Scott Engel is in his 12th year as the official Fantasy Football writer and analyst for Seahawks.com. He is an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame. Scott is a four-time FSWA award winner and a 13-time nominee. You can find more of his fantasy football analysis at The Game Day and lineup rankings on RotoBaller.com.

The Seahawks had an early bye in Week 5, so you will be able to use their top offensive players regularly this week and going forward. Six other NFL teams, however, are on byes in Week 7, so elevating players from your bench or taking them off the waiver wire to start will be essential moves to make. 

The Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, New York Jets, and Tennessee Titans are all off this week. So we provide you with a handy guide of players to add, start, and trade for in fantasy football Week 7.

Running Backs

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Brian Robinson Jr.

Robinson notched his fifth TD from scrimmage in Week 6. He has a good shot to find the end zone again in Week 7. The New York Giants have allowed seven rushing TDs to RBs, third-most in the NFL. New York has also given up the third-most rushing yards to RBs. Robinson has rushed for 70-plus yards in two of his last three games and can provide adequate fantasy production this week.

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Javonte Williams

The Denver running back returned from a quadriceps injury in Week 6 and performed well in limited action. Williams rushed for 52 yards on 10 carries. He will be a key part of a successful committee approach in a good matchup vs. Green Bay. The Packers rank 29th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to running backs.

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Zach Evans

The Rams rookie should be ticketed for an ample workload against the Steelers, who rank 25th in rushing yards allowed to RBs. Los Angeles has dealt with injury adversity at RB, and now Evans will likely get a significant amount of touches this week, with Royce Freeman possibly also seeing some complementary action. Evans is willing to battle for yardage and also has some good burst. He can function as a short-yardage TD runner for a Rams' offense that is fourth-best in the NFC.

ADD

Kareem Hunt

The Browns veteran is starting to become more of an offensive contributor after rejoining the team in late September and eventually getting back into optimal playing form. In Week 6, he totaled 71 scrimmage yards and rushed for a TD against the formidable San Francisco run defense. Hunt has re-emerged as a quality fantasy option in situations where bye weeks or injuries lead to a need for a streamer.

TRADE For

Austin Ekeler

When a good player does not deliver the usual expected statistical production, you should always try to swoop in and see if he can be acquired in a fantasy deal. Ekeler totaled 62 yards from scrimmage in his return from an ankle injury on Sunday night. He was facing a ferocious Dallas front wall, and better performances are coming for the annual fantasy superstar. This week may be the best time to attempt to land Ekeler.

TRADE for

Breece Hall

Some fantasy players are more willing to trade players on bye weeks, especially if they don't have a winning record or are dealing with injury issues on their teams. Hall was held to 39 rushing yards by a top-level Philadelphia run defense last week, but he exploded for 177 yards in the previous game and he still rushed for a TD in his second consecutive game against the Eagles. The second-year man has seen his role in the New York offense grow recently and there should be several impressive outings ahead.

Wide Receivers

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Rashee Rice

The Kansas City WR is an ideal guy to claim off waivers and pop into your lineup right away for Week 7. If you already roster Rice, activate him as he faces a Chargers defense that has allowed the second-most Fantasy Points Per Game to WRs. He had 72 yards on just four catches in Week 6 and caught his second TD pass in the previous game. Rice may soon become worthy of regular starting consideration in fantasy football.

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Wan'Dale Robinson

Robinson, now in his second season with the Giants, is clearly becoming the most dependable WR on the team. Rookie Jalin Hyatt, who has much potential as a downfield playmaker, should be on your watch list. For now, add Robinson, who caught all eight of his targets for 62 yards last week. Washington ranks 27th in FFPG allowed to WRs.

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DeVonta Smith

A.J. Brown has been dominant in recent weeks, with four consecutive games of 125-plus receiving yards. Watch Smith get involved more with him in a high-scoring Week 7 matchup. Philadelphia will have to pass frequently to keep up with the outstanding Miami offense. The Dolphins also rank 23rd in receiving yardage allowed to WRs.

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Jaxon Smith-Njigba

The Seahawks' first-round rookie has been targeted five-plus times in his last two games, and it was apparent that Geno Smith was very willing to get him the ball in some key situations at Cincinnati. We could see a splash fantasy performance from Smith-Njigba at home in a good matchup in Week 7. Arizona ranks 26th in FFPG allowed to WRs. Fantasy players and Seahawks fans can look forward to Smith-Njigba challenging defenses at every level in the upcoming weeks.

TRADE for

Garrett Wilson

This is another prominent Jets player on a bye who can be targeted in a trade and provide quality returns for the rest of the fantasy football season. Zach Wilson has performed respectably in recent weeks and will continue to get the ball to his best playmaker often in upcoming games. Wilson has been targeted 12-plus times in two of the past three games and he had eight catches for 90 yards in Week 6.

TRADE for

Puka Nacua

One of the top waiver wire adds of the 2023 fantasy football season so far, Nacua will be a very productive starter for the rest of the year. Cooper Kupp has returned, yet Nacua should still function as a key target for Matthew Stafford, who ranks third in the NFL in passing yardage. The breakout rookie has been targeted 18 times in the last two games, and the presence of Kupp should help him face heavy defensive attention less regularly. 

Nacua had 26 receiving yards in Week 6, but keep in mind that not every player provides the desired stats in every single week, and Nacua was still a key part of the real-life game plan for the Rams last week.

Quarterbacks And Tight Ends

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Geno Smith

Smith passed for 323 yards at Cincinnati, his second game of the season with 320-plus yards. He gets a good draw for statistical output in Week 7. The Cardinals rank 28th in FFPG allowed to QBs. Smith passed for 296 yards in his last home game, and he should be good for more than one TD pass against Arizona.

ADD

Sam Howell

The second-year Washington QB threw three TD passes against a solid Atlanta pass defense in Week 6. He has three games of 290-plus passing yards this season. Consider streaming Howell if you pick him up this week, as the Giants rank 20th in passing yards allowed to QBs over the past four weeks.

TRADE for

Joe Burrow

The Seahawks pass defense held Burrow to 185 passing yards in a very impressive Week 6 performance. But it was apparent that health is no longer much of a concern for Burrow after battling an early-season calf injury. This is another situation where you may be able to nab a good starter in a trade during his bye week. Burrow should consistently perform much closer to his past levels after the week off.

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Luke Musgrave

In Week 5 before his bye, the Green Bay rookie caught six of seven targets. In Week 7, he has a matchup with the Broncos, who allow the most FFPG to TEs. If you have been scrambling for TE help, Musgrave is an option to consider for this week, and he may be available on free agency.

ADD

Michael Mayer

Another rising rookie, the Raiders TE showed his first signs of getting involved in the Las Vegas passing game in Week 5, when he caught two passes for 39 yards. It was not a major statistical outing of note, but Mayer had only one reception to that point of the season. His true arrival on the fantasy radar came in Week 6 when Mayer caught five of six targets for 75 yards. He may prove to be a top 10 fantasy TE the rest of the way.

Week 7 Defenses To Stream:

Seahawks (vs. Cardinals), Raiders (vs. Bears), Buccaneers (vs. Falcons)

Kickers to Add:

Don't overlook some of the better performers at this position so far this season. Many fantasy players don't pay close attention to kicker trends and miss out on rostering some of the top performers. Starting the better kickers could boost your fantasy team to a win in any given week. Brett Maher and Nick Folk are two top kickers that are widely available on league waiver wires.

For more fantasy football analysis from Scott Engel, visit The Game Day during the 2023 fantasy football season.