Don’t look now, but we’re nearly halfway through the 2023 fantasy football season as Week 7 quickly approaches. Scouring the waiver wire has never been more prudent.
After being blessed with just two teams on a bye, this week won’t be as kind. There are six teams off this week, several of which boast superior fantasy talent. Teams on a bye in Week 7 include the Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Priority Free Agents
1a. RB Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Starter Khalil Herbert is on the Reserve/Injured list for at least three more games and while Johnson was inactive due to a concussion in Week 6, there’s a chance he returns this week. If he does, he’s a solid RB3 with upside with the chance to carve out a bigger role even when Herbert returns.
Availability: 48%
FAAB: 30%
1b. RB Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins
Wilson was close to making his season debut in Week 6, but the Dolphins decided against activating him. He should be ready to go this week and will factor into the backfield rotation immediately, offering some flex value with upside as he works alongside Raheem Mostert. Things will get a bit murky when rookie De’Von Achane returns, but Wilson is a startable asset for the immediate future on an elite offense.
Availability: 48%
FAAB: 30%
3. RBs Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
It isn’t clear how serious the oblique injury is for Christian McCaffrey, so these two likely will be high-priority additions. Mitchell is likely to get the first crack at the lead role if McCaffrey misses time, but Mason is also worthy of an addition. The latter took five carries for 27 rushing yards and a touchdown. It will be a split backfield if CMC is out, but they both carry flex value. Because it’s not totally clear what that split would look like, the FAAB suggestion applies to both players.
Availability: Mitchell (72%), Mason (94%)
FAAB: 20%
4. RB Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
We’ve talked about Warren plenty in this piece over the last few weeks. He’s carving out a bigger role each week and is playing the valuable snaps as a receiver. With the bye week now behind him, Warren can provide flex value with RB2 upside in certain weeks.
Availability: 40%
FAAB: 20%
5. WR Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
The rookie wideout has been a stash for us over the last few weeks. The injury to Justin Watson may allow for a slightly bigger role even if the Chiefs will continue to rotate their wide receivers. Rice has been the best receiver in the offense by far this season. Among the team’s wide receivers, he leads the way in receptions (21), receiving yards (245) and touchdowns (two) despite running the seventh-most routes on the entire offense. It’s only a matter of time before Rice sees a bigger role.
Availability: 55%
FAAB: 20%
6. RB Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions
David Montgomery went down with an injury in Week 6, and Reynolds wound up leading the backfield in snaps. The severity of Montgomery’s injury is unknown, so we’ll adjust when that news comes in, but Reynolds will be one of the top additions this week. Even if rookie Jahmyr Gibbs returns in Week 7 from a hamstring injury, Reynolds still has a safe role as the early-down back. If both Montgomery and Gibbs are out, Reynolds has immediate value as a volume flex play.
Availability: 98%
FAAB: 15%
7. WR Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders
Over the last three weeks, Samuel has posted double-digit fantasy points in each game. That helps when finding the end zone in all three games, but his usage is interesting enough to warrant flex value. In that span, he’s posted per-game target shares of 21%, 15% and 19%, respectively. With some favorable matchups coming up, Samuel is worth a look for those in need of depth at wide receiver.
Availability: 66%
FAAB: 10%
8. RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Denver Broncos
McLaughlin has been a waiver add over the last few weeks and with Samaje Perine dealing with an injury, there’s a chance the rookie seized the RB2 share. The severity of Perine’s injury is unknown, and he’s had some extra time to heal. But McLaughlin is clearly the most explosive back in the room right now, and he has flex value if Perine misses time.
Availability: 46%
FAAB: 10%
9. WR Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants
The second-year wideout is clearly the top target in the Giants offense. That might be aided by a ridiculously low average depth of target, but the usage gives Robinson some flex value. Since making his debut in Week 3, Robinson has posted a 20% target share, and he has fully taken over the starting slot role. With bye weeks hitting hard, Robinson is a solid volume flex play, especially in full-PPR leagues.
Availability: 82%
FAAB: 10%
10. RB Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
Hubbard would be higher on this list if he wasn’t on a bye in Week 7. While it isn’t clear when Miles Sanders will return from a shoulder injury following the bye, Hubbard made a case to carve out a bigger role in the backfield. He took 19 carries for 88 rushing yards and a touchdown and enters Monday night as the RB7 in half-point scoring. Some managers can’t hold him through the bye week, but it could pay off for those that do.
Availability: 41%
FAAB: 10%
Grab-n-Stash
WR Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts
The rookie found the end zone for the first time in his career, which salvaged his game in Week 7. The upcoming schedule for the Colts is difficult for wide receivers, so Downs is a flex play, at best. But for those in need, he’s a worthy bye-week replacement.
Availability: 67%
FAAB: 5%
RB Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
Holding Spears through the bye week might not be possible, but he continues to see more snaps than Derrick Henry as the Titans find themselves in negative game scripts. He has some standalone flex value with upside if something happens to Henry.
Availability: 52%
FAAB: 5%
RB Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens
The rookie was activated but didn’t see any snaps in Week 6. The Ravens backfield lacks explosiveness, which is exactly where Mitchell excels. He’s a stash until he carves out a role, but it could come soon.
Availability: 80%
FAAB: 3%
RB Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns
Hunt had his best game of the season in Week 6, posting a 12-47-1 rushing line while adding three receptions for 24 receiving yards. This is still a split backfield led by Jerome Ford, but Hunt may be earning more work.
Availability: 64%
FAAB: 3%
WR Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers
The rookie slot receiver has shown flashes to begin the season and now has the bye week behind him. He can serve as a solid bye-week replacement option in an offense that loves to throw the ball.
Availability: 80%
FAAB: 3%
RB Devin Singletary, Houston Texans
Singletary saw a season-high 12 carries in Week 6. He probably shouldn’t be rostered through the bye week, but monitor this backfield split in Houston coming out of the bye.
Availability: 87%
FAAB: 1%
Streamers of the Week
QB Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos: Coming out of the bye week, Love is a strong streaming option against a Broncos defense allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to the position.
Availability: 36%
QB Sam Howell, Washington Commanders at New York Giants: Though the Giants looked decent against the Buffalo Bills in Week 7, they aren’t a scary matchup, and Howell has been a top-10 fantasy quarterback in each of the last two weeks.
Availability: 62%
TE Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos: We’re sticking with Green Bay here and recommending the rookie tight end. He has a solid 15% target share and takes on a defense allowing the most PPR points per game to opposing tight ends.
Availability: 82%
TE Jonnu Smith, Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The matchup isn’t all that appealing, but Smith has at least four receptions and a double-digit target share in all but one game this season.
Availability: 81%
Washington Commanders D/ST at New York Giants: The Commanders should have no issues with a Giants offense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing defenses.
Availability: 69%
Cleveland Browns D/ST at Indianapolis Colts: Without Anthony Richardson, the Colts offense lacks an explosive element. Meanwhile, the Browns are coming off an impressive outing in which they shutdown the San Francisco 49ers offense, albeit one ravaged by injuries. Expect them to keep rolling on the road.
Availability: 72%
PK Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Rams: Coming out of the bye week, Boswell has three finishes inside the top 10, and the Rams are allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing kickers.
Availability: 93%
PK Brandon McManus, Jacksonville Jaguars at New Orleans Saints: On a short week, points will be at a premium in this game. McManus is a perfect 12-for-12 on field-goal attempts, and New Orleans has allowed the ninth-most field-goal attempts this season.
Availability: 75%
