The Big Lead

Fantasy Football Starter Rankings, Week 7: Is This the Week the Cowboys Go to Christine Michael?

By Jason Lisk

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Christine Michael is the White Whale of fantasy football. He was a hot handcuff last year in Seattle, with expectations that he was the one to own if there was a Marshawn Lynch injury. He was inactive for 6 games and had only 34 carries, and Seattle traded him to Dallas this year. So far, Michael has again been buried on the depth chart behind Joseph Randle, Darren McFadden, and Lance Dunbar (now on IR). He has two carries.

Nevertheless, there is once again buzz about Michael. The Dallas running game has been struggling, relatively, and there has been no shortage of concerns expressed about Randle as feature back. The latest began on the Cowboys’ bye week, when this article on their website quoted the running backs coach as saying:

"“I think we’re going to give him an opportunity to go out and do some more snaps. I think he’s earned it. He’s worked hard, he’s been everything we’ve expected off the field, and he’s a student of the game. We’re looking forward to seeing him play.” … He can do more things. I think the thing is that he had to learn and he had to feel comfortable with it,” he said. “I think he’s where he needs to be, and we want to take the reins off him and let him rock.”"

Now, what the “taking the reins off” means is anyone’s guess. He’s probably worth a flyer but I would temper starting him over guys who are highly likely to get the majority of their team touches.

As always, check back on Sunday for an updated version that includes the early afternoon game inactives.

QUARTERBACKS

  1. Andrew Luck vs NO
  2. Carson Palmer vs BAL
  3. Philip Rivers vs OAK
  4. Tom Brady vs NYJ
  5. Drew Brees at IND
  6. Cam Newton vs PHI
  7. Matt Ryan at TEN
  8. Russell Wilson at SF
  9. Ryan Tannehill vs HOU
  10. Matthew Stafford vs MIN
  11. Eli Manning vs DAL
  12. Ryan Fitzpatrick at NE+
  13. Derek Carr at SD
  14. Blake Bortles vs BUF
  15. Brian Hoyer at MIA
  16. Sam Bradford at CAR
  17. Colin Kaepernick vs SEA
  18. Teddy Bridgewater at DET
  19. Joe Flacco at ARI
  20. Jameis Winston at WAS
  21. EJ Manuel vs JAC
  22. Ben Roethlisberger++ at KC (I think it’s more likely he doesn’t play)
  23. Josh McCown at STL
  24. Alex Smith vs PIT+
  25. Zach Mettenberger vs ATL
  26. Kirk Cousins vs TB
  27. Landry Jones at KC
  28. Nick Foles vs CLE
  29. Matt Cassel at NYG
  30. Marcus Mariota vs ATL++

 

RUNNING BACKS

  1. Devonta Freeman at TEN
  2. Todd Gurley vs CLE
  3. LeVeon Bell at KC
  4. Adrian Peterson at DET
  5. Arian Foster at MIA
  6. Marshawn Lynch at SF
  7. Latavius Murray at SD
  8. Frank Gore vs NO
  9. Mark Ingram at IND
  10. Chris Ivory at NE
  11. LeSean McCoy vs JAC
  12. Doug Martin at WAS
  13. Lamar Miller vs HOU
  14. Dion Lewis vs NYJ
  15. DeMarco Murray at CAR
  16. Justin Forsett at ARI
  17. Carlos Hyde vs SEA
  18. Rashad Jennings vs DAL
  19. Danny Woodhead vs OAK
  20. Jonathan Stewart vs PHI
  21. LeGarrette Blount vs NYJ
  22. Chris Johnson vs BAL
  23. T.J. Yeldon vs BUF++
  24. Melvin Gordon vs OAK
  25. Charcandrick West vs PIT
  26. Duke Johnson at STL
  27. Joseph Randle at NYG
  28. Ameer Abdullah vs MIN
  29. Christine Michael at NYG
  30. Antonio Andrews vs ATL
  31. Matt Jones vs TB
  32. Alfred Morris vs TB
  33. Charles Sims at WAS
  34. Theo Riddick vs MIN
  35. C.J. Spiller at IND
  36. Shane Vereen vs DAL
  37. Dexter McCluster vs ATL
  38. Tevin Coleman at TEN
  39. Andre Ellington vs BAL
  40. David Johnson vs BAL
  41. Isaiah Crowell at STL
  42. Chris Thompson vs TB++
  43. Darren McFadden at NYG
  44. Ryan Matthews at CAR
  45. Ahmad Bradshaw vs NO
  46. Bishop Sankey vs ATL
  47. Joique Bell vs MIN
  48. Knile Davis vs PIT
  49. Roy Helu at SD
  50. Khiry Robinson at IND

WIDE RECEIVERS

  1. DeAndre Hopkins at MIA
  2. Julio Jones at TEN
  3. Larry Fitzgerald vs BAL
  4. Odell Beckham, Jr. vs DAL
  5. Brandon Marshall at NE
  6. Calvin Johnson vs MIN
  7. T.Y. Hilton vs NO
  8. John Brown vs BAL
  9. Keenan Allen vs OAK
  10. Donte Moncrief vs NO
  11. Amari Cooper at SD
  12. Julian Edelman vs NYJ
  13. Eric Decker at NE
  14. Antonio Brown at KC
  15. Mike Evans at WAS
  16. Steve Smith at ARI
  17. Allen Robinson vs BUF
  18. Martavis Bryant at KC
  19. Jarvis Landry vs HOU
  20. Allen Hurns vs BUF
  21. Willie Snead at IND
  22. Travis Benjamin at STL
  23. Jeremy Maclin vs PIT
  24. Stefon Diggs at DET
  25. Michael Crabtree at SD
  26. Jordan Matthews at CAR
  27. Brandin Cooks at IND
  28. Pierre Garcon vs TB
  29. Rishard Matthews vs HOU
  30. Vincent Jackson at WAS
  31. Golden Tate vs MIN
  32. Anquan Boldin vs SEA
  33. Chris Hogan vs JAC
  34. Tavon Austin vs CLE
  35. Mike Wallace at DET
  36. Robert Woods vs JAC
  37. Terrance Williams at NYG
  38. Malcom Floyd vs OAK
  39. Leonard Hankerson at TEN
  40. Kendall Wright vs ATL
  41. Rueben Randle vs NYG
  42. Ted Ginn vs PHI
  43. Torrey Smith vs SEA
  44. Jamison Crowder vs TB
  45. Michael Floyd vs BAL
  46. Kamar Aiken at ARI
  47. Doug Baldwin at SF
  48. Andre Johnson vs NO
  49. Dorial Green-Beckham vs ATL
  50. Nate Washington at MIA

TIGHT ENDS

  1. Rob Gronkowski vs NYJ
  2. Antonio Gates vs OAK++
  3. Greg Olsen vs PHI
  4. Travis Kelce vs PIT+
  5. Jason Witten at NYG
  6. Jimmy Graham at SF
  7. Delanie Walker vs ATL
  8. Charles Clay vs JAC
  9. Jordan Reed vs TB++
  10. Julius Thomas vs BUF+
  11. Ben Watson at IND
  12. Gary Barnidge at STL++
  13. Jordan Cameron vs HOU
  14. Kyle Rudolph at DET
  15. Eric Ebron vs MIN++
  16. Dwayne Allen vs NO
  17. Ladarius Green vs OAK
  18. Austin Sefarian-Jenkins at WAS++
  19. Crockett Gilmore at ARI
  20. Jared Cook vs CLE
  21. Zach Ertz at CAR
  22. Vernon Davis vs SEA
  23. Larry Donnell vs DAL
  24. Heath Miller at KC

KICKERS

  1. Stephen Gostkowski vs NYJ
  2. Chandler Catanzaro vs BAL
  3. Steven Hauschka at SF
  4. Dustin Hopkins vs TB
  5. Greg Zuerlein vs CLE
  6. Adam Vinatieri vs NO
  7. Matt Bryant at TEN
  8. Josh Lambo vs OAK
  9. Graham Gano vs PHI
  10. Caleb Sturgis at CAR
  11. Chris Boswell at KC
  12. Josh Brown vs DAL
  13. Dan Carpenter vs JAC
  14. Kai Forbath at IND
  15. Blair Walsh at DET

DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS

  1. RAMS vs CLE
  2. SEAHAWKS at SF
  3. CARDINALS vs BAL
  4. REDSKINS vs TB
  5. BILLS vs JAC
  6. VIKINGS at DET
  7. FALCONS at TEN
  8. EAGLES at CAR
  9. JETS at NE
  10. PATRIOTS vs NYJ
  11. GIANTS vs DAL
  12. STEELERS at KC
  13. PANTHERS vs PHI
  14. BUCS at WAS
  15. DOLPHINS vs HOU

[photos via USA Today Sports Images]