Each week I’ll list the best widely available free agents for fantasy football — I define “widely available” as being owned in around half of all ESPN or Yahoo leagues — and some guys who are probably better off in the free agent pool than collecting dust on your roster.
Follow me on X (formerly known as Twitter) @UTEddieBrown if you have questions throughout the week.
Here’s my NFL Week 7 waiver wire cheat sheet for all league sizes and formats, with players you need to add, drop and stream in your fantasy football league:
ADD
RB Jordan Mason, 49ers (ESPN: 1%; Yahoo: 7%): Christian McCaffrey suffered an oblique injury late in the third quarter against the Browns. San Francisco has a bye Week 9, so it wouldn’t surprise me if McCaffrey is handed a few weeks off so he’s completely healthy for a stretch run the 49ers hope culminates with a championship. Mason has produced 96 yards on 15 carries (6.4 yards per carry) and two touchdowns the last two games as CMC’s primary backup. He received that opportunity because Elijah Mitchell (ESPN: 26%; Yahoo: 28%) had been sidelined the previous two weeks with a knee injury. Mitchell has earned the respect and trust of the coaching staff, and has produced in the past when called upon, but I’d favor Mason with how explosive he’s looked recently. Both deserve to be added if McCaffrey misses any time.
QB Derek Carr, Saints (ESPN: 15%; Yahoo: 25%): Carr has been the overall QB11 the last two weeks and it appears his shoulder isn’t hindering him anymore. He faces four defenses in the next four weeks who rank among the top 10 in points allowed to opposing quarterbacks: the Jaguars (6th), Colts (8th), Bears (4th) and Vikings (10th).
WR Marvin Mims Jr., Broncos (ESPN: 13%; Yahoo: 25%): The dynamic Mims’ value will skyrocket if Jerry Jeudy or Courtland Sutton (or both) get traded. He needs to be stashed now.
RB Roschon Johnson, Bears (ESPN: 42%; Yahoo: 52%): Khalil Herbert landed on injured reserve last week, which will keep him off the field for at least the next three games, and Johnson would’ve started against the Vikings ahead of D’Onta Foreman had he not suffered a concussion the previous week against the Commanders on Thursday Night Football.
TE Luke Musgrave, Packers (ESPN: 17%; Yahoo: 19%): Musgrave hasn’t had his breakout performance yet, but it’s only a matter of time with his usage — at least seven targets in two of his last three games. The Broncos, his opponent this week, have allowed the most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
BONUS: RB Zach Evans, Rams (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: 1%): Kyren Williams suffered an ankle injury and backup Ronnie Rivers sprained his PCL against the Cardinals. Williams will miss a matchup with the Steelers on Sunday, while Rivers is expected to be out at least a month. Drafted in the sixth round of this year’s draft, Evans originally signed with TCU as a five-star recruit in the 2020 recruiting class (he was the No. 2 running back behind only Bijan Robinson). He averaged 6.8 yards per carry and 10.8 yards per reception in his collegiate career (almost 23 percent of his carries last season resulted in a 10-plus-yard gain). He’s dealt with a myriad of injuries the last two years, the most significant one being turf toe that cost him six games in 2021, but he’s only logged 320 offensive touches so there’s still a lot of tread on the tires. Veteran Royce Freeman (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: <1%) is the only running back on the practice squad. I could see Freeman playing more snaps, but Evans getting more touches while Williams is out.
BONUS: TE Michael Mayer, Raiders (ESPN: 1%; Yahoo: 5%): Las Vegas finally made Mayer a full-time player against the Patriots after drafting him 35th overall in April. The highly-touted rookie had only received two targets in his first four games and had played between 40-to-51 percent of snaps. Mayer has caught seven balls on nine targets for 114 yards the last two games, and played 81 percent of the offensive snaps against New England. He has massive upside if this continues.
BONUS: RB Craig Reynolds, Lions (ESPN: 7%; Yahoo: 2%): David Montgomery suffered a rib injury in the middle of the second quarter against the Buccaneers and didn’t return. Early reports suggest Montgomery will miss at least a few games, while Jahmyr Gibbs has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. Reynolds could see 15-20 touches against the Ravens if Gibbs remains sidelined.
BONUS: QB Sam Howell, Commanders (ESPN: 19%; Yahoo: 38%): I had Howell as a waiver wire target earlier this season. He’s the overall QB11 through six games, and the fourth-highest scoring QB in fantasy since Week 4 — behind only Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts and Justin Fields.
BONUS: WR Curtis Samuel, Commanders (ESPN: 29%; Yahoo: 35%): Samuel is the overall WR9 in fantasy since Week 4, with 17 receptions (19 targets) for 158 yards and three total TDs.
BONUS: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (ESPN: 56%; Yahoo: 48%): , JSN wasn’t entirely healthy to begin the season, but he’s still received at least five targets in four of five games. According to Pro Football Focus, Smith-Njigba set season-highs for routes ran and snaps played against the Bengals. It makes sense for Seattle to get him more involved after the bye week, especially now that his wrist is probably completely healed. If he’s available in your league, stash him before the breakout game happens.
BONUS: RB Latavius Murray, Bills (ESPN: 7%; Yahoo: 14%): Damien Harris suffered a neck injury on his only carry against the Giants on Sunday night and was taken to the hospital. Murray has value because he’s getting used in goal-line situations and on ing downs — Harris likely missing some time only locks in Murray’s usage — which means he’ll have weekly flex appeal in a normally high-powered offense, even with James Cook as the primary back.
BONUS: WR Diontae Johnson, Steelers (ESPN: 71%; Yahoo: 72%): Pittsburgh announced Monday that Johnson (hamstring) has been designated to return from injured reserve, which means he could be ready to play as soon as this week against the Rams and no later than Week 9. Almost 30 percent of you have a shot at adding a option at wide receiver going forward.
BONUS: QB Daniel Jones, Giants (ESPN: 42%; Yahoo: 44%): Jones missed Sunday Night Football against the Bills with a neck injury, leading many fantasy managers to drop him. Saquon Barkley is healthier, Wan’Dale Robinson is emerging as a reliable target and Jones remains one of the top rushing quarterbacks in the league. If he can play this week, he has a favorable matchup against the Commanders, who are allowing the third-most fantasy points to the position this season.
BONUS: RB Chuba Hubbard, Panthers (ESPN: 46%; Yahoo: 59%): Hubbard had already started to play an increased role for Carolina before Miles Sanders missed Week 6 against the Dolphins with a shoulder injury. Hubbard produced 88 yards on 19 carries and a TD at Miami, the best performance by a Panthers running back this season. He’s on a bye, but there’s a chance he holds on to this gig even when Sanders is healthy.
BONUS: QB Gardner Minshew, Colts (ESPN: 4%; Yahoo: 8%): Minshew is off my radar the next two weeks against the Browns and Saints, but there are better days in his future as a streaming option than he had against the seemingly ferocious rush of the Jaguars on Sunday.
BONUS: TE Trey McBride, Cardinals (ESPN: <1%; Yahoo: 1%): McBride had more targets, receptions, yards and played more snaps than a healthy Zach Ertz against the Rams if you’re looking for a high-upside stash at tight end.
BONUS: D/ST Browns (ESPN: 53%; Yahoo: 29%): I told you to stash this defense through its bye and a matchup with the 49ers. I’d only recommend that with a defense if it was elite.
BONUS: D/ST Jaguars (ESPN: 20%; Yahoo: 27%): Jacksonville’s defense had its only hiccup against the Texans in Week 3 where it allowed 37 points at home. The Jaguars have created multiple turnovers in five of six games this season and have held their other five opponents to 20-or-fewer points. Since the hiccup, the Jaguars have scored the second-most fantasy points behind only the Vikings.
BONUS: D/ST Raiders (ESPN: 24%; Yahoo: 47%): For the second straight week, Las Vegas’ defense will likely be the top streaming option available. This week, the Raiders draw Justin Fields’ rookie backup Tyler Bagent at quarterback with Fields likely out with a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand. Regardless who is under center, the Bears have taken 25 sacks and thrown seven interceptions, while allowing opposing defenses and special teams to record a TD in four of six games.
DROP
QB Anthony Richardson, Colts: Indy owner Jim Irsay said Richardson was “probably” done for the season.
RB Dalvin Cook, Jets: Cook hasn’t scored a TD this season and is averaging 2.8 yards per carry. He only has 16 touches since Week 4. At this point, he only deserves to be on your roster if you’re handcuffing him to Breece Hall.
WR Tutu Atwell, Rams: Atwell only has three receptions (six targets) for 39 yards and a TD since Cooper Kupp returned in Week 5. Atwell is an ascending talent, but you’re only stashing him in case Kupp or Puka Nacua gets hurt. You won’t ever feel comfortable starting him otherwise.
RB Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles: Gainwell has exactly two targets in each of his last four games, while only gaining 44 rushing yards on 13 attempts since Week 4. He’s clearly D’Andre Swift’s backup now.
WR Darnell Mooney, Bears: Mooney has failed to make a catch in three of his last five games.
