Fantasy Football Rankings: Week 7 Matchups to Consider
Right after spending hours on the couch watching football on Sunday, writing this article might be my favorite part of the week. The timing is perfect. We have a better idea of the point spread, who is favored, what the weather looks like, and waivers have officially run in most leagues. I only wish Wednesday practice reports actually mattered.
Nearly halfway through the season, even if you started 0-6, it is still possible to scrape and claw your way back. I am 3-9 in one league (league median keeps beating me up too), and some weeks it feels pointless to keep making transactions and sending trade offers. But staying active and persistent is the only way to give yourself a shot at turning things around. I am not throwing in the towel just yet, and neither should you.
Here are some matchups and players to consider heading into Week 7:
Quarterbacks
Bo Nix
QB • DEN
Let me start with a question: Who has more fantasy points in leagues with four-point passing TDs, Bo Nix or Cam Ward? Trick question. It’s Bo Nix… but barely! Depending on your league’s scoring settings, Ward might even be ahead.
Being compared to Cam Ward in 2026 is unequivocally an insult. Fantasy managers are frustrated, and I am taking this one personally because Nix was one of my MyGuys. The addition of Jaylen Waddle was a big reason for my optimism, but the way they have used him hasn’t helped much. I also expected Nix to offer a reliable rushing floor. Through six weeks, Bo Nix ranks 28th among QBs in rushing yards. I do not think he’s great, but I certainly don’t believe he is this bad.
Every QB reacts differently to play-calling duties being changed, so it may take a few more weeks for the transition from Davis Webb to Sean Payton to be beneficial for everyone involved. His early-season schedule certainly didn’t do him any favors either, as Nix faced defenses ranking 16th or better against opposing QBs. In Week 7, Nix faces the Cardinals, who give up the fourth-most fantasy points to QBs. If you are backed into a corner because of injuries or bye weeks, Nix might not inspire much confidence, but this matchup gives him a chance to turn things around.
Tyler Shough
QB • NO
While Nix gets the fourth-easiest matchup, Tyler Shough draws the fourth-hardest. It was nice seeing Shough bounce back after a brutal outing against the Vikings. He has now recorded four total TDs in two separate games this season, showing just how high his ceiling can be.
The pace of play helps, but they still haven’t added eighth overall pick, Jordyn Tyson. The Vikings were the worst matchup for QBs, and the Steelers aren’t far behind… at least on paper. Take a look at the QBs Pittsburgh has faced: Cooper Rush, Drake Maye (early season), Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, Daniel Jones, and Jalon Daniels. Burrow had a great game, but the rest of that list hasn’t exactly lit up the scoreboard. While I think the Steelers defense is pretty good, I am not sold that they are as elite as the numbers suggest.
Running Backs
Jordan Mason
RB • MIN
With Jordan Mason sidelined, Aaron Jones has been a key piece of the Vikings’ 5-0 start. That leaves one big question: If Mason suits up, how much work will he actually get?
The Colts are the sixth-easiest matchup for RBs, and their organization seems to be circling the drain after losing to a previously winless Titans team. Mason already doesn’t bring much to the table as a pass catcher, and the Vikings are favored, as expected. Unfortunately, some of us who have patiently waited on Mason might not have a better option. There are a few juicy matchups ahead for Mason, so if you have the luxury of taking a wait-and-see approach, like I plan to, there are better days potentially ahead.
Chuba Hubbard
RB • CAR
During draft season, the ADP for Jonathon Brooks and Chuba Hubbard was pretty similar, with Brooks eventually pulling ahead. An injury derailed Brooks’ start, and Hubbard managers still don’t have to worry about him taking touches this week. Honestly, the way Hubbard has been playing, he might just run away with the job.
Hubbard has increased his number of carries every week this season. That trend cannot continue forever, but it’s encouraging to see Carolina leaning on him. Coming off back-to-back 120-yard rushing games, the thought of benching Hubbard hasn’t crossed anyone’s mind. Still, I would temper expectations this week. Tampa Bay has allowed just two rushing TDs this season and is allowing the second-fewest rushing yards per game. Start Hubbard, but don’t automatically expect another great performance.
Kendre Miller
RB • NO
Last week against the Giants, Kendre Miller reached 20 carries for the first time in his career. Even though Miller’s not used in the passing game, it is not a bad waiver wire pickup. The challenge is figuring out how much of that workload was game script, as the Saints led the Giants 27-10 heading into the fourth quarter. The Steelers are middle of the pack against RBs, and if you just need touches at the position, you could probably do worse than Kendre Miller… although I am not sure how much worse.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Wide Receivers
A.J. Brown
WR • NE
I still cannot believe we hit on Tre Tucker last week. That is four consecutive banger plays in this unofficial start/sit spot, and I am looking to make it five with A.J. Brown. As a Patriots fan, I was so excited for Brown that my buddy and I went to Seattle to watch the Patriots play. Well, we all know how that went. Brutal beatdown for Patriots fans everywhere. After waiting a month, you bet I was ready to watch A.J. Brown play football, especially with Drake Maye looking more like himself. Brown finished with just three catches for 27 yards, but those 10 targets got my attention. I went back and watched all 10 targets. He had two big drops on consecutive plays, but I don’t think the other misses were entirely on Brown.
Call me biased, but I came away impressed with the opportunities Brown was getting, even if the box score didn’t reflect it. I think Maye and Brown still need some time to dial in their connection, but I’m putting Brown right back into lineups Thursday night against the Bears in a game with a 50.5-point O/U.
Denzel Boston
WR • CLE
Rookie WR Denzel Boston has plenty of people excited, myself included. Unfortunately, the lowest over/under of the week doesn’t generate quite the same enthusiasm. At just 37.5 points, this game leaves plenty to be desired.
Per Next Gen Stats, among 74 qualified receivers, Boston ranks third in air yards per target (16.9). That helps explain his 50% catch rate; the deeper the ball, the harder the catch. Boston also has a 17% target share (which ranks 58th among those same 74 WRs). Essentially, Boston isn’t seeing a ton of targets, and the ones he does get are difficult to come down with. His role could certainly grow as the season progresses, but limited volume, difficult targets, and a low-scoring matchup make Boston a risky start this week.
Xavier Worthy
WR • KC
As someone who has Rashee Rice in too many leagues, I wasn’t exactly thrilled to see him miss another game after the bye. As of Wednesday, Rice is still not practicing. That has opened the door for former first-round pick Xavier Worthy to emerge. In the two games without Rice, Worthy has posted 70 receiving yards and had a 23% target share in each game.
I am not sure Worthy will be at the top of their list among players to stop. Seattle didn’t want to pay Kenneth Walker, so now he is looking to make them pay after all. Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce are always something to gameplan around (although many can’t stop it), so there is a good chance Worthy gets a couple of shots against the league’s best pass defense.
Tight Ends
Kyle Pitts Sr.
TE • ATL
Kyle Pitts must have remembered he has a six-TD quota to meet this season because he has scored three times in his last two games. While the 49ers have been the third-toughest matchup for opposing TEs, there is still a path for Pitts to produce. It’s a 50.5-point O/U against one of the best offenses in the NFL. He has posted an 18% and 21% target share over the last two weeks, so there is more to his recent production than just TDs. Betting against Pitts has been profitable for years, which probably means he will do the exact opposite of whatever you expect this week.
Dallas Goedert
TE • PHI
Maybe it’s just me, but whenever I see Eagles-Cowboys on the schedule, I think of Dallas Goedert‘s draft announcement. Longtime Eagles kicker David Akers spent a full minute roasting the Cowboys before announcing Philadelphia’s second-round selection of Goedert. The other kicker? He did it at AT&T Stadium. It was awesome.
What more awesome is Tanner McKee slinging the rock 45 times in his season debut? The Cowboys defense is so bad, they could give up a 3rd and 55. While I like the copious amount of pass attempts, I am not totally sold. Despite sharing a name with his opponent, Goedert hasn’t had much success against Dallas since 2019. The passing volume gives him a chance, but I’m not ready to call him a slam dunk start just because he’s facing the Cowboys.
Honorable Mention
Sunday is National Tight Ends Day, and yes, I absolutely factor that into my decisions. I have made it this far without repeating any players in my main picks, but I have to give a shoutout to Pat Freiermuth. Sunday is his birthday, and if there is ever a week to score a TD, that seems like a pretty good one.