Here are five players that can lead you to a W this weekend, as well as two situations that you might want to avoid.

Also, three waiver-wire players for those in need of a last minute plug-and-play at flex.

Ideally, the “start” section would have been more balanced this week, position-wise, but Mike Evans’ injury worries mean he might not be declared healthy/out until after Sunday’s games.

WEEK 7 STARTS

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Demario Douglas (New England)

The Patriots are in London this weekend to face the beleaguered Jacksonville Jaguars in what looks a difficult game to call.

Whichever way you see the game going though, there can be no doubts about the vulnerability that the Jacksonville defense has through the air. The Jaguars have allowed a league-high 1660 receiving yards in 2024, and allowed rookie Caleb Williams to throw for four scores in the English Capital, just last week.

For the Patriots, second-year receiver Demario “Pop” Douglas is now leading the team in targets. Douglas was the WR10 in half-ppr in week six and I’m expecting another good showing at Wembley.

Sleeper has Douglas rostered at just 48% this morning (Friday), so you may be able to pick him up for nothing.

Austin Ekeler (Washington)

Austin Ekeler has performed really well this season. Despite merely spelling for Brian Robinson, as well as having the second-most actively mobile quarterback in the league, Ekeler has only finished lower than RB26 (half-ppr) once in five games.

Last week, with Robinson sidelined, Ekeler put up disappointing numbers as a starter. But, as I’ll double down on later, nobody has run on the Baltimore Ravens all season long, so that doesn’t concern me in the slightest.

Brian Robinson is still limited in practice, and his injury designation after today’s session will be a good indication as to his availability on Sunday. If Robinson plays, I might look elsewhere as Ekeler will be playing back-up again.

If Robinson can’t play though, Ekeler could be set for a huge game against a Carolina defense that has given up the second-most rushing yards in the league so far.

Tony Pollard (Tennessee)

Pollard was included in last week’s start/sit article and paid off with 88 total yards and a touchdown against Indianapolis.

This week, he heads east to Buffalo. Through six weeks, the Bills have allowed a per game average of over 110 rushing yards, almost seven receptions and over sixty receiving yards to the running back position.

With his back-up, Tyjae Spears, likely sidelined this weekend after missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday, Pollard could be in for a big workload.

Tank Bigsby (Jacksonville)

Back to the game at Wembley, I’m backing Tank Bigsby to come up big for the Jags on Sunday.

Over weeks five and six, New England were tied (Saints) for the third-most rushing yards per attempt in the league, along with three rushing touchdowns.

Travis Etienne is expected to be a game-time decision after injuring his hamstring in last weekend’s loss to the Bears at Tottenham. Even if Etienne plays, his limited practice week and recent lack of form should see Bigsby favored to lead the ground attack for Jacksonville.

Chuba Hubbard (Carolina)

You could’ve forgiven Carolina fans for overlooking Hubbard at the beginning of the year, as they looked ahead to the return to health of second-round pick Jonathon Brooks.

But regardless of the team’s struggles this season, Hubbard has been a pleasant surprise for the Panthers, as well as fantasy managers.

The RB20 in half-ppr last weekend, Chuba Hubbard had previously put up three straight RB1 finishes (RB5, RB7, RB9) through weeks 3-5.

Early on this season, much was made of Washington’s frailties against the pass. But the Commanders are actually struggling more against the run through six weeks, giving up the fourth-most rushing yards per attempt in the NFL (tied with Seattle, Las Vegas).

In an attempt to slow down a Washington offense that has averaged 6.1 yards per play this year, Carolina would be wise to utilize their run game as much as possible, which should mean another big week for Hubbard.

WEEK 7 SITS

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Tampa Bay Running Backs (…Tampa Bay)

If you won the waiver wire bidding wars for Bucky Irving and Sean Tucker this week, congratulations! Unfortunately, they will likely be absolutely no use to you this week whatsoever.

The Baltimore Ravens remain the leagues best run defense through six weeks. The 354 rushing yards the Ravens have allowed this year is the eighth-lowest through the first six games of a season in the Super Bowl era.

Even if one of the Buccaneers running backs is the first player to hit fifty rushing yards against the Ravens this season, it could be any one of three players.

Rashaad White is now healthy again after missing week six and head coach Todd Bowles has indicated that Tampa Bay will “ride the hot hand” at running back, moving forward.

Najee Harris (Pittsburgh)

Najee Harris will be in plenty of starting line-ups this weekend after putting up 106 yards and a touchdown on the ground against the Raiders last week.

Harris averaged 7.57 yards per carry in week six, a really impressive number, but completely unsustainable. For context, only two players have averaged over six yards/carry on the season and Harris, even including last week, has averaged just 3.9.

A week earlier, Harris averaged 3 yards/carry against a run-friendly Dallas defense. The week before that, he was even worse, averaging 1.46 yards/carry against the Colts, who have allowed the most total rushing yards in the league this year.

Add to this that Jaylen Warren, in his first game back from injury, immediately out-targeted Harris in the passing game and I don’t see a case for starting Najee in fantasy this week.

Waiver Wire Plug-And-Plays

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Tutu Atwell/Jordan Whittington (LA Rams)

After their week six bye, the Rams are heading into week seven in search of only their second win of the season.

Veteran receiver Cooper Kupp has teased a week seven return but remained a limited participant in practice on Thursday. Regardless of Kupp’s status come game day though, both Tutu Atwell and Jordan Whittington should be worthy flex starters against Vegas.

The Raiders have just traded Davante Adams to the Jets, which further lowers the already low chances of Aiden O’Connel producing a shoot-out worthy performance, but the Rams head into this one with a point to prove.

Both Atwell and Whittington earned ten targets against Green Bay in week five, with Whittington catching seven for eighty-nine yards. Atwell pulled in one less, tallying six catches for fifty-eight yards, despite a significantly higher ADOT.

Keep your eyes on the injury report for this one, as Whittington has also been limited in practice this week.

Ja’Tavion Sanders (Carolina)

Ja’Tavion Sanders‘ put up a TE16 ranking last week (half-ppr), as the rookie’s role continues to grow in the Carolina offense.

Tight-end has been a pretty frustrating position so far in fantasy and if anyone gets themselves on the end of a touchdown pass, they’ll likely end up in the top twelve.

Sanders now has a red-zone target in each of his last three games, and this week faces a Washington team that have allowed twelve passing touchdowns in six.

In a season that has mystified at tight-end, that’s a solid enough reason for me to give him a spot in my team this week.

Those are my starts and sits for this week, feel free to comment if you agree, or disagree, with any of them, or if you have any of your own to add. I’ll release my week seven betting preview tomorrow.

In-depth stats from Pro Football Reference.