Fantasy football managers enter Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season with two heavyweight backs on bye. Those are Derrick Henry and James Cook. This should force lineup reshuffles across leagues. Even with fewer teams off, this slate offers no shortage of intrigue. Elite performers continue to dominate, while mid-tier options battle inconsistency and tough defenses. There’s also another international twist, as the Los Angeles Rams face the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. This means fantasy football managers need to double-check early lineup locks before kickoff.
Week 7 looks like one of those pivot points in the fantasy calendar where the true contenders start separating themselves. The elite remain reliable, of course. These are Bijan Robinson, Jonathan Taylor, and Javonte Williams, who are holding firm at the top. Fresh names, though, like Cam Skattebo and JK Dobbins are creeping into the weekly conversation. Navigating injuries and evolving backfield splits has never mattered more.
With Baltimore and Buffalo resting, fantasy football players lose two automatic starters. This amplifies the value of volume-dependent RB2s and streamable backs with touchdown equity. It’s also the week where several defensive identities are solidifying. For instance, San Francisco remains brutal against the run, while Washington and Denver have emerged as sneaky-stingy units up front.
As such, managers should lean on dependable workloads and avoid chasing one-week wonders. As always, usage drives long-term fantasy football value more than pure yardage totals.
Here we will look at our NFL Fantasy Football Running Back Rankings entering Week 7 of the 2025 regular season.
There is no longer denying that Bijan Robinson has arrived as the fantasy football RB1. Through six weeks, he’s pacing the league in scrimmage yards and showing unmatched dual-threat versatility. Despite already serving a bye, he leads Christian McCaffrey by 42 yards from scrimmage. Robinson is also on pace for over 1,600 rushing yards and 1,100 receiving yards. Those numbers border on historic.
The Falcons travel west to face a 49ers defense that’s missing linebacker Fred Warner. Without Warner patrolling the middle, Robinson should have more room on screen plays and check-downs. Even on the road, his workload and explosive upside make him a must-start across all formats.
Jonathan Taylor continues to look unstoppable behind an offensive line that’s clicking at every level. He notched his third 100-yard rushing performance last week and scored his eighth touchdown of the year. He is a weekly top-three play. The Chargers have allowed running backs to average nearly five yards per carry, too. They most recently surrendered 128 yards and two touchdowns to De’Von Achane. Taylor’s combination of burst, balance, and red-zone efficiency makes him matchup-proof.
Even after being bottled up for 34 yards against Carolina, Javonte Williams remains fantasy football gold. His snap share has hovered around 85 percent. That’s rare in today’s committee-heavy...