For Week 7, the column’s top pick is Detroit’s Jordan Love, while the surprising sit is Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes.
Key points
- Jordan Love is the recommended quarterback start for Week 7, backed by recent high fantasy scores and a favorable Lions defense.
- Patrick Mahomes is the advised sit, given his recent dip in fantasy output and the Seahawks' strong pass defense.
- Other quarterbacks to consider starting include Dak Prescott, C.J. Stroud, Kyler Murray and Kirk Cousins.
- Quarterbacks to avoid this week are Tyler Shough, Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones.
Matt Okada’s “Start ’Em, Sit ’Em” column for Week 7 focuses on fringe quarterback decisions, drawing on NFL Pro data, Next Gen Stats dashboards and his Fantasy AI Assistant, as noted on NFL.com.
The “Start of the Week” call is Jordan Love of the Detroit Lions. Love has posted over 18 fantasy points in four of his last six games and logged 45.5 points across his two most recent outings. He ranks third in passing yards league‑wide (1,684) and has scored a touchdown in every game. Detroit’s defense, which allows the fewest passing yards per game, may further boost his deep‑ball attempts – Love leads the league with 32 throws of 20 + air yards.
Start of the Week: Jordan Love
Conversely, the “Sit of the Week” recommendation is Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite a 5‑0 record and a 103.1 passer rating, Mahomes has not exceeded 17 fantasy points since early season and recorded a low 10.48 points against the Chargers. The Seattle Seahawks, who allow the fewest passing yards (156.8) and yards per attempt (5.2), present a tough matchup for a quarterback who derives 62.4% of his production from yards after catch.
Okada also flags several other viable starts: Dak Prescott (Dallas) against a battered Eagles defense, C.J. Stroud (Houston) who is living up to his 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year hype, Kyler Murray (Minnesota) after a season‑high outing versus the Saints, and Kirk Cousins (Los Angeles) who has consistently posted 18.5+ fantasy points and now faces an injury‑hit Rams secondary.
Sit of the Week: Patrick Mahomes
On the sit side, Tyler Shough (New York) has seen his yardage dip and his touchdowns become erratic, while Sam Darnold (Seattle) has posted just over 10 fantasy points per game and struggles against a strong Chiefs defense. Daniel Jones (Indianapolis) has failed to reach 14 fantasy points and meets the league’s toughest defensive matchup this week.
Reader questions
Why is Jordan Love considered a strong start this week?
Love has posted over 18 fantasy points in most recent games, ranks third in league passing yards, and benefits from a Lions defense that allows the fewest passing yards, increasing his deep‑ball opportunities.
What makes the Seahawks defense a tough matchup for Patrick Mahomes?
Seattle allows the fewest passing yards per game (156.8), the lowest yards per attempt (5.2) and limits yards after catch, which historically accounts for a large share of Mahomes’ fantasy production.
Are there any other quarterbacks worth starting besides Love?
Okada highlights Dak Prescott, C.J. Stroud, Kyler Murray and Kirk Cousins as additional viable starts based on recent performance and favorable matchups.
Source: nfl.com
