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Higher or Lower? Fantasy Football Players We’re Backing or Fading in Week 7

By Published On: October 17th, 2025

by Optimus Staff

Published On: October 17th, 2025

It’s Week…Lou hurriedly counts on his fingers, apparently confused as to why they stop at five on one hand…seven! It’s Week 7, folks! Boy, time flies when you’re having fun. It can also fly when you’re having whatever this fantasy season is. 

We’ve got guys returning to lineups, we’ve got guys missing from lineups, and we’ve got everything in between. We can’t cover them all; we don’t have the time to cover them all, and you don’t have time to read about them all. But we sure can highlight a handful of our favorites for you, so that’s what we have for you here today!

Higher or Lower? Fantasy Football Players We’re Backing or Fading in Week 7

Check out our Premium Tools – Use Code “OptimusFall” for 25% OFF 4 Months!

Players We Are Higher On:

Harold Fannin, TE, Cleveland Browns

Consensus Rank: TE9

Kevin’s Ranking: TE3

The weather in Cleveland is expected to be quite chaotic on Sunday afternoon. Early weather reports have winds gusting at Huntington Bank Stadium at up to 50-60 mph and a very high chance of rain. That’s a bummer to fantasy goodness, right? What if I told you that the wind won’t affect a certain tight end that we know and love? And that his competition for routes and targets, David Njoku, was ruled OUT for Week 7 with a knee injury?

That’s right, I’m banging the drum for Harold Fannin this weekend as a player I’m much higher than consensus on. But why? Well, the wind is going to be treacherous for downfield passing. But quarterback Dillon Gabriel is tied with Kyler Murray for the lowest average depth of target among all qualified quarterbacks at 6.4 yards among quarterbacks who have started two or more games. So that helps to smooth some of the wind concerns.

Fannin also has just a 6.1-yard aDOT on the season, so he’s not targeted deep with regularity. He’s also had 20% or more targets per route run in five of his six games, so he’s clearly being targeted a ton when he’s on the field. We’ve also seen Gabriel target the tight end position more than any other passer in the league. Through two weeks, Gabriel has targeted the position on 37.4% of his throws, which would be leading the NFL in target distribution over teams like the Cardinals (35%) and Steelers (32%). 

It may look like a bad bet on paper, but there are a lot of things in Fannin’s favor to outperform his ranking this week. 

Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks

Conensus Rank: QB19

Nate’s Rank: QB12

I don’t know what else Seattle QB Sam Darnold has to do to get some respect around here. Currently ranked QB12 overall, the veteran QB has been playing at an elite level. Since Week 4, Darnold is averaging 19.8 fantasy points per game (eighth overall) and has been the QB6 in total points. 

This week, Darnold and company have a tough defensive matchup in Houston. The Texans’ defense has been especially stout against QBs, allowing an average of 10.4 points per game, best in the league by more than a full point. To be fair, however, the Houston defense hasn’t faced a trove of talented QBs either. Their two best defensive performances this season were against the Titans with Cam Ward and the Ravens with Cooper Rush. No one would argue that in Darnold’s case.

You might be a bit reluctant about rolling out Darnold because of this match-up, but you shouldn’t be. The veteran signal caller is borderline startable in 1QB formats this week, and is a smash play in any 2QB or superflex leagues.  

Jordan Whittington, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Consensus Rank: WR48

Lou’s Rank: WR37

Embed from Getty Images

Does my ranking of Whittington scream at you, “Start him, start him, start him”? Probably not. But this is a rough week for making start/sit decisions. Puka Nacua‘s injury will keep him out of Week 7, and that means Whittington will see the field a ton and participate in ~90% of the routes. Is he guaranteed a solid target share? No. But in an offense that siphons its touches through 2-3 main beneficiaries every week, that’s worth flex consideration at the very least. 

What’s even better is that several high-end players have rough matchups this week. If you need a high-upside play to help offset some of that decreased production? Whittington makes for a cheap bet with good upside. He might not ascend to WR2 status this week, but he also won’t get a goose egg for you in that spot. And in the doldrums of the middle of the season, that’s not nothing.

Players We Are Lower On:

Miami Dolphins D/ST

Consensus Rank: DST9 

Evan’s Ranking: DST12

This Dolphins team is cooked, especially on defense. Mike McDaniel lost this locker room last season. Their next opponent, the Cleveland Browns, are ranked 4th in most fantasy points given up to the DST position. That does not matter to me. I have no faith in the Dolphins making defensive plays that score fantasy points against a bad Browns offense. The latter may have wide receivers who have bricks for hands, but the Dolphins have nobody who can stop Quinshon Judkins all game long. Through Week 6, the Dolphins are tied with the Dallas Cowboys for 4th in most fantasy points given up to running backs. They are also 6th in most fantasy points given up to tight ends, which is good for David Njoku and Harold Fannin. Look at other DST options this week, if you can.

Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

Consensus Rank: WR19

Nate’s Rank: WR26

Embed from Getty Images

I was really low on Chris Olave heading into this season – the talent is there. The situation seemed, and still seems, dodgy at best—but I have corrected course. While the QB play from Spencer Rattler is suspect at times, he has been laser-focused on Olave. The Saints veteran has already been targeted 64 times this season, turning that volume into 39 catches for 342 yards and a TD.

While the volume is great, and most weeks I’d roll Olave out as a solid WR2 with possible WR1 upside, this is not the week. The matchup against Chicago is a great one, with their defense giving up the eighth most fantasy points to WRs (29.5 FPPG). However, the weather will not. It’s setting up to be a chilly (56 degrees at kickoff), windy and rainy affair in The Windy City on Sunday, and that does not favor Rattler and the Saints throwing much, if at all. 

There’s a good chance Olave will survive as a floor Flex play this weekend. He’s logged a double-digit point total in every game this season. However, any hopes for a boom game from the fourth-year wideout are dim at best. 

Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos

Consensus Rank: QB10

Lou’s Rank: QB16

Embed from Getty Images

I can’t think of a QB I want to depend on less this week than Bo Nix. The Giants, fresh off an upset of the Eagles, are riding the emotional lift that rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo have given them renewed hope, and their maligned secondary already stepped up in a big way against Philadelphia. The Giants’ defensive line is good enough that they only need passable play behind them for their defense to thrive.

Enter Bo Nix and the Broncos. Although they screamed out to a 10-point first quarter against the Jets, they managed a paltry three the entire rest of the game. The Jets’ defense didn’t play particularly well; that’s just how poorly Nix and the Denver offense played. That game marked the third time this season Nix failed to reach 200 yards passing, and he’s only finished as a top-12 QB twice —once against the Bengals and once against the Colts. The Giants’ defense far outstrips both. If you can, leave Bo Nix on your bench this week.

For more advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

It’s Week…Lou hurriedly counts on his fingers, apparently confused as to why they stop at five on one hand…seven! It’s Week 7, folks! Boy, time flies when you’re having fun. It can also fly when you’re having whatever this fantasy season is. 

We’ve got guys returning to lineups, we’ve got guys missing from lineups, and we’ve got everything in between. We can’t cover them all; we don’t have the time to cover them all, and you don’t have time to read about them all. But we sure can highlight a handful of our favorites for you, so that’s what we have for you here today!

Higher or Lower? Fantasy Football Players We’re Backing or Fading in Week 7

Check out our Premium Tools – Use Code “OptimusFall” for 25% OFF 4 Months!

Players We Are Higher On:

Harold Fannin, TE, Cleveland Browns

Consensus Rank: TE9

Kevin’s Ranking: TE3

The weather in Cleveland is expected to be quite chaotic on Sunday afternoon. Early weather reports have winds gusting at Huntington Bank Stadium at up to 50-60 mph and a very high chance of rain. That’s a bummer to fantasy goodness, right? What if I told you that the wind won’t affect a certain tight end that we know and love? And that his competition for routes and targets, David Njoku, was ruled OUT for Week 7 with a knee injury?

That’s right, I’m banging the drum for Harold Fannin this weekend as a player I’m much higher than consensus on. But why? Well, the wind is going to be treacherous for downfield passing. But quarterback Dillon Gabriel is tied with Kyler Murray for the lowest average depth of target among all qualified quarterbacks at 6.4 yards among quarterbacks who have started two or more games. So that helps to smooth some of the wind concerns.

Fannin also has just a 6.1-yard aDOT on the season, so he’s not targeted deep with regularity. He’s also had 20% or more targets per route run in five of his six games, so he’s clearly being targeted a ton when he’s on the field. We’ve also seen Gabriel target the tight end position more than any other passer in the league. Through two weeks, Gabriel has targeted the position on 37.4% of his throws, which would be leading the NFL in target distribution over teams like the Cardinals (35%) and Steelers (32%). 

It may look like a bad bet on paper, but there are a lot of things in Fannin’s favor to outperform his ranking this week. 

Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks

Conensus Rank: QB19

Nate’s Rank: QB12

I don’t know what else Seattle QB Sam Darnold has to do to get some respect around here. Currently ranked QB12 overall, the veteran QB has been playing at an elite level. Since Week 4, Darnold is averaging 19.8 fantasy points per game (eighth overall) and has been the QB6 in total points. 

This week, Darnold and company have a tough defensive matchup in Houston. The Texans’ defense has been especially stout against QBs, allowing an average of 10.4 points per game, best in the league by more than a full point. To be fair, however, the Houston defense hasn’t faced a trove of talented QBs either. Their two best defensive performances this season were against the Titans with Cam Ward and the Ravens with Cooper Rush. No one would argue that in Darnold’s case.

You might be a bit reluctant about rolling out Darnold because of this match-up, but you shouldn’t be. The veteran signal caller is borderline startable in 1QB formats this week, and is a smash play in any 2QB or superflex leagues.  

Jordan Whittington, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Consensus Rank: WR48

Lou’s Rank: WR37

Embed from Getty Images

Does my ranking of Whittington scream at you, “Start him, start him, start him”? Probably not. But this is a rough week for making start/sit decisions. Puka Nacua‘s injury will keep him out of Week 7, and that means Whittington will see the field a ton and participate in ~90% of the routes. Is he guaranteed a solid target share? No. But in an offense that siphons its touches through 2-3 main beneficiaries every week, that’s worth flex consideration at the very least. 

What’s even better is that several high-end players have rough matchups this week. If you need a high-upside play to help offset some of that decreased production? Whittington makes for a cheap bet with good upside. He might not ascend to WR2 status this week, but he also won’t get a goose egg for you in that spot. And in the doldrums of the middle of the season, that’s not nothing.

Players We Are Lower On:

Miami Dolphins D/ST

Consensus Rank: DST9 

Evan’s Ranking: DST12

This Dolphins team is cooked, especially on defense. Mike McDaniel lost this locker room last season. Their next opponent, the Cleveland Browns, are ranked 4th in most fantasy points given up to the DST position. That does not matter to me. I have no faith in the Dolphins making defensive plays that score fantasy points against a bad Browns offense. The latter may have wide receivers who have bricks for hands, but the Dolphins have nobody who can stop Quinshon Judkins all game long. Through Week 6, the Dolphins are tied with the Dallas Cowboys for 4th in most fantasy points given up to running backs. They are also 6th in most fantasy points given up to tight ends, which is good for David Njoku and Harold Fannin. Look at other DST options this week, if you can.

Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

Consensus Rank: WR19

Nate’s Rank: WR26

Embed from Getty Images

I was really low on Chris Olave heading into this season – the talent is there. The situation seemed, and still seems, dodgy at best—but I have corrected course. While the QB play from Spencer Rattler is suspect at times, he has been laser-focused on Olave. The Saints veteran has already been targeted 64 times this season, turning that volume into 39 catches for 342 yards and a TD.

While the volume is great, and most weeks I’d roll Olave out as a solid WR2 with possible WR1 upside, this is not the week. The matchup against Chicago is a great one, with their defense giving up the eighth most fantasy points to WRs (29.5 FPPG). However, the weather will not. It’s setting up to be a chilly (56 degrees at kickoff), windy and rainy affair in The Windy City on Sunday, and that does not favor Rattler and the Saints throwing much, if at all. 

There’s a good chance Olave will survive as a floor Flex play this weekend. He’s logged a double-digit point total in every game this season. However, any hopes for a boom game from the fourth-year wideout are dim at best. 

Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos

Consensus Rank: QB10

Lou’s Rank: QB16

Embed from Getty Images

I can’t think of a QB I want to depend on less this week than Bo Nix. The Giants, fresh off an upset of the Eagles, are riding the emotional lift that rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo have given them renewed hope, and their maligned secondary already stepped up in a big way against Philadelphia. The Giants’ defensive line is good enough that they only need passable play behind them for their defense to thrive.

Enter Bo Nix and the Broncos. Although they screamed out to a 10-point first quarter against the Jets, they managed a paltry three the entire rest of the game. The Jets’ defense didn’t play particularly well; that’s just how poorly Nix and the Denver offense played. That game marked the third time this season Nix failed to reach 200 yards passing, and he’s only finished as a top-12 QB twice —once against the Bengals and once against the Colts. The Giants’ defense far outstrips both. If you can, leave Bo Nix on your bench this week.

For more advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

It’s Week…Lou hurriedly counts on his fingers, apparently confused as to why they stop at five on one hand…seven! It’s Week 7, folks! Boy, time flies when you’re having fun. It can also fly when you’re having whatever this fantasy season is. 

We’ve got guys returning to lineups, we’ve got guys missing from lineups, and we’ve got everything in between. We can’t cover them all; we don’t have the time to cover them all, and you don’t have time to read about them all. But we sure can highlight a handful of our favorites for you, so that’s what we have for you here today!

Higher or Lower? Fantasy Football Players We’re Backing or Fading in Week 7

Check out our Premium Tools – Use Code “OptimusFall” for 25% OFF 4 Months!

Players We Are Higher On:

Harold Fannin, TE, Cleveland Browns

Consensus Rank: TE9

Kevin’s Ranking: TE3

The weather in Cleveland is expected to be quite chaotic on Sunday afternoon. Early weather reports have winds gusting at Huntington Bank Stadium at up to 50-60 mph and a very high chance of rain. That’s a bummer to fantasy goodness, right? What if I told you that the wind won’t affect a certain tight end that we know and love? And that his competition for routes and targets, David Njoku, was ruled OUT for Week 7 with a knee injury?

That’s right, I’m banging the drum for Harold Fannin this weekend as a player I’m much higher than consensus on. But why? Well, the wind is going to be treacherous for downfield passing. But quarterback Dillon Gabriel is tied with Kyler Murray for the lowest average depth of target among all qualified quarterbacks at 6.4 yards among quarterbacks who have started two or more games. So that helps to smooth some of the wind concerns.

Fannin also has just a 6.1-yard aDOT on the season, so he’s not targeted deep with regularity. He’s also had 20% or more targets per route run in five of his six games, so he’s clearly being targeted a ton when he’s on the field. We’ve also seen Gabriel target the tight end position more than any other passer in the league. Through two weeks, Gabriel has targeted the position on 37.4% of his throws, which would be leading the NFL in target distribution over teams like the Cardinals (35%) and Steelers (32%). 

It may look like a bad bet on paper, but there are a lot of things in Fannin’s favor to outperform his ranking this week. 

Sam Darnold, QB, Seattle Seahawks

Conensus Rank: QB19

Nate’s Rank: QB12

I don’t know what else Seattle QB Sam Darnold has to do to get some respect around here. Currently ranked QB12 overall, the veteran QB has been playing at an elite level. Since Week 4, Darnold is averaging 19.8 fantasy points per game (eighth overall) and has been the QB6 in total points. 

This week, Darnold and company have a tough defensive matchup in Houston. The Texans’ defense has been especially stout against QBs, allowing an average of 10.4 points per game, best in the league by more than a full point. To be fair, however, the Houston defense hasn’t faced a trove of talented QBs either. Their two best defensive performances this season were against the Titans with Cam Ward and the Ravens with Cooper Rush. No one would argue that in Darnold’s case.

You might be a bit reluctant about rolling out Darnold because of this match-up, but you shouldn’t be. The veteran signal caller is borderline startable in 1QB formats this week, and is a smash play in any 2QB or superflex leagues.  

Jordan Whittington, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Consensus Rank: WR48

Lou’s Rank: WR37

Embed from Getty Images

Does my ranking of Whittington scream at you, “Start him, start him, start him”? Probably not. But this is a rough week for making start/sit decisions. Puka Nacua‘s injury will keep him out of Week 7, and that means Whittington will see the field a ton and participate in ~90% of the routes. Is he guaranteed a solid target share? No. But in an offense that siphons its touches through 2-3 main beneficiaries every week, that’s worth flex consideration at the very least. 

What’s even better is that several high-end players have rough matchups this week. If you need a high-upside play to help offset some of that decreased production? Whittington makes for a cheap bet with good upside. He might not ascend to WR2 status this week, but he also won’t get a goose egg for you in that spot. And in the doldrums of the middle of the season, that’s not nothing.

Players We Are Lower On:

Miami Dolphins D/ST

Consensus Rank: DST9 

Evan’s Ranking: DST12

This Dolphins team is cooked, especially on defense. Mike McDaniel lost this locker room last season. Their next opponent, the Cleveland Browns, are ranked 4th in most fantasy points given up to the DST position. That does not matter to me. I have no faith in the Dolphins making defensive plays that score fantasy points against a bad Browns offense. The latter may have wide receivers who have bricks for hands, but the Dolphins have nobody who can stop Quinshon Judkins all game long. Through Week 6, the Dolphins are tied with the Dallas Cowboys for 4th in most fantasy points given up to running backs. They are also 6th in most fantasy points given up to tight ends, which is good for David Njoku and Harold Fannin. Look at other DST options this week, if you can.

Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints

Consensus Rank: WR19

Nate’s Rank: WR26

Embed from Getty Images

I was really low on Chris Olave heading into this season – the talent is there. The situation seemed, and still seems, dodgy at best—but I have corrected course. While the QB play from Spencer Rattler is suspect at times, he has been laser-focused on Olave. The Saints veteran has already been targeted 64 times this season, turning that volume into 39 catches for 342 yards and a TD.

While the volume is great, and most weeks I’d roll Olave out as a solid WR2 with possible WR1 upside, this is not the week. The matchup against Chicago is a great one, with their defense giving up the eighth most fantasy points to WRs (29.5 FPPG). However, the weather will not. It’s setting up to be a chilly (56 degrees at kickoff), windy and rainy affair in The Windy City on Sunday, and that does not favor Rattler and the Saints throwing much, if at all. 

There’s a good chance Olave will survive as a floor Flex play this weekend. He’s logged a double-digit point total in every game this season. However, any hopes for a boom game from the fourth-year wideout are dim at best. 

Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos

Consensus Rank: QB10

Lou’s Rank: QB16

Embed from Getty Images

I can’t think of a QB I want to depend on less this week than Bo Nix. The Giants, fresh off an upset of the Eagles, are riding the emotional lift that rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo have given them renewed hope, and their maligned secondary already stepped up in a big way against Philadelphia. The Giants’ defensive line is good enough that they only need passable play behind them for their defense to thrive.

Enter Bo Nix and the Broncos. Although they screamed out to a 10-point first quarter against the Jets, they managed a paltry three the entire rest of the game. The Jets’ defense didn’t play particularly well; that’s just how poorly Nix and the Denver offense played. That game marked the third time this season Nix failed to reach 200 yards passing, and he’s only finished as a top-12 QB twice —once against the Bengals and once against the Colts. The Giants’ defense far outstrips both. If you can, leave Bo Nix on your bench this week.

For more advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

By Published On: October 17th, 2025

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