Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 7

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Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.

Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. FAAB bids are set off a $100 budget. Only players owned in less than 60 percent of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Josh Allen, Bills

Coming off his bye, Allen has an incredibly soft schedule that features the Dolphins, Eagles, Redskins, Browns, and the Dolphins again. With both a high ceiling and a high floor thanks to his rushing stats, Allen has been fairly consistent in 2019, with the lone exception being a difficult matchup with the Patriots, which he left with a concussion. The Bills quarterback hasn't had a huge fantasy outing so far, but it could be coming Sunday. Miami is giving up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, including multiple touchdown passes in every game this season.

Sam Darnold, Jets

If you're looking for a Week 7 streamer, Darnold isn't the quarterback to target given his matchup with the Patriots. So if a bye-week replacement is all you seek, look at Allen or one of the names below. However, Darnold offers value as a potential fantasy starter from Week 8 on given his performance in his first game since Week 1 (338 yards and two TDs against the Cowboys). In addition, the Jets have the easiest schedule in the league over the second half of the season.

Other options: Kirk Cousins at DET (47% owned), Gardner Minshew II at CIN (59% owned), Daniel Jones vs. ARI (29% owned), Jacoby Brissett vs. HOU (42% owned), Joe Flacco vs. KC (8% owned)

Running backs

Jamaal Williams, Packers

It's hard to trust Williams as a weekly fantasy starter because he shares a backfield with Aaron Jones, but as we saw on Monday night, anything can happen. Jones compiled 182 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns in Week 5 when Williams was recovering from a concussion, only to fall back into a timeshare when Williams returned this past week. A first-half fumble and a brutal drop on Monday further doomed Jones, who turned 15 touches into 60 yards while Williams produced 136 yards and a score on 19 touches. Though Jones remains the more talented back overall, a healthy Williams could push for a hot-hand committee, giving him RB3 upside.

Latavius Murray, Saints

Alvin Kamara entered Week 6 with an ankle injury and left it with a knee issue after a defender fell on him in the first quarter. The good news is that Kamara managed to continue in the contest, but he was held in check with 66 yards from scrimmage on 18 touches. His teammate, Murray, saw a much larger role than usual and outgained Kamara with eight carries for 44 yards and three catches for 35 yards. It's unknown if Kamara will miss time or if the Saints will choose to rest him to protect their playoff interests. If they do, Murray would instantly become an RB2 even in a tough matchup in Chicago. Remember, the Bears' last performance came in London, where they allowed Josh Jacobs to hammer them for 123 rushing yards and two scores. If Kamara is sitting out Sunday, my bid for Murray would at least double.

Chase Edmonds, Cardinals

Despite an injury scare stemming from back tightness, David Johnson managed to suit up Sunday and amass 102 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns in a win over the Bengals. Even with DJ doing damage, Edmonds put up 67 yards and a touchdown of his own. The second-year back has now played on over 30% of the Cardinals' snaps the last two weeks. In addition to being a high-upside handcuff, Edmonds is also flirting with being a weekly flex option.

Frank Gore, Bills

Devin Singletary should return from injury in this game, but Gore will still see plenty of work with the Bills projected as 17-point favorites at home versus the Dolphins. If the game is as lopsided as Vegas anticipates, Buffalo may choose to ease Singletary in and let Gore punish his former team. The 36-year-old has at least 60 rushing yards in every contest over the last month. He'll be a high-upside RB3 with an excellent chance at finding the end zone against a Miami franchise already looking ahead to next year's draft.

Alexander Mattison, Vikings

Playing behind a transcendent Dalvin Cook, Mattison has managed to be productive with 49 rushing yards or more in four of the Vikings' six outings. That makes him a borderline flex play in quality matchups, while also providing his fantasy owners with a league-winning lottery ticket as one of the best handcuffs in the NFL.

Tony Pollard, Cowboys

Pollard is right there with Mattison as an overqualified backup running back. Ezekiel Elliott's durability is the only thing standing in the way of a Pollard fantasy explosion. Instead of waiting for an Elliott injury to occur, go pick up Pollard now and avoid having to spend your entire FAAB budget fighting your league-mates for him if his number gets called.

Other options: Darrell Henderson at ATL (28% owned), Mark Walton at BUF (4% owned), Benny Snell on Bye (2% owned), Rashaad Penny vs. BAL (46% owned), Rex Burkhead at NYJ (20% owned), Giovani Bernard vs. JAX (8% owned), Darrel Williams at DEN (15% owned), Ryquell Armstead at CIN (1% owned), Gus Edwards at SEA (6% owned), Justice Hill at SEA (7% owned), Ty Johnson vs. MIN (1% owned), Ty Montgomery vs. NE (4% owned), Ito Smith vs. LAR (20% owned), Jordan Wilkins vs. HOU (2% owned), Nyheim Hines vs. HOU (16% owned), Reggie Bonnafon on Bye (12% owned), Raheem Mostert at WAS (15% owned)

Wide receivers

Robby Anderson, Golden Tate, and DK Metcalf are all around the 60% ownership mark and should be owned in all leagues.

Jamison Crowder, Jets

In two games with Darnold at the helm, Crowder has stat lines of 14-99 and 6-98, with the former coming in Week 1 when the Jets faced a stifling Bills pass defense. They might find themselves in a similar script Sunday against the Patriots, so Crowder could once again become a relief valve. Either way, his target volume with Darnold puts him in the conversation as a WR3 for fantasy. Teammate Demaryius Thomas kicked in 62 yards last week and is a long-shot flex play fueled by a revenge narrative after New England traded him earlier this year.

Darius Slayton, Giants

The impact receivers on the waiver wire will dry up very quickly this week, forcing us to dig deeper for help at the position. With Sterling Shepard dealing with his second concussion of the season, Slayton is an intriguing player to add before Week 7. In the three games where he's seen at least five targets, Slayton has stat lines of 3-82-0, 4-62-1, and 3-32-0, with that final result coming against the Patriots' elite secondary. The Cardinals provide much less resistance to opposing wideouts, making Slayton a potential flex play this week.

Jakobi Meyers/N'Keal Harry, Patriots

With Josh Gordon and Phillip Dorsett nursing injuries that could keep them out this week, our eyes turn to what's left on New England's depth chart behind the stalwart Julian Edelman. Meyers was the immediate beneficiary of the Patriots' injuries last week, as he put up 54 yards on four catches, and is the most likely to see increased volume if either veteran is sidelined this week. First-rounder Harry is a more speculative pickup who isn't eligible to return from injured reserve until Week 9, but he could start practicing soon.

Auden Tate, Bengals

Tate has at least 50 yards or a touchdown in each of the last four games for the Bengals. His value will disappear when A.J. Green makes his long-awaited return, but we still don't know when that will happen. For now, treat Tate as a high-ceiling, low-floor flex option in an offense that's hard to trust.

Other options: Geronimo Allison vs. OAK (30% owned), Mecole Hardman at DEN (49% owned), Allen Lazard vs. OAK (0% owned), Diontae Johnson on Bye (26% owned), Preston Williams at BUF (20% owned), DeVante Parker at BUF (15% owned), Cole Beasley vs. MIA (15% owned), Duke Williams vs. MIA (1% owned), Dante Pettis at WAS (17% owned), Anthony Miller vs. NO (12% owned), Tavon Austin vs. PHI (0% owned), Devin Smith vs. PHI (2% owned), DaeSean Hamilton vs. KC (6% owned), AJ Brown vs. LAC (19% owned), Corey Davis vs. LAC (43% owned), Zay Jones at GB (4% owned), Jaron Brown vs. BAL (0% owned), Cedrick Wilson vs. PHI (0% owned)

Tight ends

Hunter Henry is around the 60% ownership mark and should be owned in all leagues.

Dawson Knox, Bills

Knox's playing time continued to rise before the team's bye, reaching 72% of the Bills' offensive snaps in Week 5. Though his numbers in that game disappointed, he did post 67 yards and a score in Week 3 and 58 yards in Week 4. Paired with Buffalo's cupcake schedule, Knox is a potential breakout candidate over the next month and can be used with confidence as a streamer against Miami.

Chris Herndon, Jets

The wait for Herndon's 2019 debut was delayed a week or two by a hamstring injury, which is incredibly frustrating, but don't lose sight of his value. The Jets' offense looked even better than expected in Darnold's return and Herndon is one of the only tight ends available in most leagues who has top-10 upside every week. Will Dissly owners should be using their waiver wire dollars to scoop up Herndon.

Other options: Ben Watson at NYJ (1% owned), Noah Fant vs. KC (24% owned), Eric Ebron vs. HOU (54% owned), Jack Doyle vs. HOU (20% owned), Dallas Goedert at DAL (9% owned), Darren Fells at IND (4% owned), Jordan Akins at IND (9% owned), Maxx Williams at NYG (0% owned), Ricky Seals-Jones on Bye (3% owned)