5 Elite Players Could Return This Week

The Vanicream TRUST-O-METER: Cam Skattebo

Oh man Cam Skattebo. We love him. You love him. Everyone loves him!

…but can we trust him to be there for us in Week 16, barreling through defenders and putting up 18 fantasy points to get us into our finals? Or will he be mired in a timeshare with Tyrone Tracy, leaving us to decide what to do in our Flexes?

Meet the Vanicream TRUST-O-METER. It makes its debut today.

Football is very much a “what have you done for me lately?” game. And Skattebo has done a LOT, with a Utilization Score of 81 in Week 6, compared to Tracy’s 16 in his first week back from injury. So our trust in playing time going forward is an 8 — sure things can change, but why mess with a good thing? You just beat the Eagles!!

On the other hand, Skattebo plays with a fun yet reckless style that worries us a little. Can we trust him to stay healthy? EHHHHHH. Dock him for the worries!

Overall, then, Cam Skattebo gets a 7.5 on our first ever use of the Vanicream TRUST-O-METER! (He’s a 10 on the Vanicream FUN-O-METER, though)

And hey, if you don’t know who Vanicream is—besides being fantasy fans, they’re the #1 Dermatologist Recommended Brand for Sensitive Skin. Celebrating their 50th year, their products were developed with one goal: to create something for people with sensitive skin.

The ingredients make all the difference, and Vanicream’s most important ingredient—that’s trust! (thus the TRUST-O-METER!). If you want to give them a try, your skin will thank you.

Editors’ Picks

Week 7 kicks off tonight. It’s time to get right (or stay right). Start by making sure you catch up on some of the latest and greatest content that you may have missed on FantasyLife.com.

Welcome to the Rashee Rice Effect

It is time to set our fantasy lineups for Week 7, and with that in mind, let's follow the data to analyze some of the biggest risers and fallers in the ranks to help you make those start-sit decisions, starting with the impact of Rashee Rice’s impending Week 7 return …

Patrick Mahomes is the No. 2 QB in Week 7 fantasy ranks.

After a down 2024 campaign where Mahomes averaged 17.6 fantasy points per game (QB11), the GOAT fell to the fifth and sixth rounds of fantasy drafts—his cheapest price since his breakout season in Year 2. His drafters are reaping massive fantasy rewards in the form of the QB1 overall with 24.5 points per contest.

The Chiefs have adapted their play calling to keep the ball in their superstar QB's hands. Last year, they posted a 2% dropback rate over expectation (DBOE), which has ballooned to a league-leading 8% in 2025. Kansas City and Andy Reid have returned to their pass-first ways, and you love to see it. We aren't back to his 2022 numbers, but he is in similar territory to 2023 via the air.

• 2022: 308 (1st), 2.41 (1st)

• 2023: 261 (7th),1.69 (8th)

• 2024: 246 (8th), 1.63 (10th)

• 2025: 252 (5th), 1.83 (6th)

In addition to more passing, Mahomes is scrambling more than ever, which is an upgrade over their sputtering ground attack. He ranks second in the NFL in scramble yards per game at 36.5, barely trailing the dual-threat alien, Josh Allen (39.2). The Chiefs' signal caller has turned two of those scrambles into touchdowns and has punched in two more on designed attempts. He only has three designed rushes on the season, but all three have come inside the ten-yard line.

In Week 7 against the Raiders, Mahomes gets his No. 1 passing game option, Rashee Rice, back. The Chiefs are tied for the second-highest team total (28.5) per the oddsmakers, and Mahomes offers an incredible projection profile thanks to his uptick in rushing activity.

Projection Model (using my PPR projections):

• Xfinity Best (ceiling): 33.8 (3rd)

• Median: 21.1 (2nd)

• Floor: 12.1 (2nd)

Mahomes is my QB2 this weekend, and he projects as a top-four option the rest of the way.

Rashee Rice rejoins the WR1 fantasy ranks in Week 7.

Since taking over the starting WR role for the Chiefs in Week 14 of 2023, we have an 11-game sample, including the NFL playoffs. Over that span, Rice has been a dominant force for the Chiefs.

• Fantasy points per game: 17.8 (WR1 worthy)

• Targets share: 27% (WR1 worthy)

• Yards per route run: 2.36 (WR1 worthy)

Rice wasn't allowed to practice with the team while suspended, but was allowed to rejoin team meetings on September 24th. On the one hand, that is a minor concern, as his timing with Mahomes might not be at 100%. On the other hand, Rice fully participated in training camp, which was a vote of confidence in his recovery from his LCL injury, and he and Mahomes did get reps then.

I am slightly more bullish on Rice this weekend than my fellow rankers, but I lean towards a near full-time role. Given his history and the offense he plays within, that is worth more than most receivers at 110%.

Projection Model (using my PPR projections):

• Xfinity Best (ceiling): 32.2 (8th)

• Median: 16.5 (6th)

• Floor: 8.1 (7th)

The bottom line is that Rice should be in all lineups this weekend. Even if you want to dock him for time missed, it will be hard to push him out of the top 12. He is a mid-range WR1.

» Read on for the rest of Dwain’s biggest risers and fallers for Week 7 …

Boldly Predicting Week 7: Aaron Rodgers Turns Back The Clock

Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers sun-run is set to continue on Thursday night in Cincinnati, where the visiting team is likely to take a commanding lead in the AFC North after only seven weeks. 

It would be bolder to suggest that the Bengals will actually win this game than to predict five TDs by a 41-year-old QB against them. But Rodgers is the kinda guy (you know the type) who will absolutely pad his stats in primetime. 

The Steelers are a decidedly mediocre offense, ranking in the bottom third in both rushing and receiving volume. They actually rank fourth-worst in rushing yards per game and have grinded out only 3.4 yards per carry (third-worst). But both of their main backs are capable pass-catchers, as are their two (mediocre) tight ends. This is the recipe for sneaky TD totals for a QB whose 5.6-yard aDOT ranks 39th in a league that only has 32 teams in it (min. 50 plays at QB). 

The Bengals look destined for a top-five pick after entering the year with the eighth-best odds to win the Super Bowl. NFL analysts across the land are being forced to adjust the settings on their EPA charts to keep the Who Deys on the page. They are the fourth-worst defense in EPA/play—bad against both the run and pass—and the offense is averaging 57 rushing yards per game, 25 fewer than the next-worst team (Tennessee). Joe Flacco has only been their QB for a week, and their linebackers (rookies drafted in the second and fourth rounds) can't tackle. 

Maybe Arthur Smith ruins all of our alt-line parlays by dialing up a Jonnu Smith rushing TD. There are many ways for the Steelers to spread the wealth against the Bengals, but the easiest way to score will be Rodgers targeting whichever random skill player is open five yards down the field and letting him traverse the open space behind him. 

If the Steelers defense creates turnovers and short fields (they're third in Ian Hartitz's "Havoc" rate), Rodgers dropping a 40-burger in fantasy is very much on the table.

BOLD PREDICTION: Aaron Rodgers Throws 5 TD Passes Against the Bengals

Around the Watercooler

The latest fantasy nuggets, silliness, and NFL gossip from our merry band of football nerds.

📺 Let’s break down every fantasy football matchup for Week 7.

👀 Bye-week replacements for Week 7 and tips for the looming Week 8 Bye-Mageddon.

📰 A ton of juicy nuggets, including trade rumors. Really interesting piece on ESPN.

🫶 Download the free Comet browser (which we used yesterday to make a “Darts and Krafts” team logo) and get a year of FL+, also for free. Lot’s of “free” here!

🚀 Drake Maye is playing out of his mind. The #analytics agree.

🎯 Five offenses to target and five to fade. Nice list from Dwain.

😭 Rashee Rice teams need him back bad. Less than 15% of them have a winning record.

😢 No Puka this week and … no Egbuka. Sad times.