Top Players to Add in Week 7
A good draft makes a good team, but leagues are won and lost on the waiver wire. Injuries happen, and stars emerge from the ashes. Successfully navigating the waters of the waiver wire will lead to a winning season. Here are my top five targets this week to help you navigate through the wire.
An important thing to consider is there could be some players rostered in over 50% of leagues that are available on waivers. Be vigilant and watch your league’s Free Agency pools looking for names that people gave up on too early.
Lots of byes this week including the Carolina Panthers, the Houston Texans, the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Jets, the Tennesse Titans, and the Cincinnati Bengals.
1. Jordan Mason – No matter how many times we hear it, it never gets any easier. Christian McCaffery is injured. At the time of writing this, we don’t know the extent of his injury or if he’ll miss any time, but better safe than sorry. For that reason, my number one waiver target is Jordan Mason. Mason saw 13 snaps after McCaffery’s injury, five more than backfield partner Elijah Mitchell. We’ve also seen Mason get some work in Week 5 in the blowout against the Dallas Cowboys where Mason tallied 69 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.
2. Craig Reynolds – Yes I’m writing about a Reynolds who plays for Detriot again. This time though, it’s about the running back, not the wide receiver. Craig Reynolds played 43 snaps in Week 6 and was the next man up after bell-cow back David Montgomery was injured. Reynolds carried the ball 10 times for a measly 15 yards. While the yards per carry leave a lot to be desired, we’ve seen the Lions value someone to pound the ball. Reynolds is a similar shape to Montgomery (5′ 11″, 216 lbs to Monty’s 5’11” 224 lbs). We also don’t know how injured Jahymr Gibbs is, but we know he’s hurt enough to miss last week’s game. Reynolds should continue to get opportunities and for that alone, he’s one of my top targets this week.
3. Curtis Samuel – While there was some excitement about Jahan Dotson being the number two in the offense early in the season Curtis Samuel has re-emerged. Samuel has out-targeted Dotson 11 to 6 over the last two weeks. Samuel also has a touchdown in each of the last three weeks. The Commanders have two favorable matchups coming up, first traveling to New York to face the Giants then home against the Philadelphia Eagles. The last time Samuel faced the Eagles he finished WR11.
4. Rashee Rice – In Week 6 Rashee Rice brought in all four of his targets for a career-high 72 yards. Rice continues to be involved in the offense and continues to get red zone looks, even if he didn’t score a touchdown this week. The most targeted wide receiver on a Patrick Mahomes-led offense continues to be worth a look and I’ll keep singing his praises until he meets the threshold to be off this list.
5. Chuba Hubbard – Chuba Hubbard is slightly over the threshold in Yahoo leagues but easily clears it in ESPN. I wrote about Hubbard last week but I’m bumping him up to the top five this week. With Miles Sanders missing last week Hubbard stepped into the role with no issues, putting up 88 rushing yards and a touchdown. Even in Week 5 with both Hubbard and Sanders active, Hubbard was on the field for more snaps and saw more carries than Sanders. Hubbard seems to be taking over the reins in this Carolina backfield.
Others Receiving Votes
Ezekiel Elliott, NE (40% ESPN, 43% Yahoo) – Ezekiel Elliott found the end zone for the first time as a New England Patriot. His seven carries are only three behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson’s ten carries last week. It seems like this backfield pair will each get their fair chance to carry the ball. Three of the next four games for the Patriots are against teams in the bottom half points allowed to running backs v BUF (22nd), @MIA (17th), vs WAS (14), vs IND (22nd).
Kareem Hunt, CLE (27% ESPN, 36% Yahoo) – The familiar face just needed the Bye week to remember everything he’s forgotten. Kareem Hunt ran the ball 12 times for 47 yards and a touchdown and brought in all three of his targets for 24 yards. While Jerome Ford still appears to be the lead back, Hunt has never had an issue being a productive second fiddle for Cleveland.
Latavius Murray, BUF (6% ESPN, 14% Yahoo) – With Damien Harris suffering a brutal injury this week Latavius Murray split backfield duties with James Cook. Both Murray and Cook were on the field for 30 snaps. Murray has 12 carries, just shy of Cook’s 14. I expect Murray to be the change of pace back in Buffalo and someone worth a roster spot in most leagues.
Elijah Mitchell, SF (27% ESPN, 28% Yahoo) – I’m higher on Jordan Mason than I am on Elijah Mitchell, but Mitchell is still worth a roster with Christian McCaffrey banged up.
Roschon Johnson, CHI (42% ESPN, 52% Yahoo) – was ruled out last week with a concussion. I expect him to suit up this week and fill in for Khalil Herbert who is on IR.
Josh Downs, IND (32% ESPN, 33% Yahoo) – Josh Downs had a season-low 21 yards in Week 6. The up to the Downs is he was targeted eight times, his second-highest this season. Downs continues to be the number two behind Michael Pittman Jr. and we’ll continue to chase that volume.
Justice Hill, BAL (32% ESPN, 42% Yahoo) – Justice Hill had eight rushing attempts for 35 yards last week. His snap count continues to be lower than Gus Edwards (27 snaps to 44) but HIll continues to be involved. This backfield is messy but Hill can be considered in deeper leagues.
Kendrick Bourne, NE (20% ESPN 17% Yahoo) – Kendrick Bourne finished top-5 back in Week 5, then finished in the wasteland between WR 50-WR70 from Weeks 2 through 5. He finally bounced back in Week 6 finishing as WR9 before MNF when he brought in 10 of 11 targets for 89 yards. The New England offense looks bleak, but Bourne can be considered in deeper leagues for his targets alone.
Streaming Positions
Tight End
Michael Mayer, NO (1% ESPN, 5% Yahoo) – With spooky season in full effect Michael Mayer(s) saw six targets this week, bringing in five of them for 75 yards. With Mayer having 39 yards last week this continues to be a trend to get him more involved in the Raiders offense. The TE5 (before MNF) should be a priority target for any TE-needy team.
Quarterback
Sam Howell, WAS (19% ESPN, 38% Yahoo) – Sam Howell now has back-to-back finishes as QB5 (before this week’s MNF). Next two weeks he plays @NYG then the Commanders host the Eagles, two favorable matches he can take advantage of.
Defense
Cleveland Browns (21%) face the Indianapolis Colts, a week after Garnder Minshew threw three interceptions.
Indianapolis Colts (7%) face the Cleveland Browns, the Colts have a turnover in every game and have the fifth most sacks in the league.
(Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire)