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Dynasty $250 - FFL: Week 7 | NFL: Week 7

TNF Capsule: Steelers at Bengals

Wed Oct 15 11:04am ET
Field Level Media

Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)

Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video

FanDuel odds: Steelers -5.5, Total 43.5

Inside Edge intel: Steelers wide receivers lead the NFL with an average of 8.7 yards after the catch this season. The Bengals have allowed 5.2 yards after catch per reception to WRs this season (third-worst in NFL). Last season, the Bengals allowed 10 TD passes to tight ends.

Series Rewind: The Steelers won 11 consecutive games in the series from 2015-2020 and hold the all-time edge over the Bengals, 71-40 including a 2-0 record in the postseason.

Starting QBs Aaron Rodgers, in his first season with the Steelers, and Joe Flacco, in his second start for the Bengals, are vying to make 40 the new 37 in NFL passer parlance. The meeting is the third all-time between 40-something starting quarterbacks with Tom Brady and Drew Brees -- who met twice during the 2020 season -- sharing the only prior occurrences.

Cincinnati acquired Flacco prior to last week's trip to Green Bay and immediately installed him as the starter. The Bengals were 2-0 in games started by Joe Burrow, who is on IR with a toe injury. Jake Browning threw eight interceptions in three-plus games and Cincinnati was 0-3 in his last three starts, prompting the maneuver of acquiring Flacco from Cleveland to start for his third different AFC North team (Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns). He threw two TD passes in his debut last week and it's fair to say Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wasn't excited to learn he'd be seeing Flacco for the 26th time in his career (the first 22 as a member of the rival Ravens and last September when Flacco replaced an injured Anthony Richardson with the Indianapolis Colts).

Rodgers might not be the MVP-level quarterback of decades ago, but he has mostly enjoyed success in a career reset with the Steelers. He rolls into Week 7 with 63,973 career regular-season passing yards and is only 115 yards back from former Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (64,088 passing yards), who is currently fifth all-time in regular-season passing yards. Cincinnati has been hit early and often by big plays, especially in the passing game. The Bengals' 43 passing TDs allowed since the start of the 2024 season is second-worst in the NFL.

Pittsburgh's offseason investments on the other side of the ball are boosting the secondary. CB Jalen Ramsey gets a one-on-one matchup with Ja'Marr Chase, Flacco's clear No. 1 target, as the Bengals try to find a spark in the running game. Chase caught his 50th career TD last week and his 2,176 receiving yards since the 2024 season began leads the NFL. While his numbers are down from a superhuman effort in 2024, Chase is averaging seven catches per game, tied for No. 3 in the league.

RB Chase Brown's average of 2.7 yards per carry and 1.5 yards after contact are in the bottom five of the 43 qualified NFL backs in the league.

Top Headlines
The Paur Report

Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 7

Player Notes
Mike Gesicki Oct 15 11:20am ET
Mike Gesicki

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (pectoral) has been placed on Injured Reserve due to a pectoral injury, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 30-year-old has recorded eight catches for 61 yards on 16 targets through his first six games of 2025. He will now miss at least the next four games for Cincinnati. With Gesicki sidelined and tight end Tanner Hudson (concussion) questionable to play in Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bengals will likely turn to Noah Fant and Drew Sample to handle the tight end snaps. Fant has recorded 16 catches for 107 yards and a touchdown on 18 targets across five games this season and could be a low-end streaming option for fantasy managers in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Breece Hall Oct 15 11:20am ET
Breece Hall

New York Jets running back Breece Hall is the name that comes up most often in league-wide running back trade talks, according to ESPN's Dan Graziano. Hall is in the final year of his current contract with the 0-6 Jets, so he's a logical candidate to get moved before the NFL trade deadline. The 24-year-old has recorded 560 yards from scrimmage on 105 total touches through six games this season, although he's yet to find the end zone. A move to a better team would likely help Hall's touchdown production, although he could end up splitting more backfield work depending on the destination. If Hall were to get moved, Jets running back Isaiah Davis would likely take on a huge share of the backfield snaps in New York. In deep leagues, Davis is a stash candidate who could pay off big time for fantasy managers down the stretch.

From RotoBaller

Kimani Vidal Oct 15 10:00am ET
Kimani Vidal

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal exploded in Week 6 with 124 rushing yards on 18 carries (6.89 YPC) and three receptions for 14 yards and a touchdown through the air. The reason for his opportunity is that rookie Omarion Hampton (ankle) landed on the injured reserve in Week 5, which opened up the door for Vidal, and he made the most of it. At this point, Vidal should not be on your waiver wire and should be picked up immediately if he is. The most encouraging thing for Vidal is that he outsnapped, out-touched, and outplayed other Chargers running back Hassan Haskins by a landslide, saw 67% of the snaps to Haskins' 31%, out-touched him 22 to seven, and outgained him 138 to 23 in all-purpose yards. While fantasy managers may want to temper expectations, considering the Chargers faced the Miami Dolphins, who have allowed the seventh most points to running backs on the season, it was encouraging to see one of the two running backs get a majority of the touches, as coming into the matchup on Sunday, it was unclear who the lead back was going to be. Vidal can be viewed as a low-end RB2 moving forward until Hampton returns.

From RotoBaller

Kameron Johnson Oct 15 10:00am ET
Kameron Johnson

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Kameron Johnson came out of nowhere in Week 6, and he ended the contest with four receptions for 64 yards and a touchdown in the Buccaneers' 30-19 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. With injuries to Emeka Egbuka (hamstring), Mike Evans (hamstring), Chris Godwin (leg), Jalen McMillan (neck), and Bucky Irving (shoulder/foot), Johnson has an opportunity in Week 7 to be a sleeper start in deeper league formats with multiple flex spots or 12-plus team leagues. In Week 7, the Buccaneers play the Detroit Lions, and most sportsbooks have an over/under of 52.5 points, implying that a lot of points are to be expected in this matchup. Fantasy managers who are struggling to fill a wide receiver spot due to injuries and bye weeks may want to look Johnson's way this week.

From RotoBaller

Brashard Smith Oct 15 9:50am ET
Brashard Smith

Kansas City Chiefs rookie running back Brashard Smith from SMU took a step backward in Week 6 against the Detroit Lions, not seeing a single carry, playing a lower snap percentage, and making only three receptions in the passing game during the Chiefs' 30-17 win over the Lions. However, due to the matchup against the Lions, head coach Andy Reid wanted to lean on his veterans, as the game was crucial to the Kansas City Chiefs, who were sitting at (2-3). With the Las Vegas Raiders on deck in Week 7, and most sportsbooks labeling the Chiefs as 11.5-point favorites, Smith should get some additional work and snaps in this one, making him a long-shot play in Week 7 and a value-add in deeper leagues if it's a breakout game for him. The other Chiefs running backs, Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt, have both been relatively inefficient with their opportunities, averaging 4.2 and 3.82 YPC, respectively.

From RotoBaller

Tyjae Spears Oct 15 9:30am ET
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears is coming off his second game of the season since starting the year on the injured reserve with an ankle issue, and in Week 6, he out-snapped backfield mate Tony Pollard 59% to 43%. Additionally, accumulated 50 all-purpose yards on nine total touches (five on the ground and four through the air) to Pollard's 47 all-purpose yards on 12 opportunities. While the entire Titans offense has struggled mightily this year, Pollard has not been able to do much with his opportunities as the lead-back early in the year, averaging only 3.93 YPC. With the younger and more explosive running back in Spears now ramped up, it's possible he could take over the lead-back role down the stretch, or at the very least, continue to be used 50/50 with Pollard, which gives him some flex appeal moving forward. Spears has proven, when given the opportunity, that he can be a top-15 running back when given the chance. Last year, when Pollard went down with an injury, Spears had three top 15 finishes at the running back position to end the year. Fantasy managers will want to make sure that Spears is not on their waiver wires moving forward.

From RotoBaller

Emeka Egbuka Oct 15 9:20am ET
Emeka Egbuka

According to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport, the young Tampa Bay Buccaneers' wide receiver out of Ohio State, Emeka Egbuka (hamstring), is expected to "miss some time," including Week 7. Based on news from Rapoport earlier this week, it should not come as a surprise that Egbuka is expected to miss Week 7's Monday Night Football game against the Detroit Lions. With Egbuka set to miss Week 7, wide receivers Sterling Shepard, Tez Johnson, Kameron Johnson, and tight end Cade Otton should all see an increase in workload with Egbuka, Mike Evans (hamstring), Chris Godwin (ankle), Jalen McMillan (neck), and Bucky Irving (shoulder/foot) all sidelined. The silver lining to all of this is that Rapoport suggests Egbuka's injury is "not as severe" as Evans', who has been sidelined since Week 4. Egbuka fantasy managers should plan contingencies if they haven't already, for the next week or two. Shepard, Johnson, and Johnson all feature as long-shot WR3 throws in deeper leagues, while Otton holds some low-end TE1 value.

From RotoBaller

Marquez Valdes-Scantling Oct 15 3:50am ET
Marquez Valdes-Scantling

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling pulled in two of his three targets for 22 receiving yards in Week 6. While his stat line may not have been impressive, his utilization was notable. Even with Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) returning to action, Valdes-Scantling saw the third-highest snap share among San Francisco's wide receivers for the second straight week. Rather than get bumped down the depth chart, MVS held onto his role in the slot. Demarcus Robinson, who lined up out wide for 33 of his 40 routes in Week 5, ran a total of 10 routes upon Jennings' return on Sunday. With the returns of George Kittle (hamstring) and Ricky Pearsall (knee) imminent, Valdes-Scantlings' fantasy prospects aren't high, but he is worth monitoring given the 49ers' extensive injury issues this season.

From RotoBaller

Jauan Jennings Oct 15 3:40am ET
Jauan Jennings

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson caught two of his three targets for 44 yards in the team's 30-19 loss to the Buccaneers in Week 6. With Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) back in action, Robinson's involvement took a big step back from Week 5, when he actually saw more snaps than Kendrick Bourne did during the latter's big game against the Rams. On Sunday, Robinson's involvement plummeted from an 85% snap share to just 19%, well behind Jennings, Bourne, and even Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Robinson seems to be a low priority in the 49ers' passing attack and stands to lose more ground with George Kittle's (hamstring) possible return in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Brian Robinson Jr. Oct 15 3:40am ET
Brian Robinson Jr.

San Francisco 49ers running back Brian Robinson Jr. didn't handle any carries in the team's Week 6 loss to the Buccaneers, but he did pull in three catches on three targets for eight yards. Robinson has provided very little in terms of fantasy production in 2025, with 108 rushing yards on 27 attempts thus far. San Francisco's heavy reliance on Christian McCaffrey has given Robinson scant opportunities, even as the supposed change of pace back. In Week 6, Robinson saw a season-low five snaps. While he offers no value in the immediate future, Robinson remains a high-end handcuff worth stashing. Should McCaffrey succumb to the injury bug plaguing the 49ers, Robinson would be thrust into a starting role and become an immediate contributor for fantasy football teams.

From RotoBaller

Mac Jones Oct 15 3:20am ET
Mac Jones

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones was handed his first loss of 2025 when the team stumbled against the Buccaneers in Week 6. Jones went 27-for-39 for 347 yards in the game, with two interceptions. It was his first start in 2025 without a touchdown, as well. Jones is now 3-1 while standing in for Brock Purdy (toe) and leads the league with 313 passing yards per game, all while missing tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and the availability of wide receivers Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) in flux. Purdy will be evaluated during the team's first practice on Wednesday as a first step in determining his availability for Week 7. If he cannot go, Jones would be under center again, this time against an Atlanta Falcons defense that has yet to allow more than 180 passing yards in a game.

From RotoBaller

Demario Douglas Oct 15 2:30am ET
Demario Douglas

New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas endured an underwhelming start to the 2025 season, but he broke out in a huge way with three catches, 71 yards, and a touchdown on Sunday. He scored a 53-yard touchdown and also would have had a 61-yard score, but it was called back due to a teammate's penalty. Douglas has typically been a short-yardage outlet in the slot before, so it was intriguing to see him catch multiple deep passes on Sunday afternoon. It may be tempting to jump aboard the Douglas hype train after one big week, but we can't ignore how underwhelming he was during the first five games. Over that five-week span, he had just seven catches for 30 yards. He may have low-end streaming appeal in deep leagues, but for the most part, managers should monitor Douglas without rushing to add him off waivers quite yet.

From RotoBaller

Matthew Stafford Oct 15 2:20am ET
Matthew Stafford

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford posted disappointing fantasy results in Week 6, largely due to the extreme positive game script against the Baltimore Ravens. Los Angeles won the game by running the ball and draining the clock, which meant Stafford didn't have to throw the ball much. He also suffered from the brief exit of teammate Puka Nacua (ankle), who didn't like his normal self even when he returned. While Nacua could be sidelined against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 7, Stafford is still a strong candidate to bounce back in a game that should feature more of a neutral game script. The veteran lacks rushing upside but is still the overall QB10 in fantasy football this season. He should be rostered in all leagues at this point, so if he's still available on waivers, add him before it's too late.

From RotoBaller

Kayshon Boutte Oct 15 2:20am ET
Kayshon Boutte

New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte has returned to the fantasy radar after his impressive outing against the New Orleans Saints in Week 6. The third-year LSU product caught all five of his targets for 93 yards and two touchdowns, taking advantage of a favorable matchup against a secondary ranking at the bottom of the league when covering perimeter receivers. While Boutte may not see another matchup as favorable for the rest of the season, Sunday's outing still has him trending upward ahead of Week 7. Boutte may be the Patriots' top scoring threat in the receiving game, and he offers the most explosiveness as a big-play option deep downfield. In addition to being a solid waiver wire option for the rest of the season, he also has short-term streaming appeal against a Titans defense allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to wide receivers in 2025.

From RotoBaller

Davante Adams Oct 15 2:10am ET
Davante Adams

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams could take on an expanded role going forward, starting with Sunday's Week 7 contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. There will be additional targets to go around with Puka Nacua (ankle) expected to miss the international game. It's unclear exactly how much time Nacua will miss, and while it's not expected to be a long-term injury, Adams should handle a significant portion of Nacua's vacated targets for at least a week or two. This is encouraging news for the veteran receiver and his fantasy managers. Adams has been able to maintain WR2 value in fantasy football, but his mere 47.3 percent catch rate has been disappointing, to say the least. An increased target share should at least lead to more catches for Adams in Week 7, if not a higher catch rate. He'll sneak into the low-end WR1 tier as soon as Nacua is ruled out.

From RotoBaller

Jacoby Brissett Oct 15 12:50am ET
Jacoby Brissett

Arizona Cardinals veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett led the offense to their most productive game of the season in their Week 6 loss at Indianapolis. Brissett completed 27 of 44 passes for 320 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. The 320 passing yards and 400 total yards were both season highs for Arizona. When asked why the offense looked so different against the Colts, Gannon said they "tailored the scheme a little bit" during the week in case Brissett ended up starting. The coaching staff made a few adjustments to their base offense to help Brissett feel more comfortable, and the results were encouraging. With Kyler Murray still dealing with a mid-foot sprain, we may see Brissett make a few starts. He could make for a solid add in superflex and two-quarterback leagues.

From RotoBaller

Tyler Higbee Oct 15 12:20am ET
Tyler Higbee

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee had his best game of the season in Week 6 against Baltimore, catching all four of his targets for 40 yards and a touchdown. Higbee played 66% of snaps in the game, his highest since Week 2 at Tennessee, where he saw 75.4% of snaps and caught all four of his targets for 37 yards. The veteran tight end finished tied second on the team in targets after Puka Nacua (ankle) left early with an injury. He'll be a waiver wire option this week for fantasy managers in need of a tight end, especially with Nacua expected to miss some time and opportunities opening up.

From RotoBaller

Joe Flacco Oct 14 10:10pm ET
Joe Flacco

Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco posted a solid performance in his first game as the starter for the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 6. After being acquired by Cincinnati from the Cleveland Browns early last week, Flacco completed 29 of 46 pass attempts for 219 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions in a difficult matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The 40-year-old will have another short week of preparation in Week 7 as Cincinnati will take on the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night. Flacco's propensity for high passing volume, coupled with the Bengals' elite-level talent at the wide receiver position, gives the veteran signal-caller some fantasy appeal in two-quarterback formats.

From RotoBaller

Elic Ayomanor Oct 14 10:00pm ET
Elic Ayomanor

Tennessee Titans rookie wide receiver Elic Ayomanor has recorded 17 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns on 34 targets through the first six games of his career. While the 22-year-old has yet to have a signature breakout game, Ayomanor has been a consistent feature in the Titans' offense and has earned at least five targets in five out of six games. With veteran Titans wideout Calvin Ridley (hamstring) potentially facing missed time due to a hamstring injury, Ayomanor could be poised to take over as the team's WR1 in Week 7 against the New England Patriots. Tennessee's anemic offense caps Ayomanor's upside, but he should still be rostered in most fantasy leagues and could be a deep-league flex option in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Allen Lazard Oct 14 9:50pm ET
Allen Lazard

New York Jets wide receiver Allen Lazard has recorded just four catches for 24 yards on six targets across four games so far this season. Still, Lazard could have a chance to make his mark in New York now that star Jets wideout Garrett Wilson (knee) is facing a multi-week absence due to a knee injury. Lazard missed the team's Week 6 matchup against the Denver Broncos due to personal reasons, so his status for Week 7 is somewhat unclear. If he's able to return to the lineup in Week 7, Lazard could be the favorite to start at wide receiver for the Jets alongside fellow veteran Josh Reynolds in a favorable matchup against the Carolina Panthers. In the very deepest of fantasy leagues, Lazard could be a short-term desperation flex option while Wilson is sidelined.

From RotoBaller