With the season more than a third of the way through, there are only two ways to improve your rosters — waiver wire and trades.

Evaluating a fantasy trade can be a daunting task. Most managers value their players more than they’re actually worth. That’s where the Week 7 fantasy football trade value charts come in.

The charts can be used as your very own fantasy football trade analyzer in standard, half-PPR (point per reception) and full PPR leagues. Someone sends you an offer? Simply pull out a calculator (on your phone, you don’t need an actual calculator) and plug in the values for each player. Don’t worry, six-points-per-passing-touchdown and superflex leagues are covered as well.

Important note: If you’re offered an uneven trade (i.e., a 2-for-1 or 3-for-1), include the values for the players you’d be moving to the bench or dropping within your calculation. Example: If someone in your league offers you Alvin Kamara, Tee Higgins and Cooper Kupp (combined value of 88) for Bijan Robinson (73), it might look like you’re getting the better end of it. However, if you’re bumping down, say, Tyjae Spears and Kendrick Bourne (combined value of 42) in the process, it’s a net negative deal for you.

The rankings are based on how players should be valued in 12-team leagues. Players are sorted in order of their half-PPR values.

Quarterback trade value chart

(Note: ‘6/TD’ is for leagues that award six points for passing touchdowns and ‘SFLEX’ stands for superflex.)

Running back trade value chart

Wide receiver trade value chart

Tight end trade value chart

Overall Week 7 fantasy football rest-of-season rankings

Note: These values are for 12-team, one-QB leagues with half-PPR scoring.

Just how much impact can one 6-foot, 245-pound slugger have on a playoff series?

We’re about to find out now that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has checked into the American League Championship Series.

Vladdy was an equal-opportunity destroyer in Game 3: Nearly drilling a hole through the left field fence with a key double, eluding the leaping grasp of center fielder Julio Rodriguez with a tack-on home run, and splitting the gap in right center field for what could’ve been a triple and a playoff cycle.

Vladdy was a soothsayer, pulling aside No. 9 hitter Andrés Giménez before the game and telling the light-hitting shortstop, “You’re going to go yard today.”

“I told him, try to pull the ball,” Guerrero said in a Fox Sports postgame interview of the conversation with Giménez that preceded his game-tying, two-run homer. “He listened to me, and thank God he goes yard today.”

 And Vladdy, perhaps most important, verified his status as a postseason monster.

He entered the game 0-for-7 in this ALCS and the Blue Jays 0-for-2, facing a must-win against Mariners right-hander George Kirby.

Four Guerrero hits – just a triple shy of the cycle – and a 13-4 throttling of Seattle later, they exit in far better shape.

Guerrero is now 13-for-28 (.464) with four home runs, 10 RBIs and just one strikeout in this postseason. And the Blue Jays are now trailing just 2-1 in this ALCS, thanks to one swing and one superstar.

“Yeah, man,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said of Giménez’s two-run, game-tying blast in the third inning, “that was a big swing from Andrés.”

Oh, it reversed so much:

The score, as the Mariners once again jumped the Blue Jays on a Julio Rodriguez two-run homer for a 2-0 lead and a 3-0 ALCS lead in sight.

The Blue Jays’ offensive doldrums, as they came in with no extra-base hits and just eight hits in 61 at-bats in Games 1 and 2.

The vibes, to say the least.

Suddenly, Toronto could not be contained, as Giménez’s blast started a five-run eruption, the rally re-started when Guerrero seared a 105-mph liner into the left field wall, a wild pitch and a Daulton Varsho two-run double eventually providing a 5-2 lead.

Amazingly, it all started with Giménez simply wanting to move Ernie Clement to third base with a grounder to the right side. He got a little more of Kirby’s fastball than that.

“You know,” Giménez told reporters in Seattle, with a laugh, “I’m okay with what happened.”

We won’t know for another one, two, four games if that swing flipped this ALCS. But in the Toronto dugout, it certainly did.

“You got to trust everyone in that lineup and when you tie the game like that, I mean, everything changed in that dugout,” Guerrero told a postgame news conference.

The flogging was on. Guerrero, George Springer, Alejandro Kirk and Addison Barger joined Giménez in donning the deep blue La Gente del Barrio sports coat to celebrate their home runs.

Shane Bieber locked in, inspired by the fact his “pick me up” plea after giving up Rodriguez’s home run was heeded, five-fold. And now the curiosity of Max Scherzer, 41-year-old, pitching to square the series is upon us.

Who knows what the old boy will have, but Schneider will sleep much better tonight knowing that there was an awakening at T-Mobile Park.

For a team, and its catalyst.

The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon are currently positioned as strong playoff contenders from the conference.
Key upcoming games include USC at Notre Dame, Nebraska at Penn State, and Ohio State at Michigan.
At least three Big Ten teams are expected to make the 12-team College Football Playoff field.

Things are about to get very serious in the Big Ten.

The first half of the college football is in the books. Penn State is out of the mix. Wisconsin is terrible. No. 1 Ohio State is intimidating. No. 3 Indiana looks unbeatable.

The second half of the regular season will decide which teams meet to decide the conference championship and which Big Ten teams make the College Football Playoff.

For now, the Buckeyes, Hoosiers and No. 9 Oregon look like playoff locks. The second tier of contenders include No. 21 Southern California, Michigan, Nebraska and Illinois.

The expectation is that at least three and as many as four Big Ten teams make the 12-team field. Four made last year’s bracket in the Buckeyes, Hoosiers, Ducks and Nittany Lions.

These games will shape the Big Ten race in the second half and help clean up an unsettled playoff race:

Southern California at No. 15 Notre Dame, Oct. 18

After beating Michigan to break into the US LBM Coaches Poll, the Trojans take on another big test against the red-hot Fighting Irish. USC could lose this game and still make the playoff as an at-large team, or even rally in Big Ten play to reach the conference championship game. What happens in South Bend will show whether the Trojans have what it takes.

UCLA at Indiana, Oct. 25

This is looking like Indiana’s biggest test the rest of the way, underscoring how the Hoosiers might have the best playoff odds of any team in the Power Four. UCLA has turned a corner since firing Deshaun Foster and clearly found an offensive identity. Will that be enough to score a mammoth upset?

Southern California at Nebraska, Nov. 1

One-loss Nebraska is hanging around the playoff race in Matt Rhule’s third season. A close win against Maryland shows how thin the margin of error is for a team that has improved dramatically under Rhule but isn’t quite a finished product. Beating USC would provide some national respect and set up the possibility of a 10-win regular season.

Nebraska at Penn State, Nov. 22

This might be awkward. A former Penn State linebacker, Rhule was immediately floated as James Franklin’s successor due to his ties to the program and deep connection with Nittany Lions athletics director Pat Kraft. It’s possible that Rhule will have made a public commitment to Nebraska before this road trip. If not, though, and if the Cornhuskers are surging in the Top 25, this matchup will be one of the most storyline-heavy of the second half.

Oregon at Washington, Nov. 29

The Ducks should be in firm position for an at-large playoff bid and even the Big Ten title game before the trip to Seattle. If not, though — let’s say they slip and fall at Iowa or the week prior against USC — this could be a winner-take-all matchup that determines much more than just bragging rights.

Ohio State at Michigan, Nov. 29

Can the Buckeyes finally crack Michigan’s code? The Buckeyes seem better equipped to handle the Wolverines thanks to an elite defense that ranks near the top of the country in every major category. And by this point in the year, the Julian Sayin-led offense could be the best in the conference.

The SEC has as many as 10 teams in contention for the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Key games include No. 10 LSU at No. 18 Vanderbilt and No. 5 Mississippi at No. 7 Georgia.
Rivalry games like Texas A&M at Texas and the Iron Bowl could have major playoff implications.

There is no shortage of high-impact SEC games involving every College Football Playoff contender occurring every weekend from now through the end of the regular season.

But that’s life in college football’s meatgrinder.

While the Big Ten might have five or six teams in the playoff mix, the list of candidates in the SEC goes as many as 10 deep, matching the number of teams the league has in this week’s US LBM Coaches Poll.

It’s easy to identify which teams are contending for the 12-team bracket. What’s not so easy is predicting which three or four teams rise to the top of the standings and earn automatic and at-large playoff bids.

The second half of the year will help bring this into focus. From this weekend through the final Saturday of November, these games will determine where the SEC lands:

No. 10 LSU at No. 18 Vanderbilt, Oct. 18

It’s a huge test and a potential breaking point for Vanderbilt, which looked a clear step behind the best teams in the SEC in this month’s loss to No. 6 Alabama. A win establishes the Commodores as a legitimate playoff hopeful and essentially bounces LSU from contention. This is an opportunity for the Tigers offense to finally get on track.

No. 5 Mississippi at No. 7 Georgia, Oct. 18

There are still some unknowns about the Rebels, especially after a too-close-for-comfort win against Washington State. There are questions about the Bulldogs, too, given their uneven play through the first half of games. This is a tone-setting game for both teams that will provide some separation near the top of the conference.

No. 11 Tennessee at No. 6 Alabama, Oct. 18

The third marquee game this Saturday alone rekindles a rivalry that has shifted back to the Volunteers, winners of two of the last three meetings. Both teams have some playoff wiggle room, but the winner could head out of the weekend as the favorite in the SEC. It’s another test for Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar, who hasn’t faced a ranked opponent on the road.

No. 4 Texas A&M at LSU, Oct. 25

Saturday’s trip to Arkansas won’t help decide whether A&M is truly one of the top five teams in the Bowl Subdivision or just a very good team taking advantage of an easier schedule. That answer could come a week later in Death Valley. LSU has the talent to flip a switch and run the table in the second half.

Georgia vs. Florida, Nov. 1

The annual meeting between the schools in Jacksonville, Florida, is notable for potentially being the final game for Florida coach Billy Napier, who has been able to dodge a pink slip but finds his job security more tenuous than ever. Look for the school to make a coaching change should the Gators lose.

Texas A&M at No. 16 Missouri, Nov. 8

This one of three games remaining against ranked teams for Missouri, sandwiched between matchups against Vanderbilt and No. 13 Oklahoma. Should they get past the Commodores, a win against the Aggies could put the Tigers on track to land an at-large bid.

LSU at Alabama, Nov. 8

One potential backdrop to this game is Brian Kelly’s future at LSU should the Tigers lose once before heading to Tuscaloosa. The same might be said of Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer, though he’s solidified his status during an active five-game winning streak. This could determine half of the makeup of the SEC championship game if both teams have just one loss.

Oklahoma at Alabama, Nov. 15

By this point, the hope for Oklahoma is that quarterback John Mateer has fully recovered from his hand injury and is playing at the level that made him a Heisman Trophy front-runner. The Sooners’ defense is one of the best nationally, so a playoff bid comes down to whether the offense gets back in gear.

No. 17 Texas at Georgia, Nov. 15

This game would take on much less meaning if Texas slips up and takes a third loss against Vanderbilt. If the Longhorns have just two losses, the trip to Athens would be one of the biggest regular-season games of the Steve Sarkisian era. A loss might end their postseason hopes. A win could vault them into the SEC title game.

Georgia at No. 13 Georgia Tech, Nov. 28

This could be a playoff eliminator for the loser should unbeaten Geogia Tech lose once or twice in ACC play and fall short of the conference title game. While who the loss or losses come against matters, the Yellow Jackets could still meet the Bulldogs with an at-large playoff bid at risk. Last year’s rivalry was an epic, eight-overtime win by Georgia.

Texas A&M at Texas, Nov. 28

This rekindled rivalry would be must-see TV even if both teams were hovering around five or six wins. There’s a chance that this game carries the same weight as last year’s meeting, which had profound consequences for the SEC and the playoff. If Sarkisian is under fire after the Georgia game, a loss to Mike Elko and the Aggies would make his job security one of the main talking points of the offseason.

Alabama at Auburn, Nov. 29

The Iron Bowl will also draw national eyeballs regardless of the records involved. In this year’s case, don’t look for Auburn to have much more on the line than getting to six wins, which even then might not be enough to salvage Hugh Freeze’s job. There will be plenty of pressure on DeBoer, though, because of the chance the Tigers play spoilers and knock the Crimson Tide out of the title conversation.

Sanders has found success at Colorado by embracing media attention and integrating his family into the program effectively.
Belichick’s tenure at North Carolina has been marked by on-field struggles and off-field distractions.
The coaches have taken contrasting approaches to public relations, family involvement, and media projects like reality shows.

Deion Sanders and Bill Belichick came to college football as experimental coaches of sorts — sports legends who had made their names in the NFL but had no college coaching experience.

Each now is among 10 college coaches nationally making $10 million per year. Both brought family to their jobs. Both have been pursued by documentary filmmakers. And both have high-profile younger girlfriends.

But each has taken a different approach that’s led to different results. Belichick has flopped at North Carolina so far, while Sanders parlayed his first two seasons at Colorado into a new five-year, $53 million contract in March. Sanders’ team is 3-4 this year after finishing 9-4 in 2024. But his program has been built on big stars, big moments and mostly favorable media coverage, unlike how Belichick’s tenure at North Carolina has been perceived during its small sample size of just five games.

Here’s how one has made it work and one has not so far, both on the field and in the court of public opinion.

Bringing family to the job

After starting his college coaching career with success at Jackson State, Sanders brought all three of his sons to Colorado — one as starting quarterback (Shedeur), one as starting safety (Shilo) and one as the team’s video marketing ace to boost recruiting (Deion Jr.) All performed well in their roles and helped lead Colorado to a bowl game last year — a huge improvement from when the Buffaloes finished 1-11 in 2022, before Sanders arrived.

By contrast, Belichick hired his sons Steve and Brian as the team’s defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach. A little nepotism can be overlooked when you’re doing the job and winning, not when your defense ranks 77th nationally in total yards per game allowed and 107th nationally in pass efficiency defense, as North Carolina’s does this week.

Girlfriends in the public eye

Belichick is 73 and his girlfriend Jordon Hudson is 24. Sanders is 58 and his apparent girlfriend Karrueche Tran is 37. All are adults, and their relationships are nobody’s business except theirs. But when these relationships are brought into the public eye by their own choosing, it shapes public perception about them, fairly or not.

In April, Hudson interrupted a national television interview with Belichick to shoot down a question about their relationship. Belichick also has asked UNC staff to copy her on emails sent to him and was photographed holding hands with her in Nantucket a few days after a 34-9 loss at Central Florida.

What’s wrong with any of that anyway? Nothing really. But it has spiraled into a public sideshow at North Carolina, adding to the public-relations challenges there at a time when the football program is perceived to be dysfunctional.

By contrast, Sanders has avoided that. His relationship with Tran, an actress, has been publicly low-key. She’s appeared at his side at the hospital during his cancer ordeal in May and then again for his blood-clot surgery Oct. 7, as shown on videos posted by Deion Jr. since July.

Their reality shows on campus

Sanders is a walking reality show in his own right. He wants the cameras around him almost all the time to help market his program and himself for his sponsors. Cameras have been a nearly constant presence since he arrived in Boulder in December 2022, including for two seasons of the “Coach Prime” documentary series on Amazon Prime Video. Sanders and his management team had control over the project and didn’t stop production during his first season when the Buffaloes finished 4-8. A new Netflix show on Sanders also is on the way. Sanders welcomes this attention because he knows how beneficial it is for him and his program even when his team isn’t very good.

By contrast, difficulties have emerged with efforts to film what’s going on in Chapel Hill with Belichick, who is not exactly known to be camera-friendly. A deal to feature North Carolina’s football program on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” series was scuttled by Hudson, according to a report by The Athletic. Another docuseries about Belichick’s program by Hulu also was scrapped, according to recent reports. Belichick said Monday it’s “still a work in progress.”

Handling the hate-watchers

Both have large followings of hate-watchers who love to see them fail. Both also can seem thin-skinned in response to criticism and perceived slights. Colorado even banned questions from a reporter who wrote articles Sanders didn’t like. But Sanders vivaciously engages cameras and news conferences in ways Belichick does not. He even opens up about his health issues. This helps make him more likeable even when he’s snippy. By contrast, Belichick is known for his stoicism and saying as little as possible in news conferences.

Which way is more likely to buy you goodwill and patience when your team is in a funk?

Their honeymoon phases

Every new coach has a honeymoon phase — a time of newlywed love not to be overcome by rain clouds early in the marriage. In Sanders’ case, he started with such a bang at Colorado in 2023 — an improbable 3-0 start — it still buys him goodwill to this day, almost like he proved what he can do already and just needs to sustain it now. Because of that and his 9-4 season last year, he’s arguably still in the honeymoon phase with much of the Colorado fan base.

By contrast, Belichick is 2-3 after opening with a 48-14 loss to TCU Sept. 1. He has lost three games to Power Four opponents by at least 25 points each. The honeymoon is over already and even has led to speculation recently Belichick and North Carolina might soon part ways. He denied it on Monday.

Their player ‘luggage’

On the day his hiring was announced at Colorado, Sanders said he was bringing his own Louis Vuitton player luggage with him to Colorado. And he did, including his son Shedeur, now with the Cleveland Browns, and Travis Hunter, who won the Heisman Trophy last year.

Players of that caliber are missing at North Carolina so far under Belichick, whose NFL reputation was supposed to be a magnet for star transfers and recruits. At quarterback, Belichick brought in South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez, who struggled this season before getting injured. Belichick also signed top quarterback recruit Bryce Baker, who hasn’t played as a freshman.

Like Sanders, Belichick relied on the transfer portal to overhaul his roster with dozens of new players. His first transfer class in 2025 was ranked No. 9 nationally by 247Sports. Sanders’ first transfer class in 2023 was ranked No. 1, including Shedeur and Hunter.

Sizing up their prior success

Prior success has built both into football legends. Belichick won six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. Sanders is a Pro Football Hall of Famer who also played Major League Baseball.

But any failures in college coaching can lead to questions about how good they really are and how they got there.

Belichick is now subject to debate about whether his prior success is due to himself or former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Sanders’ prior success came mostly from his own athletic ability, in football and baseball. His foray into coaching is perceived as a third act to that, unlike with Belichick, who had to tamp down speculation he wants to bail from his college job already.

“Some of the reports out last week about my looking for a buyout and trying to leave here and all that is categorically false,” Belichick said at a news conference Monday.

The story continues in the meantime for both.

North Carolina is coming off a bye week to play at California on Friday night.

Colorado is entering a bye week and next plays at Utah on Oct. 25.

Follow reporter Brent Schrotenboer @Schrotenboer. Email: bschrotenb@usatoday.com

In the NBA, size matters. Is it any wonder that six of the last seven NBA MVP winners are either forwards or centers?

Is LeBron James, at 40 years old, still a top-five forward? Is Anthony Davis still worthy of a top-five spot himself considering he was worth trading away for a high-end guard?

We asked our panel of experts who the best forwards in the NBA were heading into this season. Here is the comprehensive list.

NOTE: Players who are expected to miss most of, or the entirety of, the 2025-26 NBA season were not included.

Top 10 forwards for 2025-26 NBA season

1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

Our experts said: Antetokounmpo remains perhaps the league’s best two-way weapon entering his 13th season and earned first-team All-NBA honors for the seventh year in a row in 2024-25. The two-time MVP set a career high for assists in 2024-25 and shot better than 60% from the field for the second consecutive season (he’s the only player in NBA history to do that while averaging more than 30 points per game).

2. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

Our experts said: James remains one of the NBA’s top all-around offensive threats, particularly in transition, as he begins his record-breaking 23rd season. The 40-year-old was second-team All-NBA last year and will be playing for the Lakers on an expiring contract in 2025-26. His court vision and play-making has not waned, and he’ll look to add to his remarkable all-time career scoring total of 42,184 points.

3. Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets

Our experts said: Durant finished sixth in the NBA in scoring (26.6) and minutes (36.5) per game while he was a member of the Phoenix Suns, but he missed 20 games last season. He was also named an All-Star for the 15th time in his professional career. Now with the Rockets, he joins a team that should highlight his silky mid-range jumper with a coach in Ime Udoka who knows how to maximize Durant’s unicorn skill set.

4. Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks

Our experts said: Davis is a feared defensive anchor and powerful interior offensive option – when healthy – and the centerpiece of the Mavericks’ bold decision to trade away Luka Dončić. Davis played just nine regular-season games for the Mavericks last season due to injury, but Dallas should remain a Western Conference threat so long as he’s on the court. Davis made second team all-NBA when he appeared in 76 games for the Lakers in 2023-24. 

5. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

Our experts said: Leonard played just 37 regular-season games, missing the start of the campaign with knee inflammation, but he was healthy for the Clippers in the playoffs. And while he was ineligible for postseason awards, he was tabbed as the NBA Player of the Week for Week 24 of the season (March 31-April 6). He’ll be facing the NBA-backed investigation on salary cap circumvention, but now at 34, health also remains a concern.

6. Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

Our experts said: Banchero was sidelined in the first half of the season with a torn oblique, but he returned to post career highs in points and rebounds in 46 games. He’ll turn just 23 in mid-November and has diversified his offensive portfolio to include silky mid-range, straight-line drives to the basket and occasional hits from 3-point range.

7. Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Our experts said: An elite two-way player – he made both the All-NBA and All-Defensive teams – Williams’ meteoric rise (he is entering just his fourth NBA season) will help the Thunder and their young core stay in the championship conversation. He signed a new five-year, maximum rookie contract extension that could reach $287 million.

8. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

Our experts said: Towns stands out after a successful first season with the Knicks in which he earned all-NBA honors for the third time in his 10-year career and fit in well alongside fellow All-Star Jalen Brunson. One of the best 3-point shooting big men in history could see a boost in his numbers playing at a faster tempo under new Knicks coach Mike Brown. 

9. Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Our experts said: The best players in the world are those who can rise to the occasion when their teammates struggle. Brown is that guy. When Jayson Tatum struggled in the 2024 NBA Finals, Brown earned Finals MVP. In fact, the only game the Celtics lost to Dallas in that series was one in which Brown struggled to score (3 of 12 from the field in Game 4). Regardless, Brown is dependable and might be the best No. 2 in the league. With Jayson Tatum likely out for the year, we’ll see if Brown can once again elevate himself to the level the Celtics need from him.

10. Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

Our experts said: The reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Mobley is much more than a lengthy stopper. Coach Kenny Atkinson has empowered Mobley to be a stretch forward who can knock down shots from the corner just as easily as he can go to work in the low block. He only just turned 24 in June and finished 10th in MVP voting last season. A further leap could be incoming.

Microsoft Copilot AI posted just a 5-9 record straight up making its picks in Week 5. It bounced back in a big way in Week 6.

Copilot earned a mark of 10-5 with its game picks in Week 6. It was tripped up by a handful of prime-time upsets – most notably the New York Giants’ win over the Philadelphia Eagles on ‘Thursday Night Football’ and the Atlanta Falcons’ victory over the Buffalo Bills on ‘Monday Night Football’ – but otherwise, the week was one of the chatbot’s best.

Can Copilot continue its winning ways in NFL Week 7? USA TODAY Sports is continuing its experiment with the AI chatbot to see if it can remain hot.

Per usual, the process of collecting Copilot’s picks was simple. The AI chatbot was prompted to pick a winner and provide a score for all 15 of the NFL’s Week 6 matchups. The basic form of the query used to generate the results was as follows:

Can you predict the winner and the score of the Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Week 7 game?

This process was then repeated for all of the NFL’s Week 5 matchups, with the appropriate games being swapped in for each additional prompt.

Typically, Copilot was able to interpret the prompt without issue. That said, there were a couple of occasions when the chatbot provided outdated or incorrect information, especially regarding injured players around the NFL and recent transactions. That wasn’t overly surprising, as some Large Language Models (LLMs) struggle to keep up with the latest sports news and updates.

When Copilot produced these errors, the chatbot was simply prompted to fix the errors and reassess.

Below is a summation of Copilot’s picks for Week 7, along with a brief, human-crafted analysis of each of the chatbot’s answers.

NFL Week 7 picks: AI predicts scores for every game

Copilot’s Week 6 results: 10-5
Copilot’s 2025 season record: 54-38-1

Pittsburgh Steelers 26, Cincinnati Bengals 17

AI’s take: Copilot said Joe Flacco ‘showed promise in his debut’ but expressed concern the Steelers pass rush ‘could overwhelm’ him. It also praised Aaron Rodgers as being ‘efficient’ across five games in Pittsburgh, giving the Steelers a better chance to win this one.

Our take: The Bengals are expected to be without Trey Hendrickson in this game, so it will be exceedingly hard for them to pressure the quick-throwing Rodgers. Pittsburgh’s offense should perform well and glide to a ‘Thursday Night Football’ victory.

Los Angeles Rams 23, Jacksonville Jaguars 20

AI’s take: Two injuries will have a significant impact on this game, according to Copilot. The Rams may be without star receiver Puka Nacua as he deals with an ankle injury, while the Jaguars have already ruled out Defensive Player of the Year candidate Devin Lloyd with a calf problem. It’s giving the early edge to the Rams but believes this is a relatively even battle.

Our take: The Rams managed just 17 points against the Ravens last week with Nacua sidelined for a good chunk of the game. If he’s absent in Week 7, the Jaguars could pull off the upset, especially since Jacksonville has more experience than its counterpart does playing across the pond.

Chicago Bears 24, New Orleans Saints 16

AI’s take: Copilot credited Caleb Williams for ‘improving weekly’ and expressed confidence he could exploit a shaky Saints pass defense in Week 7. The chatbot also believes Chicago’s ‘opportunistic’ defense will force Spencer Rattler into some mistakes in this one.

Our take: The Bears have created 12 takeaways on the season, good for the second-most in the NFL. Spencer Rattler hasn’t often paid for his nine turnover-worthy plays (tied for third-most in the league), but he could in this tough matchup.

Cleveland Browns 20, Miami Dolphins 17

AI’s take: Copilot is not a fan of Miami’s defense, which it noted is ‘the weakest’ unit Dillon Gabriel has faced thus far during his career. The chatbot believes Cleveland’s defensive edge, as well as its home-field advantage, will allow the Browns to ‘squeak out a low-scoring victory.’

Our take: The Dolphins are starting to show a better rhythm on offense, so if Tua Tagovailoa has a good day, Miami could end up winning this one. But with De’Von Achane facing a tough matchup, it’s easy to see why Copilot is favoring the Browns. This is a coin-flip matchup, so trusting the better defense is probably the right move.

New England Patriots 28, Tennessee Titans 13

AI’s take: Copilot has the Patriots ‘cruising to a comfortable win’ against a Titans team that is in ‘disarray’ after firing coach Brian Callahan. It doesn’t have faith Cam Ward will play well behind a ‘weak offensive line,’ so it’s backing Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel as New England remains hot.

Our take: Sometimes, teams get a burst of energy after a coach is fired, so it’s important not to write off the Titans entirely. Still, Vrabel will be hungry for revenge against his former team, so New England has a decisive advantage in this spot.

Kansas City Chiefs 31, Las Vegas Raiders 20

AI’s take: Are the Chiefs back? Copilot thinks so, as it believes Patrick Mahomes is ‘heating up’ and was impressed by the team’s ‘dominant’ win over the Lions. It doesn’t have confidence Las Vegas’ ‘shaky’ secondary can contain the Chiefs and believes Geno Smith will struggle to keep up with Kansas City’s offense.

Our take: With Rashee Rice returning, it’s hard to imagine the Raiders finding a way to slow down the Chiefs. Thus, Copilot’s assessment that the Chiefs will win ‘comfortably’ appears to be right.

Philadelphia Eagles 27, Minnesota Vikings 24

AI’s take: Copilot referred to this matchup as ‘pivotal for both teams,’ noting the Eagles will be desperate to stop their two-game losing skid against a tough defense. The chatbot says to ‘expect a close, physical contest’ and predicts the Eagles will win by a whisker.

Our take: Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ offense have struggled against zone coverage this year. The Vikings play a lot of zone under Brian Flores, so Minnesota has a defensive edge. It’s just a matter of whether the Vikings offense can find consistent success with either Carson Wentz or J.J. McCarthy at quarterback.

Carolina Panthers 21, New York Jets 10

AI’s take: Copilot continues to fade Justin Fields, who has ‘struggled mightily’ by its estimation. It also expects Garrett Wilson’s absence to negatively impact the Jets while it thinks the Panthers are ‘trending upward behind a dominant run game.’

Our take: The Panthers have ridden Rico Dowdle to success in consecutive weeks. If he can continue to produce at a top-tier clip, Carolina should have no trouble out-pacing a lackluster Jets offense.

Denver Broncos 23, New York Giants 14

AI’s take: Copilot is a fan of the Broncos’ defense, noting it has been the second-best scoring unit league-wide (15.8 points per game allowed). That will make it hard for Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo to work their magic, though the chatbot believes Dart will ‘flash again.’

Our take: We’re not as confident Dart will flash in such a tough matchup, especially since Denver has been elite at limiting the quarterback run this season. That could cause New York to be a bit more limited than Copilot’s projected score outlines.

Indianapolis Colts 30, Los Angeles Chargers 27

AI’s take: Copilot labeled this battle of AFC contenders ‘one of Week 7’s most evenly matched games.’ In the end, the chatbot preferred the Colts because they have Jonathan Taylor and an ‘edge in the trenches.’

Our take: The Chargers are dealing with several injuries to their offensive tackle room, so picking the Colts, who are much healthier, is a smart move. Well done, Copilot!

Washington Commanders 34, Dallas Cowboys 28

AI’s take: Copilot continues to be a fan of Dak Prescott, opining the 32-year-old ‘is playing at an elite level.’ It also knows Jayden Daniels has largely performed well this season and that the second-year quarterback has a matchup with a ‘porous’ Cowboys defense that is allowing 30.7 points per game. That’s why it’s picking the Commanders to win in a ‘shootout.’

Our take: It’s hard to argue with Copilot on this one. Expect a fun fireworks display on Sunday and for Washington to bounce back from its one-point loss to the Bears on ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 6.

Green Bay Packers 28, Arizona Cardinals 19

AI’s take: Copilot credited the Cardinals for keeping their losses close in 2025, but noted Arizona’s defense is ‘vulnerable’ and its offense ‘inconsistent.’ As such, it believes the Packers will eventually pull away from the Cardinals with their ‘strong,’ Josh Jacobs-led running game.

Our take: The Cardinals have lost four consecutive games by one possession, including three on a field goal as time expired. Maybe that will allow Arizona to keep this one closer than Copilot believes, but the late-game struggles of Jonathan Gannon’s team are enough to make the Packers the clear-cut favorite here.

San Francisco 49ers 24, Atlanta Falcons 22

AI’s take: Copilot is excited to see the rushing offenses of both teams, praising Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey for their performances this season. It believes the difference-maker in this one could be whether Brock Purdy and George Kittle return, as the chatbot thinks their presence would allow the 49ers to eke out a win over the Falcons.

Our take: Copilot mentioned the loss of Fred Warner, but it may not have fully grasped how problematic his absence could be for San Francisco’s defense. The Falcons should probably be favored in this one after their Week 6 upset of the Buffalo Bills.

Detroit Lions 31, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24

AI’s take: Injuries will have a significant impact on this game, as Copilot noted. It expressed concerns about Detroit’s ‘banged up’ secondary holding up against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers but ultimately believes Jared Goff and the Lions offense can go blow-for-blow with Mayfield.

Our take: Again, Copilot might be underestimating the depths of Detroit’s injury issues. The Lions are missing five of their six top cornerbacks from their Week 1 roster and may be without a couple of safeties, namely the suspended Brian Branch, as well. That does not sound like a recipe for success against a Buccaneers offense that is presently humming.

Seattle Seahawks 20, Houston Texans 17

AI’s take: Copilot said both the Seahawks and Texans defenses are ‘elite,’ so it’s projecting ‘a low-scoring, tactical battle.’ The Seahawks get the edge as the home team, and with Sam Darnold averaging a league-best 9.3 yards per attempt.

Our take: This score projection seems about accurate, and Mike Macdonald has the Seahawks playing at a high level. Their home-field advantage should give them the edge in this contest.