October 17, 2025
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver
Puka Nacua (ankle) has been ruled out for his team's Week 7 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars due to an ankle injury. However, head coach Sean McVay said he is "very optimistic about hopefully having (Nacua) back" following the Rams' Week 8 bye. Los Angeles will host the New Orleans Saints in Week 9. Nacua has been dominant through the first six weeks of the season, recording 54 catches for 616 yards and two touchdowns on 65 targets. In his absence against Jacksonville, the Rams will likely rely on
Davante Adams,
Jordan Whittington, and
Tutu Atwell (hamstring) to fill the void at wide receiver. Once Nacua returns, he should once again provide must-start fantasy production.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
October 17, 2025
Chicago Bears wide receiver
DJ Moore (hip, groin) practiced in full on Friday and will not carry an injury designation into the team's Week 7 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, per Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network. Moore has not missed a game since the 2020 season, so his impressive ironman streak will continue. The 28-year-old has recorded 19 catches for 215 yards and one touchdown on 26 targets through five games in 2025. Moore has yet to record more than five catches or 68 receiving yards in a game so far this season. He profiles as a low-end WR3/flex option for fantasy managers in Week 7 against New Orleans
--Will BradySource: Marquee Sports Network - Scott Bair
October 17, 2025
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson said he is "hopeful" that running back
D'Andre Swift (groin) will be healthy enough to play in the team's Week 7 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, per Chris Emma of 670 The Score. Swift has been limited in practice this week due to a groin injury and is officially listed as questionable for Sunday. The 26-year-old has mostly dominated backfield snaps in Chicago this season, recording 447 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns on 85 total touches through five games. If Swift were unable to play, rookie running back
Kyle Monangai would likely step into a workhorse role with third-year back
Roschon Johnson possibly mixing in as well. Should Swift be able to give it a go, he profiles as a solid fantasy RB2 in Week 7 against New Orleans.
--Will BradySource: 670 The Score - Chris Emma
October 17, 2025
Through six weeks, Cleveland Browns wide receiver
Jerry Jeudy has yet to top five receptions while averaging only 40 yards per game, and it's been even worse in his two starts with rookie quarterback
Dillon Gabriel. Since Gabriel took over in Week 5, Jeudy has averaged 3.5 receptions and 29 yards per game. With an offensive line struggling in pass protection, the Browns have shifted to a short passing attack that does not play to Jeudy's strengths. Coupled with a week of limited practice participation, Jeudy can be left on the bench by fantasy managers when the Browns take on the Dolphins in Week 7. Even with a heavy slate of byes scheduled for Week 8, Jeudy is approaching cut candidacy in a limited Cleveland offense.
--Patrick McGrathSource: RotoBaller
October 17, 2025
When the Tennessee Titans welcome former coach Mike Vrabel and his New England Patriots back to Nashville on Sunday, they will be without top wide receiver
Calvin Ridley (hamstring). Ridley has dealt with knee and elbow injuries over the past two weeks, but it is the hamstring injury sustained in the team's Week 6 loss to the Raiders that held him out of practice this week, and he has now been ruled out. In a week with headlines already swirling around Vrabel's return, the Titans fired head coach Brian Callahan after less than a season and a half at the helm and could have used a steadying presence on offense. While rookie
Elic Ayomanor should see an increase in target share with Ridley sidelined, it's hard to trust any Titans pass catchers. However, for fantasy managers in a pinch, Chigoziem Okonkwo, coming off a six-catch game, could be a sneaky start against a Patriots defense that has struggled to defend tight ends.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Jim Wyatt
October 17, 2025
Washington Commanders wide receiver
Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) was spotted at practice on Friday for the first time this week as he deals with the heel bruise that has limited his practice participation for weeks. Samuel has yet to miss a game this year, but when asked about his status for Sunday, he noted that the heel is "aggravating for sure" and "we'll just have to see." With his practice patterns not dissimilar from those of previous weeks, it would be a surprise if he is unable to go on Sunday, but fantasy managers should have a pivot lined up just in case. Teammate
Terry McLaurin has already been ruled out for a fourth straight game, and in the three previous games without him on the field, Samuel has caught 18 of his 22 targets for 183 yards and two touchdowns.
--Patrick McGrathSource: John Keim
October 17, 2025
New England Patriots wide receiver
Stefon Diggs (chest) will be questionable for Sunday's Week 7 matchup with the Titans. Diggs was able to manage a week of limited practices, but his status should be monitored leading up to Sunday's early game inactive reports. Diggs followed up back-to-back 100+ yard performances with a disappointing three catches for 28 yards against the Saints in Week 6. Still, his growing chemistry with
Drake Maye has been evident as he continues to put distance between himself and the ACL injury that ended his 2024 season. If active, Diggs is a strong flex option against a Titans defense that has been middle of the pack against wide receivers.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Evan Lazar
October 17, 2025
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver
Josh Downs (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chargers. Downs popped up on the team's Wednesday injury report with a concussion and has not practiced since entering the league's concussion protocol. Downs is coming off his best game of the year after catching six passes for 42 yards and a score against the Cardinals. While they play different roles in the offense, Downs' absence could create more target opportunities for
Michael Pittman Jr. and
Alec Pierce. Meanwhile,
Adonai Mitchell could see a return to action after the team limited his snaps in Week 5 and made him a healthy inactive for Week 6 following his Week 4 fumble on what should have been a highlight touchdown grab.
--Patrick McGrathSource: Adam Schefter
October 17, 2025
Cleveland Browns tight end
David Njoku (knee) has officially been ruled out for the Week 7 tilt this Sunday against the visiting Miami Dolphins, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Njoku will not be able to suit up this weekend after injuring his knee in last week's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and missing practice all week. With the 29-year-old sidelined, rookie
Harold Fannin Jr. will have clear TE1 upside in fantasy lineups in a plus matchup against Miami's soft defense.
Blake Whiteheart should also see a bigger role in a backup role on Sunday. It's unclear if Njoku will be in play to make his return next weekend in Week 8 versus the New England Patriots. Njoku's fantasy ceiling has been lowered in 2025 due to the quick emergence of Fannin, as he has only 23 catches for 223 yards and one touchdown on 36 targets through his first six games.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Zac Jackson
October 17, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders running back
Ashton Jeanty is expected to handle a heavy workload in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs. With the Chiefs' offense catching fire in recent weeks, the Raiders will likely try to control the tempo by leaning on Jeanty and the ground game. The rookie has thrived in outside zone concepts, an area where Kansas City's defense has struggled, setting him up for a potentially productive day. The Chiefs rank 19th in rushing yards allowed per game (119.2), creating an ideal matchup for Jeanty to exploit. Expect the Raiders to establish the run early and often, keeping
Patrick Mahomes off the field while feeding their emerging backfield workhorse. Jeanty profiles as a strong RB2 play in fantasy lineups and could deliver one of his best performances of the season on Sunday.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Raiders.com
October 17, 2025
Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Friday that the coaching staff has determined who will start at running back on Sunday in Week 7 against the New York Jets and get most of the reps between
Rico Dowdle and
Chuba Hubbard, according to David Newton of ESPN. The Panthers are trying to keep a competitive advantage, so they are keeping things close to the vest as far as their backfield plans. Hubbard missed the last two games with a calf injury and was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before upgrading to a full practice on Friday, so that could indicate that Dowdle will see the majority of backfield touches this weekend. That would make sense, especially since Dowdle went for 400-plus scrimmage yards and two scores on 60 total touches the last two weeks with Hubbard out. Fantasy managers should keep Dowdle in their starting lineups, while Hubbard will be more of an RB3/flex in his return.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - David Newton
October 17, 2025
Carolina Panthers wide receiver
Jalen Coker (quadriceps), who is officially listed as questionable to make his 2025 season debut on Sunday versus the New York Jets, "will definitely play," according to head coach Dave Canales. Coker began the season on Injured Reserve due to a serious quad injury that he suffered in late August, but he had his 21-day practice window opened last Wednesday, and he's been practicing in full ever since. It's a notable development for the Panthers' offense in a good matchup on the road this weekend, but as usual, fantasy managers should be skeptical of throwing Coker straight into starting lineups this weekend. Coker could be eased into Carolina's offense, but eventually, he has the potential to be the team's WR2 behind rookie first-rounder
Tetairoa McMillan. The 23-year-old had a 32-478-2 line in 11 games (four starts) as a rookie. Add him off the waiver wire if you need help at WR.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Joe Person
October 17, 2025
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback
Geno Smith continues to disappoint fantasy managers as his turnover issues and poor efficiency have tanked his value across all formats. Smith has thrown at least one interception in all but one game this season and now faces a Kansas City Chiefs defense ranked among the top 10 against the pass. The veteran has failed to reach even modest fantasy production in recent weeks, with the Raiders' offensive inconsistency and reliance on the run game further limiting his upside. With few signs of improvement and a brutal matchup on deck, Smith projects as one of the lowest-scoring quarterbacks in Week 7. Fantasy managers can safely move on from the veteran, as his production doesn't justify a roster spot in any redraft or dynasty league formats.
--Shaun AlbinSource: Raiders.com
October 17, 2025
Arizona Cardinals running back
Emari Demercado (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 7 this Sunday against the visiting Green Bay Packers, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. Demercado suffered an ankle injury in last week's loss to the Indianapolis Colts and was unable to practice all week. The 26-year-old will now have next week's bye to heal up before potentially returning for a Week 9 contest versus the Dallas Cowboys. Demercado was a popular waiver-wire addition when
Trey Benson (knee) suffered a knee injury in Week 4, but it was
Michael Carter, not Demercado, who took over the majority of backfield work for the Cardinals. Arizona then went to
Bam Knight as their primary backfield option in Week 6, with Carter taking on most of the pass-catching duties. Expect that to continue against Green Bay, with
D'Ernest Johnson or
Jermar Jefferson serving in the RB3 role with Demercado out.
--Keith HernandezSource: Arizona Sports - Tyler Drake
October 17, 2025
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Friday that quarterback
Kyler Murray's (foot) status for the Week 7 contest on Sunday against the visiting Green Bay Packers will be evaluated in the next 48 hours, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Murray suffered a mid-foot sprain in the Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans and sat out of last week's loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The 28-year-old was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, so he will likely need to practice in full on Friday to avoid a questionable tag going into the weekend. Murray is truly up in the air, but with Arizona's bye coming in Week 8, it feels as though they are going to err on the side of caution and keep him out for a second straight week, especially after veteran backup
Jacoby Brissett played surprisingly well last Sunday. If Murray doesn't play this Sunday, his next chance to suit up would be on Nov. 3 against the Dallas Cowboys.
--Keith HernandezSource: AZCardinals.com - Darren Urban
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