Week 7 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Love, Kraft and Golden Top the Must-Start List
As the NFL enters Week 7 of the 2026 season, fantasy football managers are grappling with lineup decisions complicated by bye weeks and injury absences. Four teams—the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders, and Jacksonville Jaguars—are on bye, thinning the pool of available players. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams are adjusting to life without star receiver Davante Adams, who is expected to miss six to 10 weeks with an injury, as reported in Davante Adams Injury Casts Shadow Over Rams' Week 6 Loss to Cardinals.
According to Sports Illustrated's weekly Start 'Em, Sit 'Em column, several players are poised to exceed expectations based on favorable matchups and recent form. Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love and tight end Tucker Kraft top the list at their respective positions, while wide receiver Matthew Golden and running back Jameson Williams also garner strong recommendations. The column, based on full-point PPR scoring, focuses on players who could outperform or underperform their statistical expectations rather than elite options like Josh Allen or Ja'Marr Chase.
Key Starts of the Week
Jordan Love (QB, Packers) at Detroit Lions: Love has scored 20-plus fantasy points in each of his last two games and faces a Lions defense that has allowed all five quarterbacks it has faced to score more than 21 points, including a 40-point outburst by Josh Allen. With a projected game total in the low 50s, Love is the QB1 play of the week.
Tucker Kraft (TE, Packers) at Detroit Lions: Kraft has come alive recently, scoring 36.8 fantasy points over his last three games. The Lions have allowed seven tight ends to score 13-plus points and rank among the league's most generous defenses to the position in points and EPA per target. Kraft is a virtual must-start.
Matthew Golden (WR, Packers) at Detroit Lions: Golden has been better than projected, scoring 15-plus points four times while averaging 16.8 points per game. The Lions have allowed four wideouts to score 19-plus fantasy points, and the high projected total suggests a shootout at Ford Field.
Quarterback Streamers and Fades
Beyond Love, the quarterback position offers several streamable options. Matthew Stafford of the Rams faces a Raiders defense that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and ranks seventh in EPA per game. Despite the loss of Adams, Stafford averaged better than 24 points in three games without him last season. Jared Goff of the Lions has been a top fantasy quarterback, scoring 19-plus points in all but one of his five starts, with 12 touchdown passes and no turnovers. He faces a Packers defense that has benefited from facing weak quarterbacks like Carson Wentz and Geno Smith. C.J. Stroud of the Texans has scored 20-plus fantasy points in three straight games and gets a favorable matchup against the Giants.
On the flip side, managers should be cautious with George Pickens of the Cowboys, who has failed to score more than 13.3 points in four of his six games and has just one impressive stat line. He faces a tough Eagles defense on Monday night.
Wide Receiver Decisions: Trust the Matchups
At wide receiver, the committee approach is key. DK Metcalf of the Steelers faces a Saints pass defense that has allowed the ninth-most points per game to perimeter receivers and six wideouts to score 13-plus points, including three with 21-plus. Metcalf saw nine or more targets in four of his six games and posted 20.3 fantasy points last week. Jameson Williams of the Lions has been on a heater, scoring 34.9 combined points in his last two games, and he beat Green Bay for nearly 27 fantasy points in their last meeting. The Packers have allowed double-digit fantasy points to eight wide receivers, including five with at least 16 points.
Tight End Streamers and Depth Plays
With several tight ends on bye or injured, managers can look to Dallas Goedert of the Eagles, who has scored at least 9.8 fantasy points three times while averaging nearly 12 points per game. He has seen at least eight targets in two straight games and faces a Cowboys defense that is middle-of-the-pack against tight ends. Tyler Higbee of the Rams is a deep-league option with Davante Adams out; he played 84.2% of offensive snaps last week and should see an increased role against a vulnerable Raiders defense. Pat Freiermuth of the Steelers faces a Saints defense in Paris, though his production is threatened by teammate Darnell Washington's red-zone presence.
Defensive Streamers and Kicker Considerations
Defensively, the Minnesota Vikings are the start of the week against the Colts, who have committed 11 giveaways (tied for sixth-most) and allowed 15 sacks. Quarterback Daniel Jones has turned the ball over nine times himself. The Houston Texans face the Giants, who have also committed 11 giveaways and allowed the fifth-most sacks. The New York Jets host the Dolphins, who are tied for last in points per game (14.0) and third in turnover rate. Streamers include the Carolina Panthers (27% rostered) against a Buccaneers offense that has committed 11 giveaways and allowed the second-most sacks, and the Cleveland Browns (14% rostered) against a Titans offense tied for fewest points per game.
Context: Bye Weeks and Injuries Shape Week 7 Landscape
The Week 7 slate is significantly impacted by byes and injuries. The absence of four teams—including the high-powered Bills and Chargers offenses—forces managers to dig deeper into waivers and bench spots. The Rams' loss of Davante Adams for an extended period has already prompted adjustments, as noted in our coverage of Davante Adams Injury Casts Shadow Over Rams' Week 6 Loss to Cardinals. That injury elevates the fantasy value of Stafford, Higbee, and potentially Colby Parkinson, while also affecting the Raiders' defensive outlook.
Implications for Playoff Push
As the fantasy season approaches its midpoint, Week 7 decisions carry significant weight for playoff positioning. Managers who successfully stream quarterbacks and defenses can gain a crucial edge. The Packers-Lions matchup projects as a shootout, making all offensive pieces viable, while the Vikings and Texans defenses offer high floors against turnover-prone opponents. With six teams on bye in Week 8, savvy managers should also consider stashing streamers now.
Perspective: Matchup-Based Streaming Remains Key
The 2026 season has reinforced the importance of matchup-based streaming, particularly at quarterback, tight end, and defense. Elite players like Josh Allen and Ja'Marr Chase remain set-and-forget options, but the middle tiers of fantasy rosters are increasingly decided by weekly waiver-wire pickups and favorable matchups. The Packers' offensive explosion against a vulnerable Lions defense illustrates how identifying high-total games can yield league-winning performances. Conversely, fading inconsistent players like George Pickens in tough matchups can prevent costly duds.
As the season progresses, injuries and byes will continue to create opportunities for unheralded players like Tyler Higbee and Matthew Golden. Fantasy managers who stay flexible and exploit these situations will be best positioned for a championship run. With Week 7 set to deliver another unpredictable slate, the Start 'Em, Sit 'Em approach remains as relevant as ever.
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