Fantasy football advice, Week 7: who to start/sit for Baltimore Ravens vs. New York Jets

Fantasy owners have much to consider after a week of carnage knocked out a few mainstays in leagues of all formats. Additionally, with the Panthers and Cowboys on byes, setting lineups for Week 7 gets even more tricky.

But before hitting the “submit lineup” button, there are fantasy implications in each game that have to be carefully considered. The Ravens-Jets matchup on Sunday is just one of 15 that do.

The Jets have given up deep pass after deep pass after deep pass this season, which used to be quarterback Joe Flacco’s specialty, before Torrey Smith left for San Francisco. Mike Wallace’s 66-yard touchdown catch from Flacco in Week 1 seems like a distant memory, but if the two were going to connect again, Week 7 would provide an ideal opportunity. Wallace has WR2 upside in a game the Ravens’ offense can get right. Dennis Pitta should also be started as usual.

Muhammad Wilkerson will be out of action for the Jets, leaving a big hole in what is usually a stout run defense, despite what David Johnson did to them on Monday night. Terrance West further cemented his No. 1 status in the Ravens’ backfield with a pair of touchdowns against the Giants and is firmly ahead of Kenneth Dixon and Buck Allen on the depth chart. West is a volume-dependent RB2 with some upside on Sunday, but likely needs to find the end zone to have value against a defense that is allowing just 3.4 yards per carry this season.

While Flacco has a great matchup at hand, he is not worth considering as a streamer with just Dak Prescott and Cam Newton having bye weeks among starting quarterbacks.

So it’s Geno Smith time in New York. Fantasy owners can feel the excitement. It probably feels like imminent defeat.

The silver lining to the Jets’ dismal quarterback situation is that Brandon Marshall should still be peppered with targets regularly, especially with Eric Decker out of action. Marshall had an ungodly 18 targets in Smith’s only appearance in 2015, turning them into a 9-108-0 line against the Raiders. The Ravens’ secondary in 2016 will prove to be a much more capable one than the 2015 Raiders’ secondary, but Marshall’s chances will still be there. He is a borderline WR1/WR2.

The Jets may be starting Smith at quarterback, but that’s because they don’t have a choice. Fantasy owners do have a choice, and literally any other is a better one.

Like their opponent’s running back, Matt Forte and Bilal Powell also face a defense that is surrendering just 3.4 yards per carry this season, and neither have made much of a presence in fantasy lineups since Forte exploded onto the scene in the season’s first three weeks. Fantasy owners may not have a choice but to start Forte since the running back position is so thin, but better options can be had.

Quincy Enunwa has somehow not capitalized on his opportunities with Decker out of the lineup. He, Charone Peake, and Robby Anderson do not deserve fantasy consideration until further notice.