5 Starts & 5 Sits - Week 12

Streamers For The Desperate - Week 12

Week 12 Fantasy Football Waiver Adds

Streamers for the Desperate - Week 7

Leonard LaPadula

My teams went 1-2 in Week 6, leaving me 12-6 for the season so far. All three of my teams are 4-2, my two keeper teams are in 1st and 4th place, and my dynasty team fell from 1st to 6th.

Looking at the top players that were not drafted, between my three leagues, based on average points per week, I acquired the three best players available on waivers in my leagues so far this season following the advice of my own articles: Joe Flacco (QB, Ind), Jordan Mason (RB, SF), Allen Lazard (WR, NYJ)

Despite staying on top of the waiver wire and getting the top players, it has not been enough for my dynasty team. So far my dynasty team has had the 2nd easiest schedule, but the schedule gets tough going forward. In addition, my RB corps is decimated, and my WR corps has some gaps, especially while Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Mia) is out causing Tyreek Hill (WR, Mia) to perform terribly.

My only healthy RB is Tyler Allgeier (Atl), who was sitting on my bench but scored enough points to give me the win. Since he shares carries with Bijan Robinson, he is not a reliable starter. Brian Robinson (Wsh) was out, Jordan Mason (SF) and Jerome Ford (Cle) had in-game injuries. And finally all the news I read projected the banged-up James Cook (Buf) to start Monday night, but at the last minute I had to switch Dalton Kincaid (TE, Buf) into my lineup, who played well but fell slightly short of what I needed for the W.

With my strength-of-schedule getting tougher and my banged up crew, I need to act quickly to stay within play-off contention. With the waiver wire thin and getting thinner in my dynasty 24-deep roster league, I now need to resort to trades to give my team a decent chance. I have a very strong draft pick arsenal that should help me achieve my trade objects because of my efficient use of draft picks and draft pick strategies which I describe in these articles:

My arsenal of draft picks is 3 1sts, 2 2nds, 1 3rd for 2025, and 3 1sts, 3 2nds and 5 3rds for 2026.

My trade strategy is to find high-performing veterans on losing teams at the twilight of their career because of their lower dynasty value. I will try not to pay too much now, and then trade them away at the end of the season as I seek to find a more permanent boost to my roster with younger players. I am specifically targeting Alvin Kamara (RB, NO), Derrick Henry (RB, Bal), Joe Mixon (Hou, RB), Jayden Reed (WR, GB) and Stefon Diggs (WR, Hou) who all sit on teams that might be in re-build mode now. Only Jayden Reed is not a sunset-veteran, so I must offer more for him - my current offer is a low 2025 1st and Luke McCaffrey (R) (WR, Wsh). I hope one or two of my trade offers are accepted, but expect there will need to be some bartering involved.

I know this is not waiver-related information, but my primary goal for writing this article is to help you win. So if waivers isn't going to give me the solution I need to win, I imagine many of you are in the same boat, and so share my own management decisions so it might help you also.

On to the Week 7 streamers...

If you are familiar with my format of "Streamers for the Desperate" articles, then skip the following introduction.

This article is based on the principles I wrote about in How To Own Your League's Waiver Wire.

I name this article as such because it is generally for deeper roster leagues (18-to-24-man rosters) and as the season progresses, especially in the 24-man roster leagues, the pickings can get very thin. For example, you won't see Sam Darnold (QB, Min) or Justin Fields (QB, Pit) in this article because they aren't available in my leagues. However, you will see them in Alex Cuilla's article, Streamers for the Desperate - Week 7 because they are less than 50% owned in Yahoo leagues.

I list the players that are available on waivers in my three leagues and generally that scored more than 10 fantasy points (PPR). The players with an asterisks are available in my 24-man roster league. As we get deeper into the season, no matter how slim the options, I always list a couple available players for each position from my 24-man league.

I have loosely ranked the players but you need to decide which players are right for your team. Your criteria for deciding will be different depending on your need and if you are in a redraft, keeper or dynasty league.

The ranking in parenthesis after each player is the strength of this week's opponent against that position. So a "1st" indicates the most difficult opponent for that position, and a "32nd" indicates the weakest opponent against that position.

As much effort as it is, I make waiver requests every week for all of my teams. I don't just try to fill in obvious immediate needs, but look to make my team better to the last man on the roster. A deep roster creates resilience against injury. It also results in other teams having less good options, increasing the opportunity to trade to teams that truly are desperate and thereby build my draft pick arsenals.

Quarterbacks

  • Aaron Rodgers, NYJ @ Pit (5th) - I am not sure why Rodgers is sitting on the waiver wire in my keeper league, but if he is available, he is worth a spot on your roster. He completed 23 of 35 throws for 294 yards, 2 TDs and 1 Int in Week 6. 
  • *Andy Dalton, Car @ Wsh (22nd) - Dalton completed 26 of 38 attempts for 221 yards, 2 TDs and 2 Ints, adding another 21 yards on 3 carries.
  • Drake Maye (R), NE @ Jax (32nd) - Drake turned in an exciting performance in Week 6, completing 20 of 33 throws for 243 yards, 3 TDs and 2 Ints, and adding 38 yards on 5 carries. He is up against the softest pass D in Week 7.
  • Spencer Rattler (R), NO v Den (4th) - Rattler played like the rookie he is, but still showed some skill, completing 22 of 40 passes for 243 yards, 1 TD and 2 Ints, and adding 27 yards on 4 carries. He is up against a stout Broncos D in Week 7.
  • Joe Flacco, Ind  v Mia (1st) - Flacco filled in again for Anthony Richardson, completing 22 of 38 passes for 189 yards, 2 TDs and 1 Int. Colts coach Shane Steichen indicated that Richardson will start Sunday barring a setback. And in the unlikely event Flacco does play in Week 7, he would be up against the league's toughest pass D in the league.

Running Backs

  • Dameon Pierce, Hou @ GB (15th) - Pierce returned in Week 6 after his hamstring injury in Week 1. He rushed for 76 yards and a TD on 8 carries, and caught is only target for one yard. He did this as the number 2 back behind Joe Mixon, and should continue to see moderate volume going forward.
  • Sean Tucker, TB v Bal (4th) - This sophomore had a huge breakout game rolling over the Saints D on 14 carries for 136 yards and a TD, and catching all three of his targets for 56 yards and a TD teaming with Bucky Irving to fill in for the injured Rachaad White. It's too early to tell if this will get him some consistent volume going forward, but he is definitely worth a stash in dynasty leagues.
  • Jeremy McNichols, Wsh v Car (32nd) - McNichols only got two carries, which he converted to 9 yards. This was game script, going heavy on the pass against a stout Ravens run D in Week 6. McNichols is bound to get more touches in Week 7 against the softest run D in the league.
  • Jaleel McLaughlin, Den @ NO (24th) - This sophomore didn't have as big a week against the Chargers solid run D as he did in Week 5. However, he still had 5 touches, rushing 3 times for 8 yards and catching both his targets for 17 yards. Look for McLaughlin to bounce back in Week 7 against a softer Saints D.
  • Ray Davis (R), Buf v Ten (9th) - Filling in for James Cook, Davis carried the ball 20 times for 97 yards and caught all 3 of his targets for 55 yards. Davis looked great and seems to be solid handcuff for Cook.
  • Kimani Vidal (R), LAC @ Den (16th) - Vidal got his first opportunity in the NFL and made the most of it, running 4 times for 11 yards, and catching both his targets for 40 yards and a TD. He might be worth a stash in deeper dynasty leagues.
  • *Tyler Goodson, Ind  (30th) - Goodson rushed for 51 yards on 8 carries, and caught 4 of 5 targets for 14 yards. If Jonathan Taylor must sit out again in Week 7, he could continue to see an increase in volume, timesharing with Trey Sermon, which could result in a decent fantasy output against a soft Colts D.
  • *Ameer Abdullah, LV (25th) - Abdullah carried the ball 4 times for 24 yards and caught 3 of his 5 targets for 14 yards. However, he turned the ball over on the 1-yard line and muffed a punt return on his next play. Unless you have no other options and Zamir White remains inactive in Week 7, Abdullah is not worth a spot on your roster.

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

Receivers

  • Demario Douglas, NE  @ Jax (31st) - Sophomore Douglas caught 6 of 9 targets for 92 yards and a TD in Week 6. Douglas has been getting a steady stream of solid volume and is up against a soft Jaguars D. Drake Maye took his first start behind center last week. As Maye adjusts to the NFL, look for Douglas and Maye to build chemistry, especially as an escape valve behind a wobbly Patriots o-line.
  • Darius Slayton, NYG v Phi (27th) - Slayton led the team in targets catching 6 of his 11 targets for 57 yards in Week 6 with Malik Nabers still sidelined. If Nabers returns for Week 7, expert Slayton's target share to drop.
  • Tutu Atwell, LAR v LV (9th) - Atwell caught 6 of his 10 targets for 58 yards and a TD, and rushed once for 7 yards, in Week 5. If Cooper Kupp returns to action in Week 7, expect Atwell's volume to go down.
  • Jordan Whittington (R), LAR v LV (9th) - Whittington caught 7 of 10 targets for 89 yards in Week 6. He has increased volume every week since Week 2. However, Cooper Kupp might return in Week 7, limiting Whittington's opportunities. He is certainly a solid dynasty league stash.
  • Devaughn Vele (R), Den @ NO (24th) - Vele is back after a great Week 1 start in which he caught all 8 of his targets for 39 yards. In Week 6, Vele caught 4 of 6 targets for 78 yards, re-emerging as the Colts leading receiver in targets and receptions, tied with Courtland Sutton. His absence of playing time from Week 2 through 5 could just be game script and development time for the rookie. The fact that he is now being worked in is encouraging for dynasty team managers that have rostered him.
  • Rashad Bateman, Bal @ TB (26th) - Bateman caught all 4 of his targets for 71 yards and a TD in Week 6. Bateman has steady volume and is a decent streaming option for Week 7 against the Buccaneers soft pass D.
  • Gabriel Davis, Jax v NE (19th) - Davis came out of nowhere in Week 6, catching 5 of 8 targets for 45 yards and 2 TDs. We obviously can't expect this type of performance every week, but Davis seems to be developing chemistry with Trevor Lawrence since transitioning from the Bills to the Jaguars in the off-season.
  • *Keyshon Boutte, NE @ Jax (31st) - This sophomore saw a small uptick in volume in Week 6, catching all 3 of his targets for 59 yards and a TD. Drake Maye had his first NFL start last week, so look for volume to Boutte to increase as Maye continues to develop.
  • *Jauan Jennings, SF v KCC (7th) - After a monster Week 3 (11-175-12/3), Jennings has only caught 7 of 15 targets for 128 yards and no TDs. I dropped him this week, but because of his monster Week 3, we know he always has potential for a big game.
  • *Bub Means (R), NO v Den (1st) - Means caught his first NFL pass last week after Chris Olave's early exit, catching 5 of his 8 targets for 45 yards and a TD. That TD also happened to be rookie Spencer Rattler's first first TD pass. The Saints have a short week, which means Olave is less likely to be ready to suit up, giving Means more opportunity. Means might not be able to be depended on as a starting lineup plug-in, but he might make a good stash on a dynasty roster if you have the room. 

Tight Ends

  • Tyler Conklin, NJY @ Pit (25th) - Conklin has 17 receptions out of 26 targets over the past four weeks, averaging 10.3 years per catch. He also has no TDs this season. He only had 2 receptions for 10 yards in Week 6. Look for him to bounce back in Week 7 against a soft Steelers D.
  • Zach Ertz, Wsh v Car (22nd) - Ertz was the Commanders leading receiver in Week 6, with 4 catches on 5 targets for 68 yards. Ertz has yet to score a TD this season.
  • Noah Fant, Sea @ Atl (8th) - Fant has caught all 17 of his targets over the past four weeks, averaging 10.2 yards per catch, including his best performance of the season in Week 6, 6 targets for 63 yards. He is likely to continue to get moderate volume, and is due for his first TD of the season, but perhaps not against a tough Falcons D.
  • Colby Parkinson, LAR v LV (11th) - Parkinson was Stafford's favorite target in Week 5, making 7 receptions on 13 targets for 52 yards. He was on a bye in Week 6. If Tyler Higbee and Cooper Kupp remain sidelined, looks for Parkinson to continue to see moderate to high volume. Parkinson is being used in short-field situations, but is yet to make his first TD of the season.
  • *Mo Alie-Cox, Ind v Mia (6th) - Alie-Cox has seen a sudden uptick in targets the last two weeks with Joe Flacco behind center, catching all 4 of his targets in Week 7 for 41 yards. He was on the field more and ran the most routes of all Colts TEs. Alie-Cox has 1 TD so far this season.
  • *Grant Calcaterra, Phi @ NYG (10th) - With Dallas Goedert sidelined, Calcaterra stepped up to catch all four of his targets for 67 yards in Week 6. If Goedert and Albert Okwuegbunam remain sidelined, Catcaterra will continue to start for the Eagles.

Kickers

  • Will Reichard, Min v Det (14th)
  • Will Lutz, Den @ NO (30th)
  • Blake Grupe, NO v Den (7th)
  • Nick Folk, Ten @ Buf (6th)

Defense / Special Teams

  • New York Giants v Phi (26th)
  • Detroit Lions @ Min (12th)
  • Washington Commanders v Car (19th)
  • Arizona Cardinals v LAC (9th)
  • Kansas City Chiefs @ SF (10th)

*Available in my league with 24-player rosters