Each week I’ll provide you with a rundown by position of key
waiver wire adds. We’ll evaluate not just breakouts based
on past performance, but also who could deliver this week based
on a soft matchup. Stats will be provided based on a 12-team PPR
league, with players less than 75% (preferably less than 50%) ownership
being considered.
Jones was out Week 6 against the Bills with a neck injury, but
there are reports he may play in Week 7. If he suits up, he would
face the Commanders’ 2nd-worst defense against QBs, who have allowed
the 3rd-most TDs and 6th-most yards through the air while also
allowing the 3rd-most QB rushes. If he is forced to sit again,
Tyrod Taylor would be a legitimate streamer in a week with six
teams on byes.
Love was on a bye in Week 6, which should help him in his preparation
after struggling against the Raiders in Week 5. Up next is a Broncos
defense that is 3rd-worst against QBs, allowing the most yards
and TDs to the position through six weeks.
Matthew
Stafford, LAR vs ARI: Stafford threw
for 15-24, 226-1-0 against the Cardinals, ending up with an efficient
day but not quite the high TD/yardage day expected given the opponent.
Several dropped TDs and a comfortable win resulted in the ho-hum
fantasy performance.
Gardner
Minshew, IND @ JAX: Minshew started
with Anthony Richardson (shoulder) on IR. We expected him to chuck
it around, which he did, but he also threw 3 INTs, going 33-55,
329-1-3 passing against the Jaguars. Up next will be a stingy
Browns defense where Minshew won’t be a recommended start.
Christian McCaffrey suffered rib and oblique injuries in the
Week 6 loss to the Browns, and his availability for Week 7 is
in question. If he is forced to sit, Mason and Mitchell would
be the biggest beneficiaries in a potent 49er rushing attack,
even though it would come against a surprisingly tough Vikings
defense against RBs. Mason was the RB2 against the Browns, going
5-27-1 on the ground. Mitchell has been the RB2 to McCaffrey since
2022, but after returning from a two-game absence, he may have
been passed by Mason on the depth chart.
UPDATE:Zach
Evans and Royce
Freeman, LAR vs PIT: With bellcow starter Kyren Williams
hobbled with an ankle injury and most likely missing in Week 7
(and backup Ronnie Rivers doubtful with a knee injury), Evans
looks to be the primary RB to own. Evans went 4-10-0 in relief
of Williams Week 6 while Freeman was on the practice squad. Freeman
will get called up but it looks to be Evans’s job to lose
at this point.
Reynolds came in for an injured David Montgomery (ribs) to go
10-15-0 rushing and 2-2-28-0 receiving against a middling Buccaneers
defense against RBs. X-rays were negative, but it’s unclear if
Montgomery will be able to go against the Ravens. If Jahmyr Gibbs
(hamstring) sits again, Reynolds would be the clear lead back.
Roschon
Johnson and D’Onta
Foreman, CHI vs MIN: With all of Khalil Herbert,
Roschon Johnson, and Travis Homer out, Foreman led the way against
the Vikings and put up a solid 15-65-0 rushing to go with 1-1-2-0
receiving against a top-10 (against RBs) defense. Look for Roschon
to be the snap/touch leader in Week 7 as he should return from
a concussion suffered in Week 5.
Emari
Demercado, ARI @ LAR: Demercado
(2 carries, 1 reception) didn’t get a lot of opportunities
with Keaontay Ingram coming back off of injured reserve. In fact,
Damien Williams was the RB2 against the Rams, so Demercado can
safely be dropped if you picked him up.
Wilson went 4-3-62-0 against the stingy Rams secondary, leading
the team in receiving yards. He has the 2nd-most receiving yards
and TDs for the Cardinals and in Week 7, faces the Seahawks defense
which is league-worst against WRs. With the Cardinals continuously
playing from behind, Wilson should be in line for a solid day.
Rice is the Chiefs’ WR1 as he leads the team in all receiving
categories among the WR group. Rice went 4-4-72-0 against the
Broncos in Week 6, and this week he’ll face the Chargers,
who rank 3rd-worst against the position.
Robinson has amassed 22 catches over his last four games, including
a 8-8-62-0 line last week against the Bills. Next up is a game
against the Commanders, who have allowed the most receiving TDs
to WRs in the NFL.
Jennings saw his most work of the season in Week 6 after Deebo
Samuel left the game with a shoulder injury, going 4-2-26-0. If
Samuels sits Week 7, the primary beneficiaries will be George
Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk, but there could still be a role for
Jennings against the Vikings, who are 4th-worst against WRs.
Musgrave was on a bye in Week 6, but in Week 5 he delivered a
nice 7-6-34-0 stat line against the Raiders. This week he’ll
face the league-worst Broncos defense that has allowed the most
yards and 5th most receptions to TEs.
Mayer has seen an uptick in usage, as his 6-5-75-0 day against
the Patriots in Week 6 surpassed his season totals in all receiving
categories for the year. The rookie TD gets a favorable matchup
in Week 7 against the Bears, who are in the bottom-10 against
TEs and have allowed the 2nd-most receptions to the position.
Tyler
Boyd, CIN vs SEA: Boyd had a nice
7-7-38-1 line against the Seahawks as Tee Higgins was slowed by
a rib injury. Boyd actually led the team in receptions (since
Ja’Marr Chase only caught 6 of 13 targets)
K.J.
Osborn, MIN @ CHI: Osborn grabbed
4-5-48-0 against the Bears, leading the Vikings WRs in receptions
and yards while Justin Jefferson is on IR. Jordan Addison was
the one to score a TD, but there should be enough volume in this
passing attack to keep the WR2 busy.
Josh
Palmer, LAC @ DAL: Palmer was on
a bye in week 5, but he’s still available in nearly 50% of Yahoo
leagues. Week 6 is a tough test against the Cowboys, but Palmer’s
season is just getting started after Mike Williams was lost for
the year. This may be the last time he’ll be on this list as the
clear No.2 option in the potent Chargers passing attack.
TE Logan
Thomas, WAS @ ATL: Thomas crashed and burned against
an atrocious Falcons defense (2nd-worst against TEs), going 1-1-2-0
a week after getting 11 targets. Hopefully this is just an anomaly
as he’s had 2 TDs and 25 targets in his previous four games.
TE Cade
Otton, TB vs DET: Otton (like Thomas) came up small
against a weak Lions defense, stumbling to a 2-1-15-0 line. With
Chris Godwin and Mike Evans vacuuming up targets and even Trey
Palmer seeing 7 looks, there wasn’t a lot left over for
Otton even though they played catch-up for a good portion of the
game.
Defense/ Special Teams
Raiders @ CHI
Las Vegas has put together back-to-back solid games, generating
4 turnovers while averaging 15 points allowed in the last two
weeks. In Week 7 they face a Bears offense that is top-5 worst
against, tied for 2nd-most INTs, most defensive TDs, and 3rd-most
sacks while scoring the 2nd-fewest points. With Justin Fields
(dislocated thumb) potentially out, the Raiders should have a
nice day especially if Tyson Bagent is forced to start (fumble
and INT in relief of Fields against the Vikings).
Commanders @ NYG
Washington had a nice day against the Falcons, getting 3 sacks
and 3 turnovers while only allowing 16 points. Up next is the
Giants, the league’s worst scoring offense and who have
allowed the 2nd most sacks to opposing defenses. QB Daniel Jones
may return after a Week 5 neck injury but his mobility may be
limited.
Lions @ BAL
Detroit has strung together four solid defensive showings in
a row (totaling 14 sacks, 7 turnovers), allowing only 6 points
to Tampa Bay in Week 6. Up next is the Ravens who have struggled
to score points this year while allowing 9 turnovers in six games.
Last week’s waiver adds:
Chiefs vs DEN: KC generated 3 turnovers and
4 sacks while holding the struggling Broncos to only 8 points
for a solid defensive day.
Falcons vs WAS: Atlanta doubled their season
sack total (5 sacks), but unfortunately, that didn’t translate
into turnovers or a win, losing 24-16 to the Commanders.
