As we head into Week 7, the good news is Rashee Rice is back for the Chiefs now that his six-game suspension is over. Fantasy managers should be getting a must-start receiver in Rice, which is a nice gift at this point in the season.
George Kittle (hamstring), Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Mike Evans (hamstring) could also be returning from injuries in Week 7. And hopefully we'll get some positive reports on guys who missed Week 6, including Brock Purdy (toe), Kyler Murray (foot), Chuba Hubbard (calf), CeeDee Lamb (ankle), Quentin Johnston (hamstring), Terry McLaurin (quadriceps), Darius Slayton (hamstring), Darnell Mooney (hamstring) and Brock Bowers (knee).
Unfortunately, some major injuries occurred in Week 6 that we now have to monitor, including Puka Nacua (foot), Garrett Wilson (knee), Marvin Harrison Jr. (concussion), Emeka Egbuka (hamstring), Jauan Jennings (ribs), Calvin Ridley (hamstring), David Njoku (knee) and Mike Gesicki (pectoral). It's a rough time with all these players hurt, and we have Baltimore and Buffalo on a bye.
The good news, as always, is there are players who can help you off the waiver wire. We now know Kimani Vidal is the best running back for the Chargers with Omarion Hampton (ankle) on injured reserve, and Zonovan Knight could be a flex option as the leading rusher for the Cardinals until Trey Benson (knee) returns.
Harold Fannin Jr. might be a must-start tight end if Njoku has to miss any time, and Michael Mayer could be a solid fill-in for Bowers (knee) if he remains out. I also like Aaron Rodgers as a streaming option at quarterback in Week 7 with his matchup against the Bengals.
Wide receiver doesn't have a must-start player to add this week, but it's worth adding guys like Kayshon Boutte, Josh Downs, Jalen Coker, Tutu Atwell, Elic Ayomanor, Zay Jones and Kameron Johnson. These receivers either played well in Week 6 (Boutte and Downs), have the chance for an increased role (Coker) or could make an impact moving forward due to injuries (Atwell, Ayomanor, Jones and Johnson).
Editor's note: For this waiver wire column, we are only looking at players rostered in less than 65 percent of CBS Sports leagues.
Week 7 Waivers
On a bye: Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.
Injuries: Lamar Jackson (hamstring), Kyler Murray (foot), Brock Purdy (toe), Joe Burrow (toe), Carson Wentz (shoulder), J.J. McCarthy (ankle) and Anthony Richardson (eye).
Check to see if available in shallow leagues: Brock Purdy (82 percent rostered) and Sam Darnold (67 percent). Purdy has the chance to return in Week 7, and he might be coming with reinforcements if George Kittle (hamstring) and Ricky Pearsall (knee) are healthy. The 49ers are second in the NFL in pass attempts (241) behind only Cleveland (249), and San Francisco might be throwing a lot all season with the defense down several stars. Purdy will likely be a low-end starter every week when healthy. … Darnold has scored at least 18.1 Fantasy points in five games in a row, including his past two with at least 24 points. He doesn't have an easy matchup in Week 7 against the Texans, who are coming off a bye. But Darnold is at home, where he's averaged 28.2 Fantasy points in his past two outings, and I would consider him a low-end starter in the majority of leagues in Week 7.
Drop candidates: Kyler Murray (89 percent rostered), Tua Tagovailoa (54 percent) and Geno Smith (41 percent). Murray (foot) might not play in Week 7 against Green Bay after sitting out in Week 6, and even if he's healthy, he'll be tough to trust against the Packers. Murray has scored 16.1 Fantasy points or less in three of his past four games. He then has a bye in Week 8, so if you need to drop Murray to add another quarterback for the next two weeks, it makes sense. … Tagovailoa melted down against the Chargers in Week 6 with 8.6 Fantasy points, which is the second time this season he's been held under 10 points. He only has two games this season with more than 20 Fantasy points, and you can't start him in one-quarterback leagues in Week 7 against Cleveland. … Smith had another interception in Week 6 against the Titans, which gives him 10 on the season and six in his past three outings. He's also scored 13.8 Fantasy points or less over that span, and he's not worth starting in Week 7 at Kansas City, even in Superflex leagues. The Raiders have a bye in Week 8, so Smith is easily droppable in all one-quarterback leagues.
Add in this order:Â
Week 7 Waiver Priority List
WAIVER WIRE
Running Backs
On a bye: James Cook, Ty Johnson, Ray Davis, Derrick Henry, Justice Hill and Keaton Mitchell.Â
Injuries: Omarion Hampton (ankle), Bucky Irving (shoulder), Chuba Hubbard (calf), Aaron Jones (hamstring), Trey Benson (knee), Emari Demercado (ankle), Joe Mixon (foot), Braelon Allen (knee) and MarShawn Lloyd (hamstring).
Check to see if available in shallow leagues: Kenneth Gainwell (71 percent rostred) and Kendre Miller (71 percent). Gainwell took a backseat to Jaylen Warren in his return from the knee injury that kept him out in Week 4, but Gainwell still had 12 total touches, including six catches on six targets. He scored 9.6 PPR points, and he can be a flex option in tandem with Warren moving forward if Gainwell continues to be this involved in the passing game. He's also a lottery ticket if Warren were to get hurt again and miss any time. … Miller continues to split time with Alvin Kamara, and Miller is a lottery ticket if Kamara were to miss any time or get traded. Miller had at least nine total touches for the fourth game in a row in Week 6 against New England, and he should be stashed on your bench in all leagues. He might even be a flex option in deeper formats in Week 7 against he Bears.
Drop candidates: Bhayshul Tuten (67 percent rostered), Hassan Haskins (66 percent), Tyrone Tracy Jr. (64 percent), Ollie Gordon II (52 percent) and Emari Demercado (47 percent). Tuten is someone I'd like to stash as a handcuff for Travis Etienne, but I can understand dropping Tuten given his lack of work. Tuten has been held to only five total touches in each of his past three games, and it doesn't appear like the Jaguars are going to dramatically increase his workload while Etienne is healthy. … Haskins might be worth holding onto as a handcuff for Kimani Vidal, but it's clear that Vidal is the lead running back for the Chargers while Hampton is out. In Week 6 at Miami in the first game without Hampton, Vidal had 21 total touches compared to just seven for Haskins. It's easy to drop Haskins in 10-team leagues. … Tracy returned from his two-game absence with a shoulder injury in Week 6 against Philadelphia and was clearly behind Cam Skattebo, who had 21 total touches. Tracy had four carries for 6 yards and no targets and is easy to drop in all 10-team leagues heading into Week 7 at Denver. … Gordon is a good handcuff to stash for De'Von Achane if you have an open roster spot, but Gordon will need Achane to miss time to be Fantasy relevant. In his past three games, Gordon has combined for just 11 carries for 9 yards and one catch for 1 yard on two targets. He's droppable in all redraft leagues. … Demercado hurt his ankle in Week 6 at the Colts and is now behind Zonovan Knight and Michael Carter on the depth chart. There's no reason to roster Demercado in the majority of leagues.
Add in this order:
Week 7 Waiver Priority List
WAIVER WIRE
Wide Receivers
On a bye: Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, Josh Palmer, Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins.
Injuries: Puka Nacua (foot), Marvin Harrison Jr. (concussion), Garrett Wilson (knee), CeeDee Lamb (ankle), Mike Evans (hamstring), Emeka Egbuka (hamstring), Chris Godwin (leg), Quentin Johnston (hamstring), Terry McLaurin (quadriceps), Ricky Pearsall (knee), Jauan Jennings (ribs), Calvin Ridley (hamstring), Tute Atwell (hamstring), Darius Slayton (hamstring), Darnell Mooney (hamstring), Calvin Austin III (shoulder), KeVontae Turpin (foot), Dontayvion Wicks (ankle), Cedric Tillman (hamstring), Jayden Reed (collarbone), Brandon Aiyuk (knee), Jalen Coker (quadriceps), Alec Pierce (concussion), Christian Watson (knee) and Jalen McMillan (neck).
Check to see if available in shallow leagues: Matthew Golden (79 percent rostered), Jerry Jeudy (79 percent), Cooper Kupp (77 percent), Tre Tucker (77 percent), Wan'Dale Robinson (73 percent), Rashid Shaheed (70 percent) and Kendrick Bourne (68 percent). Golden had his best Fantasy outing of the season in Week 6 against the Bengals with three catches for 86 yards on five targets and two carries for 16 yards. We'll see what happens when Christian Watson (knee) is back, but I want to stash Golden in all leagues where available. … Jeudy had 13 targets in Week 6 against Pittsburgh, and now David Njoku (knee) is hurt. I like Jeudy as a sleeper in Week 7 against Miami in what should be his best game of the season. … Kupp only had two catches for 40 yards on three targets in Week 6 at Jacksonville, but he scored his first touchdown of the season. He's now scored at least 11.9 PPR points in each of his past two games, and he's worth stashing in all leagues heading into Week 7 against he Rams. … Tucker had a solid game in Week 6 against Tennessee with five catches for 70 yards on five targets, and he's now scored at least 11.1 PPR points in three of his past five games. He might be the best receiver for the Raiders moving forward ahead of Jakobi Meyers, and Tucker could be a starter in three-receiver leagues heading into Week 7 at the Chiefs. … Robinson played great in the first game for the Giants without Malik Nabers (knee) and Darius Slayton (hamstring) in Week 6 against Philadelphia with six catches for 84 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. He now has 14 targets in his past two games, and he should continue to be a go-to option for Jaxson Dart for the rest of the year, even though Slayton could return in Week 7 at Denver. Robinson should be rostered in all leagues as a weekly No. 3 Fantasy receiver. … Shaheed only had four catches for 28 yards in Week 6 against New England, but he had six targets. He had at least five targets in every game this season, and he should continue to be a go-to option for the Saints. He's worth stashing in all leagues and could be a potential No. 3 Fantasy receiver for the rest of the year. … Bourne would be the No. 1 receiver to add if available, and he's been awesome in the past two games with 20 targets for 16 catches and 284 yards. We'll see what happens if George Kittle (hamstring) and Ricky Pearsall (knee) are able to return in Week 7, and Jauan Jennings (ribs) could also play this week. But I like Bourne as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in all leagues at the minimum against the Falcons in Week 7, and he should be added in all formats.
Drop candidates: Calvin Ridley (82 percent rostered), Travis Hunter (74 percent), Jauan Jennings (73 percent), Tyquan Thornton (65 percent) and Darnell Mooney (46 percent). Ridley left Week 6 at Las Vegas with a hamstring injury, and we don't know if he'll play in Week 7 against New England. When healthy, Ridley has scored 8.7 PPR points or less in five of six games this year. … Hunter had seven targets in Week 6 against Seattle, but he finished with four catches for 15 yards and has now scored 9.4 PPR points or less in every game this season. … Jennings is playing through a myriad of injuries, which now includes five broken ribs. He's been in and out of the lineup for the 49ers, and he scored 6.4 PPR points or less in all but one game this season. George Kittle (hamstring) and Ricky Pearsall (knee) could return in Week 7 for the 49ers, and Kendrick Bourne has now become a featured part of the offense. You can drop Jennings in all 10-team leagues. … Rashee Rice (suspension) is back for the Chiefs, and Thornton just had no targets in Week 6 against Detroit. His playing time is expected to diminish, and Thornton can be dropped in the majority of leagues. … We don't know when Mooney (hamstring) will return to action after missing Week 6 against Buffalo, but it's safe to drop him in all 10-team leagues heading into Week 7 against San Francisco. If Mooney returns to practice during the week then you can pick him back up if needed.
Add in this order:
Week 7 Waiver Priority List
On a bye: Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely
Injuries: David Njoku (knee), Brock Bowers (knee), George Kittle (hamstring), Mike Gesicki (pectoral), Brenton Strange (quadriceps) and Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle).
Check to see if available in shallow leagues: Kyle Pitts (75 percent rostered) and Jake Tonges (68 percent). I'll update this post after Monday night's game, but I expect Pitts to play well against the Bills and be worth adding in all leagues. … Kittle could return in Week 7 against the Falcons, but if he remains out then Tonges could be a starter in all leagues. In his past three games, Tonges has 23 targets for 16 catches, 157 yards and two touchdowns, and he scored at least 11.8 PPR points in each outing.
Drop candidates: Mark Andrews (80 percent rostered), Juwan Johnson (46 percent) and Isaiah Likely (29 percent). Andrews and Likely are not worth holding on your roster with Baltimore on a bye in Week 7. We'll see if Lamar Jackson (hamstring) will return as expected in Week 8, and then you can add either one back to your Fantasy team if needed. For the season, Andrews has scored 6.6 PPR points or less in four of six games, and Likely has combined for 4.8 PPR points in three games. … Johnson has scored 5.8 PPR points or less in three games in a row, and he has nine targets over that span. His hot start has fizzled, and it coincided with the return of Taysom Hill and Foster Moreau. You can safely drop Johnson in the majority of leagues.
Add in this order:
Week 7 Waiver Priority List
DST streamers
- Chiefs (47 percent rostered) vs. LV
- Seahawks (64 percent rostered) vs. HOU
- Vikings (63 percent rostered) vs. PHI
Kicker streamers
- Chris Boswell (44 percent rostered) at CIN
- Jason Myers (51 percent rostered) vs. HOU
- Joshua Karty (46 percent rostered) at JAC
