Yet another NFL Sunday is upon us, meaning it’s time for the latest edition of our weekly must-starts column. We bounced back nicely with our quarterback selection last week as Drake Maye posted a gnarly 27.2 DraftKings fantasy points, so we’re capturing that energy to channel into the Week 7 selections.
With 1/3 of the regular season in the books, there’s plenty of data to look at. After crunching the numbers, we’ve got another three must-start players. Whether a talent to build lineups around or an insane value with matchup and salary, these are guys who can smash and win you a contest this week. Let’s jump right in.
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QB Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears, $5,800
I usually like to go a little bit cheaper at quarterback so we can add a little more star power elsewhere. Maye was the pick last week and lit up the Saints’ defense for 261 yards and three touchdowns, and I like Caleb Williams’ odds of putting forth a similar performance here. The Bears’ QB1 averages 20.8 FPPG this season with 235.8 yards per game, nine touchdowns and just two interceptions across his five appearances. He’s also added 21.6 rushing yards per contest with two scores on the ground, so there’s a little room for upside there as well.
While he’s only topped 20 points twice, Williams flashes the upside we’re looking for with a 24.2 points in Week 1 and 29.1 points in Week 3. This game against the Saints brings potential for a big outing since the defense ranks 23rd in EPA/pass with the third-most passing touchdowns allowed on the year (14). With D’Andre Swift (groin) dealing with a bit of a knock, the Bears may lean a bit more on the pass in this one.
RB Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns, $6,000
The Browns are not a good football team, but the stars have aligned for a win in Week 7 as well as a massive day for the ground game. Forecasts predict a steady wind of around 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, and with rain on the radar, throwing the football feels almost out of the question. With the lowest total of the week by far at 35.5 points, this has the makings of an ugly game with plenty of rush attempts for both sides. That’s where Quinshon Judkins can thrive for the Browns.
The rookie averages 13.7 FPPG which is greatly diminished by a 3.6-point outing last week against a strong Steelers run defense. With some fantasy players likely put off by that performance, the roster percentage may end up a little lower in Week 7. He’s seen at least 18 carries in three of five contests with 82 or more yards in all of those, plus a touchdown in two. That kind of workload with these weather conditions creates a prime opportunity to dominate on Sunday. Plus, the Dolphins rank dead-last in EPA/rush and rushing yards allowed, as well as 24th in rush TDs given up with six in six games. Sure, the Browns are unexciting, but Judkins can pop in Week 7 fantasy contests.
WR Rashee Rice., Kansas City Chiefs, $5,600
You know what Week 7 means? Rashee Rice finally makes his long-awaited return for the Chiefs after a knee injury sidelined him near the start of last season and a six-game suspension wiped out his first 1/3 of 2025. However, all signs point to a full-go for the wideout, who now steps into an offense showing signs of a resurgence. Patrick Mahomes is dealing right now and will certainly welcome the talented target back into the fold.
In three healthy games last season prior to the injury, Rice averaged a monstrous 23.63 FPPG with 24 catches, 289 yards and two touchdowns on 29 total targets. He’s an elite zone-beater who settles into soft spots on the defense much like teammate Travis Kelce, and with the tight end as well as Xavier Worthy sharing the field alongside Rice, there should be plenty of room to work on Sunday. The Chiefs get a matchup with the Raiders at Arrowhead, so things look good against a defense that sits 21st in EPA/pass and 18th in yardage allowed. Some people may be hesitant to slot Rice into lineups following the layoff, but that only pushes his rostership down… and the salary is sure to increase in coming weeks.
