Footballguys Fantasy Football Show — Week 7 RB & WR Rankings (October 16, 2025)

Hosts: Dave Kluge & Alfredo Brown
Episode: Week 7 Running Back and Wide Receiver Rankings | Fantasy Football 2025
Main Theme: Comprehensive, tiered breakdown of Week 7 fantasy football rankings for running backs and wide receivers, with expert commentary, start/sit strategy, matchup analysis, and engaging banter.

Episode Overview

This episode is a deep dive into Week 7 fantasy rankings, tackling over 70 RBs and WRs in tiered lists. Alfredo and Dave skip the usual sit-start focus and instead deliver holistic, structured ranking tiers, providing guidance for both obvious starters and challenging flex decisions. They discuss recent trends, surprises, injury impacts, and player usage — all with a mix of sharp analysis and entertaining conversation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Preseason Overconfidence, Recap of Early-Season Surprises (01:30–04:21)

• Opening Banter: Reflect on the perennial certainty and sudden anxiety of preseason takes (Kyron Williams vs. Chase Brown as a running back draft miss).
• Quote:
  "We're so cocksure in the preseason...and then that turns into depressed after a couple of weeks."
  — Alfredo [04:04]

2. Running Back Rankings & Analysis

Tier 1: The Unquestioned Elites (04:30–06:16)

• RBs: Christian McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson, Quinshon Judkins, Josh Jacobs, Jameer Gibbs, Devon Hn.
• Key Highlight:
  • Quinshon Judkins is the standout (vs. Miami) due to a weak run defense, vaulting him into elite territory.
• Quote:
  "Quinshon Judkins...he has a great matchup this week. I think you and I both have him inside our top five or close to it."
  — Dave [05:21]

Tier 2: Reliable Plug-and-Plays & Surprising Must-Starts (06:16–12:04)

• RBs 8–16: Javonte Williams, Saquon Barkley, Kyron Williams, Breece Hall, Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Ashton Jeanty, Rashad White, Cam Skattebo, Rico Dowdle.

• Narrative:

  • Huge influx of waiver-wire pickups and late-round picks becoming weekly starts.
  • Barkley, despite frustrations, remains a must-start.

• Notable Segment:

  • Javonte Williams "career best efficiency" and a matchup that is "not bad enough to tinker over".
  • Breece Hall's matchup vs. an improved Carolina run D: still a start due to touch volume.

• Quote:
  "I'm just not overthinking this one...these guys are mostly plug and play."
  — Dave [07:09]

• Analysis:

  • Dowdle is viewed as the new permanent RB lead for Carolina, outpacing Chuba Hubbard in both skill and coaching support.
  • Rashad White and Kyron Williams receive “Kyron Williams-esk” treatment as underrated, all-purpose, high-floor options.

Tier 3: Flexes & Volume-Based Bets (16:43–29:56)

• RBs 17–26: Jaylen Warren, DeAndre Swift, JK Dobbins, Travis Etienne, Jordan Mason, Alvin Kamara, Chase Brown, David Montgomery, Kamani Vidal, Ken Walker III.
• Key Comments:
  • Jaylen Warren gets recommended as a safe, low-ceiling play against shaky Cincy run D.
  • DeAndre Swift and Kamara: volume questions but solid floor.
  • Ken Walker and Zach Charbonnet: Real-life effective split, but fantasy headache.
• Quote:
  "This is a tough one...it could potentially be a trap game for [David] Montgomery."
  — Dave [26:01]

Tier 4: Dart Throws & Desperation Flexes (30:51–38:14)

• RBs 27–32: TreVeyon Henderson, Rhamondre Stevenson, Isaiah Pacheco, Tony Pollard, Zach Charbonnet, Bam Knight.
• Discussion:
  • Patriots' backfield ("East Coast Seahawks") is a mess; both Henderson and Stevenson are uncomfortable plays.
  • Pacheco is trending up; could be in for a ceiling game with KC offense humming again.
  • Tony Pollard: "Everything just seems to be going down for him."
  • Bam Knight: Limited upside, tough matchup.

Tier 5: Deep League Options & Upside Shots (38:14–44:10)

• RBs 33–38: Tyjae Spears, Woody Marks, Nick Chubb, Chuba Hubbard, RJ Harvey, Kenneth Gainwell.
• Major Point:
  • Split backfields rule the tier (“Gross Marks and Nick Chubb…”). Hard to trust any, lean toward matchup-dependent upside.
  • Chuba Hubbard: "What can I live with?" Prefer to bench rather than risk a dud, with Dowdle likely permanent RB1.

3. Wide Receiver Rankings & Insights

Tier 1: No-Brainer WR1s (44:21–45:05)

• WRs: JSN, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Ja'Marr Chase, Davante Adams, Drake London.
• Summary:
  • "Nothing to talk about here"; all must-starts.

Tier 2: Elite/Ascending WR1s (45:05–55:19)

• WRs: Rome Odunze, Justin Jefferson, Nico Collins, CeeDee Lamb, Rashee Rice, George Pickens, Jalen Waddle.
• Details:
  • Odunze and Jefferson: Plug-and-play regardless of matchup/injury.
  • Nico Collins: This could finally be the big blowup spot vs. banged-up Seahawks.
  • CeeDee Lamb: Rank as if playing; full trust unless clear injury news.
  • Rashee Rice: Immediate return to WR1 status following injury/suspension; 100% practice, full role.
• Quote:
  "Rashee Rice going right back into my lineup as a top 10 guy."
  — Dave [51:50]
• Jalen Waddle: "Been a WR1 with Tyreek Hill out...volume is there."

Tier 3: High-End WR2s/Matchup-Driven Starters (55:21–65:14)

• WRs: Brian Thomas Jr., Deebo Samuel, Ladd McConkey, Courtland Sutton, Tetaroa McMillan, AJ Brown, DK Metcalf, Chris Olave.
• Analysis:
  • Brian Thomas Jr.: Now the clear WR1 in the Jags offense, thriving outside.
  • Deebo: Injuries temper enthusiasm ("full practice" key).
  • DK Metcalf: Air yards and usage surging ("give us more of this").
• Quote:
  "DK Metcalf is not Wan’Dale Robinson...let this guy get downfield."
  — Dave [62:14]

Tier 4: WR3s/Liquidity Plays (65:14–73:05)

• WRs: Keenan Allen, Stefon Diggs, Xavier Worthy, Jameson Williams, Devonta Smith, Jordan Addison, Romeo Doubs, Wan’Dale Robinson, Matthew Golden, Tee Higgins.
• Key Segments:
  • Keenan Allen: TD-dependence masks a still strong role.
  • Jameson Williams: Matchup-driven play with upside ("defenses are being kept honest").
  • Tee Higgins: Dave much lower (WR37) than Alfredo (WR24), reflecting overall risk in Bengals’ passing attack.

Tier 5: Deep WR Starters & Bench Stashes (73:05–87:23)

• WRs 31–40: Trey Tucker, Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, Rashid Shaheed, Cooper Kupp, Travis Hunter, Jordan Whittington, Jerry Jeudy, Troy Franklin, Tez Johnson.
• Highlights:
  • Trey Tucker trending up as a real threat in the passing game, Jacoby Meyers caught in trade rumors, Jerry Jeudy may have been left for fantasy dead unless a major QB or scheme change occurs.
• Quote:
  "It takes [Jerry Jeudy] like eight seconds to get open...by the time he's downfield, his QB’s running for his life."
  — Dave [86:51]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Overconfidence:
  "Is there a better word to describe how we feel about fantasy football in the preseason? ...Definitely cocksure."
  — Alfredo & Dave [04:04]

• On Rico Dowdle's Emergence (Carolina RB):
  "This isn’t just a two-week thing; he’s pacing to be a 2500 scrimmage yard player over his last nine starts."
  — Dave [15:12]

• On the Messy Split Backfields:
  "We don't know what to do with these guys, so we're just lumping them all together and hoping for the best."
  — Alfredo [38:14]

• On Trey Tucker's Rise:
  "He is quietly starting to take over as the WR1 here...not just a boundary guy anymore, running in-breaking routes, getting screens, allowed to create after the catch."
  — Dave [80:36]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Preseason Overconfidence & Cold Open: 01:30–04:21
• RB Tier 1 (Elites): 04:30–06:16
• RB Tier 2 (Plug and Plays): 06:16–12:04
• RB Tier 3 (Flex Volume Plays): 16:43–29:56
• RB Tier 4 (Dart Throws): 30:51–38:14
• RB Tier 5 (Deep Flexes): 38:14–44:10
• WR Tier 1: 44:21–45:05
• WR Tier 2 (WR1/High-upside): 45:05–55:19
• WR Tier 3 (WR2s): 55:21–65:14
• WR Tier 4 (WR3s): 65:14–73:05
• WR Tier 5 (Bench/Desperation): 73:05–87:23

Final Thoughts

The hosts go through a staggering "78" players, under-promising and over-delivering in both breadth and actionable advice. The episode is full of tiered recommendations and situational nuance, always urging managers to balance volume, player talent, matchup, and the sometimes-chaotic whims of NFL coaching.

If you’re looking for one episode to fill your flex, RB2, and WR3 dilemmas (and get a laugh), this week’s Footballguys Show is your essential listen.

Next Episode: Week 7 Recap (Monday), then Wavier Wire, Trade, and Tiers Shows in the following week.