Fantasy start-or-sit decisions can rack your brain, especially when last week’s box score points one way and the usage points another. That’s where we come in: stats such as passing volume, goal-line carries, target volume and receiving usage can cut through the noise and make those lineup calls a little easier.
With six weeks in the books, we’re focusing on roles that are holding steady or changing in ways worth noticing. Let’s dive into the top five stats you need to win your Week 7 fantasy matchup, and the 10 players they point to as starts!
1. Quarterback Passing Volume
Volume is what gives a quarterback his floor. The ones dropping back and throwing it the most pile up the counting stats no matter how the touchdowns break.
| Player | Team | Wk 7 Opp | Pass yards / TD / INT (thru Wk 6) | Full-PPR PPG (thru Wk 6) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tyler Shough | NO | vs. PIT | 1,443 / 12 / 5 | 20.5 |
| Jacoby Brissett | ARI | vs. DEN | 1,328 / 9 / 6 | 16.2 |
Shough has been a volume machine in New Orleans, throwing for 1,443 yards and 12 touchdowns on 235 attempts, and he chips in with his legs too, for a strong 20.5 points a game. The job is clearly his and the passing volume travels. He’s a confident streaming QB1 against Pittsburgh in Paris.
Brissett keeps airing it out for Arizona, piling up 234 attempts and 1,328 yards with nine touchdowns. The efficiency is nothing special and the six picks sting, but the sheer volume gives him a weekly floor. He’s a deeper-league QB2 at home against Denver.
Starts: QB Tyler Shough, QB Jacoby Brissett
2. Running Back Red Zone Carries
Red zone carries are the cleanest read on a back’s touchdown equity. The ones trusted inside the 20 get the scoring chances that season-long yardage totals can hide.
| Player | Team | Wk 7 Opp | Red zone carries / rush TD (thru Wk 6) | Full-PPR PPG (thru Wk 6) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D’Andre Swift | CHI | vs. NE | 26 / 6 | 18.0 |
| Ollie Gordon II | MIA | @ NYJ | 14 / 3 | 9.6 |
Swift has turned into a goal-line hammer for Chicago, with 26 red zone carries and six rushing touchdowns already on 94 totes for 398 yards and 18.0 points a game. The scoring role is the piece that holds up week to week. He’s a strong RB2 at home against New England.
Gordon has quietly carved out Miami’s goal-line work, turning 14 red zone carries into three scores on 47 carries. The overall volume is still modest, but the touchdown equity is real. He’s a sneaky flex at the Jets.
Starts: RB D’Andre Swift, RB Ollie Gordon II
3. Running Back Receiving Work
In full PPR, a back’s work in the passing game counts as much as his carries. The ones who earn targets keep their floor even when the running lanes close up.
| Player | Team | Wk 7 Opp | Targets / receptions / rec yards (thru Wk 6) | Full-PPR PPG (thru Wk 6) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinshon Judkins | CLE | @ TEN | 20 / 18 / 102 | 11.3 |
| Aaron Jones Sr. | MIN | vs. IND | 18 / 12 / 72 | 14.4 |
Judkins has become a real factor on passing downs for Cleveland, catching 18 of 20 targets for 102 yards to go with his carries, worth 11.3 points a game. The reception role gives him a floor even in a tough offense. He’s a flex at Tennessee.
Jones is still Minnesota’s steadiest back, mixing 97 carries with 18 targets and a dependable 14.4-point line. The dual role keeps him involved no matter the script. He’s a solid flex at home against Indianapolis.
Starts: RB Quinshon Judkins, RB Aaron Jones Sr.
4. Wide Receiver Target Volume
Targets are the currency of receiver scoring, and the players seeing the most looks carry the highest floor, even on the weeks a quiet box score tempts you to bench them.
| Player | Team | Wk 7 Opp | Targets / receptions / rec yards (thru Wk 6) | Full-PPR PPG (thru Wk 6) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| George Pickens | DAL | @ PHI | 52 / 33 / 428 | 13.6 |
| Tee Higgins | CIN | @ BAL | 43 / 27 / 423 | 15.1 |
Pickens has a clear every-down role in Dallas, with 52 targets, 33 catches and 428 yards for 13.6 points a game. The volume is there every week and the big plays come in bunches. He’s a confident WR2 at Philadelphia.
Higgins keeps drawing a heavy workload in Cincinnati, with 43 targets, 27 catches and 423 yards across five games, worth 15.1 points a game. The target share and the yardage make him a weekly starter. He’s a strong WR2 at Baltimore.
Starts: WR George Pickens, WR Tee Higgins
5. Tight End Receiving Yards
At a position this thin, receiving yards separate the every-down tight ends from the touchdown-or-bust streamers. Yardage points to a steady role.
| Player | Team | Wk 7 Opp | Rec yards / targets / rec TD (thru Wk 6) | Full-PPR PPG (thru Wk 6) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dalton Schultz | HOU | vs. NYG | 277 / 37 / 0 | 9.3 |
| Tucker Kraft | GB | @ DET | 249 / 37 / 1 | 9.4 |
Schultz is soaking up targets in Houston, catching 28 of 37 looks for 277 yards, the kind of volume that is rare at the position even without a touchdown yet. The usage is the floor you want. He’s a back-end TE1 at home against the Giants.
Kraft hasn’t been his must-start self from 2025, but he still is a go-to option in Green Bay, with 37 targets, 25 catches and 249 yards. The volume makes him startable at a thin spot. He’s a streaming TE1 at Detroit.
Starts: TE Dalton Schultz, TE Tucker Kraft
The Bottom Line
These numbers point to opportunity, not a guarantee. Six weeks in, efficiency still bounces around, and a strong role doesn’t promise a strong Sunday. Good luck in your Week 7 matchups, and come back next week for the Week 8 stats to know!
Methodology: Full PPR with no bonuses. Passing yards/25, four points per passing touchdown, minus one per interception, rushing yards/10, six per rushing touchdown, one per reception, receiving yards/10, six per receiving touchdown. Figures reflect finalized Weeks 1 through 6. Lost fumbles and two-point conversions are left out because the format defines no value for them. Injury data reflects the Week 7 report pulled 2026-10-21; no featured player carried a game-status designation at that time. Confirm each player’s final status before kickoff.
This article was written with the help of generative AI and edited by a DraftKings Network employee.