With a plethora of injuries following week #6, and in addition to another in a series of bye weeks, there are some nice additions that you can make to your roster listed here. The key is to act quickly before you find yourself scraping the bottom of the proverbial barrel. Here are our best five waiver wire pickups for week #7:
Josh Gordon-WR-Browns- There certainly appears to be some decent chemistry between QB Brandon Weeden and WR Josh Gordon. Targeted the second most times in last week’s contest, Gordon had a 71 yard touchdown pass vs the Bengals and totaled 99 yards on the day. This week he’ll go up against the Indianapolis Colts who have given up the 7th most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Owned in less than 20% of leagues, Gordon makes for a decent flex play and serviceable WR2 in week #7.
Felix Jones-RB-Cowboys- With usual starting RB DeMarco Murray (foot) already ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers, Felix Jones become a Must Add in all formats this week. Jones ran for just under the century mark (92 yards) and a touchdown against Baltimore last week and should have an easier time of it vs a Panther’s team that’s yielded the 2nd most fantasy points to running backs. Plus, Jones can catch a ball or two as well and will be an asset in PPR leagues this week as well. As of Tuesday, Jones was owned in only 26% of leagues; a figure that’s sure to triple before the week is over.
#28 RB Felix Jones is getting a chance to start now that injured DeMarco Murray is sidelined. He’s a must add for week #7. Photo: Associated Press
Kendall Wright-WR-Titans- How this rookie isn’t more widely owned is beyond belief, especially in PPR formats. He has 33 receptions on the season to go along with 285 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. He caught 6 passes for 71 yards last week vs the Steelers and dropped a very catchable pass which would have been a touchdown. He’ll face Buffalo this week, a team that allows the 5th most fantasy points to wide receivers. Available in over 60% of leagues, you would be wrong not to grab Wright this week!
Phil Dawson-K-Browns- ‘Old reliable’ has been on a role of sorts and not just for this season. He has connected on all of his 12 field goal attempts this year and 18 in a row dating back to last season! Last week he nailed a 41 and 38 yarder in a windy stadium in Cleveland and will go up against the Colts in week #7 which should afford him more opportunities to keep his perfect record alive. He makes a great replacement for Falcons K Matt Bryant (on a bye this week) and is available in 75% of most leagues.
LeGarrette Blount-RB-Buccaneers- Before you start to roll your eyes with our last pickup, RB starter Doug Martin is still exactly that; the starting RB for the Buccaneers. However, for managers in deeper leagues in search of a flex play option, Blount is well worth a grab. He has scored a touchdown in each of his last two games and last week had just six less carries than Martin. We like him this week because the Bucs take on the Saints who just happen to give up the most fantasy points to running backs in the league. As of Tuesday, Blount was available in 80% of leagues.
#27 RB LeGarrette Blount has scored a touchdown in two consecutive games and is going up vs the running back friendly N.O. Saints. AP Photo/John Raoux
FANTASY FURNACE 
Great article! I was lucky enough to snag Felix after an owner dropped him when he left with cramping. It’s a godsend this week, as Shady McCoy & Jamaal Charles are on bye for me! And as a fun twist, I am facing the owner who dropped Felix this week. And even better – he’s having to start William Powell due to bye weeks himself!
My only question… Do I plug in Green-Ellis or Steven Jackson as my other bye week filler? Might not matter since I’m also missing Matt Ryan, Julio Jones & Tony Gonzalez this week. Fitzpatrick, Stevie Johnson and Aaron Hernandez will have to do!
Thanks –
AJ
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Neither back is a great play this week. BJGE is up vs a strong run defense Steelers team & he hasn’t averaged more than 4.0 yds per carry since week 1. S-Jax is losing more & more carries to rookie Daryl Richardson who had 11 carries for 76 yards last week. So if I had to pick one I’d go with BJGE since he’ll get the bulk of the carries & has a better chance of success than S-Jax.
Nice job snatching up Felix! William Powell isn’t that bad of a play though as back-up QB Skelton will be relying on him more. However he’ll face a Vikings team that’s given up the 29th most fantasy points to backs so Powell will have his work cut out for him.
Thanks for the kind words & for stopping by AJ!
-Hank
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Thanks so much for replying to my message! I appreciate the advice and am definitely going to use it. I had been leaning towards Jackson, but I think that’s more about me not being able to get over my false hope he returns to the workhorse he’s been the better part of the last decade. And you’re definitely right about one thing – neither is an ideal play, especially in a week where my #1 QB, #2 WR and both RB’s are on bye. But as a lifelong Steeler fan, I know when to admit our defense isn’t playing as well, and now is certainly one of those times. Hell, even CJ ran for 91 against us and he was really struggling until the week before.
Wish me luck! I’ll be fine even if I lose – but pulling out a win with Fitzpatrick, Stevie, Felix and Lawfirm in my lineup would be one for the ages. One last question if I may – would you consider starting Josh Freeman against N.O. over Fitzpatrick? Both are facing bad secondaries, but I just think Fitz had more “big-game” potential. He’s been solid against weaker defenses. Interceptions are only -1 in my league, so even if he throws 3 picks it won’t hurt quite as much as long as he has the TDs and yards to back it up.
Thanks again,
AJ
Pittsburgh, PA
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Actually those 2 QBs are BOTH good plays this week. The Saints give up 360 yards of offense a game and the Titans have already given up 13 passing touchdowns which is over two a game! I would lean more to Fitz as the Titans are 29th in defense in the league and he can sling it!
As for Stephen J. I said before the season started that he would be a potential bust because your featured back should garner more than 5 -6 TDs a season and that’s what he’s been averaging for several years now. He’s no longer fantasy relevant in my opinion.
Not easy doing well when half your team is on a bye. Hope these suggestions pan out for you AJ…
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Yeah, I didn’t draft Stephen Jackson, but I did get him in a trade. It was him or Jacquizz Rogers and I figured I’d take the vet who was the starter, even tho I like Rogers if Turner were to go down. All together, I gave up Darren Sproles, Mike Wallace and Brandon Lloyd and received Julio Jones, Stevie Johnson, Stephen Jackson and Greg Jennings. I already had my starting RBs in Shady & Charles, so I felt alright about giving up Sproles for WR upgrades and getting Jackson in return. But thanks again! Fitzpatrick it is!
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One of these days, Hank, I’ll get into this Fantasy league play! As for Felix, he has some talent, but the “O” line for Dallas hasn’t blown open running lanes for RB’s in a couple of years or more. It’s been a rushing attack that gets 2-3+ YPC for a while now.
As we’ve agreed upon before, the Cowboys haven’t been a relevant factor for a good many years. A lot of that has to do with poor ownership issues with Jones. He really needs to “get the heck outa Dodge!” Sell the team, man, let it go!
Take care…
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Remember we’re talking fantasy football here so a lot of owners have lost their featured back this week either because they’re on a bye or are injured. Carolina gives up the 2nd most points to running backs in the league so even though the ‘Boys off. line is sub-par, it won’t take that much for Jones to have a decent day vs Carolina.
I see I’m going to have to tutor you in fantasy sports at some time Steven..lol
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