Another week, another wave of injuries, surprises, and breakout performances. As fantasy managers scramble to survive the bye-week gauntlet, a few new names have emerged to steady the ship — or even carry it toward the playoffs. Week 7 brings a new batch of waiver-wire targets, led by a breakout rookie in Los Angeles, a changing backfield in Tennessee, and a few tight ends turning into every-week starters.
Here are StatChasers’ Top 10 Waiver Wire Targets heading into Week 7.
1. Kimani Vidal – RB, Chargers
Rostered: 27% | Suggested FAAB: 20–25%
Recommendation: Should be added in all leagues
The Chargers’ backfield picture became crystal clear in Week 6 — and Kimani Vidal is the answer. With Omarion Hampton (ankle) landing on injured reserve and Hassan Haskins projected to lead the way, it was instead Vidal who took control from the opening series and never looked back.
The second-year back handled 18 of the 24 team carries (a 75% share) and out-snapped Haskins 43–20, finishing with 124 rushing yards on 18 carries (6.9 YPC) and three receptions for 14 yards and a touchdown. His 70% snap rate marked a season-high for any Chargers running back this year, and his 38-yard burst in the second quarter showcased the kind of explosiveness this offense has been missing.
Vidal’s performance wasn’t just about opportunity — it was efficiency, decisiveness, and balance. Over his 21 total touches, he generated 5.8 yards per touch and forced four missed tackles, earning the clear trust of both his coaching staff and fantasy managers alike.
Yes, context matters — Miami’s run defense was shredded for over 200 yards the week before — but Vidal still deserves major credit for capitalizing on the opportunity. With Hampton out until at least Week 10 (and likely longer), Vidal projects as a low-end RB2 or strong FLEX moving forward.
If you’re hurting at running back, this is the kind of waiver pickup that can carry you through the midseason stretch. The Chargers face the Colts next (a tougher front seven), but Vidal’s workload and passing-game involvement make him a must-add in all formats.
2. Zonovan Knight – RB, Cardinals
Rostered: 13% | Suggested FAAB: 2–3%
Recommendation: Should be added in 12-team leagues with short-term need
The Cardinals pulled a curveball Sunday morning, elevating Zonovan “Bam” Knight over Michael Carter on the depth chart — and the move actually paid off. In the 31–27 loss to Indianapolis, Knight handled 11 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown, adding one catch for 20 yards. He’s now found the end zone in back-to-back games and appears to have earned the coaching staff’s trust in short-yardage and red-zone situations.
While the stat lines between Knight and Carter were nearly identical — both logged 11 carries and 2–3 targets apiece, each hovering around 50–60 total yards — the key difference is how Knight was used. He played 37 snaps to Carter’s 32, led all backs in goal-line touches, and showed more power and balance through contact. Emari Demercado was barely a factor, seeing just one touch all game.
This is shaping up to be a true committee, but Knight’s edge in scoring chances gives him slightly more fantasy appeal for now. He’s not suddenly a must-start, yet with Trey Benson (knee) still out for at least another week and Kyler Murray nearing a return, Knight could be a sneaky FLEX option in Week 7 before the Cardinals’ bye.
Expect something in the range of 10–14 touches and a puncher’s chance at a touchdown moving forward. If you’re thin at running back or dealing with byes, Knight is a short-term solution who could keep producing as long as he holds the goal-line role.
3. Cade Otton – TE, Buccaneers
Rostered: 12% | Suggested FAAB: 4–5%
Recommendation: Should be added in 12-team leagues; strong TE streamer
It took a few injuries, but Cade Otton has finally found his way back into fantasy relevance. With Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (leg) both sidelined in Week 6 — and rookie Emeka Egbuka leaving with a hamstring injury of his own — Otton stepped up as the Buccaneers’ top target. He caught 5 of 6 passes for 51 yards, leading Tampa Bay in receptions and finishing second in receiving yards.
That performance wasn’t an outlier, either. Over the last two weeks, Otton has posted 9 receptions on 11 targets for 132 yards, while running a route on more than 80% of Baker Mayfield’s dropbacks. He’s also quietly tied for second on the team in red-zone targets this season.
Otton’s usage and versatility — lining up in-line, in the slot, and occasionally split wide — make him one of the few tight ends outside the top tier who can deliver steady volume. Even if Evans returns for Week 7, Tampa Bay’s receiver depth remains thin, which should keep Otton’s target share intact.
He’s a strong TE2 streamer with back-end TE1 upside, particularly in PPR leagues. If you’re rotating tight ends or dealing with byes, Otton deserves a roster spot and could easily stick around for the long haul if the injuries linger.
4. Tre Tucker – WR, Raiders
Rostered: 45% | Suggested FAAB: 3–4%
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 12-team leagues
Tre Tucker continues to do what Tre Tucker does best — deliver splash plays in limited volume. In Week 6, he hauled in five catches for 70 yards, marking his third game with 9+ fantasy points in the last four weeks and his fourth such game overall this season.
He’s now averaging 14.1 yards per reception and has quietly become one of the Raiders’ most efficient weapons, posting a 23% share of the team’s air yards. Tucker’s speed and route explosiveness give him a weekly chance to break a long play, even if his target totals hover in the 5–7 range.
The downside is volatility — he’s not commanding WR2-level volume and can disappear in games where Brock Bowers or Jakobi Meyers dominate the looks. But as bye weeks pile up and injuries mount, Tucker’s ability to deliver double-digit fantasy production on limited opportunities makes him a high-upside FLEX or bench stash in 12-team formats.
He’s the type of player who can win you a week when his deep ball connects — and in the coming stretch of matchups (Bears, Broncos, and Panthers), he’ll have opportunities to do exactly that.
5. Kendrick Bourne – WR, 49ers
Rostered: 32% | Suggested FAAB: 5–6%
Recommendation: Should be added in 12-team leagues
Kendrick Bourne has turned into the 49ers’ de facto WR1 over the past two weeks — and he’s thriving in the role. With George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall, and Jauan Jennings all banged up, Bourne has become the centerpiece of San Francisco’s passing game, compiling a 15-catch, 284-yard line on 20 targets in Weeks 5 and 6 combined.
In Week 6 against Tampa Bay, Bourne delivered another monster outing with five receptions for 142 yards, giving him consecutive 140+ yard performances. Over that stretch, he’s commanded a 22–23% target share, averaged 3.7 yards per route run, and handled 25% of the team’s first-read looks, per Fantasy Points Data. Simply put, when the 49ers need a play, Mac Jones is looking Bourne’s way.
The volume has been elite — but it’s also tied to injuries. Once George Kittle and Ricky Pearsall return (potentially as soon as Week 7), Bourne’s target share will likely dip. Still, with Jauan Jennings playing through multiple injuries and Aiyuk’s return date uncertain, Bourne should remain a high-floor FLEX play for at least another week or two.
He’s unlikely to sustain WR1 production once the 49ers are healthy, but his short-term opportunity is undeniable. In 12-team leagues, he’s a priority add for managers needing an immediate starter during the bye weeks.
6. Tyler Allgeier – RB, Falcons
Rostered: 31% | Suggested FAAB: 2–3%
Recommendation: Should be added in 12-team leagues
This can’t be said enough: Tyler Allgeier should be rostered in every league. Even with Bijan Robinson healthy and dominating headlines, Allgeier continues to see steady usage — and he’s one of the league’s few true handcuffs who would instantly become a fantasy starter if the lead back missed time.
In Monday night’s win over Buffalo, Allgeier logged 10 carries for 32 yards and a touchdown, adding one reception for six yards. While his weekly production isn’t flashy, his role remains secure — he’s averaged 9.8 carries per game this season and ranks among the top five running backs in red-zone rushing attempts. Atlanta also runs the ball on 48.4% of their offensive plays, the sixth-highest rate in the NFL, which keeps Allgeier fantasy-relevant even as the RB2.
If Robinson were to miss time, Allgeier would immediately project as a high-end RB2 with touchdown upside. Until then, he offers bye-week FLEX value and the kind of insurance you can’t find on most waiver wires.
He’s more valuable than fringe WR4s and backup tight ends — stash him now before an injury forces you to compete for him later.
7. Kareem Hunt – RB, Chiefs
Rostered: 40% | Suggested FAAB: 3–4%
Recommendation: Should be added in 12-team leagues
The Kansas City backfield continues to be one of fantasy football’s biggest headaches — but buried in the chaos, Kareem Hunt has quietly emerged as the most reliable option near the goal line. Over the last three games, Hunt leads the Chiefs with 10 red-zone carries compared to Isiah Pacheco’s four, and he’s scored in two of those contests.
Kansas City’s offense is humming, averaging 31.7 points per game over that same stretch, and that keeps Hunt firmly in FLEX territory as long as he’s the one handling the high-value touches. He’s averaging 4.4 yards per carry on 28 attempts since rejoining the rotation, and his experience in short-yardage situations continues to earn him Andy Reid’s trust.
The presence of rookie Brashard Smith makes this backfield even murkier, but Hunt’s role is defined: he’s the preferred option inside the 10-yard line and a frequent checkdown target in the red zone. That combination gives him touchdown-dependent but usable fantasy value — especially with upcoming matchups against the Raiders and Commanders, both bottom-eight defenses in rushing touchdowns allowed.
He’s not a must-start every week, but in deeper or touchdown-heavy leagues, Hunt offers the kind of steady RB3/FLEX production that can keep a lineup afloat during the bye-week crunch.
8. Kayshon Boutte – WR, Patriots
Rostered: 7% | Suggested FAAB: 4–5%
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 12-team leagues
Kayshon Boutte’s fantasy trajectory this season has been a roller coaster — but when he hits, he really hits. After four straight quiet weeks (Weeks 2–5) in which he totaled just five catches and 63 yards, Boutte exploded in Week 6 for five receptions, 93 yards, and two touchdowns on a 19.2% target share. It was his best performance since Week 1 and a reminder of the ceiling that made him a preseason sleeper for many fantasy managers.
The inconsistency is still a concern — Boutte’s usage can swing wildly depending on matchup and game script — but he’s clearly established himself as Drake Maye’s primary downfield threat, and that role carries significant upside in an offense that’s quietly top-10 in passing yards per game. Over the next two weeks, Boutte faces Tennessee and Cleveland, defenses that rank 12th and 4th in PPR points allowed per target to perimeter receivers, per Fantasy Points Data.
If you need a high-upside FLEX during the bye-week crunch, Boutte fits the bill. He’s not the safest play, but his ceiling is one of the highest among widely available receivers.
9. Tyjae Spears – RB, Titans
Rostered: 18% | Suggested FAAB: 3–4%
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 12-team leagues
Tyjae Spears continues to sit on the verge of a potential breakout. The second-year back is playing behind Tony Pollard, but that gap may not last much longer. Pollard has been inefficient through six weeks, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry with no runs over 20 yards since Week 2, and the Titans’ offense desperately needs a spark. Spears might be that answer.
Spears played 41% of Tennessee’s offensive snaps in Week 6, his second-highest rate of the season, and continues to lead the team’s backfield in routes run and targets. He’s averaging 3.3 receptions per game and ranks top-15 among running backs in yards per route run (1.45), per Fantasy Points Data. His explosiveness and versatility make him the natural fit for a larger role if the Titans choose to shake up their stagnant offense.
At worst, Spears offers strong contingent value as Pollard’s clear backup, and at best, he’s one coaching adjustment away from becoming a weekly FLEX or RB2. Stash him now before the usage shift actually happens — because it feels like it’s coming sooner rather than later.
10. Michael Mayer – TE, Raiders
Rostered: 2% | Suggested FAAB: 2–3%
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 14-team leagues
Let’s be clear: Michael Mayer’s fantasy relevance hinges entirely on Brock Bowers’ health. With Bowers sidelined due to a knee injury, Mayer finally re-emerged in Week 6 — catching five of seven targets for 50 yards and a touchdown. It was his most productive outing of the season and a reminder that the former 35th overall pick still has the talent to contribute when given the opportunity.
The Raiders’ passing game has been one of the league’s most inconsistent units, but they continue to funnel targets toward their tight ends, particularly in the red zone. Mayer’s 20.6% target share in Week 6 was second on the team, and his chemistry with Aidan O’Connell looked noticeably improved after returning from injury.
If Bowers remains out, Mayer becomes an intriguing streaming option in deeper formats, especially with Las Vegas facing several defenses that have struggled to cover tight ends (Detroit, Denver, and Carolina over the next three weeks). As soon as Bowers returns, though, Mayer can safely return to the waiver pool — but until then, he’s a worthwhile short-term stash.