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.

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Week 7 byes

• Buffalo Bills
• Los Angeles Rams
• Minnesota Vikings
• Philadelphia Eagles

Quarterbacks

Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers

The waiver wire is starting to get thin as byes hit, so keep your expectations low for this week's streaming options at quarterback.

Garoppolo has been his usual solid-yet-unspectacular self with three top-14 weekly fantasy finishes in his five appearances this season.

Next up is a Chiefs defense that's been one of the three easiest matchups for fantasy QBs in 2022. They've allowed multiple touchdown passes to every team they've faced this campaign.

Garoppolo won't win you the week, but he won't lose it for you, either.

Tua Tagovailoa and Jared Goff are just above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Risky streaming options: Daniel Jones at JAX (30% rostered), Marcus Mariota at CIN (14% rostered), Ryan Tannehill vs. IND (17% rostered), Matt Ryan at TEN (28% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy): Jameis Winston/Andy Dalton at ARI (28%/2% rostered), Kenny Pickett at MIA (15% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Zach Wilson at DEN (15% rostered), Justin Fields at NE (38% rostered), Taylor Heinicke vs. GB (0% rostered), Mitch Trubisky at MIA (2% rostered), Davis Mills at LV (4% rostered), Jacoby Brissett at BAL (8% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if healthy): Mac Jones vs. CHI (17% rostered), Cooper Rush vs. DET (7% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if starter is out): Bailey Zappe vs. CHI (2% rostered)

Long-term stashes: Desmond Ridder (1% rostered), Sam Howell vs. GB (0% rostered), Sam Darnold (1% rostered)

Running backs

Latavius Murray, Broncos

It didn't take long for Murray to move up the depth chart in Denver.

In his first game action as a member of the Broncos, Murray opened the contest behind Melvin Gordon but eventually overtook him and handled all of the second-half carries. The recently acquired Murray finished with 16 touches to Gordon's three and Mike Boone's two.

While this was a changing of the guard in Denver's backfield, it's important to remember the offense is still struggling.

Murray will be ranked as an RB3/flex for Week 7 - the highest of the Broncos' backs - just keep your expectations in check for the 32-year-old until this offense finds its way.

Rachaad White, Buccaneers

There weren't any major injuries at running back this week, so don't expect to find many instant starters like we had in the column last week with Kenneth Walker, Eno Benjamin, and, ultimately, Deon Jackson.

Instead, we'll turn our attention to the backups with elite upside if an injury strikes their depth chart.

White's playing time and production are capped with Leonard Fournette handling the bulk of the work in Tampa. But if the 27-year-old gets hurt between now and the end of the season, White will become an immediate top-15 fantasy option.

D'Onta Foreman, Panthers

With the running back choices limited this week, make sure you give strong consideration to stashing some of the backs who could see their opportunity increase if the starter on their team is dealt before the NFL trade deadline on Nov. 1.

Foreman is the clear beneficiary if the rumors about the Panthers moving Christian McCaffrey are true. In Week 6, Foreman out-snapped, out-carried, and out-gained fellow backup Chuba Hubbard (4% rostered).

While both players would see increased touches if McCaffrey were on another roster, Foreman has proven he can step in for a star back. He posted three 100-yard games and scored three touchdowns when he filled in for an injured Derrick Henry over the final six outings last season.

However, Foreman's fantasy ceiling would be in the RB3/flex range due to Hubbard's involvement and the Panthers' struggles on offense as a whole.

Nyheim Hines and Alexander Mattison are just above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

High-upside backups like Isiah Pacheco (21% rostered) and Jaylen Warren (11% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Tyler Allgeier at CIN (49% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy and if starter is out): Deon Jackson at TEN (43% rostered)

Risky flex options: Kenyan Drake vs. CLE (4% rostered), Jerick McKinnon at SF (11% rostered), Mark Ingram at ARI (23% rostered), JD McKissic vs. GB (26% rostered), Dontrell Hilliard vs. IND (12% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Joshua Kelley vs. SEA (17% rostered), Gus Edwards/Justice Hill vs. CLE (15%/1% rostered), Damien Williams at CIN (4% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Caleb Huntley at CIN (7% rostered), Mike Boone vs. NYJ (40% rostered), Samaje Perine vs. ATL (7% rostered), Rex Burkhead at LV (12% rostered), Tevin Coleman vs. KC (16% rostered), DeeJay Dallas at LAC (17% rostered)

Dart-throw flex option (if starter is out): Phillip Lindsay at TEN (12% rostered)

Other backups to consider: Matt Breida at JAX (1% rostered), Ty Davis-Price vs. KC (3% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Kyren Williams (8% rostered), James Cook (27% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell (23% rostered),

Long-shot stashes: Zamir White (3% rostered), Hassan Haskins (0% rostered)

Wide receivers

Wan'Dale Robinson, Giants

Robinson returned to the lineup this week and earned an impressive four targets despite only playing 23% of the Giants' snaps and running just 11 routes.

The result was a three-catch, 37-yard, one-touchdown afternoon in which he flashed some of the talents that made him a second-round pick in April.

After easing him back in, you can be certain Brian Daboll plans to increase the rookie's playing time moving forward. Given the state of New York's banged-up receiving corps, we could see Robinson become the team's leading receiver the rest of the way.

It's enough to make him a WR4/flex right now and a must-add to see if he emerges as the Giants' top wideout.

Alec Pierce, Colts

Pierce returns to the waiver-wire section after adding a 3-49-1 performance to his resume in Week 6.

You can tack that on to his recent stat lines of 3-61-0, 4-80-0, and 8-81-0 over the last month. Pierce has earned at least five targets in each of his past four contests.

He's still playing behind Michael Pittman and Parris Campbell, but Pierce's playmaking and contested-catch ability are undeniable.

The rookie can be used as a fantasy WR3/flex option during bye weeks and maybe beyond.

Rondale Moore/Robbie Anderson, Cardinals

Marquise Brown received good news when his foot injury turned out to be a non-surgical fracture with a six-week recovery timeline and not the season-ender as some suggested.

DeAndre Hopkins returning from suspension this week and Anderson's arrival following a trade Monday will mitigate Brown's absence.

Hopkins should quickly reassert himself as the alpha pass-catcher in Arizona, but the No. 2 spot will be up for grabs between Moore and Anderson.

Each player will see plenty of snaps, with Anderson lining up outside across from Hopkins and Moore manning the slot. Both will have an opportunity to post fantasy WR4/flex numbers until Brown is healthy.

Michael Gallup is just above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Nico Collins at LV (20% rostered)

Risky flex options: Tyquan Thornton vs. CHI (1% rostered), Chase Claypool at MIA (41% rostered), Mecole Hardman at SF (21% rostered), Donovan Peoples-Jones at BAL (15% rostered), Marquez Valdes-Scantling at SF (42% rostered), Zay Jones vs. NYG (20% rostered), Corey Davis at DEN (40% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Jahan Dotson vs. GB (36% rostered), DJ Chark at DAL (25% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: DeVante Parker vs. CHI (23% rostered), Josh Reynolds at DAL (32% rostered), Parris Campbell at TEN (2% rostered), Olamide Zaccheaus at CIN (1% rostered), Tre'Quan Smith at ARI (0% rostered), Josh Palmer vs. SEA (26% rostered), Russell Gage at CAR (13% rostered), Marquez Callaway at ARI (2% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy): Christian Watson at WAS (5% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Van Jefferson (5% rostered), KJ Osborn (6% rostered), Khalil Shakir (3% rostered)

Long-term rookie stashes: Skyy Moore at SF (10% rostered)

Long-shot stashes: Kadarius Toney vs. BAL (18% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Jameson Williams (32% rostered), Treylon Burks (21% rostered), Odell Beckham Jr. (16% rostered)

Tight ends

Cade Otton, Buccaneers

Cameron Brate was fortunate to have X-rays return negative after he injured his neck and was taken off the field on a backboard. However, with a concussion in Week 4 and the neck injury in Week 6, the Bucs will likely play it safe and keep him on the sidelines for a little while to recover.

Meanwhile, Otton's role grew over the last few weeks, highlighted by his start when Brate was out. He played 94% of the Bucs' snaps during that game and caught six balls for 43 yards. It's excellent usage for any tight end but especially notable for a rookie.

With very few quality fantasy options at the position, Otton is an intriguing add who could flirt with top-12 production while Brate is out.

Robert Tonyan is around the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Streamer options: Evan Engram vs. NYG (37% rostered), Hunter Henry vs. CHI (36% rostered), Greg Dulcich vs. NYJ (1% rostered)

Risky streamer options: Mike Gesicki vs. PIT (24% rostered), Daniel Bellinger at JAX (2% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options: Noah Fant at LAC (11% rostered), Juwan Johnson at ARI (1% rostered), Cole Kmet at NE (31% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options (if healthy): Logan Thomas vs. GB (9% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options (if healthy and starter is out): Foster Moreau vs. HOU (0% rostered)

Long-term rookie stashes: Isaiah Likely (2% rostered)

Defenses

Week 7 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Jets (3% rostered), Titans (8% rostered), Colts (37% rostered), Falcons (1% rostered)