Fantasy football managers are in the meat of their respective seasons, as Week 7 represents the midpoint in many fantasy leagues.
By now, top contenders have been established across all leagues. Meanwhile, the rest are looking to find ways to shape their rosters into postseason contenders amid a slew of injuries impacting the NFL.
Week 6 saw a couple of prominent receivers – Davante Adams and Terry McLaurin – go down with significant injuries. Fantasy managers will now be forced to replace those players while also navigating bye weeks for the Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders.
Those absences will create some difficult start 'em, sit 'em decisions for fantasy football managers. Luckily, there remains
plenty of depth across key positions, with a slew of emerging, young receivers providing hope for those needing to replace the likes of Adams and McLaurin.
Who can you start and sit in fantasy football for Week 7 of the 2026 NFL season? USA TODAY Sports outlines eight players to start and eight to sit:
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.
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.
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, as he logged just one catch for 15 yards against the Ravens. He gets a much easier matchup in Week 7 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 be able to find the end zone against a Chiefs team that has allowed just 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.
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.
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.
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.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: 16 players to start or sit in Week 7
