Fantasy: Top waiver wire pickups for Week 7

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in fewer than 50% of leagues are considered.

Teams on bye: Bills, Jaguars, Chargers, Commanders

Jump to: RB | WR | TE | DEF

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers, Steelers

It's an ugly week to find a replacement for Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, or Jayden Daniels. If Kyler Murray is available, then he's your top option, but he narrowly misses our cutoff because he's rostered in 52% of Yahoo leagues.

Rodgers is another option and has a friendly matchup against the Saints in Paris. He's thrown 11 touchdowns in his last four contests, scoring at least 16 fantasy points in each and ranking QB6 in fantasy points per game over the stretch.

Other QBs to consider:

• Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (23%): The Buccaneers' leader is expected to return to practice soon and play in Week 7 against the Panthers. Mayfield wasn't performing well before his injury, so he's a risky choice, especially after missing time. Still, the options are limited, and Mayfield has a track record of being a decent fantasy scorer when healthy.

• Geno Smith, Jets (7%): Though Smith would be a last resort, the Jets play the Dolphins in Week 7. Miami is surrendering the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and Smith has solid offensive weapons who help elevate his floor.

Running backs

Mike Washington Jr., Raiders

Ashton Jeanty and the Raiders' staff keep saying he's healthy, but it's getting tough to buy. Averaging just 3.2 yards per carry this season, Jeanty turned 10 carries into a measly 22 yards on Sunday against a poor Bills run defense and got only two touches in the second half in a close contest. Jeanty's either hurt or inefficient.

Meanwhile, Washington played 33% of Las Vegas' offensive snaps on Sunday and turned 10 touches (nine rushes, one reception) into 50 yards, with six touches coming in the second half. Washington continues to demonstrate that he's a far more explosive back than his running mate.

Regardless of Jeanty's health, Washington needs to be rostered in far more leagues. However, he's knocking on the door to having RB1 upside if Jeanty misses time, which seems likely.

Other RBs to target:

• Kendre Miller, Saints (34%): New Orleans' back handled 20 carries in Week 6, a workload that's tough to find on the waiver wire. While Miller may not have been the most efficient, he seems to be the Saints' preferred backfield option with Alvin Kamara battling a back injury. Travis Etienne Jr. could return after New Orleans' Week 8 bye, but Miller is the guy to roster until then.

• Tyrone Tracy Jr. (4%): The Giants' running back room lost a body Tuesday when they released Najee Harris. That helps Tracy's chances of earning work, especially after Cam Skattebo dressed but didn't play in Week 6. Tracy performed well on his eight touches against the Saints, scoring a touchdown and totaling 45 yards. He was once considered to be a cut candidate, but he could be New York's lead rusher now.

• Roschon Johnson (5%): If Kyle Monangai stays out, Johnson is worth adding and could start in deeper leagues. He had 13 carries for 51 yards and a score in Week 6 while adding 34 yards through the air. Johnson played 31 snaps to D'Andre Swift's 45, so the Bears' coaching staff seems comfortable giving Johnson a hefty workload in Monangai's absence.

• Bam Knight (0%): With Jeremiyah Love sidelined, Knight outplayed Tyler Allgeier on Sunday. Knight had 17 touches for 98 yards, compared to Allgeier's 19 touches for 48 yards. Allgeier's struggles suggest Love should dominate usage once he's fully healthy. In the meantime, Knight is pushing Allgeier for snaps and is worth adding in very deep leagues.

Wide receivers

Omar Cooper Jr., Jets

In his first game since sustaining an ankle injury in Week 1, Cooper caught six of seven targets from Smith for 103 yards and a touchdown. The Jets rookie also had a second TD called back because of a penalty. This season, Cooper has posted an 84.8% route rate and a 21.2% target rate, according to FTN Fantasy's Colin McTamany.

While Cooper will still be second to Garrett Wilson in target share, he could get enough work to become a weekly flex option. Tight end Kenyon Sadiq has failed to sustain a significant role in New York's offense since his Week 3 performance, and Adonai Mitchell continues to miss time with a finger injury. The Jets play the Dolphins, Raiders, and Bills in the next four weeks, so more big games could be coming.

Other WRs to consider:

• Antonio Williams, Commanders (6%): Terry McLaurin is expected to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, opening the door for Williams to earn a full-time role. The Commanders rookie ran a route on 78% of Daniels' dropbacks after McLaurin exited early in Monday's contest, and he finished with three catches for 50 yards.

• Ja'Kobi Lane, Ravens (12%): The third-round rookie played his first game since breaking his wrist in Week 1. Though Lane's four catches on five targets for 40 yards on Sunday won't wow you, Lamar Jackson should return soon and give the Ravens' offense a huge boost. Rashod Bateman also left Week 6's contest after aggravating a nagging shoulder injury.

• Jaylin Noel, Texans (8%): The second-year wideout has produced three strong games in a row, catching all 12 of his targets for 233 yards and two touchdowns during that stretch. Noel's recent play makes the Texans' trade for Marvin Harrison Jr. even more questionable. Noel seems to have carved out a decent role in Houston's passing attack, but that could change once Harrison gets more acclimated. Still, he's worth a speculative add given his recent performances.

• DeMario Douglas, Patriots (9%): Douglas has caught 11 of 13 targets for 151 yards and three touchdowns in his last two games. A.J. Brown is back in the Patriots' lineup, but Romeo Doubs was placed on IR, so Douglas should still see plenty of playing time. Drake Maye is also starting to look like the quarterback who led New England to last year's Super Bowl, and the Patriots have the Bears, Dolphins, Packers, and Lions on their upcoming schedule. Douglas needs to be rostered in way more than 9% of Yahoo leagues.

Tight ends

Chig Okonkwo, Commanders

You may be able to grab Commanders players cheaper than usual off the waiver wire since they won't show up when filtering for Week 7 projected points. However, Okonkwo is worth adding, even with Washington on a bye week.

Okonkwo caught all seven of his targets for 69 yards after McLaurin left the game and ran a route on 87.2% of Daniels' dropbacks. When he's on the field, Okonkwo is almost exclusively used as a receiving threat and is rarely asked to block. Washington also lacks a big-bodied receiver, with Stefon Diggs and Williams now in line to be the team's top wideouts. A hamstring injury slowed Okonkwo's start to the season, but you can view him as a weekly starter at tight end if McLaurin misses the rest of the season.

Other TEs to consider:

• Terrance Ferguson, Rams (13%): He's eligible to return from IR in Week 8 and, if healthy, should see an elevated role now that Davante Adams is expected to miss 6-10 weeks with a hamstring injury. Ferguson caught six of nine targets for 54 yards and a touchdown in Week 2, when Puka Nacua was out of the lineup.

• T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (32%): The Vikings face the Colts, Lions, and Bills in the next three contests after their bye. Hockenson is two games removed from a 13-catch, 119-yard performance in Week 4. He sustained a concussion in Week 5 but should be back for Week 7.

Defenses

• Titans (3%) vs. Browns
• Jets (16%) vs. Dolphins
• Browns (22%) @ Titans
• Panthers (28%) vs. Buccaneers
• Saints (9%) vs. Steelers (in Paris)