Thu Oct 16 12:13pm ET
Field Level Media
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans could be a one-man cavalry when Tampa Bay treks to Detroit in a fight atop the NFC standings on Monday night.
Tampa Bay (5-1) owns the best record in the conference and a long list of hurting wide receivers with the Lions (4-2) up next in the primetime rematch of a 20-16 win by the Bucs last season.
Evans was on the field as practice began Thursday, even if he was one of the few players at his position available for work.
Evans would be salve to the wounded offense of the Bucs, who already ruled out rookie standout Emeka Egbuka, the team leader in receptions (27), targets (42), receiving yards (469) and touchdown receptions (five). Egbuka left the Week 6 victory with a strained hamstring last week.
Tampa Bay also ruled out running back Bucky Irving for the third consecutive game with shoulder and foot injuries.
Evans missed Tampa Bay's games against the Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday), at the Seattle Seahawks (Oct. 5) and San Francisco 49ers (Oct. 12). He was available to practice on Thursday for the first time since sustaining the injury in the fourth quarter of a 29-27 triumph over the New York Jets last month.
Chris Godwin made his return from a dislocated ankle -- he was injured in Week 7 of last season and missed the first three games of 2025 -- but hasn't played in a game with Evans since they were both hurt in the Oct. 21, 2024 game against the Ravens.
As Evans primes for his own return, Godwin is dealing with a leg issue and did not play last week.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield had only 12 completions -- 10 to Evans (3-42) and Godwin (7-117-1) -- but accounted for both Tampa touchdowns in last year's game, running for an 11-yard TD in the third quarter for the decisive final margin. He was sacked five times, threw an interception and lost one of his two fumbles.
Where Mayfield might be throwing the ball on Monday is unclear if Evans can't go.
Rachaad White, the starter in Irving's place the past two weeks, had 10 carries for 18 yards and one reception for five yards in the 2024 matchup with the Lions.
In Detroit, health issues are hitting the secondary for the second season in a row.
Lions safety Kerby Joseph, the NFL leader with nine interceptions in 2024, has separate knee injuries that kept him from finishing last week's game. Head coach Dan Campbell said the Lions are "reassessing" whether Joseph should rest instead of playing at well under 100 percent on Monday. The other starting safety, Brian Branch, is out this week serving a suspension for triggering a brief fracas at the end of the Lions' loss to the Chiefs on Sunday night.
Cornerback Terrion Arnold (shoulder) and D.J. Reed (hamstring) remain on injured reserve and fill-in Avonte Maddox is dealing with a hamstring injury.
Bucs head coach Todd Bowles has indicated all along the team plans to be extremely cautious with Evans. The 32-year-old also missed three games with a hamstring injury last season and has a history of hamstring ailments during his 12-year career.
He had just four catches for 33 yards against the Jets but did grab his 106th career touchdown reception. He stands ninth in NFL history.
The six-time Pro Bowler is the lone receiver in NFL history to begin a career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons. He is also tied with the legendary Jerry Rice (1986-96) for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons at any point of a career.
Evans is averaging a career-worst 5.0 yards per target this season. He had only 140 receiving yards through three games so an extended absence could put the streak in jeopardy.
However, Evans had just 335 yards in seven games last season when he was sidelined. He returned to action in late November for Tampa Bay's 11th game and racked up 669 yards in seven games to end the regular season with 1,004.
Washington Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) will not travel to Dallas for his team's Week 7 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The Commanders will be extremely shorthanded at wide receiver in Week 7, as they will be playing without Samuel Sr., Terry McLaurin (quad), and Noah Brown (groin, knee). Without their top three wideouts, Washington will likely turn to Chris Moore, Luke McCaffrey, and Jaylin Lane for wide receiver production. McCaffrey has averaged 22.4 yards per reception and scored three touchdowns so far this season, so he may be the best option for desperate fantasy managers to take a shot on this week. Commanders tight end Zach Ertz (shoulder, calf) could be the favorite to lead the team in targets against Dallas, but he's listed as questionable to play due to shoulder and calf injuries.
From RotoBaller
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that the Arizona Cardinals are "planning to start" Jacoby Brissett at quarterback in Week 7 against the Green Bay Packers, meaning quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) will likely miss his second straight game due to a mid-foot sprain. Murray is officially listed as questionable, but Rapoport notes that Brissett was working with the starters during the open portion of the team's practice, while Murray threw to practice-squad wide receivers. Murray has mostly struggled across five games in 2025, completing 68.3% of his pass attempts for 962 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. The 28-year-old still brings value as a rusher (173 rushing yards, one touchdown), but not quite enough to always overcome his inefficiencies as a passer. Brissett played well in Murray's absence in Week 6, throwing for over 300 yards against the Indianapolis Colts. Still, Brissett profiles as a low-end streaming option for fantasy managers in two-quarterback formats in a tougher Week 7 matchup against Green Bay.
From RotoBaller
The Arizona Cardinals are "once again planning to start" veteran Jacoby Brissett at quarterback against the Green Bay Packers in Week 7, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (foot) is officially listed as questionable, but it appears a mid-foot sprain will keep him out of a second straight game. Brissett played well in his first start of the season in Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts, completing 27 of 44 pass attempts for 320 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The 32-year-old gets a tougher matchup in his second start against Green Bay. At best, Brissett profiles as a low-end streaming option for fantasy managers in two-quarterback formats in Week 7.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson has crushed through six games this season, ranking as the TE1 in PPR points and outscoring the next TE by almost 14 points. Ferguson may see a reduced share of targets in Week 7 against Washington as star WR CeeDee Lamb returns to the lineup. Ferguson was still very productive in the two full games with Lamb, catching 14 of 18 targets for 101 yards. The tight end remains a dangerous red-zone threat and Dak Prescott's preferred target underneath. Ferguson remains a top-tier fantasy TE option for Week 7, with a potential high-scoring matchup against Washington.
From RotoBaller
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker (quad) has officially been activated from Injured Reserve and is available for his team's Week 7 matchup against the New York Jets. Coker has not yet played this season due to a quad injury, but he recorded 32 catches for 478 yards and two touchdowns on 46 targets across 11 games in 2024. The 23-year-old will likely compete with Panthers wideout Xavier Legette for WR2 reps alongside Tetairoa McMillan in Carolina. Carolina may ease Coker back into the offense slowly, but it's worth noting that he's been practicing for two weeks and was close to returning in Week 6. Coker profiles as a low-end flex option in three-wide receiver leagues in Week 7 against the Jets.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver KaVontae Turpin is set to return in Week 7 against the Commanders after missing two games with a foot sprain. Turpin is set to return alongside star WR CeeDee Lamb, both coming back from multi-game absences. Before getting injured, Turpin was an impactful weapon for Dallas, catching 11 of 13 targets for 159 yards and a touchdown in four games. Turpin is expected to resume his WR3 duties behind Lamb and George Pickens against a Washington secondary that will allow plenty of yardage to opposing wideouts. In deeper leagues, he is a potential flex play for Week 7.
From RotoBaller
New York Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton (hamstring) has been ruled out for his team's Week 7 matchup against the Denver Broncos, per Dan Salomone of Giants.com. This marks the second straight missed game for Slayton, who has recorded 12 catches for 166 yards on 18 targets across the five games he's been healthy for in 2025. With both Slayton and Malik Nabers (knee) sidelined, Giants wideout Wan'Dale Robinson should see a healthy dose of targets from quarterback Jaxson Dart. Wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey could serve as the team's WR2, as he saw eight targets with Slayton out in Week 6. Still, in a tough matchup against Denver, Robinson is likely the only Giants pass-catcher worth starting for fantasy managers in Week 7.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) has been ruled out for Monday Night Football against the Lions, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Irving will miss his third straight game while dealing with multiple injuries. Tampa Bay has relied heavily on Rachaad White in his absence, playing 81% of the snaps over the past two weeks and recording 38 touches. Given Tampa Bay's Week 9 bye, the team may choose to delay his return until after the break to ensure he is completely healthy. White will be the workhorse again Monday night against Detroit, with Sean Tucker mixing in.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is coming off two consecutive solid performances and will take on the 49ers on the road in San Francisco on Sunday night. The 49ers are middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs this year, and middle of the pack in terms of both passing (214.3) and rushing yards (107.3) on the season, however, San Francisco has allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game over the last three weeks (266.7). This is, of course, largely attributable to the absence of Nick Bosa (knee) and Fred Warner (ankle), who will both be out on Sunday as well (and for the rest of the season). While that bodes well for the Penix, the lefty QB could again be without Darnell Mooney (hamstring) who did not practice on Friday after getting in two limited sessions earlier in the week. All in all, the 25-year-old projects as a low-end QB2 on Sunday night with high-end QB2 upside with all the other offensive talent on this team at his disposal.
From RotoBaller
With CeeDee Lamb set to return from a high-ankle sprain in Week 7 against Washington, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy is expected to revert to a depth role in the Cowboys' receiving rotation. Flournoy played a meaningful role for Dallas in Lamb's absence, most notably in their Week 5 win over the Jets when he caught six of nine targets for 114 yards. Lamb will reassume his role as the top option in the Dallas passing game, with KaVontae Turpin also expected to return after a two-game absence due to a foot sprain. Flournoy's opportunities will likely be limited in Week 7 against Washington, and he is likely best left on waivers.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens has held down the No. 1 WR role effectively with CeeDee Lamb (ankle) missing the last three games. Lamb is set to make his return in Week 7, sliding Pickens back into the No. 2 role. He racked up 19 catches for 359 yards and four touchdowns on 26 targets in Lamb's absence and should still have a big role in Dallas' elite offense. Even with Lamb back in the lineup, Pickens should be poised for another productive fantasy day against a vulnerable Washington secondary. He caught five of seven targets for 91 yards and a touchdown against them last year with the Steelers, and will rank as a borderline WR1 for Week 7.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb will make his return in Week 7 against Washington after missing three games with a high-ankle sprain. Lamb practiced in full on Friday and was removed from the injury report ahead of Sunday. He's not expected to have any workload restrictions in his first game back and should reclaim his spot as the top target earner for QB Dak Prescott, who is playing as well as anyone in the league right now. It's a favorable matchup for Lamb against a gettable Washington secondary. Lamb will rank as one of the top WR options in fantasy for Week 7.
From RotoBaller
Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little has a chance for a solid day in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams. In what should be a close matchup between two 4-2 teams, Little should have opportunities in what could be a tough game overall in London. The Jaguars' offense is good enough to move the ball well, while the Rams' defense is good enough to make plenty of defensive stops, which could mean a recipe for plenty of field goal opportunities. Little has been reliable from an accuracy and distance standpoint, so fantasy managers should feel fine starting Little in Week 7.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans' (hamstring) status for his team's Week 7 matchup against the Detroit Lions is "considered a pre-game decision," per ESPN's Adam Schefter. Schefter also notes that "there is more hope" for Evans than fellow Bucs wideout Emeka Egbuka (hamstring), who is also considered a game-time decision with a hamstring injury. Evans has missed the last three weeks for Tampa Bay after injuring his hamstring in Week 3. With Egbuka potentially sidelined and Chris Godwin (fibula) ruled out, Evans would likely dominate targets in Week 7 if he can make his return to the field. If he remains out, Buccaneers wideouts Sterling Shepard, Tez Johnson, and Kameron Johnson would all likely see an uptick in playing time and target share. Should Evans be available, he profiles as a high-end fantasy WR2 in Week 7 against Detroit.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (fibula) will miss his second straight game in Week 7 against the Detroit Lions due to a fibula injury. Godwin missed the first three weeks of the 2025 season while still recovering from a lower leg injury that ended his 2024 season. He recorded six catches for 52 yards on 14 targets across Weeks 5 and 6, but it appears he's still having lower-body issues that will keep him on the sidelines. Buccaneers wide receivers Mike Evans (hamstring) and Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) are both game-time decisions in Week 7, so Tampa Bay's wide receiver room is in flux. If one or both of Evans and Egbuka are out, the Buccaneers will likely rely on at least one of Sterling Shepard, Tez Johnson, and/or Kameron Johnson for wide receiver production against Detroit.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry has seen his fantasy production fluctuate on a week-by-week basis this year, ultimately ranking as the overall TE8 (PPR) through six contests. While his numbers have been enough to justify starting him in most weeks, managers may want to look elsewhere for production at the tight end position in Week 7. This week, Henry takes on the Tennessee Titans. Not only will the Patriots likely enjoy a positive game script -- leading to increased rush attempts and fewer pass attempts -- but the Titans have also been solid against the tight end position. Through Week 6, Tennessee has allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. Henry's fantasy production this season has been largely based on game script and matchup, so with both of those factors not in his favor this week, the veteran is tough to trust. He ranks outside the top 12 fantasy tight ends ahead of Week 7 against the Titans.
From RotoBaller
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) suffered a hamstring injury in Week 6 that caused him to miss practice on both Thursday and Friday of this week. However, Egbuka was able to log a limited practice on Saturday, and his status for his team's Week 7 game against the Detroit Lions on Monday will be a "game-time decision," per Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles. Egbuka has been excellent through the first six weeks of his NFL career, recording 27 catches for 469 yards and five touchdowns on 42 targets. Fantasy managers are now faced with a tough choice in Week 7, as they likely will not know whether Egbuka is active until Monday evening. The Buccaneers could get star wideout Mike Evans (hamstring) back from a hamstring injury against Detroit, but he remains a game-time decision as well. Tampa Bay will rely on Sterling Shephard, Tez Johnson, and Kameron Johnson for wide receiver production if Egbuka remains out.
From RotoBaller
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London is coming off back-to-back 100-yard efforts, with a touchdown in both games as well. The 24-year-old is averaging over 10 targets and six catches per contest, with Week 7 bringing a matchup with the 49ers on Sunday night. The San Francisco defense has allowed the 18th-most half-point fantasy PPR points thus far, but has been much more susceptible to the pass in recent weeks with the losses of Nick Bosa (knee) and Fred Warner (ankle). Fellow wideout Darnell Mooney (hanstring) is questionable for this game, but if active, his presence should not diminish London's role, which is the unquestioned No. 1 receiver with a whopping 32.9 percent target share in 2025. The 6-foot-4 wide receiver's heavy usage on a weekly basis consistently puts him in the WR1 range, and he'll be a mid-range WR1 again versus the 49ers.
From RotoBaller
New England Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte was one of the top fantasy breakouts in Week 6, and he'll look to carry that momentum into another favorable matchup against the Tennessee Titans in Week 7. Boutte exploded last Sunday with five catches, 93 yards, and two touchdowns, taking advantage of a Saints defense that is notoriously poor against perimeter receivers. The Titans' run defense is far weaker than their pass defense, but Boutte still has an opportunity to excel with a positive game script in place. The Patriots could take several deep shots, looking to run up the score or take advantage of a defense that recently endured turmoil with the mid-season firing of head coach Brian Callahan. Boutte continues to be an intriguing WR3/flex with additional upside.
From RotoBaller
Dallas Cowboys rookie running back Jaydon Blue has seen his first NFL game action over the last two weeks, but he's yet to play a significant role in the team's offense. Through two games, Blue has recorded seven rushing yards on seven carries and has not been targeted by Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. With veteran Cowboys back Miles Sanders (knee, ankle) on Injured Reserve, Blue figures to have an extended run as the team's RB2 behind Javonte Williams. Still, it would appear that the team does not currently trust Blue to do much beyond give Williams the occasional play off. That seems unlikely to change in a crucial divisional matchup in Week 7 against the Washington Commanders. Blue maintains long-term fantasy appeal as a handcuff, but he's not startable for fantasy managers in Week 7.
From RotoBaller