Week 7 DFS: Top Picks & Targets

5 Starts & 5 Sits - Week 7

Streamers for the Desperate - Week 7

Week 8 Fantasy Football Waiver Adds

Alex Ciulla

With only the Dallas Cowboys and Chicago Bears on bye, Week 7 featured a nearly full schedule of games. As we approach the season's midpoint, the gap between contenders and pretenders is widening, largely influenced by injuries—a trend that feels more pronounced this year. This impact extends to fantasy football as well.

Injuries continue to dominate the news in 2024, with a constant stream of questionable and out designations. Week 7 was no exception, hitting several key players hard, and it sometimes feels like we’re managing an outpatient clinic rather than a fantasy roster.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) is out for the year after rupturing his tendon against the Bengals. QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (finger) took over but also injured his finger, leaving QB Jameis Winston as a potential starter for Week 8. The San Francisco 49ers lost two wide receivers: Deebo Samuel Sr. (illness) with pneumonia, and Brandon Aiyuk (knee) with torn ACL and MCL ligaments, sidelining him for the rest of year. Las Vegas Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell (thumb) broke a finger, paving the way for QB Gardner Minshew. Rookie QB Jayden Daniels (ribs) injured himself during the Washington Commanders' first drive and is undergoing further evaluation. 

Additionally, New Orleans Saints WR Rashid Shaheed (knee) is out for the season after meniscus surgery. Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf (knee) is week-to-week. Kansas City Chiefs WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) exited early and is ruled out for Week 8. Detroit Lions RB David Montgomery (knee) and 49ers TE George Kittle (foot) sustained injuries but returned to their respective games.

This column assumes PPR formats and focuses on players around 50% ownership on Yahoo! Now, let’s explore this week’s waiver targets.

Streaming Quarterbacks

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (46% Owned)

With the news that QB Tua Tagovailoa is expected to practice this week and tracking toward returning for the team's Week 8 matchup, he's a priority add if you need a QB streamer. What's nice about Tua is that -- barring health -- he could be your fantasy QB1 for the remainder of the year. He'll be a welcome sight for Miami, their skill players, and fantasy lineups.

Tagovailoa and the Dolphins will line up against the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday, and the Cards are one of the better matchups in the league, particularly for a returning player. Arizona has allowed the second-most net pass yards per attempt (7.3) to opposing offenses through seven games. It's not yet guaranteed that the 26-year-old will be activated, but it seems to be trending that way. Keep an eye on his status and pick him up if possible.

Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers (8% Owned)

I was a staunch protester of the Steelers' QB switch from Justin Fields to Russell Wilson. It made little sense to me why the Steelers would turn away from a player that led them to a 4-2 record. However, I'm far less bearish on Wilson's outlook after watching the veteran play. Wilson and the Steelers ruined WR Davante Adams' coming-out party in his first game back with bestie QB Aaron Rodgers. Despite falling behind 15-6, Pittsburgh ripped off 31 straight points to get the win & improve to 5-2 on the season.

The 35-year-old put up three total touchdowns on Sunday Night Football (one on the ground) and was overall solid after a cold start. His 24.86 fantasy points would have been a higher total than all but one of his 15 outings from a season ago. It's clear now why a switch was made, as Wilson can layer the ball far more effectively than Fields over and between defenders.

Pittsburgh and its signal-caller will get a slightly softer matchup in Week 8 against the other New York team that plays in New Jersey. The Giants are one of the stronger defenses on a per-play basis against opposing passing attacks, but that may just be because everyone runs all over them. Still, they've picked off just one pass on the year compared to eight passing scores allowed. Wilson is a must-add if you're in need of QB help for Week 8.

Running Backs

Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills (26% Owned)

The running back adds are scarce this week, but Ray Davis is one of the more intriguing options potentially still available. While more of a speculative add, Davis has been quite productive over the last two weeks. In the team's Week 7 34-10 annihilation of the Tennessee Titans, he played 13 total snaps in the contest but saw a touch on half of those. It's far fewer snaps than starting running back James Cook (29) -- who returned in this contest from injury -- and one more snap than backup RB Ty Johnson.

Cook averaged 2.67 yards per carry on his 13 rushes, while Davis saw five carries for 41 yards (8.2 YPC). Both backs scored a touchdown in the outing, though only Davis and Johnson saw a target. 

The Kentucky product hasn't quite secured the "1B" role yet, but he's trending in that direction. While Cook may retain his job, the fourth-round pick (Davis) has shown he can effectively handle running duties, and Cook might start yielding short-yardage situations to him soon. The Bills get a juicy Week 8 matchup against a Seattle Seahawks defense that can't stop anyone on the ground. Davis is worth the pick-up and add if he's available in your league.

D'Ernest Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars (7% Owned)

This is another speculative add based solely on two facts. 1.) RB D'Ernest Johnson looked athletic and explosive in his limited action in the Jags' 32-16 win over the Patriots in London. 2.) RB Travis Etienne Jr.'s (hamstring) status for Week 8 has yet to be confirmed. The whole reason Johnson got extended play was because Etienne was inactive.

In the Clemson product's stead, Johnson took ten carries for 38 yards while adding an additional 32 yards through the air on 3-of-4 receiving. Fellow running mate Tank Bigsby also ran wild over New England (26/118/2) but did not register a target. 

The 28-year-old veteran can probably be left on waivers if Etienne plays. However, if the latter's status is unknown, Johnson would be a decent stash (particularly with the recent string of injuries). While he's the least-enticing RB add of the three featured here, he is absolutely on our radars after registering a touch on 12-of-21 snaps.

Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals (18% Owned)

If you've got a roster spot to play with and a need for upside, then now is the time to stash rookie RB Trey Benson. Whether you have RB James Conner or not, Benson saw just 11 snaps in Arizona's Week 6 34-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers. Despite this, he out-carried and out-gained running mate Emari Demarcado, who was on the field for 31 snaps and also handled five more touches in the passing game. 

Conner saw a season-low in snaps last week (16) as both game script and injury kept him off the field. While he was never officially designated as being hurt, it's clear he was dinged up. Additionally, one of the primary draws for Benson was that the veteran Conner regularly misses time (he's appeared in more than 13 games just twice in his 7-year career). Even though that has yet to come to fruition, now would be a good time to get ahead of the game and stash Benson. 

The third-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft regularly displayed his speed and power in his collegiate career and presents with marginally more juice than Conner. Additionally, a third-round pick on a running back in 2024 equates more akin to a second-round pick in the early 2010s. Again, he's a stash at this point -- but one I'm willing to bet has a significant second-half impact.

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Wide Receivers

Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers (30% Owned)

Anyone who has held onto their WR Jauan Jennings (hip) shares must feel good. Jennings is the top waiver priority this week, although it's not guaranteed he will suit up in Week 8. San Francisco will square off in a marquee matchup on Sunday Night Football against a reeling Dallas Cowboys squad, and should be an excellent opportunity for Jennings. While it's no guarantee that Jennings will be available, head coach Kyle Shanahan is on record saying he "hopes" to get the 27-year-old back for the contest.

While this is potentially great news for those in need of WR help off the waiver wire, be warned that Jennings may be sitting on your bench for a week. Still, the risk is outweighed by the reward. With the news that WR Brandon Aiyuk will miss the remainder of the season, Jennings slots in as, at worst, the third option in San Fran's passing attack. More so, he's already proven capable of putting up a monster game with a more concentrated target share. Look no further than his 11-catch, 175-yard, 3-TD performance back in Week 3.

Additionally, how long WR Deebo Samuel will be out still remains to be seen. Deebo may recover quickly, but pneumonia is no joking matter and could knock him out for weeks, leaving Jennings, TE George Kittle, and rookie wideouts Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing as the next men up. Plan accordingly and don't be afraid to take a flier on Jennings if you have the roster space.

Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks (58% Owned)

We're picking up Jennings this week for the same reason we’re eyeing WR Tyler Lockett. With #1 WR DK Metcalf (knee) out for a few weeks due to injury, Lockett's value increases significantly.

The 32-year-old has been the odd man out this season in three-wide sets, trailing both Metcalf and second-year wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba in snaps by 79. Despite this (and registering seven fewer receptions and nine fewer targets than Smith-Njigba), Lockett has handily out-gained him by 65 yards. With targets freeing up, the former third-round pick should be a valuable asset for at least one week.

While his uptick in snaps and targets will be but for a short time, Lockett is quietly the PPR WR28 this year, recording at least four receptions and 45 yards in all but one contest. The only thing missing are the touchdowns. The Seahawks will line up against the Buffalo Bills next Sunday in what projects to be one of the higher-scoring affairs of Week 8. I like Lockett as a strong WR2 if Metcalf can't play. Go get him off your waiver wire.

Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers (13% Owned)

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall has dealt with a tumultuous rookie season regarding his health, but was activated last week for the first time. With Deebo and Aiyuk leaving early, Pearsall participated on 48 snaps (76%) in Sunday's 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. It was most likely not the 49er's plan to thrust the first-year wideout into such a heavy role so early but injuries to the receiving corps facilitated that decision.  

Jennings is the preferred option off waivers, but Pearsall would be a nice consolation prize, as San Fran drafted the 24-year-old at the end of the first round. He was a fantastic man coverage beater in college, and presumably that's why he was taken so early. He should get a decent leash to display those skills and take over Aiyuk's role in the offense. 

Currently the former Florida Gator is more of a PPR add in deep leagues, but is a first-round talent and shouldn't be slept on. Despite the team's offensive struggles against the Chiefs, San Francisco's offense is one we still want pieces of.

Bub Means/Maison Tipton, New Orleans Saints (9/1% Owned)

This is one of the more challenging calls of the week if you're absolutely desperate for a wide receiver, so I wanted to briefly highlight them both.

Rookie wide receiver Bub Means has seen a significant enhancement in snaps over the last two weeks. In New Orleans' 33-10 loss to the Broncos on Thursday night, Means led the team in snaps and ran just seven fewer routes than Rashid Shaheed (knee) the week before. In Week 6, Means tied for the team lead in receptions (5) and targets (8), and has racked up 13 of the latter since then. He had modest college production but stands 6-foot-1 while sporting off-the-charts athletic test scores. The Pittsburgh product projects as more of an outside receiver.

Conversely, WR Maison Tipton is quite a bit shorter (5-foot-9) and more of a prototypical speed-slot receiver. He saw more work with Shaheed and WR Chris Olave (concussion) out and led the team in catches and targets in Week 7. Additionally, Tipton was just behind Means in snap-share.

With Olave yet to clear concussion protocol, his Week 8 status is up in the air. Regarding Means and Tipton, one will take a backseat when the former Ohio State Buckeye returns. Which one is anyone's guess, though I like Means a bit more due to his athletic profile and size. If I had to make an educated guess, Tipton feels like a higher-floor PPR option with Olave out and Means as a lower-floor, big-play threat.

For what it's worth, Bub Means was a fifth-round pick, while Tipton was an undrafted free agent.

Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns (0% Owned)

With wide receiver Amari Cooper now shipped off to Buffalo, it was expected that one of the Cleveland Browns' pass-catchers would step up and take on an enhanced role. However, I don't think anyone thought it'd be Cedric Tillman.

Tillman was excellent in Cleveland's 21-14 loss to their division-rival Cincinnati Bengals, reeling in 8-of-12 targets for 81 yards. Tight end David Njoku garnered two more targets and receptions but was out-gained 81-to-76 by the second-year wideout. Interestingly enough, WR Elijah Moore was the only other Cleveland receiver to catch more than four balls.

Whether this sort of stat line is prescriptive moving forward is unclear, but 12 targets is nothing to scoff at. It's worth noting that Cincinnati's defense has not been good, but maybe with QB Deshaun Watson out and QB Jameis Winston in, the fantasy points will begin to flow. Stay tuned, as fantasy implications could change rapidly with the quarterback switch. Tillman is worth a speculative add and stash.

Tight Ends

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (31% Owned)

When I suggested TE Hunter Henry in this column last week, I'll admit he outperformed even my expectations.  Henry hauled in 8-of-9 targets for 92 yards in the team's 32-16 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars -- each of those figures being team-highs. 

In two games now with rookie QB Drake Maye, the 29-year-old has tallied up 11 receptions, 133 yards, and one touchdown. It's an excellent stretch -- particularly for a tight end -- and Henry's arrow appears to be pointing up heading into the back half of the season.

One more strong outing, and he'll have worked his way into must-start consideration. NBA Jam rules apply.

Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks (30% Owned)

Take all the logic we used to make a case for Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett and appertain it to their tight end Noah Fant. In fact, Fant has had two solid outings in the previous two weeks, notching ten catches and 128 scoreless yards. Interestingly enough, the 26-year-old has been the most reliable target on the team since Week 3.

Over that span, the sixth-year TE has converted all 21 of his targets for 238 yards. He has yet to score a touchdown this year -- or since Week 16 of 2022, for that matter -- but he's been a fine contributor for the Seahawks.

Fant works best as a one-week rental with DK Metcalf due back eventually and a potentially high-scoring matchup on tap. I like him as a high-end TE2 in Week 8 if you need one and can't get your hands on Henry. 

As we head into Week 8, the landscape of the NFL is becoming increasingly defined, with injuries playing a pivotal role in shaping both team fortunes and fantasy football rosters. The significant losses of key players like Deshaun Watson, Deebo Samuel, and Brandon Aiyuk highlight the ongoing challenges teams face, creating opportunities for backups and lesser-known players to step up. For fantasy managers, this week’s waiver wire presents a mix of potential stars and speculative adds, underscoring the need for strategic decision-making as the season progresses. With contenders vying for playoff positioning and pretenders falling by the wayside, adapting to the ever-shifting dynamics will be crucial for success in both the league and fantasy play. Keep a close eye on emerging talents and injuries as you prepare for the weeks ahead.