EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsEach Monday, before the current NFL week ends, we will identify players worthy of your attention who are available in at least 50% of ESPN standard leagues. Things change quickly for player valuation and roles each week in the NFL, and free agency is a critical way to acquire players. We are here to help!Top pickup options at every positionLooking for the top recommendation at each skill position? Look no further! Here are the players to target heading into Week 7, along with their current roster percentages and a recommendation of how much of your free agent budget (FAB) you should consider using for your bid. C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans (43.8% rostered, bid 5% of your FAB)For the third consecutive game, Stroud scored 20 fantasy points. Sunday's performance -- in London during a win against the first-place Jacksonville Jaguars -- was the most impressive of the three. Stroud threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns. With a healthy WR Nico Collins leading the Texans offense, Stroud should keep thriving and perhaps even challenge for QB1 status. He is averaging 18.7 points per game, sixth among QBs. The Texans face the New York Giants in Week 7.Note: Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen, Washington Commanders starter Jayden Daniels, Jaguars star Trevor Lawrence and Los Angeles Chargers struggler Justin Herbert (who you should be dropping) are all on a bye for Week 7. If you wish to plan for Week 8's byes, Stroud, MVP candidate Brock Purdy and Tyler Shough will not be playing.Kendre Miller, RB, Saints (33.2%, 2% FAB)Miller scored nine points for the second consecutive game, although this one was a more positive outing since he saw 20 rushing attempts and turned them into 70 rushing yards. Yes, wily veteran Alvin Kamara scored on a long TD reception, but it's clear the Saints are keeping his volume low. Miller seems safe for rushing attempts. The Saints face the Pittsburgh Steelers this week.Germie Bernard, WR, Steelers (44.4%, 7% FAB)Bernard, the second-round selection from Alabama, was featured in this column one week ago and he swiftly rose from 3% rostered to his current mark. This should be the last week Bernard is available in more than 50% of leagues, especially after he caught 11 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown in Pittsburgh's overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This rookie is potentially special and he should keep his target share, even when other Steelers WRs return to health.Hunter Henry, TE, Patriots (42.7%, 2% FAB)Henry caught yet another TD pass on Sunday, giving him double-digit fantasy points in three consecutive outings. Perhaps few would regard Henry as a top-10 fantasy tight end this season. Then again, New England's schedule over the next month is quite favorable (Bears, Dolphins, Packers, Lions).Other quarterbacksKyler Murray, Vikings (48.6%, 3% FAB): Murray comes out of his bye week having barely slipped below the 50% roster mark. His Vikings face the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions in the next two weeks, and Murray should perform well. He rushed for 51 yards in Week 5. If that production continues, we have ourselves a valuable QB.Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (26.2%, 2% FAB): Rodgers saw his streak of 20-point fantasy efforts end at three, but he did score 16.02 points in an overtime win over the Buccaneers. The Steelers boast an attractive Week 7 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.Michael Penix Jr., Falcons (11.2%, 1% FAB): Penix scored a season-best 23.1 points in Atlanta's loss to the Chicago Bears, though he was neither accurate (57.6% completion) nor did he pile on the passing yards (225 yards). Still, three touchdowns matter. While you probably would not rely on him in Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers, looking ahead to Weeks 13-17? It's quite attractive.Deep-league options/streamersTanner McKee, Eagles (2.6%): McKee struggled in Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers, completing just 57.8% of his 45 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown. However, starter Jalen Hurts is not playing again this season and the Eagles host the similarly sputtering Dallas Cowboys in Week 7's Monday night game.J.J. McCarthy, Giants (0.9%): McCarthy relieved an ineffective Jameis Winston and nearly engineered a stunning comeback against the Saints. McCarthy threw for a record 243 yards in the fourth quarter, scoring 16.32 fantasy points. Even if we presume McCarthy takes over for Winston in Week 7, that will be a road contest against the streaking (and challenging) Houston Texans. Also, after struggling mightily for the Vikings last season, it seems odd to suddenly trust McCarthy now. However, we cannot deny he has skilled players to target. Perhaps it actually would be sensible to trust him in future NFC East matchups.Other running backsTyrone Tracy Jr., Giants (1.7%, 2% FAB): The Giants benched erratic starter Cam Skattebo and Tracy ended up splitting backfield reps with Najee Harris and Devin Singletary. That trio totaled a poor 34 rushing yards on 14 attempts. Tracy, however, scored a pair of touchdowns -- one rushing and one receiving. If Skattebo remains a non-factor for Week 7 against the Texans (a tough matchup), perhaps Tracy takes the lead. Tracy, 26, underwhelmed during his first two NFL seasons, so expectations should be held in check. Fantasy managers really should not target crowded situations in which any one of four flawed players may earn the most volume.Roschon Johnson, Bears (3.9%, 1% FAB): Johnson filled in again for Kyle Monangai (toe), scoring 14.5 points, thanks to 85 total yards and a touchdown run. D'Andre Swift starred and helped the Bears to a big lead, allowing Johnson to accumulate his numbers. Even if Monangai misses more time, do not assume Johnson thrives the next two weeks versus the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.Deep-league options/streamersJaleel McLaughlin, Browns (7.9%): Starter Quinshon Judkins (ankle) was a surprise inactive, so his investors may have turned to McLaughlin, who turned 13 touches into 55 yards. Audric Estime turned his nine rushing attempts into only 19 yards, but he scored a short touchdown. If Judkins does not return for Week 7's game versus the Tennessee Titans, McLaughlin becomes a deep-league flex option.Bam Knight, Cardinals (0.3%): Most people thought the absence of rookie Jeremiyah Love (ankle) would benefit typical backup Tyler Allgeier. Well, it did, but Knight looked better, turning 17 touches into 98 yards. A journeyman who had only three touches through the first five games, Knight isn't a strong long-term option as Love may well play in Week 7 against the tough Denver Broncos.Other wide receiversOmar Cooper Jr., Jets (2.9%): Cooper, the Indiana product chosen at No. 30 in the draft, caught one pass for 30 yards in Week 1 then missed the next four games due to a high ankle sprain. He starred Sunday, catching six passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. Now, with Cooper and Garrett Wilson, the Jets have a pair of difference-making WRs to rely on. The Jets face the Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders during the next fortnight.Jaylin Noel, Texans (4.7%): Some may fade Noel, who caught four passes for 107 yards and a touchdown, because the Texans recently acquired Marvin Harrison Jr. -- Stroud's college teammate -- in a trade. It's possible that neither player truly can be relied upon. Noel isn't seeing many targets, but he has averaged 15.9 points over the past three games. Harrison caught only three passes Sunday. Perhaps he becomes more relevant in the coming weeks, but Noel, in his second season, is quite talented, too.Deep-league options/streamersJordyn Tyson, Saints (32.4%, 2% FAB): Tyson, the exciting Arizona State product chosen with the No. 8 pick in the draft, has been nursing a hamstring injury for two months. Well, he may be close to making his debut. The Saints play in Paris this week and Tyson's practice window has opened, making him a possibility to play. Relying on Tyson this week is dangerous, but he may matter to fantasy managers quite soon.DeMario Douglas, Patriots (13.8%, 1% FAB): Douglas figured to take on a lesser role with A.J. Brown returning to the lineup, but that isn't what happened in Sunday's win over the New York Jets. While Brown caught only three out of 10 targets (with several notable drops), Douglas caught seven out of eight for 86 yards and a touchdown. Douglas boasts 42.1 points over his last two games. Those rostering both Brown and Douglas would surely start Brown first, but with QB Drake Maye performing better versus lesser defenses, Douglas matters, too. The Patriots face the Bears and Dolphins during the next two games.Ja'Kobi Lane, Ravens (9.9%, 1% FAB): Lane, a third-round selection from USC, made a triumphant return to the field after missing four games due to a wrist injury. He caught just one pass in Week 1 but reeled in four passes for 40 yards on Sunday. The Ravens face the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 7 and if QB Lamar Jackson plays, Lane becomes a more interesting standard-league option.Travis Hunter, Jaguars (28.6%): Hunter, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner who has played far more cornerback than wide receiver, entered Week 6 with two catches for the season. On Sunday, he caught four passes for 59 yards and his first touchdown in the London loss to the Texans. There is little indication the Jaguars will continue to utilize this talented two-way player on offense after the team's Week 7 bye. However, if you believe they will, go ahead and take a chance on Hunter.Other tight endsMichael Mayer, Raiders (14.9%, 2% FAB): Mayer reached double-digit fantasy points for the third time in four games, notching a season-best 95 receiving yards on seven catches. While his upside may appear muted by the presence of teammate Brock Bowers, this team lacks top WR options, so Mayer will remain a key cog in the Las Vegas offense.Darnell Washington, Steelers (2.1%, 1% FAB): Washington caught four out of six targets, along with his second touchdown in three games on Sunday. That said, there remains little indication that the Steelers desire Washington (or Pat Freiermuth) to suddenly see larger volume. Freiermuth had a quiet game on Sunday, but he may score double digits again in Week 7 -- or it may be Washington. It's a guessing game for fantasy managers.Josh Cuevas, Ravens (0.0%): Cuevas saw only three targets during the first five games, but then he caught four out of five passes for 44 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's loss to the Cleveland Browns. Starter Mark Andrews caught only one pass for four yards. It is premature to assume Cuevas passes the veteran Andrews on the Ravens' TE depth chart, but Baltimore's Week 7 opponent (Cincinnati) struggles to handle opposing tight ends. Perhaps both are worth considering.DefenseBrowns D/ST (34.1%): This unit has scored double-digit fantasy points in consecutive weeks, although facing QBs Geno Smith and Tyler Huntley wasn't exactly the toughest challenge. Still, they may be able to continue their success in Week 7 facing Cam Ward and the Titans.Jets D/ST (23.1%): This unit scored only three fantasy points in Sunday's loss to the Patriots and it has notched only one interception all season -- which is still more than last year! However, their inclusion here is due to a Week 7 meeting with the winless Dolphins. There are 11 D/STs rostered in over 50% of ESPN standard leagues, but it remains reasonable to find worthy streamers versus struggling offenses.
