Top Players to Add in Week 7
A great draft can make a great team, but leagues are won on the waiver wire. Injuries happen, top draft picks become busts, and no names become household names. Successfully navigating the waiver wire will lead to a winning season.
As a reminder, I’ll be covering Waivers every Tuesday morning right here on QBList.com. You can also catch me and Brian Hartman (aka @TooMuch_Brian) on the Waiver podcast every Tuesday morning and the Start/Sit podcast every Thursday morning, wherever you listen to podcasts. If you like my work, give me a follow on Twitter @marioadamojr. With that out of the way, let’s dive into it.
Here are my top five targets, as well as some honorable mentions, to help you win through the wire this week.
An important thing to consider: this article focuses on players who are rostered in 50% or fewer leagues. There could be players rostered in over 50% of leagues that are available in your league. Be vigilant; watch your league’s Free Agency pool and look for players who were given up on too early.
| Player | Position | Team | Roster % | Week 7 Opponent | |
| 1 | Germie Bernard | WR | PIT | 36% | @ NO |
| 2 | Roschon Johnson | RB | CHI | 8% | NE |
| 3 | Tyrone Tracy Jr. | RB | NYG | 5% | @ HOU |
| 4 | Keenan Allen | WR | IND | 44% | @ MIN |
| 5 | Colby Parkinson | TE | LAR | 4% | @ LV |
1. Germie Bernard – Put away the soap; we’re getting Germie. Germie Bernard has 12 targets this week, putting him in the top 10 of all WRs this week, and I’ll make the bold prediction he stays that way after Monday Night Football. While Michael Pittman Jr. is missing games, Bernard is looking like the number one fill-in. While I wouldn’t be surprised if Bernard’s targets never surpass D.K. Metcalf‘s, we’ve already seen that Aaron Rodgers can support two viable fantasy assets. Some haters might say that this bump is only because Pat Freiermuth was banged up this game. To those haters, I point out that Bernard also saw 9 targets last week. This is Katniss Everdeen, catching fire right before our eyes.
Bernard is my top waiver target heading into Week 7.
2. Roschon Johnson – Heading into Week 7, I predicted a D’Andre Swift would finish in the top ten. Although I nailed it, I made the mistake of not accounting for Roschon Johnson and his ability to hold his own. Johnson led the Bears backfield in rushing yards on three fewer carries than Swift and found the end zone. Ben Johnson has proven since his Detroit days that he firmly believes in spreading the rock. Swift will get a bulk, but never the full. If Kyle Monangai misses another game, which I expect he will, I have Johnson as a top 16 play next week.
Johnson is my top running back waiver target heading into Week 7.
3. Tyrone Tracy Jr. – Tyrone Tracy Jr.‘s viability all depends on just how deep in the doghouse Cam Skattebo is. Last week, Skattebo saw zero carries, zero targets, zero involvement. Head Coach John Harbaugh not playing his best player is the most egregious coaching malpractice to happen in the NFC East in the last two weeks. Tracy was horribly inefficient, rushing 6 times for 18 yards. To save his day, he ran in for a touchdown and added another through the air. If Tracy gets the bellcow treatment again, he should be poised for another top-10 finish. Monitor this situation carefully.
4. Keenan Allen – Like a classic pair of Levi’s, Keenan Allen is timeless. Allen’s game has always been a target monster, and this year is no different. Allen is averaging 8 targets per game, including 11, 9, and 9 in his last three games. Next week against Minnesota, I expect a lot of quick passes, meaning a lot of volume for Allen.
5. Colby Parkinson – It sounds like Terrance Ferguson will miss at least one more week. Not only that, but Davante Adams will miss 6-10 weeks due to a ruptured hamstring. Colby Parkinson is coming off of a season-high six targets, including one for a touchdown. The Rams face the Raiders this week, a good matchup for the position. I expect Parkinson to be a smash start this week and worthy of a waiver target.
Others Receiving Votes
Dameon Pierce, PHI (40% Rostered) – Dameon Pierce was a high target last week and continues to be a target this week. Monitor if Saquon Barkley practices this week; if he misses, Pierce should be in lineups once again.
Samaje Perine, CIN (6%) – Before the bye, Samaje Perine had his best game of the season. It will be interesting to see if he continues to steal work from fellow backfield mate Chase Brown. Perine is worth an add in deeper leagues or if you have the bench space.
DeMario Douglas, NE (8%) – Another player mentioned in last week’s piece, Super DeMario Douglas built upon his 20.5-week with another strong finish of 16.1, even with A.J. Brown back in the lineup. With Romeo Doubs hitting IR and set to miss at least four weeks, I expect Douglas to keep shining in this offense, especially as Drake Maye returns to his runner-up MVP self.
Malik Washington, MIA (42%) – Another name mentioned last week, Malik Washington and the Dolphins are back from their bye week and have a great matchup this week, traveling to New Jersey to face the Jets. After that is a tough matchup against the Patriots, but they are then blessed with four straight positive matchups: the Lions, the Colts, the Bills, and finally the Jets again. Grab Washington now while you can.
Omar Cooper Jr., NYJ (14%) – In his first game back since Week 1, Omar Cooper Jr. made an impression. Cooper brought in six of his seven targets for 103 yards and a touchdown, one of the better days we’ve seen for any rookie all season. I look to see if Cooper builds upon this next week as the Jets host the Dolphins.
Keon Coleman, BUF (41%) – Though the Bills are on bye this week, I consider Keon Coleman a decent speculative add in deep leagues. With uncertainty surrounding both DJ Moore and Dalton Kincaid, Coleman has been thriving. Coleman has a touchdown in each of the last three games; I expect his production to continue after the bye.
C.J. Stroud, HOU (48%) – C.J. Stroud is coming off of his second top-five performance in three weeks, just as he heads into a positive matchup against the Giants. Stroud and the Texans have a bye after that, but then face the Chargers in another positive matchup. Stroud is a great pickup this week and for the long haul.
Stroud is my top QB waiver target.
Tanner McKee, PHI (3%) – This may or may not be a homer pick, but Tanner McKee and the Eagles face the Cowboys this week. The Cowboys are objectively the worst defense across all four major sports. In deeper leagues where QBs are hoarded like dragon’s gold, I turn to McKee to unlock my problems at QB this week.
Michael Mayer, LV (9%) – It isn’t spooky season without a little Michael Mayer(s). Mayer has at least 10 points in three of his last four games. I expect defenses to continue to hone in on Brock Bowers, allowing Mayer to get his volume.
Hunter Henry, NE (54%) – Another player to benefit from A.J. Brown’s lack of hands is Hunter Henry. Henry has finished as a top-nine tight end in each of the last two weeks. While he has yet to surpass five targets in a game, the steadiness and consistency in which he gets his targets give me faith he can consistently produce.
Defense Wins Championships
The New York Jets (8%) face the Dolphins. Yes, the Dolphins are fresh off a bye; that doesn’t worry me. We continue to target the Dolphins as our first priority.
The Minnesota Vikings (65%) are the number one defense in fantasy and might have been dropped due to their bye. Check if they are available in your league. They face the Colts this week.
Finally, the Cleveland Browns (29%) face the Titans. Yes, the Titans are hot off a win, but I’m still happy to target them each week.
Photo by Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Aaron Polcare