It’s been said that a good man is hard to find. In the seventh week of this fantasy football season, a good quarterback is even rarer.
Two of the preseason favorites for NFL Most Valuable Player, Buffalo’s Josh Allen and Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson, are on bye this week. Jackson was already injured, and Allen is hurting after his Bills dropped two in a row.
Most of the better replacement QBs are likely already gone in your league (Caleb Williams, Jaxson Dart, Sam Darnold). So, too, are some really poor options (Justin Fields, Cam Ward, Geno Smith).
So we’ve got a short list of QB options for this week that are, if nothing else, going to top Fields’ historically and comically bad performance last Sunday in London:
Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons) — The sophomore, who looked great Monday night in Atlanta’s classic uniform, is coming off his best two games of the season. This week he faces a reeling San Francisco defense now missing its best player, all-world linebacker Fred Warner.
Michael Penix Jr. #9 of the Atlanta Falcons makes a pass in the second quarter of the game against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 13, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Aaron Rodgers (Steelers) — No. 12 has apparently been inoculated against serious competition in the AFC North, and this week he opposes the fading Bengals. He’s averaging two TD passes per game and should at least match that Thursday night in Cincinnati.
Aaron Rodgers #8 of the Pittsburgh Steelers signals against the Cleveland Browns during the first half in the game at Acrisure Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
C.J. Stroud (Texans) — While he still has a patchwork offensive line and a tough foe (Seattle) this week, Stroud is coming off a season-best performance against the Ravens: 23 of 27 for 244 yards and four touchdowns.
C.J. Stroud #7 of the Houston Texans rushes with the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during the NFL 2025 game between Houston Texans and Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 05, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Bryce Young (Panthers) — The once-too-small Heisman Trophy winner has feasted on bad Miami and Dallas defenses the past two weeks (with five TD passes), and now he gets to play the Jets, the new Worst Team on the Planet outside of Penn State.
Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers reacts after a touchdown pass during the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in the game at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Sitting stars
The Chiefs’ defense is rounding into form and will mostly put clamps on Vegas RB Ashton Jeanty. … Tennessee RB Tony Pollard will do little against New England, especially now that Tajae Spears is back to take some of his workload. … The Vikings’ defense will disrupt Eagles’ inconsistent passing game, so that will limit receivers A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith. … Seattle will devote massive coverage to stopping Houston star wideout Nico Collins. … Giants QB Jaxson Dart will do better against Denver than Jets’ Fields did last week, but not by much. … And embattled Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa could get battered by Cleveland’s Myles Garrett.
Ashton Jeanty #2 of the Las Vegas Raiders caries the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the fourth quarter in the game at Allegiant Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Matchup game
Who’s the NFL’s top running back over the past two weeks? Why it’s Carolina’s Rico Dowdle, who will have another big day against the Jets with teammate Chuba Hubbard still iffy … Kimani Vidal is now No. 1 with the Chargers and should hit paydirt against the Colts. … Same goes for his teammate, WR Ladd McConkey. … Dallas’ George Pickens will stay hot against Washington. … As will Cincy WR Tee Higgins, becoming a favorite of Joe Flacco, against Pittsburgh. … And this week’s top quarterbacks will be, in no particular order, the Patriots’ Drake Maye vs. Tennessee, Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield vs. Detroit and the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, looking to rebound against Dallas’ defensive mediocrities.
Rico Dowdle #5 of the Carolina Panthers carries the ball for yardage during the NFL 2025 game against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
Injury watch
The league’s receiving corps took a big hit last week with injuries to the Rams’ Puka Nacua, Bucs’ Emeka Egbuka, Cards’ Marvin Harrison Jr., Niners’ Jauan Jennings, Jets’ Garrett Wilson, Titans’ Calvin Ridley and Cleveland tight end David Njoku. … Tampa Bay has again already ruled out RB Bucky Irving and WR Chris Godwin. … Also likely out: Raiders tight end Brock Bowers. … The long list of questionables includes six receivers (Dallas’ CeeDee Lamb, Chargers’ Quentin Johnston, Tampa’s Mike Evans, Washington’s Terry McLaurin, Chicago’s D.J. Moore, Atlanta’s Darnell Mooney) and three quarterbacks (Arizona’s Kyler Murray, Niners’ Brock Purdy and Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy).
Puka Nacua #12 of the Los Angeles Rams reacts after suffering an injury during the second quarter against the Baltimore Ravens in the game at M&T Bank Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Deepest sleeper
His friends and Arizona teammates call him Bam. We’ll refer to the Cardinals’ running back with a very light resume by his given name of Zonovan Knight. The third-year pro out of North Carolina State has emerged as the Cards’ No. 1 back thanks to a slew of injuries. He eclipsed teammate Michael Carter last week in Indianapolis, rushing 11 times for 34 yards and scoring a touchdown for the second consecutive week. He’ll have fantasy value at least until Trey Benson returns from the injured list in November.
Bam Knight #20 of the Arizona Cardinals runs against the Indianapolis Colts during the second half in the game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Oct. 12, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
The Thursday pick
Steelers at Bengals (+5½)
Pick: Steelers by 3
Joe Flacco #16 of the Cincinnati Bengals passes the ball against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter in the game at Lambeau Field on Oct. 12, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.
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