The fantasy football season is absolutely flying by. It feels like we have just begun, but the NFL regular season is already a third over. As sad as this makes me, it does come with a silver lining: Plenty of sweet, sweet data.
Most relevantly for this article, six weeks is a solid sample size for the FantasyPros Fantasy Points Allowed tool. This allows us to find the best (and worst) matchups at every position every single week. Without further ado, here they are for Week 7.
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Fantasy Points Allowed: Best & Worst Matchups (Week 7)
Week 7 Quarterback Fantasy Football Matchups
Good Matchup: Aaron Rodgers (QB – PIT) @ Cincinnati Bengals
At first glance, the Bengals’ defense isn’t that good of a matchup for quarterbacks. They are closer to average than elite, giving up the 11th-most points per game to opposing signal-callers. However, that is mostly because they have suppressed quarterback rushing production. Cincinnati’s defense ranks third in yards per game, sixth in touchdowns per game and third in net yards per attempt allowed through the air.
That works out just fine for Aaron Rodgers, whose dual-threat days are long behind him. If the 41-year-old is going to produce, it’s going to be through the air, so this is an excellent matchup for him. Especially if Joe Flacco can keep the Bengals even reasonably competitive, expect Rodgers to provide solid stream-worthy numbers on Thursday night.
Bad Matchup: Sam Darnold (QB – SEA) vs. Houston Texans
Sam Darnold has been excellent to start the 2025 season. He leads the entire NFL in adjusted net yards per attempt, Pro Football Focus (PFF) passing grade and expected points added (EPA) per play. He isn’t mobile, and Seattle’s offense is run-heavy, so his fantasy production has been just OK. But even that is trending up, with 24.3 points per game over his last two.
However, as well as he has played, I don’t yet view Darnold as a matchup-proof quarterback. That’s bad news for this week, as the Seahawks play host to an elite Texans defense. Houston has easily allowed the fewest points per game to opposing quarterbacks at just 10.4. Darnold’s long-term outlook this season is bright, but I recommend keeping him out of your lineup this week.
Week 7 Running Back Fantasy Football Matchups
Good Matchup: Jaylen Warren (RB – PIT) @ Cincinnati Bengals
Let’s just keep picking on the Bengals’ horrendous defense, why don’t we? Along with their weakness against the pass, Cincinnati has given up 29.7 points per game to opposing running backs, over three points more than the next most generous team.
Jaylen Warren’s usage in his return from injury in Week 6 wasn’t ideal, as Kenneth Gainwell clearly earned a large role with his Week 4 explosion. But, even on mediocre usage, Warren is set up to provide solid RB2 numbers thanks to this enticing matchup.
Bad Matchup: Zonovan Knight (RB – ARI) vs. Green Bay Packers
The man they call Bam was surprisingly reported to be the Cardinals’ starter ahead of Week 6. That report proved true, as Zonovan Knight led Arizona’s backfield in both carries (11) and snap share (49%). He also saw two targets and, thanks to a goal-line touchdown, finished with a respectable 11.9 half-PPR points.
Unfortunately, Knight’s second week as a starting back comes against a Packers defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest points to opposing backs so far this season. They have been particularly stingy on the ground, allowing the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game to the position. That’s not great for Knight, as Michael Carter was still the Cardinals’ lead receiving back in Week 6. Knight should definitely be added from the waiver wire this week, but I wouldn’t put him in your lineup if you have another solid option.
Week 7 Wide Receiver Fantasy Football Matchups
Good Matchup: Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN) vs. New York Giants
Courtland Sutton’s 2025 season has been up and down. Compared to previous years, both his route participation rate and his target share have been extremely volatile, and his fantasy production has suffered accordingly. To go with four quality games, he also has two complete duds, including just 2.2 points last week against the Jets.
However, this should be a big week for Sutton, as the Giants rank third in the league in points allowed to opposing receivers. New York actually leads the league in both yards and receptions allowed, ahead of even the Cowboys’ horrendous defense. Fire the veteran up with confidence this week as a high-end WR2 or even borderline WR1.
Bad Matchup: DeVonta Smith (WR – PHI) @ Minnesota Vikings
It’s really impossible to overstate how tough Brian Flores’ defense has been on opposing receivers so far this season. They’ve allowed 20% fewer receptions, 21% fewer yards and 22% fewer points per game than the next-closest team in each metric.
This week, the unfortunate team to face the Vikings’ defense is the Eagles. I’m not going to recommend benching A.J. Brown, who has seen at least eight targets in each of the last five games. But for Eagles No. 2 WR DeVonta Smith, this might be a matchup worth avoiding. Smith definitely has the talent to still provide a quality outing, so he’s not a must-bench. But given the obscene level to which the Vikings have shut down opposing receivers so far, he’s certainly not a safe start, either.
Week 7 Tight End Fantasy Football Matchups
Good Matchup: Mason Taylor (TE – NYJ) vs. Carolina Panthers
After posting back-to-back weeks with a 26% target share, Mason Taylor was a hot sleeper heading into Week 6. Unfortunately, the rookie tight end was unable to escape the pit of despair that was the Jets’ offense in London. He caught his only target for just two yards. That was one of New York’s best offensive plays of the day.
However, everything is lining up for a bounce-back from Taylor this week. For one, Garrett Wilson will likely be out with a knee injury, opening up plenty of targets to go around. For two, the Panthers’ defense has been terrible against opposing tight ends so far this season. They rank second in fantasy points allowed and first in yards allowed to the position. If you can stomach playing a Justin Fields pass-catcher (I would understand if you can’t), the rookie is a solid streaming option this week.
Bad Matchup: Jake Tonges (TE – SF) vs. Atlanta Falcons
With George Kittle and pretty much the team’s entire receiver group sidelined, Jake Tonges has stepped up as a reliable option in the 49ers’ passing game. He has provided scores of 13.3, 13.6 and 8.8 half-PPR points over the last three weeks. However, his run as a viable streaming option will likely come to an end this week.
The Falcons have absolutely shut down opposing tight ends so far this season, allowing a laughably low 1.8 receptions for 17.6 yards per game. They’ve also given up just one tight end touchdown (a 19-yard catch by Dawson Knox last night), for a total of just 4.3 half-PPR points per game. If Tonges were George Kittle (who should practice this week but currently seems unlikely to suit up), I’d say start him anyway, but he’s not.
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Ted Chmyz is a fantasy football contributor for FantasyPros.com. Find him on Twitter and Bluesky @Tchmyz for more fantasy content or to ask questions.