For the first time this season, we have four teams on byes this week: the Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks.
Expect heated competition on waivers this week as many look to stream replacements for bye-week players.
But not to worry. Each week I break down top waiver-wire targets to help your fantasy team navigate byes, injuries, suspensions, running-back committees and probably some relationship problems along the way.
I highlight players who are owned in fewer than 50% of ESPN fantasy leagues. I also recommend an auction price (in parentheses) for each player for leagues using a Free Agent Acquisition Budget system (which I highly recommend, by the way). All recommendations are made based on a $100 FAAB budget.
Notable Injuries to Monitor
The following players have been designated as questionable for Week 7:
For updates throughout the week, check out our NFL Injury Report.
It’s Cuffing Season
In life there are few absolute certainties: Death, taxes and fantasy football injuries. In this section, I highlight players to target on waivers when top players inevitably get hurt or suspended.
Austin Hooper, TE, Atlanta Falcons ($6)
Hooper earned double-digit targets for the second straight game, hauling in nine passes for 71 yards and a touchdown against the Buccaneers this past Sunday. He could sustain that kind of volume as Calvin Ridley (ankle) and Mohamed Sanu (hip) both suffered injuries in Week 6.
If you’re looking for a replacement for Jared Cook or Vance McDonald, who are on byes this week, look no further than Hooper. He faces the mediocre Giants defense and offers top-10 fantasy upside.
Jermaine Kearse, WR, New York Jets ($5)
After a slow start to 2018, Kearse finally broke through in Week 6 with a 9-94-0 receiving performance on 10 targets. Quincy Enunwa hurt his ankle in the Jets’ win over the Colts, and preliminary reports indicate the injury could be serious. If Enunwa misses time, Kearse would be in line for an expanded role in the Jets offense.
Entering last week, Enunwa had accounted for 25.4% of the Jets’ target market share while operating primarily out of the slot. Sam Darnold has demonstrated a preference to target slot receivers this season, which makes Kearse’s upside rather intriguing if he replaces Enunwa at that spot.
Consider a speculative add in deeper leagues contingent on Enunwa’s status this week.
Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
C.J. Uzomah, TE, Cincinnati Bengals ($3)
Uzomah posted a 6-54-0 receiving line in Week 6 and is a nice backup option if you’re unable to snag Hooper off waivers. Uzomah is the Bengals’ lone remaining receiving tight end after losing Tyler Eifert (ankle) and Tyler Kroft (foot) in back-to-back weeks.
Uzomah earned seven targets against the Steelers, and draws a nice matchup against the Chiefs this week. Kansas City is allowing the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this season, making Uzomah a nice upside play in a pinch.
Top Streaming Quarterback Options
Each week, I highlight top quarterback streaming options for Late Round QB-truthers. These quarterbacks are week-to-week options and are not necessarily viable long term.
Mitchell Trubisky, QB, Chicago Bears ($3)
Trubisky played well (again) in Chicago’s loss to Miami. For the second straight week of action (and coming off a bye), Trubisky threw for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns en route to back-to-back top-five fantasy QB performances. He also added 47 rushing yards, bringing his two-game rushing total to 100 yards.
Trubisky has quickly become the 2018 version of Blake Bortles: A quarterback who possesses crucial rushing upside with enough passing potential to deliver big performances with advantageous matchups.
This week, Trubisky draws the Patriots, who have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season.
Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys ($1)
Just when everyone (myself included) had pronounced the Cowboys’ offense dead on arrival, Dallas trounced Jacksonville 40-7 at home.
Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
The Cowboys’ offensive revival was spearheaded by Prescott, who rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown. He’s been a reliable streaming quarterback option over the past few seasons due to his rushing upside but had disappointed through the first five weeks of 2018. After finally breaking through in Week 6, here’s hoping that Jason Garrett and Scott Linehan continue to let Dak run more.
The Cowboys face the Redskins this week. Washington is allowing the ninth-most rushing yards to quarterbacks.
Buy and Hold
The following players with season-long upside deserve immediate roster consideration.
Marlon Mack, RB, Indianapolis Colts ($15)
Mack finally returned from a nagging hamstring injury and delivered an 89-yard rushing performance against the Jets. Mack was the Colts’ presumed No. 1 running back throughout the offseason, and Indianapolis desperately needs a rushing presence. Rookie Jordan Wilkins has not looked impressive, Nyheim Hines is better suited as a change-of-pace back and Robert Turbin (shoulder) left Week 6 due to injury.
The Colts have featured a pass-heavy offensive philosophy this season but might look to the healthy Mack to restore some rushing balance. Mack is a speculative add this week with marginal seasonlong upside, but running backs always come at a premium in fantasy football.
Consider spending modestly, and hope he develops into a viable flex option.
Taylor Gabriel, WR, Chicago Bears ($14)
Gabriel has posted back-to-back 100-yard receiving games thanks to the Bears’ marked improvement in the passing game. Entering Week 6, he was averaging more than seven targets per game and was tied for the team-lead in opportunities inside the 10-yard line.
While Gabriel has excelled in Chicago’s past two games, No. 1 wide receiver Allen Robinson has only managed seven receptions for 87 yards combined against the Bucs and the Dolphins.
Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports
Gabriel could be poised for a stellar second half of the season in Matt Nagy’s offense and offers upside as a flex option.
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers ($12)
Godwin posted a 6-56-1 receiving line this past week on nine targets and has scored a touchdown in four of five games this season.
The Buccaneers have consistently targeted Godwin as their premier red-zone option, and he dominates the team in targets inside the 10-yard line (six). No other Buccaneers receiver has more than one.
Godwin is not a high-volume receiver, which limits his fantasy floor each week. But his touchdown upside makes him a nice week-to-week flex candidate.
Christian Kirk, WR, Arizona Cardinals ($10)
After a 6-77-0 receiving performance against the Vikings, Kirk has officially separated himself as the Cardinals receiver to own.
Entering Week 6, Kirk had taken the team lead in target market share (23.8%), with Larry Fitzgerald lagging behind at 18.8%. Kirk has at least 77 receiving yards in three of his past four games. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald has averaged only 27.8 yards per game since Week 2 and hasn’t cracked 39 yards receiving since Week 1.
As the Cardinals’ potential No. 1 receiving option, Kirk offers seasonlong upside as a high-floor flex option.
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The Watch List
Every week, I highlight players who should be on your watch list — players to monitor who aren’t necessarily worth an add this week but who could develop into viable season-long options. Current ESPN ownership percentage for each player is in parentheses.
- Albert Wilson, WR, Miami Dolphins (6.0%)
- Chester Rogers, WR, Indianapolis Colts (13.1%)
- Cole Beasley, WR, Dallas Cowboys (8.4%)
- Danny Amendola, WR, Miami Dolphins (26.6%)
- D.J. Moore, WR, Carolina Panthers (12.6%)
- Frank Gore, RB, Miami Dolphins (11.8%)
- Ito Smith, RB, Atlanta Falcons (13.7%)
- O.J. Howard, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (36.5%)
- Peyton Barber, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (43.0%)
- Tyrell Williams, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (2.9%)
- Willie Snead IV, WR, Baltimore Ravens (8.6%)
Pictured above: Christian Kirk
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
