This Is What Mattered In Week 7

Jones aggravated a knee injury from two weeks earlier in the third quarter of the Vikings game, forcing him to leave. Before the injury, he had 11 snaps and was used as the passing-down back.

Adonai Mitchell had zero catches and zero points in Week 7; the source notes the Jets' preference for 12 personnel and ball control limits ceiling for all pass catchers including Mitchell.

Mattek Fantasy Football notes AJ Barner was one of only four receivers to get more than two targets in the Seahawks game, indicating he is a primary receiving option for Sam Darnold in the Seahawks' limited passing attack.

Andrew Armstrong, an undrafted free agent, is playing at left tackle for the Chiefs due to tackle injuries and ran 20 of 36 routes in Week 7. The source indicates Armstrong is clearly not Taekquin Thornton, suggesting he is not a suitable replacement for the team's injured receivers.

Bam Knight has surpassed Tyler Algier in snap share (43 vs. 38) and routes (26 vs. 22) and is now playing the Jeremiah Love role after having no role in weeks 1–5. Knight averaged 5.8 yards per carry and a 22% first-down rate over the most recent two weeks, suggesting he has earned his way into the rotation through strong performance. Mattek notes: "Bam Knight again also the better rusher in this game."

Corum received 17 rushes and scored a touchdown, ranking as a top-20 running back for Week 7; the source ranks him as a flex option going forward due to the Rams' favorable schedule against the Chargers and Commanders over the next two games where they should be favored, as the passing game will focus on Puka and tight ends.

Brock Bowers took a step back in Week 7 with only 57 snaps played, down from prior usage. The team relented on his snap count and played him primarily as a receiver with 8 targets, suggesting reduced role expansion.

Bucky Irving dominated when the score was close in the Buccaneers-Panthers game, finishing with 24 rushes after 16 in the first half. The source notes Irving is ascending up rest-of-season rankings as he continues to absolutely dominate over Kenny Gainwell, and is currently ranked as the running back two before Saquon Barkley plays. Additionally, Irving has an unbelievably good role, which the source identifies as the primary takeaway from the Giants-Texans game.

Cade Otton was picked up and started by the source in a fair number of fantasy leagues and ranked pretty aggressively heading into Week 7. He played 56 of 63 offensive snaps and ran a route on 99% of dropbacks (11 of 12), with no involvement from any other tight end in pass catching, making him a strong value play despite the Buccaneers' overall pass-limited game.

Caleb Douglas scored 14.1 PPR points (WR11 on the week) on just three targets and two receptions, including a 63-yard touchdown, on only 21 routes; the source plans to discuss him further in the waiver wire video.

Carnell Tate had another nice target game in Week 7 and is looking like a startable receiver in fantasy football; emerging as a consistent target option.

Chase Brown is having an incredibly tough start to the year; he was about to score a touchdown but a penalty was called and Sage Rosenfels came in and cashed in instead. In Week 7, Brown played 40 of 53 snaps, ran 19 of 32 routes, received 4 of 27 targets, and got 11 rushes, but was replaced in the red zone and efficiency was poor—a recurring issue from last year. Despite his excellent role, the source argues Brown is only an okay running back and lacks the elite caliber to prevent replacement by Samaj Perine, comparing him unfavorably to James Cook, Bejun Robinson, and Kenneth Walker who would have legendary seasons in this role. However, the source believes Brown still has significant role value and could be bought very low in leagues.

In the Buccaneers' extremely pass-limited Week 7 game with only 12 total dropbacks and nine aimed throws from Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin received five of those nine targets, establishing him as the primary receiving option despite the overall offensive constraints.

Christian Kirk returned to only a part-time role in week 7, running 14 of 42 routes and receiving only one target, despite the source leading a Waiver Wire video the previous week with Kirk as a pickup. Kirk got a full week of practice but received no advance notice from 49ers beat writers that he would be the wide receiver in the game. The source is frustrated by the lack of transparency from the team and poor reporting, noting that Kyle Shanahan is unlikely to provide unprompted updates on Kirk's role going forward, creating uncertainty about whether this was a planned easing-in or a permanent shift. The source suggests you may just go ahead and drop Christian Kirk if you picked him up.

McCaffrey told 49ers writers after Week 7 that "My leg just died on me" and expects to be fine, but Mattek expresses serious concern about his durability and health trajectory for the rest of the season despite strong fantasy production (16-20 PPR points per game), noting difficulty in ranking him and determining future value due to recurring injury updates.

Watson posted 10.7 PPR points in the Packers-Lions game; despite strong target volume, he did not score a touchdown.

Hubbard managed to score 10 PPR points in Week 7 despite the Panthers' offensive chaos, receiving five targets and seven rushes. The source notes that anyone who started Hubbard was glad to have gotten at least that output given the game's overall weirdness.

CJ Donaldson injured his shoulder in the first quarter of week 7 and was ruled out at halftime. Donaldson has been the Saints' primary pass protection running back, and his absence opened up extra snaps and routes for other running backs like Alvin Chimera.

Waller scored a 50-yard touchdown in Week 7 against Tampa Bay, which was described as the lone thing Bryce Young did well—hitting Waller in stride for the score. Despite Young's disastrous outing (14 of 27, two interceptions, five sacks, one lost fumble returned for a touchdown, only 27 aimed throws on 38 dropbacks), Waller remained a viable target and was the lone bright spot in the passing game.

Allen ran only 12 routes but received 5 targets in the Rams-Raiders game; the source explicitly recommends not picking him up despite the target volume, as the Raiders' defensive scheme left underneath work for Allen and Kobe Parkinson rather than using them in the traditional deep role.

Ranked behind KCC in preseason rankings; early-season underperformance relative to preseason expectations; comparison point for KCC's breakout performance.

With Tyrone Tracy's multi-week hamstring absence, Singletary needs to be owned in every 12-team league; the source expects Singletary to play and benefit from increased opportunity in the Giants backfield.

Dylan Samson returned from designated for return IR and reclaimed receiving work from Judkins with 16 routes and 3 targets on 32 snaps; clear bifurcated role split with Judkins (37 snaps, 10 routes) signals reduced TD dependency for the backfield.

Emanuel Wilson had an absurd 24 rushes and a touchdown in Week 7, but his role is unsustainable; the source states Wilson will not see the field when Jaren Price and Zack Charbonnet are available, and he played only 33 of 69 snaps (48%), indicating he is a game-script dependent backup who will lose touches when the offense normalizes.

Garrett Wilson scored only 4.6 PPR points in Week 7; the source attributes this to the Jets' offensive scheme prioritizing ball control and 12 personnel over pass aggression, which limits both floor and ceiling for all Jets receivers.

Kittle finished Week 7 with 14.8 PPR points, lost a fumble, and was not targeted for a touchdown; Mattek notes he was ranked aggressively but did not deliver on that projection, and struggled alongside Jordan Watkins, Brandon Cooks, and Jacob Cowing in the 49ers' loss to the Falcons.

Likely received only three targets despite running 28 of 31 routes; he suffered a minor knee and ankle injury in the fourth quarter but returned to finish the game; the source is not concerned about residual effects due to the Giants' upcoming bye week.

JK Dobbins' role is expected to completely diminish following Jonah Coleman's return from IR. Dobbins ran only 2 routes in Week 7 (fewer than the fullback) and may retain only short-yardage work, a sharp reversal from his expanded role under Sean Payton's play-calling earlier in the season. Mattek states: "Coleman should be viewed in my opinion coming back from this game as the lead running back."

Jamar Chase played only 53 offensive snaps in Week 7, which the source identifies as an issue alongside the limited snap count for Chase Brown, suggesting reduced opportunity in a low-volume game for the Bengals.

Coker received only three targets in Week 7 against Tampa Bay, a disappointing output given the source had ranked him aggressively as a top 20 receiver overall heading into the week. The poor performance was largely due to Bryce Young's ineffective game with only 27 aimed throws on 38 dropbacks.

Mattek Fantasy Football states Jaylen Royals 'clearly can't do the Rashee Rice stuff,' indicating he cannot replicate the role or production of his predecessor in the Chiefs offense. This is a significant concern given Rice's absence and the team's need for a reliable receiving option.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba was one of only four receivers to get more than two targets in the Seahawks' Week 7 game, establishing him as a primary receiving option for Sam Darnold in the team's limited passing attack (32 drop backs).

Mattek Fantasy Football declares 'it is over' for Waddle despite Miami's clear effort to get him involved; 7 targets (team lead), 84% snap share on 11 personnel, 76% route participation, 24% targets per route run—all strong peripherals—but production is not materializing. The source notes that Waddle's core issue is consistent: "the peripheral numbers are all basically fine and then the production is not coming." Waddle suffered a late-game injury (status unknown) and received only 32 dropbacks in Week 7, limiting opportunity. The source is considering benching him for Trey Tucker and questions whether Waddle can replicate his prior production under Bo Nicks and Sean Payton, who are not the same caliber of quarterback/coach as his former situation.

Jaylen Warren is in a legitimate timeshare with Rico Dowel; Warren played 40 snaps to Dowel's 28, with carries split 18-9 in Warren's favor, scoring 16.7 PPR points (RB18) to Dowel's 14.6 (RB19) in week 7. While Warren is in the better part of the timeshare, his overall ceiling in a given week and over the season is lower because to get mega nuke games, Rico Dowel would have to not play. The Steelers also hate to run the ball inside the red zone, further limiting Warren's upside.

Jaylen Wright received only six rushes in Week 7 against the Jets and left the game injured, creating significant uncertainty around his role and availability going forward.

Jeremiah Love has lost his role to Bam Knight after being in a 50/50 split with Tyler Algier in weeks 1–5. Mattek expresses concern about the Arizona Cardinals' usage of Love: "I have no earthly clue what the Arizona Cardinals coaches and organization are doing it. It seems insane of me to use Jeremiah Love this way." The source hopes Love's ankle injury is fully healed, but his snap share is now being taken over by Knight.

Jonah Coleman returned from IR and dominated snap share with 30 of 61 offensive plays (50%), led the backfield in both routes and rushes, and should be viewed as the lead running back going forward. Mattek notes that Sean Payton stated post-game 'We need to get him the ball even more,' signaling role expansion and potential top-20 RB finish if he had received the short-yardage touchdown instead of JK Dobbins. Coleman's immediate takeover of two-minute drill and long down-and-distance situations further solidifies his role and raises questions about the remaining usage for other backfield players.

Jonathan Taylor had 18 carries in the Colts game, but the source believes the Colts are actively shopping him and would trade him for a first-round pick as part of a rebuild. Seth McGawan's 11 carries on 20 of 61 snaps is being positioned as an audition to signal to the league that the Colts are open to trading Taylor.

Mattek Fantasy Football suggests Jordan James is also a priority waiver wire target at this point, similar to Kayn Black, indicating emerging opportunity or value.

Mason was the lead back before Aaron Jones injured his knee in the third quarter, with 19 snaps to Jones's 11 before the injury. Mason handled early-down work while Jones was the passing-down back. After Jones left, Mason saw an uptick in routes, but the source does not expect him to be particularly effective in the passing game given Kyler Murray's limited involvement with running backs and the KOC offensive scheme.

Josh Downs had two receptions for 18 yards (72 yards per route run) in a game where Daniel Jones was one of the worst quarterbacks the source has ever seen. The source has given up on Downs, stating 'I will not start Josh DS' and expressing that it is 'unbelievably over for Josh DS,' indicating a complete fade regardless of future quarterback play.

Josh Jacobs returned as the clear lead back with 11 rushes, a receiving touchdown, and 7 targets; he ran routes on 20 of 47 dropbacks (42.6%) compared to Marshon Lloyd's 13 routes; only played 35 snaps in his return game but will see increased volume next week; the source ranks Jacobs as a top-15 running back rest of season.

Jefferson had 6 receptions for 23 yards (8.4 PPR points) in the Vikings game. Kyler Murray did not play particularly well as a passer on 30 dropbacks, completing only 23 aimed throws. The source notes that running quarterbacks like Murray have a lower proportion of dropbacks that turn into aimed throws compared to traditional passers like Matt Stafford, which limits receiver upside.

Jawan Johnson is no longer a fantasy starter. In week 7, he was down to 24 of 41 routes with only one target, while Noah Fant and Oscar Delp were targeted more frequently. The source advises that if you've been relying on Johnson, it's time to seek a different tight end solution.

Kenny Gainwell received some extra work in the Buccaneers-Panthers game but then suffered an injury, which could impact his role going forward. Bucky Irving has been dominating over Gainwell in the backfield, suggesting Gainwell's role is at risk.

Kenneth Walker scored 9.7 PPR points in Week 7 and should be moved down in rankings if the Chiefs do not acquire a wide receiver, as the unsustainable offensive situation with backup linemen and limited receiving options constrains his production ceiling.

Pitts maintained a solid route rate (22 of 35) but played only 37 of 67 snaps in Week 7, a familiar pattern where he is only deployed when the Falcons need to throw; the absence of Zachariah Branch contributed to extra routes for Pitts, and over his last three games he has outscored Brock Bowers on a per-game basis (5 for 22 and 1 TD in Week 7), suggesting he is having a nice run despite snap limitations.

Williams received 16 rushes, scored a touchdown, and added 2 targets in the passing game, ranking as a top-20 running back for Week 7; he remains the Rams' primary back despite Corum's increased usage.

The source recommends fading Malik Washington, noting there is basically no ceiling for his role because Douglas and Bell are more explosive players competing for targets in Miami's offense.

Mark Andrews' role has been significantly diminished; Matt Hibner returned from his hand injury and Hibner and Quavvis combined to play more total snaps than Andrews. Andrews ran 28 of 40 routes and was targeted only four times for 5.3 fantasy points. Mattek believes it is essentially over for Andrews as an elite tight end option, stating he no longer has the ability to be elite in fantasy football even if Lamar Jackson returns.

After the Texans traded a second-round pick for Harrison Jr., he ran only eight of 30 routes and was targeted just four times on those eight routes, despite scoring a touchdown. The source believes this specialized package approach is unsustainable for a player of Harrison Jr.'s caliber and expects either increased snaps or decreased targets going forward.

Golden continues to struggle with drops and posted only 0.95 yards per run with 9.9 PPR points; despite the poor efficiency, his target volume remains insane and he demonstrates an exceptional ability to get open, creating a buy-high/sell-high dilemma as drops become an increasing concern.

Michael Wilson has struggled to produce since Marvin Harrison Jr. was traded. The source attributes this partly to overvaluation after early target games and partly to the Cardinals' limited overall scoring, noting that Jacobe Brassette is a bad NFL quarterback and when teams are bad, the fantasy point production eventually stops. Wilson should not be considered a locked-in top-15 receiver on a weekly basis given the team's scoring ceiling; the overall amount of fantasy points available is just not high enough for Wilson to sustain top-20 receiver production despite his talent.

Collins was the only full-time wide receiver but received only five targets on 30 dropbacks; the Texans are not allowing him to play in the slot, instead dedicating slot snaps to Jaylen Null, Tank Dell, and Marvin Harrison Jr., creating an inconsistent and limiting usage pattern for Collins.

Noah Gray had 3 targets in Week 7 for the Chiefs tight end in a dreadful offensive performance against the best defense in the NFL, reflecting limited usage in the struggling Kansas City offense.

Omar Cooper Jr. had an elite Week 7 performance with 5 targets, 5 receptions, 115 yards, and a touchdown for 22.5 PPR points; the source is moving him well up in rest-of-season rankings and describes him as a special player, though notes his floor will be very low due to Jets' pass-game limitations and other talented receivers.

The source is moving Mahomes down in rankings due to the Chiefs' offensive line injuries and lack of receiving weapons. With backup offensive linemen, Jaylen Royals, and Andrew Armstrong as primary targets, the source views the current setup as unsustainable and states the Chiefs cannot win the AFC without trading for a wide receiver.

Nacua dealt with a late-week calf injury in practice but played through it and was targeted 10 times, demonstrating his importance to the Rams offense despite the injury concern.

Scored 2 TDs for 23 PPR points in Week 7, but the source expresses concern about TD dependency; unlikely to score 2 TDs regularly outside weak matchups like Tennessee; lost all receiving work to Dylan Samson (10 routes vs. Samson's 16); 37 snaps played; bifurcated role does not bode well for consistency.

Mattek Fantasy Football states that Rashee Rice 'is not good enough when he comes back' and that 'things will not get all that much better even with Rushy Rice's return,' indicating the source does not expect Rice's return to solve the Chiefs' offensive line and receiver depth issues. This suggests limited upside even upon his injury recovery.

RJ Harvey played only 16 snaps in Week 7 and is barely used as a rusher. While he scored a long touchdown, Mattek expects this to be a one-time occurrence and is more concerned that Jonah Coleman is now playing two-minute drill and long down-and-distance situations, which raises questions about Harvey's remaining role in the offense. The source asks: "if Coleman is going to play two-minute drill or long down and distance stuff, then like what is RJ Harvey's job even?"

Perine came in late in the Week 7 game and scored a touchdown when Chase Brown was about to score but a penalty was called; he is being used as a red-zone replacement for Brown, indicating he has touchdown upside in goal-line situations.

McGawan played 20 of 61 snaps and ran only three routes but received 11 carries to Jonathan Taylor's 18. The source views this as an audition and a signal to the league that the Colts are open to trading Taylor. The source recommends rostering McGawan in 12-team leagues with 15-man rosters if he is available on waivers.

Brooks came in late in the Week 7 game against Baltimore, indicating he is a reserve running back option behind Chase Brown and Samaj Perine.

Dell returned for the first time after over two years away, playing his first football game since injury. He ran only six routes and was not officially targeted; his only reception (43 yards) came off a Jaylen Null target that bounced off Null's hands. This minimal role suggests a cautious return-to-play approach despite the yardage.

Higgins had only six targets in Week 7 against Tampa Bay, a significant reduction that the source attributes to Bryce Young's poor performance and only 27 aimed throws on 38 dropbacks. The source had ranked Higgins aggressively as a top 20 receiver overall heading into the week.

In the Buccaneers' extremely pass-limited Week 7 game with only 12 total dropbacks and nine aimed throws from Baker Mayfield, Tez Johnson received two of those nine targets, making him a secondary receiving option in a severely constrained passing game.

Explosive Week 7 performance: 2 TDs, 4.4 yards after contact per attempt, 5 missed tackles forced, 4 explosive runs, 36 PPR points—RB1 on the week; only 3 targets in passing game; the source views him as a trade candidate who will cost minimal assets; strong matchup against Cleveland's weak run defense.

Tory Horton played more snaps than Rasheed Shaheed in Week 7, signaling a depth chart shift and increased opportunity in the Seahawks' receiving game.

Trey Tucker posted a 26% target share in Week 7, outpacing Brock Bowers. The source was lower than the market on Tucker but moved him up in rest-of-season rankings after this performance, noting he is showing a real volume-earning profile.

Trey McBride finished as the tight end 1 for Week 7, but Mattek cautions that much of his production came in garbage time and warns against overvaluing him based on a bad quarterback (Jacobe Brassette) and limited overall team scoring. The source emphasizes: "It's very very important to differentiate between garbage time McBride numbers and who Jacobe Brassette is. Jacobe Brassette is a bad NFL quarterback." McBride's TE1 finish does not guarantee sustained top-tier production if the Cardinals' offensive output remains constrained. Additionally, McBride's dominance in the Cardinals' passing game limits fantasy points available for teammates; if McBride is taking all the scoring opportunities on a low-scoring offense, there's significantly less left on the table for other receivers like Michael Wilson.

Higbee's role in the Rams tight end rotation was miserable despite running 18 of 33 routes (54.5%); the Raiders' defensive scheme specifically took away Higbee's deep role and left underneath work for Davis Allen and Kobe Parkinson, creating uncertainty about his production despite maintaining his snap share.

Tracy suffered a hamstring injury with five minutes left in the second quarter and is expected to face a multi-week absence based on reporting, opening the door for Devin Singletary to play and making Singletary a must-own in 12-team leagues.

With Devin Singletary out, Woody Marks played the entire game on 89% of snaps with 19 rushes but only one catch for 15 yards. The Texans did not elevate a third running back (Duce Vaughn remained on the practice squad), leaving Marks as the only backup option. The source notes Marks limped off at one point but returned. Despite the gargantuan workload, the source emphasizes that Marks is not a very good player, creating a quality-of-player concern.

Hutchinson is described as the most entrenched Houston Texan, with his snaps and carries seemingly immovable despite the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr. However, he unexpectedly received two back-to-back wide receiver reverse pitch plays during the Texans' game-winning drive, which the source finds inexplicable and questions how this fits into the team's offensive rotation; his fantasy relevance remains unclear and inconsistent.

Mattek Fantasy Football states Xavier Worthy is 'not a wide receiver' in the context of the Chiefs' dreadful Week 7 performance, indicating he is not functioning in the expected WR role or producing at WR expectations despite his draft positioning.

Mattek Fantasy Football identifies a 'very very very valuable role' waiting for Zack Charbonnet with the Seahawks, who continue to limit their passing game with only 32 drop backs for Sam Darnold, indicating a run-heavy approach that benefits Charbonnet's workload and opportunity.

Branch was not active in Week 7, and Mattek notes the Falcons view him as a design player rather than an every-down player, which contributed to extra routes for Kyle Pitts in his absence.

Zay Flowers is ascending to an elite level of performance with 27 PPR points in Week 7 as the WR2 before Monday Night Football. Through six games, he has 40 receptions, 68 yards, and three touchdowns, having played only about four and a half quarters with Lamar Jackson. Mattek ranked him as WR9 or WR10 heading into the week, which proved clearly wrong, and now recommends doing whatever you can to get Flowers on fantasy teams.