NFL Waiver Wire: Week 7 Pickups

Week 6 went down as a week of blowouts and backups stepping up. Darrel Williams, Khalil Herbert and Alex Collins had great fantasy days in place of injured starters. Let's look and see who those players might be this week.

This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and remaining budget.

QUARTERBACK

PRIMARY TARGETS

Tua Tagovailoa, MIA - Tua returned from a rib injury in a nice fashion Sunday, throwing for 329 yards and two scores and rushing for 22 yards. Six teams have byes this week and Miami has a fantastic home matchup against the Falcons, who have allowed at least 20 points in four of their five games. Helping Tua's value is his penchant for throwing to Jaylen Waddle (13-10-70-2 Sunday), a pretty good player to target. FAAB: $10-$15

RUNNING BACK

 PRIMARY TARGETS

D'Ernest Johnson, Demetric Felton, CLE - The Browns' backfield is in limbo and the only certainty is Kareem Hunt is slated to miss multiple games after sustaining a calf injury Sunday. Johnson had one carry while Felton caught two passes in the blowout loss at home against the Cardinals. Nick Chubb, who missed Sunday's game with calf injury, hasn't been ruled out for Thursday Night Football, yet, so Johnson and Felton could be afterthoughts this week if Chubb returns. If Chubb is out, look for Johnson to handle early down work running in between the tackles (and goal-line work) while Felton comes in on passing downs as an option out of the backfield on check downs. Johnson is the primary waiver target and should get work even if Chubb returns Thursday. FAAB: Johnson $10-$15; Felton $2-$4

J.D. McKissic, Jaret Patterson, WFT - This recommendation hinges on the availability of Antonio Gibson,  who underwent an MRI on Monday on his calf. McKissic finished with 110 yards from scrimmage Sunday in relief of Gibson, catching eight passes. McKissic isn't built to handle 10-plus carries a game, so Patterson should be in the mix as well if Gibson is out. The WFT will still use McKissic heavily in the passing game and if you're in PPR, bump up him up a bit. FAAB: McKissic $10-$15; Patterson $2-$4

SECONDARY TARGETS

Rhamondre Stevenson, NE - Damien Harris is sometimes hurt and sometimes on the field looking completely healthy. Harris was excellent Sunday with 18 carries for 101 yards and a score but limped off the field when the Patriots got to the goal line late, allowing Stevenson to vulture a touchdown. Stevenson finished with eight touches for 62 yards and looked completely at ease handling the pass-catching work out of the backfield. Harris' injury isn't expected to be serious, but Stevenson should be good for about another eight touches this week against the Jets. There's potential for more work if Harris' injury lingers. FAAB: $4-$8

WIDE RECEIVER

PRIMARY TARGETS

Sterling Shepard, NYG - Shepard has a roster spot in 52 percent of Yahoo leagues, so it's basically a coin flip as to whether he's available. The Giants can't stay healthy at wide receiver and Shepard is the clear-cut top option now that Kadarius Toney is sidelined with an ankle injury. Shepard had a whopping 14 targets Sunday and in the three games he's been healthy, he's scored 17.5 fantasy points (PPR) or more. Dante Pettis (11-5-48 on Sunday) is worth a look in deeper leagues. FAAB: $10-$15

SECONDARY TARGETS

Donovan Peoples-Jones, CLE - Another Brown makes the list this week, and while DPJ had a nice game Sunday, it's important to note the 57-yard Hail Mary TD before half was a big part of his stat line. Still, he has had 11 targets the last two weeks and once again Odell Beckham is banged up. The Browns tend to spread the ball around, which leads to inconsistency (ex. David Njoku 149 yards Week 5, six yards Week 6), but People-Jones is as strong as a receiving candidate Cleveland has at this point. FAAB: $4-$8

TIGHT END

Primary Targets

Ricky Seals-Jones, WFT - Logan Thomas will miss at least this week after being placed on IR and Seals-Jones may have already carved out a role for himself even when Thomas returns. Seals-Jones posted 15-9-99-1 the last two games with Thomas out and gets the Packers this week in a better-than-league-average matchup. The position has been a wasteland this season, and RSJ should be in line for another 6-8 targets  on the not-yet frozen tundra.  FAAB: $5-$10

DEFENSE

Arizona Cardinals - Arizona shouldn't really be mentioned, considering it's on 58 percent of Yahoo rosters. However, the Cardinals could be available in your league and have a cupcake matchup this week at home against Davis Mills and the Houston Texans. There really isn't anyone to be afraid of on Houston's offense outside of Brandin Cooks and this is the type of game (Arizona is a 17-point favorite) you can see a pick-six or a strip-sack returned for a touchdown. FAAB: $3-$6