Week 7 Waiver Wire Priority List | Kareem Hunt, Michael Mayer Should Be Atop Your Lists

The waiver wire heading into week 7 lacks a ton of great options, so it’s important to have your priority list set up properly.

Let’s take a look at the quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end positions and determine the best order to set them in for your priority lists.

Explore the best in-season tool to manage lineup/start decisions including predictive waiver analytics to help prioritize waiver pickups, projections, auction values, trade suggestions, trade value charts, rest of season rankings, power rankings, and tons more with Fantasy Assistant. Use our fantasy football trade analyzer to break down trade scenarios.

Quarterbacks

Washington Commanders’ Sam Howell, New Orleans Saints’ Derek Carr, Detroit Lions’ Jared Goff, Green Bay Packers’ Jordan Love and Seattle Seahawks’ Geno Smith all have Expected Waiver Interest (EWI) numbers of 12% or more going into week 7.

Goff has been the top-producing fantasy player of the bunch, followed closely by Love. Howell is next of the bunch, while Smith and Carr take up the final two slots.

If you are looking for a streaming option at the position, Love has the most-favorable matchup against the Denver Broncos’ defense, although that unit is coming off a contest in which it slowed Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes. Smith also has a pretty favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Goff has the toughest matchup of the bunch, taking on the Baltimore Ravens’ defense. Carr is taking on a below-average Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense, while Howell faces an average New York Giants’ defense.

If you are indeed streaming a QB this week, I’d follow the defensive matchups and go with Love as my top waiver quarterback. I’d take Carr ahead of Smith given how each performed last week. I would take Howell over Goff, again with the opposing defense they are up against being the driving force of that decision.

However, if you are looking for a long-term solution at quarterback, I like Goff the most. The Lions have been great so far and the offense should continue to roll behind Goff. The matchups will get easier after this.

I’d take my chances with Carr next given his history in the league, and then take Smith, even though he’s underperformed this season. I’d give Love the slight edge over Howell.

Running Backs

Lions’ Craig Reynolds, San Francisco 49ers’ Jordan Mason, Cleveland Browns’ Kareem Hunt, Buffalo Bills’ Latavius Murray, Arizona Cardinals’ Keaontay Ingram and Miami Dolphins’ Salvon Ahmed all have an own percentage of below 50% and an EWI of 12% or more.

Reynolds, Mason, Ingram and Ahmed are all up there because of injuries to other running backs on their teams. In the cases of Reynolds and Mason, the injuries ahead of them seem like they won’t last all that long. Ingram could be the lead back in Arizona for several weeks, while Ahmed will be second or third on the depth chart in Miami for awhile.

Hunt had the best fantasy showing of the bunch in week 6, and I would want him atop my waiver priority list at the position, whether you are looking for a one-week fill in or a long-term option at the position. He’s currently the backup to Jerome Ford, but got his most playing time and touches last week. I just wrote about him in another story, and believe Hunt is the better long-term option over Ford because of his pass catching ability. I believe he and Ford are both worthy of starting spots in several of the team’s upcoming games.

Ingram’s long-term fantasy outlook is capped by the return of James Conner. He’ll likely serve as the team’s lead back until that point though, so he has more potential than a few of the other guys in this discussion. I’d take him after Hunt if you are looking for a multi-week replacement, but wouldn’t have him as high if you are looking for a week 7 fill in. Reynolds is a guy I like in week 7 more than Ingram.

Speaking of Reynolds, he’ll likely fill the team’s No. 2 back role until David Montgomery returns. With Jahmyr Gibbs also banged up, he could get his most work in week 7. Once everyone is fully healthy, he’ll drop back to the No. 3 back and barely get touches, but he’s a solid fantasy option until that happens.

I’d probably take Murray next of the bunch. He’s the backup in Buffalo, but is a solid handcuff for starter James Cook, and has proved in the past he can be the lead back if Cook ever struggles or gets hurt.

Mason and Ahmed both should be No. 3 backs for their teams, but I’d give Mason the edge as Christian McCaffrey is dinged up and because of Mason’s age. Ahmed will likely fall behind Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, when he’s healthy, and will eventually slip behind De’Von Achane again, so although he’s on one of the best rushing teams in the league, there won’t be a lot of opportunity to produce unless more injuries occur.

Wide Receivers

New York Giants’ Wan’Dale Robinson, Kansas City Chiefs’ Kadarius Toney and New Orleans Saints’ Rashid Shaheed are the only wideouts owned in less than 50% of leagues that have an EWI of 12% or more.

I like Robinson the best of the bunch, both in the short and long term. He’s coming off his best game and has five or more catches the past three weeks.

Give me Shaheed next of the wideout trio. He’s a boom-or-bust player, but now has three games over 60 receiving yards. He’s got at least two catches in all but one contest, so more often than not, he’s been able to at least chip in a couple fantasy points. In a week where the waiver wire is thin at the position, Shaheed is certainly one of the better options, especially in deeper leagues.

Toney scored a touchdown in week 6, but his production has been too inconsistent for my liking. Rashee Rice is the Chiefs’ receiver I’d be after on the waiver wire. If Rice has already been scooped up, I’d simply pass on Toney. 

Tight Ends

Las Vegas Raiders’ Michael Mayer, Atlanta Falcons’ Jonnu Smith and Packers’ Luke Musgrave are all tight ends that are owned in less than 50% of leagues and have the highest EWIs.

I already wrote about Mayer this week, and will stick with him as the top option at the position. He’s gotten more and more involved with the team’s offense as the season has progressed, and is now playing and producing like a starter. It’s only a matter of time until he’s named the official starter. If he can build on his strong week 6 showing, he could be one of the better options at the position in a short time.

Smith continues to contribute for Atlanta on offense. He had his lowest target total of the season last week, but still turned it into 36 yards and a touchdown. Smith is outproducing the team's other tight end Kyle Pitts, and on a Falcons’ offense lacking a ton of playmakers, Smith has got the chance to keep up his strong play.

Musgrave hasn’t done much this season, but is playing the worst defense against tight ends in the league in week 7, so he’s a hot waiver wire name. His production could be limited a touch if running back Aaron Jones returns, but the numbers are favorable enough to definitely consider him as a starter if you miss out on Mayer or Smith.