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RotoBaller staff's fantasy football sleepers, avoids, and start 'em sit 'em picks for Week 7 of 2025. Expert lineup advice from Adam Koffler, Rob Lorge, and Frank Ammirante.
It feels like we have never seen injuries ravage the fantasy football landscape as much as this season, but nevertheless, managers must continue to piece together starting lineups in hopes of winning a fantasy championship at year's end. Our experts are here to help with those Week 7 lineup calls.
It's time for the next edition of our RotoBaller staff start-or-sit calls. Three of the industry's best analysts are here to break down potential sleepers and busts ahead of the full slate of Week 7 NFL action.
These fantasy football sleepers, avoids, and busts are from top RotoBaller contributors Adam Koffler, Rob Lorge, and Frank Ammirante. Good luck in Week 7!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
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- Quarterback (QB) rankings
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- Defense (D/ST) rankings
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Week 7 Fantasy Football Start 'Em Picks
Harold Fannin Jr., Browns vs. Dolphins (Adam Koffler)
David Njoku has all but been ruled out for this game vs. the Dolphins. Weather reports in Cleveland don’t look great for Sunday, but that won’t affect Fannin as much as some other pass-catchers. Fannin has an average depth of target (aDoT) of just 6.4 yards, while Jerry Jeudy and Isaiah Bond have double-digit aDoTs. Fannin lines up in the slot, tight to the line, and in the backfield, which will make him a favorite short target of Dillon Gabriel’s in the rain and wind.
And he’s been really good at making guys miss, leading all tight ends with 15 tackles avoided this season. Without Njoku, the rookie TE sets up to be a top pass-catcher for the Browns on Sunday against a Dolphins defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.
Cade Otton, Buccaneers at Lions (Frank Ammirante)
Cade Otton is coming off a decent game against the 49ers, where he hauled in 5-of-6 targets for 51 yards. Otton has now quietly put up 50+ yards in consecutive games, combining for 132 yards during that span. Even with Mike Evans likely to return this week, this is still a depleted group of pass-catchers, putting Otton into a more prominent role within this passing game. With Baker Mayfield playing at an MVP level, Otton should have a good day here.
Kimani Vidal, Chargers vs. Colts (Adam Koffler)
Everyone wants to know if Vidal has real staying power as the Chargers’ top back. I know it was against the Dolphins, but he looked really good in Week 6. Vidal ranked eighth among running backs in expected fantasy points last week (19.9) and had a 76% RB opportunity share in the Charger backfield. The Colts aren’t the Dolphins, but they’re also not so elite that we should be avoiding a feature back on a top offense like LA’s. Justin Herbert said this week that Vidal is a complete back and has improved in pass protection. Oh, and LT Joe Alt could return. Start ‘em at home vs. Indy.
Luther Burden III, Bears vs. Saints (Rob Lorge)
Burden hasn't gotten many opportunities this season. He's played behind Rome Odunze, D.J. Moore, and Olamide Zaccheaus, but Moore was taken to the hospital after their Week 6 game. He did not practice on Wednesday, and it appears that he's in danger of potentially missing Week 7. Burden's value hinges on Moore being inactive. Burden has certainly shown plenty of potential with the snaps he's been given.
He has a 26.0% target rate, which is the highest among all Chicago receivers. He also leads all Chicago receivers with a 3.19 yards per route run average. Burden's 0.44 half-PPR per route average is second only to Odunze on the team. While we're working with extremely small samples with Burden, his talent has been evident on the field. If Moore is inactive this weekend, Burden has WR2 potential and should be seen as a WR3. The Saints have allowed the ninth-most points to opposing receivers this season at 28.3 PPG.
Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots at Titans (Frank Ammirante)
This game sets up as a positive game script with the Patriots as seven-point road favorites, which means more rushing volume for Rhamondre Stevenson. As the primary ballcarrier in the red zone for the Patriots, don't be surprised to see Stevenson find the end zone in this one. The Titans rank 30th in fantasy PPG allowed to opposing running backs. I see Stevenson racking up 80 total yards and a touchdown in this one.
Rico Dowdle, Panthers at Jets (Adam Koffler)
After two monster performances in which he totaled 473 scrimmage yards, Dowdle is definitely not a “sleeper” in the true sense of the word. But many are asking if they should start him with Chuba Hubbard likely back in the mix. My answer is a resounding yes.
Rico Sharod Dowdle pic.twitter.com/pQFBQGf6iv
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 12, 2025
I don’t think Dave Canales and company go away from Dowdle as their “starter” after doing what he did the last two games, putting this Panthers team on his back. Hubbard has also been one of the least effective runners in the NFL this season, and he’s coming off a multi-game absence. Teams are also running all over the Jets as they’re having a tough time scoring points this season. Start Dowdle again in another favorable matchup.
Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs vs. Raiders (Rob Lorge)
Pacheco has been a major disappointment this season. He has just one game scoring more than 7.5 half-PPR points. He's been held to fewer than 5.0 half-PPR points twice. Trusting Pacheo is not for the faint of heart, not given how he's played and been used this season. However, his role expanded in Week 6. From Weeks 1-5, Pacheco had just one game with a snap share above 60.0%. In Week 6, Pacheco's snap count was 76.6%. While Pacheco has served as the Chiefs' primary pass-catching back, it's been Kareem Hunt who has gotten the scoring opportunities.
In Week 6, Pacheco handled the three goal-line snaps for the Chiefs. With a matchup on tap against the Raiders, a game where the Chiefs are 12-point favorites, don't be surprised if Pacheco gets 15 carries and finds the end zone. His role is increasing. His utilization is improving with the goal-line touches. The schedule is also starting to weaken. The arrow for Pacheco is certainly pointing up. He was drafted as a backend RB2, and while he hasn't provided fantasy managers with that kind of value, don't be surprised if he's able to provide that over the second half of the season.
Fantasy managers should get Pacheco in their lineup this week. While he's often ranked as an RB3, he has top-12 upside in a game where the Chiefs should run away with it. If the coaching staff continues to lean into Pacheco, he could be a major Week 7 winner.
Jordan Addison, Vikings vs. Eagles (Frank Ammirante)
Jordan Addison has been rock-solid since returning from injury, scoring a touchdown in both of his games, including 100+ yards vs the Steelers in his first game back. Up next is a good spot against an injury-plagued Eagles secondary that just got picked apart by Jaxson Dart. We just saw Wan'Dale Robinson put up six catches for 84 yards and a touchdown against this defense. Bet on Addison putting up a strong game here.
David Montgomery, Lions vs. Buccaneers (Rob Lorge)
Everyone is infatuated with Jahmyr Gibbs and with good reason, but Montgomery seems to be forgotten about this year. Through six games, he's averaging 12.3 half-PPR PPG. He has games of 12.6, 28.9, and 17.7 points. He has just one game below 6.0 half-PPR points. He's averaging 12.3 touches per game, and it seems as though head coach Dan Campbell wants to see more of Montgomery. This is a "squeaky wheel gets the grease" kind of narrative. Even though Monty has not publicly voiced concerns over his touches, the head coach has, and that'll do the trick just as well.
David Montgomery rushed for a career-high 151 yards on only 12 carries, gaining +108 rushing yards over expected, +39 more than any other player has this season, per @NextGenStats 😤#OnePride pic.twitter.com/rsX5OoA3of
— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) September 23, 2025
With a high-scoring affair on tap against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, look for Monty to find his way into the end zone. This game has an over/under of 52.5, so fantasy managers should expect plenty of points to be scored. Tampa has allowed the 11th-most points to running backs this season. Fantasy managers should start Montgomery with confidence as a strong RB2 this week.
Week 7 Fantasy Football Avoids and Sits
Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Texans (Rob Lorge)
Walker has just two games with a snap share above 50% and one of those was in Week 3 when Zach Charbonnet was inactive. Walker played just 34.5% of the snaps in Week 6, his lowest of the season. That's just part of the problem for Walker. In the five games Walker and Charbonnet have both been active for, Charbonnet has seven carries inside the 5-yard line. Walker has just one. Charbonnet has 11 carries inside the 10-yard line, while Walker has just three. Charbonnet has handled 54.3% of the team's red zone carries. Walker stands at just 31.4%.
Walker is getting zero scoring opportunities. That's a major problem. Through six games, one of which Charbonnet was inactive, Walker has just nine targets. He's currently on pace for 26 targets. Walker has just one touchdown in the five games Charbonnet was active for, putting him on pace for just 3.4 touchdowns. Walker is getting virtually no high-value touches. He gets 10-13 carries per game, but none of them have high-scoring potential. Their Week 7 opponent has allowed the seventh-fewest points to running backs this season. He's an easy player to bench.
DJ Moore, Bears vs. Saints (Frank Ammirante)
I came into the season expecting a resurgence from DJ Moore, but that hasn't happened at all, as he's firmly behind Rome Odunze in the pecking order. In fact, don't be surprised if rookie Luther Burden overtakes Moore sooner rather than later. Currently dealing with a groin injury, I simply can't trust Moore, given what we've seen on the field. The former Panthers star has been held below 50 yards in four consecutive games. His season-high in targets is only six.
DeVonta Smith, Eagles at Vikings (Rob Lorge)
You could include A.J. Brown here, too. Fantasy managers simply cannot have any confidence in this passing game right now. Smith has the same number of games (two) with fewer than 5.0 half-PPR points as he does with more than 7.5. The Vikings, the Eagles' Week 7 opponent, have allowed the fewest points to receivers this season at just 15.1. Only two receivers this season have scored more than 7.5 half-PPR points against the Eagles this season.
Smith has just one game with more than 60 yards this season. He has just three games with more than five targets. The volume hasn't been there. The efficiency hasn't been there, and now, he faces the hardest matchup for receivers.
Keenan Allen, Chargers vs. Colts (Adam Koffler)
For the first time this season, Ladd McConkey had more targets in a game than Keenan Allen last week. Allen’s also been below a 70% route participation rate in each of his last two games. This has coincided with rookie TE Oronde Gadsden’s growing role in the offense. Gadsden saw a 77% route participation rate last week and earned a season-high eight targets. With Ladd and Oronde rising, as well as speedster Quentin Johnston returning to the lineup in Week 7, there aren’t enough targets to go around for Allen, whose role appears to be shrinking by the week. Sit ‘em
T.J. Hockenson, Vikings vs. Eagles (Rob Lorge)
J.J. McCarthy is not 100% healthy, and it's unknown if he'll play this weekend. If not, we'll get another week of Carson Wentz. He's averaging just 6.2 half-PPR PPG. In four out of five games, he's been held to fewer than 7.0 half-PPR points. That's despite Jordan Addison being suspended for the first three games of the season.
The Eagles are allowing the third-fewest points to tight ends, just 5.6 half-PPR PPG. Most fantasy managers drafted Hockenson as their TE1, but if you're able to find another option, I'd recommend doing so. Hockenson has been a major disappointment and now faces one of the worst matchups for tight ends.
Kayshon Boutte, Patriots at Titans (Adam Koffler)
Don’t go chasing points with Boutte again. It didn’t work out after Week 1, and it won’t work out after Week 6. In fact, Boutte is averaging just 6.6 fantasy points in three games immediately following double-digit performances. The Patriots are touchdown favorites on the road vs. a Titans defense that has been gashed on the ground this season. Stefon Diggs is still the alpha in this receiver room, and we should expect a heavy dose of Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson with the Patriots likely playing with the lead on Sunday.
Michael Mayer, Raiders at Chiefs (Frank Ammirante)
Michael Mayer filled in admirably for Brock Bowers last week, catching 5-of-7 targets for 50 yards and a touchdown. However, this is a much more challenging spot against the Chiefs, who currently are tied for 4th in fantasy points per game allowed to tight ends. While some may find some streamer appeal in Mayer, given last week's results, I suggest steering clear of the Raiders tight end in this one. Don't be surprised to see a run-heavy approach against the Chiefs.
Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins at Browns (Adam Koffler)
The weather forecast in Cleveland on Sunday doesn’t look promising. Steady rain with wind gusts up to 45 miles per hour throughout the game. That doesn’t lend itself well to pushing the ball down the field. Waddle is playing mostly outside and has a higher aDoT this season than he has had the last two seasons. If he’s going to catch passes, they’ll likely be short ones. This feels like one of those games that will be won in the trenches, which favors a guy like De’Von Achane over Waddle. Sit ‘em.
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