Here’s an early look at the fantasy players you’ll be targeting off the waiver wire this week. None of these players are rostered in more than 50% of Yahoo! leagues. The actual Yahoo! ownership percentage is included in parentheses. Players are listed from the most owned to the least owned after Sunday’s games. Be sure to check out Jen Piacenti’s expanded list of waiver-wire players every Tuesday!
Sam Howell, QB, Commanders (38%)
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Howell has been on fire, scoring 18-plus fantasy points in three straight games and four of his last five overall. He had a nice performance against the Falcons, putting up three touchdown passes and 18.3 points. With six teams on a bye next week, the Commanders quarterback will be a very startable asset against a dreadful Giants team. I expect Howell’s ownership percentage to swell past 50% this week.
Kareem Hunt, RB, Browns (36%)
Hunt had his best game in a long time, rushing 12 times for 47 yards with one score in a surprising win over the 49ers. He also caught three passes, finishing with 16.1 points. The Browns still gave Jerome Ford 19 touches, so Hunt isn’t going to be a featured back, but the veteran could be used often in neutral game scripts. Hunt and the Browns will face the Colts poor defense next on the team’s schedule.
Curtis Samuel, WR, Commanders (34%)
Josh Dotson was the fantasy sleeper darling in the preseason, but it's actually been Samuel who has been the superior fantasy wideout. He's become a popular target for Howell, seeing 19 targets in the last three weeks. During that time, Samuel has scored 14-plus points in each contest including two with more than 18. It's high time to drop Dotson and get Samuel before he is completely off the wire.
Marvin Mims, WR, Broncos (25%)
Mims has combined to score an awful 6.1 points in his last three games combined, so why the heck would you add him off the waiver wire? Well, the Broncos are about to go on a fire sale as the trade deadline looms, and I’ll bet either Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy gets dealt. If that happens, Mims would move up the depth chart and be in position to play a bigger role in the Broncos pass attack moving forward.
Keaontay Ingram, RB, Cardinals (20%)
Ingram didn’t put up huge (or even good) numbers in a loss to the Rams, but he did lead all Cardinals backs in touches. That could be a sign that he’ll be the top runner while James Conner (knee) is on the sidelines. If that’s the case, and both Damien Williams and Emari Demercado are behind him, Ingram is well worth a look off the wire at what is going to be a paper thin position heading into next weekend.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Falcons (19%)
Smith, who was on this list last week, had another strong game with four catches and a touchdown against the Commanders. Kyle Pitts also had a nice stat line, proving that both players can shine when the Falcons are running so much 12 personnel. The veteran has now scored 10-plus points in three straight games, during which time he’s been targeted a combined 18 times by Desmond Ridder.
Kendrick Bourne, WR, Patriots (17%)
Bourne put up a big stat line for fantasy managers this week, catching 10 passes (11 targets) for 89 yards in a win over the Raiders. He was the clear top option in the pass attack, as no other Patriots wideout had more than three targets. The veteran is volatile in the stat sheets, but this is at least a positive performance and one that makes him worth a look with bye-mageddon (six teams off) next weekend.
Michael Mayer, TE, Raiders (5%)
The Raiders have been late to the fantasy rookie tight end party, but they’re finally getting Mayer involved in the offense. He had six targets against the Patriots, hauling in five passes for 75 yards in what was his best fantasy game of the young season. If that sort of volume continues, Mayer might end up having some fantasy appeal heading into the second half. He’s a free agent in most leagues.
Jordan Mason, RB, 49ers (4%)
I have to be honest, I’m not sure if the best add is Mason or Elijah Mitchell (28%), so I’ll mention both. Christian McCaffrey suffered an injured oblique against the Browns and was unable to return to the contest, so his status for Week 7 is questionable. While Mitchell would usually be next in line, Mason has looked great in the last two weeks and was the lead back after CMC went down. Both should be added.
Craig Reynolds, RB, Lions (1%)
The Lions were without Jahmyr Gibbs this past week, and the team lost David Montgomery to injured ribs in a win over the Buccaneers. If both backs are out in Week 7, Reynolds would take over as the lead runner when the Lions face the Ravens. That’s not a great matchup, but with six teams on a bye it would make Reynolds a potential flex starter if Montgomery and Gibbs were sidelined.
