Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver-wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.

Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.

Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 7.

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Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements

All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.

Drake Maye (QB – NE) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (12.3% Rostered)

Many had low expectations for Maye in his first career start against a talented Houston Texans defense. However, the rookie quarterback surprised everyone. The former UNC star made some rookie mistakes, totaling three turnovers. Yet, he had 243 yards, three touchdowns, and 19.5 fantasy points on 33 pass attempts. Maye’s three passing touchdowns last week was one more than Jacoby Brissett had in five games. More importantly, the rookie’s 243 passing yards were the most allowed, while his three touchdowns were the second-most allowed by the Texans this season.

Maye should continue to play well for fantasy players in Week 7 against the Jaguars in London. Jacksonville has surrendered 24 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the most in the NFL. Last week, Caleb Williams completed 79.3% of his pass attempts for 226 yards, four touchdowns, and 28.6 fantasy points against them. More importantly, the Jaguars have given up 299 passing yards, 3.3 touchdowns, and 27.4 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the past four weeks, surrendering at least two touchdowns and 23.5 fantasy points in every contest.

Tyler Goodson (RB – IND) vs. Miami Dolphins (6.9% Rostered)

Unfortunately, Jonathan Taylor will miss his third consecutive game because of a high-ankle sprain. While Trey Sermon has been the next man up, Goodson outplayed him in Week 6. Sermon played 60% of the snaps, totaling 18 attempts for 29 yards and 2.9 half-point PPR fantasy points against the Tennessee Titan. By comparison, Goodson played 39% of the snaps, totaling eight rushing attempts for 51 yards, four receptions for 14 receiving yards, and 8.5 fantasy points. More importantly, Goodson averaged 4.8 more yards per rushing attempt than Sermon.

Meanwhile, the Dolphins have been a fantasy goldmine for opposing running backs. Miami has surrendered 26.1 fantasy points per game to running backs, the third-most in the NFL. They have given up at least 102 rushing yards in every game. Furthermore, running backs have had at least one rushing touchdown in every game against the Dolphins this season. Goodson had a 12.5% explosive run rate in Week 6 (per Fantasy Points Data). Don’t be surprised if he cuts into Sermon’s workload this week as the more productive runner.

Kimani Vidal (RB – LAC) vs. Arizona Cardinals (6.8% Rostered)

Los Angeles placed Gus Edwards on injured reserve before their Week 6 matchup because of an ankle injury, knocking him out for four games. While J.K. Dobbins has been outstanding as the featured guy, the Chargers know he has an extensive injury history and could get hurt at any moment. Last week, Vidal made his NFL debut, totaling four rushing attempts for 11 yards. However, the rookie was a massive factor in the passing game, catching both targets for 40 receiving yards and the team’s only receiving touchdown.

Despite having 21 fewer touches, Vidal only scored 5.1 fewer half-point PPR fantasy points than Dobbins (17.2 vs. 12.1). Both Chargers running backs should thrive on Monday night against a struggling Cardinals run defense. Arizona has surrendered the 10th-mot fantasy points per game to running backs (23). Furthermore, they have given up 151.3 rushing yards, one touchdown, and 26.4 fantasy points per game to running backs over the past four weeks. The Cardinals surrendered at least 111 yards in all four games, giving up 36 or more fantasy points twice.

Xavier Legette (WR – CAR) vs. Washington Commanders (28.4% Rostered)

While the Panthers have a 1-5 record, the offense has played significantly better under Andy Dalton. The rookie receiver has been outstanding since Adam Thielen suffered a hamstring injury. Legette is the WR34 over the past three weeks, averaging 9.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. Furthermore, the rookie has averaged 4.5 receptions on seven targets for 44.5 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 13.2 fantasy points per game in the two healthy contests. Legette’s is second on the team behind Diontae Johnson over the past three weeks in target share.

The Commanders’ defense has played well under Dan Quinn. However, they are still one of the more fantasy-friendly units in the league. Washington has surrendered 33.2 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the fifth-most in the NFL. Wide receivers have totaled 178 or more passing yards in 66.7% of their matchups against the Commanders. Furthermore, Washington has surrendered the most receiving touchdowns to wide receivers this year (10), giving up two or more in half of their contests. Legette has top-24 upside in Week 7, thanks to the matchup.

Rashod Bateman (WR – BAL) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6.9% Rostered)

Baltimore has averaged 29.5 points per game in 2024, the fourth-most in the NFL. Most of their offense comes from Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers. However, Bateman has been sneaky good this season, ranking second on the team in targets (26). He is the WR42, averaging eight fantasy points per game, posting a higher average than Brandon Aiyuk (7.8) and George Pickens (7.7). The former Minnesota star has had at least four targets and an 11.8% target share in all but one game this season.

Bateman is a solid flex option in Week 7, thanks to his matchup on Monday night. The over/under for this game is 49.5, the fourth-highest this week. Tampa Bay has surrendered 31 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the seventh-most in the NFL. Furthermore, the Buccaneers gave up 29 receptions for 392 receiving yards, four touchdowns, and 77.7 fantasy points to the Atlanta Falcons wide receiver core two weeks ago. Bateman only needs one big play downfield to score double-digit fantasy points in what should be a shootout.

Hunter Henry (TE – NE) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (25.7% Rostered)

Fantasy players who need a bye-week replacement for Jake Ferguson and Cole Kmet or a last-minute sub for Dallas Goedert (hamstring) should make Henry their top priority off the waiver wire. The veteran is the TE11 for the year, averaging 6.3 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He has played well when earning enough volume, averaging 75 receiving yards and 13.3 half-point PPR fantasy points in the two contests with over four targets this season. Last week, Henry had arguably his best game of 2024 with Drake Maye under center.

The veteran had three receptions for 41 receiving yards and 11.6 fantasy points against the Houston Texans, scoring his first touchdown this year. Henry was Maye’s second-highest targeted player, posting a 15.2% target share last week. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have been awful at stopping tight ends lately, giving up 10 receptions for 121 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and 35.1 fantasy points over the past two weeks, surrendering at least one touchdown and 12.9 fantasy points in both contests. Maye should continue to lean on Henry in his second career start.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.