Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Rankings & Pickups (Week 7)

Our analysts combine to provide rankings for weekly fantasy football waiver wire targets. We’ll help you prioritize your bids for the week ahead. Check out our full expert consensus fantasy football waiver wire rankings and all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for the week.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Rankings

Note: Players chosen based upon having early-week consensus roster percent below 50%.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

Kimani Vidal (RB – LAC): 26% Rostered

• Next Opponents: IND, MIN, @TEN
• True Value: $13
• Desperate Need: $24
• Budget-Minded: $8

Analysis: Never wrong, just early. That’s what Kimani Vidal truthers will tell you after being too early on him last year. To be fair, the truthers may have had a point, as Vidal exploded for 124 rushing yards on 18 attempts Sunday against the Dolphins. Going into the week, Hassan Haskins was projected to be the lead back in Omarion Hampton‘s absence. But Vidal took the role and didn’t look back. The second-year ball-carrier from Troy out-snapped Haskins 43-20, and untouched him 21-7. Hampton is supposed to return this season, but his IR stint will keep him out until at least Week 10. It’s important to recognize that Vidal’s big game came against a Miami defense that allowed Rico Dowdle to rush for more than 200 yards the week prior. However, if Vidal continues to get the vast majority of snaps and touches, he can be an RB3/Flex option for fantasy, at the very least.

Bam Knight (RB – ARI): 13% Rostered

• Next Opponents: GB, BYE, @DAL
• True Value: $8
• Desperate Need: $13
• Budget-Minded: $5

Analysis: Surprise. Bam Knight is the lead back in Arizona. Despite Michael Carter playing 58% of snaps in Week 5 and finishing as the RB11 in half-PPR scoring for the week, the Cardinals apparently didn’t appreciate his 18 carries for 58 yards. Knight led the charge this week, playing 37 snaps to Carter’s 32, with Emari Demercado playing only three snaps. Knight carried the ball 11 times for 34 yards and a touchdown on Sunday versus the Colts and added one catch for 20 yards. Knight has scored a touchdown in each of his last two games. Although Knight’s weekly upside is limited to the productivity of the offense, quarterback Kyler Murray has a good chance to return next week. Knight is a solid Flex play as long as Trey Benson (knee) remains out of the Cardinals’ lineup.

Kendrick Bourne (WR – SF): 32% Rostered

• Next Opponents: ATL, @HOU, @NYG
• True Value: $4
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: With Jauan Jennings obviously not 100% while he is still dealing with a few injuries, Kendrick Bourne has operated as the 49ers’ clear No. 1 WR over the last two games. This week, George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall could return, which would knock Bourne down the target pecking order. But until Kittle and Pearsall step back on the field, Bourne is the guy in the 49ers’ passing offense. In Week 5, Bourne was amazing, with a 22.4% target share, 142 receiving yards (3.74 yards per route run) and a 25% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. Against the Buccaneers in Week 6, Bourne smashed again with a 23% target share, five receptions and 142 receiving yards. He’s a strong Flex play until the 49ers get back to full strength (or at least close to it).

Jaxson Dart (QB – NYG): 29% Rostered

• Next Opponents: @DEN, @PHI, SF
• True Value: $5
• Desperate Need: $7
• Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: The Giants are riding high with the rookie duo of Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo. I’m skeptical it will last, but it is definitely fun to watch. These two players have the reckless abandon that Giants’ fans have been craving. Dart is only the third quarterback of the Super Bowl era to have 50+ rushing yards in each of his first three starts. He’s averaging nine carries per game, and his rushing ability is icing on this big blue cake. Next week’s matchup against the Broncos will be tough, as Denver is averaging the second-fewest points against (16.8) and has been stingy to opposing quarterbacks. The Broncos held Jets Justin Fields to 45 rushing yards on Sunday and sacked him nine times.

Mason Taylor (TE – NYJ): 34% Rostered

• Next Opponents: CAR, CIN, BYE
• True Value: $5
• Desperate Need: $7
• Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: Well, after two nice performances, Mason Taylor came crashing back to earth in Week 6, as Justin Fields turned into a rotten pumpkin. In the two games prior to the Denver debacle, Taylor was a focal point of the Jets’ passing attack as the TE9 in fantasy points per game. In Weeks 4-5, Taylor had a 26% target share, 66 receiving yards per game (1.89 yards per route run) and a 27.8% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. In Week 6, he turned his only target into two receiving yards. Don’t fear: Taylor will bounce back in the next two weeks with cupcake matchups incoming. Carolina and Cincinnati have respectively allowed the third-most and second-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game to tight ends.

Harold Fannin Jr. (TE – CLE): 25% Rostered

• Next Opponents: MIA, @NE, BYE
• True Value: $4
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-Minded: $2

Analysis: In Dillon Gabriel‘s first start, Harold Fannin Jr. had a 12.1% target share, a 47.2% route share, 13 receiving yards (0.76 yards per route run) and a 14.3% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. It was Fannin’s smallest route share of the season, and the touchdown he secured saved his fantasy day. David Njoku suffered a knee injury on Sunday, and Fannin became the Browns’ full-time tight end, playing 80.2% of the snaps with a 75.8% route share and a 20.8% target share, per PFF. He finished with seven grabs and 81 receiving yards. Fannin will be a strong streaming option over the next two weeks, assuming Njoku plays. But if Njoku is out, Fannin will be a must-start TE1. The Dolphins and Patriots, respectively, have allowed the eighth-most and seventh-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.