Week 7 has arrived and we are inching closer to the promised land of fantasy playoffs. We need every victory we can obtain throughout the year, and FantasyPros is here to help.

Within this article, we will outline five stats you need to know for Week 7 to dominate over your opponent. These stats will help you understand your matchups better, make lineup decisions and ultimately lead you to fantasy success within Week 7.

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Stats To Know Before Setting Your Fantasy Football Lineup

Let’s get started with a surprising name that accumulates fantasy points for every route he runs.

Fantasy Points Per Route And The Surprising Rookie

What does Fantasy Points Per Route (FPRR) really mean? The easiest way to explain is right in the name; the amount of points a player has recorded per his routes run.

Some names you will recognize in the Top 10 such as Tyreek Hill (3rd) and Cooper Kupp (7th). However, did you know that a Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver is in the top ten? Did you also know he was a rookie?

If you guessed Rashee Rice would be tenth overall in this category, you are a time traveler. Currently, Rice is tenth overall with .73 fantasy points per route. We all look for someone to attach to the fantastic talent of Patrick Mahomes. So far in 2023, Rice is that guy and faces the Los Angeles Chargers this week. This game should be a shootout and with this stat and that game environment, Rice is a good play in Week 7.

Pass Catching Running Backs Make The World Go Round

If you have a pass-catching running back on your fantasy team, kudos. You understand the golden rule of targeting running backs for your fantasy team.

Some running backs have a high percentage of target share within their team. Players like Alvin Kamara led the way with 21.6%, followed closely by Josh Jacobs (16.8%) and Bijan Robinson (15.7%).

However, you aren’t here to hear about the must-start players in fantasy football. You want to know about something you can’t easily see with your eyes when you watch the game. Let me help you with this and show you three more players inside the Top 15 that will blow your mind.

• 9th: Jaylen Warren (14%)
• 10th: Jahmyr Gibbs (13.7%)
• 13th: Tyjae Spears (12.1%)

All three of these players are considered “backup running backs.” However, this shows they were given a role within the offense. One in particular with Spears is interesting for not just Week 7 but for the rest of the season in fantasy football. The Titans are on bye, so Spears can not help you win this week. However, we have rumors of Derrick Henry being traded to another team. Even if Henry stays on the Titans roster, Spears has been injected into this game plan to help bolster a lackluster offense.

Another interesting fact concerns Gibbs. Most fantasy football managers may look at him like a bust. However, we are only in Week 7. We now have a David Montgomery injury that should keep him out multiple weeks and a backfield with no one with the talent that Gibbs possesses.

If the Gibbs manager in your league is still panicking, make that trade now. If your roster has Gibbs, know that brighter days are ahead and your early-round draft selection is about to pay off for your fantasy football team.

Can Jaxon Smith-Njigba Become A Fantasy Football Weapon in 2023?

If you roster Smith-Njigba (JSN) this season, chances are you are frustrated beyond belief so far. You have watched Tyler Lockett lead the league in endzone targets (8). You have observed DK Metcalf record 25 first-read targets, with Tyler Lockett recording 23. You have also sat back and watched the low average depth of target (aDOT) for JSN. So, what should excite you about this highly touted rookie wide receiver within this Seahawks offense?

Two factors in Week 7 should excite you about Smith-Njigba this week. The first is his opponent. JSN lines up against the Cardinals. The Cardinails defense allows the fifth most receptions to the wide receiver position. They also allow the second most yards to the position while surrendering the eight most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to wide receivers.

The next thing that can excite you about Smith-Njigba is the design of the Seahawks’ offensive scheme and his use within it. JSN leads the Seahawks with the most designed plays for him. Designed plays are labeled as calls, such as screens or manufactured touches.

JSN has a 20% rate of plays explicitly made for him to touch the ball. The Seahawks know the talent he brings to the field and now that the rookie has healed from his injury while getting his feet wet in the NFL, expect a BOOM-level performance within this game.

Is Puka Season Over?

With the Los Angeles Rams star wide receiver Cooper Kupp returning to the field. The question has been floated worldwide:” Is Puka Nacua season over?” The answer is an emphatic no. Does his role change? Absolutely. However, Nacua is crucial in this Rams offense. His role becomes even more prominent with their starting running back, Kyren Williams, more than likely missing time beginning in Week 7.

Puka still leads the way with “Hero” receptions where he has to make a fantastic play on a pass. These “Hero” receptions instill faith within his veteran quarterback, Matthew Stafford. You see this faith translate on the field as Stafford has recorded a passer rating of 109.8% to Nacua, second highest only behind Kupp.

The best part of this game in Week 7 is the Steelers’ struggles against outside wide receivers. We have broken this down in the past “Stats you need to know” articles, but the Steelers can not contain an outside wide receiver. Nacua has the highest outside rate on the Rams’ offense at 65.9%. Start Puka with confidence.

Downgrade The Offense, Stream The Defense

The Commanders face the Giants this week, which is projected to be a defensive battle. Here is the percentage of dropbacks under pressure for each perspective offense:

• Giants: 45.6% (first overall)
• Commanders: 39.5% (eighth overall)

Downgrade your pass-catching options in this game, but if you need a streaming option for defense, look toward this game first.

Remember, these five stats to help you win in Week 7 for fantasy football. Also, peruse all the fantastic work here at FantasyPros and don’t hesitate to contact me on X (@jpep20). Good luck in Week 7!

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