Is Baker Mayfield really ready to return to fantasy lineups this week?\u00a0Mike Carlson\/Getty ImagesMichael F. FlorioOct 20, 2026, 01:39 PM ETCloseMichael F. Florio is a fantasy football writer and analyst for ESPN Fantasy. He is an analyst on NFL Network’s NFL Fantasy Live and frequent guest on other network shows.<\/p>\n
He has been a fantasy football analyst for the last 15 years, with his work featured at a number of publications, and is an FSWA award winner.Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsWhom should you start? Whom should you sit? To help you set your fantasy football lineups and avoid starting an offensive player who won’t be in the lineup, we’ll post fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their official inactives lists.Official Sunday inactives should begin coming in approximately 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff times: around 11:30 a.m. ET for the early games and 2:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
ET for the late-afternoon games.Refresh often for the latest information.Don’t forget to check these out: Mike Clay’s Playbook | Week 7 Buzz Week 7 Rankings | Matchup rankings for Week 7Biggest concerns ahead of SundayPlayers in ParisAlvin Kamara, RB, Saints (back): Kamara has been a mainstay on the Saints’ injury report for weeks but has not missed time. In fact, he was removed from the team’s final injury report, meaning he will be active for Week 7. Still, New Orleans has also been using Kendre Miller and sprinkling in CJ Donaldson as well. Miller is the preferred option here, but even he is just a volume RB2\/flex play for managers in need.Rico Dowdle, RB, Steelers: He has been limited at practice this week and is questionable for Week 7.<\/p>\n
Dowdle saw 28% of the team’s snaps last week, with seven carries and four targets, going for 7.9 fantasy points. He is more of an insurance back than a standalone option at this point. Jaylen Warren, who is a strong start either way, would get elite volume if Dowdle were to sit.Players with early startsLamar Jackson, QB, Ravens (ankle): Jackson has returned to practice and is a game-time decision in Week 7. On Friday, he revealed that he had a high ankle sprain but is “heading in the right direction” to play.<\/p>\n
If he starts for the Ravens, you play him in fantasy. His presence would elevate Zay Flowers back to must-start status and make Ja’Kobi Lane a more appealing option. If Jackson sits, Tyler Huntley would be a superflex or streaming option for those needing to dive deeper.Rashod Bateman, WR, Ravens (shoulder): He has practiced in full this week and is not on the final injury report, meaning he will play in Week 7. Still, after leaving early last week, there is more risk than usual with Bateman.<\/p>\n
For example, we have seen Buffalo’s DJ Moore exit early multiple times this season because of his shoulder injury. Bateman is a boom-or-bust deeper-league flex option. Lane is the preferred play out of the Ravens’ WR options.Quinshon Judkins, RB, Browns (ankle): Judkins was limited to start the practice week but does not carry an injury designation into the weekend, meaning he will play in Week 7. Consider him to be an upside RB2 against a Titans defense that has allowed 99 RB rushing yards per game.<\/p>\n
Game script should also be on Cleveland’s side, which means added volume. Dylan Sampson, who has been limited at practice and is questionable for Week 7, would be the No. 2 RB if he plays. He’s worth an add in deeper leagues.Denzel Boston, WR, Browns (foot): The breakout rookie was limited at practice this week but does not carry an injury designation into the weekend, meaning he will be active in Week 7. He put up only 15 yards last week, but the Titans rank in the top 10 in WR fantasy PPG allowed.<\/p>\n
Consider him to be a boom-or-bust WR3\/flex option this week.KC Concepcion, WR, Browns (calf\/quad): The rookie was limited at practice this week but is expected to be active in Week 7. His usage has been increasing, but the production is not enough to start him outside of the deepest of leagues. For the time being, he remains more of an upside stash.Dalton Schultz, TE, Texans (quad): Schultz\u202fmissed Wednesday’s practice before being limited Thursday. However, he does not have an injury designation, meaning he will play in Week 7.<\/p>\n
With the Texans having more receiving options — Marvin Harrison Jr., a surging Jaylin Noel and Tank Dell returning — volume has been less safe for Schultz. That was his fantasy appeal. I would go with the streaming options listed in this article over him.Jordan Mason, RB, Vikings (thumb): Mason had his 21-day activation window opened and has been fully practicing this week. He is listed as questionable, but is on track to potentially return to action this weekend.<\/p>\n
He has played in only one game this season, but out-snapped Aaron Jones Sr. 29-26 in that contest. Mason had 15 carries to Jones’ 12, but both had one goal-line TD. I would expect Mason to have the slight edge in ground work, while Jones should handle more in the passing game. Both are in play as flex options against the Colts, who have allowed the seventh-most RB fantasy PPG.<\/p>\n
Game script should be on their side this week as well.Breece Hall, RB, Jets (ankle): Hall returned to the practice field Thursday and Friday, albeit in limited fashion. He is questionable for Week 7. If he starts for the Jets, he should be played in fantasy. If he sits, Braelon Allen, who has dominated volume with Hall sidelined, should be started.<\/p>\n
The Dolphins have allowed the third-most RB fantasy PPG. They struggle against backs in the passing game, which means a bigger boost in PPR leagues. Plus, game script should be on the Jets’ side in this one.Adonai Mitchell, WR, Jets (finger): He practiced in a limited fashion this week and is expected to play against the Dolphins. Mitchell had 12 targets in the last game before his injury.<\/p>\n
He’s worth grabbing off the waiver wire in deeper leagues. However, Omar Cooper Jr. is coming off a big game, and the two will be competing for playing time and targets behind Garrett Wilson. With Mitchell returning, it makes Cooper more of a boom-or-bust option this week. That said, Cooper is the preferred option of the two.Baker Mayfield, QB, Buccaneers (thumb): It was a bit surprising when Mayfield returned to practice this week.<\/p>\n
In fact, he will play in Week 7. Still, this is more of a boost for Tampa Bay’s pass catchers; I’d recommend taking a “wait and see” approach with Mayfield. Some options to play instead include C.J. Stroud, Tyler Shough, and Aaron Rodgers.Bucky Irving, RB, Buccaneers (illness): Irving has been limited at practice but has been removed from the final report, meaning he will play\u202fin Week 7.<\/p>\n
He will be a strong start against the Panthers, who have allowed the third-most rushing TDs and fifth-most fantasy PPG to RBs. I would rank him as an RB1 for Week 7.Players with late startsJaylen Waddle, WR, Broncos (chest): Waddle has been limited in practice this week, but said he will play in Week 7. He has surpassed 35 yards only once this season, but there’s a chance here for a bounceback opportunity. He has a team-high 22% target share against zone, which the Cardinals play at the league’s fourth-highest rate (87%).<\/p>\n
They have also allowed the sixth-most yards to WRs on deep passes, and Waddle leads the Broncos in deep targets. Lastly, the Cardinals have allowed the second-most TDs and seventh-most fantasy PPG to WRs. Waddle is in play as a WR3 with upside this week.Jonah Coleman, RB, Broncos (ankle): Denver’s rookie RB practiced in full this week. He is expected to play Sunday.<\/p>\n
However, Sean Payton indicated that he could be on a snap count in his first game back. Coleman should be added in any league in which he’s available. Despite wanting to roster him as much as possible, I recommend taking a “wait and see” approach before plugging him into lineups. J.K.<\/p>\n
Dobbins, who has had 18-plus touches in three of his past four games, is the preferred play in the Broncos backfield. Dobbins is an RB2 in a good matchu<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Is Baker Mayfield really ready to return to fantasy lineups this week?\u00a0Mike Carlson\/Getty ImagesMichael F. FlorioOct 20, 2026, 01:39 PM ETCloseMichael F. Florio is a fantasy football writer and analyst for ESPN Fantasy. He is\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":31196,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-31195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.tcjhomeaccents.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.tcjhomeaccents.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.tcjhomeaccents.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.tcjhomeaccents.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.tcjhomeaccents.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=31195"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/demo.tcjhomeaccents.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31195\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31228,"href":"https:\/\/demo.tcjhomeaccents.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31195\/revisions\/31228"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.tcjhomeaccents.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/31196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/demo.tcjhomeaccents.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=31195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.tcjhomeaccents.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=31195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/demo.tcjhomeaccents.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=31195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}