Week seven of the 2020 NFL season and the only thing more fluid than the NFL schedule is your fantasy roster. There are COVID outbreaks across the NFL, but you can’t find a breakout player for your fantasy team. Lucky for you, Football Absurdity is going to help you salvage your decimated rosters. If I don’t mention someone whom you think I should be talking about, just know there are many reasons why I overlooked them. Maybe they are owned in most leagues. Maybe they are so bad I don’t even consider them. Or maybe it’s because your opinions cannot be trusted. After all, you are here. So let us examine what our best week seven waiver wire players for your championship run are…
Week Seven Waiver Wire QBs
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (44% rostered)
There is no quarterback who has a softer schedule the rest of the season than Justin Herbert. Not only does he have five top-ten fantasy match-ups the rest of his schedule, but he also has no match-ups against good defenses. Herbert has seven passing touchdowns and 554 yards in his last two games. He is the top waiver wire add this week at QB, coming off the bye and facing the porous Jaguars defense.
Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina Panthers (40% rostered)
Teddy Bridgewater’s week six was one of his worst games of the seasons. He passed for just 216 yards and threw to picks, so I understand your concerns. However, Bridgewater played a stiff Bears team that has given up the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Over his next two games, Teddy Bridgewater will be playing the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, who are giving up the fourth-most and first…most(?) fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks respectively. If you need a solid starting quarterback over the next couple of weeks, Teddy Bridgewater is your guy.
Week Seven Waiver Wire RBs
Justin Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers (50% rostered)
In week five, Justin Jackson had 94 all-purpose yards against the New Orleans Saints. Of all the running backs available on the waiver wire in week seven, Jackson has the clearest path to production. With Ekeler hurt, Jackson will get the opportunities and has just Joshua Kelley to contend with, which didn’t limit his path to twenty touches the last time he played. Jackson will also be playing an atrocious Jacksonville Jaguars defense that has given up the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Justin Jackson should be your number one waiver wire target at running back.
Frank Gore, New York Jets (30% rostered)
At the ripe, old age of 273, Frank Gore still is a football marvel. As in, it is a marvel he is still able to take a hit without exploding into a cloud of dust. With 70 all-purpose yards and no more Le’Veon Bell to contend with, Gore has established himself as the lead back for the New York Jets. The only problem is nobody in their right mind wants anything to do with the New York Jets offense. Yes, Frank Gore is the starter in New York, but he’s much more likely to stop your fantasy team from winning.
J.D. McKissic, Washington Team Football (18% rostered)
In week six, J.D. McKissic was the primary running back for Washington, totaling 84 all-purpose yards. McKissic was on the field for 53% of Washington’s snaps, compared to Antonio Gibson, who was only on the field for 37% of their snaps. While McKissic seems to be seeing the field more for Washington, he is still just a random player on an anemic Washington offense. It is also unclear if he will manage to secure a more significant role. Put simply, McKissic is in a time-share on a sub-par offense He might do well, but he’s also likely to break your heart. Get McKissic for bye week fill-ins in a PPR league, as he has 22 targets over his last three weeks.
Boston Scott, Philadelphia Eagles (12% rostered)
With Miles Sanders expected to miss at least one game, Boston Scott might seem like an important target on the week seven waiver wire. However, it is important that you realize just how bad the Eagles are. In week six, they only rushed the ball 18 times and 5 of those runs were quarterback scrambles. The Eagles offensive line is like Keyser Soze. And the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world you should pick up Boston Scott again. Will Boston Scott be the starter? Yes. Will Boston Scott see any significant volume in the Eagles offense? That’s yet to be seen. But he gets a Giants team that just let J.D. McKissic and Antonio Gibson put up a combined 139 yards against them last week.
Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals (5% rostered)
When Joe Mixon hurt his foot in the first half of the Bengals game against the Colts, Giovani Bernard found his usage in the second half increase significantly. Depending on Mixon’s status for week seven, you need to take a serious look at Bernard. He didn’t blow the doors off last week, but he mostly ran in the second half of the Bengals-Colts game. He had 23 all-purpose yards and a score against the top-run defense in football. While it isn’t that impressive, the Bengals lean on their running game a lot, so he should at least have a decent floor for a running back, which is more than you will get from other options.
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens (2% rostered)
With Mark Ingram going down early against the Eagles, Gus Edwards led the Ravens rushing attack with 14 carries. However, he only got 26 yards. The only reason Edwards was fantasy relevant was that he scored a touchdown. Depending on the health of Ingram, Edwards could see an expanded role in week seven. However, he could also find himself losing carries to the much younger and much more talented J.K. Dobbins. If you need running back help, you need to take a look at Edwards. Just don’t expect any miracles.
JaMycal Hasty, San Francisco 49ers (1% rostered)
After Mostert left the 49ers game, JaMycal Hasty found himself taking a majority of the work in the running game. While his 9 carries for 37 yards don’t seem very impressive, the 49ers appeared to lean on Hasty more than they did McKinnon. While McKinnon is the odds-on favorite to take the lead in San Francisco against the Patriots, JaMycal Hasty could see some usage just by virtue of being one of the only healthy running backs on the 49ers roster. People also seem to have forgotten about Jeff Wilson, Jr. who scored two touchdowns against the Giants earlier this year, in their Hasty fever. He could be a post-waiver add to wait & see how Sunday shakes out.
Week Seven Waiver Wire WRs
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (48% rostered)
Every week, Tee Higgins becomes a bigger part of the Cincinnati Bengals offense. And every week, your chances of adding him to your fantasy roster grow slimmer. In week six, Higgins had 6 catches for 125 yards, leading the Bengals in receiving yards. While I get nervous depending on a rookie wide receiver with a rookie quarterback throwing to him, it is hard not to like Tee Higgins’ prospects. Higgins is clearly the best receiver on the Bengals and Cincinnati will clearly be spending a lot of time playing from behind.
Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars (22% rostered)
Keelan Cole has quietly been a top-25 receiver in HPPR leagues this season and kicked it up this week. In week six, Cole had 6 catches for 143 yards. While a lot of his ranking is touchdown-based, Cole does garner six touchdowns a game from the frenetic Gardner Minshew. Cole has a defined role in this Jags offense that has to throw a lot to stay in games. This gives Cole solid value as a flex player.
James Washington, Pittsburgh Steelers (8% rostered)
With Diontae Johnson out and Juju Smith-Schuster disappearing entirely, James Washington was one of the main beneficiaries of the drubbing the Steelers gave the Browns. Washington led the Steelers in targets and receptions, hauling in 4 catches for 68 yards and a touchdown. If the Steelers rule Diontae Johnson out again next week, then you will definitely want to take a long, hard look at James Washington.
Zach Pascal, Indianapolis Colts (5% rostered)
While Zach Pascal’s 4 catches for 54 yards and a score might seem like the start of something good, it is not. Pascal got those numbers against a Cincinnati Bengals team that just looks inept on all fronts. Also, it is hard to trust any receiver on the Colts, as Philip Rivers is not the quarterback he once was. Rivers’ Air Yards per Completion has dropped from 8.5 in 2019 to 7.6 in 2020. Rivers is not moving the football down the field like he once did. I want no parts of the Indianapolis Colts passing game in fantasy.
Travis Fulgham, Philadelphia Eagles (2% rostered)
Last week, we asked, “Who is Travis Fulgham.” In the first three-quarters of the Eagles/Ravens game, the answer was “nobody worth knowing.” Then somehow, against all odds, as if the Football Gods chose to mock me when I said it would be a miracle if Travis Fulgham had another top-ten fantasy week, a miracle happened. The Baltimore Ravens pass defense parted like the red sea and Travis Fulgham caught 6 passes for 75 yards, scoring once. Did the Football Gods convert me? Do I now see the error of my ways? Not particularly. I’m not sure I want to trust in the Eagles getting blown out so completely that Travis Fulgham will be fantasy relevant. But I have been wrong before… And I don’t want to bet against the Eagles getting regularly blown out.
Week Six Waiver Wire TEs
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (33% rostered)
Zach Ertz is likely headed for short-term IR (and he may be on it by the time you read this) with a high ankle sprain. His heir and early outperformer, Dallas Goedert, will be eligible to come of Injured Reserve this week. While early reports are that the Eagles won’t push him into action yet, it is a situation you should monitor. If Goedert is activated this week, you definitely want to grab him. Travis Fulgham had two top-ten weeks in a row on the Eagles. Imagine what a player with actual ability could do?
Trey Burton, Indianapolis Colts (13% rostered)
Trey Burton dazzled the fantasy football community with 4 catches, 58 receiving yards, and 2 total touchdowns. However, I am a Bears fan, so it is hard for me to trust Trey Burton. For one, as I mentioned before, I don’t trust Philip Rivers anymore. Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox still both exist, but Doyle has just six targets (to Burton’s sixteen) in the last three games, and Big MAC is banged up right now. Burton has 6, 5, and 6 targets in his three active games this season. He’s improved his yards per target in all three and scored a receiving touchdown in this one (as well as a rushing TD).
Darren Fells, Houston Texans (4% rostered)
In week six, Darren Fells turned seven targets into six catches, 85 yards, and six points. While this was one of the best tight end performances of week six, it is hard to rely on Fells maintaining this level of production. He had eight catches in his previous five games, so that tells you all you need to know about his role. Until Fells shows a greater role in the Texans offense, he needs to stay on the waiver wire and off of your fantasy roster.
Anthony Firkser, Tennessee Titans (1% rostered)
When Jonnu Smith went down in the third quarter of the Titan/Texans game, Anthony Firkser stepped into the role of fantasy stud with no hesitation. He caught 8 passes for 113 and one touchdowns, Firkser was one of the best fantasy tight ends in week six. Early reports indicate that Smith’s ankle injury is minor. but if Smith misses any time, Anthony Firkser should be fine. Firkser will see lots of targets with a Jonnu absence in the high-powered Titans offense, and opportunity is the number one thing I look for in tight ends. Monitor Jonnu Smith’s health before making a move, but keep an eye on Firkser.
Now that you have a shiny new team, how about a spooky new team name?
If this has you hankerin’ for some fantasy sports, try out Fan Duel! That link lets them know we sent you! It also gets you $5 bonus cash to play with if you make a deposit.
Then, follow Football Absurdity on Twitter!
After that, get free fantasy football advice by joining our Discord!
Finally, if you like what you read here, check out our podcast and our Patreon
[Image Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dallas_Goedert_TD_catch.jpg, cropped under CC BY SA 2.0]
