- Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Flacco are already building an impressive rapport: Chase recorded a massive 16 receptions on 23 targets en route to 38.1 PPR points this past week.
- Caleb Williams goes quiet in the Bears' win: Chicago didn't need Williams to shine, as the team's rushing attack thrived, much to the chagrin of Williams' fantasy managers.
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Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
BOOMS
QB Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Sunday was a rollercoaster for those who started Bo Nix.
Through three quarters, he was 11-of-25 passing for 105 yards and no touchdowns — primed to appear in the “busts” section of this article.
But Nix and the Broncos put together a fourth quarter for the ages. With 218 total yards, four touchdowns and a 76.2% adjusted completion rate in the final frame, Nix quickly became a Week 7 fantasy superstar.
He finished the slate as this week's fantasy QB1.
Temperature Check: Mid-tier QB1
RB Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers
McCaffrey is quietly averaging 26.7 PPR points per game and sits as the fantasy RB1 this season following a 39.1-point performance in Week 7.
The 49ers veteran running back has eclipsed 20-plus PPR points in every game this season:
- Week 1: 23.2
- Week 2: 22.7
- Week 3: 24.0
- Week 4: 26.1
- Week 5: 27.9
- Week 6: 24.1
- Week 7: 39.1
Along with the production, McCaffrey is seeing excellent volume. He is on pace for 449 touches this season and has 31 more touches than any other player through seven weeks. That number will dip once Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, George Kittle and Brock Purdy are back to full strength, but McCaffrey's impact and efficiency are undeniable.
If you gambled on McCaffrey this season, it’s paying off — big time.
Temperature Check: The RB1
WR Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
Chase is all the way back with Joe Flacco at the helm, racking up 38.1 PPR points in Week 7.
Ja'Marr Chase in two games with Joe Flacco at QB:
— PFF (@PFF) October 17, 2025
🐅 26 receptions
🐅 255 yards
🐅 2 TDs https://t.co/wZzMF1j1zl pic.twitter.com/rCBkvCFV0h
Chase recorded a massive 16 receptions on 23 targets in Week 7. His receptions total outpaced every other wide receiver's target total. Flacco is locked onto Chase, and even if 30% of the targets are not catchable, as we saw this week, it is still going to be more than enough volume for the star to thrive. It led to an elite 90.5 PFF overall grade for Chase this week.
As long as Flacco remains Cincinnati's QB1, Chase and a lot of the Bengals' weapons seem to be back on track.
Temperature Check: High-end WR1
BUSTS
QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Williams is Week 7's QB27 — a far cry from his QB1 finish in Week 3 and top-10 rankings in Weeks 1 and 6.
Last year's No. 1 overall pick notched just 5.3 fantasy points, despite previously averaging 20.8 points per game through six weeks. However, the Bears' top two running backs combined for 31 carries, 205 yards and two touchdowns, so Williams wasn't needed to propel the team to victory.
This “bust” was less about Williams, who did what he needed to do despite an interception, and more about a game script where the Bears held a lead and were running the ball with great success.
Temperature Check: High-end QB1
RB Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers
After back-to-back games with 30-plus PPR points, Dowdle came back down to earth in Week 7, with a modest 10.9 points.
Dowdle did still handle most of the backfield workload despite Chuba Hubbard‘s return from injury, out-touching Hubbard 18 to 16. However, Hubbard saw more targets in the passing game. Carolina's backfield was expected to be split with both players now healthy, although expect Hubbard to see more snaps as the Panthers work him back into the offense.
It will be a headache to roster either player going forward.
Temperature Check: High-end RB3
WR Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
Things have gone from bad to worse for the Dolphins. Jaylen Waddle, the team's de facto No. 1 receiver with Tyreek Hill sidelined, tallied only 2.5 PPR points in Week 7 of a blowout loss to the Cleveland Browns. And he left the game with an injury in the fourth quarter.
The weather, the game script and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s play hindered Waddle. Winds exceeded 20 mph, rain came down throughout the game and Tagovailoa went just 12-of-23 passing for only 100 yards with three Interceptions.
Waddle's injury is something to monitor, as there will be other Miami receivers to target on waivers if he misses time, but there is otherwise no need to panic. This was a worst-case week for Waddle.
Temperature Check: Low-end WR1 if healthy
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