10 NFL Players Who Could Steal the Show This Weekend – NFL Week 7, 25–26 October 2026
Every NFL weekend has one or two players who turn a normal matchup into appointment viewing. Week 7 has more than that. There are quarterbacks protecting unbeaten records, running backs returning to former teams, receivers carrying shaky offences and defenders capable of flipping games with one pressure or takeaway.
This list is not simply the ten biggest names playing this weekend. It is about opportunity. Which players are walking into matchups that could magnify their strengths? Who has a storyline big enough that one huge performance changes the conversation around a team? And who is being asked to carry more than usual because of injuries or divisional pressure?
The headliner is Kenneth Walker III returning to Seattle as the NFL’s leading rusher after helping the Seahawks win Super Bowl LX. But Week 7 also gives us Patrick Mahomes in prime time, Jared Goff against Green Bay, Dak Prescott in a must-win divisional game and Alvin Kamara in the NFL’s first regular-season game in France.
The best thing about a slate like this is that the obvious superstar is not always the one who steals the show. A game can belong to a pass rusher, a receiver who gets 14 targets or a running back who controls the clock so completely that the quarterback barely has to take risks.
I ranked these players by a combination of current form, matchup, narrative importance and the likelihood that their performance becomes the story of the weekend.
Here are the 10 NFL players who could steal the show in Week 7.
Support That Love Podcast
Want to Reach Sports and Entertainment Fans?
10. Alvin Kamara, Saints
Paris gives Kamara one of the weekend’s biggest stages. New Orleans is 2–4, but the Saints are coming off a 34–27 win over the Giants and enter the first regular-season NFL game in France with a chance to create real momentum before their bye.
Kamara has been managing a back issue, yet his versatility remains the easiest way for New Orleans to make Pittsburgh defend horizontally. Against a Steelers defence that is far stronger against the pass than the Saints are likely to be comfortable testing all afternoon, screens, option routes and outside runs could become essential.
Why he could steal the show: international games often produce one player who becomes the face of the event. If Kamara is healthy enough for a heavy workload and New Orleans wins, he is the most obvious candidate.
9. T.J. Watt, Steelers
Pittsburgh’s identity still begins with defence, and Watt is the player most capable of turning a close game into a Steelers game with one snap. New Orleans has offensive-line questions and a quarterback situation that becomes much harder if the Saints are consistently behind the chains.
Watt does not need four sacks to dominate. One strip-sack, one pressure forcing an interception or one third-down stop near midfield can change field position and allow Pittsburgh to play conservatively on offence.
Why he could steal the show: the Paris game could become low-scoring. In that kind of contest, the best pass rusher on the field has a chance to become the defining player.
8. Saquon Barkley, Eagles
Philadelphia’s season is under real pressure at 2–4, and Jalen Hurts is unavailable. That makes Barkley the safest path to keeping Tanner McKee comfortable against Dallas.
The matchup is inviting. Dallas has struggled badly against the run, while Barkley is averaging more than five yards per carry. If Philadelphia can build the game around him, the Eagles can shorten possessions, control crowd energy and keep Dak Prescott on the sideline.
Why he could steal the show: a 25-carry, 140-yard night would not just help Philadelphia win. It would completely reshape how the Eagles are discussed while Hurts is out.
7. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
Prescott has thrown four interceptions over his past two games after a much stronger opening month. That makes Monday night less about raw yardage and more about response.
Dallas still has elite receiving talent with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and the Eagles are dealing with injuries. Prescott has a chance to remind everyone why veteran quarterback play matters most in divisional games where the opponent is starting a backup.
Why he could steal the show: if Dak plays clean football and Dallas wins in Philadelphia, the entire narrative shifts from two bad weeks to a stabilising prime-time performance.
6. Brock Purdy, 49ers
San Francisco enters Atlanta unbeaten, which means every Purdy game now carries a larger spotlight. The 49ers are no longer just trying to win—they are trying to protect perfection.
Purdy has been playing with MVP-level efficiency, and Atlanta has enough offensive talent to force San Francisco to keep scoring rather than simply letting its defence control the day. That creates a chance for Purdy to put up one of the weekend’s biggest passing lines.
Why he could steal the show: undefeated-quarterback performances become national stories quickly. A four-touchdown afternoon would push Purdy even deeper into the MVP conversation.
5. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks
Seattle’s offence has been inconsistent, but Smith-Njigba has become the most dependable receiving option on the roster. He caught 12 passes for 134 yards last time out and has increasingly become the answer when Sam Darnold needs a completion.
Kansas City will know exactly how important he is, which may force Seattle to move him around formations and create matchups rather than simply line him up in one spot. If the Seahawks upset the unbeaten Chiefs, Smith-Njigba is one of the most likely reasons.
Why he could steal the show: prime time rewards volume. If Seattle throws 35-plus times, Smith-Njigba could easily see double-digit targets and become the face of an upset.
4. Jared Goff, Lions
Goff enters the Packers game playing some of the cleanest quarterback football in the league. He has been efficient, productive and careful with the ball, and Detroit’s offence remains one of the best-designed units in football.
Green Bay is 4–2, Detroit 3–2, and the NFC North stakes are obvious. This is exactly the kind of matchup where Goff’s ability to stay patient against disguised coverage matters more than highlight throws.
Why he could steal the show: if Detroit wins a shootout, Goff is likely to be at the centre of it. A high-completion, three-touchdown game against Green Bay would be one of Sunday’s biggest statements.
3. Jordan Love, Packers
Love gets the other side of the weekend’s best afternoon quarterback duel. Green Bay is 4–2, Detroit 3–2, and this is the first chance for either side to create real separation in the divisional conversation.
Love’s strength is the willingness to attack downfield, but Detroit will try to make him impatient. The game may come down to whether he can take underneath completions early enough to create the explosive shots later.
Why he could steal the show: divisional shootouts create stars. If Love outduels Goff in Detroit, he becomes one of the obvious headline players of Week 7.
2. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
Kansas City is 5–0 and Mahomes no longer has to carry every possession by himself because the Chiefs have found a legitimate running identity. That may actually make him more dangerous.
Seattle’s defence is built to slow the run and force Kansas City into longer drives. That means Mahomes may eventually have to solve the game late, in Lumen Field, against a defence that knows the crowd can create protection problems.
Why he could steal the show: Mahomes in a close fourth quarter remains one of the most compelling situations in the sport. If Kansas City moves to 6–0 because he engineers one final prime-time drive, that becomes the weekend’s defining image.
1. Kenneth Walker III, Chiefs
No player has a better Week 7 storyline. Walker returns to Seattle after helping the Seahawks win Super Bowl LX and earning Super Bowl MVP, only now he is wearing a Chiefs uniform and leading the NFL in rushing.
Kansas City’s offence has been transformed by his presence. Walker enters with 665 rushing yards despite the Chiefs already having had their bye, while Seattle has one of the league’s best run defences and has gone 35 straight games without allowing an individual 100-yard rusher.
Why he ranks No. 1: this is personal, tactical and national all at once. If Walker breaks Seattle’s 100-yard streak in his return and Kansas City stays unbeaten, he will not just steal the show—he will own the entire Sunday night conversation.
Three Dark-Horse Players Who Could Crash the List
CeeDee Lamb deserves an obvious mention because Philadelphia may struggle to match Dallas’ receiving depth if its secondary is shorthanded. Lamar Jackson, if fully healthy, can turn Bengals-Ravens into his game with one quarter of explosive plays. And Bijan Robinson has the kind of matchup against San Francisco where one long touchdown could completely change an upset bid.
That is the beauty of this weekend. Several games have clear stars, but almost every major matchup also contains one player capable of breaking the expected script.
Final Thoughts
Week 7 has enough star power that the league’s biggest names are not guaranteed to dominate the headlines. That makes the slate more interesting, not less.
Mahomes, Love, Goff and Prescott all have quarterback narratives attached to high-pressure games, but Walker’s return to Seattle is the one storyline that feels impossible to separate from the actual matchup.
If he produces another huge rushing game against the team that knows him best, Week 7 will belong to Kenneth Walker III.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the No. 1 player to watch this weekend?
Kenneth Walker III because he returns to Seattle as the NFL’s leading rusher after leaving the Seahawks for Kansas City.
Which quarterback has the biggest stage?
Patrick Mahomes on Sunday Night Football in Seattle.
Which player has the best matchup?
Saquon Barkley has a strong opportunity against a Dallas defence that has struggled badly against the run.
Which player could boost an MVP case?
Brock Purdy, Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes all have nationally meaningful games.
Who is the best defensive player to watch?
T.J. Watt in the Paris game because pressure could decide Steelers-Saints.
Which receiver could have the biggest day?
Jaxon Smith-Njigba has a strong chance at double-digit targets against Kansas City.
Which rivalry player matters most?
Dak Prescott because Cowboys-Eagles becomes much easier for Dallas if he protects the football.
Why is Kenneth Walker's return so significant?
He starred for Seattle, won Super Bowl LX MVP and now returns as Kansas City’s leading rusher.
Which game has the best quarterback duel?
Packers-Lions with Jordan Love against Jared Goff.
Could a non-quarterback define Week 7?
Absolutely. Walker, Barkley, Kamara and Watt all have matchups capable of deciding games.
Sources and More NFL Coverage
Enjoyed What You Read?
Subscribe to That Love Podcast for more sports, entertainment and culture coverage.
.jpg)
.jpg)
