Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie wide receiver Tez Johnson scored his first career touchdown on Sunday on a 45-yard bomb, and he could be in play as a sneaky flex option moving forward. The Buccaneers were already without Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (leg) before losing rookie sensation Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) to a hamstring injury that could keep him sidelined for multiple weeks. While Evans nears a return, head coach Todd Bowles has already said that Godwin will not play in the team's Week 7 matchup with the Lions. With Baker Mayfield playing at an MVP-level regardless of who he has been throwing to, Johnson has some flex appeal, as he's now gone for 104 yards and a score over the last two games.

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Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales said that wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps) is "really close" to returning, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. The Panthers opened Coker's 21-day practice window last week, and he was actually practicing in full, but they held him out of the Week 6 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Coker suffered a serious quad injury in late August in training camp and opened the 2025 campaign on Injured Reserve. If he doesn't suffer a setback at practice this week, it seems there's a good chance he'll officially be activated to make his season debut in Week 7 against the New York Jets. The 23-year-old second-year wideout should be scooped off waivers now if you need WR depth. The Panthers haven't really had anyone step up as a bona fide No. 2 behind rookie Tetairoa McMillan this year. Coker was very productive down the stretch last year and finished with 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games (four starts).

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With the Vikings preparing to play the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7, head coach Kevin O'Connell has no plans to name his starting quarterback just yet. J.J. McCarthy (ankle) and Carson Wentz (shoulder) will both practice this week after carrying injuries into the bye week, and O'Connell plans to assess what he sees before making a decision. The team started the year 1-1 under McCarthy before he was sidelined by an ankle injury sustained late in a Week 2 loss to the Falcons. They've since gone 2-1 with Wentz, with both Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson benefiting from the improved passing volume over that time. McCarthy was the 10th overall pick of the 2024 Draft, so the expectation is that he will again be named the starter as soon as he is healthy, but with Wentz proving capable as his backup, the leash might be shorter than once thought coming into the year.

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Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (calf) has missed the last two games, and in his stead, Rico Dowdle has run for 389 yards and added 84 receiving yards and two touchdowns. When asked if Dowdle has earned the right to continue his role as the starting running back, head coach Dave Canales was non-committal. There's an adage around the NFL that players don't lose jobs to injury, but when their replacement is responsible for over half the team's total yardage over a surprising two-game winning streak, Canales' "We'll see" makes a lot of sense. With Dowdle averaging 7.3 yards per carry over the past two games, while seeing 60 total opportunities, he remains a must-start until proven otherwise.

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Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (pectoral) will not play on Thursday night for a Week 7 divisional clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers and will be "out for a while" due to the pectoral injury he suffered in the Week 6 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, according to head coach Zac Taylor. The 30-year-old played only two offensive snaps on Sunday before getting injured. Tanner Hudson (head) caught four of five targets for 10 yards and a touchdown against Green Bay before going into the concussion protocol. On a short week, Hudson will probably have difficulty gaining clearance to play on Thursday night, which means Noah Fant could be in line for a significant pass-catching role at TE for the Bengals in Week 7. Gesicki has caught only eight passes on 16 targets this year for 61 yards and no touchdowns through six weeks.

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Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor called All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson (back) day-to-day after he was forced from the Week 6 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Lambeau Field due to a back injury, according to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network. Hendrickson's back injury doesn't sound too serious, but with a quick turnaround in Week 7 on Thursday night against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers, Hendrickson may be held out. If he is eventually ruled out for Thursday, Hendrickson's next chance to play would be in Week 8 versus the New York Jets. Fantasy managers in IDP leagues will want to keep a close eye on Hendrickson's status this week while having a backup plan ready in case he does not play. Not having Hendrickson on TNF would be a major downgrade for an already weak Bengals defense.

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Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III (shoulder) is considered questionable to play on Thursday night in Week 7 against the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, according to Brooke Pryor of ESPN. Austin injured his shoulder in the Week 4 win over the Minnesota Vikings in London, but then was unable to play in Sunday's victory over the Cleveland Browns, despite having the Week 5 bye to heal up. The matchup on Thursday will be a good one against Cincy, but it sounds like Austin could be in line to miss a second straight game. If he cannot go this week, his next chance to return will be for a Week 8 contest against the Green Bay Packers. In the 23-9 win over Cleveland in Week 6, DK Metcalf unsurprisingly led Pittsburgh's receiving corps, with Darnell Washington stepping up as the No. 2 with three catches for 62 yards on five targets. If Austin is out again on Thursday, Washington will have some deep-league streaming appeal in a plus matchup.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hoping that veteran wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) can return to practice this week, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. If Evans can get back on the practice field this week, it will give him a chance to return next Monday night for a Week 7 showdown against the Detroit Lions. The 32-year-old has not practiced or played since straining his hamstring in Week 3. The Bucs could really use Evans back in the fold, as rookie Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) is now set to miss time after getting hurt in the Week 6 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Veteran Chris Godwin (leg) is also expected to miss a second straight game in Week 7. If Evans cannot return to face Detroit next Monday, Tampa will be starting Sterling Shepard, Kameron Johnson, and Tez Johnson in three-wide sets. If Evans is up in the air for next Monday night, it will make for a difficult decision for fantasy managers as well.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie first-round wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) is scheduled to undergo additional testing on Tuesday to determine how much time he will miss after injuring his hamstring in Sunday's Week 6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Egbuka is fully expected to miss time, so fantasy managers should not expect him to suit up for next Monday night's contest against the Detroit Lions in Week 7. Tampa was already without Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (leg), so their receiving corps is dangerously thin now, forcing Sterling Shepard, Kameron Johnson, and Tez Johnson into bigger roles. Egbuka's injury is a big one for the Bucs, as the 22-year-old has been one of the best pass-catchers in the league through six weeks with 27 catches, 469 receiving yards, and five touchdowns.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Monday that running back Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) is not in play to return for the team's Week 7 game next Monday night against the Detroit Lions, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Irving missed a second straight game in the Week 6 win over the San Francisco 49ers due to a foot sprain and a subluxation of his shoulder, and it appears fantasy managers are going to have to wait a little longer for his return. He may be available to return for a divisional matchup in Week 8 against the New Orleans Saints. With Irving sidelined, Rachaad White hasn't exactly been the most efficient with his increased touches out of the backfield, but he has had a nose for the end zone and has scored three times in two games. Expect at least another game in the lead-back role for White against Detroit. Fantasy managers need to keep him in their lineups as a volume-based RB2.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said on Monday that wide receiver Chris Godwin (leg) is not in play to return for the team's Week 7 Monday night contest versus the Detroit Lions, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Godwin didn't make his 2025 debut until Week 4 after recovering from a dislocated ankle last year, and he was only able to play in two games before suffering a fibula injury that kept him sidelined in the Week 6 win over the San Francisco 49ers. It appears Godwin is going to miss a second game, too. With rookie Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) getting hurt on Sunday, and Mike Evans (hamstring) still out, the Bucs could be down to Sterling Shepard, Kameron Johnson, and Tez Johnson as their starters in three-wide sets in Week 7. If Godwin doesn't play next Monday night, his next chance to return would come in Week 8 against the division-rival New Orleans Saints.

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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said he's "not giving up" on the kicking unit and kicker Joshua Karty, despite their rough showing in the 17-3 win over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6 on Sunday, per Sarah Barshop of ESPN. "Josh Karty is a guy that I'm ready to stick with," McVay said. Karty missed one of his two field-goal tries and made both of his extra-point attempts on the road in Baltimore, but it's the second straight game that he has missed a kick. The 23-year-old's miss on Sunday came from only 26 yards out. Through six weeks, Karty has gone 10-for-14 on field goals and 14-for-16 on his extra points. It sounds like the Rams will stick with Karty in Week 7 in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but if he's shaky again overseas, the team could consider replacements during their bye in Week 8. Fantasy managers should seek more reliable kicking options going forward.

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Updating previous reports on Monday, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that the team thinks wide receiver Puka Nacua (ankle) avoided a "long-term injury" in Sunday's Week 6 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, according to Sarah Barshop of ESPN. When deciding on when Nacua can return, McVay mentioned that the receiver's "style of play, the way and the nature at which he plays, that is something that does weigh into this." A report earlier on Monday suggested that Nacua was expected to miss some time, but McVay himself is calling him day-to-day and isn't ruling him out for Week 7 in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Rams have their bye in Week 8, so the most likely scenario is that L.A. will hold Nacua out in Week 7 and hope to have him back for a Week 9 contest against the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 2. Fantasy managers should prepare for Nacua to miss at least one game. If Nacua doesn't play in London, Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell (hamstring) would be the next men up behind Davante Adams in the Rams' passing game.

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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that running back Blake Corum (ankle) is considered day-to-day after injuring his ankle in the 17-3 victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 6 on Sunday, according to Wyatt Miller. Corum will be monitored throughout the week, but the Rams are hopeful that Corum will be available for the Week 7 contest in London on Sunday when they take on the Jacksonville Jaguars. Corum's availability for the international game will depend on whether he can get back on the practice field this week, starting on Wednesday. Even if Corum practices this week and is active against Jacksonville, though, he won't have any standalone starting value for fantasy managers behind starter Kyren Williams. And if Corum needs more time, rookie Jarquez Hunter would be elevated to the backup role this coming Sunday.

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According to head coach Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell (hamstring) should be "good to go" for next weekend's matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. The 26-year-old had been productive on limited work over the previous two weeks, but a hamstring injury sustained in Thursday's practice was enough to force him from his first contest since 2023. With the news that teammate Puka Nacua (ankle) could miss some time with an injury of his own, Los Angeles would be fortunate to have the Louisville alum out for just a single appearance. Despite the injury, Atwell never missed a practice, insinuating he has a good shot to suit up for Week 7. He'd operate as the team's No. 2 wideout if Nacua is inactive, with Jordan Whittington sliding into the WR3 role.

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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay reports that wide receiver Puka Nacua (ankle) is considered day-to-day after picking up an ankle injury in Sunday's 17-3 win against the Baltimore Ravens. Nacua left Week 6's matchup for a spell and was able to go back in, though he did not record another reception. McVay also noted that the wideout "felt pretty good" on Monday, but his status for their upcoming game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London is uncertain. It's excellent news that the superstar wideout isn't expected to miss an extended period, but fantasy managers will need to keep an eye on his practice participation this week. Teammate Jordan Whittington picked up some extra snaps in the BYU product's absence, and would do so again if he weren't healthy enough to play in Week 7.

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Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue saw a decrease in workload on Sunday during his team's 30-27 loss to the Carolina Panthers. The rookie was expected to see an increase in playing time in Week 6, but Dallas' ground game was relatively ineffective against Carolina's defense, prompting the team to air it out more. With backfield mate Miles Sanders (knee, ankle) set to miss the remainder of the season, Blue's role should grow as he becomes more comfortable on an NFL field. However, he doesn't figure to have much standalone value with Javonte Williams dominating touches and looking effective. For now, fantasy managers can consider the former Texas Longhorn a solid handcuff, but not a startable option with Williams in front of him.

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Seattle Seahawks tight end AJ Barner saw his production dip slightly in Sunday's 20-12 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but was still effective even on minimal work. Barner caught a career-high seven passes in Week 5, but drew only three targets against Jacksonville (3/71). Despite the downtick, the 23-year-old placed second in yards, receptions, and looks to target hog teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and remains an intriguing fantasy play. While the touchdowns can't be counted on every week, Barner is far and away the snap leader at his position, and the clear third target on the team behind Smith-Njigba and veteran Cooper Kupp. Fantasy managers can't expect weekly consistency quite yet with diminished target totals, but the Michigan alum is an excellent streaming option and is slowly rising up the dynasty ranks.

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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Kendrick Bourne was again a pivotal part of his team's success this past weekend, and could be in store for extended work once more in Week 7. The 30-year-old has stepped up admirably with a myriad of injuries around him, compiling a 15/284 line through the last two weeks on a whopping 20 targets. While teammates Ricky Pearsall (knee) and George Kittle (hamstring) are expected back in due time, that may not come to fruition for their meeting with the Lions on Monday night. Furthermore, fellow WR Jauan Jennings is battling multiple broken ribs, leaving his efficacy in question. At present, Bourne seems like a good bet to be heavily involved again when his team next takes the field, with the uncertainty surrounding the return of his teammates.

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Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta hauled in a touchdown catch for the second straight week in Week 6 against the Kansas City Chiefs, finishing with five catches for 55 yards and a score on six targets. The 24-year-old has 26 catches for 324 yards and two touchdowns on 33 targets for the season. He's shown signs of increased usage over the past two weeks, earning 12 targets and recording 10 catches for 143 yards and two scores. LaPorta and Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams appear to be battling to be the second option in Detroit's passing game behind star wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown. Either way, fantasy managers have to be encouraged by LaPorta's production over his past two games, and he profiles as a must-start tight end heading into a Week 7 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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