Week 7 QB/TE Waiver Wire Targets: Jared Goff, Evan Engram, Caleb Williams, Mark Andrews, Justin Fields and More
Identifying some quarterback and tight end waiver wire targets as week 6 of the NFL season winds down.
Week 6 is nearly in the books, which means it’s time to get those waiver wire claims lined up. Let’s take a look at some of the best waiver wire options at tight end and quarterback.
Check back later today and tomorrow for more waiver-related articles.
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QB Options
Caleb Williams, Jared Goff, Justin Fields, Bo Nix and Sam Darnold are the five quarterbacks I want to talk about this week.
Williams went 23-of-29 passing for 226 yards, four touchdowns and an interception in week 6. He added 56 rushing yards on just four attempts.
Williams has now gone over 225 passing yards in three games, while topping 30 rushing yards three times. He’s pretty much played to expectations - poor fantasy numbers against top defenses, good numbers against poor teams and average numbers against average defenses.
Goff dominated the Cowboys, completing 18 of his 25 passes for 315 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. He added five rushing yards on three attempts.
Goff has averaged 300 passing yards the past two games, while throwing five touchdowns to no interceptions. After a bit of a slow start, Goff has put up at least average fantasy marks in three straight games.
Fields had just 145 passing yards on 14-of-24 passing in week 6. He didn’t have a touchdown pass or interception, but rushed for 59 yards and two scores across 11 attempts to deliver a solid fantasy showing.
It was the third time this season Fields has thrown for under 150 yards, and he has another game at 156. He only has one interception on the year, but also only five touchdown passes. Fields’ fantasy value comes mostly from his rushing ability - he has over 50 yards three times, along with five scores.
Nix was solid again in week 6, throwing for 216 yards and two touchdowns. He completed just 19 of his 33 passes and also threw a pick, but made up for those numbers by adding in 61 rushing yards on six attempts.
Nix hasn’t topped 250 passing yards this season, but has over 200 yards four times. All five of his passing scores have come in the past three weeks, and Nix only has tossed one pick in the past four contests. He’s gone over 25 rushing yards four times, while also scoring a touchdown in three games.
Darnold didn’t play in week 6, and is coming off his worst game of the season in week 5. He’d thrown multiple touchdowns in the first four weeks of play.
While he’s had high passing TD numbers, his yardages haven’t been great. He’s had 275 passing yards for a season high, but only topped 200 yards two other games.
In week 7, Williams and the Bears have their bye week. Goff and Darnold will battle in Minnesota, Fields will take on the Jets and Nix will face the Saints on Thursday night.
In terms of most favorable/least favorable matchups, none of the four quarterbacks playing have all that great a matchup.
With that in mind, I’d more trust my gut when it comes to picking out a week 7 streaming option. I like Goff the most, simply because he’s been with his team the longest and has been the best of the bunch of late.
I’d then take Darnold against the Lions, and hope we get more of the Darnold from weeks 1-4 than the one we saw in week 5.
After that, I’d take a chance on Nix against the Saints over Fields against the Jets. I trust Fields more, but the Jets are just a brutal matchup for any quarterback, so I don’t want a streaming option going against them.
As for the rest-of-the-season fantasy options, I also like Goff the best of the bunch. He’s put up good fantasy numbers in this same offense last season, and could be one of the better fantasy options weekly now that he’s in a bit of a groove.
I’d take Williams after that. I’m not totally sold on him given some of the teams he’s gone against, but the possible upside is too tempting to pass on him over these others.
The final three are all pretty close in my eyes, but I’d take Darnold, then Nix and finally Fields. Darnold has been the best performer this season, and until we see more poor showings, he deserves to go over unproven guys like Nix and Fields.
Nix and Fields are ultra close, with both being good dual-threat options. Nix can perform better with his arm, and that’s why he gets the edge for me. I don’t want to keep having to trust in Fields’ rushing ability, as defenses are going to start taking that away at some point - and I don’t trust his arm enough if that happens.
TE Options
Cole Kmet, Mark Andrews, Hunter Henry, Noah Fant and Evan Engram are the five tight ends I wanted to mention this week.
Kmet went for 70 yards and two touchdowns on five catches and targets in week 6. It was the third time he’s topped 50 yards, but in the other three games, he has under 35 yards and no scores.
It was only the second time all season that Kmet has reached five receptions and third time he’s gotten five or more targets.
Andrews scored his first touchdown of the season in week 6. He also had 66 yards on three receptions and four targets, which was his best all-around performance.
Andrews’ struggles are well documented this season, but he’s all of a sudden got three games over 50 receiving yards, with two in a row. He’s still playing less snaps than Isaiah Likely though.
Henry had 41 yards, a touchdown, three receptions and five targets in week 6.
It’s not a massive box score, but the touchdown helps out, and it’s promising given it’s one of Henry’s better showings and it came in Drake Maye’s first start.
Fant played back on Thursday night, going for 63 yards on six catches and targets. It was the second time this season that he’s hit 60 or more yards on six catches and six targets, but he’s failed to reach 30 yards in any other game.
Fant has yet to score, and his longest reception of the season is just 16 yards.
Engram played for the first time since week 1 and erupted for 102 yards on 10 catches and targets this week.
An even better thing is that Engram only played 61% of the total snaps, meaning as that percentage increases, even more big fantasy showings could be coming.
In week 7, Kmet will be on the bye. Andrews faces Tampa Bay in one of two Monday night games, while Henry and Engram go up against each other in the same game. Fant goes up against the Falcons. It’s mostly average matchups, with Henry getting the most favorable.
Even though he’s got the worst matchup on paper, I’d stream Engram if I could. He’s coming off a monster performance, and really shouldn’t be available, but his early-season injury makes him a waiver wire target this week.
I’t take a gamble on Andrews for the second streaming option. He’s been trending up the past couple games, and has plenty of success in the past, so why not see if he can stay relevant?
I’d take Henry over Fant for the final streaming spot. Both are just OK options, but the favorable matchup for Henry gives him the edge here.
I'd keep the same order for the rest-of-the season rankings, but place Kmet behind Engram. Kmet won't be a weekly contributor, but his ceiling is higher than everyone but Engram every week.
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