these calls kind of depend on them.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_00: But if this helped you guys, please hit the subscribe button, whether you're watching on YouTube or listening on the podcast.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_00: It helps so much.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_00: Good luck this week.
• 11:49
  SPEAKER_00: I'll see you in the next one.