Jalen Hurts is out for the season, Davante Adams is out for weeks, Terry McLaurin is done for the year, and four teams are on bye. Here is who to add, who to stash and who to leave on the wire.
The waiver wire is where fantasy seasons turn around and where DFS players find the salary savings that make a lineup work. But picking up a player because he is available is not the same as picking up a player whose opportunity is about to change. Week 6 changed a lot of opportunities. This guide names the players worth adding for Week 7, explains why, and then lays out the framework for every waiver decision you make the rest of the season. Every injury below can change by Sunday, so keep the injuries page and the NFL player news open.
Week 7 byes: the Bills, Jaguars, Chargers and Commanders. The week opens with the Steelers at the Saints in London at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday. Every game is on the Week 7 hub, the Week 7 matchups and the NFL schedule.
THE INJURIES THAT MOVED THE WIRE
PlayerTeamPosStatusWho benefitsJalen HurtsEaglesQBOut for the season (blood clots)Tanner McKee startsDavante AdamsRamsWRHamstring, out 6 to 10 weeksKonata MumpfieldTerry McLaurinCommandersWRKnee, out for the seasonChig Okonkwo, Antonio WilliamsTravis EtienneSaintsRBHamstring, return targeted for Week 9Kendre MillerQuinshon JudkinsBrownsRBAnkle, uncertain for Week 7Jaleel McLaughlin, Dylan SampsonMike Evans49ersWRAchilles, could miss timeChristian KirkRomeo DoubsPatriotsWRShoulder, on injured reserveDemario Douglas, Hunter HenryKyle MonangaiBearsRBRuled out for Week 7Roschon JohnsonLamar JacksonRavensQBAnkle, has missed two gamesTyler Huntley; Ja'Kobi LaneBaker MayfieldBuccaneersQBThumb, could return Week 7 at CarolinaJalon Daniels until he returns
A note on Hurts: on Sunday he was listed as out with a blood clot in his calf. The Eagles now say the clots are in his lungs and he is out for the season. Tanner McKee is the starter going forward. The transactions page and the depth charts are where the changes land first.
WEEK 7 WAIVER TARGETS BY POSITION
Quarterbacks
- Kyler Murray, Vikings. The best streaming option of the week, with a run of Indianapolis, Detroit and Buffalo ahead. Jordan Addison (hamstring) and T.J. Hockenson (concussion) are not at full strength, which caps the ceiling, but the floor is real.
- C.J. Stroud, Texans. Threw for 312 yards and three touchdowns at Jacksonville last week, and gets the Giants at home. Marvin Harrison Jr. joined the receiver room and Tank Dell is expected back. See the Texans-Jaguars box score.
- Michael Penix Jr., Falcons. Went 19 of 33 for 225 yards and three touchdowns against Chicago, and likely has to chase points against the unbeaten 49ers.
- Aaron Rodgers, Steelers. A steady weekly floor and a matchup with New Orleans in London.
- Tanner McKee, Eagles. The starter for the rest of the season. He threw for 215 yards and a touchdown against Carolina. A two-quarterback or superflex add.
- J.J. McCarthy, Giants. Took over after Jameis Winston was benched and threw for 243 yards and a touchdown with an interception, plus 26 rushing yards. The Week 7 starter at Houston is not confirmed.
- Deeper streams: Deshaun Watson against Tennessee and Geno Smith against Miami.
Rushing yards give a quarterback a second path to points. The defense vs. quarterbacks shows how each defense handles the position.
Running backs
- Jaleel McLaughlin, Browns. The likely lead back against Tennessee with Quinshon Judkins uncertain and Raheim Sanders on injured reserve. He had 9 carries for 41 yards and 4 catches last week. Audric Estime scored a touchdown in the same backfield, and Dylan Sampson is returning from injured reserve, so this could be a committee.
- Roschon Johnson, Bears. His snap share rose from 11 percent to 40 percent over two weeks, and he turned 15 opportunities into 85 yards and a touchdown. Kyle Monangai is out for Week 7 and D'Andre Swift is dealing with a lower-body injury.
- Kendre Miller, Saints. Travis Etienne is out until at least Week 9. Miller has 30 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown over the last two games.
- Jordan Mason, Vikings. Opened his practice window and is likely to return against Indianapolis. Check whether he is still available in your league.
- Zonovan Knight, Cardinals. Ran 15 times for 80 yards with Jeremiyah Love (ankle) out. Love may miss Week 7 against Denver.
- Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants. Scored twice last week, once rushing and once receiving, and the coaching staff wants a featured back to emerge.
- Pierre Strong Jr., Packers. Handled the work with Josh Jacobs on the Commissioner's Exempt List. Jacobs is eligible in Week 7, so Strong is a short-term hold.
- Stashes: Jonah Coleman (Broncos, eligible to come off injured reserve), Samaje Perine (Bengals, deeper flex) and Rachaad White (Commanders, on bye this week with Jacory Croskey-Merritt on injured reserve).
Workload is what matters at running back: carries plus targets plus goal-line work. The volume board and the red zone page show who is actually getting the ball.
Wide receivers
- Germie Bernard, Steelers. The rookie caught 11 of 12 targets for 87 yards and the game-winning overtime touchdown at Tampa Bay. The best receiver add of the week. See the Steelers-Buccaneers box score.
- Omar Cooper Jr., Jets. Back from a four-game ankle absence with 6 catches for 103 yards and a touchdown at New England, with Adonai Mitchell out. See the Jets-Patriots box score.
- Demario Douglas, Patriots. Romeo Doubs and Mack Hollins are on injured reserve, and Douglas has 11 catches, 151 yards and three touchdowns over his last two games.
- Konata Mumpfield, Rams. The most direct beneficiary of Davante Adams missing six to ten weeks.
- Christian Kirk, 49ers. Expected to play through a calf injury, and could see volume with Mike Evans (Achilles) and Deebo Samuel (hamstring) out.
- Jaylin Noel, Texans. Has climbed for three straight weeks, including 107 yards and a touchdown on four targets in London. The arrival of Marvin Harrison Jr. and the return of Tank Dell make his role harder to predict.
- Ja'Kobi Lane, Ravens. Back from a wrist injury, with Rashod Bateman hurt in Week 6. His value rises when Lamar Jackson returns.
- Kendrick Bourne, Cardinals. Has 10 catches for 117 yards over two games since Marvin Harrison Jr. was traded to Houston.
- Stashes on bye: Antonio Williams and Treylon Burks (Commanders, with McLaurin out for the year) and Khalil Shakir (Bills, with D.J. Moore out until at least Week 8).
Route participation and target share beat last week's box score. The defense vs. receivers shows how each defense handles receivers.
Tight ends
- Hunter Henry, Patriots. A top-ten tight end over the last two weeks with Doubs on injured reserve.
- Michael Mayer, Raiders. A steady floor and widely available.
- Darnell Washington, Steelers. Useful if Pat Freiermuth is limited by his calf injury.
- T.J. Hockenson, Vikings. Upside if he clears the concussion protocol and Addison stays out.
- Chig Okonkwo, Commanders. His snap share rose from 58 to 76 percent and McLaurin's injury opens targets, but Washington is on bye. Stash, do not start.
Defense streamers
- Browns defense against Tennessee. Cleveland is better than one bad week suggested, and it is widely available.
- Jets defense against Miami, a winless offense led by Malik Willis.
Pick defenses on opponent turnovers and sacks allowed, not last week's fantasy points. The defense stats and the offense stats have the numbers.
HOW TO WORK THE WIRE EVERY WEEK
Backup running backs. One injury can create an RB1. Look for backs who could get 12 to 18 touches, especially the ones who catch passes or get goal-line work. A backup with 15 touches and four catches is worth more than a bigger name in a crowded backfield. Do not spend your top priority on a player whose role depends on an injury that has not been confirmed.
Receivers moving up the depth chart. The question is whether the next man up actually inherits targets. Watch three-receiver snaps, routes on passing downs, third-down usage and red-zone looks. A receiver running a route on 80 percent of dropbacks has a much stronger case than a backup who plays a handful of snaps.
Quarterback changes. A new starter can lift or sink his receivers. Rushing yards give a quarterback a second route to production. Never build around a rumor when the team has not named its starter.
Tight ends. The position where opportunity is most often overlooked. Look for tight ends who stay on the field on passing downs, run routes rather than block, and see targets inside the 20.
The benching angle. Injuries are not the only trigger. Watch snap shares rising over consecutive games, rookies getting more first-team work, and healthy veterans losing touches. The best pickup is the player whose role is growing, not the one who scored the most points last week.
SPEND YOUR PRIORITY WISELY
- Priority pickups: players stepping into a confirmed workload. This week: Bernard, McLaughlin, Roschon Johnson and McKee in superflex.
- Upside stashes: young players whose snaps are climbing, or players one injury from a starting job. This week: Mumpfield, Okonkwo, Jonah Coleman.
- Short-term streamers: good matchups that may not last. This week: Kyler Murray, Penix, the Browns and Jets defenses.
Do not burn your whole budget on a backup who returns to a minor role when the starter is healthy. But spend when a real starting running back or a high-volume receiver hits the wire. Use the trade analyzer to weigh a waiver add against a trade, and the start/sit board to set your lineup.
DFS VALUE: PRODUCTION WITHOUT THE PREMIUM PRICE
A DFS lineup is not a collection of the biggest names. Before you lock, check five things:
- Price versus workload: does he get enough touches or targets to justify it?
- Injury-driven opportunity: did a teammate's absence create real new snaps?
- Game environment: enough plays and passing volume to matter? The NFL weather page helps.
- Ownership: is a similar player available at lower ownership?
- Role security: is the opportunity confirmed or speculation?
This week, the value candidates who fit that test are McLaughlin and Roschon Johnson at running back, Bernard and Cooper at receiver, and Hunter Henry at tight end. In cash games, take dependable volume. In tournaments, take paths to a big outcome at low ownership. Be careful with cheap players whose value depends on a touchdown: two targets and a score last week is not a role. Build on the NFL DFS lineup builder and the NFL DFS edge page, and rotate builds with the lineup shuffler.
If you play props, the NFL player props page and the NFL prop hit rate board show how often these players clear their numbers. Tickets go on the NFL AI parlay builder or the teaser generator, and our Week 7 calls are on the NFL verdicts page.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The waiver wire is not about chasing yesterday's points. It is about finding tomorrow's workload. This week that means Germie Bernard, the Cleveland backfield, Roschon Johnson in Chicago, Kendre Miller in New Orleans and a Rams receiver room without Davante Adams, plus Tanner McKee for the rest of the season in Philadelphia. Verify the injury reports, watch the snap counts and the inactive lists, and remember that opportunity creates value only when the opportunity is real.
For everything else in Week 7, start at the NFL hub, check the power rankings, and see who is trending on the team streaks and the hot page.
FantasyDailies: Your Edge Every Day.
Injuries, depth charts and roles change quickly. Verify current information with official team sources before you make a move.
