• Welcome back, Dak: Dak Prescott will start for the first time since Week 1. The matchup against the Detroit Lions’ 32nd-ranked scoring defense necessitates that Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup are all starting in fantasy lineups.

• Steady on Swift: D’Andre Swift never practiced fully this week and could be on a touch count, similar to Week 2.

• Keenan Allen's return? Expect Mike Williams to see all the targets he can handle while DeAndre Carter should also see a nice bump. Allen will be his usual volume-induced WR2 self if healthy enough to suit up. Start Williams either way ahead of this potential shootout against the Seahawks.

Estimated reading time: 20 minutes

KEY
DNP: Did not participate in practice
LP: Limited participation in practice
FP: Full participation
(-): Not listed
OUT: Player will not play
D: Player is unlikely to play
Q: Player is not certain to play
NIR – Rest: Not injury-related or resting veteran

QB | RB | WR | TE

Quarterback

Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson (hamstring, out): Wilson had never missed a game due to injury until last season, but he will miss this week, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott (right thumb, not listed): Prescott will start for the first time since Week 1. While it’d be nice to wait a week before going all in on Prescott and this passing game, the matchup against the Detroit Lions’ 32nd-ranked scoring defense necessitates that Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup are all starting in a majority of fantasy lineups.

Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (hip, not listed): Limited to start the week, but put together back-to-back full practices and is good to go for Sunday. Fire up Jackson as the week’s overall QB1 with both Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts on bye.

New England Patriots QB Mac Jones (ankle): Continues to practice in a limited fashion but is tentatively expected to suit up Monday night against the Chicago Bears. Still, the uncertainty at hand and overall average fantasy upside have Jones well off the fantasy radar in non-DFS showdown contests.

Expert Injury Analysis: Patriots QB Mac Jones has missed several weeks due to a high-ankle sprain, but I am optimistic he returns to action in Week 7.

Washington Commanders QB Carson Wentz (right finger, out): Taylor Heinicke will be under center for the foreseeable future. While Heinicke’s ceiling is limited, he did post five top-12 finishes last season thanks to some legit dual-threat upside. Heinicke is my QB20 on the week ahead of guys like Daniel Jones and Jacoby Brissett.

Expert Injury Analysis: QB Carson Wentz suffered a fractured finger on his throwing hand, and he will miss the next four to six weeks. 

Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa (concussion, not listed): Practiced in full all week and will start under center against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night. Fire up Tua as a low-end QB1 thanks to the overall high-end efficiency of this passing game regardless of who is under center.

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (right thumb, not listed): He has been getting Wednesday off in recent weeks, but Rodgers is fine and remains a high-end QB2 poised for better days ahead.

Steelers QB Kenny Pickett (concussion, not listed): He has cleared the concussion protocol and is good to go for Sunday night’s matchup against the Dolphins. While Pickett isn’t a viable fantasy option at this point, his presence is good news for the overall upside of all pass-catchers involved.

Carolina Panthers QBs Baker Mayfield (ankle, doubtful), Sam Darnold (ankle, PUP): P.J. Walker will once again start for the NFL’s most-depressing offense.

Expert Injury Analysis: Panthers QB Baker Mayfield will miss his second straight week due to a high-ankle sprain — typical return-to-play is four-to-six weeks.

Running back

Indianapolis Colts RBs Jonathan Taylor (ankle, not listed), Nyheim Hines (concussion, not listed): The Colts are getting both of their top-two running backs this week after waiver wire all-star Deon Jackson handled most of the load over the past two weeks. Obviously, fire up Taylor as a top-five option at the position while Hines is more of a low-end RB3 in full-PPR formats.

Expert Injury Analysis: RB Jonathan Taylor has been dealing with an ankle injury for the past several weeks, but I believe he will return to action in Week 7. Nyheim Hines has cleared the concussion protocol and will play in Week 7.

Patriots RB Damien Harris (hamstring): He should be good to go for Monday night after practicing fully in back-to-back practices to start the week. Harris is the NFL’s only running back who is averaging at least two yards after contact on at least 80% of his carries, so don’t assume that Rhamondre Stevenson will maintain a workhorse role with the Patriots’ Week 1 starter back in the picture. Harris’ lack of a pass-game role makes it tough to squeeze him inside the position’s top-24 options,while Stevenson dropped from my PPR RB11 before the news to RB20 after.

Lions RB D’Andre Swift (ankle/shoulder, questionable): Swift never practiced fully this week and could feasibly be on a touch count similar to Week 2. I have him ranked as more of a low-end RB2 as opposed to a locked-in RB1 due to this uncertainty. If inactive, Jamaal Williams should see 15-to-20 touches, but just realize Craig Reynolds and Justin Jackson will take most of Swift’s pass-game work.

Expert Injury Analysis: RB D’Andre Swift has been limited all week due to ankle/shoulder injuries, but he will miss Week 7.

Ravens RBs J.K. Dobbins (knee, out), Justice Hill (hamstring, not listed), Gus Edwards (knee, PUP): Dobbins is going to miss some time while Hill is set to return. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said last Monday that he believes Edwards will make an impact in his first game back. Alas, Kenyan Drake and Mike Davis are also fully expected to stay involved, making this committee a possible four-player situation that should be avoided if at all possible. I lean Drake, but even then, he’s not ranked inside my top 30 players at the position. Edwards is the most valuable bench stash moving forward.

Expert Injury Analysis: RB JK Dobbins injured his surgically repaired knee last week. I believe he tore his meniscus because he reportedly will miss the next four-to-six weeks due to arthroscopic surgery.  

Los Angeles Chargers RB Joshua Kelley (knee, out): Sony Michel should flirt with double-digit carries behind obvious bell-cow Austin Ekeler.

Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert (knee, not listed): He is good to go after carrying a questionable tag into last week’s game. While this offense certainly flows through Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle first and foremost, Mostert has slowly but surely taken over this backfield from Chase Edmonds and accordingly deserves consistent low-end RB2 treatment.

Wide receiver

Cincinnati Bengals WRs Ja’Marr Chase (ankle, not listed), Tee Higgins (ankle, not listed): Chase is good to go for Sunday so fire him up as arguably the overall WR1 on the entire slate against A.J. Terrell (has allowed NFL-high seven touchdowns) and the Atlanta Falcons. Higgins should also be in lineups of all shapes and sizes after getting back to his usual 90%-plus route rate last week.

Seattle Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett (hamstring, questionable): He didn’t practice all week but is tentatively expected to suit up Sunday against the Chargers if you want to listen to coach Pete Carroll (always iffy). The possibility that Lockett is functioning at less than 100% makes him more of a low-end WR2 than usual. Don’t be surprised if D.K. Metcalf accordingly booms in a major way.

Expert Injury Analysis: Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett is dealing with a hamstring injury, but I am optimistic he plays in Week 7 after battling through it last week. 

Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle (shoulder, questionable): He looks to be on the right side of questionable, but his inability to get a full practice in at any point during the week is concerning. Fantasy managers need to have a backup plan in place with the Dolphins facing off against the Steelers on Sunday night. Obviously, Waddle warrants upside WR2 treatment, at a minimum, anytime he’s healthy enough to suit up.

Expert Injury Analysis: WR Jaylen Waddle has been limited all week due to a shoulder injury, but I expect him to play in Week 7. 

Ravens WR Rashod Bateman (foot, questionable): He appears to be nearing a return after practicing in a limited fashion all week. Still, the first game back from injury could bring limited snaps so try to go with the other guy in most close start/sit questions involving the Ravens’ No. 1 wide receiver. Devin Duvernay is back to WR5 status with Bateman in the picture.’

Expert Injury Analysis: WR Rashod Bateman has been limited all week with a foot injury. I believe he will return from his foot issue in Week 7.

Chargers WRs Keenan Allen (hamstring, questionable), Josh Palmer (concussion, out): Expect Mike Williams to see all the targets he can handle while DeAndre Carter should also see a nice bump. Allen will be his usual volume-induced WR2 self if healthy enough to suit up. Start Williams either way ahead of this potential shootout against the Seahawks.

Expert Injury Analysis: Chargers WR Keenan Allen has yet to see the field this season. I am not optimistic he returns to action this week because the Chargers having a bye in Week 8.

Lions WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle, not listed), Josh Reynolds (knee, questionable), D.J. Chark (ankle, out): St. Brown is fully healthy and should be jammed into fantasy lineups of all shapes and sizes as a legitimate top-10 option at the position. Reynolds didn’t practice until Friday and appears to be truly questionable. These complementary receivers' absence could lead to another big workload for T.J. Hockenson.

Expert Injury Analysis: Lions WR D.J. Chark continues to deal with issues stemming from last year's ankle fracture. He will miss Week 7, so this is starting to get concerning.  

Las Vegas Raiders WRs Hunter Renfrow (hip, questionable), Mack Hollins (heel, questionable): Renfrow was downgraded mid-week, so he can’t be relied on as a realistic WR3-caliber fantasy option with limited snaps and/or performance plenty possible while dealing with this issue. Hollins seems more likely to play after practicing on a limited basis all week. Of course, Davante Adams has been the Raiders passing game's only real answer all season long.

Expert Injury Analysis: WR Hunter Renfrow was a late addition to the injury report due to a hip injury. This is never a good sign and makes me doubt his Week 7 availability. Mack Hollins is dealing with a heel issue, but I am optimistic he will be ready for Week 7.

New York Jets WR Elijah Moore (NIR, out): Moore is out after requesting a trade during the middle of the week. His absence does condense three-WR sets to just Corey Davis, Garrett Wilson and Braxton Berrios, but just realize this is still a run-first offense without too much overall upside in the passing game with this current edition of Zach Wilson. I’ll continue to answer the majority of start/sit questions involving a Jets receiver with the other guy.

New York Giants WRs Kadarius Toney (hamstring, out), Kenny Golladay (knee, out): The only somewhat viable fantasy receiver in this offense is Wan’Dale Robinson, but even then, he’s only a stash at the moment until he receives a full-time role – which wasn’t the case last week in his NFL debut.

Commanders WRs Jahan Dotson (hamstring, questionable), Dyami Brown (groin, out): Expect Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel to see all the work they can handle with Dotson’s status up in the air after he was downgraded to a DNP on Friday.

Expert Injury Analysis: WR Jahan Dotson aggravated his hamstring injury in practice Thursday. I do not expect him to play in Week 7, and I wouldn’t be shocked if he missed several weeks. Dyami Brown has a groin strain and will miss Week 7 — typical return-to-play timeline is two-to-three weeks.

Packers WRs Randall Cobb (ankle, out), Christian Watson (hamstring, out), Sammy Watkins (hamstring, IR): These injuries are setting up Romeo Doubs and Allen Lazard for all the work they can handle. The Packers passing game popped as one of the week’s best-positioned units to create all kinds of explosive plays.

Expert Injury Analysis: WR Christian Watson has been ruled out with a hamstring strain — typical return-to-play timeline for a Grade 1 strain is one-to-three weeks. Randall Cobb suffered a high-ankle sprain last week. He has been ruled out for Week 7, and I expect him to miss the next four-to-six weeks.

Patriots WRs Nelson Agholor (hamstring), Kendrick Bourne (toe): Both practiced in a limited fashion all week. Even if active, the Patriots are expected to roll with Jakobi Meyers, DeVante Parker and Tyquan Thornton in three-WR sets.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Julio Jones (knee, out): Mike Evans and Chris Godwin should continue to see all sorts of work. Both are locked in as top-15 options at the position. Russell Gage is more of a borderline WR3 who Brady hasn’t felt the need to overly keep involved this season.

Expert Injury Analysis: WR Julio Jones will miss yet another game due to his knee injury. At this point, he is extremely hard to trust moving forward.

Tight end

Ravens TE Mark Andrews (knee, questionable): He appears to be on the right side of questionable after practicing on a limited basis Friday. Coach John Harbaugh also didn’t sound overly concerned throughout the week. If active, Andrews is locked in as a top-two option at the position and should obviously be jammed into lineups of all shapes and sizes. If not, talented rookie Isaiah Likely would immediately jump into the position’s top 10 ahead of Hayden Hurst, Gerald Everett and Robert Tonyan.

Expert Injury Analysis: Ravens TE Mark Andrews made fantasy owners everywhere nervous with back-to-back did not practice designations (DNPs) due to a knee issue. Coach John Harbaugh said he was just resting and will be fine, which was reflected on Friday, as he practiced on a limited basis. I expect Andrews to play in Week 7.

Raiders TEs Darren Waller (hamstring, out), Foster Moreau (knee, not listed): Moreau should work as a near-every-down tight end after finally getting over his own injury. Still, the likelihood that most of this passing game simply continues to flow through Davante Adams makes it tough to rank Moreau as more than a mid-tier TE1. I’d rather pick up Hunter Henry or Evan Engram if especially needy at the position. 

Expert Injury Analysis: TE Darren Waller has been ruled out for Week 7 with his hamstring injury, but I expect him to return in Week 8.

Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth (concussion, not listed): Good to go after missing last week’s game due to a concussion. Freiermuth still isn’t exactly locked in as a must-start TE1 considering all the mouths to feed in this underwhelming passing attack, but it’s tough to rank him outside the position’s top-15 options during bye week season. Overall, Freiermuth comes in as my TE14 on the week ahead of Hunter Henry and Evan Engram.

Bengals TE Hayden Hurst (groin, not listed): He's good to go for Sunday, as Hurst is a top-12 option at the position this week against a Falcons defense that ranks among the league’s bottom-three units in receptions and receiving yards allowed to the position.

Chargers TE Donald Parham (concussion, out): Gerald Everett is more secured as a top-10 option at the position when Parham is out, but this will still be a committee of sorts.

Commanders TE Logan Thomas (calf, out), John Bates (hamstring, questionable): Cole Turner will likely again be on the field for over 90% of the offense’s snaps against the Packers.

Buccaneers TE Cameron Brate (neck, out): Cade Otton should see a near-every-down role and accordingly deserves top-20 treatment at the position inside of this pass-happy offense poised to see better days ahead from an efficiency standpoint.

Expert Injury Analysis: Buccaneers TE Cameron Brate will miss Week 7 due to a neck injury he suffered this past week. Neck injuries are tricky because they can last a week or cause an extensive absence.