Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 7 (Fantasy Football)
Are you feeling like Week 6 was your worst fantasy week ever? Well, join the club. This week almost became the first week in 17 years without a 30+ point scorer in fantasy. But one man saved the day on MNF. Can you take a guess on who?
Worst fantasy week EVER? 🤔
Not a single player has scored 30+ fantasy points this week (pending MNF)
The last time we went an entire week without a 30-point scorer? Week 13 of 2009. NEARLY 17 YEARS AGO 🤯
— Sleeper (@SleeperHQ) October 19, 2026
If you are like me, we are going into Week 7 feeling like we could use a bounce-back game. There is no better way to bounce back than to go in fully prepared. That starts with checking who is out on bye. Teams on Week 7 bye are: Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Los Angeles Chargers, and Washington Commanders. And it ends with getting shifty on the waiver wire.
Quarterback Waiver Rankings
C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans
I do not think we have seen the best from C.J. Stroud yet this year. I think he is just getting started. Last week, he completed 24-of 34 pass attempts for 312 yards and three TDs. One INT brought him down a notch, but it was his first one of the year. Stroud has plenty of high-level receiving options on this team to continue supporting big-time fantasy points, and next week they are up against a struggling New York Giants defense. He is a top-tier waiver option going into Week 7.
Kyler Murray, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Kyler Murray is a QB streaming option depending on the matchup – the second you see a competent defense upcoming, look for someone else. Right now, though, his next three games are favorable against the Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions, and Buffalo Bills. If you need someone to fill in for your QB on bye, Kyler is a worthy option.
J.J. McCarthy, QB, New York Giants
Well, hell must have frozen over, because here I am talking about J.J. McCarthy as a waiver-wire option. But we must remember the Footballers’ advice: do not let history cloud your judgment. You must stay water and adjust to what you are seeing in the present.
What I saw on Sunday was 11 completed passes for 243 yards and a TD. Will McCarthy be able to continue the momentum and redeem himself on this Giants team? That is yet to be determined, but he is someone to keep an eye on. In Week 7, the Giants play a Houston Texans team that has struggled against the QB position, and then they go on bye. You will need to monitor the news to see if the Giants decide to start McCarthy over Jameis Winston, but even then, it might be a good idea to see how this next game goes before popping him in your lineup.
Running Back Waiver Rankings
Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Consider this your heads-up that the Minnesota Vikings opened Jordan Mason’s 21-day practice window yesterday, and he is likely to return in their Week 7 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are currently one of the worst defenses against the RB position, making this an excellent opportunity for Mason to shake off his rust. He is rostered in about 65% of leagues, but it is worth checking to see if someone dropped him while he was out for the past four weeks.
Roschon Johnson, RB, Chicago Bears
Roschon Johnson has become a viable fantasy asset ever since the Chicago Bears’ RB2 Kyle Monangai went down with an injury in Week 4. Since then, Johnson’s snap percentage went up from just 11% to 40% in Weeks 5 and 6. On Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons, he was given 15 opportunities, including two receptions, for 85 yards and a TD. With Monangai ruled out for Week 7 against the New England Patriots, Johnson remains an option when the pickings are slim. He is available in about 85% of leagues.
Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Cleveland Browns
Like countless others, the RB room of the Cleveland Browns has been plagued by injuries. Quinshon Judkins was out in Week 6 with an ankle sprain and is uncertain for Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans. Raheim Sanders was placed on IR with a hip injury and is out for the foreseeable future. So that leaves their lone soldier, Jaleel McLaughlin, as the lead RB. He logged a decent outing last week against a tough Baltimore Ravens defense, having rushed nine times for 41 yards and caught all four of his targets for 14 yards. He certainly left a little to be desired, but he will be up against a more forgiving Titans defense in Week 7.
Wide Receiver Waiver Rankings
Germie Bernard, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Going into last week, we heard a lot of buzz around Germie Bernard. The rookie WR on the Pittsburgh Steelers had supposedly gained the trust of Aaron Rodgers by answering situational football questions to Rodgers’ liking. Now, after the performance in Tampa Bay last week, it appears he really did. Rodgers targeted Bernard 12 times, and he went 11 for 87 with one TD, the game-winning overtime TD, to be exact. He is available in just over 40% of leagues and needs to be rostered everywhere.
Omar Cooper Jr., WR, New York Jets
Omar Cooper Jr. is far from a guarantee. He is a rookie WR on one of the slowest offenses in the league, and he suffered an ankle injury in Week 1 after receiving one target. The good news is that, although you have a small sample size, what Cooper Jr. has shown is massive talent with big-play potential. That one target in Game 1? It was a 30-yard bomb. And then last week against the New England Patriots, he put up 103 yards on six targets with a TD. He almost had a second TD, but it was called back due to a penalty. The point being, when Cooper Jr. has been on the field, he has demonstrated the potential to be elite. He is the type of rookie you want to take shots on.
Jaylin Noel, WR, Houston Texans
The addition and integration of Marvin Harrison Jr. into the Houston Texans offense, plus the return of Tank Dell, makes Jaylin Noel a little bit more complicated now, but his widespread availability and recent performances justify a mention. Noel has crept from WR33 to WR6 over the last three weeks. He caught all four of his targets for 107 yards and a TD last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If you are WR- or flex-needy, Noel will be there on your waiver wire.
Tight End Waiver Rankings
Chig Okonkwo, TE, Washington Commanders
Over the last three weeks, the Commanders have been involving Chig Okonkwo more and more in the offense. His snaps have gone from 58% to 71% to 76% in their most recent game, and his targets are following suit. With the injury to Terry McLaurin, Chig could continue to see a larger and more consistent role. Beware, he will be on bye for Week 7, but plan accordingly because he is a strong TE target and he is available in about 85% of leagues.
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings
Here we have a TE option with some caveats, but should the stars align, he should have an incredible performance. First, Hockenson is in concussion protocol, so he will need to clear that to play. He had the bye week last week to rest, so I do expect him to be ready for Week 7. Second, Jordan Addison sat out in Week 5 with a hamstring injury. Should Addison remain out this week, that will be the key to Hockenson’s relevance. They are heading to Indianapolis, whose defense leaves a lot to be desired against both the QB and TE positions, so the outlook is favorable for a Murray and Hockenson field day.
Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots
For the last two weeks, Hunter Henry has been a top-ten fantasy TE. I think of him as Drake Maye’s safety blanket, and he seemed to be the answer to Maye’s struggles at the beginning of this year. Unlock Henry, and you unlock Maye. Now, we could have gone into this week saying his production would be impacted by the return of AJ Brown. However, Henry had his best game of the year with Brown on the field. Plus, Romeo Doubs is now on IR. Henry is available in just under 50% of leagues, and if you are TE-needy, you can pick him up and play in favorable matchups.
Team DST Waiver Rankings
Cleveland Browns, DST
Here we are again targeting the Tennessee Titans. Admittedly, it didn’t go so well last week against the Indianapolis Colts. However, the Cleveland Browns are a much stronger defensive unit. They are widely available and ready to plug into fantasy lineups.
New York Jets, DST
Speaking of targeting bad offenses, the Miami Dolphins are back from the bye, and they are heading up north to take on their division opponent, the New York Jets. The Jets defense is ranked eighth so far this year against QBs and will likely be able to shut down an already struggling Malik Willis. It is hard to see how points are scored in this game. You can pick up and play the Jets confidently this week, and they are available everywhere.