Week 7 of the 2023 fantasy football season featured big surprises. Who were the big winners and losers? Which players received "A" and "F" grades?
Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their analysis, and Seth Walder provides his grades. We also asked NFL Nation reporters to answer questions about what happened in the Thursday and Sunday games.
Jump to a topic:
Ranking winners | Ranking losers
Who got an A | Who got an F
Biggest injuries and what's next
Top questions from Week 7
Ranking fantasy winners of Week 7
1. Lamar Jackson, QB; Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens put on an offensive clinic in the win over the Lions. Personnel, formation, scheme. Jackson was dialed in here, too. Seeing it fast from the pocket, making plays off schedule and producing rushing totals. He finished with 33.8 fantasy points, logging 357 yards passing, 36 yards rushing and four total touchdowns. And two of those touchdown throws went to Andrews. Concepts there to target the tight end in the red zone. Andrews hit the 22.3 PPR mark in this one, his second game this season with 20 or more PPR points. Jackson and Andrews get a favorable matchup in Week 8 at Arizona. -- Bowen
2. Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Kelce's 35.9 PPR points paced the Week 7 scoring in fantasy football, as he caught 12 of 13 targets -- with a touchdown -- for 179 yards in the win over the Chargers. He now has logged at least 21 PPR points in three straight games, and the volume is jumping here, with Kelce seeing a total of 33 targets during this stretch. He's finding open grass on schemed throws from Patrick Mahomes, working multiple levels of the field and producing after the catch. Doing it all. Kelce gets the Broncos' defense next, a unit he lit up back in Week 6, catching nine receptions for 124 yards. -- Bowen
3. Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints
In the Thursday night game, Kamara continued to produce as a dual-threat volume back. He logged a season-high 29.3 PPR points in this one, catching 12 passes for 91 yards, and finishing with a total of 29 offensive touches. Kamara has now seen at least 24 touches in all four games played this season, and the receiving volume is up given quarterback Derek Carr's willingness to dump the ball underneath. With a Week 8 matchup versus the Colts, Kamara is a locked-in RB1. -- Bowen
4. Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions
The Lions' offense had a miserable first-half showing, so some might scoff at Gibbs' production having come entirely in garbage time. Still, he scored a game-most 24.2 PPR fantasy points (of 27.6 total) in the second half, and for the day played 86% of the offensive snaps while seeing a 20% target share as the starter in David Montgomery's absence. That Gibbs fared well in catch-up circumstances bodes well for a bigger receiving-game role, which is where he needs to shine with Montgomery likely aligned for a return following the Week 9 bye. -- Cockcroft
5. D'Onta Foreman, RB, Chicago Bears
Foreman racked up 33.0 PPR points on the Raiders' defense, logging three touchdowns and 120 total yards. He played downhill in scoring position, dropping the hammer on two goal-line rushing touchdowns. He also contributed to the pass game, producing on screens and finding the end zone for a third time on a checkdown throw. With rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent making his first pro start, the run game was at the top of the call sheet here, and I believe that continues in Week 8 versus the Chargers. Foreman will be in the RB2/Flex range for that matchup. -- Bowen
6. Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Even with the rookie's quiet Week 6, Cooper Kupp's return to action hasn't presented a problem at all for Nacua's fantasy production. Nacua hauled in 8 of 12 targets for 23.4 PPR fantasy points, capitalizing on the favorable matchup. Nacua now holds the record for catches (58) and has the second-most PPR fantasy points among wide receivers (145.6) through his first seven career games. He needs to be locked in as a high-end WR2, even for a tough Week 8 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. -- Cockcroft
7. Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts
The Colts came this close to upsetting the vaunted Cleveland Browns defense, with Downs' performance playing a big part. Thanks to a 69-yard receiving score on the opening drive, he totaled a season-best 23.5 PPR fantasy points. Downs paced the team with six targets, and he has 52.3 points on 20 targets in his past three games. He might again be the focal point for Gardner Minshew in Week 8, avoiding Marshon Lattimore in coverage as the team's slot receiver. If you're in one of the 65.5% of leagues in which he's available, add Downs. -- Cockcroft
Ranking fantasy losers of Week 7
1. Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns
Though Deshaun Watson's questionable status in advance of the game, as well as the quarterback's early exit due to a concussion, had a lot to do with it, Cooper's 4.2 PPR fantasy points on eight targets was a huge letdown considering the matchup. PJ Walker's passing struggles reined in Cooper's production and will continue to do so if he's needed to start in Week 8, which is frustrating considering the Browns are in the midst of an extremely favorable span of their schedule (@SEA, ARI the next two weeks). -- Cockcroft
2. Josh Jacobs, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
Now his production is troubling, as Jacobs for the seventh straight week averaged fewer than 4 yards per carry, finishing with a season-worst 5.1 PPR fantasy points. Blame Jimmy Garoppolo's absence, or the offense's struggles, but Jacobs was the most-started running back in ESPN leagues (98.0%), and understandably so considering the laughably favorable matchup. It's time to downgrade Jacobs from RB1 status -- at least in weeks with fewer than six teams on bye -- and he might be a midrange RB2 in Week 8 against the Lions. -- Cockcroft
3. Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams
After posting back-to-back games with at least seven receptions and 118 yards receiving, Kupp played second tier to Puka Nacua in the Rams' Week 7 loss to the Steelers. With Nacua seeing a team-high 12 targets, and finishing with eight receptions for 154 yards, Kupp caught just 2 of 7 targets for 29 yards. He'll look to bounce back in a tough Week 8 matchup versus a Cowboys defense that can heat up the pocket and disrupt the timing of the Rams' pass game. --Bowen
4. Austin Ekeler, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
That's now back-to-back disappointing performances since his return from a high ankle sprain, following up Week 6's 1.9 yards-per-carry average with a 5.6 PPR fantasy point score on 15 total touches. Worse yet, backup Joshua Kelley had the superior game, with 13.5 points and a 49-yard rushing touchdown on seven carries. Fortunately, Ekeler enjoys a big-time rebound opportunity against the Bears in Week 8, so there's no reason to panic yet that he has slipped from his draft-day RB1 status. -- Cockcroft
5. Atlanta Falcons offense
Fantasy managers were more aggravated by Bijan Robinson's scarce usage this week than any other in-game development, and understandably so, as the rookie was the second most-started running back of the week (97.5% of ESPN leagues). Coach Arthur Smith admitted during the game that Robinson wasn't feeling well, helping explain Robinson's mere 10 snaps played and one touch, a 3-yard carry on the game's final drive. But something still doesn't entirely add up, as why risk playing Robinson at all in that case? Additionally, Desmond Ridder became the first player in 19 years to turn the football over twice within one yard of the end zone in the same game (Michael Vick, 2004, was the last), underscoring what was another head-scratcher of a contest for Smith's bunch. -- Cockcroft
6. Calvin Ridley, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Back in Week 5, Ridley caught seven passes for 122 yards versus the Bills, which was good for 20.6 PPR points. Since then? The numbers are down for Ridley. He caught just one pass for 5 yards in the Thursday night win over the Jags, and has logged only five receptions -- on 12 targets -- in his past two games. Ridley and quarterback Trevor Lawrence will look to get back on the same page in the Week 8 matchup versus the Steelers. -- Bowen
Injury impact
Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons
What we know: As mentioned above, Smith hinted to a sideline reporter midgame that Robinson wasn't feeling well, indicating the rookie running back was dealing with an illness.
What's next: Robinson should be fine for Week 8 if that's the case, though the matchup against the Tennessee Titans is a brutal one. The Falcons certainly need him back and heavily involved, as Tyler Allgeier (14.2 PPR fantasy points on 24 touches) and Cordarrelle Patterson (5.6 PPR on 10) aren't cutting it. -- Cockcroft
Deshaun Watson, QB, Cleveland Browns
What we know: Watson left the game with a concussion late in the first quarter versus the Colts, and he did not return despite passing concussion protocol. PJ Walker replaced Watson in the lineup.
What's next: If Watson is down for the Week 8 game at Seattle, Walker would be expected to get the start, with rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson dressed as the No. 2 quarterback. -- Bowen
Jerome Ford, RB, Cleveland Browns
What we know: Ford exited Sunday's game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury.
What's next: Kareem Hunt had a decent-sized role in this game, handling 10 carries including the game-winning touchdown, indicating that he would step in as the team's starter should Ford's injury be serious enough to cost him Week 8. Hunt doesn't play hefty snap shares, though, so Pierre Strong Jr. could also see some work. -- Cockcroft
Who earned an 'A' from the weekend?
Myles Garrett, Edge, Cleveland Browns
Two sacks. Two forced fumbles. A 44% pass rush win rate. And an incredible leap over the line on a blocked field goal. What more could you need? Garrett was pitching his case for Defensive Player of the Year Sunday in a game where the Browns needed him to be at his best. -- Walder
Who earned an 'F' from the weekend?
Ron Rivera, head coach, Washington Commanders
Rivera once built his reputation on fourth down. Those days are long gone. The Commanders coach attempted a field goal down seven points in the fourth quarter on fourth-and-3 at the Giants' 9-yard line. The decision cost the Commanders 4.3 percentage points of win probability, according to our ESPN Analytics model -- a clear and costly error. The kick was ultimately blocked, but that's not my criticism: The decision was bad no matter the result. -- Walder
Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions
Twenty-six routes run is encouraging. Six targets isn't bad at all, either. But zero receptions? That's ugly. Williams recorded negative-58 receiving yards over expectation, according to NFL Next Gen Stats. Tough day at the office in a bad day for the Lions overall. -- Walder
Lingering questions from Sunday's games
Was today a one-game isolated blip in terms of Bijan Robinson's usage or is there more here that fantasy managers should be concerned about?
I wouldn't think this would be a major concern for Robinson at this point unless the headaches persist. It sounds like he hasn't really dealt with them before and they were trying to be safe here. Falcons coach Arthur Smith said they'll monitor it and might know more Monday. But he was not administered a concussion or COVID test when I asked him about it Sunday, so it seems like that isn't an issue. -- Michael Rothstein
Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jake Bobo both found the end zone vs. Arizona while DK Metcalf was out. Could this lead to bigger things from either of the rookies, or does everything shift back to how it was once Metcalf returns?
There probably aren't enough touches to go around in Seattle's run-heavy offense for Bobo to continue seeing five targets per game, especially as the fourth wide receiver once Metcalf returns. And Smith-Njigba probably won't average seven targets as the WR3, but his workload -- four catches and 63 yards -- otherwise does seem sustainable. One factor in his slow start was that he was playing with a broken wrist from the summer that was still affecting him. His playing time was also limited by the amount of 12 and 13 personnel the Seahawks were using to help out their backup offensive tackles in pass protection. But left tackle Charles Cross is now back, and Smith-Njigba's wrist is feeling better. -- Brady Henderson