Monday Night Fantasy Football Start Decisions and Rankings: Kenneth Walker, Jameson Williams, Emeka Egbuka and More

Week 7 of the NFL regular season ends with another Monday night doubleheader.

Let's break down the top fantasy football options from matchups between the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks.

Use the FantasySP start/sit tool for help with any last-minute lineup decisions.

Quarterbacks

Detroit's Jared Goff and Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield will square off in one contest, while Houston's C.J. Stroud and Seattle's Sam Darnold meet in the other.

Mayfield has the top fantasy matchup of the night, although Goff's matchup is nearly as good. Stroud has a pretty average matchup, while Darnold has the toughest fantasy test for a QB (coming into the week at least).

Mayfield has been the top fantasy quarterback from tonight's games on a per-game basis,and even with some pass catchers missing, I still like Mayfield the best. I ranked him third this week.

Goff was my No. 11 overall quarterback in his pretty solid fantasy matchup. It's easy to keep trusting Goff when he's part of this offense and with so many playmakers around him.

Stroud ranked 16th overall for me. He's improved his play in his last couple games, and in an average matchup, I expect at least average results.

Darnold ranked 20th overall going into this really tough matchup. He's been good enough this season to at least earn that spot, and he's certainly capable of outperforming it too.

Running Backs

The Lions are led by Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in the backfield. With Bucky Irving out again, it will be Rachaad White leading the Bucs' running backs, with help from Sean Tucker.

Seattle has Kenneth Walker or Zach Charbonnet to turn to, while Houston has Nick Chubb, Woody Marks or Dameon Pierce.

The Lions' backs have the best fantasy matchup of the night. The Houston backs have a pretty average test, while the Seattle and Tampa Bay backs have below-average matchups.

In my top-30 PPR running back rankings for week 7, Gibbs was my top back from tonight, ranking sixth overall. White was 10th as I expected Irving to be out again. Walker checked in 26th, while Montgomery was 27th. Chubb also made the top 30, ranking 29th.

It's hard to ever bet against Gibbs, and in a pretty solid fantasy matchup, he and Montgomery were good starting options for the week. I see both backs delivering at least double-digit outings, and maybe even high-end fantasy finishes if they find the end zone.

White should dominate the touches in the Tampa Bay backfield, so that's why I like him, even in a below-average test. He could really take on more depending on how many Bucs' pass catchers miss the game.

Tucker would be an OK deep-league starting option in a better matchup, but I'd try to stay away from him with a tougher test coming.

Walker could rank so much higher if Charbonnet wasn't part of the Seattle offense. The below-average test doesn't help his cause either, but on some standard league teams, he's still startable this week. Charbonnet could vulture another TD or two, so he's at least a deep-league option, and could be a standard leaguer in a pinch.

Chubb seemingly lost the backfield to Marks a couple weeks ago, but he led the way in the team's last contest, so that's why I have Chubb over Marks. Again, he's a standard league option, but is a more comfortable start in deeper leagues for me.

Marks was just off my top-30 list, so he too is a starting option for all leagues tonight. I like him better in deeper leagues though.

Pierce would be a desperation play in a very deep league for me. I think Chubb and Marks will soak up most of the backfield snaps and touches.

After my top-30 guys, I'd rank the backs as follows: Marks, Charbonnet, Tucker and Pierce.

Wide Receivers

There's several receivers who are battling injuries between these four teams.

Christian Kirk is out for the Texans, so Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are the top wideouts. Seattle has Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp and Tory Horton as its top options.

Chris Godwin is out for the Bucs, and Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans are both questionable with hamstring injuries. If Egbuka and Evans are out there, they'll obviously lead the way, but if they aren't, Sterling Shepard, Tez Johnson, Ryan Miller and Kameron Johnson are options.

Detroit will lean on Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, with Kalif Raymond helping out, but not being a great fantasy asset.

The Bucs' wideouts have the best matchup tonight, and it's a very favorable one. The Houston wideouts have an above-average test. The Lions' wideouts have a slightly below-average matchup, while the Seattle wide receivers have one of the tougher matchups in the leagues (at least coming into the week).

I had St. Brown as my No. 1 fantasy PPR wideout for week 7. Smith-Njigba was my No. 2 guy. Collins ranked seventh, while Evans was 14th (but that would drop if Egbuka ends up playing - I ranked Evans there thinking Egbuka was going to be out). Williams came in 24th on my list.

If Egbuka and Evans are playing, I'd be confident enough in each guy to start them in any league type. I'd take Egbuka over Evans, and only behind St. Brown and Smith-Njigba from tonight's games. 

If either Egbuka or Evans are out, then I'd maybe try Tez Johnson in a standard league, although I'd prefer to only start him in a deeper league. I'd avoid the other Tampa Bay wideouts if Egbuka and Evans both play. I'd take them in this order: Tez Johnson, Kameron Johnson, Shepard and Miller.

Raymond isn't worth starting in any league types, unless St. Brown or Williams were a surprise inactive. Collins is the only Houston wideout I really like tonight, even in the solid matchup. Smith-Njigba will be the go-to guy for Seattle, but Kupp is a decent fantasy option too, although I'd prefer him just in deeper leagues. I'd avoid Horton outside really deep leagues.

I'll rank the wideouts at the end of the story, so check there for that.

Tight Ends

Dalton Schultz is the top tight end for Houston. Sam LaPorta leads the Lions, with Brock Wright also worth mentioning. Cade Otton could be a sneaky good option for the Bucs, while AJ Barner is the top TE for Seattle, with Elijah Arroyo deserving of a mention.

The matchup is best for Schultz tonight. LaPorta and Wright have a pretty average matchup, while Otton has a slightly below-average test. Barner and Arroyo have a pretty stiff test ahead.

In my week 7 rankings, I have LaPorta as the top fantasy TE from these two games, at No. 6 overall. Otton ranked 15th, but that was with the expectation that Egbuka was out. Schultz ranked 20th, while Barner was 21st.

LaPorta has been pretty good of late, so I'd trust him the most of the tight ends tonight. Otton could be a worthwhile standard league starter, but I'd only feel really good about him if Egbuka and Evans miss the game.

Schultz and Barner are better deep-league options, but aren't the worst standard league options in a pinch. 

I'll rank all those guys below as well, as Otton's place is affected by the status of Egbuka and Evans.

Kickers

Jason Myers kicks for Seattle, while Ka'imi Fairbairn does the kicking for Houston. Jake Bates is Detroit's kicker, while Chase McLaughlin kicks for Tampa Bay.

Fairbairn has averaged the most fantasy points of those four kickers, but McLaughlin and Myers aren't too far behind. Bates is quite a ways behind all those guys.

I like McLaughlin and Bates more, because I think that will be a higher-scoring game. All four of these kickers are solid options though.

I'd rank them as follows: McLaughlin, Bates, Myers and Fairbairn.

Defenses/Special Teams

Seattle's defense has allowed 1,887 total yards and 19.5 points per game. They have seven takeaways and 20 sacks. 

Detroit's defense has allowed 1,849 yards and 23.7 points per game. The Lions have nine takeaways and 19 sacks.

Tampa Bay's defense has allowed 1,917 yards and 25.2 points against. They have six takeaways and 16 sacks.

In one less game, Houston's defense has allowed 1,329 yards and 12.2 points per contest. The Texans have six takeaways and 12 sacks.

Seattle's D/ST has averaged the most fantasy points of any team, and I like them the best of the bunch tonight. After that, I'd go with the Texans, Lions and then Buccaneers.

Offensive Overall Rankings (OP or Flex Spots)

1. Amon-Ra St. Brown

2. Jaxon Smith-Njigba

3. Baker Mayfield

4. Jahmyr Gibbs

5. Emeka Egbuka

6. Nico Collins

7. Jared Goff

8. Rachaad White

9. Mike Evans

10. C.J. Stroud

11. Sam Darnold

12. Sam LaPorta

13. Jameson Williams

14. Kenneth Walker

15. David Montgomery

16. Cade Otton

17. Nick Chubb

18. Cooper Kupp

19. Dalton Schultz

20. AJ Barner

21. Woody Marks

22. Zach Charbonnet

23. Sean Tucker

24. Jayden Higgins

25. Tory Horton

26. Tez Johnson

27. Sterling Shepard

28. Kameron Johnson

29. Xavier Hutchinson

30. Kalif Raymond

31. Jaylin Noel

32. Brock Wright

33. Elijah Arroyo

34. Dameon Pierce

35. Ryan Miller

If Egbuka or Evans plays, I'd drop Otton below Chubb and Kupp. If Egbuka or Evans are out, I'd move Tez Johnson between Charbonnet and Tucker.