Fantasy football managers have navigated their most critical waiver wire decisions for Week 7. Now, they will look toward setting their lineups and making some crucial start 'em, sit 'em decisions.
A total of four NFL teams are on bye in Week 7: the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders. Their absences will eliminate some quality starters – most notably at quarterback, where Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels and Trevor Lawrence will have the week off – and create several key decisions for fantasy managers.
Luckily, plenty of quality streamers remain across positions. Especially, there are plenty of young receivers you can plug into lineups after scooping them off waivers as bye-week or injury replacements.
Who can you start and sit in fantasy football for Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season? USA TODAY Sports outlines 30 players to trust or avoid:
Fantasy football players to start in Week 7
Quarterbacks
- C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (vs. New York Giants)
Stroud has quietly been rock-solid amid the Texans' 2-4 start to the 2026 NFL season, averaging 285.7 passing yards per game and throwing nine touchdowns to just one interception. He gets a favorable matchup in Week 7 against a Giants defense that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to quarterbacks this season and just allowed Tyler Shough to rack up four total touchdowns. Expect him to be a top 10 fantasy quarterback this week.
- Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Indianapolis Colts)
In the Vikings' final game before their Week 6 bye, Murray racked up 51 rushing yards on 10 carries. That was more than he had across his first three games in Minnesota combined (10 carries, 42 yards). Murray will now get to face a Colts defense that has allowed the eighth-most rushing yards to quarterbacks this season. The Colts are also surrendering 27.3 points per game, so Murray should have a high floor in this matchup.
- Tanner McKee, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
Trusting McKee may not sound overly appealing, but the Cowboys have allowed the fifth-most FPPG to quarterbacks this season. Dallas has allowed multiple passing touchdowns in four of its six games and was lucky not to do so against the Packers, as Matthew Golden and Christian Watson had several drops that impacted Green Bay's bottom line. McKee could be a low-end QB1 if he can toss a couple of touchdowns in Week 7.
Running backs
- Rico Dowdle, Pittsburgh Steelers (at New Orleans Saints)
Despite limiting the Giants' ground game in Week 6, the Saints have allowed the most FPPG to running backs this season, including an NFL-high 701 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns to the position. Dowdle may play a slight second fiddle to Jaylen Warren, but he should still get enough opportunities to do damage against a porous Saints defense.
- Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Indianapolis Colts)
Mason is expected to return from injured reserve in Week 7 after missing four games because of a thumb injury. If he does, he can be started against a Colts defense that has allowed the sixth-most FPPG to running backs this season. That should allow Mason to emerge as a quality flex play, even if he splits carries with Aaron Jones.
- Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers (at Detroit Lions)
It isn't yet clear whether Jacobs will play in Week 7, but if he does, he should be inserted into fantasy lineups. The Lions are allowing an average of 29.6 points per game this season, and Jacobs should get the bulk of Green Bay's backfield carries if he is able to suit up.
- Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams (at Las Vegas Raiders)
Corum only played 16 snaps in Week 6, but he handled the ball on 11 of those 16 snaps, racking up 60 yards and a touchdown during them. Kyren Williams will continue to be the main man in the Rams' backfield rotation, but Corum still has enough of a tough floor to trust against a Raiders defense that has allowed the second-most total rushing yards to running backs this season (682).
Wide receivers
- Omar Cooper Jr., New York Jets (vs. Miami Dolphins)
In his Week 6 return from IR, Cooper racked up six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots while seeing seven targets from Geno Smith. He should remain the Jets' clear-cut No. 2 pass-catcher across from Garrett Wilson, so don't be surprised if he emerges as a quality WR3 or flex play against a lowly Dolphins defense.
- Denzel Boston, Cleveland Browns (at Tennessee Titans)
Boston is coming off the worst game of his young NFL career, logging just one catch for 15 yards against the Ravens. He gets a much easier Week 7 matchup against a Titans defense that has allowed the fourth-most receptions to wide receivers this season (83), so the second-round rookie should be poised to work his way back into flex territory.
- Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos (at Arizona Cardinals)
If ever there was a time to fire up Waddle, it would be in this matchup. The Cardinals have allowed the fourth-most FPPG to receivers and 10 receiving touchdowns to the position, which is second-most league-wide. While it may be hard to trust Bo Nix outright (more on that later), Waddle can certainly be a WR3 with high-end WR2 upside in this favorable spot.
- DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots (at Chicago Bears)
A.J. Brown is back in action for the Patriots, but injuries to Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins have opened the door for Douglas to serve as his clear-cut No. 2 receiver. Douglas has racked up 11 catches for 151 yards and three touchdowns over the last two games and should be poised to produce against a Bears defense that ranks middle-of-the-pack against receivers.
Tight end
- Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (at Las Vegas Raiders)
Higbee wasn't as involved in the Rams' passing attack as many assumed he would be against the Cardinals, but he did rack up four targets in the fourth quarter. The veteran figures to see an uptick in volume with Davante Adams (hamstring) out of the lineup, and the Raiders have allowed the sixth-most FPPG to tight ends this season, making this a good spot to back Higbee.
- Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers (at Detroit Lions)
Kraft hasn't yet regained the explosive form he showed off last season following his torn right ACL, but in Week 7, he is facing a Lions defense that has allowed far and away the most FPPG to tight ends this season. This could be Kraft's breakout game, so it's a great spot in which to fire him up as a top-five TE.
Defense/special teams
- Cleveland Browns (at Tennessee Titans)
Cam Ward and the Titans are coming off a strong showing against the Colts, but the Browns will provide them a tougher test. Cleveland has recorded 19 sacks in 2026, second-most in the league behind the Lions, and should be able to pressure Ward, who has thrown an interception in four consecutive games, into some mistakes.
- New York Jets (vs. Miami Dolphins)
The Dolphins are averaging just 14 points per game, which is tied with the Titans for the fewest league-wide. The Jets should have a chance to force Malik Willis into mistakes and enjoy another quality week.
Fantasy football players to sit in Week 7
Quarterbacks
- Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (at Seattle Seahawks)
Mahomes is coming off his first no-touchdown game of the 2026 NFL season and gets a tough matchup against a Seahawks defense that has allowed the second-fewest FPPG to quarterbacks this season. Add in that Kenneth Walker III is in a revenge game and will be motivated to score against his former team and this seems like a lower-ceiling spot for Mahomes.
- Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)
Shough is coming off a four-touchdown game against the Giants, but he will face a much more difficult test from the Steelers. Pittsburgh has allowed just six total touchdowns to quarterbacks through six games this season, tied for third-fewest in the league.
- Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (at Arizona Cardinals)
Nix has a good matchup against a Cardinals defense that has surrendered the fifth-most FPPG to quarterbacks this season, but he still has just one multi-touchdown game on his ledger this season. He remains a low-floor option and shouldn't be trusted until he shows more than he has to start the season.
Running backs
- Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (at Houston Texans)
Skattebo did not handle any touches in Week 6 and played just 7.8% of the Giants' offensive snaps, primarily at fullback. It's clear that John Harbaugh was trying to send a message to his young running back about his fumbling issue, and that arrangement may not last long. Still, fantasy managers will need to see Skattebo handle some semblance of a workload before reinserting him into lineups. He's also facing a Texans defense allowing the third-fewest rushing yards per game this season, so benching him is an easy choice.
- Emanuel Wilson, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)
Wilson has been a high-volume option for the Seahawks, but he is averaging just 3.5 yards per carry. That makes him a touchdown-dependent option, and there's no guarantee he'll find the end zone against a Chiefs defense that has allowed only three rushing touchdowns to running backs this season. Zach Charbonnet may also return for this matchup, which could complicate Wilson's path toward goal-line opportunities.
- Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans (vs. Cleveland Browns)
Pollard is averaging a respectable 58.2 rushing yards per game this season, but he has only scored once. The Browns have only allowed a single rushing touchdown and could be stronger against the run if Mason Graham is able to return to play in Week 7. That gives Pollard a low ceiling despite his high-touch floor.
- Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)
Miller may see good volume if the Saints keep it close in Paris. Even so, the 2023 third-round pick is averaging just 3.1 yards per carry, making him more of a touchdown-dependent flex option. The Steelers have only allowed three rushing touchdowns to running backs this season, so it's hard to recommend backing him here.
Wide receivers
- Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Los Angeles Rams)
Tucker is averaging a more-than-respectable 5.8 targets and 61.8 receiving yards per game this season, but the Rams have allowed the eighth-fewest FPPG to receivers this season. Tucker may have trouble winning consistently against Trent McDuffie, which could force Kirk Cousins to look more in the direction of Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer in this one.
- Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (vs. Denver Broncos)
In two games without Marvin Harrison Jr. this season, Wilson is averaging four catches for 31 yards. Defenses figure to continue focusing on him as Arizona's clear-cut No. 1 receiver which will limit his productivity against quality defenses. Denver qualifies, and if the Broncos get Patrick Surtain back, Wilson could have a very quiet afternoon in Week 7.
- Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans (vs. New York Giants)
Noel has been productive of late, averaging four receptions for 77.7 receiving yards over his last three outings with two touchdowns. While that may inspire some hope about his long-term prospects, the speedy slot man is facing more and more competition for playing time with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Tank Dell joining the fold. That may make Noel's workload inconsistent, so it's better to simply stash him another week before trusting him outright as a flex.
- Dontayvion Wicks, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
Some may be tempted to stream Wicks in a quality matchup, but he hasn't scored since Week 1 and is averaging just under 35 receiving yards over his last four games. He is a boom-or-bust flex option at best and should remain on the bench until he can develop some chemistry with McKee.
Tight end
- Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
Pitts had two touchdowns against the Bears last week, but those came when the Falcons were trailing big. He may have more difficulty staying fantasy relevant against a 49ers defense that has yet to allow a touchdown to a tight end this season.
- Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns (at Tennessee Titans)
Fannin has posted just one catch in back-to-back games and now faces a Titans defense that has allowed the second-fewest receiving yards to tight ends this season. It's hard to imagine this being a breakout spot for Fannin.
Defense/special teams
- New England Patriots (at Chicago Bears)
The return of Caleb Williams has turned Chicago's offense back into a juggernaut. Mike Vrabel's defense is a well-coached unit that has thrived against the run, but this profiles as a rare "Thursday Night Football" shootout between the Bears and Patriots.
- Los Angeles Rams (at Las Vegas Raiders)
The Rams are supremely banged-up on both sides of the ball, and still without Myles Garrett, while the Raiders sport one of the NFL's most underrated passing attacks. Los Angeles is a boom-or-bust play this week with that in mind.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: 30 players to start or sit in Week 7
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