Here is Week 7's NFL Fantasy Football Rookie Start 'Em, Sit 'Em! The top rookies are holding strong this week with good production or good matchups in their favor at this point in the year.
Several rookies have disappointed this year for various reasons. So the "sit" section highlights players who are new to the conversation and should be stashed, as well as players it might be time to move on from.
NFL fantasy football rookie starts for Week 7
Start 'Em: Germie Bernard
The matchup: The Pittsburgh Steelers are facing the New Orleans Saints in Week 7. The Saints are ranked 16th in points allowed to wide receivers in fantasy, at 26 points per week. They are in the bottom ten in passing yards allowed per play, passing yards allowed per game, and EPA allowed through the air.
Why I'm starting him: Bernard has created strong chemistry with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Last week, he led all rookies in targets with 12, which he turned into 11 receptions for 87 yards and his first career touchdown.
In the last two weeks with Michael Pittman Jr. out, Bernard has not only taken Pittman's role and snaps, but he's become Pittsburgh's WR1. He has more targets, receptions, yards, and touchdowns than D.K. Metcalf over Pittsburgh's last two games.
Fantasy Outlook: WR2
Start 'Em: Carnell Tate
The matchup: The Tennessee Titans are matched up with the Cleveland Browns in Week 7. Despite Cleveland's defense holding up fine without Myles Garrett this season, the Browns are the 11th-best matchup for fantasy football wide receivers, allowing 28.4 points per contest. They have also allowed a passing touchdown in every game this season.
Why I'm starting him: Carnell Tate had a bounce-back game against the Indianapolis Colts last week with six catches for 70 yards and his first touchdown of the season. He continues to be the main hub of the offense that just got its first win of the season.
Right now, Tate is the only receiving option for Cam Ward who can make chunk plays happen in the passing game. Ward had three completions of more than 10 yards in the game against the Colts, and all three went to Tate.
Fantasy Outlook: WR2
Start 'Em: Denzel Boston
The matchup: On the flip side of the matchup, the Cleveland Browns are facing the Tennessee Titans this week. Tennessee is allowing the 10th-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers (29).
Despite being pretty average across the board as a pass defense, one thing stands out about Tennessee. The Titans are particularly weak against deep passes to outside receivers, which is right in Boston's wheelhouse. Tennessee is 27th in EPA/dropback on targets 20 or more yards downfield and 30th in EPA/DB against targets out wide.
Why I'm starting him: It was a tough week for Boston last week (one reception on five targets for 15 yards), but it was his worst performance of the season by far, and it came against the Ravens. The Titans will be a softer matchup this week, especially given their struggles against outside receivers on deep passes.
Boston has earned the right to stay in lineups after a bad game, given how he's played this season. He's still Cleveland's top receiver, and despite the dip in production last week, he led all Browns receivers in offensive snaps and targets. Expect a return to form this week for Boston.
Fantasy outlook: WR2
NFL fantasy football rookie sits for Week 7
Sit 'Em: Omar Cooper Jr.
The matchup: The New York Jets are facing the Miami Dolphins this week in a divisional matchup! Miami is still one of the toughest matchups for fantasy wide receivers, partly because opponents haven't needed to rely heavily on the passing game against them. They are the third-worst matchup against wide receivers, giving up just 18.3 points per contest.
Why I'm sitting him: Let's get some new names in here this week! Omar Cooper Jr. had a great first week back for the Jets after not playing since Week 1. He caught six of his seven targets for 103 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots.
While managers should monitor Cooper and potentially add him, they should be wary of putting him in their lineups. Now that teams have seen Cooper have a big game, they might be better prepared for him.
The Jets' pass-catchers are also starting to get healthier, which is something else to keep in mind. AD Mitchell is practicing for the first time since Week 3, when he hurt his finger, and Kenyon Sadiq is going through his first fully healthy week since his big game in Week 3.
Cooper could be an afterthought in the offense if both of those players are active and part of the game plan, especially Sadiq. Miami is giving up the fourth-most fantasy points and the most EPA to tight end targets this season.
Fantasy Outlook: Bench/stash
Sit 'Em: Makai Lemon
The matchup: The Philadelphia Eagles are facing the Dallas Cowboys this weekend. Dallas is giving up the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season, at 30.3 per game. They are also in the bottom ten in both passing yards and passing touchdowns allowed.
Why I'm sitting him: Things are falling apart in Philadelphia. Jalen Hurts is now out for the season as he recovers from his blood clot diagnosis; Saquon Barkley is still questionable with his hamstring injury; and the offensive line is still reeling from its moves just last week.
All of this culminated in backup quarterback Tanner McKee coming in and starting against the Panthers. He threw for 215 yards and a score in a 25-14 loss.
Lemon, meanwhile, had three catches for just 19 yards in the contest and was third on the team in targets. With DeVonta Smith back in the lineup, drawing 14 targets and finishing with seven catches for 75 yards and a touchdown, it looks like McKee knows where to go with the football.
Lemon has yet to catch on in a real way during his rookie year. And who can blame him, given all of the craziness that's happened with the Eagles? The talent is still worth keeping in case he develops chemistry with McKee, but if you need the roster spot, you might be safe cutting Lemon as well.
Fantasy outlook: Bench/stash
Sit 'Em: KC Concepcion
The matchup: Once again, the Browns and Titans are matched up this week. The flip side to Tennessee's defense against wide targets is how the Titans fare against targets to slot receivers, where Concepcion primarily lines up.
Tennessee is 16th in the NFL in EPA allowed to slot targets so far this season.
Why I'm sitting him: Not only are the Titans pretty good against slot receivers this year, but Concepcion just hasn't had enough pop to warrant a spot in fantasy lineups. Out of 43 wide receivers and tight ends with at least 35 targets, Concepcion is 36th in average depth of target.
He also hasn't scored a touchdown or even seen an end-zone target this season.
Concepcion is involved in the offense for Cleveland. He's now first on the team in targets and second among wide receivers in snaps played, but it has not turned into fantasy production. His most productive day was five catches for 64 yards, which, depending on your league settings, may have gotten you double digits. And in deeper leagues, he might be involved enough that you've started him ever since.
Concepcion might be an example of a player with more real-life value than fantasy value, which is just fine for the Browns, but bad for fantasy football managers. Unless there's a drastic change in the offense this season, you can probably cut Concepcion from your team if you need the roster spot.
Fantasy outlook: Bench/cut
Rookie sleeper of the week: Ja'Kobi Lane
The matchup: The Baltimore Ravens are facing the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7 for their first matchup of the season. The Bengals are 23rd in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers and are sixth in passing yards allowed.
Why he's my sleeper: Other than the surprisingly tough defensive matchup, Ja'Kobi Lane is probably a sit this week. But he needs to be mentioned as a player on the rise, and fantasy managers should try to stash him on their benches while monitoring Baltimore's overall injury situation.
Like Cooper, Lane played in his first game since Week 1 last week and had a pretty good game. He caught four balls on five targets for 40 yards while playing with Baltimore's backup quarterback Tyler Huntley.
Lamar Jackson was limited at practice on Wednesday as the Ravens prepare for this divisional matchup. It's the first time he's gotten on-field work since injuring his ankle on October 4th. If Jackson is back healthy this week, Lane is instantly appealing in fantasy.
After getting five targets in his own first game back from injury, it appears the hype around him from the preseason is going to turn into a real opportunity.
At the very least, Lane should be scooped up now for a potentially strong end-of-season run. At best, if Jackson plays this week, Lane could be a "start" in lineups.
Fantasy outlook: Bench/stash
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