Fantasy managers are likely going to have a tough time with their rosters this week with six teams on a bye. It's hard to replace stars from the Bills, Cowboys, Chargers, Steelers, Vikings and Jaguars, but hopefully you're prepared. If not, check the waiver wire for any last-minute options or look to make a trade.
If you have players on the Rams, this should be a fun week against the Lions, and it's probably a game that Matthew Stafford had circled for a while. He has to be excited to face his former team.
Sure, there are going to be nerves involved, but it's not like Tom Brady going back to New England like we saw in Week 4. Stafford isn't playing in Detroit, so he doesn't have those emotions of going to his first NFL home to worry about.
This should be a game where Stafford lights up his former team. It's not about revenge, it's just a great matchup. The Lions have already allowed three quarterbacks to score at least 22 Fantasy points this season, with Aaron Rodgers and Joe Burrow each scoring 34 points.
Stafford just had 33 Fantasy points at the Giants in Week 6, and he's scored at least 30 Fantasy points in two home games already this year. He's averaging 306.3 passing yards per game, and it's been fun to see him take command of Sean McVay's offense.
Cooper Kupp has benefitted in a big way as the No. 1 Fantasy receiver this year, and we're still hoping for more from Robert Woods, although he does have three touchdowns and has scored at least 14 PPR points in two of his past three games. For this week, you should be confident in both Rams receivers because of what this game should mean to Stafford. I'm also starting Tyler Higbee, and Darrell Henderson has become a must-start running back in all leagues.
But this game is all about Stafford, who spent the first 12 years of his career in Detroit. He should have a huge game against the Lions, and he's a top-three Fantasy quarterback in all leagues this week.
Editor's Note: Projections are provided by CBS Sports and not Jamey Eisenberg. Projected points are for PPR leagues.
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More Week 7: Sleepers | Starts, sits, sleepers and busts | PPR Cheat Sheet | Non-PPR Cheat Sheet | RB Preview | WR Preview | QB Preview | TE preview | Trade Values | Cut List | Towers' Top 150 | Waiver Wire | Buy low, sell high | DFS Guide
Start 'Em & Sit 'Em
Start of the Week
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There is plenty of star power missing at quarterback in Week 7 with Josh Allen, Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert on a bye. Kirk Cousins has likely been a starter in many leagues, and he's also off. And that could have Fantasy managers scrambling if you didn't have a backup option in place. Thankfully, Matt Ryan is here to help, and he's the Start of the Week.
The Falcons quarterback comes off his bye having scored at least 25 Fantasy points in his past two games. He's actually averaging 25.0 Fantasy points in his past four outings, and he should take advantage of the Dolphins. Miami has allowed an average of 25.0 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this year.
We'll find out if the Dolphins will get starting cornerbacks Xavien Howard (shoulder/groin) and Byron Jones (Achilles/groin) back for this game, and one or both being out will be a huge boost for Ryan. He gets Calvin Ridley back in this matchup after Ridley missed the London game against the Jets due to personal reasons, and Ridley should again be considered a must-start Fantasy receiver in all leagues.
Russell Gage (ankle) is also back for the Falcons, so Ryan has his full complement of weapons, along with 2021 star Cordarrelle Patterson. And Ryan finally got Kyle Pitts going in Week 5, so hopefully that connection continues to be great.
I like Ryan as a top 10 Fantasy quarterback in Week 7. He might be the best bye-week replacement of any position this week, and he has the chance to be a star against the Dolphins.
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Quarterbacks
Start 'Em
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I expected Carr to struggle at Denver in Week 6, and I was wrong. After combining for just 24 Fantasy points in his previous two games, and coming off Jon Gruden's resignation, I thought Carr would have another bad game against a good defense on the road. But he scored 25 Fantasy points, which is the fourth time this season he's reached at least that total, and he should be trustworthy in Week 7 against the Eagles. Three of the past four quarterbacks against Philadelphia have scored at least 21 Fantasy points, and the Eagles are among the league leaders in total touchdowns allowed to quarterbacks with 13.
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The Falcons defense has been very Jekyll and Hyde against opposing quarterbacks all season. Three quarterbacks (Jalen Hurts, Tom Brady and Taylor Heinicke) have scored at least 30 Fantasy points against Atlanta. Meanwhile, the Falcons have held Daniel Jones and Trevor Lawrence to 13 Fantasy points or less. So which defense will show up this week? Hopefully the bad one, and Tagovailoa is worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues. He played well in his return from a three-game absence from a rib injury in Week 6 against Jacksonville with 25 Fantasy points, and he's scored at least 18 Fantasy points in the two starts he's completed. The Dolphins can't run the ball, so I'm hoping this game turns into a shootout between Tagovailoa and Matt Ryan.
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The Chiefs defense did a good job last week in holding Heinicke to 11 Fantasy points, but the four previous quarterbacks against Kansas City (Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, Hurts and Josh Allen) all scored more than 30 Fantasy points. I'm hoping Tannehill gets in that range, and he's due since he's scored more than 19 Fantasy points just once this season. This game has the highest over/under of Week 7 at 56.5 points at the Caesars Sportsbook, and Derrick Henry can only do so much to carry the Titans offense. A.J. Brown looks right again, and hopefully Julio Jones (hamstring) plays. But Tannehill will also make plays with his legs, and he's worth using as a low-end starter in all leagues.
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Sleepers
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I was hoping Winston was going to get Michael Thomas (ankle) back for this game, but it appears like he's still a couple of weeks away from making his 2021 debut. But even without Thomas, Winston can still be considered a low-end starter in Week 7 against a Seattle defense that is fourth in the NFL in passing yards allowed. Tannehill, Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford and the combination of Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo have all gone over 300 passing yards against the Seahawks. And Winston just had 33 Fantasy points at Washington in Week 5 before the Saints' bye, which included a season-high 30 attempts. Winston is a good streaming option in Week 7.
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Darnold will hopefully snap out of his two-game funk in a stadium he knows well this week. The former Jets quarterback is going back to MetLife Stadium, and while he's facing the Giants, this is a homecoming of sorts. More importantly, this is a matchup he should be able to exploit since the Giants have allowed all but one quarterback to score at least 23 Fantasy points this season, and Ryan had the lowest score against this defense with 19 Fantasy points in Week 3. Darnold scored at least 21 Fantasy points in each of his first four starts, and hopefully he can return to that level of production in this matchup.
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Garoppolo is expected to start Sunday night after being out in Week 5 with a calf injury. He's worth using as a low-end starter in deeper formats and can be counted on in two-quarterback and Superflex leagues. Jacoby Brissett and Davis Mills are the lone quarterbacks who failed to score at least 21 Fantasy points against the Colts this year, who have given up an average of 25.3 points to the position. Garoppolo only has one game this season with more than 18 Fantasy points, but he might not have to worry about coming off the field this week if Trey Lance (knee) is still hurt. This could be a statement game for Garoppolo that if he plays well he should be the starter for the remainder of the season.
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Sit 'Em
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Heinicke has not been good the past two games, and you have to believe Washington will go back to Ryan Fitzpatrick (hip) when he's healthy. In his past two games against the Saints and Chiefs, Heinicke has combined for just 20 Fantasy points, including one touchdown and three interceptions. He had no rushing yards against Kansas City, which has been part of his Fantasy appeal. This week, he might have some success against a depleted Green Bay pass defense, which could be without cornerbacks Jaire Alexander (shoulder) and Kevin King (shoulder), as well as edge rushers Preston Smith (oblique) and Za'Darius Smith (back). Still, the Packers allow just 21.3 Fantasy points per game to opposing passers, and it's hard to trust Heinicke as anything more than an option in two-quarterback and Superflex leagues.
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The Panthers pass defense has fallen apart lately, allowing 22 or more Fantasy points to Dak Prescott, Hurts and Cousins in three games in a row. But Jones has also fallen apart. He suffered a concussion in Week 5 at Dallas and then struggled in Week 6 against the Rams with just three Fantasy points. His receiving corps is depleted with Kenny Golladay (knee), Kadarius Toney (foot) and Darius Slayton (hamstring) all battling injuries, and Saquon Barkley (ankle) could also be out again. I would only use Jones, who is averaging 13.3 Fantasy points in three home games this year, in two-quarterback and Superflex leagues.
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Wentz is on a nice roll coming into Week 7 at San Francisco with at least 20 Fantasy points in three games in a row against Miami, Baltimore and Houston. But I'm expecting him to be under that number this week at the 49ers, who should be fresh coming off a bye. Only Jared Goff in Week 1 and Aaron Rodgers in Week 3 have been above 240 passing yards against San Francisco, including matchups with Hurts, Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray. Murray only scored 15 Fantasy points against the 49ers in Week 5, and Hurts and Wilson needed their rushing production to save them. Since Wentz has just 14 rushing yards combined in his past four games, this could be a down week for him, and he's only an option in two-quarterback and Superflex leagues.
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Bust Alert
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It's hard to bench Burrow when so many good quarterbacks are on a bye (Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Dak Prescott and Kirk Cousins), but this could be a down game for him if the Ravens defense from Week 6 shows up again. Baltimore shut down Herbert last week, holding him to 12 Fantasy points, and this looked like a vintage Ravens performance against a dominant offense. Now, Baltimore has to do it again since Burrow has scored at least 22 Fantasy points in four games in a row. He played at Baltimore last season as a rookie and was 19-of-30 passing for 183 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, with a lost fumble. He'll do better than that, but I don't expect a huge outing for him on the road this week.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Running Backs
Start 'Em
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Patterson and Mike Davis are both in play here as starters against the Dolphins, who are No. 3 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. The Dolphins have allowed either 100 total yards or a touchdown to a running back in every game this season, and three times this season two running backs on the same team have scored against Miami (Buffalo, Las Vegas and Tampa Bay). Patterson has either 100 total yards or a touchdown in four games in a row, and Davis scored a touchdown in consecutive games prior to Atlanta's bye in Week 6.
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I nearly made Sanders the Start of the Week because I feel like this should be his breakout game. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni knows the team needs to run the ball -- Philadelphia's crowd in Week 6 against Tampa Bay definitely made that clear -- and Sanders will hopefully benefit with the most touches he's had since Week 1 when he got 19 (15 carries) at Atlanta. He's averaging 4.7 yards per carry, and hopefully he'll score his first touchdown of the season in Week 7 at Las Vegas. The Raiders have allowed a running back to score in five of six games this year, and Sanders is dominating playing time compared to Kenneth Gainwell. Hopefully, this is the week Sanders rewards you for sticking with him after a rough start to the season.
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Hubbard is proving to be a reliable Fantasy option as the replacement for Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) in Carolina. In his past two starts, he scored at least 13 PPR points with either 100 total yards or a touchdown in each outing. He also has at least 15 total touches in the past three starts for McCaffrey, and now coach Matt Rhule said he wants the team to run the ball more. That should work for Hubbard against the Giants, who have allowed a running back to either score or gain at least 100 total yards in every game this season. Hubbard has top-10 upside in this matchup.
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This isn't the best matchup since the Colts are top five in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, but I'll buy into the San Francisco rushing attack and trust Mitchell coming off a bye. He's the lead running back for the 49ers, and he should have the chance for 15-plus touches, which he's already done twice this season. There have been four running backs with at least 15 total touches against the Colts this season, and three of them (Chris Carson, Darrell Henderson and Derrick Henry) have either 100 total yards or a touchdown. Only Mark Ingram failed to accomplish either feat last week, but he managed 81 total yards in a 31-3 loss. Mitchell should be considered a high-end No. 2 running back in all leagues this week.
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Antonio Gibson (calf/shin) is banged up, and if he's out then McKissic could take on a bigger role for Washington. He had a season-high eight carries in Week 6 against Kansas City for 45 yards, and he also added eight catches for 65 yards on 10 targets. He's now scored at least 16 PPR points in three of his past five games, and he should continue to be involved in the passing game in Week 7, especially if Washington is chasing points at Green Bay. The Packers have already allowed five running backs (Alvin Kamara, D'Andre Swift, Kyle Juszczyk, Najee Harris and Samaje Perine) to score at least eight PPR points in a game against them this season with just their receiving production alone. McKissic is a flex option if Gibson plays, but he's a must-start running back in PPR if Gibson is out.
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Sleepers
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As of Wednesday, we're not sure what's happening with the Baltimore backfield. Is Latavius Murray (ankle) healthy? Will Ty'Son Williams be allowed to play? What we do know is Freeman is starting to look better each week and should be considered a flex option against the Bengals. He had three catches for 34 yards on four targets in the Week 5 comeback effort against the Colts. And then he had nine carries for 53 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers in Week 6. There will be two other guys with Freeman -- either Murray or Williams and Le'Veon Bell -- but Freeman deserves more chances to touch the ball. He might be my favorite Ravens running back in Week 7 -- and beyond.
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The Cardinals are favored by 18.5 points at home against the Texans, according to the Caesars Sportsbook, so there should be some touchdown and garbage-time opportunities here for Conner. Chase Edmonds is the better Cardinals running back in PPR, but Conner is a borderline starter in all leagues in this matchup. Houston has allowed a running back to score in three games in a row, and Conner has scored a touchdown in three of his past four games, with five total touchdowns over that span.
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Sit 'Em
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Booker got the workload we were hoping for in Week 6 against the Rams with 16 total touches in place of Saquon Barkley (ankle), but he barely did anything with it, scoring just 10 PPR points. He's now had consecutive games with at least 16 total touches, but he's been at 69 total yards or less in each outing. We don't expect Barkley to play again in Week 7 against Carolina, and Booker is just a flex play in most leagues. The Panthers have allowed just two touchdowns to running backs all season.
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Carter already faced the Patriots once this season in Week 2, and he was held to 11 carries for 59 yards, along with two catches for 29 yards on three targets. New England has only allowed two touchdowns to running backs all season, and only Alvin Kamara in Week 3 and Leonard Fournette in Week 4 have topped 69 rushing yards on the Patriots. Carter has scored in each of his past two games, but he's been held to 58 total yards or less in each outing. At best, he's a flex play in Week 7, but I would prefer to avoid him in this matchup on the road.
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Williams has disappeared in the passing game for the Lions. He had eight catches on nine targets in Week 1 against San Francisco, but since then he's combined for just eight catches on nine targets in his five other games. He's also scored seven PPR points or less in four of his past five games, including three in a row. He's still playing in tandem with D'Andre Swift, but Williams isn't producing enough to warrant using him as a starter in most Fantasy leagues this week, especially if he's not involved in the passing game.
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I made the mistake of expecting Gaskin to use his Week 5 performance against Tampa Bay when he had 31 PPR points as a springboard to a strong rest of season. That didn't pan out well in Week 6 against Jacksonville in London since Gaskin was held to just two PPR points. He now has three games in a row with five carries or less, and he's still searching for his first rushing touchdown this season. The Falcons matchup isn't daunting since Atlanta is No. 9 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, but it's hard to trust Gaskin now. I'm hopeful he performs well again like he did against the Buccaneers, but I would only Gaskin as a flex option at best in PPR in Week 7.
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On Tuesday, when we found out Nick Chubb (calf) was ruled out for Thursday's game against the Broncos, I had moderately high expectations for Johnson, especially with Kareem Hunt (calf) on injured reserve. Then we got to Wednesday, and the Browns ruled out Baker Mayfield (shoulder), meaning Case Keenum will start at quarterback. We also don't know if Odell Beckham (shoulder) will play, and Cleveland is dealing with offensive line issues as tackles Jack Conklin (knee) and Jedrick Wills (ankle) are both banged up. I hope Johnson can overcome playing with a lot of backups against the Broncos, but I'm nervous to trust him as anything more than a flex option this week.
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Bust Alert
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Herbert was great as expected in Week 6 against the Packers with 19 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown, along with two catches for 15 yards on three targets. He's now run for at least 75 yards in two games without David Montgomery (knee), and his performance against Green Bay was also with Damien Williams on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Williams could be out again in Week 7 against the Buccaneers, which would help Herbert, but I would only use him as a flex option in this matchup. Tampa Bay is No. 10 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and the way to attack them out of the backfield is in the passing game. We'll see if Herbert can post quality receiving stats in Week 7, but I'm hesitant to start him in most leagues. He will likely need a touchdown to save his production this week, and those have been hard to come by against the Buccaneers this season for running backs. Only Patterson in Week 2 has rushed for a touchdown against Tampa Bay this year.
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START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Wide Receiver
Start 'Em
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We'll see if DeVante Parker (shoulder) or Preston Williams (groin) are able to return in Week 7 against Atlanta, and hopefully they don't hinder Waddle much. But even if one or both play against the Falcons, I still like Waddle as a quality starting option in all leagues, with his value higher in PPR. In Week 6 at Jacksonville, with Tua Tagovailoa back from his rib injury, Waddle had 10 catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns on 13 targets. Waddle has now scored at least 16 PPR points in the two games where Tagovailoa has finished, and this is a good matchup against the Falcons, who have allowed five receivers to score at least 16 PPR points this season.
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The only fear I have for Sutton and Tim Patrick this week is that the Browns don't score enough points to make the Broncos throw a lot in this matchup given all the injuries for Cleveland. But this matchup is fantastic for Sutton and Patrick, who is worth using as a sleeper as a high-end No. 3 Fantasy receiver. In Cleveland's last three games against Minnesota, the Chargers and Arizona, six receivers have scored at least 13 PPR points with seven touchdowns over that span. Sutton has scored at least 23 PPR points in three of his past five games. And Patrick has scored at least 12 PPR points in every game Teddy Bridgewater has finished this year.
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Cooks got back to being a productive Fantasy receiver in Week 6 at Indianapolis with nine catches for 89 yards on 13 targets. That's now five games this season with at least seven targets, and he's scored at least 17 PPR points in four of them. He should get a hefty amount of targets again at Arizona with the Texans likely chasing points. And the Cardinals have allowed 11 receivers to score at least 12 PPR points this season, so that should be the floor for Cooks this week. Arizona also is one of five teams with nine touchdowns allowed to receivers this year.
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Pittman had a down game in Week 6 against Houston with two catches for 35 yards on three targets. He was overshadowed by T.Y. Hilton in his 2021 debut, and Parris Campbell caught a 51-yard touchdown pass. But Campbell (foot) is now on injured reserve, and Hilton (quad) is again banged up. Pittman should have the chance for seven-plus targets again like he did in the four games prior to Week 6, and he scored at least 11 PPR points in each outing. There have been five receivers with at least seven targets against the 49ers this year (Quintez Cephus, DeVonta Smith, Davante Adams, DK Metcalf and DeAndre Hopkins), and only Smith failed to score a touchdown. The Colts could also be chasing points this week, so consider Pittman a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in this matchup, especially if Hilton is out.
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Sleepers
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I wish this was Allen Robinson in this spot, and hopefully he delivers in this great matchup with the Buccaneers. But it's hard to trust Robinson, who has yet to top 10 PPR points in a game this year. While Robinson has struggled with Justin Fields, it hasn't been the same thing for Mooney, at least of late. He's scored at least 15 PPR points in two of his past three games. Hopefully we continue to see Fields and Mooney connect, and the Buccaneers have allowed the fifth-most Fantasy points to receivers this year. Mooney is worth using as a No. 3 receiver in most leagues.
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Renfrow struggled against the Broncos in Week 6 with season lows in targets (five), catches (three), yards (36) and Fantasy points (six), but he should rebound this week. Derek Carr should lean on Renfrow in this matchup, especially if the Eagles try to limit the big plays and put Darius Slay on Henry Ruggs III. In three home games this year against Baltimore, Miami and Chicago, Renfrow is averaging 14.0 PPR points per game.
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