No matter how you spend your Sundays, the most difficult part of any Sunday night is starting to plan your waiver wire strategy for the week. If you are lying on your couch in a pile of empty beer cans it can feel like desperation is setting in. Week 7 is staring you in the face and those of you who’s fantasy teams are sitting on two wins are wondering, “can I still make the playoffs?” The answer is yes dear friend! Dust the pizza sauce off your chin, pound a beer, and grab the Week 7 Early Waiver Wire column.
Each week we have turned you on to the players to target each week. Players who can salvage what seems like a desperate season and situation. Players who will pull your once promising season from the smoking wreckage of Saquan’s injury and DJ Chark’s under-performance.
Early Week 7 Waiver Wire Fantasy Football
Boston Scott (RB) – 10.% of Rosters
Miles Sanders went down with a knee injury this week and did not return. This happened later on Sunday and while Philadelphia was down, but still could be a significant development for Week 7. With Eagles presently slated to play the Giants on Thursday night, it is likely Boston Scott will see an increased role. So far this year, Scott has flashed some potential on the ground and through the air. However, with Sanders likely limited or out on Thursday, Scott will be the featured back for Philly. Make him an early waiver wire target, especially if you have Miles Sanders on your roster.
Trey Burton (TE) – 5.2% of Rosters
A good and consistent tight end is hard to find these days. There seems to be a consistent top three each week, but beyond that it is chaos week in and week out. Trey Burton may be emerging as a top-tier option in Indianapolis after missing time early with an injury. Each week he is steadily seeing more and more targets. Additionally, this week he saw a red zone carry that he converted into a touchdown. There is a select list of things Philip Rivers loves more than throwing to his tight end (his wife, kids, Jesus, and fudging). Burton will gladly take being the primary target for Rivers in a Colts’ offense that wants to run first. Burton should be on every roster and is a top-six tight end candidate each week.
Adam Humphries (WR) – 4.3% of Rosters
Bye week hell is quickly approaching and many PPR leagues have a scant waiver wire. Adam Humphries is getting consistent targets in the Titans’ offense and seems to have earned Ryan Tannenhill’s complete trust. Humphries consistently works his way open out of the slot and will see six or more targets each week. Additionally, he has decent touchdown upside, he has caught two on the season. When you get to the bye weeks you want to pickup players who are a “set and forget” option good for 10+ points. In PPR, Humphries is that guy.
Marcus Johnson (WR) – 0.0% of Rosters
The Colts’ offense has not been the most productive passing offense, but it has shown promises in small doses all season. Marcus Johnson has seen a slow and steady increase in his snap counts and targets each week. This culminated with five catches and 108 yards against the Bengals. Moving forward it is difficult to tell who will get the targets in Indy, but Johnson has seen an increasing role over the last three weeks. If you are wide receiver needy or have a player like TY Hilton still on your roster, drop them for Johnson this week. His value as an early waiver wire target cannot be understated. He has the feel of a late-season breakout candidate and will give a flex option for the short term.
La’Mical Perine (RB) – 11.9% of Rosters
The New Jersey Jets are bad. Like historically bad. Now that we got that out of the way, on to the semi-fantasy relevant pieces on this scrap heap of a team. La’Mical Perine has been getting more and more touches as the season has gone along and was on the field for a good portion of Sunday’s game. Perine was well-regarded prospect coming out of Florida and has been slowly gaining the trust of “coach” Adam Gase. Although Frank Gore out-touched Perine 15 to 9 this week, Perine has been gaining ground steadily. Go pick him up if you like to take a chance on a guy with upside or are in a keeper/dynasty league. Under a more competent coach, #GaseFreedomWatch2k21, Perine could be a star. In the short term he will be a nice spot fill-in option in the flex spot.
Giovani Bernard (RB) – 3.0% of Rosters
This is a highly speculative add, but injuries happen and we are unsure just how badly Joe Mixon is injured. Although Mixon returned to Sunday’s game, Bernard was still involved. If Mixon goes down or misses time, Bernard appears to be “the guy” for the Bengals. Bernard has flashed potential in sporadic work throughout his career, but has always been working in a split backfield. Given an opportunity to shine due to a Mixon injury, Bernard will have fantasy relevance for a few weeks. Anyone with Mixon on their rosters should go scoop up Mixon as an insurance policy until we learn more about Mixon’s injury status.
Keelan Cole (WR) – 14.3% of Rosters
If you are just reading this column for the first time, welcome to the Official Page of the Keelan Cole Hype Train. We have been on Keelan Cole as a relevant fantasy option since the preseason and he has delivered. Cole was WR29 heading into this weekend and he produced with a six catch, 149 yard performance. He has been consistently targeted each week and with DJ Chark in the fold, he will see weaker coverage as well. Additionally, it looks like Chris Conley finally has been relegated a depth position clearing the way for Cole to be the number two option in Jacksonville. Cole is a top-25 wide receiver and should be rostered in all leagues. End the small-school bias and make an early move to pick up Cole now on the week 7 waiver wire.
