Ten Things We Learned From Week 7 (Fantasy Football)
With most fantasy playoffs kicking off in Week 14, we’ve reached the halfway point of the regular season. Rookies are finding their footing, and certain tight ends delivered on their national holiday.
Minnesota remains the NFL’s lone unbeaten team despite not producing a single top-12 fantasy option on offense. Meanwhile, Miami’s victory leaves the Chargers as the league’s only winless team, and catching strays even on a bye week.
Here are ten things we learned from Week 7.
Voldemort Is Clutch
Deshaun Watson delivered his fifth game-winning drive of the season. Cleveland fell behind in Tennessee and won on a 32-yard Szmyt field goal with three seconds left. Watson threw for 308 yards with no TDs, his second straight game without one, and is currently the QB9 thanks to a rushing TD. The Browns aren’t making it look pretty, but they sit atop the tough AFC North at 5-2.
No Laser Needed In Baker’s Return
In a game where the Bucs scored a season-high 43 points against the Panthers, Baker Mayfield threw for a total of, wait for it, 64 yards. It is the lowest total of any starting QB (who played the full game) this season, and he still scored more fantasy points than Daniel Jones. Tampa Bay got it done on the ground, with 258 rushing yards on 49 carries. Bucky Irving sliced up the Carolina defense for 106 yards and two TDs, and Sean Tucker added a 46-yard score. The Bucs defense had a fumble-return TD, five sacks, and two interceptions, putting the game away early. They didn’t need Baker’s arm in this one, as he only attempted 11 passes. He needs to put together a decent fantasy game before he is considered startable.
Josh Jacobs Returns to Relevance
Fresh off the commissioner’s exempt list, Jacobs stepped right back into a prominent role for the Packers. He caught five balls for 55 yards and a TD in Green Bay’s 20-17 loss at Detroit. The offensive line hasn’t been able to support a running game this year, and the addition of Jacobs did not change that. As a team, they ran 19 times for 60 yards (3.2 per carry). Jacobs contributed 11 for 36. But Jordan Love continues to spread the ball around through the air, propping up multiple fantasy stars each week. Marshawn Lloyd was the clear number two with 22 snaps to Jacobs’ 35. A suspension could still be looming, so Lloyd could be called upon again.
The Penix Mightier Than the Sword
The Falcons handed the 49ers their first loss of the season, 29-20. Atlanta won despite rushing for just 82 yards (2.8 per carry) and being outgained 400 to 295. The difference was turnovers, as San Francisco gave it away four times (two interceptions and two lost fumbles). Michael Penix went 25-of-34 for 213 yards and three TDs without taking a sack. He clocks in as the QB7 before Monday, with Drake London getting his third straight double-digit target game.
Tony Pollard Turns Back the Clock
The last time Pollard was the RB1 of the week was November 20, 2022. It’s difficult to remember how good he was (briefly) for the Dallas Cowboys a few years ago. Against the Browns Sunday, the Titans fed the 29-year-old all game, as he amassed 129 rushing yards and three TDs in a heartbreaking loss. If you had the stones to start Pollard in week 7, you were rewarded heavily for your bravery.
Rookie Receivers Rise
Omar Cooper has had back-to-back standout performances and is looking like a first-round NFL WR. He led the Jets with five catches for 115 yards and a TD. Caleb Douglas scored twice on two receptions for 70 yards, including a 63-yard highlight TD. KC Concepcion finally outplayed fellow rookie Denzel Boston during the Browns’ comeback win. And Carnell Tate continues his impressive rookie season, despite having to catch passes from Cam Ward. Through Sunday, five rookie WRs were in the top 24, and three cracked the top 8 (Cooper, Douglas, and Concepcion).
Zay Bouquet
We will continue to give this man his Flowers. He is currently the WR3 in half PPR behind Tee Higgins and JSN (one spot higher in full PPR). It doesn’t seem to matter who throws him the ball between Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley; he just gets it done. Huntley has supported Flowers in Jackson’s absence, but his ceiling will rise higher with his main QB’s return. Flowers is a YAC machine. In just five games played, Flowers is ranked 6th on the year in YAC and is the WR5 in points per game.
Happy National Tight End Day
The fourth Sunday of October delivered once again, with TEs scoring 13 TDs, plus two more from Colston Loveland and Eli Raridon Thursday night. The TDs topped the annual TE Day average of 10.25 but fell short of 2024’s record 16. TE scoring is up in 2026 as the NFL trend of 12 and 13 personnel continues. Mason Taylor and Davis Allen each scored twice for no one’s fantasy lineup. Trey McBride led the way with 10 catches for 111 yards and a score, joining George Kittle and Greg Dulcich as TEs who led their teams in receiving yards in Week 7.
Miami Gets a Dub
Not only were the Dolphins winless going into Sunday, but they hadn’t established a lead during any game this season. Leave it to the Jets to change that. The Dolphins pulled off the upset on the road, 28-25. Malik Willis went 14-of-21 for 208 yards and two TDs with no interceptions, and added a rushing score. Miami ran on 41 of its 64 plays and held the ball for 34:36, beating the Jets at their own game. Ollie Gordon rushed for another 103 yards and has a TD in all four of his starts for Miami since De’Von Achane went down. He is one of the pickups of the year so far.
The “Dark Side” Stops the Kenneth Walker Force
Kenneth Walker ran into a blue and green wall repeatedly against his former team Sunday night. He managed just 36 rushing yards after averaging 133 per game entering the matchup. Seattle’s defense continues to be a nightmare for fantasy RBs, holding every opposing back to fewer than 70 rushing yards this season. Christian McCaffrey’s 68 yards in Week 6 remains the highest individual total allowed by this elite unit.