Throughout the 2024 season, NFL Network analysts will provide one bold prediction heading into each week's slate of games (see the full Week 7 schedule).
Derrick Henry leads the NFL in rush yards (704) and might be the Offensive Player of the Year frontrunner. But on the road against the Bucs, Henry takes a backseat to Bucky Irving, who leads all rookies with 328 rush yards -- and outrushes The King on Monday night.
It was fitting that the two remaining undefeated teams (Kansas City and Minnesota) both had the bye last week, so neither gained an edge. Is this the week that one team's "0" has to go? The answer is yes. In the early window of games Sunday, the Lions will establish NFC North supremacy by going into U.S. Bank Stadium and silencing the Skol chants. Soon after, San Francisco will get Super Bowl revenge by beating the Chiefs, leaving the NFL with no undefeateds at the end of Week 7.
My Week 6 bold prediction regarding a quarterback facing the Jaguars in London turned out pretty well ... so why not double down? Third overall pick Drake Maye will be making the second start of his career at Wembley Stadium, against a defense that has yet to hold an opposing passer outside the top 12 at the position, fantasy-wise. As such, predicting Maye will hit that benchmark wouldn’t be bold -- so instead, I predict he’ll be the QB1 on the week, with 32 fantasy points.
Joe Mixon has proved to be a huge asset for Houston when healthy. In the three games Mixon has played, the Texans have averaged 160 rush yards and nearly 30 points per game. In the three games without their RB1, they've averaged 77.7 rush yards and just 18 points per game. He continues his monstrous impact by racking up 200 scrimmage yards against the Packers.
The Chiefs defense does a lot of things well. Defending tight ends hasn’t been one of them. It started in Week 1, with Isaiah Likely going for 111 yards and a touchdown. This week will be K.C.’s toughest test since Week 3, facing George Kittle and the 49ers. Kittle has at least four catches in every game this season, with five scores in his last four outings. Look for Brock Purdy to find him early and often, ultimately finding him for two TDs for the second straight week.
Full NFL Week 7 schedule
Thursday, October 17
Sunday, October 20
- New England Patriots vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (9:30 a.m. ET on NFL Network/NFL+)
- Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons (1 p.m. ET on FOX)
- Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills (1 p.m. ET on CBS)
- Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns (1 p.m. ET on CBS)
- Houston Texans at Green Bay Packers (1 p.m. ET on CBS)
- Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts (1 p.m. ET on FOX)
- Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings (1 p.m. ET on FOX)
- Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants (1 p.m. ET on FOX)
- Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Rams (4:05 p.m. ET on CBS)
- Carolina Panthers at Washington Commanders (4:05 p.m. ET on CBS)
- Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers (4:25 p.m. ET on FOX/FOX Deportes)
- New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers (8:20 p.m. ET on NBC/Universo/TeleXitos/NFL+)
Monday, October 21
- Baltimore Ravens at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN2/ESPN Deportes/NFL+)
- Los Angeles Chargers at Arizona Cardinals (9 p.m. ET on ESPN+)
