NFL Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickups: Running Back Help Is on the Way

The waiver wire is stacked with possibilities this week, thanks to surprising Week 6 running back usage and four strong offenses returning from their bye weeks. The Cowboys and Bears will rest in Week 7, but fantasy managers don’t have that same luxury until after Week 17. For those in need, though, help is out there for the taking. 

As always, you’ll find several top waiver options in this weekly feature — along with suggested FAAB bid amounts — followed by a few players to monitor in deeper formats. Generally, players listed here will be available in at least 50% of Sleeper leagues.

Top Waiver Wire Additions After Week 6

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs

Smith-Schuster was a headliner in this section last week, though fantasy managers were clearly worried about his Week 6 bye. He’s still only rostered in 33% of Sleeper leagues after his seven-catch, 130-yard performance against the Saints in Week 5. While Smith-Schuster is generally thought of as a pure slot receiver, he actually did far more of his damage lining up on the outside in that game. 

There’s potential for him to move further towards the low-depth-of-target slot role where Rashee Rice had been feasting, but it’s reassuring to know his fantasy production won’t be limited to one type of role in the Chiefs offense. Because he totaled just 277 receiving yards in his prior 15 games, there’s still a chance he completely flops for the rest of the season. However, like with teammate Kareem Hunt, you want to invest in Chiefs skill players now that injuries have opened up the depth chart. 

Smith-Schuster has fantasy WR2 potential, and managers should consider a 30-45% FAAB bid or No. 1 waiver priority.

RB Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills

James Cook was inactive on Monday night (foot), and while he did practice on Saturday in a limited fashion, it’s still unclear if he’ll suit up in Week 7, given that it’s a six-day turnaround. Rather than a committee approach, the Bills force-fed 20 carries (97 yards, 4.8 yards per carry) to Davis compared to just four for veteran Ty Johnson. Davis also caught three passes for 55 yards. 

Davis has probably ended the days of Cook as a workhorse in this backfield, and he should have flex appeal moving forward. Should Cook miss Week 7, Davis (19% rostered on Sleeper) would profile as a low-end fantasy RB1 against the Titans. You can throw 20-30% of your FAAB at the rookie, where he’s at least a Braelon Allen-type elite handcuff the rest of the season.

QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots

WR Demario Douglas, New England Patriots

Maye impressed in his first NFL start, throwing for 243 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions against the Texans. He also chipped in seven carries for 50 yards on the ground, after averaging more than 11 rush attempts per game during his college career at North Carolina. The Patriots are unlikely to score three touchdowns most weeks, but Maye (15% rostered on Sleeper) could be a fringe fantasy QB1 the rest of the season thanks to his rushing ability.

Douglas (14% rostered) was Maye’s favorite target in Week 6, catching six of his team-high nine targets for 92 yards and a score. We could see Douglas emerge as a borderline top-24 fantasy receiver, as his role could be similar to Wan’Dale Robinson’s — absolutely peppered with targets close to the line of scrimmage. 

QB-needy teams can toss 20-30% of their FAAB at Maye, as he could be the last viable fantasy QB on waivers this year. Douglas is a 10-15% FAAB guy, though that can increase to 20-25% in deeper PPR formats.

WR Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers

Watson (42% rostered) returned in Week 6 from a sprained ankle, catching three passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. He was only targeted four times, though his average target depth was 18 yards downfield (fourth-highest last week). 

The Dontayvion Wicks injury should create more opportunities for Watson, who projects to be an up-and-down fantasy WR3 type. He’s worth 15-20% of your FAAB as the potential No. 2 option (behind Jayden Reed) in a high-flying Packers passing game.

WR Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers

The big, fast rookie has been a frequent headliner in this space, and he’s topped 11 fantasy points (PPR) in two of three games since Adam Thielen went on IR. He’s still just 42% rostered on Sleeper, and the Panthers’ WR2 deserves 15-20% of your FAAB.

RB Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers

J.K. Dobbins has an injury history the length of a Costco receipt, and he’s coming off a 27-touch game — his first time (ever) above 20 touches in an NFL game. With veteran Gus Edwards now on IR, the rookie Vidal totaled 51 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut. Vidal (16% rostered) is, at worst, injury insurance for Dobbins, with the potential to carve out a fantasy-relevant role in his own right. Consider a 10-15% FAAB bid.

RB Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings

Aaron Jones (hip) returned to the practice field on Monday after the team’s Week 6 bye, so the chance Chandler (35% rostered) is a workhorse back against the Lions in Week 7 has diminished. While the Lions are a difficult matchup on paper, the entire defense should be reeling after the loss of star Aidan Hutchinson (leg). 

Consider a 5-15% FAAB bid on Chandler, as the nearly 30-year-old Jones is, at the very least, an increased injury risk over the next few games.

RB Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams

The third-round rookie was the clear backup to Kyren Williams in Week 5 before the team’s Week 6 bye. Williams is just 200 pounds, and he’s handled 22 touches per game, a workload that few RBs can withstand over an entire season. Corum could get a post-bye week usage bump as rookies often do, and it’s surprising to see his rostership at just 21% on Sleeper. He’s a fantasy RB1 if anything happens to Williams. 

A 5-15% FAAB bid on Corum is justified, since his stock probably rises after Week 7 against the Raiders.

RB D’Ernest Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars

When Travis Etienne left Week 6 early (hamstring), Johnson was actually the biggest beneficiary, rather than Tank Bigsby. It appears like Johnson will take on Etienne’s pass-catching role, which should have fantasy value given the Jaguars’ 1-5 start to the season, in which they have trailed for a substantial portion of games. 

Johnson is currently not rostered in more than 99% of Sleeper leagues, and he can probably be snagged for 5-10% of your FAAB.

RB Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers

Jordan Mason left Thursday night’s game early, but he reportedly returned to practice (donning a non-contact jersey) as of Monday. There’s still a chance Mason misses Week 7, in which case Guerendo, an explosive rookie (4.33 40 time), would handle the majority of the touches. The Chiefs are a tough matchup, so Guerendo would slot in as a fantasy RB2 if he were to draw the start. 

A 5-10% FAAB bid is suggested, knowing Mason might play and Christian McCaffrey should return within the next few weeks.

Sneak Peek: Deeper and Potential Future Additions

RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons

Allgeier topped 100 yards on the ground against the Panthers’ soft run defense, but he’s still behind Bijan Robinson in Atlanta. Allgeier, a fixture in this space, is a high-upside handcuff that could easily be in Corum’s spot in this article.

RB Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans

When healthy like in Week 6, Pierce is the direct backup to Joe Mixon in an elite Texans offense.

RB Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins

The speedster had 86 rushing yards in Week 5 after De’Von Achane exited with a concussion, and, like Corum, the rookie could see a usage bump after the Week 6 bye. If Tua Tagovailoa returns in Week 8 or 9, this offense should hum once again. And if Achane isn’t ready to return yet, Wright would share work with Raheem Mostert.

RB Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals

The 29-year-old James Conner appears to have a mild ankle injury, and Benson, another rookie, led the team in rushing in Week 6 (albeit with just 26 yards).

RB Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tucker broke out (192 total yards, two TDs) in the Buccaneers’ 51-point effort, but he’s trapped in a potential three-headed backfield with Bucky Irving and Rachaad White, with the latter possibly returning in Week 7.

WR Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals

Star rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. left Week 6 early (concussion), and if he were to miss Week 7, Wilson would be a flex option against the Chargers.

TE Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Otton has 44 receiving yards or a touchdown in four straight games, and he’s a borderline top-12 fantasy tight end.

TE Erick All, Cincinnati Bengals

The rookie may be overtaking veteran Mike Gesicki as the Bengals’ primary pass-catching tight end. Otton has a higher floor, but All is the upside option at the position for the rest of the season.

RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs

There’s a good chance CEH is activated off IR for Week 7, and the Chiefs backfield appears to be wide open beyond Hunt, an unlikely veteran bell cow.

Line Up Your Targets

Make sure to act quickly to secure your waiver wire targets, with most leagues running waivers on Tuesday nights. For more in-depth stats and to view all the trending players in real time, check out the Sleeper app.

Working the waiver wire to your favor is a critical part of fantasy football success, and we’ll be with you every week to help you chase down those playoff berths and fantasy championships.

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