Sneaky Starts, Pivot Plays and Post-Waiver Pickups for Week 7

Michael Florio's sneaky fantasy football starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 7. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.

Pivot options may be more important this week than ever. There is no shortage of injuries this week, which starts on Thursday Night as both the Saints and Cardinals are very banged up, especially at the skill positions. Injuries have piled up around the league, meaning that many fantasy owners are already in need of pivot options this week. 

That is before you even factor in that there are four teams on bye this week. And not only are there four teams – they are four fantasy powerhouses. The Bills, Eagles, Vikings, and Rams are all off this week. That means there are a number of teams with elite QBs and WRs that simply cannot play this week. These teams being out also take some very useful running backs and tight ends off the board. 

It is also a weird week streaming-wise. Some of the go-to matchups to exploit or avoid are simply in situations where that is not possible. Whether it is a typical streaming option in a tough matchup or a matchup that we typically avoid – with a stud player in it. Week 7 is going to be one of the tougher weeks to field a lineup. Don’t worry, there are still plenty of pivot options, just not some of the ones you may think! 

Quarterback Pivot Options for Fantasy Football

If QBs Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, Mac Jones, and Kenny Pickett don’t play, you can pivot to… 

Matt Ryan is coming off his best game as a Colt when he put up 27 fantasy points on 389 passing yards and three touchdowns. He has now topped 15 fantasy points in three of his last four games, showing he brings a safe floor, and last week showed he still has upside. He has a great matchup this week against the Titans, who have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points – and somehow the second-most passing touchdowns this season, despite already having their bye. Ryan is my favorite pivot option. 

Trevor Lawrence has been better than last year but he still has been very up and down. After struggling with turnovers the previous two games, it was nice to see him take care of the ball last week. He did it in a huge way, completing 20 of 22 passes. While he only threw for one touchdown, he added two with his legs. Now, you can’t bank on that weekly, but Lawrence is great and selling the fake near the goal line. He has also rushed for over 20 yards in two straight games, showing he can add some points with his legs. If you are in need of a replacement, you can do worse than Lawrence. 

Marcus Mariota is the QB5 over the past two weeks. He has done so largely because of his legs, rushing for 111 yards and a touchdown in that span. I will be honest though, I am a little weary of Mariota. The ceiling is certainly high because of the rushing ability, but the floor is low. He has thrown for fewer than 150 yards in three straight and has averaged just 19 pass attempts per game. Understand that Mariota is boom or bust, but if you can stomach the risk, he is a fine replacement option. 

Running Back Pivot Options for Fantasy Football 

If RBs D'Andre Swift, James Conner, and J.K. Dobbins, don’t play, you can pivot to… 

Kenyan Drake came out of nowhere in Week 6. He rushed 10 times for 119 yards and a touchdown while scoring 19.7 PPR points. That was because J.K. Dobbins's knee tightened up on him and the Ravens decided to play it safe. Not only is that something Dobbins owners need to worry about now, but Dobbins was already playing limited.

He has played less than half the snaps and seen single-digit touches in all but one game he’s played this season. Drake ran well and could carve out a larger role whether Dobbins's knee is acting up or not. He has a great matchup against the Browns, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy PPG to RBs, including the most rushing touchdowns in the NFL. Drake is worth a shot if you need a replacement option. 

Khalil Herbert may already be rostered and if so, you could elevate him from your bench to your starting lineup. It's possible in the last couple of weeks he was thrown back on the waiver wire. The Bears plan to use the hot-hand approach moving forward with their running backs. We saw Herbert see seven carries last week and turn them into 75 yards. He easily could steal more work if he continues to run like that. It isn’t what you want to hear if you have David Montgomery, but it makes Herbert in play this week. 

Latavius Murray led the Broncos' backfield in Week 6 fresh off the streets. It's worth mentioning that Melvin Gordon was banged up and the coaches are saying he remains the starting back. Murray’s 15 carries and one target on 47 percent of the snaps cannot be ignored. He led the Broncos' backfield in snaps and carries last week. That can potentially increase with a banged-up Russell Wilson too. Murray is definitely a strong pivot option this week. 

Rachaad White did see his snaps take a dip last week, but he has now seen at least four targets in three straight games. He has earned a role in the Bucs' passing game and gets a handful of carries per game as well. Plus, we should get angry Brady and the Bucs this week against the Panthers. This has the potential to be a game that gets out of hand fast, meaning White could see additional work in mop-up duty. White is in play as a replacement option this week. 

Kyle Juszczyk is in play this week in deeper leagues! This one may surprise you, but it was Juszczyk who led the Niners' backfield with four targets last week. Jeff Wilson Jr. is quickly falling out of favor and we know Kyle Shanahan has always had a soft spot for Juszczyk. Not only that, but the Chiefs have allowed the most targets, catches, and receiving yards to running backs this season. It's certainly a boom or bust option, but for those in need of a deeper name, Juszczyk is for you. 

Wide Receiver Pivot Options for Fantasy Football

If WRs Brandin Cooks, Julio Jones, Kadarius Toney, and D.J. Chark, don’t play, you can pivot to… 

Alec Pierce is my favorite wide receiver that was available off the waiver wire at the start of the week. He has topped six targets and 12 fantasy points in three straight games – which includes one against the Titans, who he faces again this week. Pierce has clearly won over Matt Ryan after being his top receiver on TNF two weeks ago and catching the game-winning touchdown this past week. He has ascended as the Colts' second target and now gets a great matchup against the Titans, who have allowed the second-most fantasy PPG to fantasy receivers. 

Rondale Moore is a streaming option this week. He has played over 90 percent of the snaps and seen at least eight targets in two straight games. The Cardinals lost Marquise Brown and gained DeAndre Hopkins, which leads me to believe Moore will remain the third target in this offense, behind Hopkins and Zach Ertz. While I am not on the “Moore is the next breakout receiver” train, he is certainly in play as a streaming option.

Hunter Renfrow returns from injury this week and remains on many waiver wires at the moment. We have seen mixed results from Renfrow this season, but he would get a bump in value if Darren Waller does not suit up. We know Renfrow will be productive with the volume he sees, especially in a matchup as favorable as the one against the Texans. If someone in your league dropped him, he is certainly in play. 

Wan'Dale Robinson returned to our fantasy lives last week and scored a touchdown. He was limited playing just a quarter of the snaps but still managed to see the second-most targets on the Giants. He has to play more as he shows he is healthy as the Giants are the most receiver-needy team in the NFL. Untapped upside paired with opportunity is enough to make Robinson a pivot option for those in need of a receiver this week. 

Josh Reynolds has been great this season. I don’t think enough people realize that he is currently the WR30 this season despite already having his bye. He has averaged 13.7 fantasy PPG this season. Amon-Ra St. Brown should be back and healthy, but D.J. Chark's status remains up in the air and if he sits, Reynolds will be operating as the top outside receiver for Goff and the Lions. The Cowboys aren’t the best matchup, but it only takes one long catch for Reynolds to have a nice day. If he is out there, go grab him. 

Chase Claypool had been dropped in many leagues after a very slow start to the season but he has now scored double-digit fantasy points in two straight weeks and is coming off his best game of the year where he went for 96 yards and a touchdown, good for 23.4 fantasy points. He seems to have a better connection with Mitch Trubisky than Kenny Pickett. He gets Miami this week, who are in the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to receivers this season. 

Nico Collins is a volume option if Brandin Cooks sits this week. Collins had seen at least five targets in three of the four games before the bye, but he would be a safe bet to see around double-digit targets if the Texans were without their top receiver. He is in play in deeper leagues this week. 

Tight End Pivot Options for Fantasy Football 

If TEs Darren Waller, Cameron Brate, and Logan Thomas,  don’t play, you can pivot to… 

Evan Engram and Hunter Henry are the top replacement options this week, but may already be rostered. Both have been seeing more volume as of late and have been turning it into fantasy production. I would prefer Engram of the two, but if you need a tight end and either is out there, go get them. 

Juwan Johnson was third on New Orleans with six targets last week. He caught four passes for 41 yards, both of which ranked second on the Saints. All of their top receivers are banged up, which should only mean volume for Johnson. Plus, he faces the Cardinals, who have allowed the second-most fantasy PPG to tight ends (18.9). That includes allowing the most targets and catches and the second-most yards to the position. Johnson is a streaming option this week. 

Cade Otton saw seven targets, catching six of them for 43 yards in Week 5 when Cameron Brate was out. Prior to that game, we had seen Brate record six and eight targets in the two previous weeks. Last week, the duo combined for six targets. The tight end is a known commodity in a Tom Brady offense and with Brate's status very much up in the air, it could be Otton getting all the volume to himself. He is a pivot option for sure this week. 

Foster Moreau would be a pivot option if Darren Waller sits. We have seen Moreau fill in for Waller at times last year and yes, there were mixed results. He does bring a decently high ceiling, which is more than you can say for many tight ends. If you are in need of a tight end filler and Waller sits, grab Moreau.

Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter and Instagram, @MichaelFFlorio.

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