playEric KarabellOct 19, 2026, 11:33 AM ETCloseEric Karabell is a senior writer covering fantasy football, baseball and basketball at ESPN. Eric is a charter member of the FSWA Hall of Fame, a BBWAA baseball Hall of Fame voter and author of “The Best Philadelphia Sports Arguments.”Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsEach Monday, before the current NFL week ends, we will identify players worthy of your attention who are available in at least 50% of ESPN standard leagues. Things change quickly for player valuation and roles each week in the NFL, and free agency is a critical way to acquire players. We are here to help!Top pickup options at every positionLooking for the top recommendation at each skill position?
Look no further! Here are the players to target heading into Week 7, along with their current roster percentages and a recommendation of how much of your free agent budget (FAB) you should consider using for your bid. C.J. Stroud, QB, Texans (43.8% rostered, bid 5% of your FAB)For the third consecutive game, Stroud scored 20 fantasy points.
Sunday’s performance — in London during a win against the first-place Jacksonville Jaguars — was the most impressive of the three. Stroud threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns. With a healthy WR Nico Collins leading the Texans offense, Stroud should keep thriving and perhaps even challenge for fantasy QB1 status. He is averaging 18.7 points, sixth among QBs.
The Texans face the New York Giants in Week 7.Note: Buffalo Bills star Josh Allen, Washington Commanders starter Jayden Daniels, Jaguars star Trevor Lawrence and Los Angeles Chargers struggler Justin Herbert (whom you should be dropping) are on a bye for Week 7. If you wish to plan for Week 8’s byes, Stroud, MVP candidate Brock Purdy and Tyler Shough will not be playing.Kendre Miller, RB, Saints (33.2%, 2% FAB)Miller scored nine points for the second consecutive game, although this one was a more positive outing since he saw 20 rushing attempts and turned them into 70 rushing yards. Yes, wily veteran Alvin Kamara scored on a long TD reception, but it’s clear the Saints are keeping his volume low. Miller seems safe for rushing attempts.
The Saints face the Pittsburgh Steelers this week.Germie Bernard, WR, Steelers (44.4%, 7% FAB)Bernard, the second-round selection from Alabama, was featured in this column one week ago and he swiftly rose from 3% rostered to his current mark. This should be the last week Bernard is available in more than 50% of leagues, especially after he caught 11 passes for 87 yards and a touchdown in Pittsburgh’s overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This rookie is potentially special and he should keep his target share even when other Steelers WRs return to health.Hunter Henry, TE, Patriots (42.7%, 2% FAB)Henry caught yet another TD pass Sunday, giving him double-digit fantasy points in three consecutive outings. Perhaps few would regard Henry as a top-10 fantasy tight end this season.
Then again, New England’s schedule over the next month is quite favorable (Bears, Dolphins, Packers, Lions).Other quarterbacksKyler Murray, Vikings (48.6%, 3% FAB): Murray comes out of his bye week having barely slipped below the 50% roster mark. His Vikings face the Indianapolis Colts and Detroit Lions in the next two weeks, and Murray should perform well. He rushed for 51 yards in Week 5. If that production continues, we have ourselves a valuable QB.Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (26.2%, 2% FAB): Rodgers saw his streak of 20-point fantasy efforts end at three, but he did score 16.02 points in an overtime win over the Buccaneers.
The Steelers boast an attractive Week 7 matchup against the New Orleans Saints.Michael Penix Jr., Falcons (11.2%, 1% FAB): Penix scored a season-best 23.1 points in Atlanta’s loss to the Chicago Bears, though he was neither accurate (57.6% completion rate) nor did he pile on the passing yards (225). Still, three touchdowns matter. While you probably would not rely on him in Week 7 against the San Francisco 49ers, looking ahead to Weeks 13-17? It’s quite attractive.Deep-league options/streamersTanner McKee, Eagles (2.6%): McKee struggled in Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Panthers, completing just 57.8% of his 45 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown.
However, starter Jalen Hurts is not playing again this season, and the Eagles host the similarly sputtering Dallas Cowboys in Week 7’s Monday night game.J.J. McCarthy, Giants (0.9%): McCarthy relieved an ineffective Jameis Winston and nearly engineered a stunning comeback against the Saints. McCarthy threw for a record 243 yards in the fourth quarter, scoring 16.32 fantasy points. Even if we presume McCarthy takes over for Winston in Week 7, that will be a road contest against the streaking (and challenging) Houston Texans.
Also, after struggling mightily for the Vikings last season, it seems odd to suddenly trust McCarthy now. However, we cannot deny he has skilled players to target. Perhaps it actually would be sensible to trust him in future NFC East matchups.Other running backsTyrone Tracy Jr., Giants (1.7%, 2% FAB): The Giants benched erratic starter Cam Skattebo and Tracy ended up splitting backfield reps with Najee Harris and Devin Singletary. That trio totaled a poor 34 rushing yards on 14 attempts.
Tracy, however, scored a pair of touchdowns — one rushing and one receiving. If Skattebo remains a nonfactor for Week 7 against the Texans (a tough matchup), perhaps Tracy will take the lead. Tracy, 26, underwhelmed during his first two NFL seasons, so expectations should be held in check. Fantasy managers should not target crowded situations in which any one of four flawed players might earn the most volume.Roschon Johnson, Bears (3.9%, 1% FAB): Johnson filled in again for Kyle Monangai (toe), scoring 14.5 points thanks to 85 total yards and a touchdown run.
D’Andre Swift starred and helped the Bears to a big lead, allowing Johnson to accumulate his numbers. Even if Monangai misses more time, do not assume Johnson will thrive the next two weeks versus the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks.Deep-league options/streamersJaleel McLaughlin, Browns (7.9%): Starter Quinshon Judkins (ankle) was a surprise inactive, so his investors might have turned to McLaughlin, who turned 13 touches into 55 yards. Audric Estime turned his nine rushing attempts into only 19 yards, but he scored a short touchdown. If Judkins does not return for Week 7’s game versus the Tennessee Titans, McLaughlin will become a deep-league flex option.Bam Knight, Cardinals (0.3%): Most people thought the absence of rookie Jeremiyah Love (ankle) would benefit typical backup Tyler Allgeier.
Well, it did, but Knight looked better, turning 17 touches into 98 yards. A journeyman who had only three touches through the first five games, Knight isn’t a strong long-term option as Love might well play in Week 7 against the tough Denver Broncos.Other wide receiversOmar Cooper Jr., Jets (2.9%): Cooper, the Indiana product chosen at No. 30 in the draft, caught one pass for 30 yards in Week 1, then missed the next four games due to a high ankle sprain. He starred Sunday, catching six passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. Now, with Cooper and Garrett Wilson, the Jets have a pair of difference-making WRs to rely on.
The Jets face the Miami Dolphins and Las Vegas Raiders during the next fortnight.Jaylin Noel, Texans (4.7%): Some might fade Noel, who caught four passes for 107 yards and a touchdown, because the Texans recently acquired Marvin Harrison Jr. — Stroud’s college teammate — in a trade. It’s possible that neither player truly can be relied upon. Noel isn’t seeing many targets, but he has averaged 15.9 points over the past three games. Harrison caught only three passes Sunday.
Perhaps he’ll become more relevant in the coming weeks, but Noel, in his second season, is quite talented, too.Deep-league options/streamersJordyn Tyson, Saints (32.4%, 2% FAB): Tyson, the exciting Arizona State product chosen with the
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