10 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets Heading Into Week 7

With Week 6 almost behind us, we are now approaching the halfway point of the fantasy football regular season.

There are six teams on a bye in Week 7: Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, New York Jets, and Tennessee Titans.

As you navigate the bye-week gauntlet, bench spots are at a premium, every win counts, and balancing short-term and long-term potential is important.

With that in mind, here are some of the best additions you can make to your squads heading into Week 7.

10 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets

Quarterbacks

Sam Howell, Commanders

Sam Howell has been mentioned in this piece before and, if he is still available in your league, is my preferred quarterback pickup this week.

Outside of his Week 3 disaster against the Buffalo Bills, Howell has been one of the best late-round signal callers for fantasy this season.

In Week 6, Howell registered a clean, efficient performance in a 24-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons, completing 14 of 23 attempts (60.9%) for 151 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. In his three appearances since losing to Buffalo, Howell has thrown 6 touchdowns and just 1 interception. For the season he has completed 145 of 214 attempts (67.8%) for 1,500 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. He is also averaging 17.3 rushing yards per game.

In Week 7, Howell will travel to face a New York Giants defense coming off an impressive performance against the Bills in Week 6. Before holding Buffalo to 14 points, the Giants had allowed each of their previous five opponents to score at least 24 points.

It's not a perfect matchup, but with six teams on bye, Howell has shown enough to deserve streamer consideration in Week 7.

Others to Consider:

Derek Carr (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars), Desmond Ridder (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Daniel Jones (vs. Washington Commanders)

Running Backs

Elijah Mitchell and Jordan Mason, 49ers

Christian McCaffrey suffered an oblique injury during Week 6's loss to the Browns and did not return. Following McCaffrey's exit, Jordan Mason took on a larger role, turning 5 carries into 27 rushing yards and 1 touchdown. Elijah Mitchell, who was active on Sunday for the first time since Week 3 after missing time with a knee injury, gained -3 yards on 2 carries. Neither player saw a target.

If McCaffrey is forced to miss time, Mitchell and Mason project for sizable roles in one of the best offenses in the league. The Browns held the 49ers in check in Week 6, but the Minnesota Vikings are unlikely to replicate that success in Week 7.

In the past, when both players have been active, Mitchell has operated as the number two option behind McCaffrey and ahead of Mason. Mitchell's lack of involvement in Week 6 could be due to his recent return from injury, but Mason has played well over the past two weeks with 15 carries for 96 yards and 2 touchdowns.

If healthy, Mitchell will likely have the inside track to the largest role in the backfield, but he has routinely missed time with injuries himself. For now, both players are priority pickups for their short-term outlook and long-term potential if McCaffrey is forced to miss an extended amount of time.

Roschon Johnson, Bears

Roschon Johnson missed Week 6 with a concussion, but his short-term outlook improved last Friday when the Bears placed Khalil Herbert on injured reserve with a high-ankle sprain. The earliest Herbert can return is Week 10, providing Johnson with a three-game window to operate as the Bears' lead back once he clears concussion protocol.

With Herbert and Johnson sidelined in Week 6, D'Onta Foreman led the way in Chicago's backfield, turning 15 carries into 65 yards. Foreman will likely remain involved moving forward, but he had been a healthy scratch for the past four weeks and should operate behind Johnson.

Johnson has been involved in both phases of the Bears offense this season, registering 122 rushing yards and 1 touchdown on 25 carries and catching 11 of 12 targets for 58 receiving yards.

Johnson's outlook is dimmed by Justin Fields' thumb injury, but he should be significantly involved in the Bears' offense for their Week 7 clash with the Las Vegas Raiders and a Week 8 game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Both teams rank inside the bottom 10 in rush defense, according to numberFire's schedule-adjusted metrics.

Craig Reynolds, Lions

David Montgomery left Sunday's game against Tampa Bay in the second quarter with a rib injury and did not return. As of Monday morning, the severity of the injury is unknown, but with rookie Jahmyr Gibbs already sidelined with a hamstring injury, Detroit's backfield could be without both of its top two options.

With Montgomery out, Reynolds was ineffective on the ground, recording 15 rushing yards on 10 carries, but did catch both of his targets for 28 receiving yards.

In Week 7, the Lions face the Baltimore Ravens before a Week 8 clash with the Raiders. The Ravens present a difficult challenge, but if Montgomery and Gibbs are both out, Reynolds will be in line for an expanded role on one of the better offenses in the league. If he maintains that role for Week 8, he will have an excellent matchup against a Raiders' run defense ranked 29th, per numberFire.

Reynolds' outlook is directly tied to the status of Montgomery and Gibbs, but if both are out, he can provide you with a solid short-term option over the next two weeks.

Latavius Murray, Bills

Damien Harris suffered a neck injury on his first carry of the game in the second quarter and did not return. He was taken to the hospital and reportedly has "full movement" and is "seemingly heading in a good direction", according to Sean McDermott.

Following Harris' exit, the Bills' backfield, which had involved three players all season, operated with just Murray and James Cook. Cook out touched Murray 14 to 12 and outproduced him (71 rushing yards to 45 rushing yards), but Murray handled all of the Bills' attempts inside the five-yard line.

If Harris is sidelined for an extended period of time, and Murray maintains this role, he has an opportunity to be the most productive running back in Buffalo's backfield. While Cook has been more efficient this season (4.8 yards per carry to 4.1), the Bills have indicated that they prefer Murray around the goal line.

Moving forward, Murray projects to have the goal line role in one of the league's best offenses while also seeing 35% to 50% of the carries. That is a valuable role, and Murray needs to be rostered in all leagues.

In Week 7, the Bills are nine-point favorites over the New England Patriots.

Kareem Hunt, Browns

Kareem Hunt saw his largest role of the season for Cleveland in Week 6, setting season-highs in rushing attempts (12) and receptions (3). Hunt's increase in opportunities coincided with Pierre Strong Jr. seeing zero carries for the first time since Week 1.

Jerome Ford still led Cleveland in carries (17) and rushing yards (84), but Hunt was more impactful in the passing game and scored the Browns' only touchdown on a 16-yard run. Since Nick Chubb's injury, the Browns have said they want Ford to be the lead back, but Hunt has familiarity with the offense and could continue to carve out a larger role for himself as the season progresses.

Ford should remain the lead back, but if Cleveland's backfield is reduced to two players, Hunt needs to be rostered in all leagues. During the bye weeks, he can provide a spot start and he has contingent upside if Ford were to ever miss time.

Others to Consider:

Jaleel McLaughlin (vs. Green Bay), Chuba Hubbard (bye), Devin Singletary (bye), Zach Evans (vs. Pittsburgh), Keaontay Ingram (at Seattle), Tyjae Spears (bye)

Wide Receivers

Rashee Rice, Chiefs

After a dip in his involvement in Week 5, Rashee Rice bounced back in Week 6, catching all four of his targets for 72 yards. Those 72 yards were second on the team behind only Travis Kelce.

The Chiefs' commitment to utilizing a rotation at wide receiver makes it difficult to have weekly confidence in Rice, but as a rookie, he has the potential to grow into a larger role down the stretch. Also working in his favor is the relative lack of success the Chiefs' offense has had this season.

Despite being 5-1, the Chiefs are averaging just 24.5 points per game, down from 29.2 last season. If you remove their 41-point game against the Bears, that number drops to 21.2. The wins have been there thanks to an improved defense, but the Chiefs are not having the kind of success on offense that they are used to.

At some point, that should prompt them to more consistently utilize their most impactful players. Rice is one of those players and is an excellent bench stash in hopes that he does eventually lock down a role as a full-time player in a passing game led by Patrick Mahomes.

Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants

With Tyrod Taylor under center in Week 5, Wan'Dale Robinson led the Giants in targets (8) and receptions (8), resulting in 62 yards.

It was the continuation of a positive trend for Robinson, who has been consistently involved since he made his season debut in Week 3. In the four games since, Robinson has caught 22 of 25 targets for 141 yards. He is now second on the Giants in receptions, behind only Darren Waller, and third in targets and receiving yards.

This impact mirrors the success he saw last year as a rookie before suffering a season-ending knee injury. So far in his career, when Robinson has been on the field, he has been a reliable pass-catcher, something the Giants desperately need.

Moving forward, Robinson has the opportunity to emerge from a crowded Giants' wide receiver group and become a near full-time player for a team that could be consistently chasing games.

Robinson is a far better option in full PPR leagues than half, and in those leagues, he is an option to consider during the bye-week gauntlet. In Week 7 the Giants face a Commanders' pass defense ranked 22nd in numberFire's metrics.

Others to Consider:

Curtis Samuel (at New York Giants), Josh Downs (vs. Cleveland), Jameson Williams (at Baltimore), Michael Wilson (at Seattle)

Tight Ends

Luke Musgrave, Packers

The first bye week of a rookie's career can sometimes lead to an increased role. While it isn't a guarantee, the bye week provides teams with additional time to further integrate their less-experienced players into their plans.

Luke Musgrave was already significantly involved in Green Bay's offense before their bye, registering a 15% target share and running a route on 67% of the team's drop backs. Those averages included Week 4 when Musgrave suffered a concussion and was forced to exit early.

Any increase in Musgrave's involvement would likely place him into top 10 weekly consideration at the tight end position. This week he gets one of the premier matchups in all of fantasy football -- the Denver Broncos.

Even without an uptick in his role, Musgrave would be in streamer consideration this week. The potential for an increase on top of that makes him an exciting addition coming out of the bye week.

Others to Consider:

Michael Mayer (at Chicago), Trey McBride (at Seahawks), Logan Thomas (at Giants)

Defenses

Cleveland Browns

Few units had a more impressive Week 6 than the Cleveland D/ST. Cleveland held a previously red-hot 49ers offense to just 17 points and caused Brock Purdy to struggle for the first time this season. The Browns' three sacks and one interception didn't produce a week-winning fantasy point total, but it reaffirmed their position as one of the elite defenses in the NFL.

Week 6's performance was a continuation of what has been an exceptional start to the season for Cleveland's defense. Through five games, they are conceding just 13.0 points per game and averaging 3.0 sacks and 0.8 turnovers per contest. Next up? A clash with the Indianapolis Colts led by Gardner Minshew, who just tossed three interceptions in Week 6.

Looking ahead, over their next six games, Cleveland has several favorable matchups, including games against the Cardinals, Steelers, and Broncos.

It may only be Week 7, but if you have an eye on the fantasy football playoffs already, from Week 15 to 17, Cleveland faces Chicago, Houston, and the Jets.

If they are available, they should be a high-priority addition.

Others to Consider:

Los Angeles Rams D/ST (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers), Las Vegas D/ST (at Chicago), Seattle D/ST (vs. Arizona)

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.