Seven weeks are in the books, and at this point, most fantasy leagues are past the mid-way point. Translation: you have little time left to patch together your depleted roster and every waiver wire decision becomes critical, so read on and save your season before it is too late!
NOTE: All ‘Percent Rostered’ stats are based off ESPN.com fantasy leagues
Quarterbacks:
This week’s quarterback list looks a lot like last week’s quarterback list, and that is because there are a couple top 10 quarterbacks who remain unrostered in a bunch of leagues…lucky for those of you who find yourself looking for a starter!
Matthew Stafford, QB, Det:
Percent Rostered: 48.9%
Stats thru Week 7: 1,751 yds, 13 TD, 3 INT
Stafford seems to have a permanent spot on this list. Despite ranking fifth in ypg (291.8) and touchdowns (13), Stafford is still owned in less than 50% of leagues….and somehow, ownership of Stafford actually went down last week from 49.8 to 48.9. I will say it again, if you need a quarterback, Stafford should be the first guy you look for on the waiver wire. All he did last week is throw for 364 yards, four touchdowns and just one pick against a good Vikings defense.
Drew Brees, QB, NO:
Percent Rostered: 73.9%
Stats thru Week 7: 408 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Sure, he is only available in 26% of leagues and still has another week or so before he returns, but if you are in one of the leagues where he is available, and have a spot for him on your bench for another week or two, pick him up now and you may have a top five quarterback come fantasy playoff time.
Jacoby Brissett, QB, Ind:
Percent Rostered: 49.3%
Stats thru Week 7: 1,388 yds, 14 TD, 3 INT
Like Stafford, Brissett seems to have a permanent spot on this list as people still seem reluctant to buy in to him, but the facts are this: through seven weeks, only Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson and Matt Ryan have more touchdowns than Brissett, and with 14 touchdowns in just six games, Jacoby Brissett is currently on pace to lead the NFL in touchdowns…yet he is still available in more than half of the leagues. If you are in one of those leagues, pick him up.
Kirk Cousins, QB, Min:
Percent Rostered: 38.8%
Stats thru Week 7: 1,711 yds, 13 TD, 3 INT
Over the last three weeks, Cousins has thrown for 976 yds, 10 touchdowns and just one interception. Don’t look now, but Cousins is now tied for fifth in the NFL with 13 touchdowns, and is looking at favorable matchups coming up against Washington, Kansas City and Dallas. At this point, Cousins is worthy of being a starter, not just a bye week fill in.
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Running Backs:
Injuries are starting to crop up, and as they do, it is opening up some opportunities on the waiver wire to find a starting running back. There are a few out there for you this week.
Chase Edmonds, RB, AZ:
Percent Rostered: 31.5%
Stats thru Week 7: 51 carries, 287 yds, 4 TD; 10 rec, 100 yds, 1 TD
David Johnson owners received a surprise this week when Edmonds got 27 carries, 126 yds and three touchdowns. At this point, whether Johnson is healthy or not, Edmonds should hold some value. He has four touchdowns to Johnson’s two and is averaging 5.7 ypc to Johnson’s 3.9.
Ty Johnson, RB, Det:
Percent Rostered: 1.2%
Stats thru Week 7: 23 carries, 83 yds, 0 TD; 8 rec, 35 yds, 0 TD
With Kerryon Johnson out with a knee injury, Ty Johnson should be the Lions lead back. While he didn’t do much last week filling in when Kerryon went down, he was going up against a tough Vikings defense. He will get a much easier task this week against the Giants.
Latavius Murray, RB, NO:
Percent Rostered: 67.1%
Stats thru Week 7: 59 carries, 257 yds, 3 TDs, 14 rec, 98 yds, 0 TD
If Alvin Kamara is out, Murray is a RB1. As the starter last week, he saw 32 touches (27 carries, 5 receptions) and put up 150 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns. Even when Alvin Kamara comes back, the Saints are going to want to keep him fresh, so it is unlikely the Saints will give him a full load of work, and therefore, Murray will continue to have value going forward.
Kareem Hunt, RB, Cle:
Percent Rostered: 55.4%
Stats thru Week 7: Suspended
Hunt has been cleared to practice, and though he won’t be eligible to play for another two weeks, if you want him, you are going to have to pick him up now. No one knows what type of role he will have in the offense once he is eligible, but he is a legit RB1 who you can grab eight weeks in to the season. He is worth a shot.
Jamaal Williams, RB, GB:
Percent Rostered: 55.7%
Stats thru Week 7: 43 carries, 196 yds, 0 TD; 16 rec, 113 yds, 3 TD
Jones is still the lead back in Green Bay, but Williams has a role. Over the last two games, he has 17 carries, 109 yards, eight receptions, 58 yds and two touchdowns. In PPR leagues, Williams has put up double-digit points in four of the last five games he has played in.
Wide Receivers:
Unlike the running back position, where injuries have given players some value, at the wide receiver position, it has been some quarterback changes which have created the value.
Zach Pascal, WR, Ind:
Percent Rostered: 0.2%
Stats thru Week 7: 13 rec, 239 yds, 3 TD (19 targets)
The Colts are still a run first offense, but they can throw the ball as well, and Pascal appears to be carving out a role in this offense. After no involvement in the first two weeks of the season, Pascal has put up double-digits in three of the last four weeks (PPR), has two games where he received seven targets and is coming off a six reception, 106 yd and two touchdown performance. Pascal is a borderline flex play at this point.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR, GB:
Percent Rostered: 55.2%
Stats thru Week 7: 21 rec, 416 yds, 2 TD (37 targets)
I am surprised to see Valdes-Scantling still available in nearly half of the leagues. While his production has been up and down, his involvement in the Packers offense is pretty steady. He is averaging 5+ targets per game and is coming off his best statistical performance of the season – 133 yards and a touchdown.
Corey Davis, WR, Ten:
Percent Rostered: 43.9%
Stats thru Week 7: 22 rec, 317 yds, 2 TD (34 targets)
Davis still has the potential to be a number one receiver, and maybe all he needed was a quarterback not named Marcus Mariota. Davis put up his best game of the season in Tannehill’s first start, recording six catches on seven targets for 80 yds and a touchdown. If he and Tannehill continue to gel, Davis could become a flex starter or even a WR2.
John Brown, WR, Buf:
Percent Rostered: 66.9%
Stats thru Week 7: 33 rec, 473 yds, 2 TD (45 targets)
He was here last week and he stays again because his ‘Percent Rostered’ didn’t move much. Brown had another solid week, pulling in five of his six targets for 83 yds and a touchdown. In PPR leagues, he has put up double-digits points in every week except one…and that week he put up 9.5. He has had 4+ receptions in all six games, 5+ receptions in five of his six games and 50+ yards and 5+ targets in every game. Over the next four weeks, he will get the Dolphins again and one against the Redskins.
DeVante Parker, WR, Mia:
Percent Rostered: 8.6%
Stats thru Week 7: 18 rec, 284 yds, 3 TD (31 targets)
Parker is quietly putting up a solid season. With the exception of his Week 2 matchup against the Patriots, Parker has three or more receptions, and 55+ yards in four of his other five games. He also has a touchdown in each of his last three games. Like Pascal and Davis above, Parker could become a starting option by the end of the season.
Tight Ends:
The tight end position continues to be slim pickings on the waiver wire. If you are looking for a true starting tight end, good luck. If you are looking for a bye week/injury fill in, I have a few options for you.
Jimmy Graham, TE, GB:
Percent Rostered: 64.5%
Stats thru Week 7: 18 rec, 214 yds, 3 TD (27 targets)
Graham is no longer a week-to-week starting fantasy tight end, but he has put up double-digit weeks (PPR) and scored a touchdown in three of the Packers seven games and therefore is worthy of a look for a spot starter.
Luke Wilson, TE, Sea:
Percent Rostered: 8.2%
Stats thru Week 7: 5 rec, 52 yds, 0 TD (6 targets)
I am putting him back here for a chance at redemption. After Will Dissly’s season ending injury last week, I thought Wilson would be a good pickup…not so much as he saw just a single target. However, the Ravens have a tough defense. With a matchup against a terrible Falcons defense, I like Wilson to prove me right this week.
Eric Ebron, TE, Ind:
Percent Rostered: 39.2%
Stats thru Week 7: 13 rec, 206 yds, 3 TD (25 targets)
I have been reluctant to put Ebron on this list in past weeks,. In fact, on multiple occasions, I have put his counterpart, Jack Doyle, on this list ahead of Ebraon. However, he has seen 4+ targets in each of the last five games, and has found the endzone in three of those games. He is still very touchdown dependent, but can be a worthy spot starter if needed.
Gerald Everett, TE, LAR:
Percent Rostered: 64.4%
Stats thru Week 7: 24 rec, 282 yds, 2 TD (41 targets)
Everett’s production could be up and down from week-to-week because of the plethora of weapons on the Rams offense, but in three of his last four games, Everett has put up 15+ fantasy points (PPR) – those are TE1 numbers. With a matchup this week against the league’s worst defense (Bengals), Everett is worth another week in the starter role.
