Fantasy Football News

Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson (knee) is active for Sunday's Week 7 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, but his immediate fantasy appeal is limited to bench-stash duty in deeper PPR leagues, where his receiving ability helps. Sampson returns after missing five consecutive games with a knee injury suffered in Cleveland's season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The second-year back was activated from injured reserve Saturday after practicing in full Friday. He caught 33 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie in 2025, giving him a potential passing-game role behind Quinshon Judkins (ankle), who is also available after missing Week 6. With Judkins remaining Cleveland's lead back, that role stays secondary.

Minnesota Vikings running back Jordan Mason (thumb) is active for Sunday's Week 7 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, and he carries RB3/flex appeal, particularly if Minnesota restores his early-down and goal-line opportunities. He returns to a backfield that has leaned heavily on Aaron Jones Sr. since Mason's Week 1 thumb injury. Before undergoing surgery, Mason led Minnesota with 15 carries for 59 yards and a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers, while Jones recorded 12 carries for 40 yards and a score. Jones handled 85 rushing attempts over four games in Mason's absence. The 27-year-old practiced in full throughout Week 7 before being activated from injured reserve Saturday. Indianapolis has surrendered 4.8 yards per carry through six games, providing an appealing matchup for his return.

Houston Texans wide receiver Tank Dell (knee) is active for Sunday's Week 7 matchup against the New York Giants, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, but he's a deeper-league stash, not a safe starter. Dell will make his first regular-season appearance since December 21, 2024, when he suffered a serious knee injury against the Kansas City Chiefs. Houston activated the 26-year-old on Saturday and removed his questionable designation after he practiced in full throughout Week 7. Head coach DeMeco Ryans has tempered expectations for Dell's return, and the Texans already have considerable competition for targets with Nico Collins, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Jaylin Noel. Given his lengthy absence and uncertain initial workload, Dell is a risky Week 7 starter.

New York Jets running back Breece Hall (quad) will not play in Sunday's Week 7 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, which makes Braelon Allen a strong RB2 option for Week 7. Hall was questionable after two limited practices heading into the game but will miss his fourth consecutive game since suffering the injury in Week 3. Allen has handled at least 86% of New York's offensive snaps during each of Hall's three-game absences, recording 44 touches, 220 scrimmage yards, and one touchdown over the past two contests. Isaiah Davis has served as his primary backup, and the Jets should continue leaning heavily on Allen against Miami.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (right thumb) profiles as a Week 7 QB2 whose greatest fantasy appeal comes in Superflex and deeper leagues, and he will wear a custom protective glove for Sunday's matchup against the Carolina Panthers. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport shared a photo of the custom equipment ahead of kickoff. Developed with assistance from the Tampa Bay Rays, the glove features reinforcement behind Mayfield's dislocated thumb to prevent it from bending backward. Mayfield acknowledged that wearing the glove requires adjustments to his grip and release point but said he feels comfortable throwing with the glove on. The veteran practiced in full throughout Week 7, and head coach Todd Bowles expects him to start after a three-game absence despite his questionable designation. Mayfield threw for 615 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in his first three starts, and he will return without wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (concussion/foot).

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen is a strong RB2 start in 12-team leagues against the Miami Dolphins in Week 7 if Breece Hall (quadriceps) is officially ruled out, which looks likely. Hall is reportedly unlikely to play Sunday, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport indicated he could test the injury before kickoff, although a fourth consecutive absence appears likely. Allen has dominated the backfield during Hall's absence, playing 30 of 32 offensive snaps in Week 4, 60 of 70 in Week 5, and 54 of 62 in Week 6. He has rushed for 253 yards and a touchdown on 55 carries across those three starts, adding five receptions for 34 yards. Miami presents a favorable matchup for a running back receiving that level of opportunity, while a Hall return would significantly reduce Allen's projected workload.

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs will make his season debut against the Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon in Week 7. The veteran ball-carrier spent the first six weeks of the season on the commissioner's exempt list. Jacobs will be the starter on Sunday and is expected to handle a "normal allotment of reps," according to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The team will monitor Jacobs' productivity throughout the game and could scale back his work if necessary, but for now, the plan is that he'll be a full-go. That's great news for the Packers, who struggled to get production from the running back position in Jacobs' absence. Green Bay's 59.8 rushing yards per game this season rank last in the NFL, and it's a whopping 16.2 yards below the second-lowest mark (Dallas). Jacobs will look to reverse that trend, as he has previously shown that he's capable of pushing for triple-digit scrimmage yard totals in any given week. For now, he ranks as a mid-range RB2 in fantasy football.

Arizona Cardinals running back Bam Knight has gone from being the No. 3 running back on the depth chart to holding legitimate fantasy value as a top-36 option for Week 7 against the Denver Broncos. The Cardinals' usual starting running back, Jeremiyah Love, will miss a second consecutive week with an ankle injury, forcing Arizona's depth ball-carriers to get more involved. Heading into last week, it seemed like Tyler Allgeier would carry the load in the rushing attack. While he did just barely lead the backfield in snaps and touches, Knight was far more productive in terms of yardage and efficiency. As a result, we should expect a relatively similar backfield split in Week 7, with Knight proving that he can play around 50% of the snaps with roughly 15 touches. If he can replicate last week's 5.3 yards per carry and two catches, he'll have no trouble establishing himself as a solid RB3/flex option. Plus, while Denver is typically regarded as a tough defense, they have been softer against running backs through six weeks. So far, the Broncos have allowed the third-most rushing yards, sixth-most rushing touchdowns, and fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs in 2026. As it stands, Knight is the RB36 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 7.

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee has seen his volume increase in recent weeks, and he should take on an even larger role in Week 7 against the Las Vegas Raiders. Higbee has an opportunity to step up as quarterback Matthew Stafford's No. 2 target with Davante Adams (hamstring). Right now, Higbee projects to operate as the No. 1 tight end alongside starting receiver Puka Nacua (calf). Nacua is questionable for this week, and if he were to be inactive, Higbee would have a strong chance to lead the team in targets and catches. However, as of now, Nacua is trending toward playing. Even with Nacua likely active, Higbee is a very intriguing option as a fantasy starter at the tight end position. In addition to Adams being on IR, the Rams are without tight end Terrance Ferguson (ankle). Plus, Higbee gets a very favorable matchup, as the Raiders have surrendered the third-most catches, third-most touchdowns, and fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends in 2026. The stars are aligning perfectly for Higbee to have another big game in fantasy football. He ranks as the overall TE9 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football rankings for Week 7.

New York Jets wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. has a very impressive rest-of-season outlook, but uncertainty about the game script could lower his floor in Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins. Last Sunday, Cooper returned from a multi-week absence and immediately broke out with six catches, 103 yards, and one touchdown. He was more productive than Garrett Wilson in that game, and he has established himself as one of Geno Smith's favorite targets going forward. However, the Jets are likely headed for a very positive game script against the winless Dolphins, which means Cooper might see less volume. This has been the case for receivers facing Miami all year long. As poor as Miami has been on defense, they have held wide receivers to the second-fewest fantasy points and the fewest receiving yards all season, largely due to game script. All it takes is one or two big plays for Cooper to dominate, but because of the game script, he's more of a WR3/flex than a WR2 this week.

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (shoulder), who is listed as questionable, appears to be trending in the wrong direction for Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. When comparing Zaccheaus' status to his teammates, Rapoport said that the Falcons have "much less optimism" for the veteran receiver. The 29-year-old has merely been a depth option this season. Even though he logged a season-high 55% snap share and four targets last week, he was held without a reception. He has just four receptions this season, and he hasn't caught a single pass since Week 3. Zaccheaus can be left on waivers in all fantasy leagues. Drake London remains the only must-roster and must-start Falcons wide receiver, but Jahan Dotson has also started to generate some buzz after catching seven passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns over his last three games.

The Cleveland Browns are unlikely to trade wide receiver Jerry Jeudy ahead of the Nov. 10 trade deadline, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The relationship between Jeudy and the Browns has ebbed and flowed over time, but Rapoport reports that the two sides are on good terms right now and Jeudy's behavior has been appropriate, despite the fact that he's stuck in the No. 3 receiver role behind Denzel Boston and KC Concepcion. Furthermore, the Browns, who are legitimate playoff contenders, reportedly have a high price tag for Jeudy, making a trade extremely unlikely. The 27-year-old has just 12 catches for 150 yards this season, and he should continue to produce at a similar pace if the Browns do indeed keep him on the roster past the trade deadline.

The San Francisco 49ers could "make a run" at Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner if he becomes available for trade, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The Colts are 2-4 and continue to evaluate their options ahead of the trade deadline. They're technically second in the AFC South, but the record is less than ideal, and the organization fired general manager Chris Ballard last week. Running back Jonathan Taylor is the biggest name drawing trade speculation lately, but Buckner should also generate plenty of interest. The 32-year-old already has four sacks through six games this season, as well as three passes defended. Not only would he offer a huge boost to the undefeated 49ers' defensive front, but a trade would represent a homecoming of sorts, as Buckner spent his first four NFL seasons in San Francisco from 2016 through 2019.

The Cleveland Browns have signed defensive tackle Maliek Collins to a two-year, $30 million contract extension with $23 million guaranteed, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. The 31-year-old has been with the Browns since the start of the 2025 season, and he gets rewarded for his productivity with a new deal. Collins has 10 sacks across 18 games since joining the Browns, including 3.5 sacks already through six games this year. Cleveland's defense may have taken a step back this season without Myles Garrett, but the unit is still very impressive and has turned heads numerous times in 2026. Collins is a big reason why, and now he'll remain a core piece of the unit through at least 2028.

Las Vegas Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. (foot, back) is expected to be a game-time decision for Sunday's Week 7 contest against the Los Angeles Rams, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Washington is officially listed as questionable, but there's definitely some concern about his status after he missed practice on both Thursday and Friday. With that being said, Fowler reports that the Raiders have "some optimism" that the rookie will be able to play. He will undergo a pregame workout to confirm his status before the Raiders post their list of inactive players at 2:55 p.m. CDT. Even if Washington does suit up, he'll operate in a backup role behind Ashton Jeanty. Washington doesn't quite have standalone value in fantasy leagues with 14 or fewer teams, but he's a very appealing handcuff to stash on the bench in case Jeanty ever gets hurt.

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo is expected to occupy the No. 1 role on the depth chart in Week 7 against the Houston Texans, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Skattebo found himself playing less than 8% of the snaps last week, as New York made sweeping changes to its backfield pecking order. In the days following last week's loss, head coach John Harbaugh denied that Skattebo's reduced workload was a punishment, and the team also released Najee Harris. That move left New York with three running backs: Skattebo, Tyrone Tracy Jr., and Devin Singletary. All three should earn at least a few snaps last week, and Tracy is an interesting name to watch after he broke out with 45 scrimmage yards and two total touchdowns last week. However, Rapoport's report indicates that Skattebo is back in the primary running back role, which should return him to the RB2 tier in fantasy football.

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rico Dowdle (knee) is officially active for Sunday's Week 7 contest against the New Orleans Saints in Paris, France. Dowdle made the trip overseas and was ultimately listed as questionable entering this weekend. In the end, though, he will suit up against the Saints. The 28-year-old missed all three games from Weeks 3-5, but he returned to action last week and will play again this Sunday. The 28-year-old has operated as the clear No. 2 option out of the backfield behind Jaylen Warren. He has fewer than 8.0 PPR points in all three of his games so far, although to his credit, he is averaging a solid 3.7 targets and 2.3 catches per contest. Dowdle should have a role this week, but we'd hesitate to start him in leagues with 14 or fewer teams. Warren is the Steelers running back to start in fantasy football.

The Los Angeles Rams are "optimistic" that wide receiver Puka Nacua (calf) will be able to play in Sunday's Week 7 contest against the Las Vegas Raiders, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Nacua is listed as questionable, and he was trending in the wrong direction after missing practice on Friday. However, it sounds like he has made progress since then, and he has a real chance to suit up on Sunday afternoon. Presumably, he'll undergo a pregame workout to confirm his availability before the Rams post their list of inactive players at 2:55 p.m. CDT. Nacua has continued to play at an elite level lately, catching 32 passes for 343 yards and one touchdown over his last three games. There's no indication that he'll be limited on Sunday, but even if Nacua isn't quite 100%, he should still be deployed as a high-end WR1 in fantasy football lineups.

New York Jets running back Breece Hall (quad) is not expected to play in Sunday's Week 7 contest against the Miami Dolphins, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. Hall had been making progress in his recovery, but he was still listed as questionable after logging back-to-back limited practices. The 25-year-old has been sidelined since the end of Week 3, which means Sunday's absence will be his fourth in a row. Assuming he is confirmed as inactive, the Jets will turn to Braelon Allen to lead their backfield. Allen has operated in an every-down role, playing at least 86% of the snaps in each of the last three weeks. He has 44 touches, 220 scrimmage yards, and one touchdown over his last two games, ranking as a mid-to-high RB2. He should continue to fill in admirably for Hall as the Jets take on the Dolphins this Sunday.

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki offers upside at the position for fantasy managers in a pinch ahead of the team's road divisional clash with the Baltimore Ravens. Gesicki entered Cincinnati's Week 6 bye with a touchdown in every game he'd recorded a target. On the downside for prospective owners, the ninth-year pro hasn't commanded enough consistent volume to be a locked-and-loaded weekly TE play. That said, Gesicki has the highest average depth of target among tight ends (10.4) and ranks second on the Bengals with four red zone looks, trailing only wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (seven). The Ravens have been one of the better units against fantasy tight ends, but Gesicki's red-zone usage and his connection with quarterback Joe Burrow keep him an intriguing flyer off the waiver wire.