- Starts of the Week — not sit-your-studs: This list highlights players poised to exceed expectations, with a confidence tag at the end of each outlook. Use it to make tough lineup decisions — not to bench your stars.
- Drake Maye is a strong Week 7 start: Maye is averaging 21.0 fantasy points per game (QB6) with elite efficiency and a 99.9 PFF grade on deep throws. Facing a weak Titans secondary that struggles to pressure quarterbacks, Maye has clear QB1 upside this week.
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Quarterbacks
Start Drake Maye with confidence in Week 7. The second-year signal-caller has officially broken out, averaging 21.0 fantasy points per game (QB6) with a 10:2 TD-to-INT ratio and the fifth-best PFF passing grade (83.7). He’s been elite on deep throws, earning a 99.9 grade on passes thrown 20-plus yards downfield, with eight big-time throws and no turnover-worthy plays.
Now, he faces a struggling Titans secondary that generates little pressure and will have to contend with Stefon Diggs in a favorable matchup against Roger McCreary. All signs point to another strong fantasy outing for Maye.
Confidence Rating: High-end QB1
Week 7 sets up as a picture-perfect matchup for Jordan Love. He’ll face a Cardinals defense that ranks 28th in pass-rush win rate (38.9%) and has yet to generate 100 total pressures on the season. Love has been lights out from a clean pocket, posting a 92.5 PFF grade, 83.7% completion rate, four big-time throws to just one turnover-worthy play and a 121.4 passer rating. With Packers receivers drawing the seventh-easiest matchup of the week (per PFF’s Strength of Schedule), Love is well-positioned to deliver QB1 production.
Confidence Rating: Low-end QB1
Dak Prescott enters Week 7 as the QB3 on the season, averaging 21.1 fantasy points per game — and this could be his best outing yet. Washington ranks as the seventh-easiest matchup for fantasy quarterbacks (per PFF SOS) and owns the league’s worst coverage grade at 42.1. With CeeDee Lamb back in the lineup, Prescott regains his top target against a vulnerable secondary, setting up a prime bounce-back spot for Dallas’ passing attack.
Confidence Rating: Top-five upside
Wide receivers
Since Tyreek Hill’s injury, Jaylen Waddle has stepped up as Miami’s clear No. 1 receiver, commanding a 33.3% adjusted target share and ranking as the WR5 in fantasy over that span. He’s also earned the eighth-highest PFF grade among wideouts over the past two weeks. Now facing a Browns defense that’s allowed 21.3 PPR points per game to opposing WR1s over the last three weeks, Waddle is set up for another strong outing.
Confidence Rating: Borderline WR1
Bounce-back week incoming for Stefon Diggs. He’s been one of the league’s most efficient wideouts, ranking sixth in PFF receiving grade (82.3) and third in yards per route run (2.69), with just one drop all season. This week, he draws a prime matchup against Titans slot corner Roger McCreary, who has allowed an 83.3% catch rate and a team-high 19 open targets. With Diggs lining up in the slot on 41.6% of his snaps — right where McCreary operates — he’s positioned for a big day against a Tennessee secondary that has surrendered nearly 1,000 receiving yards to wide receivers and is allowing a 50% catch rate on contested targets.
Confidence Rating: High-end WR2
Rashee Rice is back — and he’s in a smash spot right out of the gate. He draws the fourth-easiest WR matchup of the week against a vulnerable Raiders secondary and steps into a Chiefs offense led by an MVP-caliber Patrick Mahomes. Kansas City has been eager to get Rice back on the field, and after averaging 21.6 PPR points per game over his final three contests last season, there’s no reason to wait. Start him with confidence.
Confidence Rating: High-End WR2, with WR1 upside in his first game
Running back
Browns rookie Quinshon Judkins has quietly impressed this season, ranking sixth among all running backs in yards after contact (325) and logging seven runs of 10-plus yards — second-most among rookies. He now gets a dream matchup against a Dolphins defense that gives up 168 rushing yards per game and is fresh off allowing an RB9 finish to Kimani Vidal. With superior talent and a growing role, Judkins is primed for a breakout performance with legitimate top-10 upside this week.
Confidence Rating: RB1, with top-10 potential
Vidal has clearly taken control of the Chargers’ backfield, leading the team with a 48.8% touch rate in Week 6 — 13.8% higher than any other Charger. He now faces a Colts defense that ranks as the 10th-easiest matchup for running backs this week and has allowed the eighth-most rushing yards before contact. With strong volume and a favorable matchup, Vidal is a high-upside play in Week 7.
Confidence Rating: RB2, high-end flex
Dallas ranks dead last in PFF’s rush defense grade (36.1) and just gave up 216 rushing yards to Carolina. Croskey-Merritt, the fifth-highest graded rusher this season (79.7), now draws the easiest RB matchup of the week per PFF’s strength of schedule. All signs point to a strong bounce-back performance in Week 7.
Confidence Rating: High-end RB2
