Week six of the 2021 NFL season is finished and if your league requires you to roster running backs, you’re in trouble because they’re all dead! Nick Chubb? DEAD! Kareem Hunt? DEAD! Whoever the third-string running back on the Browns is? Probably gonna die! It is time to dig down deep and resurrect your running backs. This week, I’m going to provide you with the best options available. 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. Maybe it’s because your opinions cannot be trusted. After all, you are here. So let us examine the best week seven waiver wire players for your championship run…
Week Seven Waiver Wire Quarterbacks
Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders (49% rostered)
A lot of you stopped believing in Derek Carr, but I hope his week six performance against Denver changes your mind. In this game, Carr threw for 341 yards and 2 touchdowns. Five of Derek Carr’s next seven games are against opponents who are really bad at stopping quarterbacks. If you need quarterback help, Derek Carr should be your number one waiver wire target.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (21% rostered)
In week six, Tua Tagovailoa had 329 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. This was a solid return against a favorable match-up. If you can’t get Derek Carr, Tua Tagovailoa is a solid lottery pick. Tua should have a nice floor based on his rushing ability. Tua Tagovailoa also plays on a Dolphins team that should be playing from behind a lot, so there is potential for garbage time scoring. Tagovailoa probably isn’t worth burning a waiver on, but I’d pick him up once he clears.
Week Seven Waiver Wire Running Backs
J.D. McKissic, Washington WTFs (44% rostered)
If you watched Washington play Kansas City, you know that Antonio Gibson does not look good. Gibson was coming in and out of the game and J.D. McKissic was able to capitalize on this, seeing 61% of the team snaps at running back. McKissic also had 8 catches and 101 all-purpose yards. Truth be told, J.D. McKissic should already be rostered without this. He has been solid all year. With Gibson looking like he will, at the very least, be limited going forward, you have to grab as many J.D. McKissic shares as you can. This should be your number one waiver claim in week seven.
D’Ernest Johnson, Cleveland Browns (2% rostered)
The D’Ernest Johnson conversation is much more interesting. Like Darrel Williams last week, (If you listened to me and started him in week six, you’re welcome.) D’Ernest Johnson looks like he will be the beneficiary of a clear path to a large workload. Unlike Darrel Williams, Johnson will be doing this on the number two rushing offense in football. The short week makes it less likely that Nick Chubb is back. With Kareem Hunt ruled out for the next few weeks, D’Ernest Johnson will likely get a large workload on Thursday night. After that, there is a good chance he fills in for Hunt. However, there is still a risk that they will decide to turn Nick Chubb into Derrick Henry 2.0 while Kareem Hunt is out, so there is some risk involved. However, the rewards far outweigh the risks, and D’Ernest Johnson is my second-favorite waiver wire guy for week seven.
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots (11% rostered)
The Rhamondre Stevenson conversation is the same as I had last week. Damien Harris exited the game for the second week in a row. This time, while he was out, Rhamondre Stevenson was able to capitalize by vulturing a touchdown he did not earn. This does not change the fact that Damien Harris isn’t even expected to miss any time. It does not change the fact that Stevenson is still a Bill Belichick running back, making him untrustworthy. Unless multiple running backs on the Patriots get hurt, there is no reason to believe in Rhamondre Stevenson.
Week Seven Waiver Wire Wide Receivers
A.J. Green, Arizona Cardinals (39% rostered)
I’ll be honest, I was really surprised to see that A.J. Green was still on the waiver wire. You’d think being the number two receiver on the number two scoring offense in the NFL would get you some respect. Or maybe being the WR32 on the season would help. For the first time in years, A.J. Green is healthy and you’d be foolish not to roster him. In week six, he had 5 catches for 79 yards and 1 touchdown. Green has 3 touchdowns in 6 games. There is no reason Green should not be on every fantasy football roster (except that there is only one A.J. Green per league).
Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals (35% rostered)
If A.J. Green has you gunshy, maybe you should look at Christian Kirk. In week six, Christian Kirk had 5 catches for 75 yards and 1 touchdown. As low as I was on Kirk before, he has been a top twenty-five receiver in half-PPR leagues. My issues with Christian Kirk are that he isn’t as consistent as A.J. Green from a usage standpoint. He is, however, doing pretty well at fantasy football this season, so if you want a share of a high-powered offense, Christian Kirk might be your man.
T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts (32% rostered)
In week six, T.Y. Hilton had 4 catches for 80 yards. Hilton led the Colts in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. Having said all that, he still plays for a Colts team that is built around the run. Also, if I were the Colts, I would do as much as possible to keep Carson Wentz from throwing the football. Maybe T.Y. Hilton reverts to his Andrew Luck days, but more likely is just a guy who has a couple of nice games a year, but is overall unreliable.
Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos (38% rostered)
I am bringing up Tim Patrick because he has done enough this fantasy season to merit conversation, but I can’t really get excited about him. In week six, Patrick had 3 catches for 42 yards and 1 touchdown. This is his fifth game this season scoring double-digit fantasy points. He is getting targets and he is getting points, but that Denver Broncos offense these last few weeks has been pretty depressing. In week seven, they are playing a Cleveland Browns team that is starting to get into desperation mode. If Patrick has another double-digit week against the Browns, I reserve the right to do a complete 180 on this point out earlier articles where I told you to grab him off waivers.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, Cleveland Browns (2% rostered)
Donovan Peoples-Jones is a classic example of not paying for last week’s production. Yes, in week six he had 4 catches for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns. However, half those yards and one of those touchdowns was on a hail mary pass to end the half. More importantly, DPJ is playing on an offense that has the eighth-fewest pass attempts. This is not what you want out of a player who is the third receiving option on his team. Donovan Peoples-Jones is a trap.
Week Seven Waiver Wire Tight Ends
Ricky Seals-Jones, Washington WTF’s (25% rostered)
From the ashes of Logan Thomas, Ricky Seals-Jones shall be woken! In fact, Ricky-Seals Jones woke to the tune of 4 catches for 58 yards and 1 touchdown in week six. While Logan Thomas is out until at least week eight, RSJ has some fantasy value. Not enough to burn a waiver on him, but some. If you need tight end help and he clears waivers, Ricky Seals-Jones is a solid option.
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