2025 Waiver Wire for Week 7
Welcome to the 2025 Waiver Wire for Week 7!
Rico Dowdle’s ADP this year was 167. He was, on average, the 55th running back drafted all off-season. He wasn’t projected to do much this year, and there is a good chance he was a free agent in your league a few weeks ago. As the RB2 in Carolina, I certainly didn’t have his matchup with Dallas circled as a significant event except for maybe some goal-line work given the revenge narrative. Still, with Chuba Hubbard’s $33M contract, it didn’t look like Uncle Rico was going to make much of a splash last weekend, let alone significantly contribute to your fantasy team.
Indeed, no one was expecting 183 rushing yards, 4 catches for 46 yards, and a touchdown.
This is what makes fantasy football great. Not Rico Dowdle’s stats (they’re great, but they’re his accomplishments, not yours). What makes our fake sport great is the opportunity, then the ability, to look forward to next week, project who will help us dominate, and add that player to our roster.
Obviously, by the time last weekend rolled around, we expected Dowdle to have a role after what he did to the Miami defense. The point is, there are always players like Dowdle ready to break out; we need to figure out who they are. Well, you don’t have to; I’m doing it to save you the work.
Did you know that Rico Dowdle is available in 18% of leagues? Yeah, he’s not available in my league either. For those of you, like me, who play in active leagues with real opponents, here is a list of players who should be available to help you win in week 7.
Disclaimer: Waiver Wire Rostership Percentages from Sleeper, ESPN, & Yahoo, as well as the Combined Rostership Percentages, will not exceed 50%. Also, fantasy point scoring will be represented from a Half-PPR perspective.
Teams on Bye Week: Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (26%), ESPN (14%), & Yahoo (18%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 19.3%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 35 paATT for 256 yards, 2 TDs, and 17.5 fpts
Waiver Wire Analysis:
With a 10-3 TD-INT ratio, you could do worse than the oldest active QB in the league. Yeah, you thought it was Flacco, but it’s not. It’s Aaron Rodgers by a nose hair. Rodgers gets the Bengals in week 7, who allow 258 yards and just over 2 TDs a week to opposing QBs. If you’re missing Lamar or Allen this week and didn’t draft a backup (and why would you with one of those studs on your roster?), Rodgers is a safe floor play with upside.
Next 3 Opponents: @ Cincinnati Bengals, vs. Green Bay Packers, vs. Indianapolis Colts
Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (45%), ESPN (35%), & Yahoo (30%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 36.7%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 25 paATT for 195 yards, 1TD, 13 ruATT for 58 yards, 1 TD and 23.6 fpts
Waiver Wire Analysis:
Jaxson Dart looks like the second coming of Russell Wilson. Not the Russell Wilson he has supplanted, but the Russell Wilson who repeatedly made fantasy analysts look stupid because “hE cAn’T MaiNtAIn tHaT eFfiCiEnCy” when he was slinging the rock in Seattle. Dart’s next two games are against formidable defenses, but his 23 fantasy point performance against a respectable Eagles’ defense at least gives him stash status. Oh yeah, one of those two formidable defenses is a Philly rematch…
Next 3 Opponents: @ Denver Broncos, @ Philadelphia Eagles, vs. San Francisco 49ers
Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (14%), ESPN (5%), & Yahoo (7%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 8.7%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 45 paATT for 219 yards, 2TDs, and 18.76 fpts
Waiver Wire Analysis:
You could do worse than the 2nd-oldest active QB in the league, but the joke dies here, because Joe Flacco’s stats are not nearly as… refined as Rodgers. Flacco does have a sweet schedule, though, and gets to play Pittsburgh twice in the next 5 weeks. Pittsburgh is only giving up 1 TD per game this season, but Flacco gets to throw to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and I’d gamble on him (and probably will). This is a pretty deep league add, but with his upcoming schedule and receiving options, Flacco should outperform his 31st-ranked position over the next couple of weeks.
Next 3 Opponents: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, vs. New York Jets, vs. Chicago Bears
Running Backs
Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (46%), ESPN (27.1%), & Yahoo (28%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 33.4%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 18 ruATT for 124 yards, 4 targets/3 receptions for 14 yards, 1 TD, and 21.3 fpts
Waiver Wire Analysis:
I thought Haskins was going to be Harbaugh’s man, but the numbers don’t lie. Kimani Vidal isn’t going to play the Dolphins every week, but the news on Omarion Hampton’s return isn’t encouraging. With a 67% snap share, this looks like Vidal’s job to lose. You can wait a week to make sure before starting him, but Vidal should be rostered in all leagues.
Next 3 Opponents: vs. Indianapolis Colts vs. Minnesota Vikings, @ Tennessee Titans
RB Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (18%), ESPN (6%), & Yahoo (13%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 12.3%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 11 ruATT for 34 yards, 1TD, 2 targets/1 receptions for 20 yards, and 11.9 fpts
Waiver Wire Analysis:
I don’t care who got the start for the Cardinals on Sunday; Michael Carter got the first carry of the game. I also don’t care who got the first carry of the game; Bam Knight out-snapped Carter 51% to 44%. I can keep going: Carter had more targets, Knight had more carries. Knight did kinda win with the TD though.
The point is: Knight should be rostered, and though you probably don’t feel great about the Green Bay defense (only 365 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs allowed on the season) and the upcoming bye week, (0 yards and 0 TDs allowed on the season) running backs are most certainly licking their chops in anticipation of matchups with the Cowboys, who are gifting opposing rushers 20 fantasy points per game this year.
Next 3 Opponents: vs. Green Bay Packers, bye week, @ Dallas Cowboys
Wide Receivers
WR Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (11%), ESPN (7%), & Yahoo (7%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 8.3%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 5 targets/5 receptions for 93 yards, 2 TDs and 23.8 fpts
Waiver Wire Analysis:
Kayshon Boutte’s rapport with Drake Maye goes back to last year, and as the players for the AFC East-leading Patriots settle into their roles, Boutte still appears to be the apple of his quarterback’s eye. He leads all Patriots receivers in touchdowns (3) and is second on the team in yards (301), which is good enough for fantasy WR27. With a decent schedule down the stretch and a late bye week (14), Boutte can at least be counted on as a WR3.
Next 3 Opponents: @ Tennessee Titans, vs. Cleveland Browns, vs. Atlanta Falcons
WR Kameron Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (0%), ESPN (0%), & Yahoo (0%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: Average of the Three %
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 4 targets/4 receptions for 64 yards, 1 TD, and 14.4 fpts
Waiver Wire Analysis:
Join me in the Baker Mayfield mentality: “There’s a wide receiver down there somewhere.”
Kameron Johnson is more about Tampa Bay’s lack of options than any objective analysis, though a look at his numbers last week, combined with a juicy matchup of the Lions’ injury-riddled secondary, could be considered analysis. I wouldn’t start Johnson over the #1 AFC East team’s receiver, Kayshon Boutte, but if you’re hurting for options, the 0% owned Johnson could be the remedy.
Who knows, maybe when Baker closes his eyes and chucks it, he says “Kameron’s down there somewhere…”
Next 3 Opponents: @ Detroit Lions, @New Orleans Saints, bye week
Tight Ends
TE Orande Gadsden, Los Angeles Chargers
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (4%), ESPN (1%), & Yahoo (1%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 2%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 8 targets/7 receptions for 68 yards, and 8.3 fpts
Waiver Wire Analysis:
Orande Gadsden enjoyed a career day on Sunday, though it should be noted that this occurred in conjunction with Quentin Johnston sitting out of the contest. That said, a 75% snap share in a game with a healthy Will Dissly is positive for the rookie, who has caught 15 of 19 passes on the season. As the injuries pile up in this offense Gadsden’s role is growing, add him to your roster before he’s no longer an option.
Next 3 Opponents: vs. Indianapolis Colts vs. Minnesota Vikings, @ Tennessee Titans
TE Harold Fannin, Cleveland Browns
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (50%), ESPN (29%), & Yahoo (25%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 34.7%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 10 targets/7 receptions for 81 yards, and 11.6 fpts
Waiver Wire Analysis:
This is absurd. Harold Fannin is the #12 TE in fantasy football.
I am in a 10-team league where I have to start three wide receivers, and there is only one flex position. I was lucky enough to draft Tyler Warren, Jake Ferguson, and Harold Fannin. I reluctantly dropped Fannin for Kayshon Boutte after Boutte’s week 1 performance for the AFC East-leading Patriots. I wasn’t really thrilled about it, and I’m not looking for sympathy, but I tell you my story to say this: unless you own two top 5 tight ends, there is no excuse for Harold Fannin to be available on the waiver wire in any league, let alone at 50% of them.
GO GET HIM.
Next 3 Opponents: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, vs. Atlanta Falcons, @ Houston Texans
D/ST
D/ST Miami Dolphins
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (4%), ESPN (2.5%), & Yahoo (3%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 3.2%
Waiver Wire Analysis:
I know this looks gross, but hear me out. Even if the Bills and Ravens weren’t on a bye, you’d be looking to replace them this week. Despite their ability to stop the run, Miami’s D/ST has been productive for fantasy, and in week 7, faces Dillon Gabriel, who is on pace to be sacked 52 times this year (that is not an exaggeration; in two starts, he has been sacked 8 times).
If the Dolphins are good enough to sack Justin Herbert and force some turnovers against the Chargers, they’re good enough to start for your squad this week against the Dillon Gabriel-led Browns.
Next 3 Opponents: @ Cleveland Browns, @ Atlanta Falcons, vs. Baltimore Ravens
D/ST Kansas City Chiefs
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (28%), ESPN (6.2%), & Yahoo (4%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 12.7%
Waiver Wire Analysis:
Here we go. The Chiefs are a much more comfortable option. As the offense rounds into form and forces opponents to keep up, the Chiefs’ D/ST will get more opportunities for turnovers. They also have a juicy matchup this week against Geno Smith, whose love affair with the turf is strong enough for a 3-sack per game average. The Chiefs are averaging 2.3 sacks a game, so Geno should feel right at home.
If you’re looking for long-term stability, the Commanders also give up 2.3 sacks per game, while the Bills average 2. In addition, Josh Allen has thrown four interceptions and fumbled 4 times so far this year…
Next 3 Opponents: vs Las Vegas Raiders, vs. Washington Commanders, @ Buffalo Bills
One final note on Rico Dowdle.
I’m as excited as the rest of the community about what he’s done over the last two weeks, but there is a lot of uncertainty about how the team will split carries once Hubbard returns. The Panthers have about $3 million in incentives to prevent Rico from continuing at his current pace. If they want to win games, they won’t quibble over a paltry $3M, but we’ve seen teams consider this before—just food for thought.
