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FFL: Week 7 | NFL: Week 7

Panthers coach mum on starting running back vs. Jets

Fri Oct 17 2:05pm ET
Field Level Media

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales wasn't showing his hand in terms of how he envisions to distribute the workload between running backs Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle for Sunday's game at the New York Jets.

Hubbard participated in practice on Friday and will not carry an injury designation into Sunday's game versus the Jets (0-6) after sitting out the Panthers' previous two contests with a calf injury. Dowdle flourished in his place, erupting for 473 yards and two touchdowns from scrimmage in a pair of wins for Carolina (3-3).

"Just counting on both guys to execute when they're in there and it allows me to just call the next play," Canales said on Friday. "I don't have to really overthink who's in the game as far as what we want to execute in the running game, in the pass game. So, just excited about the opportunity to have both guys help us."

After being pressed for more information on his plan, Canales was quick with his response.

"We'll see on Sunday," he said.

Hubbard rushed for 217 yards on 53 carries in his four games before being injured.

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Starts, Sits, Sleepers: Week 7

Player Notes
Deebo Samuel Oct 17 1:40pm CT
Deebo Samuel

Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) was spotted at practice on Friday for the first time this week as he deals with the heel bruise that has limited his practice participation for weeks. Samuel has yet to miss a game this year, but when asked about his status for Sunday, he noted that the heel is "aggravating for sure" and "we'll just have to see." With his practice patterns not dissimilar from those of previous weeks, it would be a surprise if he is unable to go on Sunday, but fantasy managers should have a pivot lined up just in case. Teammate Terry McLaurin has already been ruled out for a fourth straight game, and in the three previous games without him on the field, Samuel has caught 18 of his 22 targets for 183 yards and two touchdowns.

From RotoBaller

Stefon Diggs Oct 17 1:30pm CT
Stefon Diggs

New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs (chest) will be questionable for Sunday's Week 7 matchup with the Titans. Diggs was able to manage a week of limited practices, but his status should be monitored leading up to Sunday's early game inactive reports. Diggs followed up back-to-back 100+ yard performances with a disappointing three catches for 28 yards against the Saints in Week 6. Still, his growing chemistry with Drake Maye has been evident as he continues to put distance between himself and the ACL injury that ended his 2024 season. If active, Diggs is a strong flex option against a Titans defense that has been middle of the pack against wide receivers.

From RotoBaller

Josh Downs Oct 17 1:20pm CT
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Chargers. Downs popped up on the team's Wednesday injury report with a concussion and has not practiced since entering the league's concussion protocol. Downs is coming off his best game of the year after catching six passes for 42 yards and a score against the Cardinals. While they play different roles in the offense, Downs' absence could create more target opportunities for Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. Meanwhile, Adonai Mitchell could see a return to action after the team limited his snaps in Week 5 and made him a healthy inactive for Week 6 following his Week 4 fumble on what should have been a highlight touchdown grab.

From RotoBaller

David Njoku Oct 17 12:50pm CT
David Njoku

Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (knee) has officially been ruled out for the Week 7 tilt this Sunday against the visiting Miami Dolphins, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. Njoku will not be able to suit up this weekend after injuring his knee in last week's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and missing practice all week. With the 29-year-old sidelined, rookie Harold Fannin Jr. will have clear TE1 upside in fantasy lineups in a plus matchup against Miami's soft defense. Blake Whiteheart should also see a bigger role in a backup role on Sunday. It's unclear if Njoku will be in play to make his return next weekend in Week 8 versus the New England Patriots. Njoku's fantasy ceiling has been lowered in 2025 due to the quick emergence of Fannin, as he has only 23 catches for 223 yards and one touchdown on 36 targets through his first six games.

From RotoBaller

Rico Dowdle Oct 17 12:40pm CT
Rico Dowdle

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Friday that the coaching staff has determined who will start at running back on Sunday in Week 7 against the New York Jets and get most of the reps between Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard, according to David Newton of ESPN. The Panthers are trying to keep a competitive advantage, so they are keeping things close to the vest as far as their backfield plans. Hubbard missed the last two games with a calf injury and was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday before upgrading to a full practice on Friday, so that could indicate that Dowdle will see the majority of backfield touches this weekend. That would make sense, especially since Dowdle went for 400-plus scrimmage yards and two scores on 60 total touches the last two weeks with Hubbard out. Fantasy managers should keep Dowdle in their starting lineups, while Hubbard will be more of an RB3/flex in his return.

From RotoBaller

Ashton Jeanty Oct 17 12:40pm CT
Ashton Jeanty

Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty is expected to handle a heavy workload in Week 7 against the Kansas City Chiefs. With the Chiefs' offense catching fire in recent weeks, the Raiders will likely try to control the tempo by leaning on Jeanty and the ground game. The rookie has thrived in outside zone concepts, an area where Kansas City's defense has struggled, setting him up for a potentially productive day. The Chiefs rank 19th in rushing yards allowed per game (119.2), creating an ideal matchup for Jeanty to exploit. Expect the Raiders to establish the run early and often, keeping Patrick Mahomes off the field while feeding their emerging backfield workhorse. Jeanty profiles as a strong RB2 play in fantasy lineups and could deliver one of his best performances of the season on Sunday.

From RotoBaller

Geno Smith Oct 17 12:30pm CT
Geno Smith

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith continues to disappoint fantasy managers as his turnover issues and poor efficiency have tanked his value across all formats. Smith has thrown at least one interception in all but one game this season and now faces a Kansas City Chiefs defense ranked among the top 10 against the pass. The veteran has failed to reach even modest fantasy production in recent weeks, with the Raiders' offensive inconsistency and reliance on the run game further limiting his upside. With few signs of improvement and a brutal matchup on deck, Smith projects as one of the lowest-scoring quarterbacks in Week 7. Fantasy managers can safely move on from the veteran, as his production doesn't justify a roster spot in any redraft or dynasty league formats.

From RotoBaller

Jalen Coker Oct 17 12:30pm CT
Jalen Coker

Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quadriceps), who is officially listed as questionable to make his 2025 season debut on Sunday versus the New York Jets, "will definitely play," according to head coach Dave Canales. Coker began the season on Injured Reserve due to a serious quad injury that he suffered in late August, but he had his 21-day practice window opened last Wednesday, and he's been practicing in full ever since. It's a notable development for the Panthers' offense in a good matchup on the road this weekend, but as usual, fantasy managers should be skeptical of throwing Coker straight into starting lineups this weekend. Coker could be eased into Carolina's offense, but eventually, he has the potential to be the team's WR2 behind rookie first-rounder Tetairoa McMillan. The 23-year-old had a 32-478-2 line in 11 games (four starts) as a rookie. Add him off the waiver wire if you need help at WR.

From RotoBaller

Emari Demercado Oct 17 12:20pm CT
Emari Demercado

Arizona Cardinals running back Emari Demercado (ankle) has been ruled out for Week 7 this Sunday against the visiting Green Bay Packers, according to head coach Jonathan Gannon. Demercado suffered an ankle injury in last week's loss to the Indianapolis Colts and was unable to practice all week. The 26-year-old will now have next week's bye to heal up before potentially returning for a Week 9 contest versus the Dallas Cowboys. Demercado was a popular waiver-wire addition when Trey Benson (knee) suffered a knee injury in Week 4, but it was Michael Carter, not Demercado, who took over the majority of backfield work for the Cardinals. Arizona then went to Bam Knight as their primary backfield option in Week 6, with Carter taking on most of the pass-catching duties. Expect that to continue against Green Bay, with D'Ernest Johnson or Jermar Jefferson serving in the RB3 role with Demercado out.

From RotoBaller

Kyler Murray Oct 17 12:10pm CT
Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said on Friday that quarterback Kyler Murray's (foot) status for the Week 7 contest on Sunday against the visiting Green Bay Packers will be evaluated in the next 48 hours, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Murray suffered a mid-foot sprain in the Week 5 loss to the Tennessee Titans and sat out of last week's loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The 28-year-old was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, so he will likely need to practice in full on Friday to avoid a questionable tag going into the weekend. Murray is truly up in the air, but with Arizona's bye coming in Week 8, it feels as though they are going to err on the side of caution and keep him out for a second straight week, especially after veteran backup Jacoby Brissett played surprisingly well last Sunday. If Murray doesn't play this Sunday, his next chance to suit up would be on Nov. 3 against the Dallas Cowboys.

From RotoBaller

Chuba Hubbard Oct 17 12:00pm CT
Chuba Hubbard

Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Friday that running back Chuba Hubbard (calf) will play on Sunday against the New York Jets in Week 7, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Hubbard will be making his return following a two-game absence due to a calf injury. While the 26-year-old was out, Rico Dowdle dominated to the tune of over 400 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns on 60 total touches. Before Hubbard's injury, he was the clear leader of Carolina's backfield. But given how well Dowdle played the last two weeks, things are probably going to shake out differently moving forward in terms of a backfield plan for the Panthers. The coaching staff hasn't given many hints about how the usage will be split between the two backs against the Jets this weekend. The most likely scenario is that Dowdle will take on a bigger role, with the backfield potentially split in half.

From RotoBaller

Christian Watson Oct 17 12:00pm CT
Christian Watson

When asked if Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) will make his season debut in Week 7 on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, head coach Matt LaFleur said, "We'll see. We'll see how he gets through today." Since the Packers opened Watson's 21-day practice window to return from the Physically Unable to Perform list last Wednesday, he has been limited in five straight practices. The 26-year-old, who suffered a torn right ACL in the Week 18 regular-season finale in 2024, probably will need to upgrade to a full practice on Friday for Green Bay to realistically consider activating him on Saturday to play on Sunday in Arizona. Watson, an explosive deep threat when healthy, deserves to be stashed in fantasy leagues, but we wouldn't recommend starting him right away this weekend if he ends up being active. There's a good chance the Packers will ease him back into their offense.

From RotoBaller

Josh Downs Oct 17 11:50am CT
Josh Downs

Indianapolis Colts wide receivers Josh Downs (concussion) and Ashton Dulin (chest) were not seen practicing on Friday, according to Jake Arthur of Locked On Colts. It marks the third straight missed practice this week for both pass-catchers, meaning it's unlikely that either will be active on Sunday for a Week 7 battle in Los Angeles against the Chargers at SoFi Stadium. They will both likely be ruled out officially later on Friday. It means that Adonai Mitchell, who was a healthy scratch in Week 6 after two crucial blunders in Week 5, should be active as the WR3 behind Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce. Downs will need to clear the league's concussion protocol next week to get back on the field if he's going to return in Week 8 against the division-rival Tennessee Titans. With Downs likely out this weekend, Pierce becomes a sneaky WR4/flex streamer in fantasy football.

From RotoBaller

Terry McLaurin Oct 17 11:40am CT
Terry McLaurin

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) is out for Sunday's divisional game against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7, according to Ben Standig of The Athletic. There was optimism that McLaurin might return to action this weekend for the first time since injuring his quad in Week 3 when he was limited in Wednesday's practice. However, the 30-year-old was downgraded to a DNP on Thursday and will be held out for a fourth straight game. Fantasy managers need to keep him on their benches. Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) has already missed two practices this week and could also be in question to play against Dallas. Washington placed Noah Brown (groin, knee) on Injured Reserve this week, which is why they added former Titans first-round wideout Treylon Burks to their practice squad on Thursday. With McLaurin officially out and Samuel questionable, more targets could be coming for Luke McCaffrey, rookie Jaylin Lane, and tight end Zach Ertz.

From RotoBaller

Darius Slayton Oct 17 11:40am CT
Darius Slayton

New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (hamstring) is missing his third day of practice this week on Friday, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN. Slayton will most likely be ruled out for the second straight game later on Friday after missing practice all week. The 28-year-old has not seen the practice field since before playing in Week 5. With Slayton most likely sidelined again this weekend, Wan'Dale Robinson and Lil'Jordan Humphrey figure to be New York's top receiving targets for rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart in a tough matchup on the road against the Denver Broncos' stout secondary. Tight ends Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger could also be utilized more in the passing game, and receiver Jalin Hyatt (ankle) figures to serve in the WR3 role. Slayton will need to return to practice next week to have any chance of suiting up for a Week 8 divisional clash against the Philadelphia Eagles.

From RotoBaller

Chris Godwin Oct 17 11:30am CT
Chris Godwin

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (leg) is missing a second straight practice this week on Friday, according to FOX Sports' Greg Auman. Godwin didn't make his 2025 debut until Week 4 after recovering from a dislocated ankle he suffered in Week 7 of last year. The 29-year-old played in only two games before injuring his fibula, and now he's on track to miss a second straight game in Week 7 when the Bucs take on the Detroit Lions on Monday night. Additionally, rookie Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) is expected to sit out, leaving Tampa's receiving corps pretty thin. The good news is that they could be getting Mike Evans (hamstring) back for the first time since Week 3. Still, even if Evans returns, he could be on a pitch count, leaving plenty of targets for the likes of Sterling Shepard, Kameron Johnson, Tez Johnson, and tight end Cade Otton. It's unclear if Godwin will be able to return in Week 8 against the division-rival New Orleans Saints.

From RotoBaller

Garrett Wilson Oct 17 11:30am CT
Garrett Wilson

Updating a previous report, New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (knee) is listed as doubtful to play on Sunday in Week 7 versus the Carolina Panthers, according to The 33rd Team's Ari Meirov. A previous report suggested Wilson had already been ruled out for this weekend. The 25-year-old will most likely not be on the field this Sunday at MetLife Stadium after hyperextending his knee in last week's loss to the Denver Broncos in London. The good news for the Jets and for fantasy managers, though, is that Wilson could be in play to miss only one game and return in Week 8 to face the Cincinnati Bengals. With Wilson likely out this weekend, Josh Reynolds (hip) and rookie tight end Mason Taylor figure to draw most of the attention from quarterback Justin Fields, who is planning to be more aggressive as a passer as the Jets seek their first victory of the year. At best, Reynolds will be a volume-based WR4/flex streamer in fantasy.

From RotoBaller

Bucky Irving Oct 17 11:20am CT
Bucky Irving

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) remained sidelined at practice on Friday, according to Greg Auman of FOX Sports. With no practice sessions yet this week, Irving is looking likely to miss his third straight game in Week 7 on Monday night versus the Detroit Lions. The 23-year-old is trying to recover from a foot sprain and a subluxation of his shoulder and should stay on benches this week. Meanwhile, Rachaad White is in line for his third straight start as Tampa's lead back on Monday evening. The matchup isn't great against Detroit, but for the volume alone, White should be considered an RB2 in fantasy football. It's unclear if Irving will be in play to return for Week 8 against the division-rival New Orleans Saints. The last two weeks with Irving sideline, White has handled 31 carries for 106 yards and three touchdowns, adding seven catches on seven targets for 51 yards through the air.

From RotoBaller

Emeka Egbuka Oct 17 11:10am CT
Emeka Egbuka

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) was seen working off to the side with trainers during Friday's practice, per Greg Auman of FOX Sports. The standout rookie was labeled as a non-participant on Thursday, so it's encouraging to see him upgrade his practice status a day later. While Egbuka hasn't explicitly been ruled out for the team's matchup with the Lions on Monday Night Football, the expectation is that he won't be available. That could change, and the Bucs could certainly use him, considering fellow wideout Chris Godwin (leg) and running back Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) also aren't expected to play. Fortunately, Tampa Bay is on track to get veteran Mike Evans (hamstring) back in the fold, but fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on the Ohio State product's designation ahead of his game in Week 7.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Oct 17 10:50am CT
Mike Evans

FOX Sports' Greg Auman reports that Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) did not practice on Friday, but is still on track to suit up for Monday night's matchup with the hosting Detroit Lions. Evans returned to practice (limited) for the first time on Thursday since injuring his hamstring in the team's Week 3 win over the Jets. His DNP on Friday, however, "is part of his weekly routine and doesn't represent any kind of setback with his hamstring," per Auman. It's excellent news for Tampa Bay, as their offense is alarmingly short of skill players, with teammates Chris Godwin (leg), Emeka Egbuka (hamstring), and Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) all expected to be out in Week 7. Fantasy managers should monitor the veteran's status over the next few days, but he'll be hard to sit if active, even in his first game back after an extended absence.

From RotoBaller