This feature will be in your email each week. Don't miss it or the other email features we'll be sending.
DON'T MISS OUT: Sign up for our free, daily newsletter here.
Reminder: The Bills, Jaguars, Chargers, and Commanders are off in Week 7, taking fantasy stars like Josh Allen, James Cook III, Trevor Lawrence, Parker Washington, Bhayshul Tuten, Jayden Daniels, and more off the table. As always, prepare to dig a little deeper into your bench and free-agent pool this week.
Here are the five most impactful situations for fantasy managers heading into Week 7:
Wide Receiver Injuries Reshape Fantasy Lineups
Week 6 was hard on wide receivers. Davante Adams reportedly faces a six-to-10-week absence with a ruptured hamstring. Terry McLaurin is out for the season with a serious knee injury. Mike Evans aggravated his Achilles injury Monday night, while Romeo Doubs landed on IR with a shoulder injury.
Fortunately, every injury creates opportunity, and fantasy managers don't necessarily have to look for direct replacements.
Pittsburgh rookie Germie Bernard caught 11 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay. He's now a legitimate fantasy consideration with Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson sidelined.
Elsewhere, Keenan Allen has developed into a major target in Indianapolis, while Jets rookie Omar Cooper Jr. returned from injury with six catches, 103 yards, and a touchdown.
For direct replacements, Rams wideout Konata Mumpfield proved his worth when Puka Nacua was out last month. The second-year receiver caught four passes for 93 yards and a touchdown in Week 3. Mumpfield has chemistry with Matthew Stafford, and Sean McVay has pointed to Mumpfield's ability to separate from defenders as a strength.
In Washington, Treylon Burks likely moves into McLaurin's spot opposite Stefon Diggs, but rookie Antonio Williams could also see more opportunities out of the slot.
If San Francisco is without Evans this week, Jordan Watkins and Brandin Cooks become viable bye-week fill-ins. For the Patriots, DeMario Douglas has easily outproduced Doubs in recent weeks and should be rostered now.
Running Back Uncertainty Continues
Saquon Barkley, Breece Hall, Quinshon Judkins, Jeremiyah Love, and David Montgomery are names to monitor.
On Thursday, Barkley returned to practice, and he's expected to return to action when the Eagles take on the Cowboys Monday night.
Hall was also back on the practice field Thursday, and he could return from the quad injury that sidelined him the last three weeks. Coach Aaron Glenn added to the intrigue on Tuesday when he reminded reporters that Hall remains the team's featured back despite Braelon Allen's strong showing in relief of the starter.
The Browns are hoping Judkins and Dylan Sampson will both play.
Meanwhile, Love is trending toward missing another game, and reports out of Houston indicate Montgomery will be out again this week.
Beyond that, Commanders running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt has landed on IR, while Josh Jacobs, Jordan Mason, and Zach Charbonnet could return to action.
Mason's return could affect Aaron Jones Sr.'s workload, Charbonnet's return would change Seattle's backfield rotation, and Jacobs' return would relegate Green Bay's temporary replacements to emergency fill-in status.
Gaining Clarity at Quarterback
Lamar Jackson has missed two games with his ankle injury but could return against Cincinnati. Baker Mayfield is also a potential Week 7 returnee after missing time with his thumb injury.
Jackson returned to practice Wednesday and was back on the field Thursday. Observers report that he moved around well during the open portion of Thursday's practice.
Jackson's return would significantly improve Baltimore's offensive outlook. The betting line moved three points toward the Ravens following Thursday's practice. That would also improve the fantasy outlook for Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews and -- depending on Rashod Bateman's shoulder injury -- could extend to Bateman and Ja'Kobi Lane.
The news is even more positive for Mayfield, who is practicing this week and was reportedly pushing to play against the Steelers last week. Mayfield addressing reporters after Thursday's practice is a strong indication he'll start, since that responsibility generally falls to the starting quarterback.
Mayfield told reporters Thursday that his thumb is strong enough to play. Barring a setback, all signs point to his return as the starter Sunday at Carolina.
Mayfield's availability has implications for Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin Jr., and Bucky Irving.
Houston's Passing Game Has Our Attention
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud continued playing his best football since his 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign, completing 24 of 34 passes for 312 yards and three touchdowns against Jacksonville in London.
Marvin Harrison Jr., acquired in last week's trade, was a factor over the middle, catching three balls for 34 yards, all first downs. But Stroud's strongest throws went to Nico Collins and Jaylin Noel, who broke out (four catches for 107 yards and a TD).
His best throw was a 50-yard bomb to Noel late in the first half with pressure bearing down, followed by a pinpoint touchdown pass to Foster Moreau that gave Houston the lead -- the tight end's second score of the half. Jacksonville kept answering Houston's scoring drives, forcing Stroud to deliver in a competitive game.
Before facing Houston in Week 6, Jacksonville was the only NFL team that had held every opponent to 20 or fewer points. Houston scored 34, the most against the Jaguars since Week 10 of 2025, when Houston won 36-29. Since then, Jacksonville has allowed 35.0 points per game to the Texans and 14.3 to everyone else.
Stroud is QB4 heading into Week 7, averaging 19.4 points per game. Not bad for a player drafted as QB24 with the 172nd pick overall.
Giant Changes in New York
Giants head coach John Harbaugh confirmed Wednesday that J.J. McCarthy will replace Jameis Winston at quarterback and start Sunday's game at Houston.
The move follows McCarthy's fourth-quarter relief appearance in Sunday's 34-27 loss to the Saints, when he threw for 243 yards. He provided a spark with his arm and legs, nearly completing a remarkable comeback after the Giants had trailed by 24 points.
It was the second-most passing yards in a fourth quarter by a non-starting quarterback over the past 25 years.
Now he gets a chance to redeem himself as a starter.
Meanwhile, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said Thursday that running back Cam Skattebo handled last week's demotion in an "impressive" way, calling him a "true pro."
The since-released Najee Harris started, and Skattebo played only six snaps against the Saints, with Devin Singletary leading the Giants' backfield. Nagy's comments suggest Skattebo may be working his way out of the doghouse.
Even so, fantasy managers should only trust Skattebo this week as a deep flex. If he takes the main job back, his fantasy value returns to the RB2 range.
Follow @footballdiehard Follow @Footballguys