Week 7 Flex Rankings

With four more NFL teams on bye this week, plenty of fantasy-relevant players are out of action in Week 7. That includes seven of the top 42 year-to-date fantasy running backs and five of the top 42 wide receivers. Those wide receiver numbers are slightly skewed because they do not include players such as Ladd McConkey and DJ Moore, whose early seasons have been marred by injuries. They also don’t include Terry McLaurin, whose 2026 season ended Monday night. With plenty of question marks heading into the week, here are my mid-week rankings for all skill position players. My Week 7 Flex rankings feature over 200 players based on how I expect them to perform in Half-PPR leagues. These may change based on injury news and the like, so check the latest updates before locking in those lineups.

Running Back Notes

The NFL has removed Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs from the league’s exempt list. The league could still suspend Jacobs, but indications are that he could be active as soon as this week. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur has not committed to playing Jacobs yet. While I usually do not recommend starting players who have been out of action for such an extended period, the Packers’ rushing offense is off to a historically bad start. If Green Bay activates Jacobs, he could play close to a full complement of snaps. The Packers face the Detroit Lions, who sport one of the worst defenses in the league. If Jacobs plays with few or no restrictions, I wouldn’t hesitate to start him right away. I currently rank Josh Jacobs as an RB2 for Week 7.

The Minnesota Vikings have opened the 21-day window for Jordan Mason to return. Mason could be activated as soon as this Sunday when the Vikings host the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts rank 31^st in the NFL in DVOA against the run and 30^th in EPA versus the run. Minnesota may opt to ease Mason into action, as Aaron Jones has performed well in Mason’s absence. I have Jones ranked slightly higher than Mason heading into Week 7. Still, Mason will likely earn double-digit carries, including potential goal-line touches in a favorable matchup. With four teams on a bye, Mason is a viable Flex depending on your other available options.

Wide Receiver Notes

A pair of rookie wideouts square off in the Music City this week when Denzel Boston and the Cleveland Browns travel to Tennessee to take on Carnell Tate and the Titans. Both rookie wideouts lead their respective teams in receiving yardage by a considerable margin. Boston has been a more touchdown-dependent fantasy performer through six weeks. He has three top-20 weekly finishes along with two weeks outside the top 48 in Half-PPR leagues. Tate has at least six catches in three of his last four games, but has failed to finish as a top-50 wideout in the other three. I rank both rookies as WR3s in 10- and 12-team leagues for Week 7, but whether you start either or both may depend on your specific needs.

The New York Jets activated wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. last week, and Cooper promptly led the team with six catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. I don’t expect Cooper to put up that kind of stat line every week. But the rookie has now parlayed eight NFL targets into 133 yards and a score. Cooper could keep earning more reps for a Jets team struggling to find consistency in the passing game beyond Garrett Wilson. This week New York takes on the Miami Dolphins. Miami has been a pass-funnel defense so far in 2026, so Cooper could have a sizable role. I currently have Cooper ranked 70^th overall in my Week 7 Flex rankings. That means he should be Flex-worthy in most formats, with a slight upgrade in leagues that reward receptions.

Tight End Notes

Margins are often quite thin when it comes to deciding which players fall inside the area where we consider them starters versus bench players in fantasy. This is true for tight ends as well. My current TE12 (Pat Freiermuth) is my 86th-ranked player overall for Week 7. Meanwhile, I rank Hunter Henry (my current TE18) 95^th overall in my Week 7 Flex rankings. The difference between those two players is generally about half a fantasy point. While I prefer Freiermuth and several others over Henry, I don’t think it’s wild to start Henry in a plus matchup against the Chicago Bears. Just make sure you do not tie up your Flex spot on a player who plays on Thursday night.

A couple of the tight ends I currently have ranked between Freiermuth and Henry for this week are players most of us considered top-10 options heading into the season. I am talking about Harold Fannin Jr. and Tyler Warren. Warren has been an upper-echelon fantasy tight end this year, but missed last week’s game with a groin injury. If his health improves and the Colts remove him from the injury report, I am inclined to bump him back up into the top-10. Fannin is a tougher sell and finds himself in the tight end dead zone. He has just two total catches for 23 yards in his last two games. Tennessee has been solid defensively against tight ends thus far in 2026. I’m not very optimistic about Fannin’s Week 7 outlook.