Sunday Morning Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em: Derrick Henry, Keenan Allen, Chris Ivory & More

by Eric Stashin (aka The Rotoprofessor)

Just hours before the start of Week 7 I know many people have questions running through their heads. Who should I start? Who should I sit?  Let’s take a look at how some of the recent news changes things:

Chris Ivory – Jacksonville Jaguars – Running Back
The expectation had been that Leonard Fournette would be active and ready to roll for Sunday.  However, according to Ian Rapoport (via Twitter):

A surprise: The #Jaguars are not expecting to have star RB Leonard Fournette (ankle) vs. #Colts, sources say. Sunday, then bye week to rest.

That leaves Ivory to carry the load, taking on an Indianapolis defense that’s allowed the second most points per week to opposing running backs.  A lot of the damage has come against those who can catch the football (314 yards and 2 TD), though 8 TD overall also offers a lot of potential.  Considering that Ivory is coming off a 9 catch game and has shown a propensity for the end zone before.  Fire him up as a must use option in all formats.

Verdict – Must start option

Derrick Henry – Tennessee Titans – Running Back
Demarco Murray continues to battle a hamstring injury, and it clearly limited him in Week 6 against the Colts as he was massively outperformed by Henry on the ground:

• Henry – 19 carries for 131 yards (6.9 YPC) and 1 TD
• Murray – 12 carries for 40 yards (3.9 YPC) and 1 TD

Murray did convert 4 targets into 4 receptions and 47 yards, so it wasn’t a wasted day, but he’s a game time decision for today.  That said, Adam Schefter tweeted this morning that:

“Titans RB DeMarco Murray, listed as questionable for today due to a hamstring injury, will play vs. the Browns, per source.”

Even if that is the case you have to think that the team will utilize the luxury of having a back like Henry again.  Look for Henry to operate as the lead back, with Murray getting a similar split (at best) or being used more as a decoy (at worst).  The matchup is tougher against the Browns, but Henry is worth firing up as a RB2 in all formats.

Verdict (Henry) – Worthy RB2
Verdict (Murray) – Too risky to trust

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Keenan Allen – San Diego Chargers – Wide Receiver
Adam Schefter tweeted this morning that, “Chargers WR Keenan Allen, listed as questionable for today due to a shoulder injury, will play vs. Broncos, per source.”  The Broncos have allowed the eighth fewest points per week to opposing wide receivers, including the second fewest yards (531).  That’s going to make a banged up Allen a tough sell, especially since he could operate more as a decoy with San Diego instead riding Melvin Gordon as well as a variety of other pass catching options (Hunter Henry, Tyrell Williams, etc.).

This doesn’t mean that Allen can’t be used, but he’s more of a high risk play if you have no other alternatives.

Verdict – Risky WR2/3

Adam Thielen – Minnesota Vikings – Wide Receiver
Stefon Diggs is out, and while Case Keenum will again be under center that wasn’t a deterrent last week as Thielen was targeted 13 times and delivered 9 catches for 96 yards.  Of course Baltimore is allowing the third fewest points per week to opposing wide receivers, as they’ve seen 100 targets turned into just 50 receptions and 3 TD.  The impulse is going to be that, coming off last week, Thielen is going to be a great play.  We wouldn’t be quite that quick, as he’s more of a borderline WR2 play given the matchup and the uncertainty that Keenum can replicate that type of performance.

Verdict – Viable WR2, but better as a WR3

Kelvin Benjamin – Carolina Panthers – Wide Receiver
Benjamin has been listed as questionable, though according to the Charlotte Observer’s Joe Person (via Twitter) “RR: Kelvin had a good day. Ran all his routes. Is ‘probable’ to play (although that’s no longer an official designation).”  That’s a positive, though battling a knee injury it’s hard to imagine that he’ll be operating at full strength and also is in a more difficult matchup against the Bears.  It’s not an impossible matchup, though, it’s just a risky play.  He’s likely going to be a TD dependent option, so it all depends on who your alternatives are.

Verdict – TD dependent WR2/3

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Jarvis Landry – Miami Dolphins – Wide Receiver
DeVante Parker continues to battle injury, and that has led to monster opportunities for Landry.  Over the past two weeks he has been targeted 24 times, delivering 13 receptions and 106 yards.  Those aren’t great numbers, but he’s also scored a TD in each game and averaged 11.4 targets per week on the season.  The Jets’ haven’t been a bad defense against opposing wide receivers thus far, but they aren’t one that we’d avoid.  Considering the usage, and more importantly the opportunity to score TD (which was the biggest question facing him), fire him up in all formats.

Verdict – Must play WR2

Delanie Walker – Tennessee Titans – Tight End
Walker always seems to be playing through some type of injury, doesn’t he?  He’s battling a calf injury this week, but according to Adam Schefter (via Twitter):

Titans TE Delanie Walker, listed as questionable for today due to a calf injury, will play vs. the Browns, per source.

That makes Walker a riskier play, though there are few dependable options at the position and the matchup with Cleveland offers a lot of potential (second most points per week allowed to opposing TE).  With that in mind, if your alternative is to roll the dice on a lesser option Walker is still worth using.

Verdict – Viable TE1

Orleans Darkwa – New York Giants – Running Back
Paul Perkins is out, and coming off last week’s performance the knee jerk reaction is going to be that Darkwa is going to be a must play.  That said, while he should get the first opportunity to lead the committee is it really a given?  The Giants are going to take a hot hand approach, so we can’t write off Wayne Gallman taking the lead.  Then you have the matchup against Seattle, who may not be the same defense they once were but have still in the bottom half of the league against the run.  That’s not to say that we wouldn’t use Darkwa, but the preference would be as a FLEX as opposed to a RB2 (though he’s a risky option there).

Verdict – FLEX play, but could be considered a risky RB2

Jameis Winston – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Quarterback
After injury cost him part of Week 6, Winston is ready to roll.  He could be limited and draws a road start against a Bills’ defense that’s allowed the third fewest points per week to opposing quarterbacks.  We wouldn’t be so enthusiastic to use him, so consider him more of a QB2.

Verdict – Too big of a gamble in one-quarterback formats

Rob Kelley – Washington Redskins – Running Back
According to the team’s Twitter feed:

“Gruden expects RB Rob Kelley to play & start Monday vs. Eagles. Says #Redskins will continue to use all active RBs throughout game, though.”

Kelley missed Week 6, but he’ll be back this week and return for a difficult matchup against the Eagles on Monday night.  The Eagles’ have allowed the fourth fewest points per week to opposing running backs, though the fewest rushing yards (240).  Philadelphia has been more prone to RB who can catch the football, and that speaks more to Chris Thompson making an impact than to Kelley.  Considering the unknown usage and the matchup, Kelley is going to be a tough player to trust.

Verdict – Risky FLEX option, at best

Sources – ESPN, NFL.com

** PRE-SALE **
This weekend only, Pre-order Rotoprofessor’s 2018 Fantasy Baseball Draft Guide for just $6.25!!  Click here for the details, but don’t miss out on the best bargain in fantasy baseball preparation.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 7 rankings: