Week 7 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Review for Fantasy Football's Top Fringe Starters

The 2025 NFL season has been wildly unpredictable, and the fantasy football landscape has followed suit. Only a few top stars have been matchup-proof in 2025, and injuries have taken several big names out of the equation.

Puka Nacua, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka and Garrett Wilson were among those injured in Week 6.

Most managers have been forced to rely on more fringe starters than they'd prefer this season, but they can be serviceable in the right matchups. Let's dive into some of the best and worst of Week 7, based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

Start: Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders

AP Photo/Carrie Giordano

Washington Commanders rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt has lived up to his billing as a 2025 fantasy draft sleeper. He's had some huge outings, like his 150-yard, two-touchdown game in Week 5, but he's not a top-tier star just yet.

Croskey-Merritt has also had some duds, like Monday night's 68-yard, one-fumble performance.

The seventh-round pick out of Arizona should be considered a matchup-based flex play moving forward. Fortunately, he's looking at a very spicy matchup in Week 7.

The Commanders are set to visit the Dallas Cowboys, who have fielded one of the worst defenses in the NFL this season. Dallas is giving up 4.7 yards per carry this season and has surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs.

Sit: Michael Carter, RB, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Samantha Chow

Due to the injuries of James Conner and Trey Benson, Michael Carter was a popular waiver-wire pickup ahead of Week 6. Despite being a pure depth player for the Arizona Cardinals, he's now rostered in 55 percent of Yahoo leagues and 64 percent of ESPN leagues.

The problem is that, while Carter led Arizona's backfield in Week 5, Zonovan Knight led the Cardinals in touches in Week 6. Knight was also the only Cardinals back to find the end zone.

This week, the decision should be easy. Managers can sit both Carter and Knight against the Green Bay Packers and wait another week to see how the rotation shakes out.

Green Bay's defense has been better at home than on the road, but it has been fairly stout against the run regardless. The Packers have given up 100 rushing yards only once this season, and they've surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs.

Start: Rashid Shaheed, WR, New Orleans Saints

AP Photo/Maria Lysaker

Fans who haven't watched the New Orleans Saints regularly this season have probably missed the fact that quarterback Spencer Rattler has been playing some pretty solid football. He's done a great job of getting the ball to his playmakers, which, for fantasy managers, is fantastic.

Chris Olave has remained a must-start this season, while Rashid Shaheed has been a strong matchup-based play. Shaheed is worth starting against the Chicago Bears this week.

Shaheed had a modest four-catch, 28-yard outing in Week 6, but he's had at least four receptions in every single game this season. His PPR floor is high, and his ceiling against Chicago is enticing.

The Bears have surrendered the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing receivers this season. While they did a good job of slowing Deebo Samuel on Monday night, that opened things up for Chris Moore, who caught three passes for 46 yards and a score.

If stopping Olave is Chicago's top priority this week, Shaheed should have a big day.

Sit: Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, New York Giants

AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

When the New York Giants lost Malik Nabers for the season, Wan'Dale Robinson was expected to step into the No. 1 receiver role. He's had a couple of strong outings this season, but he's not the matchup-proof superstar that Nabers has quickly become.

Robinson is, however, coming off a six-catch, 84-yard, one-touchdown performance. That likely earned him the trust of rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. It will certainly intrigue some fantasy managers heading into Week 7.

However, Robinson's matchup is worrisome. The Giants are set to visit the Denver Broncos, who have surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers.

Robinson, meanwhile, is likely to draw a matchup with star corner Patrick Surtain II. Surtain has surrendered just 166 receiving yards and no touchdowns through six games.

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros.