The Thursday Night Football showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals brings plenty of intrigue for fantasy managers in Week 7. Both teams are on opposite paths as the Steelers are working towards a 5-1 start, while the Bengals are reeling after losing star quarterback Joe Burrow. Below, I’ll explain who you can trust in your lineups, who should stay on the bench, and which players fall into that tricky gray area for Thursday night.
Lock Them into Your Lineup
- Ja’Marr Chase WR (CIN)
Strong Starts
Jaylen Warren RB (PIT)
Jaylen Warren deserves strong start consideration in Week 7 as he continues to cement his role as the Steelers’ lead back. Coming off 11 carries for 52 yards and two catches for 11 yards in Week 6, Warren showed solid efficiency despite a limited workload in his return from injury. His season-long production includes 41 carries for 176 yards (4.3 YPC) and three touchdowns, plus 20 receptions for 102 yards, giving him a reliable PPR floor. The Bengals’ defense sets up as a favorable matchup, ranking third-worst in yards before contact allowed (2.13), which could lead to chunk gains if Pittsburgh leans on the ground game. Given his consistent double-digit touches and past usage as a receiving back, Warren projects for 80+ scrimmage yards with touchdown potential.
Fantasy managers should treat Warren as a confident start, especially in PPR formats where his receiving role raises his floor. His 52% snap share and 39% carry share in Week 6 indicate Pittsburgh trusts him in key situations, particularly on passing downs. While Kenneth Gainwell may siphon some opportunities, Warren’s combination of rushing efficiency and pass-catching involvement gives him the edge as the fantasy RB1 in this backfield. The Bengals’ inability to contain versatile running backs points toward Warren being a reliable option in Week 7 lineups.
DK Metcalf WR (PIT)
DK Metcalf is shaping up as a must-start wide receiver after reeling in four receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown in Week 6 against Cleveland, marking his fourth straight game with a score. Over the last two contests, he has produced 221 yards, climbing to 356 yards and four touchdowns on the season while leading the Steelers with 31 targets. Metcalf’s alpha role in Pittsburgh’s passing game, coupled with his red-zone usage, makes him a weekly WR1 candidate. His chemistry with Aaron Rodgers continues to grow, and he has topped 80 yards in three of his first five games as a Steeler. That steady involvement ensures volume, even if efficiency occasionally dips.
The Week 7 matchup against Cincinnati further cements Metcalf’s status as a strong fantasy start. The Bengals have surrendered the second-most passing yards per game in 2025, allowing 16+ fantasy points to seven wideouts, including multiple WR1s who cleared 80 yards. With the Bengals’ defense ranking 27th against the pass and giving up explosive plays to outside receivers, Metcalf has an ideal opportunity to extend his touchdown streak. Rodgers’ occasional inaccuracy might cap some deep shots, but Metcalf’s athleticism and high target share keep him locked in as a WR1. Expect another 15+ PPR point performance, making him a near-automatic start in Week 7.
Tee Higgins WR (CIN)
Tee Higgins finally flashed signs of life in Week 6, catching five passes for 62 yards on eight targets, his highest yardage output of the season. After managing only 15 total targets from Weeks 2 through 5, Higgins matched his season high in targets against Green Bay, showing better chemistry with new quarterback Joe Flacco. That involvement is encouraging, as Higgins has now recorded 11 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown across his last three outings. As the Bengals’ WR2 opposite Ja’Marr Chase, Higgins is positioned to see consistent opportunities in divisional matchups that often feature elevated passing volume. His WR28 finish last week in PPR formats indicates he’s trending upward.
This week’s matchup against the Steelers provides another chance for Higgins to build momentum. Pittsburgh has struggled against WR2s, giving up big games to players like Cooper Kupp (90 yards) and Jordan Addison (114 yards) earlier this season. Overall, the Steelers allow the sixth-most passing yards per game and rank 13th in fantasy points allowed to wideouts, giving Higgins a pathway to production. While competition for targets with Chase can limit his ceiling, Higgins’ ability to exploit perimeter matchups suggests a 10–14 PPR point range with touchdown upside. He should be treated as a strong WR2 start in Week 7 lineups.
Players to Sit
Joe Flacco QB (CIN)
Joe Flacco had a respectable Bengals debut in Week 6, throwing for 219 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay, but the veteran remains a risky fantasy option heading into Week 7. While his 46 pass attempts showed Cincinnati’s trust in him to sling the ball, his efficiency has been poor, averaging just 5.0 yards per attempt on the season. Flacco also has a long history of struggling against pressure, with his YPA plummeting from 5.50 to 3.98 when blitzed, which plays directly into Pittsburgh’s defensive strength. The Steelers’ pass rush is red-hot with 17 sacks over their last three games, ranking fourth in blitz rate at 37.9%. That matchup could spell trouble for a 40-year-old quarterback still integrating into a new system.
For fantasy football, Flacco should be firmly sat in Week 7 outside of deep two-quarterback formats. While he has talented receivers in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals’ offensive line has not protected him well, raising the risk of turnovers and sub-200-yard performances. Projections have him hovering around 12–15 fantasy points, which is simply too low to trust in standard formats. With the Steelers familiar with his tendencies from past matchups, expect a game plan designed to pressure him heavily. Flacco might be serviceable in desperation spots, but the floor is far too low for fantasy managers to start him confidently this week.
Chase Brown RB (CIN)
Chase Brown has been one of the most disappointing running backs in fantasy football this season, and Week 7 does not offer much relief. After opening with 16 carries in Week 1, Brown has failed to top that number in any game since and hasn’t surpassed 50 rushing yards all year. While he flashed some PPR upside with a seven-catch game earlier this season, his overall receiving production remains inconsistent, with just 11 catches combined across his other four games. Over the last three outings, he’s managed only 109 rushing yards on 27 carries and has yet to find the end zone, averaging a meager 6.3 fantasy points per game. Simply put, Brown’s usage and efficiency are trending in the wrong direction.
This week, Brown faces a tough Steelers defense that ranks top three in fewest fantasy points allowed to running backs on rushing plays. While Pittsburgh is middle-of-the-pack overall against the run, they’ve clamped down recently, holding opposing RB1s to just 111 combined yards over the past three weeks. That makes it hard to trust Brown’s already fragile workload, especially in a game where the Bengals may need to lean on their passing attack. His only saving grace could be PPR value if Flacco checks down under pressure, but even then, his ceiling remains limited. Fantasy managers should sit Brown in Week 7, as his outlook points more toward a 5–7 point finish than anything usable in lineups.
Kenneth Gainwell RB (PIT)
Kenneth Gainwell has shown flashes of upside this season, most notably in Week 4 when he stepped in for the injured Jaylen Warren and delivered 134 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. However, with Warren healthy again, Gainwell has been relegated back to a supporting role. In Week 6 against the Browns, Gainwell played just 20 snaps to Warren’s 31 and logged only six carries for 22 yards. His passing work was more noticeable, catching all six of his targets, but he managed just 14 receiving yards from those opportunities. That lack of explosiveness caps his fantasy appeal even when touches are available.
Looking ahead to Week 7 against Cincinnati, Gainwell’s secondary role makes him a strong sit candidate. While the Bengals have been soft against the run in terms of yards before contact allowed, it’s Warren who benefits most from those opportunities as the starter. Gainwell’s capped workload, hovering around 35% snap share and 21% carry share, means he doesn’t see enough touches to be dependable. His floor is dangerously low if Warren dominates touches. For fantasy football lineups, Gainwell is better left on the bench this week, serving more as a depth stash than an active start.
Jonnu Smith TE (PIT)
Jonnu Smith’s 2025 season has been a far cry from his 2024 breakout, as he’s managed just 17 receptions for 89 yards and one touchdown through six weeks. Despite ranking third on the Steelers in targets (20), he hasn’t been able to turn those looks into meaningful fantasy production, averaging fewer than 18 yards per game. In Week 6 against Cleveland, he caught three passes for 18 yards, once again falling short of fantasy relevance. His role is further diminished by Pittsburgh’s reliance on Darnell Washington as a blocker and the presence of other playmakers like DK Metcalf. Simply put, Smith is not a trustworthy option right now.
Even though the Bengals have allowed tight ends to find some success this season, Smith’s inefficiency keeps him firmly in the sit category for Week 7. His best-case scenario involves a short-yardage touchdown, but banking on that is too risky given his declining snap usage and lack of big plays. The Steelers’ passing offense under Aaron Rodgers is already low-volume, and Smith hasn’t commanded enough involvement to break through. Fantasy managers are better off streaming a more consistent option at tight end. Smith should be sat in all but the deepest of leagues.
Noah Fant TE (CIN)
Noah Fant has quietly been efficient with his opportunities, catching 16 of 18 targets this season, but his low volume and limited yardage cap his fantasy football upside. He has yet to top 28 receiving yards in a game this year, averaging just 21.4 yards per contest and 4.1 PPR points. His route participation has been under 46%, making him a secondary piece in Cincinnati’s passing attack behind Mike Gesicki and the wide receivers. Week 6’s line of four targets for 27 yards was another reminder of his capped ceiling, leaving fantasy managers little reason to trust him.
The matchup against Pittsburgh may tempt some managers, as the Steelers rank 27th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends, but Fant’s role simply isn’t large enough to capitalize. Unless Gesicki were to miss time this week, Fant’s opportunities remain too sparse to project a usable fantasy score. At best, he’s a desperation streamer in deep leagues, but most projections have him in the 4–7 point range again this week. His reliance on near-perfect efficiency in limited snaps makes him a high-risk play with little reward. Fantasy managers should sit Fant in Week 7 and look elsewhere for consistent tight end production.
On the Fence
Aaron Rodgers QB (PIT)
Aaron Rodgers remains one of the trickiest fantasy quarterbacks to evaluate heading into Week 7. On paper, he’s coming off a solid fantasy outing in Week 6, posting 233 passing yards and two touchdowns against the Browns. That marked his third multi-touchdown game of the season, but his overall efficiency has been inconsistent, completing under 60% of his passes in three of five contests. The Steelers’ offense is also leaning heavily on its run game with Jaylen Warren, which lowers Rodgers’ weekly passing volume. While his chemistry with DK Metcalf continues to develop, the lack of consistent secondary receiving options has limited his ceiling.
The Bengals’ defense presents both opportunity and risk for Rodgers. They rank near the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed and have struggled to generate pressure, which bodes well for his ability to connect on deep shots. However, Rodgers’ declining mobility leaves him vulnerable if Pittsburgh’s offensive line falters, and his production takes a big hit. For managers streaming quarterbacks, Rodgers is a viable option in Week 7 thanks to the soft matchup, but he shouldn’t be considered a locked-in starter. He’s best deployed as a QB2 or matchup-dependent play, landing squarely in the “on the fence” category this week.
