5 Starts & 5 Sits - Week 12

Streamers For The Desperate - Week 12

Week 12 Fantasy Football Waiver Adds

Week 7 Fantasy Football Waiver Adds

Alex Ciulla

With things starting to quickly shake themselves out across the league, we’re beginning to get a clearer picture of who teams are, who is adjusting, and who is quickly falling behind. For example, the New Orleans Saints were the talk of the town through the first two weeks, standing at 2-0 after two convincing wins over the Dallas Cowboys and Carolina Panthers. They’ve dropped four straight since, and quarterback Derek Carr’s return is currently uncertain. Alternatively, the Baltimore Ravens won their fourth straight after starting 0-2. They currently look unstoppable, with quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry combining to form a formidable duo for opposing defenses.

On a less than positive note, Week 6 brought us more injuries. The most notable was the fractured tibia suffered by Detroit Lions' young star pass-rusher Aidan Hutchinson, who will now miss the remainder of the season. Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Chris Olave both suffered concussions in their respective losses, and both will likely miss at least one week.  San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason (shoulder) is considered day-to-day, and will have a few extra days of rest. Cleveland Browns running back Jerome Ford (hamstring) departed from the Browns' loss to the Eagles early and did not return.

Additionally, Green Bay Packers wide receivers Jayden Reed (ankle) and Dontayvion Wicks (shoulder) both picked up injuries in the team's win.  To make matters worse, the nightmarish season continued in Jacksonville, where Jaguars running back Travis Etienne (hamstring) is considered week-to-week. Lastly, Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert (hamstring) picked up a hamstring injury.

As a reminder, this column assumes PPR formats and will only highlight players around or under 50% ownership via Yahoo! Fantasy. In Week 7, just the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears are absent due to bye weeks. Let’s get into the waivers.

For leagues with deeper rosters see: Streamers for the Desperate - Week 7

Quarterback Streamers

Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings (56% Owned)

Sam Darnold and the Vikings retained their perfect record while on bye in Week 6, and they'll be welcomed back by one of the tougher defenses in Week 7 when they host their division-rival Detroit Lions. Detroit has been one of the better teams against opposing passing attacks on a per-play basis. However, the matchup projects as one of the higher-scoring affairs with a 50-point over/under.

Darnold has been excellent this year, and while his passing totals won't wow you, his 8.1 yards per attempt is the sixth-best mark in the league with only three quarterbacks having thrown more touchdowns. I like the 27-year-old to bounce back in Week 7 after a dreadful outing against his former team. Pick him up if available.

Justin Fields, Pittsburgh Steelers (56% Owned)

Justin Fields gets those same New York Jets on Sunday Night Football next week. It's not a great matchup, but I like him a lot while he still holds the Steelers' starting quarterback job. Despite recording just one game with more than 200 passing yards and one with multiple passing touchdowns -- the 25-year-old is currently the QB5 on the season.

Fields has tossed just one interception and has two games with at least 55 rushing yards and multiple rushing scores in his last three outings. The Jets have been the most formidable test for opposing passing attacks. Still, the former Bears' work on the ground should keep him fantasy relevant with quarterbacks Dak Prescott and Caleb Williams on bye. A definite add if available in your league.

Drake Maye, New England Patriots (6% Owned)

The third-overall pick made his NFL debut on Sunday. While his team lost 41-21 to the C.J. Stroud-led Texans, Drake Maye didn't look over-matched against a Houston defense that's let up the fifth-fewest passing yards in the league.

Maye tossed three touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 20-of-33 passes (60.6%) for 243 yards. The stats the 22-year-old racked up were all significantly higher than previous Patriots starter Jacoby Brissett's season-highs by a wide margin. Additionally, the former North Carolina Tar-heel added 40 yards on the ground across five rushing attempts, and consistent production like that will certainly raise his fantasy floor. To that end, Maye is an intriguing add & stream in Week 7 against the league's worst pass defense when the Patriots travel across the sea to London to take on the Jaguars. 

Running Backs

Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants (45% Owned)

For the second week in a row, running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. filled in admirably for an injured Devin Singletary (groin). The 24-year-old played a whopping 84% of snaps for New York in their 17-7 loss to the Bengals and racked up 50 yards and a touchdown on his 17 carries. The rookie also added 56 yards through the air, hauling in all six of his targets. While Tracy wasn't nearly as efficient on the ground as last week when he averaged 7.17 YPC en route to 129 rush yards, it was another impressive performance for the wide receiver-turned-running-back. 

Early reports after the Week 6 loss indicate that the fifth-round pick might have won the starting job in the Giants' backfield, even when Singletary returns from his injury stint. If so, he'll be a top waiver priority this week. The former Purdue Boilermaker is a marginally more explosive athlete than the veteran back and projects as a low-end RB2 & immediate add if the role indeed has become his.

Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers (4% Owned)

San Fran RB Jordan Mason looked to be off to an enormous performance in the 49ers 36-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks before his outing was derailed by what's being labeled as an AC Joint injury. Rookie Isaac Guerendo took over and carried the ball ten times for 99 yards while not making any impact in the passing game.

Admittedly, we probably wouldn't even be talking about Guerendo had he not broken free for a 76-yard burst up the right sideline (meaning he averaged 2.55 YPC on his other nine totes). However, given the uncertainty surrounding Mason's status and the propensity of head coach Kyle Shanahan to trust Guerendo over fifth-year veteran Patrick Taylor Jr., we need to be paying attention.

It's worth noting that San Francisco will host the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7. The Chiefs have been one of the more staunch defenses against the run in 2024. So, fantasy managers will need to temper expectations if Mason is out and they're forced to roll with the 24-year-old. That said, Guerendo is an intriguing waiver stash.

Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders (51% Owned)

Alexander Mattison has now spent two weeks as the starting running back for the Raiders while Zamir White (groin) tends to an injury. Despite not clearing 2.53 yards per carry over that frame, he's been a useful fantasy asset. Mattison has back-to-back double-digit fantasy point outings and is the PPR RB14 over the two-week stretch.

The former Viking has been modestly involved in the passing game as well, hauling in all five of his targets for 32 yards in Sunday's 32-13 loss to the Steelers. It's the third time this year he's registered at least three receptions, and the rushing production should start to take off soon as well. In Week 7, Las Vegas hits the road to take on the Rams at SoFi Stadium, and LA is one of the more favorable matchups for opposing ground attacks, as they allow 4.8 yards per rush attempt. Mattison projects as a solid waiver-wire add.

Now more powerful than ever: The Machine - DFS Lineup Optimizer

Wide Receivers

Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (48% Owned)

With veteran quarterback Joe Flacco under center for roughly two and a half weeks, wide receiver Josh Downs has been one of the best assets in fantasy football. Since Flacco took over for Anthony Richardson in Week 4, Downs is the PPR WR4 -- racking up 24 catches, 217 yards, and two scores on an impressive 30 targets.

It's been an unbelievable run for the 23-year-old, who has been far and away the best wide-out on his team during this time. That could all change in short order, as Richardson is slated to play this week when the Colts host the Miami Dolphins. However, Downs has been dominant in the short to intermediate area over the middle of the field and is a crispy, explosive route runner.

Even with the second-year QB's impending return, I want Downs any where I can get him. Remember, the former Tar-heel began the year recovering from a high-ankle sprain he picked up in the preseason and has been a PPR machine for three of the four games since. He'll be a low-end WR3 with big-time upside in Week 7. A must add if available.

DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots (7% Owned)

Second-year wideout DeMario Douglas was the biggest benefactor (for one game, anyway) with the switch from quarterback Jacoby Brissett to rookie first-rounder Drake Maye. The 23-year-old hauled in 6-of-9 targets for 92 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 41-21 loss to the Houston Texans. His touchdown was a 35-yard crosser in which Maye hit him in stride and he outran the Texans defense.

Douglas was trending positively regardless, but Sunday marked his best outing of the season. He'll be a better PPR play moving forward, but should absolutely be on your radar if you need a wide-out, as the Liberty product draws one of the top matchups in Week 7 when he and New England take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. The Jags have let up the most passing yards and touchdowns to opponents this season while intercepting just one pass. Don't be afraid to go get him off the waiver wire.

Tight Ends

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (26% Owned)

I'll admit, the tight end position has been awful this year and we're really just grasping at straws at this point. Just know that if you're streaming tight end, I feel for you.

However, Hunter Henry was moderately productive in rookie QB Drake Maye's first start. Henry's five targets were good for second-most on the team, and he turned them into three catches, 41 yards, and a touchdown. Believe it or not, his 13 fantasy points were good for the TE7 on the week.

His production will be volatile and he'll likely disappoint if he doesn't get a touchdown. However, the 29-year-old is a big, reliable target and, in theory, is a rookie quarterback's best friend. 

Best of all, Henry gets the same juicy matchup his teammates do against the Jags in London this coming Sunday. With that current state of the TE position, Henry deserves a waiver pick-up.

Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (36% Owned)

Cade Otton was one of my favorite late-round tight-end sleepers in drafts as he was uber-effective in the red zone last year. So far in 2024, the targets have been there, as Tampa Bay slings it at the fourteenth-highest percentage in the league.

The 25-year-old has just one touchdown (against the Saints in Week 6), but on the year his yards, targets, and receptions are only behind wide-outs Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. It could very well be a highly competitive game in Week 7 when Tampa Bay squares off against the Baltimore Ravens in a home matchup on Monday Night Football. If so, Otton will be a fringe TE1 and will likely be busy in what projects to be a high-scoring affair.

As the season progresses, the landscape of the NFL is becoming clearer, revealing which teams are thriving and which are struggling to keep pace. The New Orleans Saints, once seen as strong contenders, are now reeling from four consecutive losses, raising questions about their direction. Meanwhile, the Baltimore Ravens have found their stride, showcasing the dynamic duo of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. As fantasy managers navigate these shifting tides, staying informed on player performances and injuries is crucial for making strategic decisions in the waiver wire.

With Week 7 approaching, it's essential to act quickly to bolster your fantasy roster. The injuries from Week 6 have opened up opportunities for emerging players, making this the perfect time to capitalize on waiver wire gems. By staying proactive and making informed choices, you can enhance your lineup and boost your chances of victory. Whether it's grabbing a hot quarterback or a breakout running back, the right additions could be the key to your fantasy success.