Week 7 makes for an odd week on the waiver wire.
There are no massive targets, but there are a lot of interesting options for those looking for a one-week plug or an upside option for the bottom of the bench.
These are the kind of weeks that produce waiver values.
Hopefully, we can identify a few of them.
As a reminder, recommended adds are available in at least 60% of ESPN leagues, and the watch list consists of players worth monitoring.
The deep cuts section for running backs and receivers highlights players who are rostered in fewer than 5% of ESPN leagues, for all you “not in my league” degens.
I will not list recommended FAAB percentages for every player because there is a much better resource for researching what you need to bid, thanks to our friends at FAABLab.
Finally, I will not be ranking kickers and defenses because, frankly, I don’t care about them and would like to see them disappear from the game.
With those caveats out of the way, let’s get to it.
Contents
Best Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups: Quarterback
- Jaxson Dart
- Aaron Rodgers
- Michael Penix
Best Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups: Running Back
- Kimani Vidal
- Bam Knight
- Tyler Allgeier
- Tyjae Spears
- Isaiah Davis
- Kendre Miller
- Samaje Perine
Best Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups: Wide Receiver
- Elic Ayomanor
- Kendrick Bourne
- Luther Burden
- Zay Jones
- Jalen Coker
- Isaiah Bond
- Tez Johnson
- Jordan Whittington
- Tutu Atwell
- Sterling Shepard
Best Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups: Tight Ends
- Harold Fannin Jr.
- Cade Otton
- Mason Taylor
- Oronde Gadsden
- Noah Fant
- Michael Mayer
- Isaiah Likely
Quarterback Waiver Targets, Week 7
1. Jaxson Dart, Giants — Available in 64.6% of ESPN leagues
Dart has a bad matchup in Denver against a team allowing the second-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. There are certainly safer quarterback starts this week, but from a long-term perspective, Dart looks like a viable weekly option in 1QB leagues thanks to his rushing. He has run for at least 50 yards in all three of his starts, adding a touchdown in two of those games. He is currently the QB5 in rushing fantasy points per game.
2. Aaron Rodgers, Steelers — Available in 86.3% of ESPN leagues
The Steelers are 27th in neutral pass rate, and Rodgers ranks 31st in dropbacks per game. He is third in touchdown rate, however, and gets a great matchup against a Bengals defense that ranks 28th in yards per attempt allowed and 25th in touchdown rate allowed. Rodgers might not throw it a ton, but those few passes should be very effective.
3. Michael Penix, Falcons — Available in 84.7% of ESPN leagues
Penix has been up and down this season overall, and he has just 4 touchdown throws total in five games. Still, this is not a great week for streamers, and the 49ers suffered yet another injury to one of their top defenders. Working with the backups to the backup receivers, Baker Mayfield was able to put up 256 yards and 2 touchdowns on the 49ers last week. If San Francisco can push the score on the other side, this could be a ceiling game for Penix, especially if Darnell Mooney returns.
Watch List: We don't know if J.J. McCarthy or Carson Wentz will draw the start this week, and while the Eagles have not shut down opposing quarterbacks this season, the matchup is not good enough to really chase either…Sam Darnold delivered another solid game against the Jaguars, but he faces a tough Texans defense in a game with a rock bottom total in Week 7…Tua Tagovailoa is coming off a tough game, and the road does not get any easier in Cleveland…Bryce Young did deliver 2 scores against the Dolphins and 3 against the Cowboys, but he still failed to top 200 yards. The Jets are a good matchup, but not any better than the last two…We are not running to start Cam Ward following the coaching change, but it is worth watching if the offense looks more competent moving forward. The bar is low…Is the Falcons defense actually good? It might be, making Mac Jones or a just back from injury Brock Purdy a risky start this week…Joe Flacco helped the receiving options in Cincinnati and attempted 45 passes in his first start. There could be something here moving forward…Spencer Rattler has been playing pretty well and adding with his legs. He is a legit 2QB option this week…It is apparently not happening this week, but it is only a matter of time until we see Tyrod Taylor.
Running Back Waiver Targets, Week 7
1. Kimani Vidal, Chargers — Available in 72.9% of ESPN leagues
Like with Michael Carter last week, Vidal is an obvious add in the leagues where he was not picked up, so there is no reason for me to make the upside case. I can make the downside case, however, which, unfortunately, was relevant for Carter. While Vidal ran away with the lead role later in the game, he only had 4 more snaps than Hassan Haskins in the first quarter, suggesting it was a “hot hand” decision that got Vidal the touches. What happens if that changes in Week 7 and Haskins has the hot hand? As much as I like Vidal as a player, he also has a boom-or-bust running style. He had a 22.2% negative run rate last week, something that was a concern for him last season. And that was against the Dolphins. The Colts actually rank one spot worse than the Dolphins in yards before contact allowed per RB run, so the matchup this week is not imposing, but it is something to consider. Is Vidal an add? Absolutely. Could he disappoint? Most definitely.
2. Bam Knight, Cardinals — Available in 94.4% of ESPN leagues
Speaking of that downside case for Carter. While pre-game reports that Knight would be the lead back were not 100% correct, he did outsnap Carter 34 to 32 and had one more touch than the Week 5 starter. He also found the end zone and had 5 of 6 snaps in goal to go situations. Carter was more involved as a receiver, though, and that could be more important given Arizona's struggles and their upcoming schedule. Knight is a “starting” running back available on the wire. That is worth something, but expectations should be low.
3. Tyler Allgeier, Falcons — Available in 67% of ESPN leagues
I am going to stop putting Allgeier on this list because I am tired of writing the same thing. I would also assume he is rostered in serious leagues. Not only does Allgeier offer a nice weekly touch floor and a chance at a touchdown if you are desperate for a FLEX, but he carries massive contingency value behind Bijan Robinson. He is a perfect bench stash.
4. Tyjae Spears, Titans — Available in 76.4% of ESPN leagues
We are not going to declare Spears the starting running back in Tennessee, but he did play 10 more snaps than Tony Pollard in Week 6, touching the ball 9 times for 50 yards. This is not an offense we really want to target, at least to this point, and Pollard still had 10 carries. That said, it is worth stashing Spears to see how things shake out following the coaching change.
5. Isaiah Davis, Jets — Available in 94.6% of ESPN leagues
Davis remains the clear No. 2 behind Breece Hall in an offense that is struggling. That is not a strong fantasy case. However, Hall's future remains in doubt as we head to the trade deadline, and Davis can offer something as a receiver for a team that is likely to be behind a lot the rest of the way.
6. Kendre Miller, Saints — Available in 74.8% of ESPN leagues
It does not appear as if Alvin Kamara is getting traded, and Kamara took back over as the clear lead back in Week 6, playing 33 snaps to 19 for Miller. Still, Kamara is an older back with an injury history, and Miller has been mostly effective with his touches this season. He remains a stash.
7. Samaje Perine, Bengals — Available in 99.2% of ESPN leagues
There is no reason to get excited about any back in Cincinnati right now, but it is worth pointing out that Perine played just 4 fewer snaps than Chase Brown in Week 6 and saw just 3 fewer touches. He was not particularly good with the work, averaging 4 yards per touch, but we could be seeing a change in the Bengals backfield. I would rather that change be to Tahj Brooks, but here we are.
Watch List: Bhayshul Tuten is just not getting the opportunities behind Travis Etienne…Game script likely played some role, but Jerome Ford played the same number of snaps as Quinshon Judkins in Week 6…Ollie Gordon is a pure handcuff at this point…Jaydon Blue is the new No. 2 in Dallas, but he has yet to make his mark on limited touches…Blake Corum was able to return later in the game, but his injury is one to watch this week…Ray Davis got a touchdown, but that was one of his 2 snaps on Monday night…Sean Tucker got a touchdown, but that was one of his 11 snaps on Sunday…For those keeping track, AJ Dillon has been more active behind Saquon Barkley than Will Shipley the last two games.
Deep Cuts: The Chiefs are still not getting a ton out of their backfield, though Isiah Pacheco has looked better in recent weeks. Even so, Brashard Smith is not getting used…Kyle Monangai seemed to get a chance on Monday night, but he did nothing to push the issue while D'Andre Swift had a massive game…Perhaps there is a path back for Chris Rodriguez considering Bill Croskey-Merritt‘s fumbling concerns, but it was all the rookie on Monday night…DJ Giddens is losing snaps to Ameer Abdullah, but he would still be the primary target if something happened to Jonathan Taylor…Jarquez Hunter could be the handcuff for Kyren Williams if Blake Corum is forced to miss time…Perine got the snaps in Week 6, but Tahj Brooks is the upside play if the Bengals decide to think about the future.
Wide Receiver Waiver Targets, Week 7
1. Elic Ayomanor, Titans — Available in 72.1% of ESPN leagues
Van Jefferson saw a nice bump in targets with Calvin Ridley leaving early, but Ayomanor has been a consistent target for Cam Ward this year, is a young player with room to grow, and fits better as the Titans look to reset after firing their head coach. This could just be a situation to avoid overall, but Ayomanor checks a lot of boxes.
2. Kendrick Bourne, 49ers — Available in 62.3% of ESPN leagues
I mentioned last week that there was still room for Bourne even if Jauan Jennings returned, but I still did not rank him highly enough. We should get back George Kittle this week, but Jennings' status remains fluid after he said he was playing through five broken ribs (!), we don't really know when Ricky Pearsall will be back, and Brandon Aiyuk does not seem close to returning (and if reports are to be believed, might not return this year). Bourne will likely be waiver fodder whenever the 49ers get healthy at receiver, but when is that actually going to happen? Let's ride the wave until it does.
3. Luther Burden, Bears — Available in 91.8% of ESPN leagues
While Burden was used heavily on his snaps, his route rate was only 39.4% on Monday night. That said, D.J. Moore was hospitalized after the game, and we still don't know what exactly happened to necessitate the hospital visit. Burden is a stash in deeper leagues to see if his usage increases moving forward — Olamide Zaccheaus is not setting the world on fire — but he could be more than that if Moore is forced to miss time.
4. Zay Jones, Cardinals — Available in 99.9% of ESPN leagues
Michael Wilson is also worth a look for those in need, but we know he does not consistently earn targets, no matter how many routes he runs. Jones took over with Marvin Harrison Jr. out in Week 6, earning 20.5% of the targets while running a route on 85.1% of the dropbacks. The matchup this week is not great, and we do not know who will be starting at quarterback for the Cardinals. Still, of all the possible one-week rentals at receiver this week, Jones stands out as the most reliable option.
5. Jalen Coker, Panthers — Available in 90.5% of ESPN leagues
There are better short-term adds, even guys like Kayshon Boutte who is not on my official add list, but Coker is a good stash as we see how things shake out in Carolina. Xavier Legette has been playing better — low bar — but the Panthers need a real second option in the receiving game. Coker can be that, although the overall scoring environment and pass rate might make it all meaningless behind Tetairoa McMillan.
6. Isaiah Bond, Browns — Available in 96.6% of ESPN leagues
Like with Coker, there are better one-week options below, but Bond remains a stash despite a lackluster outing in Week 6. He ran a route on 89.7% of Cleveland's dropbacks and is clearly the No. 2 receiver. We need the Browns passing attack to show some life before that translates into fantasy points, but the usage is there for a young player, making him a stash.
7. Tez Johnson, Bucs — Available in 99.3% of ESPN leagues
Johnson is a difficult case because he would be higher on this list — and we would have interest in Kameron Johnson, as well — if we knew Mike Evans was going to sit. We have reached the time when Evans was expected back originally, and there is a lot more reason for him to push things given the injuries to Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin. I expect Evans back this week, which puts a damper on any expectations for the other Bucs receivers. If Johnson got the run at the No. 1 job, though, he would be a good play against an extremely shorthanded Lions secondary.
8. Jordan Whittington, Rams — Available in 99.8% of ESPN leagues
9. Tutu Atwell, Rams — Available in 98.3% of ESPN leagues
We don't know if Puca Nacua is going to sit out this week, but the Rams have a bye in Week 8 and tend to be cautious with injuries. If Nacua sits, that opens up a lot of targets in the passing game. Atwell missed last week, but he is expected to return and has been running more routes than Whittington. From a usage perspective, though, Whittington might be a better fit to take on some of those Nacua targets. Both will be risky starts and likely one-week rentals at best, but they are there for needy teams.
10. Sterling Shepard, Bucs — Available in 85.2% of ESPN leagues
Of all the Bucs receivers, Shepard's role is the least likely to change even if Mike Evans is unable to return this week, and his limited air yards per target make him more of a lower upside option. Still, he is worth a look in PPR formats to see what plays out.
Watch List: Not having Kayshon Boutte as a must add might be foolish, but nothing really changed for him from a usage perspective against the Saints. He just caught 2 touchdowns in a great matchup. The matchup this week is also pretty good, but you are going to need those big plays to hit…After he was limited all of last week, I assume Quentin Johnston will return, leaving Tre Harris on the waiver wire…Christian Kirk has been the secondary guy, but it will be interesting to see how the Texans receiver snaps shake out coming out of the bye. Xavier Hutchinson is likely to continue running a lot of target-less routes — yes, he did get 2 touchdowns in Week 5 — but it would be great to see more opportunities for Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel…We don't know if Darius Slayton will play, and it is not a great matchup either way…The Malik Washington dream is dead…Chris Moore is emerging as an option in Washington, but that all goes away when Terry McLaurin returns…We don't know when Christian Watson will be ready, but the Packers suffered another receiver injury with Dontayvion Wicks going down…There is just not a ton of room for Tory Horton with Jaxon Smith-Njigba dominating targets.
Deep Cuts: It probably makes sense to take a swing on Josh Reynolds or Arian Smith with Garrett Wilson expected to miss some time, especially in deep leagues, but what is the upside in this passing game?…Isaac TeSlaa‘s route rate spiked again, this time to 71%. We have not seen him consistently earn targets, which is the concern since he is behind several people in the pecking order, but he is at least running routes…Alec Pierce did not hit the big game we were hoping for, and the matchup this week is not great. Still, the usage is there for the big-play threat…Pat Bryant continues to see his role grow in Denver's passing game…We don't want to chase the No. 3 receiver in Cincinnati, but Andrei Iosivas ran a route on 97.7% of the dropbacks in Week 6…If Darius Slayton remains out this week, it looks like Lil'Jordan Humphrey, not Jalin Hyatt or Beaux Collins, will get those reps…Darnell Mooney could miss a lot more time. Drake London dominates targets when Mooney is out, but Casey Washington is a name to know in deep leagues.
Tight End Waiver Targets, Week 7
1. Harold Fannin Jr, Browns — Available in 70.9% of ESPN leagues
There are a lot of good tight end options this week on the wire, but Fannin stands above all of them with David Njoku dealing with a knee injury. With Njoku in and out of the game, Fannin ran a route on 77.6% of Cleveland's dropbacks in Week 6, a career high, and was second on the team with 10 targets. Dillon Gabriel leads all qualified quarterbacks this year in tight end target rate, targeting the position on 34.5% of his attempts. If Njoku sits, Fannin should see a ton of targets, and he has the talent to make the most of them in a great matchup against the Dolphins.
2. Cade Otton, Bucs — Available in 91.1% of ESPN leagues
Taylor and Gadsden below are both better long-term adds, but we could be looking at a situation for Otton that is similar to when he dominated targets last year. Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin are expected to sit out this week. Mike Evans is uncertain as he looks to return from a hamstring injury. Without Evans and Godwin on the field last season, Otton commanded a 25.2% target share, which is just behind where Trey McBride is this season. This week, he gets a Lions defense with major injury issues. It could all fall apart if Evans returns, but Otton has been drawing targets of late with Egbuka healthy, giving him an out even with a healthy Evans.
3. Mason Taylor, Jets — Available in 64% of ESPN leagues
It did not hit in Week 6 as Justin Fields struggled to complete a forward pass, but Taylor still ran a route on 86.2% of New York's dropbacks. Moving forward, the Jets are expected to be without Garrett Wilson for at least one game. Taylor should lead the team in targets while Wilson is out.
4. Oronde Gadsden, Chargers — Available in 99.3% of ESPN leagues
Gadsden has yet to have a really big fantasy day, and it is possible his usage in Week 6 had a lot to do with the Chargers missing Quentin Johnston. Still, Los Angeles was fully healthy at tight end, and Gadsden ran a route on 76.9% of their dropbacks with 8 targets despite losing a fumble early in the game. Everything about his usage is pointing up. Fant and Mayer are better pickups for just this week, but it is in the realm of possibilities that Gadsden turns into a viable weekly starter.
5. Noah Fant, Bengals — Available in 97.5% of ESPN leagues
We happen to have a lot of tight end options this week, which pushes Fant down the list. He would be much higher in a normal week. The Bengals lost both Mike Gesicki and Tanner Hudson to injury, setting up Fant for a big role in a great spot. The Steelers have allowed the third-most points per game to tight ends.
6. Michael Mayer, Raiders — Available in 96.9% of ESPN leagues
Brock Bowers is expected to miss another week, which sets up Mayer as a streaming option once again. He hit in Week 6, running a route on 80% of the dropbacks and turning 7 targets into 5 catches for 50 yards and a touchdown. The matchup this week against the Chiefs is not great, but he is a good bet for volume.
7. Isaiah Likely, Ravens — Available in 93.3% of ESPN leagues
The Ravens are on bye this week, but Lamar Jackson is expected to return to the lineup after that. Likely ran a route on 87.2% of Baltimore's dropbacks against the Rams. That was helped by the Ravens using two or more tight ends at a nearly league-high rate with Cooper Rush, but they ranked fourth in 2TE or more sets with Jackson over the first four weeks. There is also the possibility, though probably small, that the Ravens trade Mark Andrews ahead of the deadline. Likely is a worthy stash in deeper leagues.
Watch List: We did not see a big usage boost from Colston Loveland coming out of the bye…Theo Johnson should have a role in the offense the rest of the way, but there is no reason to push him this week in a bad matchup…Dalton Schultz has been a steady floor play in recent games, but we have better available options this week…Chig Okonkwo is losing snaps to Gunnar Helm, but he had a solid enough 67.4% route rate in Week 6. We will have to see if the coaching change alters his usage…A.J. Barner got there again with a long catch and is running plenty of routes, but the matchup and game environment are not ideal this week…If Puka Nacua sits, we could see more from Tyler Higbee, but despite the touchdown, his route rate dipped to 48.3% last week.
