Fantasy Football Week 7 start/sit cheat sheet best advice

The ESPN+ Cheat Sheet for Week 7 is your one-stop shop for fantasy football advice. We’ve curated all our best start/sit advice from this week, including insights from Matt Bowen, Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Eric Karabell and Liz Loza. Don’t have time to read it all? That’s why cheat sheets were invented! Catch up on a week’s worth of reading in mere minutes, see which players are on the injury report, consider the betting data and then set your lineup with confidence.

Lines accurate as of latest time stamp. For latest odds, go to ESPN BET.

Injury aggregation powered by RotoWire. Football Power Index by ESPN Analytics.

New England Patriots vs. Jacksonville Jaguars -6
Locks: Sunday 9:30 a.m. ET

Over/under total: 42.5 (10th highest)
FPI favorite: Jaguars by 7.7, 69.7% to win outright

Patriots injury watch: RB Rhamondre Stevenson: Q

Jaguars injury watch: TE Evan Engram: Q; RB Travis Etienne Jr.: Q; WR Gabe Davis: Q

Best of the Week

• Tristan H. Cockcroft: Week 6 was the first time any Patriots receiver was within the top 25 scorers at the position — and they placed two, DeMario Douglas (eighth) and Kayshon Boutte (24th). That coincided with Drake Maye‘s installation at quarterback, a decision that breathed additional life into the Patriots’ offense. The Jaguars have seen eight different wide receivers score 15-plus PPR fantasy points in six games, including multiples in three of those games. Douglas, who has had at least a 28% target share in each of the past two weeks, should again deliver a productive fantasy score.

• Liz Loza: Jacksonville’s defense gifted Caleb Williams his best outing so far, allowing him to complete more than 79% of his passes while tossing four scores. The Jaguars have allowed at least 23 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in four straight contests. It’s early, but Drake Maye appears deserving of attention and could flirt with top-15 numbers in Week 7

Cincinnati Bengals -5.5 vs. Cleveland Browns
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET

Over/under total: 41.5 (12th highest)
FPI favorite: Bengals by 4.8, 62.6% to win outright

Bengals injury watch: none to report

Browns injury watch: RB Nick Chubb: O; RB D’Onta Foreman: Q; RB Jerome Ford: Q; RB Nyheim Hines: O

Best of the Week

• Tristan H. Cockcroft: David Njoku’s workload increased last week in his second game back from injury, and that’s likely to continue following the trade of Amari Cooper to Buffalo. Njoku should again be heavily involved against the Bengals, who have afforded tight ends the fourth-most points per target (2.05). In the past two weeks alone, tight ends have totaled 16 targets and 47.4 points against this defense.

• Matt Bowen: The Bengals’ defense has recorded a takeaway in each of the past three games, and they just held the Giants to seven points in a Week 6 win. So, let’s take the matchup versus a Cleveland offense that has registered a league-worst 3.9 yards per play while scoring only 15.8 points per game (30th in the NFL).

Tennessee Titans vs. Buffalo Bills -9
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET

Over/under total: 40.5 (13th highest)
FPI favorite: Bills by 8.7, 72.3% to win outright

Titans injury watch: WR Treylon Burks: Q; RB Tyjae Spears: Q; WR Colton Dowell: O

Bills injury watch: TE Dalton Kincaid: Q; RB Ray Davis: Q; WR Mack Hollins: Q

Best of the Week

• Mike Clay: Despite adding Amari Cooper during the week, downgrade the Bills receiving group due to their matchup against the tough Tennessee secondary.

• Tristan H. Cockcroft: Cooper’s arrival will cut into Dalton Kincaid‘s target share, though the tight end might ultimately benefit from Cooper’s ability to stretch the field, opening up more routes over the middle. Nevertheless, this isn’t the week to expect a breakthrough from the second-year player, as the Titans have been one of the best at defending tight ends thus far.

• Liz Loza: Calvin Ridley‘s eight targets last week tied for the most without a catch since 2009. A trip to Orchard Park to face a Bills defense that recently welcomed back Taron Johnson and Taylor Rapp is not ideal for a bounceback. Receiver is so loaded with talent there’s no reason to hang onto the hope that Ridley can find his footing.

Miami Dolphins vs. Indianapolis Colts -3
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET

Over/under total: 43.5 (eighth highest)
FPI favorite: Colts by 8.7, 70.7% to win outright

Dolphins injury watch: RB De’Von Achane: Q

Colts injury watch: WR Josh Downs: Q; WR Alec Pierce: Q; RB Trey Sermon: Q; RB Jonathan Taylor: Q

Best of the Week

• Mike Clay: Downgrade Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr., as he is likely to be shadowed in coverage by Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller, both tough assignments.

• Mike Clay: De’Von Achane has been a nonfactor on the ground (3.3 yards per carry) and 49.9% of his fantasy points have come on his receiving lines from Weeks 1 and 2. However, he’s healthy off the bye and remains the lead back, and he’s set up with a decent matchup against a Colts defense that has allowed the third-most RB yards this season.

Philadelphia Eagles -3 vs. New York Giants
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET

Over/under total: 42.5 (10th highest)
FPI favorite: Eagles by 5.3, 63.3% to win outright

Eagles injury watch: TE Dallas Goedert: Q

Giants injury watch: WR Darius Slayton: Q; RB Devin Singletary: Q; WR Bryce Ford-Wheaton: Q

Best of the Week

• Mike Clay: If Devin Singletary remains out against the Eagles, Tyrone Tracy Jr. should be viewed as a solid RB2 option. However, if the reliable Singletary returns, a committee is likely, perhaps with Tracy as the secondary option. In that scenario, both players would be risky flex options and best left on benches.

• Mike Clay: Upgrade wide receiver A.J. Brown, who is expected to be shadowed by struggling Giants cornerback Brian Banks.

Seattle Seahawks vs. Atlanta Falcons -3
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET

Over/under total: 51.5 (Highest)
FPI favorite: Falcons by 2.9, 59.3% to win outright

Seahawks injury watch: RB Kenny McIntosh: Q; WR Tyler Lockett: Q

Falcons injury watch: none to report

Best of the Week

• Matt Bowen: Tyler Allgeier continues to split carries with Bijan Robinson in the Falcons’ backfield, as he paced the team with 18 attempts for 105 yards and a score in the Week 6 win over the Panthers. While that game plan was more run-heavy due to the matchup, the Falcons could once again lean on the ground attack against Seattle this week.

• Mike Clay: Kyle Pitts sits ninth in TE fantasy points, but his production has been all over the map. He has produced a pair of top-six weeks, but has no other finishes better than 10th and has been held below 5.0 points twice. He remains a fringe TE1, even in a good matchup against a Seattle defense that has allowed the sixth-most TE fantasy points..

Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings -1.5
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET

Over/under total: 50.5 (third highest)
FPI favorite: Lions by 2.8, 57.5% to win outright

Lions injury watch: none to report

Vikings injury watch: TE T.J. Hockenson: O; RB Aaron Jones: Q

Best of the Week

• Matt Bowen: Jared Goff is playing his best football of the season, and it’s reflected by both the numbers and the game tape. Over his past three games, Goff is completing 81.8% of his throws, with multiple touchdown passes in each, and he has scored over 25 fantasy points in his past two. Yes, Goff will see a more pressure-heavy defense this week, but I still like his fit here as a streamer in a key NFC North matchup.

• Eric Karabell makes a case for both Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery to be RB1s this season, with Montgomery’s touchdown numbers giving him an edge while Gibbs’ receiving skills are not as utilized this season versus last.

Houston Texans vs. Green Bay Packers -2.5
Locks: Sunday 1 p.m. ET

Over/under total: 47.5 (fifth highest)
FPI favorite: Packers by 3, 57.4% to win outright

Texans injury watch: RB Joe Mixon: Q; WR Robert Woods: Q

Packers injury watch: WR Dontayvion Wicks: Q; TE Tucker Kraft: Q; WR Christian Watson: Q; WR Jayden Reed: Q

Best of the Week

• Mike Clay: With Nico Collins (IR) sidelined, Dalton Schultz handled a season-high eight targets (26% share), which marked his most in any game since Week 16 of last season. Despite the sluggish start, Schultz sits second in routes and eighth in targets among tight ends this season. Consider him to be a streaming option this week against a Packers defense that has allowed the third-most receptions and fantasy points to tight ends.

• Eric Karabell: Green Bay’s depth at wide receiver is unique, and while good for Jordan Love, it is not really a positive for fantasy purposes. Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson — in that order, with Reed well ahead — all moved up in this week’s rest-of-season rankings … but they are not being targeted enough for fantasy purposes, even Reed. Unless Reed breaks from the group, be prepared for statistical inconsistency with this crew.

Carolina Panthers vs. Washington Commanders -8
Locks: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET

Over/under total: 51.5 (Highest)
FPI favorite: Commanders by 9.1, 74.9% to win outright

Panthers injury watch: TE Ian Thomas: Q; TE Tommy Tremble: Q; RB Jonathon Brooks: O; WR Diontae Johnson: Q; WR David Moore: Q

Commanders injury watch: RB Brian Robinson Jr.: Q

Best of the Week

• Matt Bowen: Xavier Legette has produced a touchdown reception and double-digit points in two of his past three games. While his target volume has declined over the past two weeks (five targets), I see this as a matchup-based play versus a Commanders defense allowing 7.5 YPA. Take Legette as a deeper-league option this week.

• Mike Clay: Upgrade Carolina’s receiving trio of Diontae Johnson, Jalen Coker and Xavier Legette against a Washington defense that has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to wide receivers.

Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams -7
Locks: Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET

Over/under total: 43.5 (eighth highest)
FPI favorite: Rams by 5.3, 63.9% to win outright

Raiders injury watch: RB Zamir White: Q; WR Jakobi Meyers: Q; TE Michael Mayer: O

Rams injury watch: WR Jordan Whittington: Q; WR Cooper Kupp: Q; TE Tyler Higbee: O

Best of the Week

• Mike Clay: With Davante Adams (since traded to the Jets) and Jakobi Meyers sidelined last week, Tre Tucker had his first opportunity to run as the Raiders’ No. 1 wide receiver. It didn’t go well. Whereas a healthy Meyers (nine-plus targets in three straight games) is a lineup lock in this matchup against the Rams, Tucker should be considered for your flex, only if Meyers remains sidelined.

Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Francisco 49ers -2
Locks: Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET

Over/under total: 46.5 (sixth highest)
FPI favorite: 49ers by 0.4, 50.3% to win outright

Chiefs injury watch: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster: Q

49ers injury watch: WR Ricky Pearsall: O; WR Deebo Samuel Sr.: Q; RB Jordan Mason: Q; WR Jauan Jennings: Q

Best of the Week

• Tristan H. Cockcroft: The Chiefs are the only team to have not afforded an individual running back more than 13.2 PPR fantasy points in a game, and bear in mind that they’ve done that despite facing the Nos. 1 (Alvin Kamara), 2 (Derrick Henry) and 7 (Bijan Robinson) scorers for the season. Jordan Mason got off to a hot start to the season, but he has averaged 13.2 points the past four weeks and might see a more limited role due to the AC joint sprain in his left shoulder that he suffered last week.

• Liz Loza: JuJu Smith-Schuster was on the field for 53 offensive plays, recording a slot rate of 38.5%, similar to his 38.7% slot rate with the Chiefs in 2022. This alignment should work well given that the 49ers have excelled on the perimeter but struggled against the slot.

• Matt Bowen: Smith-Schuster is willing to work the heavy-traffic areas of the field, and he can produce after the catch on underneath throws. With his ability to play through contact, I like Smith-Schuster as a flex this week in San Francisco.

New York Jets -2 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Locks: Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET

Over/under total: 38.5 (14th highest)
FPI favorite: Steelers by 0.2, 50.5% to win outright

Jets injury watch: TE Tyler Conklin: Q; QB Jordan Travis: O

Steelers injury watch: RB Cordarrelle Patterson: Q; WR Roman Wilson: Q

Best of the Week

• Tristan H. Cockcroft: Amidst all the Jets’ struggles, the one aspect of the team that has excelled the past four weeks has been its pass defense. New York’s 149.5 passing yards allowed per game in that span are easily the fewest and they have seen only one wide receiver, Justin Jefferson (15.2 PPR fantasy points, Week 5), exceed 15 points. George Pickens will have his hands full with cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed.

• Eric Karabell: The move from Justin Fields to Russell Wilson would be good for Pickens in the long term. Fields produced with his legs, not his arm, while Wilson will throw to the perimeter and downfield.

Baltimore Ravens -3.5 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Locks: Monday 8:15 p.m. ET

Over/under total: 49.5 (fourth highest)
FPI favorite: Ravens by 3.4, 58.8% to win outright

Ravens injury watch: RB Rasheen Ali: Q; WR Deonte Harty: Q; RB Keaton Mitchell: O

Buccaneers injury watch: WR Kameron Johnson: Q; WR Trey Palmer: Q; TE Payne Durham: Q; WR Mike Evans: Q; RB Rachaad White: Q

Best of the Week

• Tristan H. Cockcroft: Baker Mayfield has thrived in new offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s offense, throwing with even greater comfort than he did during his breakthrough 2024, and that’s likely to continue against a Ravens defense that has surrendered the second-most fantasy points per game to the position.

• Matt Bowen: Rashod Bateman is emerging as a steady perimeter target for Lamar Jackson, as he has scored 10 or more points in three of his past four games while notching a touchdown reception in two. Bateman, who has seen 12 targets over the past two weeks, gets a matchup versus a Bucs defense that ranks in the bottom 10 versus wide receivers.

Los Angeles Chargers -2.5 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Locks: Monday 9 p.m. ET

Over/under total: 44.5 (seventh highest)
FPI favorite: Cardinals by 0.5, 50.4% to win outright

Chargers injury watch: WR Simi Fehoko: Q; TE Hayden Hurst: Q; TE Will Dissly: Q; WR Ladd McConkey: Q; WR Quentin Johnston: Q

Cardinals injury watch: WR Michael Wilson: Q; WR Marvin Harrison Jr.: Q

Best of the Week

• Tristan H. Cockcroft: Judging by the numbers, J.K. Dobbins‘ backfield takeover appeared complete last week, as he played 73% of the Chargers’ offensive snaps and had 25 carries, both of those career bests. The Cardinals have surrendered the most rushing yards over the past four weeks (735) and the sixth-most explosive runs for the season (24).

• Liz Loza: Ladd McConkey has emerged as Justin Herbert’s favorite target, playing mostly out of the slot. Arizona has underwhelmed when defending the inside, allowing the sixth-highest yards per reception and the fifth-most YAC per reception to opposing slot receivers, giving McConkey immediate top-30 positional appeal and potentially more as the season progresses.