Fantasy football sit/start advice, Week 7: Vikings vs. Bills

The Minnesota Vikings sit at 2-4 after losing their last two games. The Vikings have yet to play a close game all season, with no game ending with a one-score difference. The closest game the Vikings have played was an 11-point loss in Week 3. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bills have played closer games, with three games coming down to one possession, and they're one game better than the Vikings, at 3-3.

Neither team is dealing with a lot that matters to fantasy owners on the injury front. Wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson appeared on the Minnesota injury report with a hip injury, though that's been the case for a while now, and hasn't mattered to his playing time. The Bills don't have any fantasy-relevant names on the injury report.

Start 'em?: Last week ushered in the Jerick McKinnon era, as the rookie took over the running back role. Still, it's a tough run defense he's facing, so he's not a sure-fire fantasy play, but his new role should have him a flex play this week. ... Blair Walsh remains a good kicker, though the team's offense has limited his opportunities.

Sit 'em: Facing the Detroit defense a week ago, rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater had an abysmal game. He remains an attractive long-term investment, but his current value is pretty low. ... McKinnon's rise means Matt Asiata's meager value all but evaporates. ... The Minnesota passing game is just irrelevant, with Cordarrelle Patterson, Greg Jennings, Jarius Wright and tight end Rhett Ellison combining for very few fantasy points for a while now. ... Since a 19-point Week 1, the Vikings' defense has 13 total points in five games.

Start 'em: We entered the season assuming there would be two fantasy-relevant Buffalo running backs, but right now the list is only Fred Jackson, who profiles as a strong RB2. ... The Bills' defense had an awful Week 6 against New England, but it's still a strong unit, and the Minnesota offense isn't the New England offense.

Start 'em?: First game with a new quarterback for Sammy Watkins: Eight fantasy points. Second game: Two. The rookie remains very talented, but he's not likely to offer a lot of consistency. ... Dan Carpenter was a popular kicker option after a strong first two games, but he's tailed off a lot since; he's a No. 2 kicker in most situations.

Sit 'em: I really want to recommend using Kyle Orton, but it doesn't work. He's a low-end QB2 at best, though he's a nice improvement on what Buffalo had been rolling out there. ... There's just no value to C.J. Spiller right now. He still probably needs to be owned, but he doesn't need to be anywhere near a starting lineup. ... Orton's arrival helps Scott Chandler, as shown by his 10-point Week 6, but we need to see him be more consistent before he can enter lineups.