Last week’s free-agent crop was bountiful. It was a good week to spend.

This is a good week to keep your FAAB money in your pocket.

There are no Kenneth Walkers out there. A lot of people wrote big FAAB checks for Walker last week after Rashaad Penny went down with a season-ending leg injury. And with 110 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown in Walker’s first game as Seattle’s lead back, it looks as if he was worth it.

It’s a thin week at just about every position except maybe running back – and there might not be much available at RB either, depending on the size of your league and your rosters.

While there isn’t a lot of eye-catching talent available, that won’t keep some managers from spending.

Marquise “Hollywood” Brown investors might need to acquire an understudy after Brown sustained what looks to be a multi-week foot injury. J.K. Dobbins is dealing with a knee issue that might simply be related to his ongoing recovery from a major knee injury that delayed the start of his season. Jaylen Waddle injured his shoulder. All in all, though, Week 6 wasn’t especially gruesome on the injury front.

So please, step inside and take a look around. Just think twice before whipping out that credit card.

Week 6 Waiver Wire Grade: C-

(Rostership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues, Recommended FAAB bids are based on a $100 budget.)

Check out the rest of our weekly fantasy football advice

Week 7 Waiver Wire Rankings

Running Backs

Written by Bo McBrayer

Mike Boone (RB – DEN): 40% rostered

• Next opponents: NYJ, @JAX, BYE
• True value: $8
• Desperate need: $15
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: Since Javonte Williams‘ unfortunate injury, the balance of RB snap share behind Melvin Gordon has increasingly favored Boone. Boone’s reflection of the Javonte role has also been surprisingly productive. Boone is a very reliable pass-catching back with explosive playmaking ability.

Rachaad White (RB – TB): 34% rostered

• Next opponents: @CAR, BAL, LAR
• True value: $7
• Desperate need: $12
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: White is such an incredible talent, and he has a well-defined role in a good offense. He is also an incredibly valuable handcuff at this stage of the season. White should be rostered in all leagues with moderately deep benches.

Kenyan Drake (RB – BAL): 4% rostered

• Next opponents: CLE, @TB, @NO
• True value: $7
• Desperate need: $11
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: The Week 6 explosion from Drake was a stunning divergence from star RB J.K. Dobbins. Drake dropped a slate-breaking bomb, but can we trust this kind of role to persist as Dobbins gets stronger following knee surgery? I’m not so certain, but there’s plenty of reason to toss a modest bid in his direction.

Isiah Pacheco (RB – KC): 21% rostered

• Next opponents: @SF, BYE, TEN
• True value: $6
• Desperate need: $13
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: I initially did not think much of Pacheco’s acumen as an NFL RB, but the physical rookie back from Rutgers has improved dramatically over the past couple of weeks. Pacheco already entered the league with a staggering athletic profile, but he is also proving to be the home run threat at RB that the Chiefs simply don’t get from Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon. If the pattern continues, Pacheco’s fantasy playoff run is a good bet to be a hit.

Joshua Kelley (RB – LAC): 17% rostered

• Next opponents: SEA, BYE, @ATL
• True value: $5
• Desperate need: $9
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: If Austin Ekeler recommends that fantasy managers roster his backup Joshua Kelley, we should probably heed his advice. Ekeler put me onto Mike Williams in Week 2 and was the sole reason I was able to jump in on Gerald Everett as a TE1. Kelley received a season-high 10 carries in Week 5 in an overt demonstration that he had seized the Chargers’ RB2 role from Sony Michel. Although Kelley does not possess a single great quality as an NFL running back, the opportunity in this explosive offense will afford him weekly fringe RB2/3 upside.

Keaontay Ingram (RB – ARI): 0% rostered

• Next opponents: NO, @MIN, SEA
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $7
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: The RB room in Arizona is a banged-up mess. In addition to missing James Conner and Darrel Williams, Eno Benjamin popped up on the injury report with a foot injury. Normally, this wouldn’t be much of a concern, but the Cardinals are playing on Thursday night this week. USC rookie Ingram is the next man up by a wild process of elimination. He is an intelligent back who plays with good fundamentals. Pick him up if you’re staring down the barrel of RB attrition on your roster.

Stash Candidates: Caleb Huntley, Kyren Williams, James Cook, Kenneth Gainwell, Jaylen Warren, Avery Williams, Tyrion Davis-Price

Caleb Huntley and Avery Williams are at opposite ends of the Falcons’ RB rotation, but the team’s run-heavy bias has sprinkled in a glimmer of rushing and receiving upside if things break right for ace kick returner Williams.

Kyren Williams is expected back from the IR soon – which is eagerly awaited by the Rams after their falling out with former starter Cam Akers. Williams is an excellent receiver from the backfield and makes up for his lack of athleticism with a well-rounded and polished skill set for a rookie RB.

Cook is still struggling to usurp Devin Singletary as the lead dog in the Buffalo backfield, but that’s mostly because Singletary has carried his late-season success from 2021 into the new campaign. Cook is an exciting prospect with real fantasy-relevant skills. The only thing we are waiting for is for the team to give him a chance to get going.

Kenneth Gainwell is still not seeing his share of the Eagles backfield increase with Miles Sanders‘ outstanding start to 2022. His abilities are outstanding, but Sanders is clearly the hot hand and is dominating the workload for the last undefeated team in the NFL.

Jaylen Warren remains a worthy cuff for high-volume back Najee Harris, while Tyrion Davis-Price‘s return to the 49ers’ rotation from the IR only adds to the uncertainty about who’ll be Kyle Shanahan’s lead dog until Elijah Mitchell can return from his knee injury.

Wide Receivers

Written by Derek Brown

Rondale Moore (ARI): 46% rostered

• Next opponents: NO, @MIN, SEA
• True value: $4
• Desperate need: $8
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Moore is coming off back-to-back games with target shares above 20% (21.2%, 27.0%) as a full-time player. The Cardinals’ offense looks broken, but Moore can still be a solid WR3/flex for fantasy. With Marquise Brown (foot) now on the shelf, Moore can operate as the No. 2 complement to DeAndre Hopkins. Moore has two plus slot matchups over his next three games against Chandon Sullivan (85.7% catch rate, 129.0 passer rating) and Coby Bryant (68.8% catch rate, 148.2 passer rating, per PFF). I have no issues with being slightly more aggressive with your bid if you need a wide receiver desperately.

Alec Pierce (IND): 38% rostered

• Next opponents: @TEN, WAS, @NE
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: After back-to-back games of cresting 80 receiving yards, Pierce’s numbers in Week 6 (three receptions, 49 receiving yards) look disappointing, but he did get in the end zone. The Colts continue to pull shenanigans that keep Pierce from running a full complement of routes, with 76.6% and 70.6% route participation rates over the last two weeks. They have some weird desire to work in Mike Strachan despite Pierce playing well as his role has grown. Pierce is still worth flexing in Week 7 against a terrible Tennessee secondary that’s allowed the fourth-most receiving yards and the second-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.

Tyquan Thornton (NE): 1% rostered

• Next opponents: CHI, @NYJ, IND
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Thornton returned to the lineup, running a route on 76.4% of Bailey Zappe‘s pass attempts with a 14.7% target share and three rushing attempts. Thornton made the most of his touches, with 53 total yards and two scores. With his 4.28 afterburners, Thornton could be the sneaky rookie wide receiver pickup who could pay dividends down the stretch. It won’t cost much to secure him off the wire to find out.

Chase Claypool (PIT): 41% rostered

• Next opponents: @MIA, @PHI, BYE
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Claypool is coming off his best game of the season. He secured all seven of his targets on Sunday with 96 receiving yards and a score against a tough draw in Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield. Over his last two games, Claypool has averaged eight targets, with target shares of 17.3% and 23.3%. In Week 7, he has a plus matchup against Kader Kohou (75% catch rate, 100.7 passer rating, per PFF). The weekly target share between the Steelers behind Diontae Johnson will remain a moving target, but Claypool should carve out a solid role in Week 7. In Pittsburgh’s next two games, the easiest matchups are arguably against the slot, so Claypool could easily become a decent WR3/flex play over this stretch.

DeVante Parker (NE): 23% rostered

• Next opponents: CHI, @NYJ, IND
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Parker isn’t a game-changing talent at this point of his career, but he can be a serviceable bye-week flex in a pinch. He can provide you with the ceiling you seek if you’re desperate. He’s second in the NFL in aDOT and 10th in deep targets. While his target share won’t wow you most weeks, that won’t matter if Parker connects on a deep shot for a score.

Corey Davis (NYJ): 40% rostered

• Next opponents: @DEN, NE, BUF
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Davis continues to be the only Jets wide receiver playing a full-time role, running routes on 90%-plus of dropbacks. The upcoming matchups are difficult, with two of his next three opponents inside the top four for the fewest fantasy points per game allowed to wide receivers. Davis is a deep league add who could easily come down with a deep target from Zach Wilson in any week.

Stash Candidates: Wan’Dale Robinson, Jameson Williams, Skyy Moore

Wan’Dale Robinson flashed in his second NFL game. He was one target behind Daniel Bellinger from tying for the team lead (four). Robinson secured three of those targets for 37 yards and a score. These are the good things for Robinson’s outlook. Now, let’s discuss why he isn’t higher on this list. He only played 23% of the snaps while running 11 routes. He was on the wrong side of a slot split with Richie James. This is only his first game back from injury, so it’s conceivable that Robinson was being worked in. The talent is real. He just needs to continue to earn playing time. Robinson should have opportunities to do so with upcoming matchups against JAC, SEA, HOU, and DET.

Jameson Williams again makes the stash list. His talent is undeniable. Just because we haven’t seen it in the NFL yet doesn’t mean he can’t be a league winner. Because of their atrocious defense, the Lions’ offense continues to pile up points in shootouts. That isn’t changing. As I highlighted last week, in Weeks 8-18, Detroit faces five opponents with pass-defense DVOAs of 19th or lower. The upside is there. Stash him now.

Andy Reid, we need a sit-down conversation. Skyy Moore is your best receiver. I know he’s a rookie and came to you from a small school, but it’s time to stop with the foolish games. Moore has now logged three straight games with at least 20 snaps and double-digit routes. It’s only a matter of time before Reid realizes that Mecole Hardman needs to head to the bench permanently. Moore has played well in these small samples, surpassing 1.80 yards per route run in three of five games. Pick him up. Be patient. Good things are coming.

Quarterbacks

Written by Bo McBrayer

Justin Fields (QB – CHI): 38% rostered

• Next opponents: @NE, @DAL, MIA
• True value: $7
• Desperate need: $13
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: Never, ever fade the Konami Code. Fields is fifth among QBs with 38.8 rushing yards per game, which adds the equivalent of nearly an entire passing TD to his average fantasy points per game. The real hope is that the Bears pick up the pace on offense and give their young QB more opportunities to showcase his best attributes. Fields is QB9 in fantasy points per dropback (according to PlayerProfiler) this season.

Jameis Winston (QB – NO): 28% rostered

• Next opponents: @ARI, LV, BAL
• True value: $6
• Desperate need: $10
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: The Saints are being overly cautious with their starting QB, keeping Winston on the shelf with back and ankle injuries for three weeks running. I have my fingers crossed so tightly that I have them now clenched in a fist awaiting Winston’s return in the soft nougat filling of their season schedule. New Orleans needs a healthy Jameis to keep pace in the NFC playoff race, and they are very likely to allow him to continue chucking over 40 passes per game.

Daniel Jones (QB – NYG): 30% rostered

• Next opponents: @JAC, @SEA, BYE
• True value: $5
• Desperate need: $9
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Speaking of underappreciated fantasy QBs, Brian Daboll is a freaking genius for how quickly he has turned Daniel Jones into a solid NFL starter. In addition to Jones’ top-five accuracy rating among QBs, he is second-best in the league in passer rating versus zone coverage (per PlayerProfiler). Worried about turnovers? Unless your league is draconian with doling out negative points for fumbles and interceptions, Danny Dimes will overcome any blemishes with 46 rushing yards per game (third among QBs).

Marcus Mariota (QB – ATL): 14% rostered

• Next opponents: @CIN, CAR, LAC
• True value: $5
• Desperate need: $8
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: Best defense in the NFL? No problem for the embattled former Heisman-winning Oregon Duck. There were some key injuries to the 49ers’ defense in Week 6 but take nothing away from a fantastic 35.2-point game from Mariota. Atlanta kept the passing game simple and more bootleg-oriented to cater to Mariota’s rare athleticism. He responded with three combined touchdowns and his second consecutive game with at least 50 rushing yards. Although Mariota is not a consistent Konami option, this Falcons offense continues to move the ball down the field well and has only fallen short of 23 points scored in one game this season.

Matt Ryan (QB – IND): 28% rostered

• Next opponents: @TEN, WAS, @NE
• True value: $4
• Desperate need: $7
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: I can’t fall for this bait-and-switch again (repeat to exhaustion). After basically reminding NFL fans of the rotten twilight years of Ben Roethlisberger in Week 2 and Week 5, Matty Ice turned back the clock with a ridiculous 39.2 fantasy points vs. the Jags in Week 6. It was already his third game eclipsing 23 fantasy points, which is frustrating because the boom weeks have flanked some truly atrocious down weeks. Ryan is a really strong streamer with a decent risk of burning us again. The upcoming schedule is very favorable.

Stash Candidates: Malik Willis, Taylor Heinicke, Sam Howell, Desmond Ridder

Keeping with the “stream, not stash” mantra with QB waivers, the only stash candidates are rookies waiting in the wings for their opportunity to supplant the incumbent starter. Malik Willis has seen a bit of action in mop-up time this season, but Ryan Tannehill hasn’t lost the job with his satisfactory performance into the Titans’ bye week.

The clamoring for Carson Wentz‘s ouster as the Commanders’ starting QB has reached a deafening volume, and the veteran is now expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a broken finger on his throwing hand. Many believe that Washington already knows what it has with Taylor Heinicke, thus lending favor to rookie fifth-round pick Sam Howell. Many scouts rated the North Carolina alum as the rookie QB1 in 2022 and are eagerly awaiting his debut.

Marcus Mariota has been erratic, with a wide deviation of results so far in 2022. Fortunately, he can sleep at night not fearing for his job quite yet. Arthur Smith’s Falcons are amazingly 3-3 after a statement win over the 49ers. Unless their season goes off the rails in a hurry, rookie Desmond Ridder might fall from this list.

Tight Ends

Written by Derek Brown

Robert Tonyan (GB): 42% rostered

• Next opponents: @WAS, @BUF, @DET
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Tonyan played a season-high 66.7% of the snaps in Week 6, running a route on 84.4% of Aaron Rodgers‘ pass attempts. Tonyan drew a 26.6% target share, snagging 10 balls for 90 yards. With two of his next three matchups against teams (WAS, DET) that entered Week 6 inside the top 12 in yards per reception allowed to tight ends, Tonyan should find some more top-12 scoring weeks in his future. If you’re hurting at tight end, he could be a startable option for your team for the rest of the season, as long as his usage continues to trend up.

Mike Gesicki (MIA): 24% rostered

• Next opponents: PIT, @DET, @CHI
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Speaking of usage trending in the right direction, Gesicki has seen his ticking upward. He’s coming off a season-high 69% of snaps played, running a route on 89.3% of pass attempts, with a 14.8% target share. Gesicki has been a top-12 tight end previously in his career. The upside and athleticism are there, and now the usage is complying. With Tua Tagovailoa due back soon, this offense and Gesicki have better days ahead.

Daniel Bellinger (NYG): 2% rostered

• Next opponents: @JAC, @SEA, BYE
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $6
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Yes, outside of Saquon Barkley, the Giants’ offense has been gross. While many will look at this offense and attempt to hold back the vomit, I see an opportunity. Bellinger could step up as the team’s top receiving threat. With an awesome athletic profile (4.63 speed, 82nd percentile burst score, per Playerprofiler.com), Bellinger has the chops to be a major receiving threat. He played 93% of the snaps in Week 6 with an 18.5% target share, rolling up 38 receiving yards and a touchdown. Each of his next three matchups is currently ranked 18th or lower in DVOA against tight ends (per Football Outsiders). Upside and athleticism: We covet these at the tight-end position. Bellinger has both.

Evan Engram (JAC): 37% rostered

• Next opponents: NYG, DEN, LV
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Engram is our ugly volume king. He drew a 27.2% target share in Week 6 with five grabs and 40 receiving yards. Engram will never blow your socks off in efficiency metrics, but he’s a full-time player who will draw a sizable target share with two plus matchups upcoming. The Giants and Raiders are 25th and 23rd in DVOA against tight ends (per Football Outsiders). If you’re looking for an ugly duckling top-12 tight end for the next few weeks or a bye-week streamer, Engram is your guy.

Hunter Henry (NE): 36% rostered

• Next opponents: CHI, @NYJ, IND
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $4
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Henry has now stacked consecutive games above 50 receiving yards with a 21.8% target share. He’s played nearly every down in this small two-game sample. In Week 6, he ran a route on 85.2% of Bailey Zappe‘s pass attempts. Henry is another solid short-term streamer, as Jonnu Smith still isn’t 100% healthy. The Jets and Colts offer solid matchups, as they are 11th and 13th in receiving yards allowed to the position.

Stash Candidate: Greg Dulcich

Eric Saubert is a mediocre talent. The Broncos are screaming at us that they want someone to assume a large role in the passing game at the TE position, and that player is Greg Dulcich. The offseason rumor mill loved Dulcich, who was wowing coaches in camp. He’s the ultimate long-term investment in the position who could pay huge dividends. Over the final 11 games of the season, the Broncos play six teams currently ranked 21st or lower in DVOA against tight ends (per Football Outsiders). Grab Dulcich now.

Defenses

Written by Pat Fitzmaurice

New York Jets: 3% rostered

• Next opponents: @DEN, NE, BUF
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $3
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Jets head coach Robert Saleh has this defense humming. Rookie CB Sauce Gardner is already one of the league’s best cover men. The Jets have intercepted seven passes and have racked up 14 sacks, including four of Aaron Rodgers on Sunday. The Jets get an attractive Week 7 date against a Broncos offense that’s struggled early in the season, and their Week 8 matchup against the Patriots is playable, too.

New York Giants: 5% rostered

• Next opponents: @JAC, @SEA, BYE
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The only reason the Giants ranked 19th in defensive fantasy scoring entering Week 6 is that they hadn’t intercepted a pass all season before finally picking off Lamar Jackson on Sunday. They have recorded 13 sacks, however, and this week they get the Jaguars and QB Trevor Lawrence, who was just sacked four times by the Colts on Sunday.

Cincinnati Bengals: 36% rostered

• Next opponents: ATL, @CLE, CAR
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Cincinnati defense hasn’t been piling up fantasy points this season, but it’s a solid unit that ranked eighth in defensive DVOA entering Week 6. Targeting run-heavy teams with team defenses generally isn’t a good idea – fewer passes mean fewer opportunities for sacks and interceptions – but if the Bengals can get an early lead against Atlanta this week and force Falcons QB Marcus Mariota to throw, fantasy points could follow.

Pittsburgh Steelers: 23% rostered

• Next opponents: @MIA, @PHI, BYE
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Pittsburgh has been a middle-of-the-road fantasy defense. The Steelers have intercepted eight passes and have recorded 12 sacks, with 6.5 of those sacks belonging to LB Alex Highsmith. The matchup against Miami this week is playable, but the Steelers are a one-week rental only; you don’t want to use them in Philadelphia in Week 8.

Chicago Bears: 28% rostered

• Next opponents: @NE, @DAL, MIA
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Bears’ defense has been surprisingly respectable both in real life and in fantasy. Chicago has 11 sacks and five interceptions through five games, and the Bears have forced eight fumbles. The Patriots aren’t a particularly bad matchup, particularly if immobile QB Mac Jones returns from a high-ankle sprain.

Stash candidates: None.

Kickers

Written by Pat Fitzmaurice

Brett Maher (DAL): 50% rostered

• Next opponents: DET, CHI, BYE
• True value: $2
• Desperate need: $3
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: From Week 2 to Week 5, Maher booted 12 field goals in four games. His four-game stretch of multiple-FG games came to an end in Week 6, but Maher’s future is looking bright with Dak Prescott expected back soon – and quite possibly this week. The Cowboys get an appealing Week 7 matchup against the Lions, who have given up 34 points per game. Maher also has a solid Week 8 matchup with the Bears at home.

Nick Folk (NE): 48% rostered

• Next opponents: CHI, @NYJ, IND
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: As noted here before, Folk is an appealing option at kicker because Patriots head coach Bill Belichick isn’t one to turn up his nose at three points. Folk attempted 39 field goals last season and has attempted 12 through the first six games of 2022. His matchup against the Bears in Week 7 is a decent one.

Will Lutz (NO): 15% rostered

• Next opponents: @ARI, LV, BAL
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Lutz is a perfect 12-of-12 on field goals over his last four games, and he’s drilled four field goals in each of his last two games. The Saints’ offense has been in sync with Andy Dalton at quarterback the last few weeks, keeping Lutz awash in scoring opportunities. He gets an appealing matchup against the Cardinals this week in weather-proof Arizona.

Dustin Hopkins (LAC): 16% rostered

• Next opponents: SEA, BYE, @ATL
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: The Seahawks-Chargers game this week could be a high-scoring affair, and it’s going to be played in presumably kicker-friendly weather in Los Angeles. Hopkins is a solid one-week answer at kicker.

Jason Myers (SEA): 11% rostered

• Next opponents: @LAC, NYG, @ARI
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Myers cleaned up on chip shots in Week 6, making four field goals of under 40 yards in Seattle’s win over Arizona. After making only 17 field goals all of last season, Myers has already nailed 12 field goals in 2022.

Chris Boswell (PIT): 12% rostered

• Next opponents: @MIA, @PHI, BYE
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Boswell hasn’t been as reliable as usual this year, going 11-of-15 on FG attempts, but he’s attempted multiple field goals in all six of Pittsburgh’s games this season. He’ll play in the kicker-friendly environs of Miami this week.

Greg Zuerlein (NYJ): 6% rostered

• Next opponents: @DEN, NE, BUF
• True value: $1
• Desperate need: $1
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: People are still reluctant to roster a Jets kicker, even though the Jets are a team on the rise, and Zuerlein entered Week 6 as a top-10 kicker. He gets a Week 6 matchup against the Broncos, who have given up 10.8 fantasy points per game to kickers through the first five weeks of the season.

Stash candidates: None.