NFL’s 10 most important people in Week 7

Each week, Yardbarker highlights the most important people leading into the week’s NFL games. 

From players to coaches and beyond, here are the 10 most important people to keep an eye on in Week 7. 

Wide receiver Davante Adams | New York Jets

On Tuesday, the Las Vegas Raiders dealt Adams to the Jets for a 2025 conditional third-round pick. On Wednesday, Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said he expects Adams — who has missed three straight games with a hamstring injury — to play in Sunday’s road matchup vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2).

New York (2-4) is banking on Adams and starting QB Aaron Rodgers rekindling their chemistry. According to ESPN’s Benjamin Solak, Rodgers and Adams combined for 68 TDs when they played in Green Bay from 2014-21, the most among QB-WR duos during that span. 

Adams and Rodgers may fizzle vs. Pittsburgh, though. The hapless Jets offense is tied for 22nd in the league in points  (18.8 PPG) while the Steelers are second in points allowed (14.3). 

Tight end Brock Bowers | Las Vegas Raiders 

With Adams gone, Bowers should emerge as the Raiders’ No. 1 option. Per ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez, the first-round pick out of Georgia has 37 receptions, the second most by a rookie tight end through his first six games in the Super Bowl era (Keith Jackson of the Eagles had 38 in 1988). 

Vegas (2-4) has failed to score 20-plus points in any of its past three games, but Bowers should still be able to produce solid numbers in Sunday’s road game against the Los Angeles Rams (1-4). L.A. has allowed 24 points per game in its past three contests. 

Wide receiver Keon Coleman | Buffalo Bills 

In another blockbuster trade Tuesday, the Cleveland Browns (1-5) sent Amari Cooper and a 2025 sixth-rounder to the Buffalo Bills (4-2) for a 2025 third-rounder and a 2026 seventh-rounder. 

On Wednesday, Bills head coach Sean McDermott said he hasn’t determined whether the five-time Pro Bowler will play in Sunday’s home game against the Tennessee Titans (1-4). Whether Cooper plays or not, the trade could still affect Coleman, a rookie out of Florida State.   

Through his first six games, the second-round pick only has 12 receptions for 201 yards and two TD catches. Coleman must start producing better numbers or his targets may dwindle.  

Linebacker Fred Warner | San Francisco 49ers 

The 49ers have lost four straight games to the Kansas City Chiefs, including Super Bowls LIV and LVIII. During a Tuesday appearance on KNBR-FM in San Francisco, Warner said beating K.C. would help the team “get over that hump.”

Plus, the 49ers could keep gaining momentum if they defeat the Chiefs (5-0) on Sunday. After a 1-2 start, they’ve won two of their last three games and have moved into first in the NFC West. 

Warner should keep being a difference-maker in the 49ers home game. Through his first six games, he leads the league in forced fumbles (four) and is tied for sixth in interceptions (two). 

Quarterback C.J. Stroud | Houston Texans 

Houston (5-1) may need Stroud to outplay Green Bay Packers QB Jordan Love in Sunday’s road game. In his Monday news conference, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans said Love — who is tied for second in the league in passing TDs (12 in four games) — is “the best QB we’ve faced.”

ESPN Analytics gives the Packers (4-2) a 57.7% chance to beat Houston. If Stroud and Co. pull off an upset, that would bolster his early MVP case. Through his first six starts, the second-year passer is tied for fifth in the league in passing TDs (10) and is seventh in QBR (66.3).

Defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn | Detroit Lions

In a 47-9 Week 6 win over the Dallas Cowboys (3-3), Lions edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson suffered a broken tibia and fibula. On Monday, Detroit HC Dan Campbell said Hutchinson’s recovery will take “four to six months.”  

Hutchinson leads the league in sacks (7.5) through his first five games. While it’s a massive loss for Detroit, Campbell believes Glenn is one reason the team can overcome the star pass-rusher’s absence.  

Glenn seems like a sharp defensive mind, as the Lions (4-1) rank eighth in the NFL in points allowed (18.2). Still, he has a challenging task in Sunday’s road game against the Minnesota Vikings (5-0), who are sixth in the league in points (27.8 PPG). 

Monitor whether Glenn’s defense flops or flourishes. If the unit struggles, Detroit should consider acquiring another edge-rusher before the Nov. 5 trade deadline, perhaps Jadeveon Clowney of the Carolina Panthers or Za’Darius Smith of the Cleveland Browns. 

Running back Saquon Barkley | Philadelphia Eagles 

Barkley — who starred for the New York Giants from 2018-23 — returns to MetLife Stadium Sunday. He said he’ll envision making game-changing plays before the matchup with his former team. 

“I’m pretty sure I’ll visualize breaking a long touchdown run,” Barkley recently told ESPN’s Jordan Raanan and Tim McManus. “making plays there. That goes a long way.”

Don’t be shocked if Barkley helps the Eagles improve to 4-2 and shows why the Giants (2-4) should’ve kept him. Through five games this season, the 27-year-old running back is fourth in the league in rushing yards (482) and tied for eighth in rushing TDs (four). 

Quarterback Russell Wilson | Pittsburgh Steelers 

Per Yardbarker’s Aaron Becker, on Tuesday, Steelers HC Mike Tomlin said Wilson is “in consideration” to start Sunday against the Jets and that he would decide later this week. 

A potential QB change seems like a head-scratcher. In six starts this season, QB Justin Fields has completed 66.3% of his passes for five touchdowns and one interception while posting an above-average 54 QBR. Over his past two seasons with the Denver Broncos, Wilson had a dreadful 11-19 starting record and failed to make a playoff appearance. 

If Wilson plays, that may prove Tomlin isn’t convinced Fields is the answer and raise more questions about Pittsburgh’s QB situation for the rest of the season.

Quarterback Anthony Richardson | Indianapolis Colts 

In his Monday news conference, Colts HC Shane Steichen said he expects Richardson (oblique) to start in Sunday’s home game against the Miami Dolphins (2-3). 

QB Joe Flacco made his second straight start in a 20-17 Week 6 road win over the Tennessee Titans, even though Richardson practiced last week. Steichen said he was exercising caution and that there was no QB controversy. 

Regardless, Richardson’s play must improve. In four starts, he is 2-2 and has more interceptions (six) than passing TDs (three). Flacco, meanwhile, went 1-1 over his past two starts, throwing for five TDs and one pick in that space. 

Running back Sean Tucker | Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Tucker rushed for a career-high 136 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries in a 51-27 Week 6 win over the New Orleans Saints (2-4). On Wednesday, the second-year back out of Syracuse earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Even if Tampa Bay starting RB Rachaad White (foot) returns for Monday’s home game against the Baltimore Ravens (4-2), Tucker should receive more carries. On Monday, Buccaneers HC Todd Bowles told the media Tucker, White and rookie Bucky Irving give them a “three-headed monster” at running back.

Tucker steamrolling the Ravens’ No. 1-ranked run defense (59 YPG) would prove he’s not a one-game wonder for the Buccaneers (4-2).