Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold had a rough showing in the Week 5 win over the New York Jets. However, the signal-caller has played better than expected in 2024-25, throwing for 1,111 yards, 11 touchdowns, and four interceptions. With Minnesota off in Week 6, the team will return, hoping to remain atop the NFC North by earning a victory over the Lions in Week 7. The Detroit defense has been reliable this season. Unfortunately, the Lions lost Aidan Hutchinson (leg) for the foreseeable future. While Darnold was already worth a start in any fantasy format, his ceiling is now higher without Hutchinson in the equation.

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver George Pickens has been very disappointing for fantasy over the past two weeks and will look to turn things around against the New York Jets in Week 7. Unfortunately for Pickens, the Jets give up the fourth-fewest fantasy points per contest to opposing wideouts. There is a strong possibility, however, that Pickens sees an uptick in downfield opportunities if Pittsburgh indeed gives Russell Wilson the start at quarterback on Sunday night. While the Steelers' QB1 is yet to be officially announced, Pickens mentioned on Friday that he has been catching extra passes from Wilson after practice in preparation for "his first start". Pickens earned more than seven targets per game with Justin Fields under center but the pair did not combine for any touchdowns through the first six weeks of the campaign. Fantasy managers can adjust their expectations slightly based on which quarterback gets the nod, but Pickens should be viewed as a risky WR3 regardless in this matchup.

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Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby has the potential for a big day in relief of Travis Etienne Jr. in Week 7 against the New England Patriots. The starting veteran back out of Clemson is questionable with a hamstring injury, and there is a decent chance he will miss out this week based on reports. Even if Etienne Jr. does play, Bigsby is a fine start as a flex play for Sunday morning in London, as he has been great in fantasy so far despite limited touches. If Etienne Jr. misses the game, Bigsby should get most of the work and be a high-upside RB2 in a great matchup. D'Ernest Johnson should also compete for touches, but when healthy, Bigsby has certainly earned the opportunity to shine no matter who is available in Week 7.

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Najee Harris was outstanding in Week 6 and will look to carry some positive momentum into a Sunday night showdown with the New York Jets. Harris missed practice on Wednesday due to a rib injury but will not carry a designation into the weekend after participating in full on Thursday and Friday. Although the Jets have been solid against fantasy running backs this season, Bills rookie Ray Davis found success against them last week with 152 total yards. The Steelers are yet to officially announce their starting quarterback but Harris figures to get plenty of opportunities regardless. If Russell Wilson gets the nod, however, Harris could see additional carries near the goal line that he previously ceded to Justin Fields. For the time being, fantasy managers should continue to view Harris as a volume-based RB2 with a solid floor in most contests.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has a tough test on tap as the 5-0 Kansas City Chiefs roll into Santa Clara on Sunday. Last week in Seattle, Purdy was on point, completing 18 of 28 attempts for 255 yards and three touchdowns en route to a win. He also rushed for 19 yards on four carries. Despite Kansas City's perfect record, their pass defense has been just okay, tied for 14th-toughest against fantasy quarterbacks in Yahoo default settings. Purdy will have a full complement of weapons -- besides Christian McCaffrey (Achilles/calf) and third receiver Jauan Jennings (hip). First-round pick Ricky Pearsall will make his NFL debut filling in for Jennings after the former suffered a gunshot wound in the preseason. Purdy is tied with Kyler Murray for the overall QB11 slot in fantasy PPG. Start him as a low/mid QB1 in the Super Bowl LVIII rematch, where he'll look to lift the 49ers above .500 for the first time in over a month.

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Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence will look to continue his positive momentum against the New England Patriots in Week 7. The Jaguars will play in London for the second consecutive week and are looking to bounce back from their beatdown from the Chicago Bears in Week 6. The Patriots defense has been much worse than Chicago's this season, meaning Lawrence can easily improve on last week's 234 yards and two touchdowns on 23 completions. The former top pick doesn't have a ton of upside but makes for a decent streaming option this week. He seems like at least a solid QB2 and based on the matchup, a potential low-end QB1. With all his receiving weapons finally healthy, Lawrence has a good chance to continue his solid play from a fantasy perspective in Week 7.

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren managed just 18 total yards on nine touches last week and will hope to make more of an impact against the New York Jets in Week 7. However, he may struggle to do so as the Jets have surrendered the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing running backs in 2024. It is still yet to be confirmed who the Steelers are starting at quarterback between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields, making their entire offense a bit difficult to evaluate. Nonetheless, Najee Harris (ribs) practiced in full on Thursday and Friday and is expected to lead Pittsburgh's backfield on Sunday night. Fantasy managers should pay attention to Warren's utilization as the season progresses, but the 25-year-old can't be considered anything more than a desperation flex play in deeper leagues this week.

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Philadelphia Eagles left tackle Jordan Mailata (hamstring) was placed on the Injured Reserve list on Friday. He will be sidelined for at least four games. The 27-year-old injured his hamstring in Sunday's win over the Browns. While head coach Nick Sirianni initially indicated Mailata would miss only a few weeks, that is no longer the case. Of course, his absence isn't good news for the offense, especially if the team hopes to keep opposing defenses from getting to Jalen Hurts. In the meantime, Fred Johnson is expected to fill the void.

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Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley has struggled of late, with the 29-year-old catching just two of his 14 targets in the last three games. With Will Levis (shoulder) having issues connecting with Ridley on deep routes, offensive coordinator Nick Holz suggested a different strategy to how he'll be used moving ahead. "Maybe some shorter routes for him," said Holz in an interview. "Screens. I think we need to do a couple more of those." It remains to be seen how impactful this new approach will be. However, it appears the coaching staff is at least cognisant of Ridley's frustrations, so he may be more involved in Week 7 against the Bills.

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New York Giants Defense will face a tough test in Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles, who bring the 10th-ranked offense, averaging 366.8 yards per game. The Giants defense, ranked 10th overall and allowing just 20.2 points per game, has been stout in key areas, particularly in the red zone, where they've allowed touchdowns on only 41.7% of visits (5th best in the NFL). With 26 sacks on the season, the Giants will look to pressure Eagles QB Jalen Hurts and limit their scoring opportunities. However, the return of former Giant Saquon Barkley, who's averaging 96.4 rushing yards per game, could challenge the Giants' 15th-ranked run defense, making it critical to contain him to keep the game close.

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New York Giants kicker Greg Joseph will look to rebound in Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles after a disappointing Week 6 where he missed both of his field goal attempts, potentially costing the Giants a chance to stay competitive in their 17-7 loss to the Bengals. Joseph has struggled with consistency this season, hitting just 72.7% of his field goals and missing three from the 40-49 yard range. For Joseph to make a fantasy impact, he'll need to capitalize on every opportunity moving forward as starter Graham Gano may be returning soon from injury.

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According to New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen, quarterback Derek Carr (oblique) will resume throwing on Saturday. However, it's unknown when he'll return to practice. "I'm not sure," said Allen when asked about Carr's potential availability for the Week 8 matchup with the Chargers. Yet, the coach was more optimistic about Week 9, stating "it's very likely" the signal-caller would be back on the field versus the Carolina Panthers. Carr was decent in his five appearances this season, tossing for 989 yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions while completing 70.3% of his attempts. Unfortunately, the Saints offense has been banged up, so it's unclear who he'll have catching the ball upon his return. In the meantime, Spencer Rattler (hip) remains in line to start, although the rookie has struggled. But if he goes on the shelf, the team could turn to Taysom Hill (ribs), assuming he gets healthy, or Jake Haener, the third-string quarterback. With that in mind, nobody under center in New Orleans should be classified as a reliable fantasy option until the team shows consistency on the offensive end moving forward.

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New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson will look to make an impact in Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles after recording 30 yards on three catches in Week 6 against the Bengals. Johnson has struggled to find consistent fantasy relevance this season, with 11 receptions for 115 yards and no touchdowns, averaging just 2.83 fantasy points per game. He faces a tough matchup against an Eagles defense that ranks 2nd against tight ends, allowing just 6.24 points per game. While the Eagles pass defense is vulnerable overall, ranking 20th in yards allowed, Johnson will need to capitalize on limited opportunities, as Philadelphia has only given up seven passing touchdowns all season.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins missed the first two games of the 2024-25 campaign. He returned for the Week 3 matchup with the Commanders, although he had just three catches. Since then, the wideout has received routine attention from Joe Burrow, amassing at least six receptions in each of his last three games. He also found the end zone twice in the Week 5 loss to the Ravens. With the Browns on tap for Week 7, Higgins and company will look to pick up their second consecutive win. While Higgins hasn't played the greatest versus Cleveland over the years, the Browns defense has struggled against opposing receivers this season, making him a must-start in any fantasy setup.

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Cincinnati Bengals running back Zack Moss entered the Week 6 meeting with the New York Giants battling an ankle injury. As a result, the 26-year-old had only six carries for 13 yards. He also played fewer snaps than Chase Brown for the first time this season. While it appears Brown is now Cincinnati's lead rusher out of the backfield, Moss remains at least a flex option for the Week 7 AFC North clash with the Cleveland Browns. However, if he doesn't turn it around on Sunday, fantasy managers may have to reconsider his spot in the starting lineup moving ahead.

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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase had a slow start to the 2024-25 campaign. However, he found the end zone five times in the three games leading up to the Week 6 victory over the Giants. Although the wideout had only five catches for 72 yards in that one, things could have been worse. He will look to get on track versus Cleveland on Sunday. Unfortunately for fantasy managers, Chase has struggled against the Browns throughout his career, amassing 27 grabs for 252 yards and a touchdown (five games). Still, he's one of the best receivers in the National Football League, so he must be featured in all fantasy lineups in Week 7.

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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones will look to bounce back in Week 7 against the Philadelphia Eagles after a tough Week 6 outing where he managed just 205 yards, no touchdowns, and an interception against the Bengals. Jones has struggled this season, with only six passing touchdowns and a 62.1% completion rate. However, Malik Nabers' return should spark the Giants' offense. The Eagles' defense is vulnerable against the pass, ranking 21st and allowing 218.4 yards per game, but they've given up just seven passing touchdowns. Jones must elevate his play, as the Eagles allow 15.86 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, slightly below his season average of 16.59 FPPG.

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Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown had a rough start to the 2024-25 campaign. However, the 24-year-old has turned up the volume of late, finding the end zone at least once in each of his last three games. He also logged more snaps than Zack Moss for the first time this season in the Week 6 win over the New York Giants. Granted, Moss was likely more banged up than Brown entering that contest, which could explain the shift in opportunities out of the backfield. Still, even if Moss gets more touches in Week 7 against Cleveland, Brown is still a flex option, at the very least.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has been a top fantasy signal-caller this season. Unfortunately, his success hasn't resulted in a winning record for Cincinnati. But with the Bengals picking up their second win of the 2024-25 campaign by beating the Giants in Week 6, Burrow will look to lead his squad to another victory over the Browns. The 2020 No. 1 overall pick hasn't played the best against Cleveland throughout his career, throwing 1,557 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions in six meetings versus the Browns. He also completed just 63.6% of his attempts. However, with Burrow's production this season, there's no way fantasy managers can justify keeping him out of their lineups in Week 7. Keep him starting.

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Los Angeles Chargers wide receivers Ladd McConkey (hip) and D.J. Chark (groin) were both limited practice participants for the second time this week on Friday. With wideout Quentin Johnston (ankle) and tight end Hayden Hurst (groin) both listed as DNP, Los Angeles will hope to have at least one of Chark Jr. and McConkey ready for their Monday Night Football matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The former returned to practice this week for the first time since being designated for injured reserve before the season opener and looks to taste his first action of 2024. The latter briefly exited the team's Week 6 win over the Denver Broncos with a head injury, but the hip ailment is new and must be monitored. Wide receiver Simi Fehoko returned to full practice and would be in line for an uptick in snaps if Chark Jr., McConkey, and Johnston cannot play. Also, Brenden Rice and Derius Davis would work behind Joshua Palmer in the matchup.

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