The Pittsburgh Steelers are 3-3 and in last place in the AFC North. The Houston Texans are 3-3 and in second place in the AFC South. Sometimes, division matters. The two play Monday night, with one coming out of the game with a winning record and one with a losing record.
Fantasy football advice, Week 7: Who to start/sit for Texans vs. Steelers
Pittsburgh and Houston have played to the same records this year, but that has them in drastically different spots in their divisions.
Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
All three of the Texans' star skill players -- running back Arian Foster (groin) and wide receivers Andre Johnson (ankle) and DeAndre Hopkins (hand) -- were on the team's injury report this week, but all three are expected to be active Monday night. The Steelers, meanwhile, enter Sunday basically healthy from a fantasy perspective.
The game will be played in Pittsburgh at 8:30 p.m. ET Monday night, and this is a look at the fantasy names to consider:
TEXANS
Start ‘em: He missed a game in the middle of this stretch, but in Arian Foster’s last four games played, he has 20-plus fantasy points three times. ... Andre Johnson had a strong Week 6, but up to that point DeAndre Hopkins had been the productive one. Both profile as low-end WR2’s this week.
Sit 'em: In six games, Ryan Fitzpatrick has exactly one with more than 13 fantasy points, and he's averaged barely eight a game in his last three. ... There's barely a tight end to even consider in Houston; Garrett Graham and Ryan Griffin have both gone scoreless in consecutive weeks, while rookie C.J. Fiedorowicz has one catch all season. ... Randy Bullock has eight total fantasy points in his last two games. ... The Texans' defense could really use Jadeveon Clowney back on the field. He's questionable for Monday, though more likely to return in Week 8. Until then, another defense would be better.
STEELERS
Start 'em: The Steelers have exactly two star fantasy players -- Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown, who are both right up at the top of their respective positions.
Sit 'em: It's been an underwhelming season for Ben Roethlisberger, with only one game of more than 16 fantasy points. He's averaged less than 14 a game. ... LeGarrette Blount has barely done anything since his huge Week 3. ... Markus Wheaton remains a potential play rather than a right-now play. ... Heath Miller has been bad in five of six games so far. ... After a strong start to the season, Shaun Suisham has 14 total fantasy points in his last three games. ... The Steelers' defense has had two big games, but one of those was against Jacksonville, which barely counts. Otherwise, it's been a bad unit.
SUMMARY
Start in every league: Arian Foster, Andre Johnson, DeAndre Hopkins, Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown
Bench: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Garrett Graham, Ryan Griffin, C.J. Fiedorowicz, Randy Bullock, Houston defense, Ben Roethlisberger, LeGarrette Blount, Markus Wheaton, Heath Miller, Shaun Suisham, Pittsburgh defense
