Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 7 (Fantasy Football)
Week 6 is officially in the books, and whether you came out on top or took an “L”, as they say in showbiz, the show must go on. One of the most overlooked advantages in fantasy football is the ability to stay level-headed. When you are on a losing streak or have lost a key player due to an injury, it is easy to hit the panic button and feel like your season is slipping away. But giving up too soon is a mistake. Persistence is key, and momentum can shift when you least expect it.
On the other hand, sitting at the top of the standings can lead to a false sense of security. No matter how strong your team looks, complacency can be costly. Injuries, bye weeks, and unexpected setbacks can shake up even the best rosters. That is why staying active on the waiver wire is so important.
Whether you are trying to climb back into the playoff race or maintain your lead, the waiver wire is your best tool. It is where struggling teams find reinforcements and contenders add depth for the long haul. With that in mind, here are the top pickups to help you dominate in Week 7.
Catch the weekly Waivers episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast
Running Back Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
5
6
3
4
3
9
4
5
7
3
5
6
4
10
10
7
6
8
8
8
8
7
6
9
9
5
7
10
10
4
9
Kimani Vidal, RB, Los Angeles Chargers – With Omarion Hampton sidelined, there was plenty of speculation about who would take charge of the Chargers’ backfield. Kimani Vidal ended that discussion in Week 6. Many expected Hassan Haskins to lead the way, but Vidal looked far more comfortable in the role, rushing 18 times for 124 yards and adding three catches for 14 yards and a TD. His 21 touches were triple Haskins’ total, and he looked every bit the part of a lead back. With Hampton expected to miss at least three more games, Vidal should have a chance to serve as a viable fantasy option for teams in need of RB help. The Chargers face a tougher matchup in Week 7 against the Colts, but Vidal’s projected workload keeps him in play for another solid performance.
Bam Knight, RB, Arizona Cardinals – After Michael Carter appeared to have locked down Arizona’s RB1 role in Week 5, early reports on Sunday hinted at an unexpected shakeup. The Cardinals reportedly wanted more aggression in their running game and turned to Bam Knight to provide it. Knight handled 11 carries for 34 yards and a TD in Sunday’s loss to the Colts, adding one catch for 20 yards. While he has now scored in back-to-back weeks, his overall production remains modest, and Carter still saw nearly an even share of opportunities despite the supposed demotion. Knight currently profiles as a TD-dependent flex play, even if he is now technically the starter. To make matters worse, the Cardinals face a tough matchup against the Packers in Week 7 before heading into their bye.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans – Tyjae Spears is an undeniably talented back, but injuries have slowed his ability to find consistent footing in the NFL. After missing the first four weeks of the season, he looked poised and sharp in just his second game back in Week 6. In Sunday’s loss to the Raiders, Spears logged five carries for 31 yards and caught all four of his targets for 19 yards. Tony Pollard doubled his rushing attempts but managed only three more yards on the ground. Spears looks poised to carve out a true timeshare in Tennessee’s backfield, and with the Titans often playing from behind, his receiving ability could become a key outlet for their struggling rookie QB. Spears carries weekly flex appeal, though his limited rushing volume keeps his ceiling somewhat capped without a TD. He will look to build on this performance in a tough Week 7 matchup against the Patriots.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons – Even while playing behind one of the league’s elite RBs, Tyler Allgeier continues to show he is much more than just a backup. Bijan Robinson may dominate the touches, but Allgeier’s workload remains steady enough to carry fantasy value in the right game script. In Monday night’s win over the Bills, he turned 10 carries into 32 yards and a TD while adding one catch for six yards. With Robinson healthy, Allgeier’s value is tied mostly to TDs, but during the bye week stretch, that kind of dependable goal-line usage can make a difference. He will look to build on his three scores this season in Week 7 against the 49ers.
Jaydon Blue, RB, Dallas Cowboys – Jaydon Blue did absolutely nothing in Week 6 to grab our attention, but he is still worth keeping an eye on. He finished with zero yards on three carries, yet with Miles Sanders now out for the season, Blue steps in as the primary backup to Javonte Williams. Williams is enjoying a resurgent year in Dallas and has a firm grip on the starting role, but if he were to miss time, Blue has the talent to become a potential league-winner. The hope is that he begins carving out a bigger role in the coming weeks and flashes some of the explosiveness that made him a standout prospect at Texas. He is an intriguing pickup-and-stash option as Dallas looks to rebound from a tough loss.
Wide Receiver Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
1
2
2
4
3
3
7
7
2
4
4
2
8
5
10
9
5
6
5
6
12
7
3
12
7
8
12
5
6
9
6
3
14
10
9
8
15
11
16
11
4
12
11
14
9
13
13
15
10
14
14
10
17
15
8
17
18
16
18
13
13
17
15
18
11
18
17
16
16
Kendrick Bourne, WR, San Francisco 49ers – Last week, Kendrick Bourne turned heads with a 10-catch, 142-yard showing, but many questioned whether he could back it up. In Sunday’s loss to Tampa Bay, he did exactly that, posting another 142 yards on just five receptions as Mac Jones’ go-to option. While his back-to-back outbursts are hard to overlook, San Francisco expects George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall to return soon, which will likely cut into Bourne’s target share. He may also face a dip in chemistry once Brock Purdy returns under center. Even so, Bourne is scorching hot and worth a pickup. We will see if he can keep it rolling against Atlanta in Week 7.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Tre Tucker, WR, Las Vegas Raiders – Tre Tucker keeps showing up in our waiver wire articles every week, and it is starting to feel like no one is listening. In Sunday’s win over the Titans, he once again showcased his elite speed, catching all five of his targets for 70 yards. Geno Smith’s ball security issues have been a problem, but his arm strength is not, and Tucker remains the team’s best deep threat, giving him weekly boom potential. What separates him from other volatile dart throws is his growing consistency. He has now topped five targets and 50 yards in four of six games this season. Even with a tough Week 7 matchup against the Chiefs on deck, Tucker could see plenty of opportunities in what projects to be a pass-heavy, catch-up game script.
Sterling Shepard, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – With Emeka Egbuka expected to be sidelined by a hamstring injury *sobs uncontrollably*, Tampa Bay will look for someone(s) to step up in the passing game. While there are several candidates, none bring the experience of veteran Sterling Shepard. In Sunday’s win over the 49ers, Baker Mayfield once again showcased his will to win and ability to elevate the players around him. Shepard caught two passes for 51 yards, while young speedsters Kameron Johnson and Tez Johnson each found the end zone. If Egbuka is sidelined and Mike Evans and Chris Godwin also continue to miss time, this trio will shoulder the load at WR. The Johnsons offer big-play upside as vertical threats, while Shepard profiles as the steadier option capable of piling up catches and yards. Monitor injury updates throughout the week, but all three have some flex appeal in what projects to be a high-scoring matchup against Detroit in Week 7.
Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts – Josh Downs entered the season as a popular breakout pick but has mostly underwhelmed so far. Lately, though, he has shown signs of life. In Week 5, he hauled in six of eight targets for 54 yards, then followed with his best fantasy outing of the year, catching six passes for 42 yards and a TD in Sunday’s win over the Cardinals. It has taken some time, but he and Daniel Jones appear to be finding their rhythm, with Downs emerging as a reliable target in this high-powered offense. His snap share still hovers around 50 percent, yet his consistent involvement makes him a viable weekly flex option if the volume holds. He will look to keep the momentum going in a favorable matchup against the Chargers.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, New England Patriots – Kayshon Boutte has been highly inconsistent this season, but he is at least showing that he is far more than a forgotten prospect with a funny last name. After a 100-yard breakout in Week 1 followed by four quiet games, Boutte resurfaced in Week 6 as Drake Maye’s go-to target. He caught all five of his targets for 93 yards and two TDs, reminding everyone of his explosive upside. The Patriots have no shortage of capable pass catchers, and with Maye playing at an increasingly high level, everyone in this offense carries more intrigue. Stefon Diggs should remain the focal point most weeks, but Boutee has flashed enough to be viewed as a matchup-swinging option when game flow breaks his way. If you are chasing points, he is the kind of boom-or-bust option who can steal you a win. He will get another favorable draw in Week 7 as New England takes on the struggling Titans.
Jordan Whittington, WR, Los Angeles Rams – Despite a quiet start to the season, Jordan Whittington stands out as an intriguing pickup heading into Week 7. Puka Nacua suffered an ankle injury in Sunday’s win, putting his status for next week in doubt. While Davante Adams will naturally assume the lead role if Nacua sits, Whittington could see a sizable uptick in opportunities. He caught just three passes for 23 yards in Sunday’s win over Baltimore, but played 92% of the team’s snaps, a huge jump from his usual workload. With Matthew Stafford operating at a high level, Whittington has the potential to deliver sneaky production in a favorable matchup against Jacksonville.
Zay Jones, WR, Arizona Cardinals – It has been a while since Zay Jones’ name has surfaced in fantasy circles, but here we are in Week 7. After several quiet seasons following his surprising WR26 finish in 2022, Jones reemerged in Week 6, catching five of eight targets for 79 yards. Normally, this would be easy to dismiss, but Marvin Harrison Jr. suffered a concussion in the same game, leaving his Week 7 status in doubt. If Harrison is sidelined, Jones could slide in as the team’s top WR. The offense will still run primarily through TE Trey McBride, but Jones has a clear path to strong target volume, with Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch also in line for expanded roles. If Jacoby Brissett remains under center and Harrison can’t go, Jones becomes a viable flex option even with a challenging matchup against Green Bay ahead.
Tight End Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
3
2
3
2
2
3
2
3
1
4
7
8
4
5
4
9
5
6
6
6
9
7
5
7
13
8
8
5
10
9
10
4
12
10
12
12
6
11
11
11
8
12
13
13
7
13
9
10
11
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Cleveland Browns – After a hot start to the season, rookie TE Harold Fannin Jr. had cooled off, but he looks to be heating up again. He scored a TD last week in Dillon Gabriel’s debut as starter and followed it up with his season-best performance in Sunday’s loss to the Steelers, catching seven of 10 targets for 81 yards. Fannin has clearly built chemistry with his rookie QB and appears to be Gabriel’s favorite target. With David Njoku leaving the game banged up, Fannin’s role could expand even further in the coming weeks. That makes him a priority pickup, especially with a favorable matchup against Miami in Week 7.
Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images
Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Opportunity is one of the most important factors in fantasy football, and Cade Otton is a perfect example. After a slow start in a crowded receiving corps, injuries to key pass-catchers like Mike Evans and Chris Godwin have elevated Otton’s role over the past two weeks, resulting in nine catches for 132 yards during that timeframe. Things get even more interesting with star rookie Emeka Egbuka expected to miss multiple weeks with a hamstring injury. While Sterling Shepard, Kameron Johnson, and Tez Johnson will help fill the void, Otton is likely to see a healthy share of targets coming his way. That makes him an intriguing start for Week 7, especially in a high-scoring matchup against Detroit.
AJ Barner, TE, Seattle Seahawks – Don’t look now, but AJ Barner is quietly emerging in a second-year breakout. While he has shown a nose for the end zone with four TDs already this season, recent weeks suggest his role is expanding beyond a TD-dependent option. Over his last two games, he has totaled 10 catches for 124 yards. With Sam Darnold playing at a high level and defenses focused on containing Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Barner has capitalized on being in the right place at the right time. He will look to build on this momentum in Week 7 against Houston before the team’s bye in Week 8.
Evan Engram, TE, Denver Broncos – Evan Engram was rumored to take on the “joker” role in Sean Payton’s Denver offense, but so far this season, he has looked more like a joke. His production has been modest, yet his role has been growing since returning from injury, seeing six or more targets in three straight games. In Sunday’s win over the Jets, Engram caught five of six targets for 42 yards and showed he could be a reliable part of Bo Nix’s passing attack. Expectations should remain tempered, but Engram is now worth considering as a starter and could see an elevated role in a Week 7 revenge game narrative against the Giants.
Quarterback Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
3
3
5
3
4
5
3
4
5
4
4
6
6
6
6
5
Check out Javier Manzanera’s weekly article on QB Streamers to Consider.
Team DEF/ST Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
2
1
2
2
1
2
3
3
3
4
1
4
4
3
6
5
5
5
4
6
6
6
5
Catch the weekly Waivers episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast
Final Thoughts
As Week 7 wraps up, we are about to officially reach the halfway point of the regular season. Whether you are currently cruising with a winning record or struggling near the bottom of the standings, the good news is that you have just as much time left to turn things around as you did in the first half. The waiver wire is your best chance to make that happen.
Staying active, making strategic acquisitions, and not being afraid to take calculated risks can completely reshape your team. As injuries pile up and roles change, those who adjust fastest will be best positioned for a playoff push. Do not let a slow start define your season. Stay focused, remain aggressive, and remember that fantasy football is won by those who adapt. The second half is your chance to rewrite the story of your season, and it begins today.
Comments
Hi, i have a couple good players on a bye this week. Tony Pollard ,Tyler Alleiger , or Tory Horton this week to start in flex?