Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Deep Dive. Week 7
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Deep Dive. Week 7

The Waiver Wire is crucial to fantasy football success, so we've created the Waiver Wire Hub to help you dominate your league.

I'll be using Yahoo's "percentage rostered" data. Players are listed in order of priority, by position. Only players who are available in at least 75% percent of leagues are considered.

This player is rostered in most leagues, but would be a priority add over anyone mentioned in this column if available in your league.

  • Rachaad White (Available in 66% of leagues)

Kenyan Drake

  • Available in 96% of leagues

Veteran RB Kenyan Drake out-carried, out-gained, and out-targeted teammate RB JK Dobbins in Week 7. With fellow RB Justice Hill (hamstring) unable to suit up, Drake handled the 10 carries while Dobbins, who sat out the second half with knee soreness, saw just seven. Dobbins has been inconsistent in his first games back since injury, and Drake looked the part on Sunday. If Hill continues to miss time, Drake figures to play a prominent role in this committee backfield.

FAAB: 20%

Tyquan Thornton

  • Available in 99% of leagues

Rookie WR Tyquan Thornton, a Round 2 pick this past spring, made his NFL debut last week (25 snaps) but really made his presence known this week by racking up 40 snaps (PFF). He was No. 3 on the team in targets (5) but added three rushing attempts while scoring both through the air and on the ground. Thornton boasts a 4.28 40 time, and that speed will make him an intriguing asset for both the Patriots and fantasy managers

FAAB: 15%

Wan’Dale Robinson

  • Available in 92% of leagues

Rookie WR Wan’Dale Robinson played for the first time since Week 1 and scored his first NFL TD. The Giants have struggled to get meaningful, consistent production from their WRs this season, so the emergence of Robinson is significant. He finished second on the team in targets (4) and should see his role continue to expand in the coming weeks.

FAAB: 10%

J.D. McKissic

  • Available in 74% of leagues

The recovery of rookie RB Brian Robinson has been one of the best stories to follow. However, his return to the field directly coincided with veteran RB J.D. McKissic seeing his lowest touch count (2) and snap count (17) of the season. Prior to Week 6, McKissic was averaging over six targets per game and received a handful of backfield touches each week.

It doesn’t look promising for McKissic, but I’m inclined to believe it was an outlier performance for the pass-catching specialist. With the injury to QB Carson Wentz, some combination of QBs Taylor Heinicke and rookie Sam Howell could lean on McKissic even more in the weeks ahead.

FAAB: 10%

Additional Waiver Targets

Mecole Hardman

  • Available in 79% of leagues

Aside from TE Travis Kelce, there hasn’t been a consistent No. 2 option for QB Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs this season. However, we could be seeing the start of a promising trend. WR Mecole Hardman saw 12 targets across his first four games. However, over the last two weeks, he’s earned nine targets and scored a TD. Next to WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Hardman offers the upside you want in this high-powered offense.

FAAB: 10%

Kyren Williams

  • Available in 92% of leagues

The Rams’ fifth-round rookie RB Kyren Williams (ankle) made his debut this week after spending the first part of the season on IR. With word that fellow RB Cam Akers could be traded before the deadline, the Rams could use the backfield depth.

Williams hit at least 200 rushing attempts, 35 receptions, and 14 total TDs in each of his final two seasons at Notre Dame. We’ll see how well that translates to the NFL, but that type of versatility is hard to ignore. The Rams are on bye next week, so only stash Williams if you can afford to wait.

FAAB: 10%

Caleb Huntley

  • Available in 93% of leagues

Sophomore RB Caleb Huntley continues to quietly make the most of his opportunities. Teammates Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) and Damien Williams (rib) continue to be sidelined, which means more work for Huntley and rookie RB Tyler Allgeier.

Patterson will be on IR for at least two more weeks, and it sounds like Williams is close to returning but has no specific timetable. Over the last two weeks, Allgeier has 28 carries to Huntley’s 24.

FAAB: 7%

Noah Fant

  • Available in 89% of leagues

It feels wrong that TE Noah Fant is available in so many leagues, but here we are. Over his last three games, he’s either scored a TD or topped 45 receiving yards. He also has 12 targets over his last two games. It isn’t much, but if you need to stream the position, Fant offers a nice blend of athleticism and upside on an efficient offense.

It’s worth noting that his 43 snaps (PFF) in Week 6 tied his high-water mark for the season.

FAAB: 5%

Mark Ingram

  • Available in 77% of leagues

RB Alvin Kamara is finally starting to look like the dominant player we’ve come to expect. Over the last two weeks, he’s racked up 54 touches for 318 scrimmage yards. He also out carried fellow RB Mark Ingram by a mark of 42 to 18.

However, Ingram is no longer just a high-value handcuff. He’s garnered enough opportunities over the last two weeks to warrant a place in your last flex spot. With bye weeks upon us, those deep flex spots are even more crucial.

FAAB: 5%

Marquez Callaway

  • Available in 98% of leagues

This is an injury-dependent stash. WR Marquez Callaway has been forced into a more prominent role with injuries to WRs Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry, and Chris Olave. Last week, his seven targets led all receivers and were second only to RB Alvin Kamara. If any of the aforementioned wideouts return next week, it dampens Callaway’s outlook.

FAAB: 3%

Dontrell Hilliard

  • Available in 86% of leagues

In three of his four games, RB Dontrell Hilliard has at least four targets and is averaging one receiving TD per game in those three games. RB Derrick Henry is the unquestioned bellcow and has five rushing TDs over his last four games. The Titans are coming off their bye so if you roster Henry, Hilliard is a worthy stash.

FAAB: 3%

Ben Skowronek

  • Available in 98% of leagues

Let’s not get cute. 

The Rams offense runs through WR Cooper Kupp. But, if you’ve been burned by (or don’t believe in) WR Allen Robinson, fellow WR Ben Skowronek could be worth a look. 

He has at least three targets in every game and has 13 targets over the last two weeks. Kupp was dealing with an injury this week and although he was never really in danger of missing time, Skowronek could be an intriguing stash if something were to happen to Kupp.

FAAB: 3%

Olamide Zaccheaus

  • Available in 99% of leagues

He’s back again. WR Olamide Zaccheaus kept his streak alive in Week 6. He now has six straight games with at least 49 (almost 50) receiving yards or a TD. Zaccheaus is also averaging over 40 snaps/game (PFF), so the opportunities continue to be there.

If bye weeks have you down bad, and you need a handful of points on the cheap, look no further.

FAAB: 1%

Cade Otton

  • Available in 94% of leagues

Veteran TE Cameron Brate suffered a neck injury just as he returned from passing the concussion protocol. Rookie TE Cade Otton has at least three targets and 23 receiving yards in three straight games. It’s modest production, and Otton is more of a deep-league bench stash at this stage.

FAAB: 1%

Oct 16, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota (1) warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

QB Streamers for Week 7

Marcus Mariota

  • Available in 86% of leagues

QBs Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Matthew Stafford, and Kirk Cousins are all on bye next week. Unless you drafted or picked up, a backup, you’ll need to stream the position. Let’s start with the best option available on waivers.

QB Marcus Mariota has become a weekly staple in this article, and it’s not changing anytime soon. With three rushing TDs on the year and at least 19 points in five of six games, he's the perfect streaming option as we head into Week 7.

FAAB: 5%

Jacoby Brissett

  • Available in 92% of leagues

QB Jacoby Brissett turned in his worst performance of the season against Bill Belichick & Co., but he still offers deep-league streaming appeal as bye weeks get tough. Despite a poor Week 6, he has 17+ fantasy points in four of six games and hasn’t totally busted yet. His high volume of passing attempts (34 attempts/game) and adequate passing yardage (220+ passing yards in five straight) keep him in contention for your lineup.

FAAB: 1%

Defense Streamer for Week 7

New York Jets

  • Available in 97% of leagues

I’m going back to the well with this one. The New York Jets' defense has been stellar, and they punctuated their season with a dominant win at Lambeau Field on Sunday. Through Week 6, this team has 14 sacks and 10 turnovers. At 97% availability, they are the perfect streaming option.

FAAB: 1%

Player to Stash

Donovan Peoples-Jones

  • Available in 85% of leagues

The uber-athletic WR Donovan Peoples-Jones has been frustrating for the few managers that roster him. We know the potential is there for a game-breaking performance, but the lack of consistency is what’s keeping his rostered number so low. 

He’s averaging six targets per game and has at least 50 receiving yards in five games, but has not scored yet. The run-heavy offense will keep him boom/bust, but if/when QB Deshaun Watson returns, DPJ could be a late-season league winner.

FAAB: 3%