The Great Debate: To Start or Not To Start? Week 7

“It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” — David Steindl-Rast

Is anyone else starting to feel a little numb? At this point in the fantasy season, every week seems to bring another wave of devastating injuries, inconvenient bye weeks, and outcomes that feel impossible to predict. We spend days analyzing matchups, monitoring injury reports, and agonizing over lineup decisions, only to watch everything fall apart before halftime. And then we get to do it all over again.

But there's something almost amusing about how quickly we forget what the offseason feels like. During those painfully quiet months, when football news slows to a crawl and we're desperately searching for something worth discussing, we'd give anything for weeks like these. The nonstop news, unpredictable performances, waiver-wire scrambles, and difficult decisions are exactly what we spend months looking forward to.

Perhaps it's during our most frustrating moments that gratitude becomes especially valuable. As I wrote a few weeks ago, "the only way out is through." We'll survive the injuries, disappointments and baffling fantasy performances. But why rush toward the finish line? We only get so many weeks of football each year, and before long, we'll be wishing we could have them back.

So let's enjoy every miserable second, appreciate the game we love, and embrace whatever chaos Week 7 has in store.

As always, you'll find a recap of this week's recommendations, along with last week's receipts and lessons learned, at the end of the article. And if your particular dilemma isn't covered, consult your preferred rankings or send me your start/sit questions @FFrealitycheck on X.

Quarterbacks

To Start: Kyler Murray vs. Indianapolis Colts

Kyler Murray burned us as my first thumbnail start in Week 4, so recommending him again gives me some pause, even in a favorable matchup. However, he looked considerably better against New Orleans before Minnesota's bye, completing 24 of 30 passes for 229 yards and a TD while adding 51 rushing yards.

Here's what opposing quarterbacks have done against the Colts:

• Week 1: Lamar Jackson, 324 yards, 1 TD (40 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD)
• Week 2: Patrick Mahomes, 382 yards, 3 TD
• Week 3: C.J. Stroud, 167 yards, 1 TD (10 rushing yards)
• Week 4: Athan Kaliakmanis, 186 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT; Marcus Mariota, 46 yards (35 rushing yards)
• Week 5: Aaron Rodgers, 235 yards, 3 TD
• Week 6: Cam Ward, 102 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Minnesota is a 5.5-point home favorite in a game with a 41.5-point over/under, giving the Vikings an implied total of 23.5 points. Weather won't be a factor indoors.

Indianapolis has been inconsistent defensively, and its disappointing 2-4 start even prompted the firing of GM Chris Ballard. Meanwhile, Minnesota could have its full complement of receiving weapons available, with Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson potentially joining Justin Jefferson. A healthier backfield, including Aaron Jones and potentially Jordan Mason, could also improve the offense's ability to sustain drives. Murray's own rushing ability provides another avenue for fantasy production.

Of course, this could go horribly wrong. Murray has thrown just two TDs across his three full starts, and we've already seen him squander favorable opportunities. A healthier running game could also limit his passing volume. Ideally, you have a more dependable option, but the point of this series isn't to recommend obvious weekly starters like Josh Allen or Brock Purdy. We're looking for players who can outperform expectations, and Murray's matchup, improving supporting cast, and rushing upside make him an intriguing gamble this week.

Not To Start: Patrick Mahomes at Seattle Seahawks

Let me be clear: Benching Patrick Mahomes is rarely a good idea. But this article isn't about warning you against starting Malik Willis or Cam Ward. I'm not benching Mahomes without a considerably better alternative, and I'm certainly not starting Geno Smith over him just because his matchup looks easier. Mahomes remains one of the NFL's best quarterbacks, and nobody should be surprised if he delivers another big performance in prime time.

However, we can't ignore how formidable Seattle's defense has been this season.

Here's what opposing quarterbacks have done against the Seahawks:

• Week 1: Drake Maye, 178 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT (47 rushing yards)
• Week 2: Jacoby Brissett, 95 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
• Week 3: Marcus Mariota, 183 yards, 3 TD (11 rushing yards)
• Week 4: Justin Herbert, 189 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT (40 rushing yards)
• Week 5: Brock Purdy, 189 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
• Week 6: Bo Nix, 107 yards, 0 TD

Seattle is a 2.5-point home favorite in a game with a 41.5-point over/under, giving Kansas City an implied total of just 19.5 points. That's a surprisingly modest projection for an undefeated Chiefs team.

The Seahawks have surrendered just 157 passing yards per game, intercepting seven passes while allowing eight touchdowns. Even when opponents have found the end zone, they've struggled to accumulate yardage. Seattle's defensive success has been particularly impressive considering the offense's struggles.

Of course, Sam Darnold has been turnover-prone, and Seattle still hasn't established a dependable running game. That could give Mahomes plenty of opportunities, particularly if the Chiefs capitalize on short fields. However, Kenneth Walker III has transformed Kansas City's rushing attack, already accumulating 665 rushing yards and eight TDs. Mahomes wasn't needed much against the Chargers last week, throwing for 272 yards without a touchdown while Walker scored twice.

I'm not suggesting Mahomes suddenly belongs on fantasy benches everywhere. His talent and ability to elevate his game against elite opponents make him exceptionally difficult to sit. But Seattle has consistently limited opposing quarterbacks, and Kansas City's newfound rushing dominance gives Mahomes another obstacle to reaching his usual fantasy ceiling. If you have another strong QB1 alternative, this is one of the rare weeks I'd seriously consider using it.

Not Much to Debate

C.J. Stroud vs. New York Giants is a start I wouldn't overthink. He's been playing excellent football, throwing for 312 yards and three TDs last week while continuing to protect the football. Jaylin Noel has emerged as another legitimate receiving weapon, Marvin Harrison Jr. should become increasingly involved, and Nico Collins remains the team's top target. With Houston still struggling to establish a dependable running game, Stroud should continue carrying the offense through the air. Against a vulnerable Giants’ defense, he's firmly in the QB1 conversation.

On the other hand, Daniel Jones at Minnesota belongs nowhere near fantasy lineups if you have a reasonable alternative. He's been terrible, and now faces arguably the NFL's best defense. Jones threw two more interceptions against Tennessee last week, and his occasional rushing production isn't nearly enough to compensate for his passing struggles. I'd even consider starting a player at another position over him in superflex leagues this week. That's how little confidence I have in his chances against Minnesota.

Running Backs

To Start: Josh Jacobs at Detroit Lions

Starting another Green Bay running back. What could possibly go wrong? After last week's disastrous MarShawn Lloyd recommendation, I'm going right back to the Packers' backfield, this time with Josh Jacobs, who could make his season debut against Detroit. Unlike Lloyd, whose appeal largely depended on touchdowns despite limited opportunities, Jacobs has an established history as a featured back. Admittedly, there's considerable uncertainty about his immediate workload, but I'm willing to take the chance if he's active without a significant restriction.

Here's what opposing running backs have done against the Lions:

Week 1:

• Travis Etienne: 9 carries, 46 yards (7 rec., 32 yards)
• Kendre Miller: 9 carries, 30 yards, 1 TD

Week 2:

• James Cook: 21 carries, 135 yards, 1 TD (1 rec., 4 yards)

Week 3:

• Breece Hall: 13 carries, 32 yards (3 rec., 23 yards)
• Braelon Allen: 4 carries, 14 yards (3 rec., 3 yards)

Week 4:

• Chuba Hubbard: 20 carries, 122 yards, 2 TD (1 rec., 7 yards)

Week 5:

• Jeremiyah Love: 12 carries, 22 yards
• Tyler Allgeier: 3 carries, 7 yards (2 rec., 9 yards)

Week 6: Bye

Green Bay is a three-point road underdog in a game with a 53.5-point over/under, giving the Packers an implied total of approximately 25 points. Weather won't be a factor indoors at Ford Field.

Detroit has been considerably more vulnerable through the air, while its run defense has generally held up well outside of big performances from Cook and Hubbard. However, the Packers have been forced into a pass-heavy approach without Jacobs, averaging an NFL-worst 59.8 rushing yards per game. His return should provide a much-needed boost to an offense that's struggled to establish any consistency on the ground.

The obvious concern is whether Jacobs immediately receives the lion's share of opportunities after six weeks away from game action. Even if he's active, there's no guarantee he immediately returns to a featured role, especially behind an offensive line that hasn't exactly inspired confidence. His availability alone won't tell us everything about how Green Bay intends to use him.

Still, with the Packers projected to score plenty of points, I'd expect Jacobs to be heavily involved around the goal line and gradually reclaim control of this backfield. Given the injuries and limited alternatives most fantasy managers are dealing with, I'm willing to trust him if he's cleared without a reported workload restriction. The matchup isn't especially favorable on the ground, but the offensive environment and potential touchdown opportunities make him worth the gamble.

Not To Start: New York Giants Backfield at Houston Texans

What a mess. Cam Skattebo appeared to have established himself as New York's featured back before his costly overtime fumble in Week 5. The Giants subsequently announced a reduced role for Skattebo, with veteran Najee Harris expected to take on more work. Instead, Skattebo played just six snaps without touching the football, Harris managed two yards on four carries, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. scored twice on just eight touches while playing roughly 40% of snaps. All this in a game where a quarterback change nearly sparked a miraculous comeback.

Now Harris has been released, leaving us with absolutely no clarity about how this backfield will operate. Unfortunately, the matchup doesn't offer much encouragement either.

Here's what opposing running backs have done against the Texans:

• Week 1: James Cook, 13 carries, 57 yards (3 rec., 12 yards)
• Week 2: Chase Brown, 20 carries, 80 yards (3 rec., 2 yards)
• Week 3: Jonathan Taylor, 23 carries, 68 yards (2 rec., 4 yards)
• Week 4: Javonte Williams, 19 carries, 62 yards, 3 TD (5 rec., 21 yards)
• Week 5: Tony Pollard, 14 carries, 52 yards
• Week 6: Bhayshul Tuten, 12 carries, 39 yards (4 rec., 48 yards, 2 TD)

New York is a 10-point road underdog in a game with a 42.5-point over/under, giving the Giants an implied total of just 16.25 points. Houston has been particularly effective at limiting rushing yardage, although Williams and Tuten demonstrated that touchdowns can still salvage productive fantasy performances.

The problem is figuring out who will receive those opportunities. Skattebo could reclaim his featured role if his punishment was temporary, while Tracy has certainly earned more playing time. We could also see Devin Singletary become a meaningful part of a three-headed committee after playing more than a third of the snaps last week.

Perhaps Skattebo or Tracy emerges as the clear lead back, or maybe they split the workload relatively evenly, leaving fantasy production dependent on touchdowns and dump-off receptions. With J.J. McCarthy taking over at quarterback, there's another unknown in an already unpredictable offense. Add a difficult matchup and no dependable distribution of touches, and I'm steering clear of this entire backfield until we have more clarity.

Not Much to Debate

Jaylen Warren at New Orleans remains a start I'm comfortable with despite Rico Dowdle's return. Warren managed just 9.8 PPR points last week, but still played 75% of snaps and handled twice as many carries as Dowdle, who played just 27%. Dowdle's receiving involvement is concerning, and Warren no longer has the bell-cow role that made him a weekly RB1. However, he's still the clear lead back, and New Orleans has been one of the league's most generous defenses against running backs. I'm trusting him as an RB2, even with a somewhat reduced floor and ceiling.

On the other hand, Kendre Miller vs. Pittsburgh belongs on the bench if you have a reasonable alternative. Miller benefited from favorable game script against the Giants, handling 22 touches but managing just 70 scoreless yards. His limited receiving involvement leaves him heavily dependent on rushing production and touchdowns. Pittsburgh has allowed just three rushing TDs to running backs through six games and held Bucky Irving to 46 yards on 19 carries last week. Miller could certainly luck into a touchdown, but I'm not particularly interested in betting on it.

The Curious Case of Zach Charbonnet

After missing the first six games while recovering from a torn ACL suffered during Seattle's playoff run, Zach Charbonnet could finally make his season debut against Kansas City on Sunday night. He's spent much of his career sharing the backfield with Kenneth Walker III, and the expectation entering this season was another timeshare, this time with first-round rookie Jadarian Price. With Walker on the visitors’ sideline and Price still on IR, what can be reasonably expect from Charbonnet?

First, this isn't quite the same situation as Josh Jacobs returning for Green Bay. Charbonnet is recovering from reconstructive knee surgery, and even if he's medically cleared, there's no guarantee he'll immediately regain his previous effectiveness or be trusted with a substantial workload.

Last season, Charbonnet averaged 11.5 carries, 45.6 rushing yards, 1.25 receptions and 0.75 rushing TDs across 16 games, all with Walker active. The two essentially split playing time, but Charbonnet scored 12 rushing TDs to Walker's five. He was considerably less explosive, recording five runs of 20-plus yards on 184 carries (2.7%), compared with Walker's 10 on 221 (4.5%). His biggest fantasy advantage was his scoring opportunities.

But that was with a healthy knee and an entirely different backfield. To understand what opportunities might await him, here's how Seattle has distributed its backfield workload through six weeks.

Carries, targets and percentage of offensive snaps played.

• Week 1 vs. NE (W 13–10): Seattle trailed until the fourth quarter.
  • Price: 10 carries, 2 targets, 48% snaps
  • Holani: 8 carries, 1 target, 46%
  • Wilson: 2 carries, 0 targets, 6%
• Week 2 at ARI (W 31–7): Tied at halftime before Seattle pulled away.
  • Wilson: 21 carries, 1 target, 41%
  • Price: 13 carries, 2 targets, 34%
  • Holani: 4 carries, 1 target, 26%
• Week 3 at WAS (L 31–33): Seattle trailed most of the game. 
  • Wilson: 9 carries, 0 targets, 36%
  • Holani: 3 carries, 5 targets, 36%
  • Price: 5 carries, 3 targets, 28%
• Week 4 vs. LAC (W 30–23): Seattle built a 27–6 lead before the Chargers rallied.
  • Wilson: 21 carries, 4 targets, 60%
  • Holani: 7 carries, 1 target, 37%
  • Price: Inactive
• Week 5 vs. SF (L 29–32): Competitive game with multiple lead changes.
  • Wilson: 20 carries, 2 targets, 59%
  • Holani: 4 carries, 4 targets, 41%
  • Price: Inactive
• Week 6 at DEN (L 14–17, OT): Seattle trailed 14–3 before its fourth-quarter comeback.
  • Holani: 5 carries, 0 targets, 58%
  • Wilson: 14 carries, 1 target, 32%
  • Velus Jones Jr.: 4 carries, 1 target, 11%
  • Price: Inactive

The clearest example of a potentially valuable workload came in Weeks 4 and 5, when Emanuel Wilson handled 20-plus carries in consecutive games, playing roughly 60% of snaps and delivering 27.0 and 13.2 PPR points. However, George Holani ran more receiving routes (25–20), despite playing fewer snaps. Week 6 complicated things further, with Holani playing 58% of snaps, including most of the fourth quarter and overtime, but receiving just five carries and no targets. He did score from the one-yard line, illustrating how unpredictable the distribution of valuable opportunities has become.

Neither back has established himself as indispensable, but we shouldn't assume Seattle will continue distributing opportunities the same way with Charbonnet. Kenneth Walker III demonstrated what a featured role could look like during last season's playoff run, handling 19, 19 and 27 carries across three victories while playing roughly 60–65% of snaps and contributing as a receiver. However, Walker was healthy, the superior talent, and thriving in win-or-go-home games that ultimately resulted in a Super Bowl victory.

Charbonnet's high-end outcome could resemble that workload, commanding 60–65% of snaps with most of the rushing opportunities and meaningful receiving and goal-line involvement. At the low end, Seattle could ease him back with limited touches while Wilson and Holani retain substantial roles, leaving little opportunity for useful fantasy production.

A more plausible initial scenario might involve 30–40% of snaps, with opportunities to gradually approach 50–60% as his recovery progresses. Jadarian Price's eventual return could complicate matters further. However, even Walker's playoff workload didn't require an overwhelming snap share, so Charbonnet's opportunities within those snaps will matter just as much as the playing time itself.

The matchup isn't particularly inviting either. Kansas City has allowed just 88.8 rushing yards and 16.6 points per game, with Jonathan Taylor accounting for two of the three rushing TDs surrendered. Remove the Colts matchup, and that rushing average drops to 81.3 yards. Seattle's defense has also been formidable, allowing just 20.3 points per game. With a modest 42.5-point total, this could be a defensive battle with limited scoring opportunities.

Ultimately, if you have Charbonnet on your roster, I understand the excitement. I'm excited about his potential, too. However, I'd have to be pretty desperate to trust him in my starting lineup this week, even if he's active. Admittedly, with injuries and bye weeks piling up, desperation feels more common than ever. But expecting an immediate featured workload after such a significant injury seems overly optimistic, especially against a difficult opponent.

Patience is a virtue. His role could grow considerably over the coming weeks, and usable fantasy running backs don't exactly grow on trees.

Wide Receivers

To Start: Carnell Tate vs. Cleveland Browns

Do I feel wonderful about recommending a receiver who depends on Cam Ward? Absolutely not. But I would've said the same thing last week, and Carnell Tate rewarded fantasy managers with six catches for 70 yards and a TD on seven targets. He's clearly Tennessee's most dependable receiving weapon, whenever there actually is a passing attack.

Here's what opposing wide receivers have done against the Browns:

Week 1:

• Parker Washington: 5 rec., 83 yards, 1 TD
• Jakobi Meyers: 2 rec., 40 yards, 1 TD

Week 2:

• Chris Godwin: 3 rec., 46 yards
• Emeka Egbuka: 3 rec., 16 yards, 1 TD

Week 3:

• Brycen Tremayne: 4 rec., 83 yards
• Tetairoa McMillan: 2 rec., 17 yards

Week 4:

• DK Metcalf: 5 rec., 115 yards
• Roman Wilson: 3 rec., 74 yards, 1 TD

Week 5:

• Garrett Wilson: 7 rec., 104 yards, 1 TD

Week 6:

• Zay Flowers: 6 rec., 66 yards
• Ja'Kobi Lane: 4 rec., 40 yards

Tennessee is a 1.5-point home underdog in a game with a 37.5-point over/under, giving the Titans an implied total of just 18 points. Not exactly an encouraging scoring environment, but Cleveland has allowed several productive receiving performances, including 100-yard games from Metcalf and Wilson.

Tate has commanded 44 targets through six games, including 12 against Baltimore in Week 4, when he erupted for nine catches and 145 yards. Unfortunately, he followed that performance with one catch for six yards against Houston before rebounding last week. That's the frustrating reality of trusting this offense. Ward has struggled with accuracy and consistency, and Tennessee has managed just 14 points per game.

Cleveland also presents a tougher challenge than Indianapolis, and Denzel Ward could make Tate's afternoon particularly difficult. Even his substantial target share can't guarantee useful production when the quarterback is struggling to move the football.

Still, Tate has demonstrated that he can overcome his circumstances, and there's little reason to expect Tennessee to suddenly stop emphasizing its most productive receiver. I'm willing to trust him as a WR3 or FLEX this week, although there's seemingly always a chance the entire passing attack disappears again. Fingers crossed.

Not To Start: Josh Downs at Minnesota Vikings

I've been waiting for Josh Downs to become a dependable fantasy option again, but six weeks into the season, it's becoming increasingly difficult to trust him. He's failed to reach nine PPR points in his last three games, and unfortunately, the matchup offers little reason to expect a turnaround.

Here's what opposing wide receivers have done against the Vikings:

Week 1:

• Christian Watson: 6 rec., 147 yards, 2 TD
• Matthew Golden: 6 rec., 95 yards

Week 2:

• Kalif Raymond: 5 rec., 40 yards
• Rome Odunze: 3 rec., 43 yards
• Luther Burden III: 3 rec., 32 yards

Week 3:

• Emeka Egbuka: 5 rec., 62 yards
• Ted Hurst: 1 rec., 40 yards, 1 TD

Week 4:

• Malik Washington: 5 rec., 67 yards
• Kevin Coleman Jr.: 1 rec., 3 yards

Week 5:

• Chris Olave: 4 rec., 46 yards
• Devaughn Vele: 4 rec., 26 yards

Week 6:

• Bye

Indianapolis is a 6.5-point road underdog in a game with a 41.5-point over/under, giving the Colts an implied total of just 17.5 points.

Minnesota has been absolutely suffocating since Green Bay's explosive Week 1 performance, allowing opposing wide receivers just 98 receiving yards per game over its last four contests, while surrendering only one TD. Granted, the competition hasn't exactly featured an abundance of elite passing attacks, but Indianapolis certainly doesn't qualify as one either.

The frustrating part is that Downs hasn't disappeared from the offense. He played 85% of snaps and ran routes on 84% of dropbacks last week, drawing eight targets. However, those opportunities produced just four catches for 40 yards, while Keenan Allen converted 11 targets into eight receptions for 82 yards. Downs has yet to score a TD this season, and Tyler Warren's potential return could create even more competition for targets.

There's certainly a chance Indianapolis falls behind and Daniel Jones throws enough to support useful PPR production. But we've repeatedly seen that passing volume alone isn't enough to overcome an inefficient offense. Downs remains talented and involved, so I'm not abandoning him in fantasy. However, until he demonstrates a more dependable connection with Jones, I'm keeping him on the bench against one of the league's toughest defenses.

Not Much to Debate

Germie Bernard at New Orleans is a start I'm comfortable with after his breakout performance against Tampa Bay. The rookie has caught 17 of 21 targets for 167 yards and a TD over the last two games, emerging as one of Aaron Rodgers' most dependable receiving options. New Orleans has struggled against opposing receivers, and Bernard's short-area involvement provides an appealing PPR floor. We shouldn't expect an 11-catch performance every week, but his expanded role and favorable matchup make him a trustworthy WR3 or FLEX.

On the other hand, Courtland Sutton at Arizona belongs on the bench if you have a reasonable alternative. The matchup is tempting, but Sutton has managed just 123 receiving yards through six games, despite playing nearly 80% of Denver's offensive snaps. He's simply not earning enough targets, and Bo Nix has been among the NFL's worst quarterbacks this season. Perhaps both rebound against Arizona's vulnerable secondary, but I'd rather see consecutive encouraging performances before trusting Sutton again. Admittedly, I'm hoping this recommendation backfires, since injuries and bye weeks have forced me to start him in one of my own leagues.

Tight Ends

To Start: T.J. Hockenson vs. Indianapolis Colts

We haven't seen T.J. Hockenson since his early exit with a concussion in Week 5, just before Minnesota's bye. However, the previous week, he exploded for 13 receptions and 119 yards against Miami, albeit with Justin Jefferson sidelined. With the extra recovery time, Hockenson could return against Indianapolis, and assuming he's cleared without restrictions, I'm willing to put him back in my fantasy lineups.

Here's what opposing tight ends have done against the Colts:

Week 1:

• Mark Andrews: 4 rec., 49 yards
• Matthew Hibner: 1 rec., 13 yards

Week 2:

• Travis Kelce: 9 rec., 101 yards, 1 TD

Week 3:

• Dalton Schultz: 3 rec., 30 yards
• Foster Moreau: 2 rec., 7 yards, 1 TD

Week 4:

• Chig Okonkwo: 2 rec., 5 yards

Week 5:

• Pat Freiermuth: 5 rec., 44 yards, 2 TD

Week 6:

• Tennessee's tight ends combined for 0 receptions on 2 targets.

Minnesota is a 5.5-point home favorite in a game with a 41.5-point over/under, giving the Vikings an implied total of 23.5 points. Weather won't be a factor inside U.S. Bank Stadium.

Indianapolis has been inconsistent against tight ends, with Travis Kelce and Pat Freiermuth delivering particularly productive performances. The short and intermediate passing game offers opportunities, and Hockenson could be a significant beneficiary if Kyler Murray capitalizes on the matchup. Minnesota could also have its full complement of receiving weapons available for the first time in weeks.

Of course, we've only really seen Hockenson deliver one strong fantasy performance this season. His 13-catch explosion came without Jefferson, and his previous three games produced just nine receptions for 76 yards and one TD. Trusting Murray is already a gamble, and attaching another fantasy starter to that offense certainly compounds the risk.

Still, the matchup is manageable, Hockenson has demonstrated his upside, and the tight end position isn't exactly overflowing with dependable alternatives. Assuming he's healthy and practicing without restrictions, I'm willing to trust him this week. You could certainly do worse.

Not To Start: Harold Fannin Jr. at Tennessee Titans

I'm not ready to fully panic about Harold Fannin Jr., particularly in dynasty, but we're approaching the same uncomfortable territory we reached with Dalton Kincaid last week. Fannin has delivered consecutive lineup-killing performances, catching just two passes for 13 yards over his last two games. At some point, we have to stop trusting what we hope he'll produce and acknowledge what he's actually giving us.

Unfortunately, Tennessee hasn't been particularly generous to opposing tight ends either.

Here's what opposing tight ends have done against the Titans:

Week 1:

• Kenyon Sadiq: 3 rec., 21 yards (1 rushing TD)
• Jeremy Ruckert: 1 rec., 4 yards

Week 2:

• Dallas Goedert: 1 rec., 4 yards
• Johnny Mundt: 2 rec., 8 yards

Week 3:

• Isaiah Likely: 2 rec., 13 yards

Week 4:

• Mark Andrews: 5 rec., 27 yards, 1 TD
• Matthew Hibner: 2 rec., 34 yards

Week 5:

• Dalton Schultz: 3 rec., 30 yards
• Foster Moreau: 2 rec., 8 yards

Week 6:

• Mo Alie-Cox: 1 rec., 1 yard, 1 TD
• Will Mallory: 2 rec., 20 yards

Cleveland is a 1.5-point road favorite in a game with a 36.5-point over/under, giving the Browns an implied total of just 19 points. Tennessee has allowed only 175 receiving yards and two receiving TDs to tight ends through six games, hardly an encouraging matchup for someone searching for a rebound.

Fannin's talent hasn't suddenly disappeared, and Cleveland's offense could certainly benefit from involving him more. However, Deshaun Watson continues struggling to generate dependable passing production, while Fannin has drawn just seven targets over the last two games. Even his earlier productive performances were somewhat dependent on touchdowns rather than overwhelming receiving volume.

I'm not necessarily dropping Fannin or benching him for whichever unappealing streamer happens to be available, particularly in deeper or TE-premium leagues. But after consecutive disasters, I need to see meaningful involvement before trusting him again. Even then, there's no guarantee that production won't disappear the following week. Until something changes, he's simply too difficult to trust.

Not Much to Debate

Dallas Goedert vs. Dallas Cowboys is a start I'm comfortable with, although he probably deserves a more detailed discussion. He caught six of eight targets for 61 yards against Carolina last week, continuing to command meaningful opportunities even with Tanner McKee at quarterback. Dallas has been vulnerable through the air, and Philadelphia should have plenty of opportunities to involve Goedert. He's hardly the sexiest fantasy option, but let's face it, there aren't many tight ends who are. Given his dependable involvement and the matchup, I'm trusting him as a TE1.

On the other hand, Dalton Schultz vs. New York Giants has become increasingly difficult to justify starting. Houston's passing offense is finally hitting its stride, but Schultz appears to be losing ground in the receiving rotation. He played just 40% of offensive snaps during last week's shootout with Jacksonville, finishing with four catches for 33 yards on six targets. Outside his 12-catch, 140-yard explosion in Week 2, he's failed to reach eight PPR points in every other game. His targets remain somewhat encouraging when he's actually running routes, but with Nico Collins, Jaylin Noel, Marvin Harrison Jr. and now Foster Moreau competing for opportunities, there simply isn't enough dependable involvement to trust Schultz in fantasy lineups.

Recap

To Start

• QB: Kyler Murray
• RB: Josh Jacobs
• WR: Carnell Tate
• TE: T.J. Hockenson

Not Much to Debate: C.J. Stroud (QB), Jaylen Warren (RB), Germie Bernard (WR), Dallas Goedert (TE)

Not To Start

• QB: Patrick Mahomes
• RB: New York Giants Backfield
• WR: Josh Downs
• TE: Harold Fannin Jr.

Not Much to Debate: Daniel Jones (QB), Kendre Miller (RB), Courtland Sutton (WR), Dalton Schultz (TE) 

The Curious Case: Zach Charbonnet (RB), who has intriguing rest-of-season potential and should make his return soon.

Last Week’s Receipts (Week 6)

Scoring: Full PPR for RBs, WRs and TEs. QBs: 4-point passing TDs, -1 per INT 

Quarterbacks 

To Start: ✅ Tyler Shough: 27.0

Not To Start: ✅ Jacoby Brissett: 7.9

Not Much to Debate: 

✅ Jordan Love (Start): 21.2 | ✅ Justin Herbert (Sit): 9.8

Running Backs 

To Start: ❌ MarShawn Lloyd: 1.0

Not To Start: 🟡 Jeremiyah Love: DNP (inactive)

Not Much to Debate: 

❌ Rhamondre Stevenson (Start): 3.6 | ✅ Omarion Hampton (Sit): 7.9

Wide Receivers 

To Start: ✅ Germie Bernard: 25.7

Not To Start: ❌ DeMario Douglas: 19.6

Not Much to Debate:

❌ Christian Watson (Start): 9.4 | ✅ Matthew Golden (Start): 22.4 | ✅ Brian Thomas Jr. (Sit): 0.0

Tight Ends

To Start: ❌ Juwan Johnson: 0.0

Not To Start: 🟡 Dalton Kincaid: 10.8

Not Much to Debate:

 🟡 Brenton Strange (Start): 9.4 | ✅ Kenyon Sadiq (Sit): 2.2

Review

Mixed results in Week 6, with our quarterback recommendations providing the clearest successes. We correctly anticipated Tyler Shough’s bounce-back performance, while our concerns about Jacoby Brissett were justified. Unfortunately, the hits were considerably harder to find elsewhere.

MarShawn Lloyd was a disaster despite the favorable matchup against Dallas. The lesson is straightforward: His two touchdowns the previous week came on limited usage, and we placed too much faith in that production translating into another useful performance without a dependable workload. Jeremiyah Love’s late scratch made our recommendation to bench him moot.

Germie Bernard was arguably our best call, while DeMario Douglas was among our worst. Admittedly, A.J. Brown’s brutal drops and Romeo Doubs’ early exit, which ultimately landed him on IR, were difficult to anticipate. That makes me hesitant to call this a complete process failure. Still, given our confidence in Drake Maye and Douglas’ potential to emerge as his third or fourth receiving option, perhaps we should've been indifferent rather than actively recommending a sit.

Juwan Johnson’s goose egg was our most glaring miss. He was originally a Not Much to Debate selection before replacing Dallas Goedert following the Jalen Hurts injury news. While I still believe Johnson was generally worth trusting, we identified clear warning signs in the matchup, particularly how effectively the Giants had limited opposing tight ends. Even one of fantasy’s more dependable options clearly isn’t matchup-proof.

Dalton Kincaid’s outcome depends heavily on the scoring format. His seven receptions for 38 yards produced just 3.8 standard points, 7.3 half-PPR points and 10.8 full-PPR points. In full-PPR leagues with an additional 0.5 or 1.0 points per TE reception, however, those totals jump to 14.3 and 17.8. Benching him was defensible given his recent struggles, and he still failed to fully capitalize on a favorable matchup. However, his eight targets, mostly on short throws, were an encouraging indication that Buffalo wants him more involved moving forward.

The biggest lesson is another reminder that favorable matchups and potential opportunities cannot replace dependable usage. Lloyd exposed that mistake, while Johnson showed the danger of overlooking matchup-specific concerns simply because we trust a player's overall role. And although circumstances helped Douglas outperform expectations, our recommendation was probably too aggressive given the quality of his quarterback. Not every decision needs to be a strong start or sit. Sometimes the most appropriate conclusion is that we're genuinely indifferent.