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Scott Engel features fantasy football lineup starts/sits for Week 7 (2025). He focuses on key NFL players to start when faced with tight Week 7 fantasy football lineup decisions.
Welcome back to our Key Starters and Tough Calls article for Week 7 of the 2025 season. Scott Engel's Week 7 Lineup Spotlights column features key players to start or sit when faced with challenging lineup decisions like A.J. Brown, Arian Smith, Rico Dowdle, Kayshon Boutte, Isiah Pacheco, Mason Taylor, and more. "The King" features players who may be causing fantasy anxiety for those who roster them.
The fantasy football players covered in this Week 7 article are based on Scott's Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available in the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. You can get access to his full player rankings and also unlock a full suite of tools and analysis for in-season usage. In Week 5, Scott finished as a top 15 ranker on FantasyPros, and he was top 10 in Week 2. In Week 5, Scott was the No. 1 ranker of tight ends.
To make the best-informed Week 7 lineup decisions -- consult this analysis, the RotoBaller staff fantasy football rankings, and free Who Should I Start? tool for comparing up to four players. The skill position analysis in this article is based on Scott's Week 7 premium PPR rankings.
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Wide Receivers - Fantasy Football Week 7
Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots
Boutte was a rather popular early-season waiver pickup, as he impressed in the preseason and then caught six passes for 103 yards in the season opener. He then fell off for the next four games, though, failing to reach the 45-yard mark or catch more than three passes in any outing.
So before last week, Boutte was tossed back onto the free agent pile. He responded by catching all five of his targets for 93 yards and two TDs vs. New Orleans. Stefon Diggs faded again after two 100-yard games, and Boutte re-emerged.
This week, you might be considering starting Boutte if there is a lineup slot that needs to be filled. It’s hard to forecast what receiver Drake Maye might favor in any given week, but the Patriots could easily trample Tennessee. In such a scenario, the receiving wealth could be shared. The Titans rank 17th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to WRs.
Boutte hasn’t shown he can be reliable for fantasy purposes yet. However, he can be streamed this week as Maye puts together another good effort. The Titans rank 26th in sacks, so the Patriots' QB will have sufficient time to throw.
A.J. Brown, Philadelphia Eagles
Those who drafted Brown in Round Two this year are possibly nearly as frustrated as he is about the lack of production. Word of Brown’s unhappiness started filtering out during the Eagles’ 4-0 start to the season. Philadelphia was winning, but that was apparently not enough for Brown, who wasn’t doing his part in the victories enough.
The Eagles then dropped their next two games, and the negative buzz around Brown has grown louder. Fantasy players have been patient with him, continuing to start Brown, hoping his grumbling would translate into getting the ball more. Last week, we saw some signs of hope, as he caught six of nine targets for 80 yards.
This week’s matchup against Minnesota’s top-ranked pass defense could lead to another disappointing outing instead of momentum building from last week. The Vikings rank first in the league in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to WRs. Philadelphia’s passing offense ranks last in the NFC.
If you are facing a tough call about whether to bench Brown or not, sit him for any other top 25 range WRs for NFL Week 7. He always has the talent to overcome a matchup, but there is no real statistical floor for him in a weak passing game with a bad matchup.
Should you reserve Brown for a guy like Troy Franklin, who has a much better matchup? That’s going too far. Players cannot be inserted into lineups based on the opponent alone. Should you sit him for a rising player such as Quentin Johnston, who also has a good matchup? Yes.
Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
If you have been stashing Rice on your bench until now, this is the week you’ve been waiting for. It almost feels like receiving a birthday gift and excitedly tearing off the wrapping paper to see what it is.
Rashee Rice in "Good Shape," Will Make Season Debut on Sunday https://t.co/kq02jORQk7
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 15, 2025
While he will slip right back in as Kansas City’s top WR, fantasy players will naturally wonder how the long layoff might affect him, and that is a legitimate concern. Rice reportedly will not have any limitations, though. Las Vegas ranks 27th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to WRs.
Keep expectations lowered on Rice’s statistical output in his first game back, but he should at least provide an adequate floor in a good matchup. If he shines, though, consider his performance a bonus. Rice should be started as usual in his 2025 debut.
Van Jefferson, Tennessee Titans
Calvin Ridley will be out again this week, giving Jefferson an opportunity to function as Tennessee’s No. 1 WR again. Cam Ward has been progressing slowly, but showed a good connection with Jefferson last week, as he caught four passes for 75 yards. He’s mostly been a journeyman throughout his career, but his veteran presence works for a rookie QB.
The Patriots rank 19th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed. The matchup is good enough to consider Jefferson as a streaming bye week/injury replacement option.
Arian Smith, New York Jets
The Jets will be without Garrett Wilson this week, and someone, anyone, has to step forward and be a respectable receiving option for Justin Fields. The default options at WR seem to be Allen Lazard and Josh Reynolds because of their experience, yet it’s two rookies who may take advantage of their chances to contribute more.
Naturally, one of those guys to possibly draw more targets is rookie TE Mason Taylor, who was a recommended waiver pickup this past week. The other, however, is widely available in fantasy football leagues and should at least be added before he potentially becomes an interesting free agent add after Sunday.
Since the preseason, Arian Smith, who was drafted in the fourth round by the Jets this year, has reportedly been well-regarded by the Jets internally. Lazard and Reynolds are not going to challenge defenses enough as receivers, so Smith could be in line to get a healthy amount of looks from Fields.
Smith is a speedy type who can possibly stretch the defense more than any other pass-catcher on the Jets. Add him now if you need a deep league lineup replacement, or at least pick him up and potentially get ahead of the waiver pack for Week 8. The winless Jets need some sort of spark against Carolina, and maybe Smith will provide it.
Running Backs - Fantasy Football Week 7
Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers
After boosting many fantasy football teams to wins over the past two weeks, the ride may be coming to a stop now. Or the Dowdle wheel of wonder is starting to slow down, and we have to wonder if it will be time to get off soon.
Panthers coach Dave Canales told reporters the staff has determined who will start and get most of the reps between Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard, who has been cleared to play, but he isn't revealing the decision publicly. Trying to keep a competitive advantage. Hubbard was…
— David Newton (@DNewtonespn) October 17, 2025
But have some fun while it still lasts at all. Chuba Hubbard is expected to return this week, yet he could be eased back into action. The Panthers have reportedly made a choice as to who will start at RB against the Jets, but are not sharing the information publicly.
So we can only play the guessing game, yet it’s hard to envision Dowdle operating in anything less than a timeshare after his two illustrious weeks. So view him more as an RB2/flex this week with some upside. The Jets' defense may spend a lot of time on the field vs. Carolina. It makes sense for the Panthers to still go with the hot player over the returning guy.
Cam Skattebo, New York Giants
The Giants' rookie, along with fellow newcomer Jaxson Dart, suddenly stirred excitement again from a long-suffering fan base. He delivered a major breakout fantasy performance with three rushing TDs. So will we get a big encore performance in Week 7?
The top-flight Denver defense ranks fourth in FFPG allowed to RBs, so don’t expect another spectacular outing. But Skattebo will fight hard for every yard, and he already looks like a very bankable goal-line runner. You cannot sit him based on the matchup, even if he doesn’t statistically explode again.
TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots
For several weeks now, fantasy leaguers have been anticipating a breakout game from the New England rookie, only to be frustrated every time it seems that he will be ready for more touches. But it’s just gotta happen this week vs. Tennessee. Or will it happen?
The Titans rank 29th in FFPG allowed to RBs. You cannot expect a solid floor from Henderson in any matchup yet, but he certainly carries some upside this week. Even if he just works in a timeshare, Henderson could rip off a big gainer or two.
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs
His 2025 season has been so frustrating after six weeks that some fantasy players might have already cut Pacheco. Yet you see the matchup against the Raiders, who have allowed seven rushing TDs to RBs, which is second-most in the NFL, and start to consider activating him one last time.
Pacheco will have a decent shot to get in the end zone, but Kareem Hunt has a good shot to get goal-line carries over him. Keep Pacheco reserved if he is still on your roster.
Quarterback and Tight End - Fantasy Football Week 7
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Most of us will be looking for a scoring explosion on Monday Night when the Lions host the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay ranks 22nd in FFPG allowed to QBs, and Goff often plays better at home. In his last game at Ford Field, he threw five TD passes.
Goff is a top-4 fantasy QB for Week 7. I would only start Jayden Daniels, Dak Prescott, and Patrick Mahomes over him. Don’t overthink it, just ride the scoring wave on Monday.
Mason Taylor, New York Jets
We pointed to Taylor’s projected larger role in the Jets' offense already in this rundown. The big question, however, is whether he should be started or not. Opportunities should be there, yet there are no guarantees that the chances will be converted into quality production.
Mason Taylor Gains Appeal as Jets Aim to Fill Pass-Catching Void https://t.co/xdTWBrOolY
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 18, 2025
I don’t have Mason ranked as a top-12 TE this week. Many fantasy players, though, are struggling to find a decent option at the position. If you need to take a chance on a TE immediately, start Taylor, knowing an adequate amount of volume is possible. Don’t start him over TEs that have already been producing adequately so far this season.
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