Fantasy Football Week 7: Studs, Duds, and Key Takeaways

Following an impressive 11-1 record for NFL favorites on Sunday, it’s time to look at who carried their team to victory and who failed to even be a serviceable fantasy start. Here are the Week 7 Studs and Duds.

Stud: Christian McCaffrey

The true “Swiss Army Knife” of the NFL continues to dominate. McCaffrey rushed 24 times for 129 yards and two touchdowns while catching seven of eight targets for 72 yards (39.7 fantasy points). Despite averaging 26.7 fantasy points per game this season, this was his first game to eclipse 100 rushing yards.

At this point, McCaffrey is more than just a running back. He has caught at least six passes in every game this year and leads the 49ers in receiving yards by nearly 150. He’s already surpassed 900 scrimmage yards, keeping San Francisco atop the NFC West despite multiple injuries elsewhere. As long as McCaffrey stays healthy, the 49ers will stay dangerous.

Dud: Ashton Jeanty and the Raiders

Ashton Jeanty’s struggles are not a reflection of his own ability, but of how bad the Raiders have been. In a blowout loss to the Chiefs, the Raiders ran just 30 offensive plays for 95 total yards. Yes, in an entire game. Jeanty managed only six carries for 21 yards and one reception for 13 (4.4 fantasy points).

It’s officially rock bottom in Las Vegas. The Raiders failed to score a single point in 60 minutes of football and now limp into their bye week. For Jeanty’s sake, and for the sanity of Raiders fans, major adjustments are badly needed.

Stud: Ja’Marr Chase

Ja’Marr Chase continues to defy expectations and remind everyone why he was the top fantasy pick this season. In Cincinnati’s upset win over the Steelers, Chase was targeted 23 times, catching 16 for 161 yards and a touchdown (48.1 fantasy points).

His workload rivals that of elite running backs like Josh Jacobs and Kyren Williams. Since veteran quarterback Joe Flacco took over in Week 6, Chase has hauled in 26 passes for 255 yards and two touchdowns. Their chemistry looks instant, and the Bengals offense is finally rolling.

Dud: Justin Fields

Justin Fields keeps showing up in this section, and it might be the last time if his benching sticks. In the Jets’ loss to the Panthers, Fields completed just six of 12 passes for 46 yards and rushed for 22 (4.0 fantasy points) before being benched in the second half for 36-year-old Tyrod Taylor.

Fields led the Jets to only six first downs and three total points in the first half. Taylor didn’t do much better, throwing two interceptions that killed any comeback chance. With frustration mounting and the Jets sitting at 0-7, the question now is whether it’s time to blow it up, with trading Breece Hall or firing head coach Aaron Glenn both viable options. The only bright spot for New York might be the first overall pick in the 2026 draft.

Stud: Philadelphia Wide Receivers (A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith)

The Jalen Hurts-led Eagles finally put the pieces together on offense in their win over the Vikings. The duo of DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown was unstoppable.

Smith caught nine passes for 183 yards, including a 79-yard touchdown to open the second half (33.3 fantasy points). Brown added four receptions for 121 yards and two touchdowns, including a 26-yard strike that iced the game (28.1 fantasy points). This performance should silence any trade rumors around Brown, and the Eagles look like they’re finding their offensive rhythm again.

Dud: Travis Etienne Jr.

Travis Etienne’s cold streak in overseas games continued in London, where he managed just eight carries for 44 yards and one catch for 11. After starting the season strong with 50-plus rushing yards in each of the first four weeks and three total touchdowns, Etienne has now gone three straight games without reaching 50 yards or scoring.

More concerning, Jaguars backup Bhayshul Tuten out-touched Etienne for most of the game before the final drive. Hopefully the Jaguars were just resting starters during the blowout, but Etienne’s workload is trending in the wrong direction.

Emergency Room

Jayden Daniels: Daniels exited in the second half of Washington’s game with an apparent hamstring injury and will undergo further imaging this week. Marcus Mariota is expected to start for the Commanders in the coming weeks, and with a banged-up wide receiver room, fantasy managers should avoid all Washington players for now.

Want more Sandman? Come connect with us here at sandmansports.com/onestopshop