Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Quarterbacks Fantasy Football Week 7: Trust Tua on Sunday Night

In a showdown of former Alabama passers, Tagovailoa continues to put up big numbers.

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 Quarterbacks

1. Jalen Hurts vs. Dolphins
2. Patrick Mahomes vs. Chargers
3. Josh Allen at Patriots
4. Tua Tagovailoa at Eagles
5. Lamar Jackson vs. Lions
6. Justin Herbert at Chiefs
7. Brock Purdy at Vikings (Mon.)
8. Jordan Love at Broncos
9. Sam Howell at Giants
10. Matthew Stafford vs. Steelers

Complete Week 7 quarterback rankings

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: Quarterbacks

Start of the Week

Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY Sports

Tua Tagovailoa at Eagles (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Tagovailoa hasn’t been super reliable in the stat sheets, scoring fewer than 17 points in two of his last three games. He did put up nearly 23 on the Panthers last week, however, and I’d start him against an Eagles defense that’s been generous to quarterbacks. In fact, their defense has allowed 19-plus points to three opposing signal-callers in 2023.

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Start ’Em

Brock Purdy at Vikings (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Listed as a sit ‘em in last week’s column, Purdy had his worst start as a pro with just 7.7 points in a loss to the Browns. He should rebound this week, though, as he’ll face a Vikings defense that’s allowed 19-plus points to three quarterbacks since Week 2. In all, the Vikings defense has allowed 11 scores and the ninth-most points to quarterbacks.

Jordan Love at Broncos (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Love is coming off his worst stat line of the season, scoring fewer than five fantasy points in a loss to the Raiders. He should get back in our good graces this week though, as Love faces what’s been an historically bad Broncos defense. They’ve allowed four quarterbacks to score 17-plus points, including three who have put up more than 20 points.

Sam Howell at Giants (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Howell has been sneaky good in recent weeks, scoring 18-plus points in each of his last three games. And with six teams on a bye, he’ll be a starter in plenty of fantasy leagues against the Giants. While this unit did hold Josh Allen to 13.9 points last week, it’s also given up more than 20 to Purdy and Joshua Dobbs and nearly 17 to Tagovailoa this season.

Geno Smith vs. Cardinals (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): Smith has been a shell of his 2022 self, scoring fewer than 16 points in all but one game while averaging a mere 13.6 points. With that said, he’s still a viable option during bye-maggedon in what is a plus matchup against the Cardinals. The Arizona defense has allowed 12 total scores and the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing field generals this season.

More Starts

Justin Herbert at Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
Deshaun Watson at Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Matthew Stafford vs. Steelers (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Geno Smith vs. Cardinals ($6,000)
Jordan Love at Broncos ($5,800)
Sam Howell at Giants ($5,500)

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Week 7 Sit ’Em: Quarterbacks

Sit of the Week

Bob Donnan/USA TODAY Sports

Kirk Cousins vs. 49ers (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Cousins has hit the skids in the last three weeks, scoring single digits twice, including last week in his first game without Justin Jefferson. Next up is a brutal matchup against the 49ers, who’ll be salty after losing to the Browns in Week 6. San Francisco has allowed just one enemy field general to beat them for more than 14 fantasy points in 2023.

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Sit ’Em

Jared Goff at Ravens (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Goff put up his best stat line on the road in well over a year last week, scoring 22.4 points in a win over the Buccaneers. I’d still beware the veteran this week, however, as Goff faces a tough Ravens defense. Their defense hasn’t allowed a quarterback to score more than 15.4 points against them this season, so Goff could be in for a difficult afternoon in the stat sheets.

Russell Wilson vs. Packers (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Wilson is coming off his worst stat line of the season, scoring just 6.9 points in a loss to the Chiefs. While he has averaged a respectable 17.2 points and will be a low-end fantasy starter this week, keep in mind that the Packers have allowed just one quarterback to beat them for more than 14.5 points this season. Wilson is a risk-reward fantasy option.

Kenny Pickett at Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): I've been wrong about Pickett, who was a popular sleeper in the preseason but has done little to support that projection. In fact, he's scored more than 12.4 fantasy points just once. So, while he'll be an option in super flex leagues, Pickett should ride the pine in most traditional formats against Aaron Donald and the Rams defense. 

Desmond Ridder at Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Ridder has scored four total touchdowns and 42.2 combined fantasy points in his last two games, but he’s still a tough starting option even with six teams on a bye. Ridder, who has tossed five interceptions in his last three starts, faces a Buccaneers defense that’s given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.

More Sits

Baker Mayfield vs. Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Mac Jones vs. Bills (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Gardner Minshew vs. Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Jared Goff at Ravens ($6,400)
Russell Wilson vs. Packers ($5,400)
Desmond Ridder at Buccaneers ($5,200)