It’s time to scour the waiver wire for reinforcements for Week 7.
We have a few names that will be quickly relevant this coming Sunday, with some players potentially coming into starting roles at key positions.
Let's break down all the hottest names and project both short- and long-term outlooks for this week's fantasy waiver wire.
RB Chuba Hubbard
RB Roschon Johnson
Before I get into the newly relevant running backs, I want to address Hubbard and Johnson.
Both Hubbard and Johnson are available in more than 50% of leagues. They shouldn't be. If either is available, they should be your priorities.
I've discussed both of them at length in the past. They're in my RB Upside Chart and could be starting running backs this week. Hubbard already was the Panthers' lead back in Week 6 against the Dolphins.
RB Jordan Mason
RB Elijah Mitchell
Christian McCaffrey is dealing with an oblique injury. It’s not clear he will miss much time, if any, so I would be cautious about spending too much on either back unless there is confirmation he will miss time.
I had mentioned Elijah Mitchell as a potential RB2 option if McCaffrey misses time in my recent RB Upside chart update. Jordan Mason has played enough recently to potentially prevent that.
Mitchell has been dealing with an injury, so there is a chance he will be the clear spot-starter for McCaffrey if/when he’s closer to 100%, but there is a chance this turns into more of a 2-way committee if McCaffrey misses time.
The 49ers backfield is capable of providing value in that situation, so I'd view both as RB3/Flex options with upside for more if either emerges as the top option in the 49ers backfield behind McCaffrey.
RB Keaontay Ingram
Keaontay Ingram has operated as the Cardinals' clear backup RB when healthy, so it wasn’t too surprising for him to be the lead back with James Conner out.
It was Damien Williams who stepped up as the No. 2 back, not Emari Demercado. Demarcado operated as the pass-catching back, which means he could provide more value in potential trailing game scripts, which will be frequent with the Cardinals.
This seems like more of a murky three-way committee with no clear back worth viewing as a clear RB3/Flex option. As of now, Ingram is the favorite to see the most touches.
RB Zach Evans
RB Royce Freeman
It looks like Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers are set to miss time, with Williams looking likely to miss at least Week 7 and Rivers to miss more time.
This would elevate both Zach Evans and Royce Freeman as the Rams' two main backs in their absence. It’s anyone's guess how this backfield will shake out and maybe we get more information over the coming days.
Considering Zach Evans has been operating as the Rams' No. 3 back, I would guess he would get the first crack as the lead back. He’s a sixth-round rookie with a ton of talent but is still very raw.
It’s possible the Rams would want to turn to a veteran back like Royce Freeman. Right now, I’m projecting both in the RB3/Flex range for Week 7, which sees six teams on bye. I'd give the slight edge going to Evans.
WR Kendrick Bourne
I had mentioned on the Fantasy Flex podcast that Bourne would be a sneaky WR3 if both JuJu Smith-Schuster and Demario Douglas were both ruled out. He turned in a solid 10/89/0 receiving line
Both WRs could return this week and Tyquan Thornton made his return from the injured reserve, so this is going to be a bit of a murky situation.
Bourne could emerge as a WR who will see an 85%+ routes run rate if everyone is healthy, but it isn’t a given. Plus, the Patriots passing offense isn’t one offering a ton of value right now.
I'd view Bourne as a WR4 option who might be able to offer spiked weeks if/when the Pats are thin at WR.
