Fantasy Football Week 7 Waiver Advice
The waiver period of Week 7 may be over but that does not mean you still can’t make moves to improve your roster before Thursday night’s game. While many big names were likely claimed on Wednesday let’s take a look at some players who might still be floating around the waiver wire that you should grab.
Quarterback
Alex Smith, KC- Smith is coming off a game against the Raiders in which he completed 86 percent of his passes for 224 yards. The problem with his output in Week 6 was that he failed to find the end zone whether through the air or on the ground and thus resulted in a disappointing fantasy performance. Smith will get a chance to redeem himself to fantasy owners in Week 7 as he faces a Saints defense that is allowing the seventh most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season and have allowed two touchdown passes in each of the last three games.
Jameis Winston, TB- Winston has had an up and down season so far which is largely due to the fact that he has already thrown eight interceptions over the first five games of the season but he will be coming out of the bye in Week 7 to face a mediocre 49ers defense that has allowed two touchdown passes in each of the last four weeks. Winston is still throwing over 30 times a game and Mike Evans should have little trouble beating this secondary which could lead to a solid effort from Winston.
Running Back
Don Jackson, GB- The Packers are really hurting at the running back position after word came down on Thursday that Eddie Lacy was being placed on IR and newly acquired Kniles Davis would not be active for the team’s Thursday contest against the Bears. With that news we have Don Jackson who is being activated off of the practice squad and is expected to start for the Packers against the Bears in Week 7. Ty Montgomery will likely be the team’s third down and change of pace running back but he is a natural wide receiver and therefore it’s more likely Jackson gets the early down work and could get any of the goal line work although the Packers would likely turn to Aaron Rodgers to get into the end zone unless Jackson proves effective when given the chance to carry the ball.
Mike Davis, SF- With Carlos Hyde listed as doubtful for Week 7 due to a shoulder injury it appears the 49ers will go with Mike Davis at tailback when the team faces the Buccaneers. The Bucs are allowing the eighth most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season and the 49ers offense is centered around their running attack so Davis should certainly be involved.
Mike Gillislee, BUF- On Wednesday news came down that LeSean McCoy injured his hamstring during practice and he was held out of practice all together on Thursday which puts Mike Gillislee in the spot light as the likely man to start at running back for Buffalo in Week 7 against the Dolphins. Miami was able to stifle Le’Veon Bell in Week 6 but overall teams have had little trouble running on them which bodes well for Gillislee seeing as Buffalo’s offense is built around the run. In Week 6 against the 49ers Gillislee carried the ball six times for 61 yards and a touchdown so he is more than capable of being a productive back. Though McCoy has not yet been ruled out for Week 7 owners should grab Gillislee as a backup plan just in case you need him on Sunday.
Wide Receiver
Ty Montgomery, GB– Montgomery is coming off a big game against the Cowboys in which he caught 10 catches for 98 yards and even saw some time at running back with Eddie Lacy dealing with injury and no real receiving back on the roster and therefore was a popular add this week. Reports are that Montgomery will be one of the Packers two running backs in Week 7 against the Bears and in PPR formats it would seem likely Montgomery is a solid pickup as a receiving back.
Justin Hunter, BUF–The Bills have already lost Sammie Watkins to IR and now Robert Woods is dealing with an injury that has him questionable for Week 7 against the Dolphins. If Woods is out the Bills top two receivers will be speedster Marquise Goodwin and Justin Hunter. Hunter has played in two games for the Bills and has caught a touchdown pass in both of those contests. In Week 6 against the 49ers he was only targeted three times but that should increase as his snap count does.
Anquan Boldin, DET– Boldin has been a steady receiver all year long for the Lions and is coming off his best game of the year which saw him catch 8-of-9 targets for 60 yards and a touchdown in Week 6 against the Rams. On the season Boldin has caught 29 passes for 244 yards and three touchdowns. In Week 7 the Lions will face a Redskins defense that has some solid corners but Boldin is being targeted more with tight end Eric Ebron injured and his reliable production makes him worth a look in PPR formats.
Tight End
Charles Clay, BUF– Clay has hauled in five catches in four of the last five games while averaging nearly 60 yards receiving during that stretch. With news that Robert Woods may not play in Week 7 it’s very possible that Clay becomes the Bills No.1 receiving threat when they face off against the Dolphins who are allowing the 12th most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.
Vernon Davis, WSH– With Jordan Reed still in the NFL’s concussion protocol the Redskins would again deploy Vernon Davis as the team’s starting tight end if Reed is not cleared before Sunday’s contest. In Week 7 the Redskins will face off against a Lions defense that is allowing the fourth most fantasy points to opposing tight ends and have allowed at least one touchdown catch to a tight end in five of six weeks this season. In Week 6 Davis caught 2-of-4 targets for 50 yards and a touchdown so there is some possible upside here given the match-up but make sure Reed is inactive before playing him.