B/R's Week 7 PPR Fantasy Football 2025 Player Rankings
Hard though it may be to believe, we have hit the halfway point of the fantasy football regular season in 2025.
For some fantasy managers, the first half of the season has been a dream. Players are exceeding expectations. They have avoided devastating injuries. Their teams are sitting pretty at 5-1 or even 6-0.
For others, the first six weeks of 2025 have been a nightmare. Between duds and injured players, their lineups have more holes than a golf course. Their teams are 2-4 or worse, and they are either teetering on the brink.
For many other teams, though, nothing is certain yet. At 4-2 or 3-3, they remain in the mix for the postseason—provided they can stack some wins.
This column aims to help fantasy managers succeed in Week 7, with position-by-position PPR rankings, breakout and bust candidates, sleeper picks, and top overall flex options.
Quarterbacks
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There's little question Patrick Mahomes is one of the NFL's best quarterbacks. His resume speaks for itself. By the end of his career, he will likely go down as one of the best signal-callers in history.
However, few fantasy managers expected the Kansas City star would be fantasy football's highest-scoring quarterback six weeks into the 2025 season. His average draft position over the summer was sixth at the position.
After lighting up the Detroit Lions for 257 passing yards, 32 rushing yards and four total touchdowns Sunday night, though, Mahomes is the No. 1 quarterback in fantasy points.
Week 7 Quarterback Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 7
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at DET) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,600]
As mentioned, a Lions defense surrendering the seventh-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this year just gave up a big game to Mahomes, and Mayfield is playing at an MVP level this season despite injuries at wide receiver in Tampa.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (at JAX) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,100]
Stafford had his worst fantasy outing of the season last week in Baltimore, but he's still a top-10 quarterback for the season. Look for him to rebound this week against a Jaguars defense that ranks 30th in the league against the pass.
Players to Avoid in Week 7
Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (vs. HOU) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,400]
Since Week 2, Darnold quietly ranks seventh among all quarterbacks in fantasy points. But the Texans haven't been kind to opposing QBs this year—no team in the league has given up fewer fantasy points per game to the position this year.
Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (at LAC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]
Jones and the Colts are the most surprising success story of the 2025 season. But fantasy football's seventh-ranked quarterback could have a tough go this week against a Chargers team allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in 2025.
Week 7 Sleeper
Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. PIT) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,900]
Flacco's 219 passing yards, two touchdowns and a two-point conversion last week against the Green Bay Packers ranked just outside the top 12 in fantasy points in Week 6. Now he faces Pittsburgh's 27th-ranked pass defense Thursday night.
Running Backs
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Filling in for an injured Chuba Hubbard the past two weeks, Rico Dowdle has amassed a staggering 473 scrimmage yards—the most in franchise history over a two-game span. That's more total yards than Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles has for the season.
Last week against the Dallas Cowboys, the 27-year-old exploded for 239 total yards (also a franchise record) and a touchdown. He is averaging over 33 PPR points per game the past two weeks.
We have a feeling the Panthers are in no hurry to rush Hubbard back into the lineup.
Week 6 Running Back Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 7
Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings (vs. PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,200]
Aaron Jones won't be ready to return to action until at least Week 8, which gives Mason at least one more week as Minnesota's lead back against an Eagles defense giving up the eighth-most PPR points per game to running backs.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders (at DAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,100]
Over the past month, Croskey-Merritt has been a top-20 fantasy back. The fan favorite should finish well within that range Sunday in Dallas—the Cowboys were just roasted on the ground by Dowdle in Week 6.
Players to Avoid in Week 7
Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (at DEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,500]
Skattebo is coming off a three-touchdown game in last week's upset of the Eagles, but the sledding will be significantly tougher this week; the Broncos enter Week 7 sixth in the league in run defense.
Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at DET) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,400]
With Bucky Irving "not in play" for the Buccaneers in Week 7, White will again be Tampa Bay's lead back. But that start comes against a Detroit Lions team allowing the sixth-fewest PPR points per game to running backs this season.
Week 7 Sleeper
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,400]
Kenneth Gainwell ate into Warren's workload last week against the Browns, but the latter still led the team in backfield touches. The Bengals have struggled against the run, surrendering the most PPR points per game to the position in 2025.
Wide Receivers
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Injuries were already a factor at wide receiver this season. Fantasy managers have been getting by without the likes of Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and CeeDee Lamb of the Dallas Cowboys for some time.
Things are getting ridiculous now, though.
Fantasy football's No. 3 wide receiver, Puka Nacua of the Los Angeles Rams, suffered an ankle injury last week. Emeka Egbuka of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has a hamstring issue. Garrett Wilson of the New York Jets will miss multiple weeks with a knee problem, and Marvin Harrison Jr. of the Arizona Cardinals is in the concussion protocol.
That isn't even a complete list, though it is an Ohio State-heavy one.
Week 7 Wide Receiver Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 7
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. PIT) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]
Higgins has been a massive disappointment this season, topping 12 PPR points just once this year. But he draws a favorable fantasy matchup Thursday night, and Joe Flacco's arrival in Cincinnati has offered a flicker of hope.
Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]
Fantasy managers finally got a glimpse of the McConkey they thought they were drafting last week against the Dolphins. Now he draws a Colts defense allowing the fourth-most PPR points per game to wideouts this year.
Players to Avoid in Week 7
Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers (at NYJ) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,400]
McMillan found the end zone twice last week, and the rookie has been a top-25 fantasy wideout six weeks into the year. But he'll draw a lot of Sauce Gardner in coverage this Sunday at Met Life Stadium.
DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles (at MIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,700]
There is no shortage of questions surrounding the Philadelphia offense right now, and those questions will only grow after the Eagles face Minnesota's second-ranked pass defense Sunday.
Week 7 Sleeper
Tez Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at DET) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,200]
Johnson's reaction to his first career NFL touchdown last week was hilarious, and with the Bucs ravaged by injuries, the rookie could find the end zone again against a Lions pass defense allowing the fifth-most PPR points per game given up to wideouts in 2025.
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Tight Ends
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In each of the past two seasons, the No. 1 tight end in fantasy has been a rookie: Sam LaPorta of the Detroit Lions in 2023 and Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders a year ago.
With players such as Bowers and Trey McBride of the Arizona Cardinals atop fantasy draft boards this summer, a three-peat appeared unlikely.
Someone forgot to tell Tyler Warren of the Indianapolis Colts, though.
After catching six passes for 63 yards and a touchdown last week against the Arizona Cardinals, the 23-year-old sits second in PPR points among tight ends. He has been held under 10 PPR points just once in six games.
Look out, Jake Ferguson. There's a youngster hot on your tail.
Week 7 Tight End Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 7
Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns (vs. MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,900]
The Browns are poor. However, the Dolphins have allowed the eighth-most PPR points per game to tight ends, David Njoku has a knee injury, and Dillon Gabriel has shown zero ability to push the ball down the field vertically.
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers (at ARI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,900]
In terms of PPR points per game, Kraft is seventh among tight ends at this point in the season. Now the 24-year-old faces an Arizona Cardinals team giving up the sixth-most PPR points per game to the position in 2025.
Players to Avoid in Week 7
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (at TEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,100]
Henry came roaring out of the gate this year, but he has slowed down considerably the past two weeks. A matchup with a Titans defense surrendering the ninth-fewest PPR points per game to tight ends isn't likely to be a slump-buster.
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers (vs. ATL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,400]
From all indications, Kittle is trending toward a return from injured reserve in Week 7. But his snaps could be limited in his first game back, and the Falcons are dead-last in PPR points per game allowed to the position this season.
Week 7 Sleeper
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans (vs. NE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,300]
Okonkwo had six catches for 46 yards last week—his second game of the season with over 10 PPR points. The Patriots have been kind to opposing tight ends in 2025, being 10th in PPR points per game given up this year.
Team Defenses and Kickers
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It's no secret that having a good kicker is critical to fantasy success. Given their importance, this seems like a good week for a State of the Union of sorts at fantasy football's most vital position.
Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Cowboys, Cameron Dicker of the Los Angeles Chargers and Chase McLaughlin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were all expected to be productive fantasy assets and remain at the top.
However, the No. 1 kicker in terms of points per game is Eddy Pineiro of the San Francisco 49ers, who wasn't even with the team when the season began.
The 30-year-old is one of just two kickers averaging double-digit points, alongside fellow surprise package Spencer Shrader of the Indianapolis Colts.
Week 7 Team Defense Rankings
Week 7 Kicker Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 7
Kansas City Chiefs Defense (vs. LV) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,700]
The Chiefs defense did a solid job limiting, arguably, the league's best offense in the Detroit Lions, and they now host a Las Vegas Raiders team allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to defenses in 2025.
Matt Gay, Washington Commanders (at DAL)
Gay missed a kick in Monday's one-point loss to the Chicago Bears, but he should rebound this week against the Cowboys. Dallas has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points per game to kickers this season.
Players to Avoid in Week 7
Los Angeles Chargers (vs. IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,100]
The Chargers are a good defensive football team, but they barely rank inside the top 15 in fantasy points at the position. This week, they face the unstoppable force of nature that is Daniel Jones. Good luck with that.
Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks (vs. HOU)
Myers has been solid for fantasy managers this year—he's fifth in fantasy points at his position. But the Texans have been incredibly stingy to opposing kickers, allowing less than three fantasy points per game.
Week 7 Sleeper
Miami Dolphins Defense (at CLE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,700]
Fans need their own defense against watching this contest—maybe a drinking game based on bizarre Mike McDaniel statements and dropped passes by Browns pass-catchers. Better yet, just watch something else.
Overall Player Rankings
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These rankings of the top players overall can be of assistance in making flex lineup decisions. However, they do not include quarterbacks—if your league has a superflex spot and you have a solid QB2, he should be in that spot.
Dillon Gabriel of the Cleveland Browns and Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins are not "solid."
There are two teams on bye in Week 7: the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. We'll have to wait until Week 8 to be disappointed by Josh Allen and Derrick Henry.
Clearly, I'm not bitter at all.
With the season at the halfway point, it's important to stay even-keeled. Don't get too high or too low. There's still plenty of time for hot starts to fall apart, and this writer has taken a team from 1-5 to champions in the past.
Just keep plugging along.
Week 7 Overall Rankings
Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.
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