October 18, 2016

Ben Ruppert's 2016 fantasy football tiered rankings for Week Seven wide receivers (WR) - waiver wire pickups, adds & sleepers for PPR and non-PPR. These are NFL WRs to target.

What’s up everyone! Welcome back for your Week 7 fantasy football waiver wire WR options. This week we have a number of options that have emerged, several of whom are likely available in your league and could help out your WR situation.

Below you will find some deeper waiver wire grabs heading into Week 7. Check out my entries from Week 6 as well. If players like Terrelle Pryor or Tyrell Williams are still out there, PICK THEM UP FIRST.

These are deeper options who will likely be available in many leagues. If you are forced to pick between two players, find me on twitter @Ben_Ruppert_21, and I will be more than happy to help you out!

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 7 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB - CUTS

Week 7 Waiver Wire - Wide Receivers (WR)

The Shallow End (Under 50% Owned)

Cameron Meredith, WR, CHI – 28% owned on Fleaflicker

If Cameron Meredith made it through free agents last week in your league, this is the week to get him for sure. Burn your top claim on him if you have to. Over the past two weeks with Hoyer still at QB, Meredith has averaged 10 receptions on 14 targets for 122 yards. With Eddie Royal slightly banged up, Meredith saw his usage grow even further last week. He caught 11-of-15 targets for 113 yards, leading the team in targets for the second straight week.

Meredith has WR2 potential as long as Hoyer continues to play QB. The volume he is receiving will keep him relevant no matter the game flow. A healthy Royal will likely eat into his targets a bit, but anyone getting eight or nine targets a game will still have plenty of value. Hoyer is excellent at throwing those short-to-intermediate routes, so Meredith’s usage in this offense should stay around this level the rest of the season.

Cole Beasley, WR, DAL – 44% owned on Fleaflicker

What else does this guy have to do to get picked up in the other half of these leagues!? Beasley continued his career year in Week 6, catching 6-of-6 targets for 58 yards and two TDs. It was his first multi-touchdown game of the season, and his second straight game finding the end zone. He is second on the team in targets behind TE Jason Witten, averaging 6.5 targets per game from rookie QB Dak Prescott.

Beasley is on pace to set new career highs in receptions, targets, yards, and TDs this season. The return of Dez Bryant Week 8 will affect the performance of Terrance Williams more-so than Beasley. However, expect the TDs to go to Dez as opposed to Beasley. It remains to be seen how to return of Tony Romo will affect Beasley, who has seen his yardage totals and TDs rise each year he has been in the league. Beasley is an extremely safe option, especially in PPR formats this season.

Jamison Crowder, WR, WAS – 39% owned on Fleaflicker

Jamison Crowder has slowed a bit since his hot start to the season, but he still makes for an interesting add this week. Last week Crowder caught 3-of-4 targets for 54 yards and a TD, his third of the season. Crowder has averaged only three targets over the past three weeks, but one thing separates him from other WR candidates on the waiver wire; red zone targets. His nine red zone targets place him tied for fourth in the league, and that is four more than the next closest Redskin player (Jordan Reed, five).

Though news has come out of Reed making progress recovering from his concussion, you never really know with the TE who has suffered so many concussions throughout his career. The absence of Reed would help keep the production of these Redskins WRs up. Crowder won’t be an effective every week starter, but in the right matchups with the number of targets in the red zone he receives he is a great bye week fill in player.

Kenny Britt, WR, LA – 25% owned on Fleaflicker

Kenny Britt has been the Rams' most consistent weapon all season long, and was finally able to find the end zone last week not once, but two times in the Rams' narrow loss to Detroit. Britt caught 7-of-8 targets for 136 yards and two scores. Both of his touchdowns involved him breaking tackles and busting through defenders on his way for six. He also had a long gain on a nice one-handed catch near the sidelines. Britt looks fully healthy, and is producing at a career-high level.

Britt may scare off many owners after burning them in the past, but I believe this is something Britt can keep up over the remainder of the regular season. He is averaging five receptions on nearly seven targets per game, for 82 yards. Britt is someone to certainly add while he is healthy, and is a great bye week fill in player with potential to be a decent flex option the rest of the way. Unowned in 75% of fleaflicker leagues, pick up Britt as a solid bench piece.

More Options: Mohamed Sanu, ATL (48% owned), Eddie Royal, CHI (45%), Quincy Enunwa, NYJ (41%), Anquan Boldin, DET (41%), Tyler Boyd, CIN (41%), Robert Woods, BUF (40%), Pierre Garcon, WAS (34%), Brian Quick, LA (18%)

The Deep End (Under 15% Owned)

Kendall Wright, WR, TEN - 12% owned on Fleaflicker

Kendall Wright has been quiet since his return from a hamstring injury, but the wideout made his presence felt this week. Wright led the team in targets, catching 8-of-9 targets for 133 yards, including a ridiculous diving catch for a 48-yard TD. Wright was only on the field for 35% of the offensive snaps, behind Rishard Matthews, Tajae Sharpe, and Andre Johnson, so don’t expect this level of production anytime soon. However, Wright has caught 90 passes in the NFL before, and if he keeps this up could move up the pecking order very quickly.

Ty Montgomery, WR, GB – 5% owned on Fleaflicker

Ty Montgomery makes for an extremely interesting add this week. Last week he caught 10-of-12 targets for 98 yards, and also ran the ball three times for six yards. The rushes are important due to James Starks being ruled out for several weeks. Montgomery lined up in the backfield often, with several of his catches coming from that spot. With Starks out, it could be Montgomery who plays backup RB while also catching his fair share of passes. Davante Adams suffered a concussion last week and did not practice with the team on Monday. Montgomery could be in line for an expanded role this week and the weeks moving forward.

Seth Roberts, WR, OAK – 8% owned on Fleaflicker

Seth Roberts won’t wow you with the volume of targets he receives, but he is always a threat to find the end zone. He has three TDs through the first six weeks of the season so far, after recording five TDs last season. Right now he leads the Raiders receivers in red zone targets with six, one more than Michael Crabtree. If you find yourself in a tight spot having to make a desperation call, Roberts flashes some TD upside others at this level of ownership cannot match.

Justin Hunter, WR, BUF – 3% owned on Fleaflicker

Justin Hunter hauled in his second TD in as many games for the Bills, catching one of his two targets for a 30-yard score in the third quarter. Hunter played more snaps than he did last week, and at 6’4” 203 lbs. Hunter has the measurables to move up this bleak Bills WR depth chart fairly quickly if he can keep up his good play. I would not recommend adding Hunter just yet, but keep an eye on his production over the next few weeks. He has an opportunity here in Buffalo to earn some playing time.

Quinton Patton, WR, SF – 4% owned on Fleaflicker

In Colin Kaepernick’s first game, Quinton Patton proved to be the biggest benefactor. He posted his best stat line since Week 1, catching 4-of-7 targets for 52 yards. Patton was tied with Jeremy Kerley and Torrey Smith for the team lead in targets. Patton plays a key role in the 49ers offense, but on a team that has performed this poorly that isn’t saying much from a fantasy perspective. Add him in very deep leagues speculatively for now, and see how his production fairs with Kaepernick at the helm.

More Options: Adam Thielen, MIN (12% owned), Marqise Lee, JAX (10%), Jermaine Kearse, SEA (9%), Marquise Goodwin, BUF (7%), Darrius Heyward-Bey, PIT (3%), Ricardo Louis, CLE (2%)

That’s all for this week folks, hope you get everyone you claim! For all your WR waiver wire questions, read these articles each week and get at me on twitter @Ben_Ruppert_21. I am more than happy to lend a hand to hungry fantasy owners!