FantasyPros - Fantasy Football Podcast

Episode: The Biggest Fantasy Football Questions For Each Team in Week 7 (Ep. 1780)

Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Ryan Wormley with Debro and Pat Fitz Morris

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the most pressing fantasy football questions for each NFL team ahead of Week 7. Ryan Wormley, joined by Debro and Pat Fitz Morris, break down all the key storylines, player performances, matchups, and weather impacts across the week’s slate. They tackle running back committees, wide receiver roles, quarterback situations, and help fantasy managers navigate injury news and changing depth charts. The conversation includes sharp debate, humor, and actionable advice for fantasy lineups as we enter a pivotal week.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Thursday Night Football Recap: Bengals vs. Steelers

[03:14–08:00]

• Bengals' resurgence with Joe Flacco: The passing game is alive again with Flacco at QB. Jamar Chase (22 targets, 161 yards, TD), Tee Higgins (11 targets, 96 yards, TD) both feast.
  • Ryan: "Heavily involved doesn't seem like enough for 33 combined targets..." [03:43]
  • Debro calls Flacco a "Jameis Winston" in terms of volume and risk-taking [06:30]
• Chase Brown shines: 11 carries, 108 yards. Perhaps closer to expected preseason breakout.
  • Debro: "If you bought low on this offense...feeling pretty good this morning about it." [05:00]
• Steelers' volatility: Jalen Warren (16 carries, 127 yards) pops, while Pat Freiermuth (5/111/2 TDs) has a breakout but it's deemed "fool’s gold."
  • Debro: "I'm not buying the Freiermuth stuff...fool’s gold, man." [08:03]
  • Fitz: "It's just going to be whack-a-mole with trying to pick the right Steelers tight end." [09:19]

Early Slate: Key Team & Player Questions

Rams vs. Jaguars (London Game)

[12:17–15:37]

• Brian Thomas Jr.: Real Breakout?
  • Both hosts bullish: big usage increases, strong downfield metrics, and Rams' secondary gives up plenty of production.
  • Debro: "I think he keeps the hot streak going..." [12:58]
  • Fitz: "I'm cautiously optimistic...first read share is a bigger deal in the Jacksonville offense..." [14:23]
  • Rankings: Fitz WR13, Debro WR12. "Might bump him up," says Debro [15:23]

Saints at Bears

[15:37–18:37]

• DeAndre Swift's Week 6 Performance: Real or Fluke?
  • Fitz: Mild buy-in: "Five and a half or six. I don’t think Swift is suddenly a top-6 back rest of season..." [16:19]
  • Debro: "I think it's more on the fluky side...not buying it." [17:34]
  • Saints’ tough run D could bring Swift back down.

Dolphins at Browns (Weather Game)

[19:02–23:21]

• Extreme wind/rain impacts all pass catchers.
  • Fitz and Debro agree: "I'm fading the passers...give me all the Devon Achane and Quinshon Judkins." [22:08], [22:07]
• Jalen Waddle too high in consensus (WR16): "I’ve got him at WR22, even that seems optimistic." – Fitz [22:08]

Mid-Afternoon Slate: Usage Battles & Key Starts

Raiders at Chiefs

[26:34–30:15]

• Rashee Rice’s return: Top 10 WR?
  • Fitz: "I have him ranked as a low-end WR1 this week...but maybe a little aggressive."
  • Debro: "I've got him at WR11, think he steps back in as the unquestioned WR1. The matchup is good." [28:55]
  • Caution about first-week rust, but role is specialized & schedule lines up.

Eagles at Vikings

[31:46–37:18]

• Philly offense fix? Run the ball.
  • Debro: "Run the ball...Saquon set for a big week, Goddard elite target share against 2-high."
  • Fitz: "I have no idea what to expect...[Eagles are a] real roller coaster." [35:42]
• Jalen Hurts ranking: "Don't drop outside the top 5, the TD upside's always there." [36:55]

Panthers at Jets

[37:18–41:25]

• Rico Dowdle vs. Chuba Hubbard: Split ahead?
  • Fitz: "Don’t see a full Rico takeover. Split backfield." [37:39]
  • Debro: "I think Rico is leader, but only ~60/40. Chuba's inefficiency is glaring." [39:15]
  • Rico RB20, Chuba RB29.

Patriots at Titans

[42:25–46:31]

• Rank: Stevenson, Pollard, Henderson
  • Both panelists prefer Stevenson > Henderson > Pollard, with a nod to Tajae Spears in PPR [43:31]
  • Pollard lowest: "Unfortunately fourth here." – Debro

Late Afternoon Slate: Secondary Skill Players & Trends

Giants at Broncos

[46:31–48:56]

• Scatter Boo vs. J.K. Dobbins: Both panelists lean Dobbins slightly higher due to matchup.
  • "Dobbins just has the easier path to 100+ and a TD." – Debro [48:39]
  • Both question Giants' offensive consistency; Dobbins RB15, Scatter Boo RB19 (Debro).

Colts at Chargers

[49:21–51:14]

• Kamani Vidal, the new RB1: Both panelists view as his backfield ("67% snap share, almost all red zone work").
  • Fitz: "Vidal just has the more versatile, well-rounded skill set. I think he's the better player." [50:46]

Packers at Cardinals

[51:43–54:48]

• Matthew Golden breakout?
  • Fitz: "Play him as a boom/bust WR3," WR34 rank.
  • Debro: "Good matchup vs. too-high; feeling the over on 56.5 yds," WR30 rank.

Commanders at Cowboys

[54:53–58:07]

• Lamb & Deebo Stat Lines (if they play):
  • Fitz predicts: "Debo, 7 for 70, maybe a touchdown. Lamb, 6 for 80 and a touchdown." [57:24]
  • High-scoring game: "Vegas total 54.5, highest of the year." [57:44]
• Pickens’ value holds with Lamb back: "Still going to be the T.Higgins to CeeDee’s Jamar Chase." – Debro [58:03]

Sunday Night & Monday Doubleheader

Falcons at 49ers

[59:09–61:15]

• Best Flex Outside Big Three: Tyler Allgeier the top "sneaky" RB play.
  • "Splits in wins/losses are massive...if Falcons win, he sees 14+ touches." – Debro [60:07]

Buccaneers at Lions (Monday)

[62:12–66:02]

• Mike Evans Questionable – Plan for Monday Night:
  • Debro: "If you got Evans, you gotta take it down to the wire. Drop your kicker, pick up Cameron Johnson as backup."
  • Fitz: "If Evans plays, start him. If not, Otten is next guy up. Lions secondary is brutalized right now."

Texans at Seahawks (Monday)

[66:02–69:06]

• CJ Stroud in tough spot: Fitz is out: "Really only want to play Nico Collins. Don’t want to play CJ Stroud against Seattle’s pass rush." [66:24]
  • Debro: "Out of necessity, Houston's gonna have to throw. Volatility is there, but upside for Kirk, Schultz, and maybe Woody Marks in PPR." [67:39]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Flacco’s volume:
  • "Flacco, just keep doing your best Jameis Winston." – Debro [06:30]
• On Steelers TE volatility:
  • "It's going to be whack-a-mole with trying to pick the right Steelers tight end." – Fitz [09:19]
• On weather impact in CLE-MIA:
  • "25 mile an hour Winds with gusts 44 miles an hour in rain. Yeah, I'm fading the passers." – Fitz [22:08]
• On the Eagles’ OC carousel:
  • "Four OCs in four years, that's not easy for anybody." – Debro [33:41]
  • "[Offensive coordinator turnover is] reality for non-play-calling head coaches." – Ryan [33:26]
• On Panthers RBs:
  • "He [Chuba] has zero explosive runs. He has not broken a single tackle and...53 carries." – Debro [40:09]
• On lineup decisions and Mike Evans:
  • "Drop your kicker, pick up Cameron Johnson...If Evans is out, that's probably your only desperation play to back him up." – Debro [64:04]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:14 – Bengals passing game revived by Flacco
• 06:30 – Flacco as “Jameis Winston” for fantasy managers
• 08:03 – Debro: Freiermuth as “fool’s gold”
• 12:58 – Brian Thomas Jr. outlook for Week 7
• 15:16 – WR13/WR12: Where to rank BTJ
• 16:01 – DeAndre Swift: Real or Fluke (consensus split)
• 19:02 – Extreme weather: Dolphins/Browns passing game fade
• 22:08 – Fitz on wind impact: 25+ mph matters
• 26:49 – Rashee Rice outlook: “Seamless return”
• 28:55 – Debro: “If this was Week 1, we’d rank Rice this high.”
• 31:46 – Eagles offense: The need to run
• 37:39 – Panthers RB split: Rico Dowdle vs. Chuba Hubbard
• 42:25 – Pollard/Stevenson/Henderson/Spears: Who to trust?
• 46:31 – Giants/Broncos: Dobbins vs. Scatter Boo
• 49:41 – Kamani Vidal’s secure role
• 51:43 – Packers: Matthew Golden’s Week 7 role
• 54:53 – Commanders-Cowboys: Lamb & Deebo projections
• 59:09 – Falcons-49ers: Most intriguing flex
• 62:36 – Buccaneers WR woes: Navigating Evans uncertainty
• 66:02 – Texans-Seahawks: Fade or flex Stroud?
• 69:06 – Outro

Final Thoughts

This episode is packed with actionable waiver/lineup advice, sharp takes on committee situations, injury pivots, and adjustments for extreme weather—including specific rankings and streaming strategies. Expect much volatility at running back, renewed optimism for the Bengals, and a wide-open Chiefs passing attack with Rashee Rice’s return. Monitor injury news closely, especially for the late weekend (Evans, McLaurin, Deebo), and keep an eye on the weather in Cleveland.

Closing Advice:

• Watch injury reports through Sunday, especially for key WRs and RBs in committee situations.
• If you have Mike Evans, plan a viable Monday pivot.
• Don’t overreact to “bad weather” unless winds consistently project 25+ mph.
• Prioritize RBs with volume in flex spots, given the unpredictability this week.
• Fade Miami and Cleveland passing games if extreme conditions persist.

For weekly consensus rankings and all tools, visit fantasypros.com. Good luck in Week 7!