Bengals face a must-win Thursday at Paycor to halt a four-game skid and narrow a 2.5-game gap to the Steelers in a crowded AFC North. Cincinnati leans on a one-week-at-a-time mindset, with coaches stressing urgency and the need for a sharp game plan to spark the offense behind Joe Flacco. A victory would spark real division hope and refine early-season fantasy projections as the schedule tightens.

The matchup carries outsized fantasy potential: decisive plays could redefine snap counts and target shares, while a rebound win would boost confidence in players who have underperformed. The Steelers’ 4-1 start amplifies the stakes, making Thursday a focal point for fantasy managers eyeing post-bye momentum and shot-clock precision in Week 8.

Week 7 turns the fantasy kicker position into a roller coaster. Pineiro in San Francisco shines as a top streamer with long-range legs and a favorable Atlanta matchup. Wil Lutz in Denver provides steady points, especially in the 35–50 yard range against the Giants. Fairbairn in Houston steps into a strong long-kick volume spot after the bye. McPherson, McManus, and several others carry risk due to offense stagnation or tricky venues, so be ready to chase distance and weekly volatility.

Key names to target and avoid: Pineiro and Lutz are solid anchors, Fairbairn brings upside, McPherson sits in effectively bench territory until Cincinnati’s offense stabilizes, and Karty faces London wind and Rams protection concerns. The waiver pool is thin, so prioritize kickers with leg strength, clear volume, and road-friendly spots in Week 7.

Rico Dowdle surged for the Panthers, George Pickens found paydirt for Dallas, and Drake Maye continued to trend as a top-10 fantasy QB option. Injuries to Puka Nacua, Emeka Egbuka, and Marvin Harrison Jr. add risk to WR corps, so managers should monitor status ahead of Week 7. The waiver pool expands with 50%+ rostered adds at QB (Dart, Darnold, Rodgers, Brissett, Flacco) and RB (Vidal, Spears, Knight), plus several versatile WRs and a few TE dart options. Panthers headline the supply with Dowdle and McMillan thriving as Week 7 options.