Doing your weekly waivers in fantasy football can be more stressful than performing life-saving surgery on a loved one without any professional tools or medical knowledge. While that might be a slight exaggeration, deciding which players to add off the waiver wire each week can be stressful.
Finding and adding the right guys in shallow leagues is simple, as there are plenty of appealing options, and the waiver wire is full of talent. Unfortunately, making your waiver wire claims in deeper leagues can be a massive pain in the neck.
However, I’m here to help by giving fantasy players 12 waiver wire targets they should add in deeper leagues in Week 7.
- More Waiver Wire Pickups
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Deep League Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets
All the players in this article are rostered in under 25% of ESPN leagues.
Aaron Rodgers (QB – PIT): 13.7% Rostered
After totaling four passing touchdowns and 25.7 fantasy points in Week 1, Rodgers had four scores and 34.9 fantasy points over the following three games heading into the bye. However, the future Hall of Famer came out of the bye playing well, completing 70% of his pass attempts for 235 yards, two touchdowns, and 17.5 fantasy points against a talented Cleveland Browns defense. Rodgers is an appealing streaming option, facing the Cincinnati Bengals and his former team, the Green Bay Packers, over the next two weeks.
Joe Flacco (QB – CIN): 4.6% Rostered
Despite being less than a week into his Bengals tenure, Flacco started in Week 6 and played well. The veteran completed 64.4% of his pass attempts for 219 yards, two touchdowns, and 18.8 fantasy points, setting season-highs in nearly every category. Furthermore, it was his first game without a turnover after totaling six interceptions and two fumbles in four games with the Cleveland Browns. Cincinnati has some favorable upcoming matchups, including against the New York Jets and Chicago Bears.
Jacoby Brissett (QB – ARI): 0.5% Rostered
Unfortunately, Kyler Murray missed the Week 6 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts because of a foot injury, which could force him to miss more games. Therefore, Brissett will likely start again next week against a Green Bay Packers defense that gave up over 200 yards, two touchdowns, and 18.8 fantasy points to Joe Flacco on Sunday. The veteran played well in his Cardinals debut, completing 61.4% of his pass attempts for 320 yards, two touchdowns, and 20.7 fantasy points.
Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN): 23.6% Rostered
While Tony Pollard remains the Titans’ lead running back, Spears was the more productive player in Week 6. He had only nine touches but scored nine PPR fantasy points against the Las Vegas Raiders. More importantly, the former Tulane star posted a higher yards per rushing attempt (6.2 vs. 3.4) and fantasy points per touch (1.0 vs. 0.56) than Pollard. Furthermore, Spears had twice as many targets as the veteran (four vs. two). He’s worth adding in deeper leagues to monitor his workload.
Sean Tucker (RB – TB): 7.8% Rostered
Hopefully, Bucky Irving returns to the lineup in Week 7 after missing two games with multiple injuries. While Rachaad White has been productive as the starter, Tucker also played well on Sunday. He had only had six rushing attempts for 25 yards, but totaled a touchdown and 8.5 fantasy points against the San Francisco 49ers. If the Buccaneers are forced to lean on the run game with all their injuries at wide receiver, Tucker could have flex value until Irving returns to the lineup.
Zonovan Knight (RB – ARI): 5.6% Rostered
The Cardinals’ backfield has been a fantasy landmine since James Conner suffered a season-ending injury. Michael Carter was the star of the backfield in Week 5. However, Arizona switched to Knight against the Indianapolis Colts last week, totaling 12 touches for 54 scrimmage yards. Furthermore, he had a rushing touchdown for the second consecutive game. While fantasy players shouldn’t be aggressive with their FAAB, Knight could be a solid flex option until Trey Benson returns from a knee injury.
Kayshon Boutte (WR – NE): 6.9% Rostered
Boutte hasn’t seen a consistent target share this season, totaling three or fewer targets in four consecutive games since Week 1 before Sunday’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints. However, he has been outstanding when seeing more than three targets, averaging 5.5 receptions on 6.5 targets for 98 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 21.3 PPR fantasy points per game in those two contests. Hopefully, Boutte can take advantage of a fantasy-friendly matchup next week against the Tennessee Titans.
Zay Jones (WR – ARI): 0.1% Rostered
Arizona heads into their Week 7 matchup against the Green Bay Packers potentially without two starters on offense because of injury. Kyler Murray could miss his second consecutive game, while Marvin Harrison Jr. could miss the contest after suffering a concussion on Sunday. Meanwhile, Jones stepped up, leading the team’s wide receiver corps in receptions (five), targets (eight), receiving yards (79), and PPR fantasy points (12.9) despite not scoring a touchdown. Furthermore, he joined Trey McBride (11) as the only Cardinals with more than five targets.
Kameron Johnson (WR – TB): 0.0% Rostered
Unfortunately, the Buccaneers keep getting bitten by the injury bug. They were already without Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, and Jalen McMillan because of injury on Sunday before losing Emeka Egbuka to a hamstring injury. Yet, Johnson stepped up, leading the team’s receiving corps in receiving yards (64) and PPR fantasy points (16.4). Hopefully, Tampa Bay gets Evans, Godwin, or Egbuka back next week. However, Johnson could be a solid flex option in deeper leagues next week against a banged-up Detroit Lions secondary.
Cade Otton (TE – TB): 8.9% Rostered
Speaking of the Buccaneers, Tampa Bay could be without their top four wide receivers next week against the Detroit Lions. Last year, Otton had an excellent run when the team was missing their top two wide receivers. Furthermore, the veteran has played well the past two weeks, totaling nine receptions on 11 targets for 132 receiving yards and 22.2 PPR fantasy points, totaling double-digits in both contests. Otton would be a top-10 tight end next week if the Buccaneers are depleted at the wide receiver position.
Michael Mayer (TE – LV): 3.1% Rostered
Hopefully, Brock Bowers can play in Week 7 after missing the past two games because of a knee injury. However, Mayer has top-12 upside if the superstar misses his third consecutive contest. He shined on Sunday as the Raiders’ starting tight end, totaling five receptions on seven targets for 50 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 16 PPR fantasy points, leading the team in targets. Mayer faces a Kansas City Chiefs defense that gave up 16.5 fantasy points to Sam LaPorta on Sunday night.
Oronde Gadsden II (TE – LAC): 0.7% Rostered
The Chargers don’t have a household name tight end on the roster. Yet, Gadsden has played well when given enough target volume. The rookie has averaged 6.9 PPR fantasy points per game this season. However, he has averaged six receptions for 57 receiving yards and 10.7 fantasy points per game in the two contests with more than three targets. Last week, Gadsden set career highs in receptions (seven), targets (eight), receiving yards (68), and fantasy points (11.8). He is worth stashing in deeper leagues.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
