When the Saints and Cardinals face each other in Arizona to begin Week 7 on "Thursday Night Football" (8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video), there will be plenty of fantasy start 'em, sit 'em questions for players on both sides.
The Saints' pass defense has struggled, which sets up Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray to perform better overall. The Cardinals' run defense is their bigger weakness, which provides Saints running back Alvin Kamara a chance to stay hot.
Both teams are dealing with key injuries. New Orleans will be without wide receivers Michael Thomas (toe) and Jarvis Landry (ankle), as well as tight end Adam Trautman (ankle) and left guard Andrus Peat (pec). Defensively, top cornerback Marshon Lattimore (abdomen) will another game, too. The good news is that rookie wideout Chris Olave will return from his concussion.
The Cardinals are down wide receiver Marquise Brown (foot) and two interior offensive linemen, Rodney Hudson (knee) and Justin Pugh (knee), but they will get DeAndre Hopkins back from suspension and have newcomer Robbie Anderson available, too. James Conner (ribs) is listed as "questionable," but Eno Benjamin would be ready to lead the backfield again if needed.
With all that in mind, here's breaking down the entire start 'em sit 'em picture for Thursday night, including a couple of DFS lineup suggestions for FanDuel and DraftKings:
MORE TNF: FD lineup | DK lineup | Conner update
Saints: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday night
Sit: QB Andy Dalton or Jameis Winston
The Saints have both QBs ready without injury designations, but both are dealing with back issues. Dalton is expected to remain the starter over Winston, but the team is playing an unusual guessing game. Either way, it's a desert trap to force either into the lineup given Dalton tends to play awful in night games and Winston is rusty. The Cardinals' pass defense also has gotten suddenly stingy (see Geno Smith's TD-less game last week).
WEEK 7 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Start: RB Alvin Kamara
Kamara is up to RB18 in points per game on the season in half-point PPR after a slow start. After missing the previous two games with injured ribs, he has put up a combined 318 yards on 67 opportunities over the past two games. He is overdue for his first TD. Both Christian McCaffrey and Kenneth Walker have gashed the Cardinals in recent weeks, so Kamara should finish as a solid RB1 in Week 7.
WEEK 7 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Start: WR Chris Olave | Sit: WRs Tre'Quan Smith and Marquez Callaway
Olave is back after missing the Bengals shootout because of a concussion last week. He's been strong in the past four games, posting 22 catches for 348 receiving yards and two TDs on 35 targets. He's locked in as New Orleans' clear No. 1 wideout with either QB minus Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (ankle). The Cardinals' corners are playing well of late, but you should get something like six catches for 75 yards with a chance for a TD. Smith filled in well for Olave last week, but you can't trust him or Callaway with their limited usage.
WEEK 7 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Sit: "TE" Taysom Hill
The Cardinals have been very giving against traditional tight ends and get a break not facing Trautman. Their run defense is wilting a bit, and Hill is set up to stay involved in the rushing attack with Kamara. It's hard to trust him getting enough opportunities to come through, however, without a long or short scoring run.
WEEK 7 DFS: Best values | Best stacks
Sit: K Wil Lutz
Where there's a Wil, there are fantasy points well outside the top 12.
WEEK 7 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Sit: Saints defense/special teams
When the Saints come marching into the desert, they will give up too many points with not enough impact plays on this side.
Cardinals: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday night
Start: QB Kyler Murray
Murray isn't having a great season in reality, but he's been just fine in fantasy. He's the QB6 so far, just around where he was drafted at the position. He went TD-less in Week 6 but still provided 100 rushing yards. The Saints have been lit up by Marcus Mariota, Joe Burrow, and Geno Smith, three other mobile QBs. Their pass rush has been inconsistent and their coverage isn't the same without Marshon Lattimore (abdomen). Murray will deliver a solid fantasy night timed with DeAndre Hopkins' return.
Start: RB James Conner or Eno Benjamin
Conner (ribs) didn't practice all week after missing last week's game, making him a shaky start if he's active. Darrel Williams (ankle) has already been ruled, leaving Benjamin as the likely starter again. He disappointed in Week 7 in a feature role, but he still received 18 opportunities and totaled 65 yards. The Cardinals' run blocking is suddenly a concern without Rodney Hudson (knee) and Justin Pugh (knee), but Benjamin can be a volume-based flex. There's a good chance whoever starts pops into the end zone.
Start: WR DeAndre Hopkins
Hopkins missed seven games with hamstring and knee injuries last season, and he started this year on the sidelines while serving a six-game suspension for PEDs. His return is timed well with the curtains for Hollywood. Nuk might see fewer snaps than usual, but the Cardinals' passing game also needs badly him to lift Murray. Not having to face Lattimore right away also is a welcome break. Expect at least high-end WR2 results.
Start WR Rondale Moore
The Saints haven't discriminated when it comes to wide receivers going off. They have struggled outside with Lattimore and Paulson Adebo banged up. They also are weak in the slot with Justin Evans. That's great news for the now super-busy Moore working all over the field with his quickness. He's a target-based WR3.
Sits: WRs A.J. Green and Robbie Anderson
Green has looked washed. Anderson just arrived after a meltdown vs. former Cardinals coach Steve Wilks. Don't try to be a hero with either minus Hollywood. Hopkins and Moore will do plenty.
Start: TE Zach Ertz
Ertz has been steady as TE3 behind Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews with his consistent high volume of key targets from Murray. This is the hardest matchup for his position outside of the bye-week Rams. Ertz is probably your best option in most leagues, so stick with him. Notably, he had six catches for 45 yards against the Rams, so he still has a high floor, but the Saints just don't give up tight end touchdowns.
Sit: K Matt Prater or K Rodrigo Blankenship
Prater (hip) might have some appeal here because of his big leg in a potentially high-scoring game indoors, but think twice about him coming off an injury. Blankenship is too risky if he fills in.
Start: Cardinals defense/special teams
They get the nod here with the home prime-time bump vs. New Orleans' shaky QB, whether it's Dalton, who struggles in night games, or the notoriously turnover-prone Winston. The Saints as a team have allowed 15 sacks and thrown six interceptions. The Cardinals have enough big-play potential to stream here.
Saints vs. Cardinals: FanDuel single-game lineup
- MVP (1.5X): QB Kyler Murray $17,000
- AnyFLEX: RB Alvin Kamara $15,000
- AnyFLEX: WR Chris Olave $11,000
- AnyFLEX: WR Rondale Moore $9,000
- AnyFLEX: WR Tre'Quan Smith $8,000
Murray is a must-play in this format, and Moore has great appeal for his price. From there, it's about making sure we have the key pieces from the Saints (Kamara and Olave). Having some money for a dart throw on Smith was cool.
Saints vs. Cardinals: DraftKings Showdown lineup
- Captain (1.5X): WR Rondale Moore ($8.700)
- FLEX: QB Kyler Murray $11,200
- FLEX: RB Alvin Kamara $10,600
- FLEX: QB Andy Dalton $9,400
- FLEX: WR Chris Olave $7,400
- FLEX: WR A.J. Green $2,600
Here, we also get the doubles of Moore/Murray and Kamara/Olave. Dalton gives us presumably a second QB. Green is an absolute cheap punt play who can get three-to-five catches.
