Eagles versus Dolphins: Fantasy start, sit options for Week 7 of the NFL season

The Philadelphia Eagles enter Week 7 fresh off a 20-14 loss to the New York Jets and get a chance to improve in a primetime showdown against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday night. Fantasy managers will have their eyes set on this one as stars like running back D'Andre Swift and wide receiver Tyreek Hill take the field.

Those same managers are the ones tasked with making vital decisions on who to put in their lineup and who to keep on the bench. Let's dive into some start/sit options for this exhilarating NFL contest.

Start: DeVonta Smith, WR (Philadelphia Eagles)

Last week didn't showcase a performance to write home about, but it is worth noting that DeVonta Smith saw a season-high 11 targets in the defeat. His chemistry with quarterback Jalen Hurts was off, but that may have something to do with a hamstring injury that he has sustained. Fortunately, after missing Wednesday's session, he seemed to be back on track and on the field on Thursday.

This coming game versus the Fins features an over/under of 52.0 points on FanDuel Sportsbook, which is the highest line of any Week 7 clash. The expectation is that a shootout could be in store and Smith is someone who would benefit from that. After all, he is averaging a reliable 11.9 yards per catch so far this season.

Miami has also allowed the third-most receptions (93) as well as the 11th-most PPR fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this year. The only worry here is Smith's current hamstring issue, so pick up Olamide Zaccheus or Julio Jones in order to have a backup option in case skinny Batman misses significant snaps or is ruled out ahead of the game.

Start: Jaylen Waddle, WR (Miami Dolphins)

Jaylen Waddle is starting to heat up for the Dolphins as he has posted a touchdown in back-to-back weeks entering Sunday. He has racked up 19 targets during that span, too, and continues to serve as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's top short-yardage option. That is a great role to be in moving forward.

The Eagles' secondary is far from healthy as cornerback Darius Slay is working his way back from a knee injury and safety Reed Blankenship is dealing with a rib issue. With attention being thrown Hill's way, look for Waddle to shine against players with far less experience covering speedy receivers.

Philadelphia has given up the second-most PPR fantasy points to opposing wideouts and has already allowed eight touchdowns to the position (second-most in NFL). Waddle is a player worth sliding into a fantasy lineup every single week and is worth targeting to anchor a DFS lineup in Week 7.

Sit: Philadelphia Eagles D/ST

The Eagles rank as the 11th-highest scoring defense in fantasy football through six weeks. The biggest reason why is that Philly has been great on the road, giving up the sixth-fewest points per game (16.3). However, it has been awful at home, allowing the third-most points per game (29.5).

Sunday night's battle comes against the highest-scoring team in the NFL (37.2 points per game) and takes place at Lincoln Financial Field. That is not exactly a recipe for success. Miami head coach Mike McDaniel rarely takes his foot off the gas, so do not expect to see a defensive battle on national TV.

This is a spot where fantasy managers need to be savvy. Stashing the Eagles for matchups against teams like the Cardinals and Giants down the road is a smart move. That means dropping a bench player lacking upside for a defense with a better Week 7 matchup is the way to go (SEA, WSH, etc.).

Sit: Jeff Wilson Jr., RB (Miami Dolphins)

Any fantasy manager rostering running back Raheem Mostert or DeVon Achane should find a way to get Jeff Wilson Jr. on the squad. The NFL veteran is set to return from a ribs/finger injury against the Eagles and finished with 392 yards to go with 3 touchdowns in eight games as a Dolphin last year.

That does not mean immediately starting Wilson in a FLEX spot is the best idea, though. He is going to be a red zone threat as the season rolls on, but expect him to take some time to shake off the rust. After all, Miami has no reason to shy away from Mostert as he is averaging 5.7 yards per carry.

This is not a matchup Wilson has much of a shot to exploit, either. The Eagles have given up the second-fewest rushing yards per game (65.8) as well as only two total touchdowns to opposing running backs. Wilson is a player to simply keep on the bench as a valuable handcuff.

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