As week 7 of the NFL season approaches, fantasy football team managers will be navigating another round of bye weeks, plus injuries to some top running backs. Saquon Barkley could be back for the Philadelphia Eagles, but he is still on the mend from a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, the top fantasy running back, Jahmyr Gibbs, returns from his bye week. Last week, Christian McCaffrey and Kenneth Walker were the top two running backs, while Bhayshul Tuten and James Cook were third and fourth. With the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills both on bye, Tuten and Cook will not be available. The Washington Commanders and Los Angeles Chargers are also on bye this week.
With multiple solid running backs on bye, plus injuries, there are more limited options in Week 7. Regardless, there are some clear players that need to be started, and a group that needs to be on your fantasy football bench in Week 7.
Start ‘Em
Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit (vs. Green Bay)
Jahmyr Gibbs has been the best running back in fantasy football this year. He is the number one running back in fantasy and has ranked as the top running back in two of the five weeks he has played this year. Further, he has ranked in the top three in four of the five weeks so far. He has run for 504 yards and seven touchdowns so far this year, while also hauling in 27 receptions for 243 yards and another two touchdowns. Gibbs has also scored a touchdown in every game this year.
Gibbs has a great matchup this week as well. The Green Bay Packers are giving up the fourth most points to running backs so far this year. They are also one of the best against opposing quarterbacks, which will lead to more carries and opportunities for Gibbs in this one.
Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City (@ Seattle)
Kenneth Walker III has been everything Kansas City would have hoped for when they signed him in free agency. He has run for 665 yards and six touchdowns this season, while also leading the NFL in yards per carry. Walker won't be as big a part of the receiving game as Gibbs in Detroit, but the volume he gets near the goal line and overall on the ground makes up for it. While Walker has never been RB1 for the week, he has been RB2 three times and never finished worse than 7th.
This week, K9 is facing the team that drafted him with the 41st overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, and where he spent his first four seasons, the Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks have been a middle-of-the-pack team against the run this year, giving up the 14th most points. Still, considering they are one of the best against the pass, a heavy dose of Walker could be seen. As the season wears on, this will be a concern, given his more time-share role in Seattle, but right now, it is full go on Walker.
Braelon Allen, New York Jets (vs. Miami)
Braelon Allen has been the lead back for the New York Jets with Breece Hall out of the lineup. If Hall is out again, Allen could be in for a massive day. He has been taking over 85 percent of the snaps with Hall out, and has had some success, including 116 yards and a touchdown against a solid Browns defense. While Allen has shown some flashes in an otherwise dreadful Jets offense, this is the perfect matchup for him. The Dolphins are giving up the second most points to fantasy running backs this year. They are also giving up over 110 yards per game and nearly a touchdown per game on the ground this season.
The situation with Hall is worth monitoring. If he is a go this week, Allen's value will diminish, but he could still pull in enough workload to make him a low-end flex option in deeper leagues.
Other Starts: Derrick Henry, Baltimore (vs. Cincinnati) and Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams (at Las Vegas).
Sit ‘Em
Tony Pollard, Tennessee (vs. Cleveland)
The Tennessee Titans are fresh off their first win of the year and are looking to make it two in a row when hosting the Cleveland Browns. Tony Pollard has been the lead back in the offense so far this season. He has 87 rushes so far this year for 349 yards and a touchdown. Still, he has not broken any explosive runs, with his longest being just 18 yards, and is averaging under 60 yards per game. Pollard is also not a major threat in the passing game, with just eight receptions for 24 yards this year. He did see a workload increase last week, taking 76 percent of the snaps, well above his normal 55 percent. Still, he was RB31 last week and has been a top 20 back just once this year.
Right now, starting nearly any member of the Titans' offense is a risk. They are 31st in points per game, and dead last in touchdowns per game, while sitting 32nd in yards per game. Pollard is now facing a Browns defense that is the second-best against running backs in fantasy.
Article Continues BelowJK Dobbins, Denver (at Arizona)
JK Dobbins is another back that has seen his work share go up, but is still in a split situation. Dobbins is splitting with RJ Harvey for the Denver Broncos. It is not a split of carries overall, as Dobbins has 81 carries to Harvey's 21, but it is a split of time as Harvey is the primary receiving back for the team. Still, while Dobbins is getting the bulk of the carries, it is not enough to warrant playing him this week. He has just 270 yards this year and two touchdowns on the ground. He has been inside the Top 20 of running backs twice, both in the last two weeks.
Arizona is a slightly favorable matchup, as they give up the 16th most fantasy points to running backs. Still, with the teams giving up the fourth most points to quarterbacks, seventh to receivers, and fifth to tight ends, the bulk of the available scoring may go elsewhere.
Cam Skattebo/Tyrone Tracy, New York Giants (at Houston)
Cam Skattebo has been the primary back all year for the Giants. He has received 60 percent of the snaps or more in four of the six games, while in one of the misses he had 59 percent. Last week, he got just eight percent and did not record a carry. Skattebo called it a benching, being punished for recent fumbling issues. His head coach, John Harbaugh, would not confirm that. The top back in snap count last week was Tyrone Tracy. He finished as RB8 overall, with a touchdown on the ground and through the air. Still, he did not see a ton of volume either.
Houston has been solid so far this year. They are 11th overall against allowing points to running backs. Add in the fact that it seems to be a major time share in the backfield for the Giants; none of them are worth starting this week.
Other Sits: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans (vs. Pittsburgh) and Emanuel Wilson, Seattle (vs. Kansas City)