Fantasy football advice, Week 7: who to start/sit for Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals

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 Seahawks-Cardinals matchup on Sunday night is just one of 15 that do.

David Johnson annihilated a stout Jets run defense in Week 6 for three touchdowns, which further cemented his status as an elite RB1. Johnson faces another great run defense in the Seahawks on Sunday, but needs to be started regardless of matchup. Fantasy owners aren’t exactly laboring about the decision to pen him into lineups, and rightfully so.

Larry Fitzgerald leads an inconsistent group of Cardinals receivers, but Fitz has been a consistent bright spot among them. But with John Brown questionable, Carson Palmer ailing with a hamstring injury, and the likely coverage of Richard Sherman awaiting Fitzgerald, the Cardinals’ captain can be considered a low-end WR2 for Week 7.

Palmer, Brown and the volatile Michael Floyd can remain on benches with a nasty matchup ahead of them.

Jimmy Graham’s resurgence has given balance to the tight end position across the fantasy spectrum, and he can be penned into lineups as an every-week TE1. Though he and Doug Baldwin will have to do plenty of battle with the tenacious Tyrann Mathieu, Graham has upside that few tight ends can rival, especially with Jordan Reed and Greg Olsen out of action in Week 7. Baldwin can be considered a WR2.

In the running game, Christine Michael continues to produce as the team’s bell-cow in the backfield, and should remain in line for another hefty workload while his defense keeps the Seahawks from abandoning the run. Though the Cardinals impose a difficult matchup, Michael has the volume to make him start-worthy in a tough matchup on the road.

Russell Wilson faces his toughest matchup to date, as the Cardinals’ defense has allowed multiple passing touchdowns just once all season, and have surrendered just five in six games. In what could wind up being a low-scoring affair, Wilson lacks the upside to make him anything more than a fringe QB1/QB2 for Week 7.

The pass catching committee of Jermaine Kearse, Tyler Lockett and C.J. Spiller can remain far away from fantasy lineups for Sunday night’s clash.