As we approach Week 7 of the fantasy football season, roster depth continues to remain a priority for fantasy owners with injuries and bye weeks ramping up. Taking a long-term approach to your free agent pickups can save you FAAB cash and waiver claims and help you win future matchups. With that in mind, our Week 7 waiver wire watchlist features plenty of streamers, as well as handcuff RBs like Joshua Kelley, Deon Jackson, and Tyrion Davis-Price, rookie WRs like Alec Pierce and Wan'Dale Robinson, and under-the-radar TE adds like Greg Dulcich.
Four more teams are on bye in Week 7, and unlike Week 6, it will have a much more profound effect on the fantasy landscape. Three of the four teams on bye (Bills, Eagles, Vikings) currently sit in first place in their respective divisions, and their teams are littered with weekly fantasy starters and studs.
Making the most of every roster spot is key to fantasy success. Maybe you just freed up a spot because one of your players became IR-eligible; maybe you recently dropped a couple of disappointing performers. Use the free space to invest in a potential lotto ticket — a player who you expect to see a usage spike or return soon from injury.
WEEK 6 FANTASY PICKS: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
As we said, injuries and bye weeks mean we're in "streaming season." If you need a fill-in QB, WR, TE, or D/ST, we have you covered. Let us help you blueprint your next few matchups with our little look-ahead to the near future. It's smart to plan ahead, find the best matchups, and get your first streaming choice for free before other owners get in the mix the following week.
Some shallower leagues don't feature enough roster spots to take advantage of "planning ahead," but for those in relatively deep leagues, our week-ahead watchlist will continue to be a helpful resource. Even though you won't pick up most of these players, it's worth watching their snap counts and target shares to file away for later.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Watchlist
Reminder: This list was put together in the lead-in to Week 6, looking forward to the players who could be popular waiver-wire targets ahead of Week 7. If you have a roster spot to play with, these are free-agent options you could grab early to beat the waiver buzz.
All these players are below 50-percent ownership on Yahoo unless otherwise specified.
Week 7 Waiver Wire Watchlist: QB
WEEK 7 BYES: Bills, Eagles, Rams, Vikings
Jameis Winston, Saints (30 percent rostered)
Winston (back) has a chance to return in Week 6 after missing the Saints' past two games and has a favorable schedule in the coming weeks. Winston currently leads all QBs in air yards per attempt (11.4), and he's always looking for the big play. A four-game stretch starting in Week 7 against the Cardinals, Raiders, Ravens, and Steelers makes Winston a borderline QB1 in the coming weeks. Despite the Saints WR corps being a bit banged up at the moment -- Chris Olave (concussion), Michael Thomas (foot), Jarvis Landry (ankle) -- the trio should be back on the field for the majority of the Saints' upcoming contests. With bye weeks ramping up, snag Winston before it's too late.
Kenny Pickett, Steelers (15%)
While the Steelers are in big trouble sitting a 1-4, considering they're likely going to be in negative game scripts, Pickett has the chance to rack up fantasy points in garbage time. He finished last week's 38-3 beatdown against the Bills with 12.08 fantasy points but failed to throw a TD despite throwing for 327 yards. Pickett has the chance to reach 20-plus fantasy points in an enticing matchup against a reeling Dolphins defense in Week 7. We still don't really know his true upside, but with the Bills and Bucs off the table after Week 6, now's the time to buy low on the rookie signal caller.
POTENTIAL WEEK 7 QB STREAMERS WITH TOP-12 QB MATCHUPS: Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (vs. KC, 35% owned); Davis Mills, Texans (@ LV, 5%); Jacoby Brissett (@ BAL, 8%); Matt Ryan (@ TEN, 28%); *Cooper Rush, Cowboys (vs. DET, 6%) if starting
WEEK 6 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 7 Waiver Wire Watchlist: RB
WEEK 7 BYES: Bills, Eagles, Rams, Vikings
Joshua Kelley, Chargers (13 percent rostered)
Kelley is a key RB handcuff that's deserving of a roster spot on fantasy owners' benches. If anything were to happen to Austin Ekeler, Kelley would become a must-start running back every week. He made the most of his double-digit touches in Week 5, rushing for 49 on 10 carries and a TD along with hauling in two passes for 33 yards. Grab him now, as he could even have value as a flex in favorable matchups.
Deon Jackson, Colts (4%)
Jackson's upside comes with the uncertainty surrounding Jonathan Taylor's ankle injury and Nyheim Hines' head injury. He split backfield duties with Phillip Lindsay in their absences in Week 5. Jackson led the team in carries (13), RB receptions (4), and total yards (91). If Taylor is out and Hines plays, Jackson could still be worth a flier in deeper leagues. His appeal is severely diminished with a healthy Taylor, so watch the injury updates and act accordingly.
Tyrion Davis-Price, 49ers (3%)
TDP (ankle) is getting healthier, and once he's back on the field -- likely in Week 6 -- he has the chance to cut into Jeff Wilson Jr.'s workload. He logged 14 carries back in Week 2, giving him a good deal of upside in the near future. He won't be rostered at a three-percent clip in the coming weeks.
MORE POTENTIAL WEEK 7 RB PICKUPS: Tyler Allgeier, Falcons (49% owned); Mike Boone, Broncos (36%); Rachaad White, Buccaneers (34%); Gus Edwards, Ravens (15%); Jerick McKinnon, (11%); Jaylen Warren, Steelers (11%); DeeJay Dallas, Seahawks (11%); Damien Williams, Falcons (4%)
WEEK 6 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 7 Waiver Wire Watchlist: WR
WEEK 7 BYES: Bills, Eagles, Rams, Vikings
Rondale Moore, Cardinals (36 percent rostered)
If Moore wasn't already claimed following his seven-catch, 68-yard showing in the Cardinals' narrow loss to the Eagles, he should be a high priority for a waiver claim in Week 7. The second-year Purdue product saw a 91-percent snap share in Week 5, and despite DeAndre Hopkins making his return next week, Moore is still going to garner his fair share of targets. Arizona draws a favorable matchup against an exploitable Saints defense, giving Moore some flex appeal in Week 7.
Alec Pierce, Colts (34%)
Pierce's rookie campaign got off to a rocky start after dropping a touchdown pass and coming down with a concussion in Week 1, but since his return to the field in Week 3, Frank Reich and Matt Ryan clearly want him involved in the offensive game plan. Pierce was the Colts' leading receiver in their Week 5 win over the Broncos (nine receptions, 81 yards) and currently ranks 19th among WRs in yards per target (10.1). This year's second-round pick is Indy's WR2 and needs to be rostered in all formats, especially next week in a favorable matchup against the Titans.
Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants (6%)
Robinson is another rookie worth stashing on your bench, as he has the chance to assume primary slot duties in the Giants offense with Kadarius Toney (hamstring) and Kenny Golladay (knee) banged up at the moment. Robinson hasn't played since Week 1 but could return in Week 6. New York has some favorable matchups down the stretch of the fantasy season (Weeks 11-15), but even before then, he could emerge as a weekly flex.
MORE POTENTIAL WR PICKUPS (Week 7 streamers with top-12 WR matchups in italics): Michael Gallup, Cowboys (vs. DET 50% owned); Isaiah McKenzie, Bills (BYE, 49%); Jahan Dotson Commanders (vs. GB 39%); Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Chiefs (@ SF, 40%); Jameson Williams, Lions (@ DAL, 32%); Josh Reynolds, Lions (@ DAL, 32%); Treylon Burks, Titans (vs. IND, 23%); Zay Jones, Jaguars (vs. NYG, 21%); Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns (@ BAL, 12%); Randall Cobb, Packers (@ WAS, 11%); Noah Brown, Cowboys (vs. DET, 10%); Darius Slayton, Giants (@ JAX, 2%)
WEEK 6 DFS: Best stacks | Best values
Week 7 Waiver Wire Watchlist: TE
WEEK 7 BYES: Bills, Eagles, Rams, Vikings
Cole Kmet, Bears (32 percent rostered)
Kmet is still logging a high snap share and posted his highest receiving output of the season in Week 5 (four catches, 45 yards). He sports the fifth-highest yards per target among TEs (8.4), and with the Bears' passing offense starting to come along, Kmet has landed back on the fantasy radar. He's yet to reach the end zone but that could change quickly with the Bears getting some favorable matchups in the coming weeks, especially next week against New England.
Greg Dulcich, Broncos (1%)
Dulcich is in line to make his season debut after initially landing on the IR with a hamstring injury. With Albert Okwuegbunam failing to step up, Dulcich could soon emerge as the Broncos' go-to TE in the passing game. While we don't fault you for not wanting to invest in the Broncos' offense, they haven't had much consistency at the TE position to begin the year. Dulcich is in a prime buy-low spot.
POTENTIAL WEEK 7 STREAMERS WITH TOP-12 TE MATCHUPS: Tyler Conklin, Jets (@ DEN, 34%); Will Dissly, Seahawks (@ LAC, 22%); Noah Fant, Seahawks (@ LAC, 10%)
WEEK 6 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings
Week 7 Defense Streamers and Sleepers
WEEK 7 BYES: Bills, Eagles, Rams, Vikings
Arizona Cardinals (vs. Saints Week 7, 3 percent rostered)
Despite not having the fantasy points to show for, Arizona's defense did its job in Week 5 against the Eagles, holding Philadelphia to just 17 points on 5.0 yards per play. Philadelphia scored just six points in the second half, and with a highly favorable matchup in Week 7 against the Saints, there's a chance Arizona sacks Jameis Winston a couple of times while also picking him off.
Indianapolis Colts (@ Titans, 36%)
The Colts defense stepped up in Week 5 against the Broncos, holding Denver to just nine points while keeping it out of the end zone. Indy also racked up four sacks and two interceptions and gets a second crack at the Titans in Week 7. The Colts did allow the Titans to score 24 points back in Week 4 but made some second-half adjustments, holding Tennessee scoreless in the second half. There's a chance we see a similar output to their second-half performance in this favorable matchup.
Miami Dolphins (vs. Steelers, 40%)
Miami's defense has had its fair share of struggles, as it's one of the weaker defenses against the pass. Fortunately for the Dolphins, they get to face arguably the weakest offense in the league when Pittsburgh rolls into town next week, making them a viable streaming option.
Tennessee Titans (vs. Colts, 11%)
Tennessee gets a favorable matchup in Week 7 against a Colts' offense lacking an identity, which could result in a solid showing for the Titans D/ST. Indianapolis' offensive line has been one of the more underwhelming units in all of football this season, as they're tied for the league lead in most sacks allowed (21). Tennessee also enters Week 7 off a bye week, giving its defense a week to rest up.
New York Jets (@ Broncos, 2%)
Until proven otherwise, it's worthwhile to continue targeting the Broncos' offense. Russell Wilson continues to struggle with accuracy while holding onto the football, which could result in a high sack and turnover output for the Jets. The Jets have been a boom-or-bust unit so far this year, and with an underrated pass rush, they could challenge the banged-up Broncos in Week 7.
