Fantasy football sit/start advice, Week 7: Browns vs. Jaguars

For the Jacksonville Jaguars, nothing has really changed. They're terrible again -- still -- and it's hard to see a lot of hope for improvement in the immediate future. For the Cleveland Browns, though, things are looking up. The team sits at 3-2, and has been close to winning all five games. Now they get the Jaguars at the start of a three-game stretch of subpar opponents, and it's possible this is the start of a run for the AFC North team.

The Browns' fantasy players enter Sunday's game largely healthy. Running back Ben Tate was on the injury report because of his finger, but doesn't appear to be any sort of risk to be hindered Sunday. The most significant injury for the Browns' fantasy players, in fact, is probably an injury to an offensive lineman, as center Alex Mack hit the injured reserve with a broken fibula. Mack's absence could hurt the team's running game. On the Jacksonville side, running back Toby Gerhart is out Sunday with a foot injury, though he had been largely replaced in the team's offense as it was.

Start 'em: Mack's absence hurts Ben Tate a little, but the pros -- heavy doses of the run, awful defense against him, he's basically healthy -- do outweight the cons. ... Jordan Cameron appears healthy now, and he's far and away the best pass-catcher Cleveland has. He's an easy must-start tight end. ... Basically, any team facing Jacksonville is a fantasy starter. The Browns' defense is facing Jacksonville.

Start 'em?: The Browns are one of the most run-heavy teams in the league, but against a Jacksonville team that lets everyone score, Brian Hoyer still might get enough passes out there to be a reasonable QB2. ... Isaiah Crowell was supposed to be Cleveland's No. 3 running back at best this season, but he's climbed to No. 2, and in a game where the Browns could lead early, he could see plenty of action. ... Even with the Browns being generally productive, Billy Cundiff hasn't been a great kicker. Moderate production is fine, and he could have a big game, but he's not a sure starter.

Sit 'em: The Cleveland receiving corps has been occasionally productive -- Miles Austin has two double-digit fantasy days, Travis Benjamin has a two-score game, Andrew Hawkins has scored seven-plus three times -- but there's no way to know which one might produce, and last week none of them did.

Start 'em?: It looks like Cecil Shorts III is healthy now, and as long as he can stay healthy, he's talented enough to be a reasonable low-end flex play. ... Clay Harbor has been at least helpful to fantasy owners twice in his three games. He's still miles from a sure thing, but if you're missing Jimmy Graham or Zach Ertz, he could be a desperation play.

Sit 'em: In three of his four games, Blake Bortles has offered mild production, but nothing special, and his downside is significant. ... Storm Johnson hasn't been any better than Gerhart was when he was a starter. It's hard to blame either running back for it, with the team's awful offensive line, but it renders any Jacksonville running back unusable. ... Marqise Lee, Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns all have the potential to produce, but there isn't enough in the Jacksonville offense for many players to produce, and they fall by the wayside. ... Josh Scobee has been cursed to kick for a team that doesn't let him kick enough. I guess it's a relaxing job, but it isn't a fantasy-helpful one. ... The Jaguars' defense is bad to begin with, and Cleveland has been really good against opposing fantasy defenses.

Start in every league: Ben Tate, Jordan Cameron, Cleveland defense
Start if you're desperate: Brian Hoyer, Isaiah Crowell, Billy Cundiff, Cecil Shorts III, Clay Harbor
Bench: Miles Austin, Travis Benjamin, Andrew Hawkins, Blake Bortles, Storm Johnson, Marqise Lee, Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Josh Scobee, Jacksonville defense