Top 10 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Wide Receivers (Week 7)

We will have you covered throughout the fantasy football season with our bevy of tools, including our Waiver Wire Assistant. Find the top available players and get detailed analysis on how potential fantasy football waiver wire adds will impact your team. Of course, our team of analysts will also have written advice each week. Check out some of our top Wide Receiver fantasy football waiver wire targets for the week below. And also be sure to check out all of our fantasy football waiver wire advice for Week 7.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Wide Receiver

WIDE RECEIVERS

Written by Derek Brown

Josh Downs (IND): 48% rostered

• Next Opponents: MIA, @HOU, @MIN
• True value: $8
• Desperate Need: $13
• Budget-minded: $5

Analysis: Downs has been on a tear that doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon, with Michael Pittman (back) operating at less than 100% health. It’s insane that Downs remains below 50% rostered. Over the last three games, he hasn’t finished with fewer than seven grabs and 66 receiving yards in any game. Downs has scored in two of his last three outings. He just overcame a tough slot matchup in Week 6, so I have no worries that Downs can take advantage of middle-of-the-road matchups over the next three weeks. Miami, Houston and Minnesota have allowed the 18th-most, 14th-most and 17th-most PPR points per target to slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC): 31% rostered

• Next Opponents: @SF, @LV, TB
• True value: $7
• Desperate Need: $11
• Budget-minded: $4

Analysis: Smith-Schuster broke out last week as the WR13 in weekly PPR scoring. He only had a 59% route share, but he was heavily involved, with a 20.5% target share, 31.6% air-yard share and 18.2% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). He finished with seven grabs and 130 receiving yards. Smith-Schuster doesn’t have standout matchups over the next three weeks, but if he continues to see this type of role and volume in the Kansas City offense, he’ll be in play for a flex or WR3 spot in lineups.

Christian Watson (GB): 41% rostered

• Next Opponents: HOU, @JAX, DET
• True value: $7
• Desperate Need: $11
• Budget-minded: $4

Analysis: I was surprised to see Watson active in Week 6. I figured his ankle injury would keep him out at least one more week, but Green Bay felt comfortable with him playing, and he rewarded their confidence. Watson played 60% of the snaps, seeing a 12.5% target share while leading the team with 68 receiving yards and logging one score. Jordan Love is in midseason form, and having two Green Bay wide receivers in this week’s waiver article is a treat. These are instant plug-and-play WR3/flex types. Watson should build upon his surprising Week 6 in the next three weeks. Houston, Jacksonville and Detroit are not pass defenses to fear. They have respectively allowed the 15th-most, most and third-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Romeo Doubs (GB): 35% rostered

• Next Opponents: HOU, @JAX, DET
• True value: $5
• Desperate Need: $8
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Speaking of triumphant returns to the starting lineup. Green Bay ran on positive vibes in Week 6. After skipping practices and getting disciplined by the team, Doubs was back in the huddle in Week 6. He made his presence known with a 12.5% target share, 49 receiving yards and two scores. This Green Bay WR room can be tough to predict weekly, as it feels like we are constantly playing fantasy point Whac-A-Mole, but this is an offense that we should be looking to roster in every league when possible. Jordan Love is playing lights-out, and these talented receivers should continue to reap the benefits moving forward. As mentioned in the Christian Watson analysis, Houston, Jacksonville and Detroit are not pass defenses to fear. They have respectively allowed the 15th-most, most and third-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

DeMario Douglas (NE): 7% rostered

• Next Opponents: @JAX, NYJ, @TEN
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $6
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: People need to pay attention to Douglas. There’s no way he shouldn’t be rostered more heavily at this point. What else does Douglas have to do to enter the good graces of your fantasy roster? In Week 6, he scored his first touchdown of the season, but this was his third outing with at least nine targets, six receptions and 59 receiving yards. Douglas continues to prove he is the WR1 in this offense moving forward. He is an instant plug-and-play WR3/flex this week against a Jaguars secondary that has allowed the seventh-most PPR points per target to slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Xavier Legette (CAR): 19% rostered

• Next Opponents: @WAS, @DEN, NO
• True value: $2
• Desperate Need: $4
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Legette has cemented his WR2 status in the Carolina passing offense since Week 4. Across his last two full games played, Legette has averaged 7.0 targets, 4.5 receptions and 44.5 receiving yards while securing touchdowns in each game. Legette should keep the good times rolling this week against a Washington secondary that has allowed the 12th-most PPR points per target and the ninth-highest passer rating on targets to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Rashod Bateman (BAL): 11% rostered

• Next Opponents: @TB, @CLE, DEN
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $3
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Bateman finished Week 6 with a season-high 71 receiving yards while seeing only four targets. Bateman has been productive whenever Lamar Jackson has looked his way this season. On a per-route basis, Bateman has been one of the best wide receivers in the league, although the box scores won’t back up this fact. Among 65 qualifying receivers, Bateman ranks seventh in separation and 14th in route win rate (per Fantasy Points Data). While I don’t want to start him in Week 8 or Week 9, he’s in the flex conversation this week against a Bucs secondary that has allowed the ninth-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Jordan Whittington (LAR): 9% rostered

• Next Opponents: LV, MIN, @SEA
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $3
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Whittington has been Matthew Stafford‘s WR1 across his last two games. Whittington saw a 24.3% target share and 20.8% first-read share while producing 2.19 yards per route run and 75.5 receiving yards per game (per Fantasy Points Data). Cooper Kupp could be back this week. That’s the only reason Whittington isn’t higher on this week’s waiver wire list. Kupp should soak up a massive target share if he’s back, which would leave everyone else in this passing offense searching for scraps. As soon as Puka Nacua is back, Whittington could also be headed back to the bench. He’s worth adding to the end of your bench, though, because if Kupp isn’t back this week, we should expect Week 7 volume similar to that of his last two games.

Jalen Tolbert (DAL): 35% rostered

• Next Opponents: BYE, @SF, @ATL
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Tolbert is coming off somewhat of a letdown game. If there was ever a week to flex him, it was Week 6, and Dallas face-planted. Tolbert has flashed an intriguing ceiling, with two games this season with at least nine targets, six grabs and 82 receiving yards, but he has been inconsistent. In the other four games of the season, he has failed to surpass 50 receiving yards. In a pass-happy and consolidated offense, this inconsistency is honestly a bit surprising. With a bye upcoming, Tolbert won’t be heavily sought after on the waiver wire, but he’s a viable flex moving forward, depending on the matchup. It might be possible to sneak him through waivers with a $1 or $0 bid if you’re trying to bolster your team’s WR depth.

Allen Lazard (NYJ): 40% rostered

• Next Opponents: @PIT, @NE, HOU
• True value: $1
• Desperate Need: $2
• Budget-minded: $0

Analysis: Lazard entered a Week 6 meeting with Buffalo with four TD catches in five games and three outings with at least 48 receiving yards. He has been Aaron Rodgers‘ go-to when Garrett Wilson has been locked up or shadowed. Lazard is tied with Wan’Dale Robinson and Courtland Sutton for fourth in the NFL in red zone targets. His value could plummet if the Jets acquire Davante Adams‘ services, so don’t break the bank on waivers. Lazard isn’t a flex priority in Week 7 against Pittsburgh, but he is in the WR3/flex conversation in Week 8 with a return date in New England. He secured all three of his targets against the Patriots in Week 3 with 48 receiving yards and a score. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him produce a similar stat line in that game, with Wilson likely seeing Christian Gonzalez all game again.