Week 7 brings some tough decisions for fantasy managers, with several key players facing difficult matchups and others positioned to take advantage of struggling defenses. Before setting your lineups, here are the players who could disappoint this week and the ones who have a good chance to outperform expectations.
Quarterback
BEST: QB Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (@ Detroit Lions)
Jordan Love has a chance to put up big numbers in a Green Bay-Detroit matchup that could turn into a shootout. The Packers quarterback has been remarkably consistent this season, throwing multiple touchdowns in every game while eclipsing 275 passing yards in four of six starts. Detroit has struggled to slow down the passing game, giving up the third-most passing yards in the league and going six weeks without an interception.
Green Bay could also get Josh Jacobs back, which would give opposing defenses another threat to account for and potentially create more favorable passing situations. Not to mention, Love has been particularly effective when the Packers use play-action, throwing five touchdowns on play fakes this season. With a 53.5-point over/under, this divisional matchup has plenty of shootout potential, making Love an appealing fantasy option.
WORST: QB Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (@ Seattle Seahawks)
Patrick Mahomes is coming off his lowest fantasy output of the season and faces a difficult road test against Seattle. The Seahawks have been one of the league’s toughest defenses, allowing just 12.6 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks while ranking near the top of the league in pressure rate and forced turnovers.
Mahomes has also cooled off considerably after a hot start, averaging just 15.1 fantasy points over his last three games with three interceptions on the season. Kansas City has leaned more heavily on the ground game lately, and Kenneth Walker III’s strong play could keep the Chiefs from needing to air it out as often. With Rashee Rice’s availability also uncertain, Mahomes could struggle to deliver reliable QB1 production this week.
Running Back
Best: RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@ Carolina Panthers)
Bucky Irving is coming off a disappointing Week 6 performance against Pittsburgh, managing just 46 rushing yards on 19 carries and adding only three receiving yards on three targets. However, he has a great opportunity to bounce back against Carolina this week.
The Panthers have struggled to contain opposing running backs, ranking dead-last in yards per carry allowed and giving up the fifth-most fantasy points per game to the position at 23.3. With the Buccaneers facing a division rival, Irving should have plenty of opportunities to get back on track and deliver a much stronger fantasy performance.
Worst: RB Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals (@ Baltimore Ravens)
Chase Brown’s grip on Cincinnati’s backfield lead may be getting weaker after a disappointing showing against Miami in Week 5. He managed just 39 yards on 13 carries, averaging 3.0 yards per attempt, while adding 21 receiving yards on three catches. Meanwhile, Samaje Perine matched Brown’s carry total and was far more effective, picking up 4.9 yards per attempt.
Brown’s struggles go beyond one game, as he’s averaging just 3.5 yards per carry this season despite the Bengals ranking first in run block win rate. He’s also scored only once despite handling 40.9% of Cincinnati’s red-zone rushing attempts. Baltimore presents another challenge, allowing just 3.8 yards per carry and the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. Brown still offers value as a receiver, but his declining efficiency and Perine’s emergence make him a riskier fantasy option this week.
Wide Receiver
Best: WR George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys (@ Philadelphia Eagles)
George Pickens remains a strong fantasy option heading into a Week 7 matchup against Philadelphia. Last week, Pickens led the Cowboys in receiving yards, catching six of 11 targets for 73 yards against Green Bay. He has now scored double-digit fantasy points in three of his last four games, and his 33 receptions for 428 yards through six weeks show how heavily Dallas wants to continue using him in the passing game.
Philadelphia is allowing 32.0 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fourth-most in the league, giving Pickens plenty of downfield opportunity. He’s a solid WR2 this week, especially if Philadelphia devotes extra attention to CeeDee Lamb.
Worst: WR Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (@ Minnesota Vikings)
Josh Downs has struggled to deliver consistent fantasy production this season, and his Week 7 matchup against Minnesota doesn’t offer much reason for optimism. He’s averaging just 8.9 PPR points per game, ranking as the WR43 overall, and Keenan Allen has outscored him in four of the five games they’ve played together. Despite Downs’ ability to create separation, that hasn’t translated into reliable numbers.
Minnesota has been stingy against opposing receivers, allowing just 22.0 fantasy points per game, the fourth-fewest in the league. The Vikings could make life especially difficult for Indianapolis if they build an early lead and pressure Daniel Jones into uncomfortable passing situations. Downs is difficult to trust as a fantasy starter this week against a tough Minnesota defense.
Tight End
Best: TE Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (@ Las Vegas Raiders)
Tyler Higbee is in a good position to bounce back after a quiet Week 6 outing against Arizona, where he finished with four catches for 22 yards. His role in the Rams’ offense has grown since Terrance Ferguson went on injured reserve, and Davante Adams’ hamstring injury should open up additional targets with the veteran receiver expected to miss several weeks.
Higbee has scored at least 11.7 fantasy points in two of the three games before last week, showing what he can do with increased involvement. Las Vegas has struggled to defend tight ends, allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game to the position while giving up six touchdowns this season. With a larger role potentially available, Higbee is a solid streaming option in Week 7.
Worst: TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
Kyle Pitts has turned things around over the past two weeks, but his Week 7 matchup against San Francisco could put a damper on his recent success. After averaging just 2.9 fantasy points per game through the first four weeks, Pitts has posted 15.2 and 23.0 points in his last two outings, scoring three touchdowns along the way. However, those three scores have accounted for much of his recent production, and he’s still commanding just 13.5% of Atlanta’s targets this season.
The 49ers have been tough on tight ends, allowing only 6.5 fantasy points per game to the position, the third-fewest in the league. San Francisco also gives up just 18.3 points per game overall, making scoring opportunities harder to come by. Pitts has some upside, but he’s a risky start this week.
