Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 7
By this point into the 2023 season, no roster remains unscathed. Several more key injuries hit hard in Week 6. Also, Week 7 is a brutal bye week slate, with six teams off. That’s going to leave a lot of fantasy football managers scrambling for talent. Our Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 7 has you covered, with key players to target on the wire and FAAB recommendations.
FAAB denotes Free Agent Acquisition Budget
Week 7 Byes: Carolina, Cincinnati, Dallas, Houston, New York Jets, Tennessee
Jeffery Wilson (RB) Miami Dolphins (15% FAAB) – Wilson was a proactive add last week. He did not end up playing on Sunday. However, he is inching closer to being activated. When he is cleared, Wilson will play significant reps in the NFL’s most dynamic offense. Salvon Ahmed (5% FAAB) was able to score 12.4 PPR points in 11 opportunities. However, Wilson is far better and would likely command double-digit touches each week.
Chuba Hubbard (RB) Carolina Panthers (13% FAAB) – Miles Sanders has not impressed in 2023. Hubbard drew his first start in Week 6 and turned 20 touches into 90 yards and a touchdown. Hubbard has now played more snaps than Sanders this season. Also, he’s been far more effective. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Hubbard remain the starter when Carolina returns to action in Week 8.
Craig Reynolds (RB) Detroit Lions (12% FAAB) – First, Detroit lost Jahmyr Gibbs. Now, David Montgomery could miss multiple games with a rib injury. Reynolds filled in for Montgomery in Tampa, earning 12 touches in the win. There is a good chance Gibbs will return this week. However, Dan Campbell has shown no interest in making Gibbs a workhorse. Expect Reynolds to fill that ‘big back’ role, commanding short-yardage and change-of-pace carries and targets. Also, if Gibbs remains out, Reynolds could be in line for a much bigger workload in Baltimore.
Josh Downs (WR) Indianapolis Colts (10% FAAB) – Downs only accumulated 21 receiving yards in Week 6. However, he did secure his first NFL touchdown and commanded eight targets. Downs has now surpassed 13 PPR points in three of his last four contests. Gardner Minshew is far more likely to stand in the pocket and force the ball to his wideouts. That will benefit Downs, who already enters Week 7 as a top-45 fantasy wideout in 2023.
Roschon Johnson (RB) Chicago Bears (10% FAAB) – Unfortunately, Johnson didn’t clear the NFL concussion protocol in time to suit up on Sunday. However, there has been some optimism that he will return in Week 7. Justin Fields is doubtful, so Chicago will have to rely on their ground attack. D’Onta Foreman logged 16 touches and a 61% snap rate in Week 6. Johnson was ahead of Foreman on the depth chart and should be the favorite to start once cleared.
Jordan Mason (RB) San Francisco 49ers (8% FAAB) – Christian McCaffrey exited Week 6 with an oblique injury. Elijah Mitchell (6% FAAB) was penciled in as San Fran’s RB2 but Mitchell was limited to just seven snaps as he works his way back from a knee injury. If McCaffrey misses time, the starting running back for the 49ers has significant fantasy value. For now, the nod goes to Mason. However, this is a fluid situation. Mitchell should also be viewed as a priority add.
Zach Evans (RB) Los Angeles Rams (9% FAAB) – A popular preseason sleeper, Evans has only seen four carries in two games. However, the Rams are battling injuries. Evans could be the next man up for an offense that has overachieved. Also, with the way running backs are going down, Evans and veteran journeyman Royce Freeman (4% FAAB) make sense as proactive adds. UPDATE: Williams has a sprained ankle and is expected to miss Week 7.
An MRI today revealed that Rams’ RB Kyren Williams has a sprained ankle that is expected to sideline him for Sunday’s game vs. the Steelers but is not considered a long-term injury, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 16, 2023
Kareem Hunt (RB) Cleveland Browns (7% FAAB) – Hunt played a season-high 28 snaps and commanded a healthy 15 touches against San Francisco. He also scored a touchdown in the game. QB Deshaun Watson has no return timetable, so the Browns are likely to continue to emphasize the running game. Hunt is an RB4 that can be added in all formats.
Curtis Samuel (WR) Washington Commanders (7% FAAB) – Obligatory mention of Samuel. He’s a weekly addition to this piece yet still remains un-rostered in more than half of fantasy leagues. Samuel has scored in three straight games and gets another premier matchup in Week 7 against the 1-5 Giants.
Wan’Dale Robinson (WR) New York Giants (6% FAAB) – New York’s offense is a mess. However, Robison has led the Giants wideouts in target share in each of the last three games. Parris Campbell logged zero snaps against the Bills. That leaves the vast majority of slot reps to Robinson. While you don’t want to go out of your way to spend a ton of money on members of this offense, Robinson will see favorable game scripts and could rack up usable fantasy production as a bye-week replacement.
Jonnu Smith (TE) Atlanta Falcons (5% FAAB) – It was okay to be skeptical of Smith’s holding power in September. But the veteran tight end has grabbed 4-plus balls in each of Atlanta’s five games. Smith has scored a minimum of 8.7 PPR points in every game and enters Week 7 as the overall TE8. Kyle Pitts is TE12. We’ve be fawning over the wrong guy.
Rashid Shaheed (WR) New Orleans Saints (5% FAAB) – One spot below Josh Downs on the seasonal scoring ranks, Rashid Shaheed had his second-best game of the season in Houston. He only corralled two of his six targets, but Shaheed went for 85 yards and his second TD of the season. Shaheed has run 75 (43%) out of the slot, but also runs deep routes from the perimeter. Up next, the Saints host a Jaguars defense that has yielded the fifth-most receiving yards to wide receivers in 2023.
Keaontay Ingram (RB) Arizona Cardinals (5% FAAB) – While everyone overspent on Emari Demercado, Ingram was listed as Arizona’s starter. On Sunday, Ingram (12) and Damien Williams [2% FAAB] (9) out-touched Demercado (3) while playing fewer snaps. This is not a backfield to target until James Conner returns. However, desperate fantasy managers could throw out a speculative bid on Ingram or Williams.
Michael Mayer (TE) Las Vegas Raiders (5% FAAB) – Mayer played 82% of the Raiders’ snaps in Week 6. After a quiet first four games, the first-round rookie has hauled in 7-of-9 targets for 114 yards in the last two contests. Considering the lack of depth at tight end, Mayer is entering weekly streamer territory.
Keaton Mitchell (RB) Baltimore Ravens (5% FAAB) – The Ravens activated Mithcell on Sunday. However, the rookie was relegated to special teams duties. Baltimore is prone to using multiple backs. Also, neither Gus Edwards nor Justice Hill have impressed as potential starters. Mitchell is small but blazed a 99th-percentile 40 and has some burst. If given a few snaps, he could play his way into a role.
Ray-Ray McCloud (WR) San Francisco 49ers (1% FAAB) – Deebo Samuel left Week 6 and it was McCloud who took over Samuel’s snaps. That included a pair of rushes that McCloud logged for 23 yards. However, McCloud has only caught four passes all season. Jauan Jennings (1% FAAB) might be a better source of targets. If Samuel misses time, both ancillary San Francisco wideouts could warrant a bare minimum fantasy football waiver wire week 7 add in deeper leagues.
Malik Willis (QB) Tennessee Titans (1% FAAB) – Desperate Superflex managers can add Willis if Ryan Tannehill (ankle) is unable to play in Week 8. However, Willis has struggled as a pro and the floor is scary low.
Quarterback Streamers: Sam Howell at New York Giants, Joshua Dobbs at Seattle, Derek Carr vs. Jaguars, Desmond Ridder at Tampa Bay
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