In the blink of an eye, we have reached Week 7 in the NFL season. Now, we have enough stats, trends and eye tests to help us make better weekly fantasy start sit decisions for our fantasy football teams. Winning in Week 7 will not be as easy as focusing on the obvious star players who rack up yards and touchdowns. You need to find the hidden gems that can help you elevate your lineup and steal a victory this week.

Fantasy football isn’t just about the big names or the flashy numbers. It’s about finding the right matchups, reading between the lines of the stats and spotting those game-changing opportunities others miss.

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In this article, we’re going beyond the surface stats to uncover these five stats about players who can genuinely tilt the scales in your favor. These stars might not jump off the page at first glance but are primed to help you secure that crucial win. Let’s dig into the nuance of the game and separate the hype from the real difference-makers.

Week 7 Stats to Know

A New Vegas

Week 7 has a different vibe and feel around the league, as the Las Vegas Raiders traded Davante Adams to the New York Jets. With the Raiders’ offense in flux, we need to see who will take over to help facilitate this passing game around the young Aidan O’Connell.

At first glance, you look at rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who has electrified the NFL to start his career. When you look at the targets per route run without Adams, you see a hyper-target pass-catching group.

Bowers is the TE1 this year in terms of yards per route run (2.49). Bowers was a highly touted draft pick with high draft capital. Without Adams, Bowers can become the new Travis Kelce in the AFC West.

We can’t just look at Bowers; we must look at the new No. 1 WR in Las Vegas — Jakobi Meyers. Regarding his targets per route run (TPRR) without Adams, he would become a top-20 wide receiver with a 27.5% TPRR mark. His yards per route run is lower and only ranks 44th overall for wide receivers; however, someone will need to step up on the outside to help this Raiders offense move down the field.

If in an extreme pinch, look at the speedy Tre Tucker, as he has shined in his limited snaps this season.

The Safe Word Is Love

We love the talent in Green Bay; however, deciding which pass-catching option will shine is impossible. Last week, Jayden Reed saw a target share of 18.8%. Tucker Kraft and Christian Watson both saw 12.5%, while Romeo Doubs saw a 12.5% target share. Even Josh Jacobs saw just under a 10% target share last week. The Green Bay Packers are an extremely deep team regarding talent.

Your best play is to use them in strong offensive matchups with high totals, such as this week against the Houston Texans, but to keep your expectations tempered because the Packers are the definition of “we” and not “me” when it comes to the offensive scheme.

The Good Son

Jonathan Taylor is dealing with a high-ankle sprain, which muddies the water for his availability this week against a struggling Miami Dolphins run defense. With Taylor most likely missing this week, we must decide who the correct backup running back is to add to our roster and start. We suggest leaning into Tyler Goodson over Trey Sermon.

Goodson saw 41.9% of the backfield opportunities while seeing all five targets to the position last week without Taylor. Sermon saw 58.1% of the backfield opportunities while seeing two of the three rushing attempts inside the five. Why Goodson this week?

Goodson is the play for the Colts backfield because of Anthony Richardson. Richardson is trending to return this week, leaving carries inside the 5-yard line in jeopardy for Sermon. With Richardson back, he becomes the best running option in the red zone. Therefore, Goodson’s catching abilities become more prominent within the Colts’ offense to help elevate their chances of defeating the Miami Dolphins. Don’t get too cute, but if you are struggling at running back, grab Goodson from the waiver wire (still available in 90% of Yahoo leagues).

Tee Higgins is the No. 1 WR in Cincinnati

Did you know Tee Higgins doubled up the first-read shares over Ja’Marr Chase in Week 6? Did you know Chase has seen a decline in his first-read shares in each of the last three seasons? We aren’t saying to fade Chase, as he is too talented to do that; we are just saying to stop fading Higgins as he is the No. 1 WR for the Bengals every week.

A Tight End to The Rescue?

The tight end position has been miserable this season. Thankfully, in the dumpster fire that is Jacksonville, Evan Engram has returned to help solidify the weak position. Last week, Engram received a 27.8% target share. With Christian Kirk struggling out of the gate, Engram has become the only safety net for a struggling Trevor Lawrence.

This week, he is overseas facing a New England Patriots defense that allows the ninth-most receiving yards to the tight end position. Thankfully, we have a white knight at the tight-end position to return and give us a safe option in a volatile position.

As we head into Week 7, remember that winning in fantasy football often comes down to small, savvy decisions. It is not just about the most prominent names or highest projections; it’s about understanding the game within the game and making the most of critical matchups. The players we’ve highlighted are ready to deliver when it matters most.

Be sure to check out all the fantastic work from our team here at FantasyPros to stay ahead of the competition. If you need more help fine-tuning your lineup, please contact me on Twitter @jpep20. Let’s get that win. Good luck in Week 7.

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