Fantasy Football Week 7 Starts and Sits

First, let me apologize to our readers for the lack of fantasy football content recently on our pages and social media. I will explain more in detail on the next episode of The Fantasy’s Phinest Podcast. For now, I will say life has a way of keeping you busy when you least expect it. So you have to prioritize what is important for your family and handle business. Nothing crazy is happening in the background, so I don’t want you guys to think that. I just want to reaffirm my dedication to you as both a fantasy football content creator and fantasy analyst; my goal is always to help you guys win your fantasy leagues.

I don’t want to make excuses either, but again, I won’t ever disappear for long. I understand how important it is to create and maintain trust and reliability to your audience. And they come with their own expectations. I want to always honor and respect that.

So let’s get down to business. We’re jumping right into Week 7, and we have to help with starting lineups for the new week of fantasy football. If you had players starting from the New England Patriots v. the Chicago Bears, you will likely have different results. For example, both Caleb Williams and Drake Maye got fantasy managers off to good starts to begin Week 7. Both quarterbacks scored more than 20 points to get lineups rolling. Now let’s see what other players have good matchups heading into the heart of Week 7.

Week 7 Starts And Sits

Quarterbacks

Starts

Kyler Murray vs. IND

This game looks like it has Kyler Murray’s name all over it. The Minnesota Vikings return from the bye week with a fully healthy offensive staff. Justin Jefferson (ankle), Jordan Addison (hamstring), and TJ Hockenson (concussion) are all off the injury report and expected to play against the Colts in Week 7. Running back Jordan Mason (thumb) was also added from injured reserve and will be active for the game too. And don’t forget Murray adds some rushing upside as well, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt. The Colts have allowed the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks at nearly 20 fantasy points per game.

CJ Stroud vs. NYG

The Texans quarterback has been looking like he’s turned a page with the offense over the last couple of weeks. Over the last three weeks, Stroud ranks as the QB3 in fantasy points per game with 22.7. Stroud has a full roster of offensive weapons outside of David Montgomery (groin), who has been ruled OUT for another week. Nico Collins, Marvin Harrison Jr., rising star Jaylin Noel, and the return of Tank Dell offer Stroud a lot of options in the Texans’ passing game. Stroud faces off against a Giants defense that is allowing 22.1 fantasy points per game, tied for the fourth-most in fantasy points allowed.

Honorable Mention: Brock Purdy vs. ATL

Sits

Daniel Jones vs. MIN

Daniel Jones has not looked like his 2025 self so far this season. Ranked as the QB22 over the last three weeks, Jones is averaging just 10.2 FPPG heading into Week 7. Jones has lost big-play wide receiver Alec Pierce, who’s reportedly still weeks away from returning from his heel injury. Josh Downs has been underwhelming in Pierce’s absence, and Tyler Warren has also been ruled out with an injury for the game. Down weapons, underperforming, and facing a blitz-happy defense that’s allowing the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks isn’t a winning formula.

Sam Darnold vs. KC

Sam Darnold has a tough matchup in Week 7 against a red-hot Chiefs defense. The Chiefs are allowing just 13.6 FPPG heading into Week 7, the fourth-fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Darnold has looked better since returning from an early-season injury, but his turnover issues could bite him against the Chiefs’ opportunistic defense. The Chiefs are allowing just 5.9 yards per attempt through the air and have five interceptions so far this season.

Running Backs

Starts

Jaylen Warren vs. NO

Jaylen Warren has not only established himself as a top running back for fantasy football, but he’s gained considerable control over the Steelers’ backfield this season. Warren heads into Week 7 against the New Orleans Saints ranked as the RB11, averaging just over 17.1 fantasy points per game. Even with the return of Rico Dowdle, Warren still commands the backfield. But Warren did lose work to Dowdle last week. Even so, Warren should still hold enough work to be a viable option in a plus matchup against the Saints. The Saints are allowing the most fantasy points to running backs at 31.7 FPPG.

Kyren Williams vs. LVR

Kyren Williams heads into Week 7’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders as the RB6, averaging nearly 20 fantasy points per game. There has been much debate as to whether or not he can survive the season as the lead back, with Blake Corum pushing for more work. But so far, Williams has fended off Corum’s advances. Williams will get the chance to bounce back from a 9.7 fantasy-point game last week against the Arizona Cardinals. The Raiders are allowing 24.6 fantasy points per game, the sixth-most among fantasy defenses.

Sits

Emanuel Wilson vs. KC

The fantasy community got the rug pulled out from under them after reports surfaced of Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet’s return to football this week, only for head coach Mike McDonald to rule Charbonnet out. While everyone wants what’s best for Charbonnet, the issue is the inaccurate coverage. Fantasy managers rely on information to make lineup changes. But I’ll leave it at that, for now. With Charbs out, Emanuel Wilson steps back into the starting role but faces a tough Chiefs defense this week. Wilson is averaging 3.5 yards per carry this season, while the Chiefs have allowed the same to opposing running backs. The Chiefs are also allowing the sixth-fewest points to running backs heading into Week 7.

Cam Skattebo vs. HOU

It’s been a rocky last couple of weeks for the Giants’ running back. But per recent reports, Skattebo is expected to return to his lead back role against the Houston Texans. The problem is that the Houston Texans are one of the better defensive units against the run. The Texans defense is averaging just 83 rushing yards per game. The Texans are also giving up the eighth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs at 19.3.

Wide Receivers

Starts

Christian Kirk vs. ATL

Someone has to step up, right? So why not Christian Kirk? With Mike Evans ruled out with an Achilles injury, Kirk was activated from injured reserve after practicing in full this week. Along with Brandin Cooks, both will man the wide receiver position for Week 7 against the Falcons. The Falcons rank 14th in touchdowns allowed to wide receivers and have given up the sixth-most yards to the position. Kirk should receive an increased workload with both Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel missing in action this week.

Matthew Golden vs. DET

Matthew Golden was outstanding against the Cowboys and could have had an even better game for fantasy if he had caught a few more touchdown passes. This week he gets to rectify his mistakes against division rival Detroit Lions. Golden currently ranks as the WR8 heading into Week 7 and gets a plus matchup against a leaky Lions defense. The Lions are allowing the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers at 42.6 per game. They are also allowing the seventh-most receiving yards to the position.

Sits

Josh Downs vs. MIN

We all thought that Josh Downs was going to eat without Alec Pierce in the lineup. But it looks like Downs is still taking a backseat to Keenan Allen since he arrived. Downs is averaging 8.9 FPPG this season and gets a Vikings defense that has been tough on opposing wide receivers this season. The Vikings rank second in fewest yards allowed to receivers, and rank fifth in fewest fantasy points allowed. Combine that with Daniel Jones’ shaky start to the season and Brian Flores’ tendency to blitz, and =it could be a long day for the Colts offense this week.

Omar Cooper Jr. vs. MIA

I’m a little on the fence with this one. Omar Cooper Jr. should be out there after going over 100 yards last week. But Adonai Mitchell’s return from injury muddies the waters a bit. And Garrett Wilson is still seeing a ton of volume. Cooper may be affected more by seniority than anything this week, so projecting him is difficult. The Miami Dolphins defense doesn’t make things easier either. The Dolphins head into Week 7 allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season. With a tough defense up front and a shaky role this week, in my opinion, sit Cooper until more is revealed about the Jets WR hierarchy.

Honorable Mention: Courtland Sutton vs. ARI

Tight Ends

Start

Sam LaPorta vs. GB

LaPorta may be at odds with the Lions about a new contract, but fantasy managers should start him with confidence this week. The Packers have been tough on opposing tight ends this season, allowing just 9.8 FPPG, but LaPorta brings a whole host of problems to deal with. LaPorta currently ties with Packers TE Tucker Kraft in targets at 35 (t-5th) and ranks fifth in receiving yards among tight ends. LaPorta is also averaging 15.3 fantasy points per game. You just don’t sit that level of production.

Sit

Harold Fannin Jr. vs. TEN

The Browns’ offense has sputtered a bit over the last couple of games, and Fannin has been feeling it. Fannin hasn’t scored more than five fantasy points over the last two games. Fannin is averaging just 8.9 fantasy points per game on the season heading into Week 7. The Titans rank in the top against fantasy tight ends this season, allowing just 10.5 FPPG to the position. Find another option if you can.