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Hayden's fantasy football risers, breakouts, waiver wire sleepers for Week 7 of 2025. Are these unexpected booms legit for Wan'Dale Robinson, Kimani Vidal, Kayshon Boutte, others?
After several weeks jam-packed with fantastic finishes in a row, Week 6 has represented a return to normalcy. Still, it has provided some exciting games. The Chargers survived a late rally by the Dolphins to win on a clutch field goal, the Panthers also defeated the Cowboys on a game-winning field goal, and the Colts weathered a strong upset bid by the Cardinals.
We also witnessed some great fantasy performances on Sunday. Panthers running back Rico Dowdle totaled over 230 yards for the second-straight game, and Packers RB Josh Jacobs tallied 150 scrimmage yards and two rushing touchdowns. Those two joined Cam Skattebo, who scored three touchdowns on Thursday Night Football, as the leading running backs of the week thus far.
There were also some more unexpected boom performances, though. Determining how legitimate their chances are of repeating their excellent stat lines will affect waiver wire strategies ahead of Week 7. Thus, let's take a look at five of this week's surprising leaders, beginning with a receiver who showed up in a big way for the New York Giants in their upset of Philadelphia.
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Wan'Dale Robinson, WR, New York Giants
Wan'Dale Robinson had a strong start to the season. In Week 1, he caught six of his eight targets for 55 yards. The following week, Robinson erupted for eight grabs for 142 yards and a touchdown on 10 looks. After that, though, he had been unable to match that level of production. Even a season-ending injury to teammate Malik Nabers (knee) did not rejuvenate him. Well, not immediately, at least.
On Thursday, Robinson got seven targets, of which he caught six. Those receptions went for 84 yards, including an impressive 35-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Robinson led the Giants in catches and receiving yards, but he trailed Lil'Jordan Humphrey in the target column. The performance came with both Nabers and Darius Slayton (hamstring) unavailable.
Jaxson Dart IMPROVISES. ROBINSON YACs. TOUCHDOWN GIANTS 🔥
PHIvsNYG on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/YnuvxJPlhb— NFL (@NFL) October 10, 2025
Robinson scored 17.4 half-PPR points, making him Week 6's WR9 through Sunday's games. This was his best outing of the season besides that Week 2 explosion versus Dallas. Robinson played all of New York's offensive snaps, and he has had snap shares of 94 percent or higher each week since Nabers tore his ACL. His involvement is both undeniable and unlikely to decline.
Do not be fooled by Robinson's poor stretch that preceded this Thursday night game. He is worth rostering in fantasy football, as he will be the top receiver on the Giants for the rest of the season. Robinson and rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart should continue to gel further as the year progresses. Target Robinson on the waiver wire this week if he is still available.
Kimani Vidal, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers drafted former North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton 22nd overall in this year's draft, and he got off to a great start in his rookie campaign. Sadly, Hampton was placed on IR after Week 5 due to an ankle injury he suffered versus Washington. The Chargers also lost their backup, Najee Harris, for the season due to a torn Achilles tendon in September.
In the wake of the Hampton news, it was reported that the Chargers would split their carries between Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal. However, only Vidal was heavily involved on Sunday against Miami. The 24-year-old toted the rock 18 times for 124 yards, and he tacked on three catches on four targets for 14 yards and a touchdown. Vidal currently ranks as the week's RB6 with 21.3 half-PPR points.
Kamani Vidal takes it in!
LACvsMIA on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/yXRlOMrvMt
— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2025
Vidal had 22 opportunities compared to just seven for Haskins. Per PFF, Vidal also played more than twice as many snaps as Haskins (43 to 20). According to StatMuse, Vidal's 6.9 yards per carry were the most by a Chargers running back with 15+ carries since J.K. Dobbins posted 7.7 in a game in September 2024.
Ahead of Week 7, Vidal should be viewed as the best RB on most waiver wires. Hampton will be sidelined for at least three more games before he can return, and reports suggest he will miss even more time than that. Vidal will be the top RB for the Chargers for at least the short term. He will try to replicate this excellent showing in his upcoming game against Indianapolis.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, New England Patriots
Kayshon Boutte had a very promising start to the year with a six-catch, 103-yard stat line in Week 1. He struggled to regain that form in subsequent weeks, however. In his next four games, Boutte totaled just seven receptions for 105 yards and one touchdown. Expectations for him were not very high entering Week 6 because of this.
Boutte ended his streak of quiet performances against New Orleans on Sunday. He came through for the Patriots, catching all five of his targets for 93 yards and two touchdowns. Boutte led the team in receptions, targets, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in the 25-19 win. He also posted an excellent initial PFF grade of 91.0.
Drake Maye's third TD pass of the first half!
NEvsNO on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/3pamuOyknF
— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2025
With 23.8 half-PPR points, Boutte stands as Week 6's WR3 ahead of the two Monday night games. It was the highest-scoring fantasy outing in Boutte's three-year career. His contributions were also crucial in real life for New England on a day when their running game was woefully ineffective. Boutte has still not yet matched his eight targets from Week 1, however.
Boutte is worth a look on waivers this week, but expectations should remain tempered. His snap shares have been stagnant around 70 percent, and he has gone five games in a row without exceeding five targets. Stefon Diggs will also likely continue to become more involved. Still, stash Boutte if you wish; we have seen that he can be successful in his role.
Kendrick Bourne, WR, San Francisco 49ers
Despite being 4-2, San Francisco's season has not gone as they envisioned. Injuries to quarterback Brock Purdy (toe), tight end George Kittle (hamstring), and wide receivers Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jauan Jennings (ankle/rib) have dramatically altered the look of their offense. San Francisco has had to rely on veteran receiver Kendrick Bourne to make plays, and he has done exactly that.
Entering Week 5, Bourne had just eight receptions on the season. He flourished on a short-handed 49ers offense that week, though, catching 10 balls for 142 yards. Jennings returned for Week 6 against Tampa Bay; however, this was expected to make a repeat performance unlikely.
As it turns out, Jennings is playing through five broken ribs in addition to high and low ankle sprains. He understandably had just one catch for seven yards on the day as a result.
Bourne, on the other hand, continued to dominate. He caught five of nine targets for 142 yards in a losing effort versus the Buccaneers. His 16.7 half-PPR points earned him a tentative slot as the WR10 for the week. Bourne has posted back-to-back 100-yard games for the first time in his career.
Kendrick was Bourne to make plays!
56-yard catch and run 😤
SFvsTB on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/uQr1eFrarz
— NFL (@NFL) October 12, 2025
As before, Bourne's outlook will depend on the health of his teammates. Kittle is expected to return to action in Week 7, and Pearsall could as well. This would significantly reduce Bourne's value to fantasy managers. Picking up Bourne off waivers would pay dividends, though, if those two are not yet ready to return against Atlanta.
Marquise Brown, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
With Rashee Rice suspended and Xavier Worthy going down early with a shoulder injury, Marquise Brown got massive target volume in Week 1. He received 16 looks in Brazil against the Chargers, catching 10 for 99 yards. Brown was expected to remain a heavy contributor during the overlapping absences of Rice and Worthy.
That did not really materialize, however. In the two games Worthy missed entirely, Brown averaged only 4.5 catches for 36.0 yards and scored no touchdowns. Entering Week 6, the last week of Rice's suspension, Brown had just two games with double-digit half-PPR points on the year. He was not expected to produce at a high level against the Lions on Sunday Night Football.
Brown did live up to his nickname of Hollywood, though. Although he got just four targets, a season-low, Brown caught all four for 45 yards. Most importantly, two of those receptions went for touchdowns. This was Brown's first game with more than 10 yards per target since Week 5 of 2021. With 18.5 half-PPR points, Brown is this week's WR7 through SNF.
Hollywood Brown on the quick pass! @Chiefs lead by 10
DETvsKC on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/6KIGURe0R6— NFL (@NFL) October 13, 2025
With Rice returning in Week 7, the Kansas City WR room is in for a major shakeup. Brown is worth adding to fantasy rosters in need of receiver help, but he will need to vie with Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Tyquan Thornton, and Travis Kelce for targets behind Rice. This is too much competition for Brown to be an exciting fantasy option moving forward.
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