Week 7 QB Start, Sit Fantasy Strategy: Justin Herbert is a Top Play

Last week had some amazing plays at the streaming position for QBs. We saw that Kirk Cousins was able to save his week with a massive second-half in garbage time. Gardner Minshew also ended with a pretty nice game, despite the lack of passing TDs. This is why experts constantly bang the drum of streaming QBs in 1QB leagues. There is just so much value in having a favorable matchup from a below-average QB on the waiver wire. These players oftentimes even outscore the talented QBs with unfavorable matchups who are rostered all year.

Start Them

Justin Herbert

Vs Jacksonville Jaguars

Justin Herbert looks like a shining star in the NFL at the moment. There were so many concerns with him coming into this draft, and some analysts compared him to Mitchell Trubisky. That comparison is already out the window. Herbert has been consistently hitting his WRs deep, airing out the ball, and looking like a pro-style and NFL-ready QB. In this game against Jacksonville, he should have plenty of opportunities to air out the ball, as the Jaguars have not been great in really any facet of defense.

One thing to watch out for is if Kennan Allen is 100% for the game. He is coming into the week with a knock, and he gives Herbert’s ceiling and floor massive upgrades when he is on the field. While Herbert has spread the ball around, Allen and Williams are still the two big targets for him. Having those crutch star-WRs, as a rookie, is key to success.

Tom Brady

@ Las Vegas Raiders

I have finally turned the corner on Tom Brady. Now, a big part of liking this play is the fact that Godwin and Evans seem 100%. Having these two elite WRs makes almost any QB viable. However, we saw that even when his big guys are out, Tom Brady can still hit throws. I would love to see more snaps for Tyler Johnson, as he looks to be a perfect compliment for Godwin and Evans, a playmaker who goes unnoticed while the two stars take on the best coverage.

This Las Vegas defense is not the very best matchup for a QB, but by no means is it a tough one. I also believe that Derek Carr will do enough to keep this game competitive, which means that handing the ball to Ronald Jones 30 times will not be in the cards. I have Brady as a great play this week and love the upside of his WR options.

Joe Burrow

Vs Cleveland Browns

Roethlisberger roasted this defense last week and I think that Burrow will do the same. We saw Burrow have a bounce-back game against the Colts, and he will be looking to keep that momentum going. AJ Green and Burrow seem to finally be developing a connection, and if you remember back to the first time that these two played, Green had a dozen targets and only 2 catches. In this game, I think that Burrow will have a massive outing that involves all three of Boyd, Green, and Higgins in it. Go start Joe Burrow with confidence in this game.

Carson Wentz

Vs New York Giants

Carson Wentz has no real weapons. However, he has made it work with the likes of Travis Fulgham and Greg Ward. This Giants defense is definitely not as good as the recent teams that Wentz has been playing, and he has been putting up tons of points against those teams. Wentz is a pretty gross start at this point in the season, but if no one else is available, then you have to take what you can get. I am starting him in a couple of 2QB leagues where my starters are both on BYE weeks.

Sit Them

Gardner Minshew

@ Las Angeles Chargers

I love Minshew this year; however, I am worried about him in this matchup. The Chargers have not been great against the pass, that much is clear. However, they really are only a middle of the pack when it comes to net yards against in the passing game. Minshew struggled a bit against the Lions, and I rate this Chargers defense to give him much bigger issues than the Lions did. The offensive line is the biggest issue and I just do not see them holding up against Joey Bosa and the rest of that front. If you can switch to one of the better QB matchups this week I would do so.

Jared Goff

Vs Chicago Bears

Chicago’s defense is much better than the 49ers, and everyone saw what happened to Goff against that 49ers team. There is no way that you should be touching Goff this week, even in 2QB leagues. I would attempt and take a chance on so many other QBs before I play Jared Goff. For one, the defensive line for the Bears is one of the best, of course, headlined by Mack. As well as the fact that this secondary is the most underrated in the league. They have dominated the competition through the first 6 weeks of the season. An absolute fade on this Rams offense, and especially Goff, against the Bears.

Cam Newton

Vs San Francisco 49ers

Cam Newton and this Patriots team really struggled against a team in the Broncos who stopped the run first. I believe that the 49ers are in a similar boat and will look to do that in this game. Cam Newton is not the greatest passing QB and his receiving weapons are extremely limited. Without the huge rushing upside of Newton, I prefer not to play him. Then you mix in the fact that the 49ers will be rushing on a majority of their plays, and this game has every hint of being a low-scoring, low-volume kind of game. I am not as scared of Newton as I am of Goff, due to the fact that Newton always has rushing TD upside, but I would still choose any of the starts over him in a heartbeat.