All 32 teams are dealing with injuries in some capacity — some major, some not super-impactful — with some like the Buccaneers (WRs Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans) and Rams (WRs Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell) feeling it more than others.
With a new week arriving, league managers need solutions — whether temporary or otherwise. The good news is the fantasy football waiver wire pickup options for Week 7 are plentiful.
Week 7 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups by Position
Below are some potential Week 7 fantasy football waiver wire targets at QB, RB, WR, and TE.
(Fantasy rankings and 2025 point totals are courtesy of FantasyPros.)
Seahawks QB Sam Darnold (vs. Texans)
Sam Darnold opened the year with a ho-hum scoreless outing against the 49ers. Since then, all he’s done is throw 11 TDs with a 120.8 passer rating.
Darnold is fantasy QB6 over that span, slotting in just behind Jalen Hurts and ahead of reigning MVP Josh Allen.
Deep-ball efficiency is turning Darnold’s career around. Per Pro Football Focus, he’s first in such completions and yards per attempt.
Perhaps the only thing that might give owners pause is that in Week 7, Darnold faces a Texans defense that’s surrendered the fewest fantasy points to QBs.
Other Week 7 QB Waiver Wire Pickups to Consider
- Giants QB Jaxson Dart (@ Broncos): Don’t look now, but the Giants are 2-1 in Dart’s starts. He turned in a 2-TD performance against the Eagles and ranks as QB8 since taking over. No signal-caller has more rushing attempts (30), yards (167), or TDs (2) from Weeks 4-6.
- Panthers QB Bryce Young (@ Jets): 2023’s No. 1 overall pick stumbled out of the gate, but he’s playing better ball now. Young has 6 TDs in his last three games, producing at a QB18 level. A bout with the Jets, who rank 30th in EPA/pass on defense according to SumerSports, may be just what the doctor ordered to keep that momentum going.
Chargers RB Kimani Vidal (vs. Colts)
The Chargers are missing RB Omarion Hampton? No problem.
L.A. picked up a win against the Dolphins in Week 6, and RB Kimani Vidal played a huge role in the triumph.
Vidal racked up 21 touches for 138 yards and a TD, logging 43 snaps to Hassan Haskins’ 20 on Sunday. The Troy product was RB7 league-wide.
Is there untapped upside for Vidal in the passing game? His 4 targets and 3 receptions were career-highs.
The Colts’ defense seems daunting (seventh in EPA/play), but it’s slightly less so against RBs, ranking just outside the top ten in least fantasy points yielded.
Other Week 7 RB Waiver Wire Pickups to Consider
- Cardinals RB Zonovan “Bam” Knight (vs. Packers): Contrary to what many anticipated, it was Knight and not RB Michael Carter who got the most snaps for the Cardinals on Sunday. The difference was five reps (37 to 32), but Knight averaged 4.5 yards per touch with a TD. His big 20-yard reception might be enough to keep him involved at a solid clip moving forward.
- Titans RB Tyjae Spears (vs. Patriots): In his second game back from injury, Spears is already ramping up. He went from 17 snaps in Week 5 to 36 in Week 6 — good for 59% of those available. The 2023 third-rounder ran 10 more routes than lead back Tony Pollard, hinting that the Titans’ backfield picture may be closer than some think.
Rams WR Jordan Whittington (@ Jaguars)
With WR Puka Nacua nursing an ankle injury, it’s possible the Rams could look to WR Jordan Whittington to replace some snaps.
Nacua was limited to just 27 reps in Week 6, with Whittington on the field 92% of the time. Tutu Atwell’s absence (hamstring) also contributed to Whittington playing plenty in the slot (56%, per PFF). He logged season highs with 4 targets and 3 catches.
L.A.’s love for 11 personnel (one RB, one TE) is serious. Their No. 2 ranking (78.2%, via SumerSports) emphasizes a need for blocking WRs. Whittington fits that profile.
Only six defenses have allowed more fantasy points to WRs than the Jaguars.
Other Week 7 WR Waiver Wire Pickups to Consider
- 49ers WR Kendrick Bourne (vs. Falcons): The Bourne renaissance with QB Mac Jones under center is real. In Weeks 5 and 6, only WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba had more receiving yards than Kendrick, who's fantasy WR4 over that stretch. QB Brock Purdy and WR Ricky Pearsall’s recoveries could determine Bourne’s fantasy viability. TE George Kittle is also on the mend.
- Patriots WR Kayshon Boutte (@ Titans): Boutte has been targeted at least 3 times in four consecutive games. His lowest snap share in those outings is just under 62%. His 5-catch, 93-yard, 2-TD showing in Week 6 landed him at WR4. The Titans’ defense has given up the eighth-most yards to opposing WRs.
Raiders TE Michael Mayer (@ Chiefs)
While there’s optimism surrounding a potential Week 7 return for TE Brock Bowers, it reeks of caution. Should the Raiders hold him out through their Week 8 bye, Michael Mayer becomes a very enticing fantasy add.
Mayer played 56 snaps in Week 6, good for 92%. His 7 targets and 5 receptions were both the second-best outputs of his career.
In a week that saw only eight TEs crack double-digit fantasy points, Mayer occupied a top-five spot.
Just two defenses (Bills and Falcons) have been targeted less than the Chiefs this season. Maybe it’s time for the Raiders to try doing so.
Other Week 7 TE Waiver Wire Pickups to Consider
- Buccaneers TE Cade Otton (@ Lions): Egbuka and Godwin’s injuries leave Tampa Bay desperate for pass-catching production. Could it be Otton’s time? He has 9 grabs for 132 yards in Weeks 5 and 6 (TE14 production) while playing 96% of snaps. The downside is he doesn’t have a red-zone target in that span.
- Browns TE Harold Fannin Jr. (vs. Dolphins): It’s becoming increasingly clear that Fannin isn’t going away. Week 6 saw him record a career-high 10 targets, going off for 7 receptions and 81 yards against the Steelers. The third-round rookie had a dry spell from Weeks 2-5 (TE21) but even then, he presented nice value. Week 7’s opponent, Miami, ranks fourth in most fantasy points yielded to TEs.
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