Analysis
10/16/23
7 min read
2023 Fantasy Football: NFL Week 7 Waiver Wire Targets
Welcome to The 33rd Team’s fantasy football waiver wire article. The players listed below are recommended acquisitions in points-per-reception (PPR) and half-PPR scoring formats. The list will be updated as news breaks throughout the week.
Unless otherwise stated, players listed below are available in at least 50 percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues unless otherwise stated.
>>READ: Takeaways From Every Week 6 Game
Top Waiver Wire Options
Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins RB
16 percent of current Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB)
Jeff Wilson Jr. (ribs/finger) remains inexcusably available in more than 46 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues after logging three Week 6 Limited Participant practice designations in his return from injured reserve. The promising step signals Week 7 activation as a double-digit ball carrier in Miami’s high-powered offense.
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers RB
14 percent of current FAAB
Chuba Hubbard played well in a full-time role with No. 1 RB Miles Sanders (shoulder) sidelined. Hubbard’s range of outcomes is wide; Sanders has the Week 7 bye to heal, but coach Frank Reich could choose to install Hubbard as the rest-of-season starter based on his superior dual-threat skillset.
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers TE
14 percent of current FAAB
Pat Freiermuth is expected to return from his Week 4 hamstring strain and is available in at least 45 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues. He faces the Los Angeles Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars’ welcoming tight end-coverage units in Weeks 7 and 8, respectively.
Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders TE
Nine percent of current FAAB
Rookie TE Michael Mayer ran a career-high 22 routes in Week 6 while averaging 3.00 YPRR over the past two weeks.
Keaontay Ingram, Arizona Cardinals RB
Nine percent of current FAAB
Keaontay Ingram functioned as the primary rusher and scoring-position running back in Week 6 while splitting passing-down repetitions with Emari Demercado.
Zach Evans, Los Angeles Rams RB
Nine percent of current FAAB
Los Angeles Nos. 1 and 2 RBs Kyren Williams (ankle sprain) and Ronnie Rivers (PCL sprain) are “going to be out for a little bit”, per coach Sean McVay. No. 3 rookie RB Zach Evans elevates to the No. 1 spot in Week 7.
Craig Reynolds, Detroit Lions RB
Six percent of current FAAB
Detroit No. 1 RB David Montgomery suffered a rib cartilage injury and is expected to miss at least one week. Per Doctor of Physical Therapy Adam Hutchison’s Injury Index, the position averages 2.1 weeks missed due to nonspecific rib injuries.
Jahmyr Gibbs hasn't practiced since suffering a hamstring strain in practice before Week 5. Running backs average 2.8 weeks missed due to the injury, and he has yet to resume practicing. Reynolds faces a stout Baltimore defense in Week 7.
Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants WR
Seven percent of current FAAB
Wan’Dale Robinson is a high-floor PPR WR3 whose ceiling continues to rise with improved health following his 2022 ACL reconstruction.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts WR
Six percent of current FAAB
Rookie WR Josh Downs made good on last week’s listing, securing five of eight targets for 21 receiving yards and one touchdown and had already leapfrogged teammate Alec Pierce prior to Pierce’s fourth-quarter shoulder injury.
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints WR
Six percent of current FAAB
Speedy field stretcher Rashid Shaheed enters a four-week stretch against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings’ welcoming pass defenses.
Jordan Mason, San Francisco 49ers RB
11 percent of current FAAB
Jordan Mason (5-foot-11, 218 pounds) trampled opposing defenses in Weeks 4-6 while No. 2 RB Elijah Mitchell nursed a knee injury. Mason's 5.9 yards per rushing attempt rank fifth, and his 3.56 yards after contact per rushing attempt rank seventh among 38 NFL running backs with at least 18 rushing attempts during that span. Christian McCaffrey suffered a Week 6 oblique strain and will likely be limited or fully rested through the team’s Week 9 bye.
Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns RB
Four percent of current FAAB
RB Kareem Hunt is pushing Jerome Ford for playing time following Ford’s underwhelming fill-in-starter results.
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Stash These Players Now
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers RB
Nine percent of current FAAB
Mitchell logged consecutive Limited Participant practice designations ahead of his Week 6 return from a multiweek knee injury but was bottled up for -3 yards on two attempts. His explosive rushing style can deliver results on a small workload. Monitoring practice reports will be crucial for fantasy managers who add him.
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions WR
Six percent of current FAAB
WR Jameson Williams’ success on limited opportunities bodes well for his Week 8 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Royce Freeman, Los Angeles Rams RB
Six percent of current FAAB
Veteran RB Royce Freeman will likely operate as a part-time rusher while handling pass-protection duties, giving him the opportunity to earn a small target share.
Malik Willis, Tennessee Titans QB
Six percent of current FAAB
Starting QB Ryan Tannehill likely suffered a high-ankle sprain to his surgically repaired right ankle, signaling an extended absence. Malik Willis replaced him in Week 6, teasing fantasy managers with a tantalizing 5.7 yards per rushing attempt (three rushing attempts), but his 44.4 percent sack rate looms like an ominous albatross. Willis is a highly volatile QB2.
Will Levis, Tennessee Titans QB
One percent of current FAAB
Willis’ sack issues could lose him the job quickly, and the Titans could look toward Will Levis.
Salvon Ahmed, Miami Dolphins RB
One percent of current FAAB
Salvon Ahmed slides into the No. 3 role, with Wilson set to return in Week 7 and Chris Brooks injuring his ankle.
Chris Brooks, Miami Dolphins RB
Zero percent of current FAAB
Brooks (6-foot-1, 223 pounds) flashed impressive dual-threat talents before being carted away with a likely high-ankle sprain. Brooks should only added by fantasy managers who can place him immediately in an Injured Reserve roster spot.
Streaming Options
Quarterbacks
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints vs Jacksonville Jaguars
Six percent of current FAAB
As detailed in Takeaways From Every Week 6 Game, Derek Carr’s (Week 3 AC joint sprain) arm strength continues to improve. Jacksonville allows 270.33 passing yards per game to opposing quarterbacks, the second-most in the NFL.
Defenses
Green Bay Packers D/ST at Denver Broncos
Four percent of current FAAB
The Green Bay Packers’ 33.3 percent quarterback pressure rate ties for No. 6 among NFL teams, and Denver Broncos QB Russell Wilson’s 9.3 percent sack rate ranks seventh highest among 33 NFL quarterbacks with at least 75 dropbacks. No. 1 CB Jaire Alexander (back injury) was a limited practice participant in Week 5, prior to the team’s Week 6 bye.
Looking Ahead to Week 8
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Chicago Bears
Zero percent of current FAAB
The Los Angeles Chargers face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7, reducing all rostership competition for the unit to nonexistence. Chicago QB Justin Fields dislocated his throwing-hand thumb in Week 6. The sack-prone quarterback’s status remains uncertain.
Tight Ends
Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos
Six percent of current FAAB
Rookie TE Luke Musgrave emerges from the team’s Week 6 bye against a Denver defense that is allowing a league-high 84.1 percent tight end catch rate and 12.3 yards per tight end reception, the third-highest in the league.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons
One percent of current FAAB
Atlanta's 78.3 percent tight end catch rate allowed is tied for seventh-highest in the league, and five of the 12 worst teams in this statistic are on bye.
Kicker
Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs
Three percent of current FAAB
Los Angeles (388.75, No. 3) and Kansas City (382.33, No. 5) boast top-five offensive yards per game offenses. The game’s 50.5-point FanDuel over/under is the second-highest on the week.
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