Booms and Busts - Fantasy Football Starts and Sits for Week 7 Lineups (2025)

October 18, 2025

Dave's fantasy football start 'em and sit 'em booms and busts for Week 7 of 2025. Sneaky starts that may boom, and typical starters who will disappoint.

The fantasy football season continues to move at warp speed. Don't look now, but after this weekend, we will officially be halfway toward the fantasy football playoffs. If your team has gotten off to a strong start, that will be music to your ears. However, if your fantasy team has gone the other direction, then you might be ready for the season to end.

There's also a large contingent of fantasy gamers currently on the playoff bubble at 3-3 or 2-4. If your team falls in that bucket, then this week's start/sit calls are of the utmost importance. With that said, we will do our best to recommend several solid starters as well as identify players you should fade.

Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and download the RotoBaller app for all your fantasy football needs. Let’s dive into our boom/bust picks for Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season.

Sonic Boom of the Week

Quinshon Judkins - RB, Cleveland Browns vs. Miami Dolphins

Judkins looks like the real deal and has arguably been the best-looking rookie running back this year. He's run for 383 yards and has averaged 4.6 yards per carry. Among 41 backs with 35+ attempts, Judkins ranks fourth in Next Gen Stats rush yards over expected and 13th in Fantasy Points Data Suite's yards after contact.

Judkins scores and it's tied in Cleveland!

GBvsCLE on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/J5veK1uZle

— NFL (@NFL) September 21, 2025

He's coming off a poor performance in Week 6, but this week looks like a major bounce-back spot for the rookie. Judkins and Cleveland take on a Miami Dolphins defense that has been one of the worst in the league. Miami's run defense has been particularly bad. The Dolphins rank 28th in FTN Fantasy's defensive rushing DVOA and have allowed a league-high 168.5 rushing yards per game.

Cleveland should be competitive in this contest and will have a chance to pick up its second win of the season. That should mean plenty of volume for Judkins. Managers should fire him up as a solid RB2 play, and he could pop for his best game of the year.

Other Week 7 Fantasy Football Booms

Breece Hall - RB, New York Jets vs. Carolina Panthers

Hall and the Jets are coming off yet another loss this season. They now take on a Carolina Panthers team whose rushing defense has been surprisingly stout. Carolina currently ranks third in defensive rushing DVOA and allows the ninth-fewest rushing yards per game in the league.

However, this could be a tough matchup for Carolina's defense when facing a dual-threat quarterback in Justin Fields. New York could also be without WR1 Garrett Wilson in this game, so we are likely to see them rely heavily on their ground game here. Wilson's injury could mean the Jets utilize Hall more as a pass-catcher, too.

Among 41 backs with 35+ attempts, Hall is first in explosive rushing yards per the Fantasy Points Data Suite. 31.4% of runs against the Panthers' defense this year have been explosive runs (runs of 15+ yards), which ranks as the eighth-most in the league. Hall could pop for a few big plays here.

Gamers should feel comfortable starting him as an RB2 play this week.

Stefon Diggs - WR, New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans

Diggs is coming off a down game following his 10-146-0 effort against the Buffalo Bills two weeks ago. However, this could be a spot where Diggs gets back on track.

The Titans are in a state of disarray after firing their head coach earlier this week. Tennessee's defense has also been a significant liability throughout 2025. The Titans rank 22nd in defensive passing DVOA and have allowed the eighth-most receiving yards to wide receivers this year, too

With the Patriots' running game remaining ineffective, the team may continue to rely on the arm of sophomore signal-caller Drake Maye, who appears to be taking a second-year leap. That would be good news for Diggs' fantasy outlook, and a bounce back here is possible. Diggs also draws a great matchup in RotoBaller's Week 7 WR/CB matchup chart.

Managers should consider Diggs a fine WR3 or flex play for this weekend.

Caleb Williams - QB, Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints

Williams threw for 252 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and scored a touchdown on the ground in a Week 7 victory over the Washington Commanders. He finished the week as the overall QB10.

Chicago now faces a Saints defense that was torched by  Maye for 261 passing yards and three touchdowns last Sunday. New Orleans also ranks 27th in defensive passing DVOA, has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, and the second-most touchdown passes this year.

This is a great spot to insert Williams into lineups. Managers should fire him up as a low-end QB1 who is live to post a top-5 finish.

Landmine of the Week

Jaxson Dart - QB, New York Giants at Denver Broncos

The Giants are coming off an impressive upset victory over the Philadelphia Eagles last week. Dart had another strong performance in that game. He threw for 195 passing yards, a passing touchdown, and ran for an additional 58 rushing yards and scored a rushing touchdown, too. Dart would finish the week as the overall QB3.

JAXSON DART DOES IT HIMSELF.

PHIvsNYG on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/Q3yGPJiZRQ

— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2025

The Giants are 2-1 in games started by the rookie so far this year. However, this weekend could be a difficult one for Dart.

The Denver Broncos boast one of the best defenses in the league. Denver ranks sixth in overall defensive DVOA and has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. The Broncos have also allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards to quarterbacks this year, so Dart could struggle to produce with his legs in this game.

That would be problematic, as a large part of Dart's fantasy appeal is his rushing upside.

This could be a major letdown game after the Giants' emotional primetime victory last week. Don't be shocked if the offense struggles to move the football here consistently, and Dart busts as a result.

Gamers in need of a quarterback should consider other options this week.

Other Week 7 Fantasy Football Busts

T.J. Hockenson - TE, Minnesota Vikings vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Hockenson has mainly been disappointing for the majority of the 2025 season. He only has a 19-153-1 line on the season and has just one top 12 PPR finish.

Things won't get any easier this weekend as the Vikings take on an Eagles defense that has been effective in limiting opposing tight ends. Philadelphia ranks first in DVOA against the position and allows an average of 3.5 receptions and 28 receiving yards per game to opposing tight ends. The Eagles have also allowed the third fewest PPR points per game to tight ends and have allowed opposing tight ends to score one touchdown against them.

This is just a bad matchup for Hockenson. He does not seem like a featured part of Minnesota's offense and hasn't been very good either. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere if they need a tight end.

Tetairoa McMillan - WR, Carolina Panthers at New York Jets

McMillan is fresh off a two-touchdown performance against the Dallas Cowboys last week.

Tet McMillan's first career TD!

DALvsCAR on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/NfZMzn8i5f

— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2025

However, he was only targeted five times in that game and did not eclipse 30 receiving yards. Now McMillan draws a date against a Jets defense that's allowed the seventh-fewest PPR points per game to opposing wide receivers. McMillan is also set to square off with Jets star cornerback Sauce Gardner, and that will be a difficult one for the rookie to overcome.

Carolina will likely continue to rely on its potent rushing attack that has helped the team secure two straight wins. That would also mean fewer targets for McMillan. He could post a real dud in this game, and fantasy managers should give strong consideration to leaving him on the bench.

Nick Chubb - RB, Houston Texans at Seattle Seahawks

Chubb scored a touchdown in his most recent game against the Baltimore Ravens two weeks ago. He also ran for a season-high 61 rushing yards and averaged 5.5 yards per carry. However, that was against an injury-plagued Baltimore defense.

This week, the Texans face a Seahawks defense that has been fantastic against opposing ground games. Seattle ranks sixth in PFF's rushing defense grade and allows just 79 rushing yards per game, which is second-best in the league.

Houston's patchwork offensive line could really struggle in this game, and that would mean little rushing room for Chubb. Gamers should pivot off Chubb this week in favor of other running backs.

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