Guest of the League
The Gold Standard Est. 2019
Dynasty $250 - FFL: Week 7 | NFL: Week 7

Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb (ankle) ready to return in Week 7

Thu Oct 16 10:34pm ET
Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb plans to return to action on Sunday, ending a three-game injury absence.

Lamb, recovering from a high left ankle sprain, took limited practice reps on Thursday for the second day in a row, then declared himself fit to oppose the visiting Washington Commanders this week.

"I feel like I'm moving around, running around being me," Lamb said, according to ESPN. "Happy as can be, obviously, just believing in my ankle. Obviously, I feel like it's back to where I needed it to be."

Lamb believed he was ready to return last week to face the Carolina Panthers, a game the Cowboys (2-3-1) lost 30-27.

"I feel like that's why we took an extra week just to make sure that I had that comfort," he said, per ESPN. "Just to make sure that I had that same explosiveness, just to make sure that I had that same stability."

Lamb, 26, amassed 16 catches for 222 yards through the first three weeks of the season before getting hurt against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 21.

A Pro Bowl selection each of the past four seasons, Lamb topped 1,100 receiving yards in all of those campaigns. In 84 career games (79 starts), he has 512 receptions for 6,561 yards and 38 touchdowns.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 7

Player Notes
Zach Ertz Oct 17 10:10am ET
Zach Ertz

With the statuses of Washington's top wide receivers in doubt, Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz could emerge as the primary pass-catching option on Sunday. Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) was limited in Wednesday's practice before being downgraded to a non-participant on Thursday, while Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) has yet to practice this week and hasn't practiced often over the last few weeks. More will be known about their injuries on Friday. If both players were to miss, the veteran TE would be in line to lead Washington in targets, while rookie WR Jaylin Lane and second-year WR Luke McCaffrey would also see bumps in routes. Ertz is coming off his best game since Week 2, catching all six targets for 43 yards and a touchdown against the Bears. He ranks as a solid TE1 for a potential shootout against Dallas in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Sean Tucker Oct 17 10:00am ET
Sean Tucker

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker is expected to serve as the No. 2 RB behind Rachaad White for the third consecutive game, with starter Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) still banged up and listed as doubtful for Sunday. Tucker made an impact in Tampa Bay's Week 6 win over San Francisco, handling six carries for 25 yards and a touchdown. White still held a meaningful touch advantage with 20 to Tucker's six, but Tucker still has value as a handcuff to White in case he misses time and is worth rostering in 12-team leagues until Irving returns.

From RotoBaller

Josh Reynolds Oct 17 9:50am ET
Josh Reynolds

New York Jets wide receiver Josh Reynolds is expected to see a bump in usage as Garrett Wilson (knee) is expected to miss some time. Reynolds operated as the clear No. 2 WR opposite Wilson, who was the focal point of the passing attack, and his production won't be directly replaced. Reynolds has just eight catches for 72 yards on 12 targets for the season. The Jets' pass game has been ineffective under Justin Fields, but they'll look to bounce back in Week 7 against Carolina. Reynolds and rookie tight end Mason Taylor are likely to see more targets come their way. The veteran WR has some low-end flex appeal in deeper leagues for Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Jonnu Smith Oct 17 9:40am ET
Jonnu Smith

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jonnu Smith caught three of his six targets for 28 yards and a touchdown in Thursday night's 33-31 loss at Cincinnati. It was Smith's first touchdown since Week 1 and also tied for the most targets in a game since then. Smith didn't have the flashiest night among Pittsburgh tight ends, with Pat Freiermuth exploding for 111 yards and two touchdowns on five catches. They both took advantage of a leaky Bengals defense, and one that struggled against tight ends. Still, the weekly volume isn't high for Smith, and he's reliant on finding the end zone to return fantasy value.

From RotoBaller

Chase Brown Oct 17 9:30am ET
Chase Brown

Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown had 11 carries for 108 yards and added two catches for -8 yards on Thursday night against the Steelers. It was the most productive game of the season for Brown as he went over 100 rushing yards for the first time since Week 9 of last season. Coming into the game, he had just 304 total yards from scrimmage and one touchdown in six games. But he was able to find plenty of running room against a Pittsburgh defense that had been tough against opposing running backs. His snap share also rebounded to 63.2% in this one after being closer to 50% in the previous two games. Hopefully, this signals better days ahead for Brown as the Cincinnati offense is trending in the right direction with Joe Flacco under center.

From RotoBaller

Noah Fant Oct 17 9:20am ET
Noah Fant

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Noah Fannt caught all four of his targets for 44 yards and a touchdown in Thursday night's 33-31 win over the Steelers. Fant expectedly played his highest snap share of the season so far (68.4%) with top tight ends Mike Gesicki (pectoral) and Tanner Hudson (concussion) both ruled out for this game. The 27-year-old capitalized on a Pittsburgh defense that has struggled against tight ends, finding the end zone for the first time since Week 1 and recording a season-high in receiving yards. The Bengals' offense looked much improved with newly acquired Joe Flacco under center, putting Fant back into streamer consideration next week if he gets another start.

From RotoBaller

Jaylen Warren Oct 17 1:10am ET
Jaylen Warren

Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren rushed for 127 yards on 16 carries during Thursday's Week 7 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. He also caught four of his five targets for an additional 31 receiving yards. Although Warren wasn't able to find the end zone on Thursday night, he still had a terrific performance with 7.94 yards per carry and a significant impact in the passing game. His efficiency likely peaked thanks to his matchup against a Bengals defensive line sans Trey Hendrickson (hip), but he still has a favorable fantasy outlook heading into Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers. He continues to rank as a steady RB2 option in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Tee Higgins Oct 17 1:00am ET
Tee Higgins

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins caught six of his 10 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown during Thursday's Week 7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 26-year-old is enjoying some newfound success after struggling to form a rapport with Jake Browning earlier in the year. He has looked much better in two games with Joe Flacco as his quarterback, totaling 11 catches, 158 yards, and one touchdown during that span. Flacco appears poised to remain the Bengals' quarterback for the duration of Joe Burrow's (toe) absence, which is great news for Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase, and their fantasy managers. Higgins will continue to operate behind Chase in the pecking order, but he still has standalone value as a low-end WR2 for Week 8 against the Jets.

From RotoBaller

Aaron Rodgers Oct 17 12:50am ET
Aaron Rodgers

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 23 of his 34 pass attempts for 249 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions during Thursday's Week 7 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. He also rushed for six yards and didn't take a sack. The four touchdowns worked wonders as Rodgers attempted to mount a late comeback on national television, but you could also argue that his two interceptions were the difference between a win and a loss in Cincinnati. One of the two turnovers wasn't exactly Rodgers' fault as his sideline pass was ripped out of DK Metcalf's hands, but the other came on an overthrown pass that the veteran quarterback would have loved to get back. With that being said, fantasy managers won't gripe too much about the two turnovers, as his four touchdowns were more than enough to boost his point total. He's a solid mid-range QB2 heading into Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers.

From RotoBaller

Pat Freiermuth Oct 17 12:40am ET
Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth caught four of his five targets for 111 yards and two touchdowns during Thursday's Week 7 loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. His touchdowns came on 19-yard and 68-yard receptions, the latter of which gave Pittsburgh a late lead (that they would ultimately relinquish). Freiermuth had not yet posted a fantasy performance with more than 6.1 fantasy points this season (PPR), so Thursday's breakout was admittedly unexpected. It should give fantasy managers optimism moving forward, but there's no denying that the 26-year-old continues to face competition at the tight end position. Fellow tight ends Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington each scored touchdowns on Thursday night, too, offering Aaron Rodgers plenty of options when he's looking to target big, physical receivers in the passing game. As a result, managers should view Freiermuth as a low-end TE2 for Week 8.

From RotoBaller

Joe Flacco Oct 17 12:40am ET
Joe Flacco

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco completed 31 of his 47 pass attempts for 342 yards, three touchdowns, and zero interceptions during Thursday's Week 7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He also took two sacks. Just nine days removed from his trade to Cincinnati and three weeks removed from his benching in Cleveland, the veteran quarterback showed flashbacks to the peak of his career back in the 2010s. This was Flacco's first performance with three passing touchdowns and zero turnovers since Week 1 of the 2018 season. Perhaps most impressive -- beyond the fact that Flacco dug Cincinnati out of a multiple-possession deficit -- was the veteran quarterback posting such a good performance despite a matchup against a talented Pittsburgh Steelers defense. He didn't let T.J. Watt fluster him, nor did he have much trouble keeping the ball away from a solid secondary. Flacco has shown upside in years past, but he seems to have unlocked a whole new ceiling with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at his disposal. He'll vault into the high-end QB2 range for Week 8 against the New York Jets.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Oct 17 12:30am ET
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase caught 16 of his 23 targets for 161 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's Week 7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The superstar receiver posted career-highs in targets and receptions as the Bengals mounted a comeback victory on national television. After facing some growing pains with Jake Browning under center, Chase has returned to elite form while catching passes from Joe Flacco. In his two games with the veteran quarterback, he has totaled 26 catches, 255 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. Flacco has shown that he is capable of airing out the football, keeping the Bengals in close games, and limiting turnovers. All three of these factors bode well for Chase going forward, as he's firmly back in the high-end WR1 mix ahead of Week 8 against the Jets.

From RotoBaller

Ja'Marr Chase Oct 17 12:20am ET
Ja'Marr Chase

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase caught 16 of his 23 targets for 161 yards and one touchdown during Thursday's Week 7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The superstar receiver posted career-highs in targets and receptions as the Bengals mounted a comeback victory on national television. After facing some growing pains with Jake Browning under center, Chase has returned to elite form while catching passes from Joe Flacco. In his two games with the veteran quarterback, he has totaled 26 catches, 255 yards, and a pair of touchdowns. Flacco has shown that he is capable of airing out the football, keeping the Bengals in close games, and limiting turnovers. All three of these factors bode well for Chase going forward, as he's firmly back in the high-end WR1 mix ahead of Week 8 against the Jets.

From RotoBaller

Trey Hendrickson Oct 16 9:20pm ET
Trey Hendrickson

While it's unlike the Cincinnati Bengals to hold a fire sale, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that All-Pro pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson (hip) is likely to be a trade chip as this year's deadline approaches. Hendrickson suffered a hip injury in the Week 6 loss to the Green Bay Packers and was inactive for Thursday night's divisional clash against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it's not a long-term injury after his MRI exam came back clean. Rapoport was told that the Bengals would be seeking a young player who could help them this year and into the future, and a future mid-round pick, although it's unclear if the team is actually willing to trade Hendrickson. The veteran pass-rusher is coming off back-to-back seasons of 17.5 sacks, so he would immediately be a huge boost to any pass rush if he were dealt midseason, similar to Micah Parsons' impact in Green Bay.

From RotoBaller

Joe Burrow Oct 16 9:10pm ET
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (toe), who suffered a serious turf-toe injury back in Week 2, is on track to return from Injured Reserve in mid-December, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Burrow is a month into a three-month recovery after having surgery for a Grade 3 turf-toe injury. Burrow has been doing well in his rehab and has not had any setbacks, which means he's still in play to return at the tail end of the regular season if the Bengals still have something to play for. He has told people he has every intention of playing again this year, but he just needs Cincinnati to stay in the hunt in the meantime. The 28-year-old isn't guaranteed to be in play for the fantasy playoffs, so managers shouldn't feel obligated to hold onto him in redraft leagues. Jake Browning struggled with turnovers (eight picks in four games) after replacing Burrow, leading Cincy to trade for veteran Joe Flacco to try and keep the team's playoff hopes alive.

From RotoBaller

Lamar Jackson Oct 16 9:00pm ET
Lamar Jackson

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring), who has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury, is expected to return when the Ravens come off their bye in Week 7 to face the Chicago Bears in Week 8, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Jackson will have three weeks of rest, so he should be a full-go when the team comes off their bye to face Chicago. The 28-year-old two-time MVP has gone 1-3 in his four starts in 2025, but he does lead the league with a 10.5 touchdown percentage, a 10.78 adjusted yards gained per pass attempt, and a 130.5 QB rating. While this may end up being a lost season for the Ravens, Jackson still has the ability to carry fantasy football teams once he's back from his hamstring injury. The elite dual-threat signal-caller needs to be back in all starting fantasy lineups if he's active in Week 8, which is expected.

From RotoBaller

Terry McLaurin Oct 16 8:50pm ET
Terry McLaurin

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that there is "real concern" that Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) will be forced to miss a fourth straight game with a quad injury that he suffered back in Week 3. McLaurin returned to a limited practice on Wednesday, but he was downgraded to a DNP on Thursday, putting his status in doubt for Sunday's divisional game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. It's unclear if the Commanders gave the 30-year-old a maintenance day on Thursday, but typically, mid-week downgrades aren't a good sign. Meanwhile, Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) has yet to practice this week and might be in danger of missing Sunday's game as well. Noah Brown (groin, knee) was put on Injured Reserve this week, so the Commanders signed former Titans first-rounder Treylon Burks to their practice squad. It's possible that Luke McCaffrey, rookie Jaylin Lane, and Chris Moore could start in three-wide sets against Dallas if both McLaurin and Samuel cannot play.

From RotoBaller

Josh Jacobs Oct 16 8:00pm ET
Josh Jacobs

Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs (illness) was limited in practice again on Thursday as he works toward being cleared for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. Jacobs has handled a heavy workload this season, logging 98 carries for 359 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 3.7 yards per attempt. Although his efficiency has dipped compared to his Pro Bowl 2024 campaign, Jacobs remains the clear lead back in Green Bay's offense, handling the vast majority of touches out of the backfield. The Cardinals present a middle-of-the-pack matchup, allowing 102 rushing yards per game, which ranks 13th in the NFL. Assuming Jacobs suits up, he should continue to see volume-driven RB2 production, though fantasy managers may want to temper expectations if his illness limits his workload heading into Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Darius Slayton Oct 16 7:50pm ET
Darius Slayton

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (hamstring) missed his second consecutive practice on Thursday, casting doubt on his availability for Sunday's matchup against the Denver Broncos. With Malik Nabers (knee) already out for the season, Slayton's absence would further deplete the Giants' receiving corps. In that scenario, Wan'Dale Robinson would be positioned to handle a heavy target load, while Jalin Hyatt could see a significant uptick in snaps and opportunities. Hyatt caught three of five targets for 17 yards in Week 6 and would remain a risky deep-league dart throw if pressed into action. The Giants offense has shown signs of life recently, but fantasy managers should view Robinson as the only trustworthy option in this passing game heading into Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Brock Purdy Oct 16 7:40pm ET
Brock Purdy

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) remained a limited participant in Thursday's practice as he works his way back from the turf toe injury he suffered in Week 1. The 49ers have managed a 4-2 record in his absence, with veteran backup Mac Jones (knee, oblique) handling starting duties. While Purdy is unlikely to return in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons, his continued presence at practice is a positive sign for his recovery timeline. The 49ers are expected to remain cautious with their young signal-caller, but the door appears open for a potential return in the coming weeks. Fantasy managers in superflex and two-quarterback formats should keep Purdy stashed, as his upside in a talented San Francisco offense makes him a valuable asset once he's back to full strength.

From RotoBaller