With the injury to J.K. Dobbins, fantasy football managers are left with a void on their roster. Let’s check out the extent of the injury and players you can target on your waiver wire this week.

• Week 7 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice

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J.K. Dobbins Injury Outlook

J.K. Dobbins sees just seven touches in Week 6

J.K. Dobbins carried the ball seven times for 15 yards in a 24-20 loss to the Giants in Week 6.

Fantasy Impact

Dobbins was bottled up and, even worse, he wound up sitting out the entire second half after his surgically-repaired knee tightened up on him. The third-year running back’s status will require monitoring heading into a Week 7 matchup against the Browns. Dobbins has 35 carries for 123 yards in four games in 2022.

Expert Injury Analysis

Knee tightened up: More swelling means there might be an issue. – Deepak Chona

Waiver Wire Replacements to Target

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.

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.