A Week to Take Advantage of Your Idiot Leaguemates on Waivers

Alvin Kamara is dealing with a back injury that has limited his workload and goal-line usage since week four. The Saints are intentionally limiting his exposure to the trenches to protect his back, leading to increased usage for Kendre Miller.

Following a serious leg injury to Terry McLaurin, Antonio Williams led the Commanders with 35 routes on 47 Jayden Daniels dropbacks. While he only drew four targets despite the high route volume, he is worth a waiver pickup due to his proven playmaking ability and the clear opportunity for increased usage.

Audric Estimé is being utilized as the Browns' goal-line back due to his physical profile, which limits the fantasy upside of Jaleel McLaughlin in short-yardage situations.

Brandin Cooks is a 'break glass in case of emergency' flex play following Mike Evans' Achilles injury. While he only earned one target on 16 routes in his first game as the 49ers' X-receiver, he is expected to see consistent route volume in a high-quality offense led by Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy.

Brian Thomas Jr. is a drop candidate as his playing time has cratered; he recorded zero snaps in the second half of the Week 6 game against Houston and has not recorded a reception since Week 4, with no positive outlook unless a trade occurs.

The Raiders utilize Brock Bowers effectively as a wide receiver rather than a traditional tight end, leading to significant route participation.

Case Keenum's appearance under center during the Week 5 blowout loss to the Packers is noted as part of the game script that restricted Roschon Johnson's usage.

Chigoziem Okonkwo is a potential pickup due to increased volume following the Terry McLaurin injury, evidenced by his 41 routes on 47 dropbacks and seven targets in his last game; however, he should not be prioritized due to an upcoming bye week.

Christian Kirk may return in Week 7 from a calf injury. While he is expected to see significant field time as the established veteran over depth options like Jordan Whittington and Jacob Cowing, fantasy managers should avoid aggressive roster additions due to uncertainty regarding his immediate health and performance level.

D'Andre Swift continues to serve as the primary running back for the Bears, with Roschon Johnson functioning as his complimentary backup.

Demario Douglas is a recommended short-term flex play due to injuries in the Patriots' receiving corps and his recent performance, including a 26.7% target share and 19.6 PPR points in Week 6. With Drake Maye playing well, Douglas should command meaningful targets while other receivers remain sidelined.

Dylan Samson is the preferred waiver wire stash over Jaleel McLaughlin and Audrey Esté. The source expects him to operate as the 1A back if Judkins misses time, noting he is a better player than his backfield counterparts.

Emanuel Wilson is a reasonable drop in shallow leagues as his role has diminished due to George Holani's involvement and the impending returns of Jadarian Price and Zach Charbonnet from IR.

The source suggests a wait-and-see approach for Geno Smith, specifically monitoring if he can consistently command a fantasy-viable number of targets and sustain multiple pass catchers in the Jets offense.

Hunter Henry is a recommended waiver wire pickup for managers needing tight end depth. He remains a viable option despite being rostered in over 50% of leagues, and he benefits from a banged-up New England receiving corps, evidenced by his Week 6 performance of five targets, four receptions, and a touchdown against the Bears.

J.J. McCarthy is a viable short-term start in Superflex leagues, as the source expects the Giants coaching staff to name him the starter soon given Jameis Winston's recent poor play. While the source remains skeptical of his long-term outlook, his recent 17-point fourth-quarter performance supports his immediate potential.

Dobbins has been inefficient, averaging 3.3 yards per carry and ranking at the bottom of rushing efficiency metrics. His starting job is considered unsafe as he faces competition from Jonah Coleman, who is a high-priority stash with a legitimate chance to challenge for the primary ball-carrier role.

McLaughlin served as the Browns' lead back with 63% of snaps, nine carries, and four targets while Quinnshon Judkins was sidelined. His fantasy outlook is capped by his size, which leads the team to use Audric Estimé for goal-line work, but he remains a viable emergency starter if the backfield remains depleted.

The source recommends stashing Jonah Coleman as a high-priority pickup, noting he has a legitimate chance to challenge JK Dobbins for the primary ball-carrier role in the Broncos offense upon his return.

Allen is a reliable flex option due to consistent volume, having earned at least nine targets in each of his last three games and eclipsing 15 PPR points in two of them. Even with poor quarterback play from Daniel Jones, Allen's role in shallow and intermediate areas provides a safe floor. His target outlook may improve further if Tyler Warren remains sidelined.

Kendre Miller has emerged as the Saints' primary ball carrier due to Alvin Kamara's back injury, playing 44.4% of snaps and leading the backfield with 20 carries last week. While he is not considered a high-talent player, his volume makes him a serviceable roster option if you are in a bad spot at running back.

Kyler Murray is a recommended streaming option in single-quarterback leagues due to a favorable upcoming schedule against weak defenses including the Colts, Lions, and Bills. Despite recent inefficiency, he maintains rushing upside and benefits from a strong receiving corps.

Marshawn Lloyd is an easy drop in shallow leagues following a poor performance, an early injury, and the return of Josh Jacobs to the backfield, which has scaled back his role.

Michael Mayer is a volatile streaming option at tight end. While he can be a fringe starter in games with high pass volume, his role is inconsistent due to competition from Brock Bowers and Trey Tucker, making it impossible to set realistic week-to-week expectations.

After returning from IR, Cooper operated in a full-time role with an 82% snap share and 23.3% target share, recording 6 catches for 103 yards and a score. While he faces target competition from Garrett Wilson and potentially Adonai Mitchell, he is a strong bench stash for a potential second-half breakout.

Roschon Johnson is a recommended spot start for Week 7, with the source suggesting a 6-8% FAAB bid. He is expected to operate as the RB2 behind D'Andre Swift while Kyle Manungai remains sidelined. Johnson has maintained a ~40% snap rate and saw 13 carries in his last outing, though his production is heavily tied to game script in the high-powered Bears offense.

Samaje Perine is a recommended stash due to his increased usage as a rusher in Week 5 (14 carries, 4.8 YPC) and goal-line opportunities. The Bengals' high-powered offense under Joe Burrow provides enough volume for Perine to have value as a bye-week fill-in or handcuff. The coaching staff appears to trust him as a ball carrier, moving beyond his traditional role as a third-down and pass-protection specialist.

Tank Dell's return to the Texans' lineup creates a more crowded receiver room, which threatens the playing time and potential for a full-time role for other depth receivers like Jaylen Null.

Tanner McKee is a recommended waiver wire pickup for Superflex leagues as the confirmed starting quarterback for the Eagles for the foreseeable future following Jalen Hurts' season-ending blood clot injury. While his efficiency in his first start was poor (26/45 for 215 yards), the team's willingness to let him drop back and throw frequently is encouraging for fantasy volume.

Terence Ferguson is the primary waiver wire target to stash on IR. Once he returns, he is expected to be the main beneficiary of the Davante Adams injury, operating as a wide receiver in multi-tight end sets with a high target-per-route-run rate of 0.29.

Travis Hunter is a high-end route runner whose offensive usage is trending upward, reaching a season-high 16.3% route rate in Week 6. While his ceiling remains uncertain, his talent and the decline of Brian Thomas Jr. make him an attractive bench stash.

Tyler Higbee should be picked up in leagues where available. He is expected to run a high volume of routes and see increased target volume following the injury to Davante Adams, at least until the return of Terence Ferguson in Week 8.

Tyler Warren is dealing with an injury that may keep him sidelined for Week 7, which would create a clearer path to targets for Keenan Allen.

Despite leading the Giants backfield with 30 snaps and scoring two touchdowns, the source warns against overreacting to the box score. The current three-way committee is likely unsustainable, and the benching of Cam Scataboo may only be temporary, leaving little long-term fantasy value for Tracy.