NFL Week 7 Power Rankings: New No. 1 and a top-10 shakeup as we check in on fantasy stars

Editor’s note: Every​ week, Josh Kendall and Chad Graff rank and analyze all 32 teams from first to worst.

The Power Rankings have reached Week 7, which means standings are starting to take shape — not just in the NFL, but in fantasy football leagues as well. This week, we’re focusing on the impact some of the league’s top players are making on their teams while also trying to sort out the order after last week’s Nos. 1, 3, 5 and 6 teams all lost in Week 6.

We had help this week from Jake Ciely, The Athletic’s fantasy football staff and our friends at TruMedia, who provided the PPR fantasy scoring numbers.

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-1)

Last week: 2

Sunday: Beat 49ers 30-19

Fantasy focus: Baker Mayfield

Mayfield’s average draft position this season was 77th. After Week 6, he is 11th in fantasy scoring (20.89 ppg). On Sunday, he started the game without Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving, finished it without Emeka Egbuka, and still looked unstoppable. Mayfield’s career resurgence can be tracked pretty accurately through fantasy scoring. Since the start of the 2024 season, only three players have outscored him. Egbuka, the league’s 28th-leading fantasy scorer (17.8 ppg), left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury that will leave his managers anxiously awaiting news.

Up next: at Lions, Monday, 7 p.m. ET

2. Los Angeles Rams (4-2)

Last week: 9

Sunday: Beat Ravens 17-3

Fantasy focus: Puka Nacua

Despite having his fourth-lowest yardage total as a professional (28 yards) Sunday, Nacua is sixth among all players in fantasy scoring this year (23.13 ppg). Since joining the league in 2023, he is ninth in fantasy scoring (18.94 ppg). The problem for his fantasy managers now is the ankle injury he suffered Sunday. Nacua returned to the game briefly after the injury, but Sean McVay said afterward that the receiver is questionable for the upcoming game against Jacksonville.

Up next: at Jaguars, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET

3. Indianapolis Colts (5-1)

Last week: 7

Sunday: Beat Cardinals 31-27

Fantasy focus: Jonathan Taylor

Indianapolis is off to its best start since 2009 because of its sixth-year running back, who had 123 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries Sunday. He is fourth in the league in fantasy points per game (24.17). He leads the league in rushing yards per game (100.5) and rushing touchdowns (seven). At this point, it seems silly that seven running backs were drafted ahead of him by fantasy managers.

Up next: at Chargers, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

4. Green Bay Packers (3-1-1)

Last week: 8

Sunday: Beat Bengals 27-18

Fantasy focus: Romeo Doubs

Doubs was the third Green Bay wide receiver to be selected by fantasy managers and had an ADP of 160 this year. So far, he’s the Packers’ most productive pass catcher and the 77th-highest fantasy scorer (13.08 ppg). He has 18 catches for 234 yards and, most importantly, four touchdowns, which is tied for the sixth most in the league. Rookie receiver Matthew Golden, who was the first Green Bay wide receiver off draft boards this year, had a career-high 86 receiving yards Sunday but has yet to score a touchdown.

Up next: at Cardinals, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

5. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3)

Last week: 15

Sunday: Beat Lions 30-17

Fantasy focus: Patrick Mahomes

For all of Mahomes’ greatness, he hasn’t been a fantasy difference-maker in several years. It’s why his ADP was 55 this season. He’s back, though, and the Chiefs might be, too. Mahomes is the third-highest scorer in fantasy (24.46). The Chiefs have won three of four games, and, in that span, Mahomes has thrown for 1,069 yards, rushed for 100 and totaled 11 touchdowns (nine passing, two rushing) against one interception.

Up next: vs. Raiders, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

6. Detroit Lions (4-2)

Last week: 1

Sunday: Lost to Chiefs 30-17

Fantasy focus: Amon-Ra St. Brown

No one in the NFL has caught more regular-season passes than St. Brown (474) since 2021, when he joined the league as a fourth-round pick. (Only Travis Kelce has more when you count playoff games.) St. Brown caught nine more passes Sunday and is the ninth-highest fantasy scorer (21.02) in the league. That’s just about perfect for his managers, who drafted him 10th on average.

Up next: vs. Buccaneers, Monday, 7 p.m. ET

7. Denver Broncos (4-2)

Last week: 10

Sunday: Beat Jets 13-11

Fantasy focus: The defense

The Jets had 82 total yards of offense Sunday. Sure, it’s just the Jets, but nobody has done much against the Broncos defense. Denver is allowing the fewest yards per play in the NFL (4.3), has the highest defensive success rate (64.5 percent) and has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to its opponents (72.81). The Broncos’ total of 15.8 actual points allowed per game is the second lowest in the league. Only the Colts and Chargers have scored more than 17 points against them.

Up next: vs. Giants, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

8. Philadelphia Eagles (4-2)

Last week: 3

Thursday: Lost to Giants 34-17

Fantasy focus: A.J. Brown

The trade rumor mill’s favorite wide receiver was the 20th pick in ADP this year. He’s the 128th-highest scoring player and only the third-highest scoring Brown (behind Amon-Ra and Marquise) after six weeks. The seventh-year pro has never been less productive on the fantasy side. He’s averaging 9.73 points per game compared to a previous low of 13.57 as a rookie. At least he’s keeping social media buzzing.

Up next: at Vikings, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

9. Seattle Seahawks (4-2)

Last week: 12

Sunday: Beat Jaguars 20-12

Fantasy focus: Sam Darnold

It turns out Kevin O’Connell wasn’t the only reason Darnold played so well last year. Darnold is better — a lot better — this year in Seattle than he was last year in Minnesota under O’Connell. His 0.27 EPA per dropback is the best of his career and ranks fourth in the league. He’s 36th in fantasy scoring (16.94) after being drafted 163rd on average.

Up next: vs. Texans, Monday, 10 p.m. ET

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2)

Last week: 5

Sunday: Lost to Seahawks 20-12

Fantasy focus: Travis Hunter

The rookie wide receiver/cornerback was one of the biggest risk/reward picks of the fantasy season. So far, the reward hasn’t arrived. Hunter has played 241 offensive snaps and 203 defensive snaps, but those defensive snaps aren’t helping his fantasy numbers. He’s averaging 6.62 fantasy points per game, which ranks 212th in the league, because he has only 20 receptions for 197 yards and no touchdowns. His ADP was 73rd. To make matters worse, on Sunday, he lined up offside and negated a 54-yard touchdown pass to Brian Thomas Jr.

Up next: vs. Rams, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET

11. Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1)

Last week: 13

Sunday: Beat Browns 23-9

Fantasy focus: DK Metcalf

The former Seahawks wide receiver is the Steelers’ most prolific fantasy scorer (15.72 ppg), but he’s only the 45th-highest scorer in the league. He had four catches for 95 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s win. Considering this team’s top running back is Jaylen Warren, who is 75th in scoring (13.18), it’s a wonder Pittsburgh is 14th in the league in actual scoring (23.8 ppg).

Up next: at Bengals, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

12. San Francisco 49ers (4-2)

Last week: 6

Sunday: Lost to Buccaneers 30-19

Fantasy focus: Christian McCaffrey

Plenty of fantasy players were afraid of drafting McCaffrey because of his injury history. It turns out he’s the only 49er who hasn’t been hurt this season. On Sunday, the latest to go down was star middle linebacker Fred Warner, who dislocated his ankle and is out for the season. Brock Purdy, Ricky Pearsall, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk and Nick Bosa were already out. McCaffrey is back, though. He is second in the league in fantasy scoring (24.67) after registering 111 yards and a touchdown Sunday.

Up next: vs. Falcons, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

13. Los Angeles Chargers (4-2)

Last week: 14

Sunday: Beat Dolphins 29-27

Fantasy focus: Kimani Vidal

Vidal (the great nephew of Hank Aaron) was a fantasy afterthought entering the season. Heck, he was an afterthought two weeks ago. But Najee Harris (Achilles) was lost for the season, and now Omarion Hampton will miss extended time due to an ankle injury. Vidal stepped in Sunday and had 124 yards on 18 carries and three catches that included a touchdown. His fantasy performance (22.8 points) was one of the 25 best of the week and sent managers scrambling to check his availability.

Up next: vs. Colts, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

14. New England Patriots (4-2)

Last week: 17

Sunday: Beat Saints 25-19

Fantasy focus: Drake Maye

The Patriots made a good call taking Maye with the third pick of the 2024 draft. Fantasy managers weren’t as wise, letting him fall to an ADP of 113 this year. On Sunday, New England’s quarterback threw for 261 yards and three touchdowns and led the Patriots in rushing with 28 yards. He is the 13th-leading scorer in fantasy this year (20.65).

Up next: at Titans, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

15. Atlanta Falcons (3-2)

Last week: 18

Monday: Beat Bills 24-14

Fantasy focus: Bijan Robinson

The third-year running back has validated all of his preseason hype. His average draft position was second overall, and he moved into first place in fantasy scoring Monday night with a 238-yard effort against the Bills. Robinson, who gained a career-high 170 yards on the ground against Buffalo, which included a scintillating 81-yard touchdown run, is averaging 24.84 fantasy points per game.

Up next: at 49ers, Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

16. Buffalo Bills (4-2)

Last week: 4

Monday: Lost to Falcons 24-14

Fantasy focus: James Cook

Cook was about the only thing working for Buffalo’s offense Monday night as Josh Allen threw two interceptions and was held to 180 yards and a 72.6 passer rating. Cook had 17 carries for 87 yards and is the 29th-leading fantasy scorer in the league (17.43 ppg).

Up next: Bye

17. Minnesota Vikings (3-2)

Last week: 16

Sunday: Bye

Fantasy focus: Justin Jefferson

The Vikings’ star wide receiver has done well to survive the quarterback mess in Minnesota, but it hasn’t been the year fantasy managers were expecting. Jefferson’s ADP was seventh, but he’s the 43rd-leading scorer and the 11th-ranked receiver after Minnesota’s bye week (16.06 per game).

Up next: vs. Eagles, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

18. Chicago Bears (3-2)

Last week: 20

Monday: Beat Commanders 25-24

Fantasy focus: Rome Odunze

Odunze had only two catches for 32 yards in Monday night’s win, but he has been Chicago’s most consistent skill position player this season. After a slow rookie season, he is 35th in fantasy scoring this year (16.96 ppg). Quarterback Caleb Williams is the Bears’ leading fantasy scorer (20.39).

Up next: vs. Saints, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

19. Washington Commanders (3-3)

Last week: 11

Monday: Lost to Bears 25-24

Fantasy focus: Jayden Daniels

The Commanders’ second-year quarterback is overplaying his draft position for fantasy managers this year. His ADP was 28th, but he’s the 18th-leading scorer on a per-game basis (19.65). He didn’t get a win Monday night, but he threw for three touchdowns and rushed for 52 yards.

Up next: at Cowboys, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

20. Houston Texans (2-3)

Last week: 19

Sunday: Bye

Fantasy focus: Nick Chubb

This is just a Chubb appreciation post. His production (130th) is unremarkable and mostly matches his ADP (No. 122), but what he’s doing is remarkable. In his eighth season, Chubb has survived two devastating knee injuries and a broken foot to be the Texans’ most productive back, albeit with a pedestrian 249 yards on 58 carries.

Up next: at Seahawks, Monday, 10 p.m. ET

21. Carolina Panthers (3-3)

Last week: 24

Sunday: Beat Cowboys 30-27

Fantasy focus: Rico Dowdle

In the last two weeks, Dowdle has had two of the season’s top four fantasy performances by a running back. He had 183 rushing yards Sunday against the Cowboys and led the Panthers in receiving with 56 yards and a touchdown. He had 206 rushing and 28 receiving yards a week ago against the Dolphins. Not bad for a former UDFA who had an average draft position of 158 this year and started the season as the Panthers’ backup.

Up next: at Jets, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

22. New York Giants (2-4)

Last week: 27

Thursday: Beat Eagles 34-17

Fantasy focus: Cam Skattebo

The average 121st pick in fantasy has become the 11th-highest-scoring running back so far (16.55 ppg). Skattebo is 28th in yards before contact per rush (1.06), which could be a sign that he’s not getting much help from the Giants offensive line. Of course, it also could be a sign that he just looks for people to run into.

Up next: at Broncos, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET

23. Dallas Cowboys (2-3-1)

Last week: 21

Sunday: Lost to Panthers 30-27

Fantasy focus: Dak Prescott

This team’s struggles aren’t Prescott’s fault. Despite being the victim of the second-most dropped passes of any quarterback this season (11), he’s second in the NFL in touchdown passes (13) and passing yards per game (269.5). He is 14th among all players in fantasy points per game (20.6) and is on pace for the third-best fantasy season of his 10-year career. George Pickens helped Sunday with a career-high nine catches for 168 yards, the second most of his career.

Up next: vs. Commanders, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

24. Arizona Cardinals (2-4)

Last week: 22

Sunday: Lost to Colts 31-27

Fantasy focus: Trey McBride

The Cardinals’ season didn’t get any better Sunday, but McBride had a good day with a season-high eight catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. McBride was the second tight end drafted by fantasy managers this season, but he is fifth in fantasy points per game (13.95) among tight ends and 64th overall.

Up next: vs. Packers, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

25. Baltimore Ravens (1-5)

Last week: 23

Sunday: Lost to Rams 17-3

Fantasy focus: Derrick Henry

Henry’s season hasn’t been quite as disastrous as the Ravens’ season overall, but it hasn’t been good. After gaining 122 yards against the Rams on Sunday, he is 89th in fantasy scoring per game (12.22). Since joining the Ravens in 2024, he has had four games with fewer than 10 fantasy points. Three of them have come in the first six weeks of this season. Henry is 27th in expected points added per carry this year. Last year, he was 12th.

Up next: Bye

26. Las Vegas Raiders (2-4)

Last week: 29

Sunday: Beat Titans 20-10

Fantasy focus: Brock Bowers

A lot of the Raiders’ offensive struggles can be attributed to Bowers’ injury-riddled season. The second-year tight end was 50th in fantasy scoring last year (15.45 per game) and had an ADP of 23rd this year. However, he’s 116th in scoring this year (10.88) while dealing with a knee injury. Bowers missed his second straight game Sunday and may be out this week, too.

Up next: at Chiefs, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

27. Cincinnati Bengals (2-4)

Last week: 25

Sunday: Lost to Packers 27-18

Fantasy focus: Ja’Marr Chase

Adding Joe Flacco may not save the Bengals’ season, but it could change the fortunes of folks who have Chase or Tee Higgins on their fantasy teams. In Flacco’s first game in Cincinnati, Chase had 10 catches for 92 yards, and Higgins had a season-high 62 yards. Despite the Bengals’ struggles, Chase is still 21st in the league in fantasy scoring (18.57 ppg).

Up next: vs. Steelers, Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET

28. New Orleans Saints (1-5)

Last week: 26

Sunday: Lost to Patriots 25-19

Fantasy focus: Alvin Kamara

The window may be closing for one of fantasy football’s most consistent contributors of the last nine years. Kamara had an ADP of 40 this year, but he’s 102nd in scoring after six weeks (11.60). He led the Saints in rushing Sunday, but that only amounted to 31 yards, and he has only one touchdown this season.

Up next: at Bears, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

29. Miami Dolphins (1-5)

Last week: 31

Sunday: Lost to Chargers 29-27

Fantasy focus: De’Von Achane

Things are bad in Miami, but Achane has been really good. He has outperformed his ADP of 20th and is the 15th-highest fantasy scorer in the league (20.58). Achane is tied for second in the league with six touchdowns, three rushing and three receiving. He’s the only player with at least three of each.

Up next: at Browns, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

30. Cleveland Browns (1-5)

Last week: 28

Sunday: Lost to Steelers 23-9

Fantasy focus: Quinshon Judkins

Not much has gone right in Cleveland, but Judkins has been a bright spot, even after Sunday’s 36-yard effort. Despite not playing in Week 1, the rookie running back is the Browns’ top fantasy scorer (13.10 ppg). The fact that Cleveland’s top fantasy scorer is 76th in the league in that category explains why this team is 1-5.

Up next: vs. Dolphins, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

31. Tennessee Titans (1-5)

Last week: 30

Sunday: Lost to Raiders 20-10

Fantasy focus: Joey Slye

The highest fantasy scorer on the Titans roster is Slye, the kicker. Explains a lot, doesn’t it? Tony Pollard (No. 119) and Calvin Ridley (No. 189) have been disappointments, and rookie quarterback Cam Ward (No. 196 and 35th in EPA per dropback, minus-0.22) just doesn’t have a chance. Neither did head coach Brian Callahan, who was fired on Monday.

Up next: vs. Patriots, Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

32. New York Jets (0-6)

Last week: 32

Sunday: Lost to Broncos 13-11

Fantasy focus: Garrett Wilson

Eight targets. Three catches. That was Wilson’s day on Sunday. It’s impressive that he has managed to score any points while being a part of this mess, much less enough to be the 38th-highest scoring player of the season. Quarterback Justin Fields is 30th in EPA per dropback, and still Wilson has 36 catches for 395 yards and four of the team’s 11 offensive touchdowns. There should be a fantasy points multiplier bonus system just for playing for these Jets.

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