Whether you're thinking about just this week or upcoming weeks, how should you prioritize the pickups, either through the running of the waiver wire or allocation of your near-full free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB)? Let's break down how to allocate your budget for this week's crop of potential waiver additions.
Week 7 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire QB pickups, streamers
Drake Maye, New England Patriots (available in 94% of Yahoo! leagues)
Maye looked good despite the interceptions with three TDs in his starting debut, as New England's suddenly pass-happy offense without Rhamondre Stevenson looked like it finally belonged in the NFL again. He also did some supplemental running to offset some of the negative. And he gets a juicy matchup against the Jaguars' defense in Week 7 to show up Mac Jones on the other sideline.
Recommendation: Bid 2-3% of FAAB
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (available in 59% of Yahoo! leagues)
It's kind of nuts Herbert has this high of an rostership percentage when he hasn't been viable as a one-QB fantasy performer in any of the Chargers' five games so far. But as the foot doesn't seem to be as much of an issue anymore and with the team opening up the passing game a little more, it's timed well with a Week 7 date with the Cardinals' pass D in the desert.
Recommendation: Bid 1-2% of FAAB
WEEK 7 FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/ST | Kickers
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (available in 63% of Yahoo! leagues)
This is less of a streamer but a good option to have in 12-to-14 team leagues. That said, he also would be playable if needed against the Raiders at home coming off the bye in Week 7. He's getting Cooper Kupp back soon, and that alone should put him on the uptick after clicking with some of the younger receivers.
Recommendation: Bid 1-2% of FAAB
Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers (available in 90% of Yahoo! leagues)
The Red Rifle has had three "quality starts" as a fantasy QB, breaking 20 points in Yahoo! scoring against the Raiders, Bengals, and Falcons. Now he draws the Commanders, where he will need to toss for a high volume vs. a shaky pass defense opposite Jayden Daniels.
Recommendation: Bid 1-2% of FAAB
Week 7 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire RB pickups, streamers
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (available in 70% of Yahoo! leagues)
Here's what Bijan Robinson managers need to come to terms with: Allgeier is a good, effective runner in positive game scripts and won't go away from Zac Robinson's backfield game plans when it helps Kirk Cousins and the passing game close out games. Allgeier is a must-have handcuff at this point with standalone value in games where we think the Falcons will be in a positive game script and won't need a Cousins comeback.
Recommendation: Bid 10-12% of FAAB
Tyler Goodson, Indianapolis Colts (available in 69% of Yahoo! leagues)
Goodson is looking like the much better replacement runner than Trey Sermon for Jonathan Taylor, who might need to miss more time. That lines up well for a fine Dolphins defense matchup in Week 7.
Recommendation: Bid 6-9% of FAAB
WEEK 7 WAIVER WIRE ADVICE
Top Players to Target | How to spend your FAAB
Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (available in 99% of Yahoo! leagues)
Rachaad White was already seeing the Bucky Irving takeover happen, and then he gets hurt and has to watch Tucker take his complementary role and run and receive with it for a huge 2nd-year outing vs. the Saints. Should White stay on the shelf, Tucker should remain involved, but keep in mind, it's a tough spot vs. the Ravens in Week 7.
Recommendation: Bid 3-4% of FAAB
Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers (available in 96% of Yahoo! leagues)
Jordan Mason got hurt on Thursday night in Seattle, so it's more wait-and-see his status with Christian McCaffrey on the perpetual shelf. But if Mason misses, Guerendo already flashed as the next man up as the surefire plug and play star in a great run blocking system.
Recommendation: Bid 3-4% of FAAB
Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers (available in 89% of Yahoo! leagues)
Vidal also graduated to a more prominent role with Gus Edwards landing on injured reserve. He made a dazzling play on a receiving TD from Herbert against the Broncos, but J.K. Dobbins still handled most of the rushing workload without Edwards. The buzzy rookie from training camp still has appeal should something happen to Dobbins in the short term.
Recommendation: Bid 3-4% of FAAB
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings (available in 73% of Yahoo! leagues)
Let's check the injury status of Aaron Jones after the bye, but Chandler might be in line to earn more complementary work behind the former Packers feature back. The matchup stinks, however, in Week 7 against the Lions' stout run defense.
Recommendation: Bid 1-2% of FAAB
Week 7 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire WR pickups, streamers
Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (available in 84% of Yahoo! leagues)
Wilson isn't going anywhere as a key target for Kyler Murray. He was getting run with Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. and is living up to his rookie promise as a solid route-running option. If Harrison misses the Chargers game with a concussion, Wilson would jump up to a sure WR2 status for a week
Recommendation: Bid 8-10% of FAAB
Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers (available in 59% of Yahoo! leagues)
Be careful in over-investing in any Packers wide receiver not named Jayden Reed because Jordan Love excels at spreading the ball around and finding the right matchups for big plays and TDs. But Watson was back looking great as a vital force, and this offense seems to be OK with massive passing volume to help its defense get into more aggressive takeaway mode.
Recommendation: Bid 6-8% of FAAB
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers (available in 65% of Yahoo! leagues)
Doubs blew up with two TDs after he let his team down in Week 5, immediately earning high-leverage trust from Love. But like with Watson, be careful with this boom-or-bust option. It's a manageable spot for Love and his receivers in a potential shootout with C.J. Stroud and the Texans in Lambeau Field in Week 7.
Recommendation: Bid 6-8% of FAAB
DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots (available in 93% of Yahoo! leagues)
Douglas is a fine short-area inside receiver in the fine tradition of Patriot offenses. He got reheated big time as a diminutive dasher with Maye, looking like their best receiver anywhere on the field. It's a fickle, limited offense so be wary, but he definitely is playable against the Jaguars' secondary if you need him to fill in for a Bear or Cowboy.
Recommendation: Bid 3-4% of FAAB
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens (available in 89% of Yahoo! leagues)
Bateman is hard to trust, but the matchup against the Buccaneers is decent for the wide receivers as he's gotten more run as Zay Flowers has been more involved and effective. He can have more platoon WR3 value going forward.
Recommendation: Bid 1-2% of FAAB
Bub Means, New Orleans Saints (available in 100% of Yahoo! leagues)
Means has a fun first name, and he got going with fellow rookie fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler at QB. That "means" he can be more involved should Chris Olave miss Thursday night (very likely) with the concussion he suffered Sunday.
Recommendation: Bid 1-2% of FAAB
Week 7 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire TE pickups, streamers
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (available in 74% of Yahoo! leagues)
Henry also came back to the fold as a key security blanket for Maye right along with Douglas, also finding the end zone. He too can rip the Jaguars after Cole Kmet destroyed that defense in Week 6. Henry should be managed in 12-team leagues as a potential consistent starter now.
Recommendation: Bid 3-4% of FAAB
Ja'Tavion Sanders, Carolina Panthers (available in 99% of Yahoo! leagues)
Sanders is a promising rookie receiver and given the Panthers are trying to get fellow youngsters Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker going in the passing game, Sanders won't go away as an intermediate target for Andy Dalton with some injury issues at tight end. This isn't a high-end pickup but he can be valuable as a matchup-based TE2.
Recommendation: Bid 1-2% of FAAB
Week 7 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire D/ST pickups, streamers
(Note: Do not spend any of your FAAB budget on D/ST! Get them for $0 after waivers run!)
New Orleans Saints (available in 66% of Yahoo! leagues)
The Saints' defense was terrible in giving up almost 600 yards of total offense to the Buccaneers and now faces the sneaky Broncos at home on a short week. But the Saints also scored a defensive/special teams TD in the game and can be angry going after Bo Nix in a Sean Payton offense Dennis Allen knows well.
Washington Commanders (available in 96% of Yahoo! leagues)
The Commanders were quieted, as expected, against the Ravens' offense, but can go back to having sneaky sack and interception value for Dan Quinn with Dalton and the Panthers coming to Washington.
Green Bay Packers (available in 54% of Yahoo leagues)
The Packers keep forcing turnovers in every game despite the opponent, whether it's interceptions or fumble recoveries. Jeff Hafley is scheming them up to think takeaways first, and the Texans have been making some key mistakes with Stroud all season.
