Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 7 Matchups to Consider
Week 7 marks the midpoint of the fantasy regular season, meaning fantasy managers are either working to solidify those all-important playoff spots or doing everything they can to keep their heads above water to stay alive in the hunt for the postseason. Either way, nothing matters more week to week than getting those lineups set to their optimal levels to make sure your roster takes steps towards the playoffs and not further away!
It’s time ahead of Week 7 to stroll through each position group and take a look at a few matchups that could be the difference in how starting lineups get set this week!
As always, make use of the premium rankings from the Ballers each week!
Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford
QB - LAR
As good as the Rams offense has been for fantasy, it’s been a hot-and-cold start for Matthew Stafford. Through his first six games, Stafford has finished outside of the top-12 QBs four times, though he did deliver for fantasy managers in Weeks 4 and 5 with QB2 and QB5 finishes. Stafford’s fantasy value has always been predicated on him tossing TD passes, so it’s no surprise that he’s been able to really deliver this season for fantasy managers when he’s thrown 3+ TDs. In fact, when Stafford throws 3+ TDs this season, he’s averaging nearly double the fantasy points than when he throws two or fewer.
While Stafford was a bit of a letdown last week with what seemed like a nice matchup, there’s a chance for redemption in Week 7 against the Jaguars. Jacksonville’s defense has allowed the third-most passing yards this season, though they have logged a league-high 10 INTs as well. For fantasy, though, the Jaguars have allowed opposing QBs to score 20+ fantasy points in their last three games, all of which have resulted in top-12 QB finishes. It may be difficult for fantasy managers to go back to the Stafford well again this week, but the matchup should allow for a decent bounce-back opportunity if he’s needed in lineups.
Bo Nix
QB - DEN
The offseason hype around what Bo Nix could do after a stellar rookie season saw him finish as the QB7 hasn’t been delivered just yet to start 2025. Nix has finished as a top-12 QB for fantasy just twice this season and hasn’t scored more than 20+ fantasy points since Week 4. What should be encouraging for fantasy managers who are depending on Nix is the decent rushing baseline he’s continued to show through his first six games, where he’s averaging 20 yards per game, though he’s only added one TD on the ground thus far this season.
If Nix is going to get back on the right side of the QB1 line for fantasy, a matchup against the Giants should be helpful. New York’s defense has allowed the fourth-most passing yards in the league, though they’ve only given up seven passing TDs on the season. Since Week 2, when the Giants allowed Dak Prescott a QB5 finish, the Giants have been solid against opposing QBs for fantasy, only allowing one QB finish inside the top-20, and that came just last week to Jalen Hurts, who finished as the QB8. Fantasy managers have a tough call to make with Nix this week, but another rough performance may mean it’s time to stream another QB option until something changes in Denver’s offense.
Running Backs
Alvin Kamara
RB - NO
Despite plenty of questions around exactly what the Saints offense would be this season, Alvin Kamara has still been a decent RB2 option for fantasy to start the year. Kamara has finished inside the top-24 in half of his games this season, though it feels like he’s fairly limited in his upside, with a season-high of 13 fantasy points coming back in Week 2. Overall, though, Kamara has stayed plenty involved in the New Orleans offense, averaging around 18 opportunities per game and still seeing 63% of the RB carries on the season, even with a strong push from Kendre Miller to cut into his workload.
While the Saints offense isn’t one fantasy managers really want to be betting on, a decent matchup against the Bears should be encouraging for Kamara’s fantasy outlook this week. Chicago has allowed the 8th-most rushing yards this season, though they are one of two teams who have given up 700+ rushing yards but just four or fewer rushing TDs. For fantasy, the Bears have only allowed one top-12 RB finish in their last three games, though that was the RB1 overall from Ashton Jeanty in Week 4. While his upside may be a bit limited, fantasy managers should still view Kamara as an RB2 for their rosters heading into Week 7.
Kimani Vidal
RB - LAC
The unknown of how the Chargers’ backfield would play out heading into Week 6 turned out to be a huge win for Kimani Vidal. Vidal not only dominated the opportunities between himself and Hassan Haskins, but was extremely productive, finishing as the RB8 on the week. What may be even more exciting for fantasy managers with Vidal on their rosters is the amount of work the RB saw in the red zone with eight total opportunities inside the 20 for the Chargers. There’s still room for this backfield split to even out this week, but it should definitely be Vidal who gets the first crack at taking on the lead role again.
If Vidal is going to put on a repeat performance, he’s got a tougher matchup this week against the Colts to do so. Indianapolis’ defense sits in the middle of the pack when it comes to allowing rushing yards this season, but it’s worth noting they’ve only allowed three rushing TDs. For fantasy, the Colts have still allowed production from the RB position this season, giving up a top-24 RB finish in all but one week this season. If Vidal maintains the majority of the rushing work for the Chargers, he should be a strong fantasy option again this week.
Travis Etienne Jr.
RB - NO
After a very disappointing 2024 season, Travis Etienne has come out of the gate on fire, finishing as a top-24 RB in five of his first six games. Etienne has dominated the RB work for the Jaguars, averaging nearly 19 opportunities per game. What may be concerning is that Etienne’s production seems to potentially be slowing down. In his first four games, Etienne averaged 15.9 fantasy points per game, but he has scored just 14.8 fantasy points in the last two weeks combined.
Etienne’s last two weeks could be a cause for concern for fantasy managers who feel they got a steal in drafts, but a tough matchup this week against the Rams could continue that trend. Los Angeles is allowing the 7th-lowest yards per carry this season and has only allowed two rushing TDs on the year. For fantasy, the Rams didn’t allow a top-24 RB finish in their first three games, but have allowed one in each of their last three games. Of course, those three games featured Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, and Derrick Henry. It’s hard for fantasy managers to make a bet against Etienne after he’s been so solid to start the year, but another mediocre week could mean it’s time to re-evaluate Etienne’s permanent spot in lineups.
Wide Receivers
A.J. Brown
WR - PHI
What a gross start to the season for AJ Brown and the Eagles passing attack a whole. Through his first three games, Brown has been a frustrating fantasy WR that fantasy managers feel obligated to start based on the high draft capital they invested in him. Brown has been a top-24 fantasy WR just twice to start the year and has caught just one TD. What should be encouraging is that Brown has averaged eight targets per game since Week 2, though those targets have been very sporadic in turning into actual yardage and fantasy production.
While Brown did deliver for fantasy managers last week, a tough matchup against the Vikings in Week 7 presents a real challenge to string together his first consecutive top-24 finishes of the season. Minnesota’s defense has allowed the 2nd-fewest passing yards and yards per completion this season. For fantasy, the Vikings have allowed 10.2 or fewer fantasy points to opposing teams’ WRs in three of their last four games, so there isn’t a ton of meat on the bone for fantasy options. It’s really difficult for fantasy managers to consider not starting a WR like Brown, but expectations should be tempered with such a difficult matchup this week.
Kendrick Bourne
WR - ARI
Talk about making the most of the opportunity in front of you, Kendrick Bourne has stepped into the lead WR role for the 49ers and really delivered over the last two weeks. With Ricky Pearsall missing consecutive games, Bourne has delivered back-to-back WR7 fantasy finishes, which is the first time since Week 6 & 7 of the 2023 season he’s finished in the top-24 in a pair of games. The name of the game for Bourne’s fantasy production has been volume, averaging 10 targets and 142 receiving yards per game over the last two weeks.
For Bourne to keep his hot fantasy streak going, he will have a tougher task this week against the Falcons. Atlanta’s defense has allowed the fewest passing yards in the league to start the season, giving up just 139 yards through the air per game. For fantasy, the Falcons haven’t allowed a top-24 WR in three of their last four games. With the potential return of TE George Kittle to the 49ers lineup, Bourne’s usage could see a dip this week, and pairing that with a tough matchup could limit Bourne to just a FLEX option in Week 7.
Cooper Kupp
WR - SEA
The move to Seattle has been a rough start for Cooper Kupp this season. After a rough finish to his 2024 season, Kupp has not been able to really deliver for fantasy managers in his new home with the Seahawks either, getting his first top-24 WR finish of the season just last week. Kupp’s usage in the Seattle offense has clearly been behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but he’s still second on the team in targets and receiving yards. Though the production hasn’t really been there, Kupp is still seeing targets at a decent 19.2% of his routes run, so there may still be solid fantasy days ahead for him.
If Kupp is going to continue his productive fantasy output, he will have a tough task against a really good Texans defense this week. Houston has allowed the 5th-fewest passing yards per game this season and the fewest passing TDs. For fantasy, the Texans haven’t allowed opposing teams’ WRs to score over 20 fantasy points in three consecutive weeks and haven’t allowed a single top-24 WR finish in any of those games. While it may be easy to hope Kupp could back up his first useful fantasy game of the season with another, this tough of a matchup may mean fantasy managers can find better options for their roster elsewhere.
Tight Ends
Mason Taylor
TE - NYJ
The overall vibes in New York couldn’t be any worse, and there’s very little fantasy value to be had overall, but Mason Taylor might be a TE worth keeping an eye on. Taylor has been involved for the Jets from the start of the season, playing 83% of the snaps so far this season. What’s encouraging for his fantasy production is that Taylor has seen 6+ targets in three of his last four games, including 12 targets in Week 5 when he finished as the TE10 on the week. With the potential for Garrett Wilson to miss time this week, that can only increase the opportunity for Taylor to produce for fantasy managers this week.
If Taylor is going to get back into the fantasy productive range, he’s got a great matchup to do so this week against the Panthers. Carolina’s defense hasn’t been as terrible as the 2024 version fantasy managers targeted, but they’ve still been relatively bad against the pass, allowing 10 passing TDs already this season. Specifically against TEs, the Panthers have allowed 14.5 fantasy points to opposing TEs and have given up a top-10 TE finish in each of their last three games. While he may not have the dog, Taylor could be a great pickup and play TE option for fantasy managers in need this week.
Cade Otton
TE - TB
The continued success of the Tampa Bay offense hasn’t necessarily translated to a hot start for Cade Otton. While Otton has been on the field plenty for the Bucs, playing 93% of snaps through their first six games, he hasn’t managed a single top-12 TE finish to start the year. Over the last two weeks, though, Otton has had 79.5% of this receiving production on the entire season, combining for 132 yards in those games. With plenty of injuries in the Tampa Bay offense at WR, Otton should be a necessary piece of the puzzle and could warrant a spot in lineups on that opportunity alone.
If Otton is going to bring some fantasy value to lineups this week, he’s got an interesting matchup against the Lions to do so. Detroit has been middle of the pack in passing yards allowed to start the season, but have allowed the 4th-most passing TDs through six games. When it comes to TEs, the Lions have been hit or miss for fantasy production. In four of six games this season, Detroit has allowed 10.5 or fewer fantasy points to opposing TEs, and have only allowed two top-12 TE finishes on the year. With plenty of points expected in this game from the oddsmakers, fantasy managers may want to have a piece of what could be one of the highest scoring games of the week in Otton.