Unless otherwise noted, references to 'fantasy points' are based on PPR scoring with 25/10 yards per point and 4/6 points for TDs. Start % comes from Yahoo, as of Wednesday night / Thursday morning.
Start/Upgrade 👍
Quarterbacks 👍
Caleb Williams (vs. NO) — 41% started
Start Over — Matthew Stafford (at JAX), Bo Nix (vs. NYG), Jordan Love (at ARZ)
You have to go back to Week 16 of last season to find the last time an opposing QB failed to throw multiple TD passes against the Saints. They've actually done a decent job defending the run this year, but with a 14:3 TD:INT and 7.61 YPA allowed to quarterbacks. Kyler Murray, Mac Jones and Drake Maye all had their best fantasy score of the season in matchups with New Orleans. Williams still misses too many throws for a No. 1 overall pick, but he can probably get away with some mistakes this Sunday and continue a productive fantasy campaign.
- Other Good Matchups: Caleb Williams (vs. NO), Aaron Rodgers (at CIN), Bryce Young (at NYJ)
Running Backs 👍
Rhamondre Stevenson (at TEN) — 36% started
Start Over — Tony Pollard (vs. NE), TreVeyon Henderson (vs. NE), Nick Chubb (at SEA)
Every backfield to face the Titans this season has topped 22 cumulative PPR points, including four weeks in a row with a single RB scoring 18.9 or more. That's a high bar for Stevenson, but not out of the question, after he took 71 percent of snaps against New Orleans in the first game after Antonio Gibson's season-ending injury. I don't think Stevenson is nearly good enough to keep getting chances amid a fumbling problem that's clearly very real and not just bad luck / variance, but that's what's happening for now, so he projects for double-digit carries against a Tennessee defense that's given up the fourth-most PPR points to running backs. TreVeyon Henderson is also a solid start this week, as his share of the carries/targets (44 percent) was much larger than his share of the snaps (29 percent) last week.
Isiah Pacheco (vs. LV) — 34% started
Start Over — Zach Charbonnet (vs. HOU), Chuba Hubbard (at NYJ), Kenneth Gainwell (at CIN)
It largely went unnoticed because his production remained mediocre, but Pacheco had season highs for snap share (77 percent), route share (76 percent) and carries (12) during Sunday's win over the Lions. Even if that's just a new ceiling and not the new norm, it's the first positive sign in a long time from a role/usage standpoint. Pacheco should get double-digit carries again this Sunday, playing at home as an 11.5-point favorite against the Raiders. Kareem Hunt remains the favorite for goal-line carries, but Pacheco may now be ahead for everything else.
- Other Good Matchups: Quinshon Judkins (vs. MIA), Jaylen Warren & Kenneth Gainwell (at CIN), Jacory Croskey-Merritt (at DAL), Rico Dowdle (at NYJ), TreVeyon Henderson (at TEN), Alvin Kamara & Kendre Miller (at CHI)
Wide Receivers 👍
- Rome Odunze (vs. NO) — 71% started
Start Over — Xavier Worthy (vs. LV), DeVonta Smith (at MIN), Stefon Diggs (at TEN)
Odunze came out of a Week 5 bye with just 5.2 PPR points in the dramatic win over Washington, after scoring more than 15 PPR points in each of his first four games. While he may not maintain the September dominance, Odunze still belongs in fantasy lineups, especially this coming Sunday with DJ Moore (hip) banged up and the Bears hosting the Saints. Only four defenses have allowed more yards per target (8.98) on passes to wide receivers.
Romeo Doubs (at ARZ) — 33% started
Start Over — Rashid Shaheed (at CHI), Travis Hunter (vs. LAR), Cooper Kupp (vs. HOU)
A guy like Doubs starts to look good when so many other WRs are injured. His volume spike over the past two games may be a meaningless blip in the long run, but he's a competent starter who will almost certainly be well above 80 percent route share against a mediocre Arizona defense. There was some thought that Doubs would have a lot of competition for playing time mid-season, but now the Packers may have Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) out of the lineup right when Christian Watson (knee) is gearing up to return. Either way, Doubs and Matthew Golden seemingly are showing enough to remain the top two guys for the foreseeable future.
- Other Good Matchups: DK Metcalf (at CIN), Rome Odunze (vs. NO), Jerry Jeudy & Isaiah Bond (vs. MIA); Terry McLaurin & Deebo Samuel (at DAL), Rashee Rice & Xavier Worthy (vs. LV), Elic Ayomanor (vs. NE)
Tight Ends 👍
Harold Fannin (vs. MIA) — 32% started
Start Over — T.J. Hockenson (vs. PHI), Kyle Pitts (at SF), Evan Engram (vs. NYG)
David Njoku's early departure this past Sunday helped Fannin finish with personal bests for targets (10), yards (81), snap share (81 percent) and route share (74 percent). With Njoku's knee now keeping him out of practice, Fannin could flirt with 90 percent snap share against a Miami defense that's been terrible in every regard, including giving up the sixth-most PPR points (15.9 per game) and fifth-most YPT (9.1) to tight ends. Fannin's 23 percent target rate is the highest among Cleveland's WRs and TEs, potentially making him the co-No. 1 option alongside a struggling Jerry Jeudy.
- Other Good Matchups: Zach Ertz (at DAL), Jonnu Smith (at CIN), Mason Taylor (vs. CAR), Cade Otton (at DET)
Sit/Downgrade 👎
Quarterbacks 👎
Jaxson Dart (at DEN) — 13% started
Start Instead — Justin Fields (vs. CAR), Caleb Williams (vs. NO)
Dart's unexpected combination of heavy rushing volume and respectable passing efficiency has him flirting with QB1 fantasy status just three games into his career. The early rushing value may actually hold up, at least for the most part, considering Dart ranks second among QBs in scrambles (14) and first in designed runs (11) since becoming a starter.
The concern this week is that he may disappoint for fantasy even if the rushing production stays on track. The Giants reportedly are shopping for a wide receiver, but they won't have help there by Sunday for a road matchup against one of the NFL's top defenses. Dart could take a big step back here even if the outlook remains rosy long term.
- Other Tough Matchups: Kyler Murray (vs. GB), Trevor Lawrence (vs. LAR), Matthew Stafford (vs. JAX), C.J. Stroud (at SEA), Joe Flacco (vs. PIT)
Running Backs 👎
Travis Etienne (vs. LAR) — 64% started
Start Instead — J.K. Dobbins (vs. NYG), D'Andre Swift (vs. NO), Jaylen Warren (at CIN)
Derrick Henry had a few nice runs this past Sunday, but the Rams haven't given up much else on the ground and still haven't allowed a rushing TD to a running back. Only two defenses have allowed fewer PPR points (17.2 per game) to the position, and only five have been stingier for YPC (3.71). Even receiving production has been tough to come by against the Rams, with opposing RBs averaging just 5.0 YPT and 30.8 receiving yards per game. Chris Shula's defense also ranks Top 10 in points allowed, total yardage, takeaways, yards per drive and a slew of other statistics, grading out as one of the better units in the league (and thus a tough fantasy matchup) by nearly any analysis.
Tony Pollard (vs. NE) — 57% started
Start Instead — Jordan Mason (vs. PHI), TreVeyon Henderson (at TEN), Kimani Vidal (vs. IND)
Unless the Titans suddenly become competent, Pollard's ability to grind out decent fantasy scores will depend on dominating his team's backfield workload. He did in Weeks 1-5, but Tyjae Spears had a larger role this past Sunday against the Raiders in his second game back from a high-ankle sprain. Even if that doesn't hold after a coaching change, Pollard will have to deal with a New England defense that's holding RBs to 3.13 YPC (2nd) and 17.9 PPR points per game (6th).
- Other Tough Matchups: De'Von Achane (at CLE), Ashton Jeanty (at KC), Cam Skattebo (at DEN), Kenneth Walker (vs. HOU), Nick Chubb (at SEA), Michael Carter & Bam Knight (vs. GB)
Wide Receivers 👎
Tee Higgins (vs. PIT) — 61% started
Start Instead — Chris Olave (at CHI), Keenan Allen (vs. IND), Michael Pittman (at LAC)
Joe Flacco's first start for the Bengals was promising for Higgins, who finished with 5-62-0 on eight targets in a loss at Green Bay. I don't doubt that Flacco is an upgrade on Jake Browning, but that doesn't mean we want to bet on Flacco putting up decent numbers against a tough defense again. After playing without Alex Highsmith and/or Nate Herbig throughout September, the Steelers came out of a Week 5 bye with their pass rush at full strength and sacked Dillon Gabriel six times. Flacco may have to deal with similar pressure, making it difficult to get the ball to Higgins downfield.
- Travis Hunter (vs. LAR) — 27% started
Start Instead — Wan'Dale Robinson (at DEN), Jordan Addison (vs. PHI), Kendrick Bourne (vs. ATL)
Jaguars coach Liam Coen talked Wednesday about trying to get Hunter the ball more, but I'm not counting on any change before a Week 8 bye. The rookie is already getting plenty of schemed touches, with growth from here seemingly depending on adding more downfield work. Hunter has the talent to do that, but we haven't seen it so far apart from the highlight-reel jump ball he came down with Week 5 against Kansas City.
- Other Tough Matchups: Brian Thomas (vs. LAR), A.J. Brown & DeVonta Smith (at MIN), Jordan Addison (vs. PHI), Wan'Dale Robinson & Lil'Jordan Humphrey (at DEN), Cooper Kupp (vs. HOU), Jakobi Meyers & Tre Tucker (at KC), Jauan Jennings (vs. ATL)
Tight Ends 👎
- Travis Kelce (vs. LV) — 84% started
Start Instead — Jake Ferguson (vs. WAS), Tucker Kraft (at ARZ), Hunter Henry (at TEN)
Kelce's per-target efficiency has rebounded in 2025 after cratering last year, while his volume has gone in the other direction (probably not a coincidence), dropping to 6.2 targets per game after eight straight seasons averaging 8.0 or more. His target rate is at a career-low 21.4 percent, down from 25.3 percent last year, and it could now sink even lower with Rashee Rice returning.
All of that is probably good news for the Chiefs, relying more on their WRs and less on a 36-year-old tight end, but it also means there's hidden risk that Kelce fails to maintain his consistent fantasy production from the first six weeks of the season. A double-digit spread adds to the volume concern this week, leaving Kelce as more of a low-end TE1 than a solid one.
- Other Tough Matchups: T.J. Hockenson (vs. PHI), Michael Mayer (at KC)
Streaming Picks
For Shallow Leagues (Under 50 Percent Rostered)
QB Sam Darnold (vs. HOU)
QB Jaxson Dart (at DEN)
RB Michael Carter (vs. GB)
RB Kenneth Gainwell (at CIN)
RB Kareem Hunt (vs. LV)
RB Tyler Allgeier (at SF)
RB Kendre Miller (at CHI)
WR Kendrick Bourne (vs. ATL)
WR Tre Tucker (at KC)
WR Kayshon Boutte (at TEN)
TE Harold Fannin (vs. MIA)
TE Mason Taylor (vs. CAR)
K Eddy Pineiro (vs. ATL)
D/ST Bears (vs. NO)
For Medium-depth Leagues (Under 30 Percent Rostered)
QB Aaron Rodgers (at CIN)
QB Bryce Young (at NYJ)
RB Bam Knight (vs. GB)
RB Jerome Ford (vs. MIA)
WR Elic Ayomanor (vs. NE)
WR Christian Kirk (at SEA)
WR Tez Johnson (at DET)
WR Sterling Shepard (at DET)
TE Cade Otton (at DET)
TE Dalton Schultz (at SEA)
TE AJ Barner (vs. HOU)
K Jason Myers (vs. HOU)
K Michael Badgley (at LAC)
D/ST Dolphins (at CLE)
D/ST Panthers (at NYJ)
For Deep Leagues (Under 10 Percent Rostered)
QB Spencer Rattler (at CHI)
QB Dillon Gabriel (vs. MIA)
RB Kyle Monangai (vs. NO)
RB Jeremy McNichols (at DAL)
WR Jordan Whittington (at JAX)
WR Isaiah Bond (vs. MIA)
WR Jack Bech (at KC)
TE Oronde Gadsden (vs. IND)
TE Michael Mayer (at KC)
K Ryan Fitzgerald (at NYJ)
K Will Reichard (vs. PHI)
D/ST Falcons (at SF)
