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Jackson Sparks' deeper-league waiver wire pickups and fantasy football sleepers for Week 7. His top free agent options for 14-team fantasy leagues or deeper.
Week 7 of the NFL's regular season has arrived, and with bye weeks in full force, several players are popping up on the fantasy radar. These fantasy football waiver wire pickup suggestions are for fantasy managers in deep leagues of 14-teams or more or a higher number of bench spots than traditional fantasy leagues. There are running backs such as DeeJay Dallas and Joshua Kelley who need injuries to other players to become valuable in fantasy, but it's important to be a week ahead versus a week too late. Rookie wideouts Tyquan Thornton, Alec Pierce, Khalil Shakir, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Skyy Moore have entered the fantasy radar, even though none of them have locked in weekly value.
In deep leagues, players who are currently buried on the depth chart or have seen minimal work thus far could prove to be valuable pieces at some point in the long NFL season. If we can identify deep league sleepers early, it can help you win your league down the road.
As always, these players are usually cheap to obtain and can be dropped if it's clear they won't have value after a few weeks. With five weeks of data to examine, advanced stats and fantasy statistics carry more weight for the rest of the season. Buckle up, because it's time to do another deep dive of the Week 7 waiver wire.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets for Week 7
Marcus Mariota and Daniel Jones are fine placeholders while notable quarterbacks like Josh Allen, Kirk Cousins, Jalen Hurts, and Matthew Stafford are on Week 7 bye weeks. Both have rushing upside and their offenses are better than expected.
Malcolm Brown handled eight touches for 28 yards in the win over the Carolina Panthers, and it's looking like Cam Akers (personal) has played his last snap for the Los Angeles Rams. Los Angeles could bring in another running back, but for now, Brown is the clear RB2 to Darrell Henderson. It's worth noting the team is on a Week 7 bye though.
DeeJay Dallas saw just two running back opportunities against the Cardinals with Kenneth Walker operating as the workhorse back in Seattle. However, Dallas is the clear RB2 after Rashaad Penny (leg) suffered his season-ending injury. He has upside in an offense that is far better than expected.
Kenyan Drake rushed 10 times for 119 yards and a touchdown against the New York Giants, and J.K. Dobbins appeared to have suffered a setback from his knee injury. Gus Edwards (knee) is slated to return any time soon, but Drake has at least short-term value.
Mike Boone is behind the aging running back in the Denver offense, and although the Broncos' offense is struggling, he'd be a premier waiver add if Gordon has to miss any time. Latavius Murray is in play in even deeper leagues.
Jerick McKinnon and Isiah Pacheco each handled at least four touches in the loss to the Buffalo Bills. Clyde Edwards-Helaire saw just nine touches, so this backfield is still a committee, and McKinnon and/or Pacheco have real upside if any of the three backs have to miss any time.
Caleb Huntley rushed one more time (16) than Tyler Allgeier (15) and racked up 59 rushing yards to Allgeier's 51. The two Atlanta backs have had about a 50/50 split since Cordarrelle Patterson (knee) has been on injured reserve, yet Huntley is available in far more leagues on the waiver wire.
Boston Scott handled just six carries in the win over the Dallas Cowboys, but his upside would be unlocked in one of the league's top offenses if Kenneth Gainwell or Miles Sanders have to miss any time.
Joshua Kelley is separating himself as the clear RB2 for the Chargers and his upside is sky-high if an often-injured Austin Ekeler misses a game or two. Sony Michel is still worth picking up in even deeper leagues, but Kelley has the edge for now.
Tevin Coleman served as the 49ers' RB2 against the Falcons, even with Tyrion Davis-Price (ankle) returning to the lineup. Coleman doesn't have a high floor week-to-week, but he's valuable as a desperation RB2/flex play and as a handcuff to Jeff Wilson Jr. until Elijah Mitchell (knee) returns.
Jaylen Warren has failed to command more of a role behind Najee Harris in the Steelers' offense, but he's worth picking up as a handcuff, at least.
Ty Montgomery was injured in his first game with the New England Patriots but could return as the lead third-down back as early as Week 7. With Damien Harris (hamstring) picking up an injury, Montgomery is worth adding to your IR spot on fantasy rosters.
Chuba Hubbard and D'Onta Foreman continue to split work behind Christian McCaffrey. The Carolina Panthers offense is among the worst in the league, but if something happens to McCaffrey, one of them would carry value as a starting running back.
Tyquan Thornton impressed in his second game as a pro, catching four of five targets for 37 yards and a touchdown. He also added three carries for 16 yards and a touchdown on the ground, so he could have some boom weeks moving forward. He was a second-round pick, so he's going to get more involved. Kendrick Bourne (toe) and Nelson Agholor (hamstring) are dealing with injuries right now.
Alec Pierce has seen at least six targets in his last three games and scored his forced NFL touchdown in the win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ashton Dulin (foot) has been placed on injured reserve, and Pierce looks to be the WR2 next to Michael Pittman Jr. for Matt Ryan.
Ben Skowronek is getting more involved in the Rams' offense each week, and although Allen Robinson came alive in Week 6, Skowronek has been the more productive wide receiver overall this season.
Robbie Anderson has been traded to the Arizona Cardinals, so he's worth monitoring as a wild card and potential boom-or-bust play moving forward.
Skyy Moore is just barely involved in the Kansas City Chiefs offense, but he's valuable as a "handcuff" WR in a fantasy point-producing machine led by Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes.
Rondale Moore has averaged over seven targets per game since returning to the Cardinals lineup in Week 5, and since Marquise Brown (ankle) is banged up on a short week (Thursday Night Football), Moore has immediate value. DeAndre Hopkins will return from his suspension in Week 7, but Brown's injury paves way for Moore to continue to produce.
Khalil Shakir caught just one pass against the Kansas City Chiefs with Isaiah McKenzie back in the lineup, but he's another guy who can be considered a high-end wide receiver "handcuff"
Donovan Peoples-Jones won't be a consistent producer, but fantasy managers in a tough spot at wideout should consider picking him up for when Deshaun Watson returns in Week 13 for the fantasy football playoffs.
Josh Reynolds is productive any time he's placed in a significant role and has value in deep leagues until Jameson Williams (knee) comes back and commands snaps. D.J. Chark (ankle) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) continue to battle injuries. Reynolds is yet another top wide receiver "handcuff."
Wan'Dale Robinson played fewer snaps than several Giants' wide receivers, but he commanded four targets, catching three of them for 37 yards and a touchdown. Ultimately, the New York Giants would like to get him more involved after he held up in the second game of his career.
Treylon Burks is going to fall off some fantasy managers' watchlist after suffering a turf toe injury that placed him on injured reserve, but his injury is minor from a long-term perspective, and he's still worth rostering for the chance of a late-season breakout. It also helps he can be stashed in the injured reserve spot on your fantasy roster.
Kyle Philips and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine are going to see extra snaps and targets while Treylon Burks (foot) has to miss time. Neither have high floors or high ceilings, but in deeper leagues, they could save fantasy managers for a goose egg in the flex spot.
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