FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: 6 Must-Start Players for Week 7 | The Primer (Ep. 1779)

Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Seth Wilcock ("the Kid from Jerry Maguire")
Guest: Derek Brown ("Dbro")

Episode Overview

This Week 7 "Primer" episode delivers in-depth, actionable analysis on the most intriguing under-the-radar must-start players for fantasy football managers. Seth Wilcock and Derek Brown dissect the matchups, break down advanced stats, and highlight key start/sit decisions, with special focus on wide receiver flexibility due to a “dumpster fire” running back landscape this week.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. State of Week 7 – The Wide Receiver (Flex) Week

• Running backs are a struggle this week: Many injuries and tough matchups make RB thin.
• Strategy: "This is a wide receiver in your flex spot type of week where it is play the guys you got that are going to get volume at running back. And we're probably, we're exploiting matchups this week in the primer for wide receivers to put people over the top." (Derek, 02:43)

2. Must-Start Player Picks

QB: C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans)

• Matchup: vs Seattle Seahawks
• Seahawks’ pass D has been exploitable: 6th most passing yards allowed, 10th most passing TDs, very strong run D
• "Seattle's run defense is elite. So Houston, if they want to move the ball and have success on offense, they're going to have to do it with CJ Stroud and the passing game this week." (Derek, 02:22)
• Recent examples: Baker Mayfield (379 yards, 2 TDs), Trevor Lawrence (258, 2 TDs)
• "We would take that from CJ Stroud." (Seth, 04:28)

WR: Christian Kirk (Jacksonville Jaguars)

• ECR Rank: WR43
• Reason: Volume, slot matchup vs Seahawks (9th most PPR points to slot WRs)
• "Christian Kirk, come on now, baby, let's go. We can get wide receiver three flex production. Maybe he gets in the end zone this week and if he... he's probably going to end up with a wide receiver two finish this week." (Derek, 05:04)
• Target/route run rate: 22.5% (34th WR), designed targets: 20th

WR: Jalen Coker (Carolina Panthers)

• ECR Rank: WR16
• Returning from injury, immediate full-time role
• Has excelled when playing full snaps with Bryce Young: 18.3% target share, 56 yds/game, 24% first read share
• Ideal matchup: Jets give up 8th most PPR points to slot WRs
• "Jalen Coker, Wide Receiver 3 Production Flex Option this week...I'm playing Jalen Coker over all of these guys." (Derek, 07:15)

WR: Alec Pierce (Indianapolis Colts)

• Situation: Greater target opportunity as Josh Downs may miss
• Chargers’ perimeter corners good, but defense has played high % single-high coverage, vs which Pierce excels (26.9% target share, 48% air yards, 3.69 YPRR)
• "Pick him up. He's worth a flex this week." (Derek, 09:38)
• Seth: "Do you think we see his adot come down a little bit with no Josh Downs potentially out there?...maybe comes back down, we see a little bit closer to the line of scrimmage action for Alec Pierce." (09:52)
• Derek: "Could get a little bit more of like the intermediary stuff." (10:05)
• High aDOT (19.2), potential to be "the flex play out of the freaking blue." (Derek, 09:44)

WR: Troy Franklin (Denver Broncos)

• Snap note: 71% route share—on field when passing, not just snap %
• Giants matchup: 10th most fantasy PPG, 11th most yards to perimeter WRs
• "All the parts and pieces this all comes back to. He's probably due for a big game this week." (Derek, 13:38)
• Red zone role: 6 red zone targets (9th most among WRs)
• Has not scored since week 2, but regression coming: "Touchdown regression is due to hit for Troy Franklin." (Derek, 13:28)

TE: Mason Taylor (New York Jets)

• ECR Rank: TE15 (but much higher in Derek’s ranks)
• Jets without Garrett Wilson; Taylor has 22.2% target share since week 4
• Faces Panthers, allowing most yards and 2nd most schedule-adjusted FPTS to TEs
• "He is going to be the Jets wide receiver one this week. He's going to lead them in targets. The matchup is glorious." (Derek, 16:31)
• "I'm playing him over a lot of these other options...because again, he is going to be the jets wide receiver one this week." (Derek, 16:40)
• Carolina has allowed a tight end touchdown in 4 of 5 games.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Week 7 Complexity:

  • "The running back position is god awful. It is a mess. It's a dumpster fire this week." (Derek, 02:34)

• On Jalen Coker’s Matchup:

  • "The Jets secondary cannot stop slot wide receivers." (Derek, 06:19)

• Deep Dive — Alec Pierce:

  • "You want to talk about flex? Flex plays out of the freaking blue. I'm pulling these guys in from the ether that could offer some strong production for people this week and put them over the top where it's like, dude, we are struggling." (Derek, 09:44)

• Entering the TD Drought for Troy Franklin:

  • "He hasn't scored a touchdown since week two. And that's despite getting three red zone targets in his last four games." (Derek, 13:41)

• Tight End Standout:

  • "Mason Taylor is flexifiable, dude...because again, he is going to be the jets wide receiver one this week." (Derek, 16:32)

Timestamps by Player/Position

• (02:22) – C.J. Stroud deep-dive
• (04:48) – Christian Kirk sleeper case
• (06:19) – Jalen Coker (Panthers) return & matchup
• (08:17) – Alec Pierce as a hidden flex gem
• (10:58) – Troy Franklin (Broncos) touchdown bet
• (14:44) – Mason Taylor (Jets) TE1 case

Closing Notes & Fun Moments

• Celebrity lookalike banter: Seth nominates Derek as “Lou” from Hot Tub Time Machine; Derek shares he’s been likened to Action Bronson, but never anyone glamorous.
  • "The bad thing is, though, none of those comparisons have been good. It's not like anybody's out here being like, oh, bro, you look like Brad Pitt or something..." (Derek, 17:40)
• Engagement call: Seth urges listeners to comment their own sleeper starts and celebrity lookalikes.

Summary Table: Must-Start Sleepers for Week 7

| Player | Team | Position | Reason to Start | Timestamp | |-------------------|----------------------|----------|-------------------------------------------|-----------| | C.J. Stroud | Houston Texans | QB | Pass volume vs bad SEA pass D | 02:22 | | Christian Kirk | Jacksonville Jaguars | WR | Elite slot matchup, design targets | 04:48 | | Jalen Coker | Carolina Panthers | WR | Target share, slot-friendly Jets | 06:19 | | Alec Pierce | Indianapolis Colts | WR | Elevated role, single-high matchup | 08:17 | | Troy Franklin | Denver Broncos | WR | Red zone usage, TD regression, matchup | 10:58 | | Mason Taylor | New York Jets | TE | Target vacuum, soft matchup (CAR) | 14:44 |

Takeaways

Week 7 is shaping up as a wide receiver and tight end week due to tough running back options—all six picks are high-upside, fairly available players set up by matchup and team context to smash. Taylor at TE and Coker/Pierce at WR are particularly pressed as high-floor, sneaky-ceiling flexes. "Play your best WRs in the flex, exploit the soft spots in team defenses, and don't be afraid of going off-book for a big win," as the tone of the Primer says.

End of summary for FantasyPros – Fantasy Football Podcast, Ep. 1779, October 17, 2025.