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A.J. Brown Ready to Bounce Back on Thursday Night?
New England Patriots veteran wide receiver A.J. Brown returned from a high-ankle sprain that landed him on Injured Reserve in the Week 6 win over the division-rival New York Jets, but he struggled with drops and caught only three of his 10 targets for 27 yards in his second game with the Patriots. Brown also disappointed in his debut with New England in the Week 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, when he caught three of his four targets for 26 yards before injuring his ankle. Thursday Night Football analyst Kirk Herbstreit thinks Brown is primed to bounce back to form on Thursday night against the hosting Chicago Bears in Week 7. "I would be shocked if AJ Brown doesn't play incredibly well tonight. He was getting back into rhythm last week coming back from injury," Herbstreit said on The Pat McAfee Show. Brown is a difference-maker when healthy, and quarterback Drake Maye is expected to try to get his WR1 the ball early and often on Thursday night. Fantasy managers should be starting Brown this week, even after his lackluster return from injury in Week 6. Do not forget that receiver Romeo Doubs (shoulder) is on IR and will miss the next four games, which will raise Brown's fantasy ceiling.
Source: Kirk Herbstreit
Source: Kirk Herbstreit
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Kalif Raymond Still in Play for TNF
Chicago Bears wide receiver Kalif Raymond is a fine low-end option in deep leagues ahead of his Thursday Night Football matchup against the New England Patriots. Raymond was looking like a waiver-wire steal after a hot start to 2026. The veteran's production would fizzle out just as quickly, though, as he's accumulated only eight targets over the last three weeks compared with 21 in his first three appearances. While that bodes poorly for Raymond's season-long outlook, he's still an enticing option in deeper formats and a solid DFS bet, especially with quarterback Caleb Williams healthy and dialed in. Thursday's matchup isn't particularly appealing for fantasy, but Chicago's offense will get a boost as the Pats' defense is down several players to injury. The 32-year-old lands as RotoBaller's PPR WR51 for this week's slate.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Dalton Schultz Back at Practice on Thursday
Houston Texans tight end Dalton Schultz (quadriceps) is back on the practice field on Thursday, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Schultz missed practice on Wednesday, putting his availability for the Week 7 contest against the visiting New York Giants this Sunday in question. The 30-year-old veteran's status is still up in the air, but it is a good sign that he was able to return to the field for the second practice of the week. Schultz was banged up in the Week 6 win over the division-rival Jacksonville Jaguars in London, and it remains to be seen if he will be ready to go this weekend. The former fourth-rounder by the Dallas Cowboys in 2018 from Stanford caught four of his six targets for 33 yards in London. He does not have a touchdown catch yet through six games and has done very little outside of his 12-catch, 140-yard game on 14 targets in the Week 2 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, which was a game that top receiver Nico Collins missed due to injury. The emergence of second-year wideout Jaylin Noel and the addition of former first-round receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. do not strengthen the streaming case for Schultz this year.
Source: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
Source: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
Cam Skattebo Praised for Response to Week 6 Demotion
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo drew praise from offensive coordinator Matt Nagy for the way he handled last week's demotion. According to Dan Duggan of The Athletic, Nagy called Skattebo's response "impressive" and described him as a "true pro." The second-year back was told before Sunday's loss to New Orleans that Najee Harris would start after Skattebo committed his fourth fumble of the season against Washington in Week 5. He ended up playing just six offensive snaps without a carry or target, even though he entered the game as New York's leading rusher with 294 yards on 81 attempts. Harris was released Tuesday, which leaves Skattebo competing with Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Devin Singletary for opportunities against Houston. Head coach John Harbaugh has acknowledged that none of his running backs has established himself as the clear lead option, so the backfield distribution is still unsettled heading into Week 7.
Source: Dan Duggan
Source: Dan Duggan
Jonathan Taylor Hasn't Considered Possibility of Being Traded
Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor said he hasn't given any thought to potentially being traded following the firing of general manager Chris Ballard. Speaking with reporters Thursday, Taylor told Jake Arthur he was "just lost for words" and "definitely upset" about Monday's decision, adding that he has reflected on what he and his teammates could have done differently to prevent the outcome. The Colts fired Ballard after a 2-4 start, although owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon stressed that the leadership change doesn't alter the team's intention to compete this season. Taylor signed a two-year, $44 million contract extension in August that keeps him under contract through 2028. The 27-year-old has remained a major part of Indianapolis' offense, rushing for 492 yards and seven touchdowns on 122 carries through six games. Trade speculation has followed the front-office shakeup, but Taylor's comments give no indication that he expects to be moved.
Source: Jake Arthur
Source: Jake Arthur
Bucky Irving Back at Practice After Wednesday's Absence
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (illness) returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday's session, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. His return is an encouraging development ahead of Sunday's Week 7 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, especially after an illness hit several Tampa Bay players earlier in the week. Irving has handled 96 carries for 452 yards and two touchdowns through six games and holds a substantial advantage in the backfield workload. He got 19 carries and three targets in Sunday's overtime loss to Pittsburgh, while Kenneth Gainwell managed just two rushing attempts and one target. Sean Tucker (quadriceps), who missed that contest, was a full participant Wednesday and could rejoin the rotation against Carolina. Irving's precise Thursday participation level hasn't been confirmed yet.
Source: Rick Stroud
Source: Rick Stroud
Matthew Golden Should be Fine Despite Dealing With Shoulder Injury
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that there is no concern about wide receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder) as the team prepares to face the division-rival Detroit Lions on Sunday in Week 7, according to Weston Hodkiewicz of the team's official website. Golden was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, leaving some concern about his status for the weekend, but fantasy managers should be assured now that the 23-year-old second-year wideout will suit up in Motown. Quarterback Jordan Love (back) and receiver Christian Watson (ankle) are also dealing with minor injuries but should also be active on Sunday. Golden, a first-rounder last year out of Texas, is following through on his breakout potential in his second year in the league and has been very productive for his fantasy managers, catching 30 passes on 57 targets for 501 yards and three touchdowns so far through six weeks. He has been the WR7 in half-PPR scoring and should be locked into all starting fantasy lineups against the Lions' shaky pass defense.
Source: Packers.com - Weston Hodkiewicz
Source: Packers.com - Weston Hodkiewicz
Packers Not Concerned About Christian Watson's Ankle Issue
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said there is no concern about wide receiver Christian Watson's (ankle) status for the Week 7 game on the road this Sunday against the division-rival Detroit Lions, according to Weston Hodkiewicz of the team's official website. Watson was included on the Week 7 injury report and was listed as a limited participant in practice on Wednesday, but apparently the 27-year-old is fine and will be available this weekend as the Packers' offense looks to stay on a roll. Quarterback Jordan Love (back) and receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder) were also limited with injuries, but Green Bay is expected to have all of their top weapons while potentially getting starting running back Josh Jacobs back as well. Watson has stayed healthy through the first six weeks of 2026 and has been phenomenal for his fantasy managers, ranking third at the position in half-PPR scoring with 29 receptions on 48 targets for 538 yards and six touchdowns. Only Jaxon Smith-Njigba and CeeDee Lamb have more fantasy points than Watson.
Source: Packers.com - Weston Hodkiewicz
Source: Packers.com - Weston Hodkiewicz
Baker Mayfield Throwing Well as Week 7 Decision Nears
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) continues to make encouraging progress toward a potential return Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. According to Greg Auman of FOX Sports, Mayfield appeared to be throwing effectively during Thursday's practice, building on his full participation Wednesday. The veteran hadn't practiced since dislocating his right thumb against Minnesota in Week 3, and head coach Todd Bowles previously indicated that Mayfield looked increasingly comfortable throwing while wearing a glove on his injured hand. Bowles hopes to determine Friday whether Mayfield or rookie Jalon Daniels will start against Carolina. Mayfield's recovery is progressing, but the potential absences of wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (concussion/foot) and right tackle Luke Goedeke (calf) could complicate his return. Both players appear unlikely to suit up, according to Auman's latest observations.
Source: Greg Auman
Source: Greg Auman
Emeka Egbuka Trending Toward Missing Week 7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (concussion, foot) appears unlikely to play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. The second-year receiver missed Wednesday's practice with both ailments, and Auman's latest assessment suggests Tampa Bay may need to prepare for his absence. Egbuka leads the Buccaneers with 28 receptions for 240 yards through six games, which makes up a big share of an offense that has struggled to produce consistently through the air. Chris Godwin, who has 23 receptions for 216 yards, could take on a larger role if Egbuka is unavailable. Rookie Ted Hurst is another potential beneficiary after drawing six targets against Pittsburgh last week. Egbuka hasn't officially been ruled out, and his availability depends on his recovery from both injuries.
Source: Greg Auman
Source: Greg Auman
DK Metcalf Regains Momentum With 15-Target Performance
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf's 15-target Week 6 outing was a sharp response to the four looks he got against Indianapolis the previous Sunday. He caught 11 passes for 93 yards in Pittsburgh's 26-19 overtime win over Tampa Bay, including nine receptions for 81 yards in the fourth quarter and overtime. Aaron Rodgers acknowledged afterward that the offense shifted once Metcalf became more involved and said the Steelers need to find him earlier in games. That matters with Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) and Roman Wilson (finger) on injured reserve, which leaves Metcalf and rookie Germie Bernard as Pittsburgh's primary wideout options. Bernard saw 12 targets of his own against the Buccaneers, and the extended comeback helped drive Metcalf's volume. Still, Metcalf has topped 90 receiving yards in two of his past three games after totaling just 98 over his first three. The thinner receiving corps and renewed involvement support a low-end WR2 outlook in PPR leagues for Week 7 against New Orleans.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jeremiyah Love Expected to Miss Second Consecutive Game
Arizona Cardinals rookie first-round running back Jeremiyah Love (ankle) is expected to miss Sunday's Week 7 matchup against the Denver Broncos, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports. The rookie hasn't practiced since October 9 and missed last week's 18-16 victory over the Los Angeles Rams with a lingering left ankle injury. Love aggravated the injury against the New York Giants in Week 4 and struggled through his next appearance, managing just 22 yards on 12 carries against Detroit. Head coach Mike LaFleur previously acknowledged that the injury has affected Love's ability to make explosive cuts, which makes extra recovery time especially important. Arizona started Tyler Allgeier against Los Angeles, but Bam Knight was the more productive back, recording 98 scrimmage yards on 17 touches. Another absence for Love would give Knight a chance to build on that performance while competing with Allgeier for backfield work.
Source: Matt Zenitz
Source: Matt Zenitz
Bryce Young Surging in Fantasy Football as Passing Attack Finds a Groove
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young has drastically exceeded expectations so far this season, and he ranks as the QB10 in fantasy football despite already having his bye week. Through five games, Young has 1,549 passing yards, 12 total touchdowns, just two interceptions, and zero fumbles. He has done a great job improving his ball security from last year, and the high yardage and touchdown totals speak for themselves. Having another year of experience is likely the driving force behind Young's breakout, but we can also attribute some of his success to having a deeper receiving core. Tetairoa McMillan continues to play at a high level, and Jalen Coker is having a remarkable breakout as a fantasy-relevant WR2. Going forward, fantasy managers should feel confident rolling out Young in their starting lineups every week, as long as both McMillan and Coker are healthy.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Roschon Johnson Offering Standalone Value as No. 2 Back in Chicago
Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson has offered standalone value in fantasy football over the last two weeks, and that trend should continue as long as he's in the No. 2 role with Kyle Monangai (thumb, toe) sidelined. Johnson has played 40% of the offensive snaps in each of the last two weeks, totaling 57 rushing yards, seven catches, 68 receiving yards, and one touchdown during that span. He had more of a receiving role in Week 5, but more of a rushing role in Week 6, so it will be interesting to see what his role looks like this Thursday against the New England Patriots. It bears mentioning that, in five of Chicago's six games this season, two different Bears running backs have logged 10+ carries. This is an offense that loves to run the ball and share the rushing workload, so we would expect Johnson to have another busy day on the ground in Week 7 (and perhaps beyond, if Monangai misses any additional time). He ranks as a low-end RB3/flex for the time being.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
George Kittle Consistently Finding the End Zone
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle has emerged as the overall TE3 in PPR scoring this season with five touchdowns over his last five games. Kittle was limited in Week 1 due to his Achilles recovery, but ever since then, he has been a steady high-end TE1 option for fantasy football. In fact, from Weeks 2-6, he ranks as the highest-scoring tight end in PPR leagues. For several years now, the Iowa product has been a fantastic fantasy option because of his physicality and nose for the end zone. He offers versatility in the Niners' offense, as he ranks second among NFL tight ends in red zone targets but also third in deep target share. Meanwhile, his 0.65 fantasy points per route run ranks second-best among tight ends this season. As long as he can stay healthy, Kittle will continue to be a high-end TE1 and should be started in all leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Matthew Golden Continues to Play at a League-Winning Level
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Matthew Golden has been one of the biggest steals of 2026 fantasy football drafts. After a very disappointing rookie season, Golden turned things around and is enjoying a spectacular Year 2 breakout. Through six weeks, he ranks as the overall WR8 in PPR leagues with a whopping 30 catches, 501 yards, and three touchdowns. He has already set a new career-high in all three categories, despite the season being just over one-third complete. Equally impressive is the fact that both Golden and Christian Watson have been able to co-exist in this offense, as both players rank among the top eight receivers in fantasy scoring this season. The return of running back Josh Jacobs may prompt the Packers to go a little more run-heavy going forward, but it's not going to be a seismic shift, if it's even noticeable at all. Golden should continue to rank as a high-end WR2 or low-end WR1 going forward.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chuba Hubbard Continues to Excel with Enormous Volume
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard has been one of the most underrated picks from 2026 fantasy football drafts. He ranks as the overall RB13 in PPR leagues despite already having gone through his bye week, and he has logged a total of 426 rushing yards, 85 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. The 27-year-old has benefitted from an enormous volume share, as he ran the football 28 times in Week 6 and also caught one pass on two targets. Teammate Jonathon Brooks (core) could return from injured reserve next week, but even if he does, we would be surprised if the Panthers reduce Hubbard's workload significantly. While we may not expect him to consistently get 28 touches per game, 20+ seems like a fair range, keeping him in the high-end RB2 or low-end RB1 tier going forward.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Chicago Bears D/ST a Fringy Streamer Vs. Red-Hot Pats
The Chicago Bears D/ST won't have it easy against a surging New England Patriots offense on Thursday Night Football in Week 7. Chicago's defense has been up and down so far, but it has done well to limit points (sixth-fewest) and total yardage (seventh-fewest). Moreover, the team has recorded at least two sacks in each game and 17 tackles for loss over its last two. A few weeks ago, this matchup would have been far less intimidating, but third-year signal-caller Drake Maye has played much better football in his three recent appearances, posting a stellar 10:1 TD:INT ratio. To continue their defensive success, Chicago must stay stout against the run and not let Maye and the Pats' attack beat them deep. The Bears' unit ranks as RotoBaller's D/ST15 ahead of the critical primetime matchup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Cairo Santos a High-Floor Option for TNF
Chicago Bears placekicker Cairo Santos is a sturdy fantasy play in Week 7 as his team hosts the New England Patriots. Santos missed his third field goal of the campaign in last weekend's win over Atlanta. After the mediocre outing, the veteran has eight makes on 11 tries and has knocked down all 18 of his extra-point attempts. While Santos has a strong fantasy floor and is attached to an offense that should score a ton of points, he doesn't have the biggest leg. Furthermore, Chicago's efficiency can work against him, limiting his upside. All in all, the 34-year-old is a solid bet for owners in a pinch this Thursday, as New England's defense has been one of the more sound units this season, potentially leading to a few extra field goal attempts than usual for him. Santos is RotoBaller's K14 ahead of what projects to be an exciting matchup.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Roschon Johnson Offers Flex Appeal in Week 7
Chicago Bears running back Roschon Johnson could be a useful flex option in his team's Week 7 matchup against the visiting New England Patriots this Thursday. With backfield mate Kyle Monangai (thumb, toe) nursing multiple injuries, Johnson has stepped in nicely over the past few weeks. With Monangai set to miss time again, the latter offers some upside, even in an inauspicious spot. Across the two-game sample, the Texas native has racked up 125 yards from scrimmage and a rushing score (25 touches) on ~40% of snaps. There are risks, though: Johnson piled up five of his 13 totes in Week 6, salting away the clock in their win over Atlanta. Additionally, New England has been one of the sturdiest units against the run all season (91.8 yards per game). However, they're susceptible to RBs in the passing game, allowing 27 receptions through six games. Johnson is RotoBaller's PPR RB32 for the outing.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Zay Flowers Drawing Plenty of Targets in Baltimore
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers is off to a strong start to the season, even though he missed a game with an injury and has been without QB Lamar Jackson (ankle) for his last two contests. Flowers is up to 42 targets in his five games this year and has 32 receptions for 471 yards and two touchdowns. He has racked up over 50 yards per game in every game this season and has averaged 10 targets per game over his last three contests. So far this season, Flowers has the fourth-highest target share in the NFL this season, behind only studs Jaxon Smith-Njigba, DeVonta Smith, and Puka Nacua. New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is finding ways to get Flowers plenty of chances to make plays, and the fourth-year receiver is on the rise, with an even higher ceiling later this season when Jackson is ready to return.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
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