Week 7 Waiver Wire and Free Agent Pickups
Byron Lambert, Rosterwatch.com

Byes – Atlanta, Denver, KC, Miami, Philly, San Diego

Quarterbacks:

Carson Palmer, QB OAK
He’s scored more than 16 points in 4 of 5 games with a high score of 25. Palmer is on pace to throw for an incredible 4,500 yards.

Sam Bradford, QB STL
Averaging a very serviceable 16 PPG over the season. Bradford posted 16 and 24 points in his last two games.

Brandon Weeden, QB CLE
An absolutely terrible week one has skewed the numbers. It’s almost been forgotten because Weeden has been “fantasy-good” since, averaging 15 PPG over his last 5. His floor has been a respectable 9 points and his high score during this stretch is a solid 22. Weeden has a good matchup at Indy next week in a game the projects to be a passing affair. Mark Sanchez just had 15 points against the Colts on Sunday.

Russell Wilson, QB SEA
Four double digit fantasy performances in his last five games. Wilson had his best performance against the Patriots on Sunday, scoring 24 fantasy points. The confidence meter is up on Wilson. He has a tough matchup at San Francisco next week.

Running Backs:

Felix Jones, RB DAL
The #1 one waiver pick up of the week. It seems he was already a part of the game plan on Sunday, coming off the bye week. Probably because he was finally looking explosive in practice. Jones showed it on Sunday, exhibiting power, speed, and moves on the surprising handful of touches he was getting as a complement to DeMarco Murray. Then, of course, Murray went down with the foot injury injury and Jones went on to accumulate an impressive 105 yards and a touchdown on 19 touches. The word is that Murray’s foot sprain isn’t that serious but I am very leary. These injuries lead you on like a flaky-but-hot girl. Every weekend, you are hopeful of a return and often times it never happens- or takes way too long. Felix is the guy in the meantime and will be a very good option against Carolina next week and beyond.

William Powell, RB ARI
It’s come to this. Arizona literally has no other options. The preseason sensation, Powell, looks better than the oddly named LaRod Stephens-Howling. 14 touches for 78 yards on Sunday.

Daryl Richardson, RB STL
He split carries almost evenly with Steven Jackson in Week 6. 99 total yards on 13 touches, and the Rams offense is starting to look competent. Richardson could be a sneaky-good flex play moving forward. I’d probably rather have him than Steven Jackson.

LeGarrette Blount, RB TB
He’s scored two games in a row. Blount only registered 75 yards on 13 carries in those two games, however. He is heavily touchdown dependent. I still seem him getting more involved as the season progresses. Blount is owned in only 18% of leagues and is starting to look like a low-end flex play or a decent bye week option.

Mike Goodson, RB OAK
Five touches for 96 yards on Sunday. Darren McFadden is still the clear cut workhorse on this team. It is Goodson who is creating more big plays though, and Oakland is getting him involved. At times, his body type actually looks more fit for the Raiders offensive scheme than DMAC. Goodson is getting limited touches so you should be weary, but he is making the most of them. Also, the definitive and talented handcuff for McFadden owners.

Montario Hardesty, RB CLE
Trent Richardson left the game with a painful rib injury, which will persist to some extent. Hardesty came in and had 65 yards and 1 TD on 16 touches. He’s most relevant to Richardson owners.

** Update 10/17- With the news that Ahmad Bradshaw is having foot issues, David Wilson and Andre Brown become potentially valuable pickups. Wilson has increased value in leagues that score for special teams production.

Wide Receiver:

Stephen Hill, WR NYJ
He’s back in the picture after returning from injury and scoring a touchdown. The rookie is an impressive physical specimen and a freakish athlete. Santonio Holmes is out for the season and Hill is going to emerge as the Jets best receiving option. This is what they traded up in the second round of the draft for.

Josh Gordon, WR CLE
4 targets for 99 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. Gordon also had 82 yards and two touchdowns last week. The bad news? He’s only had 5 total receptions in the last two weeks. The good news? QB Brandon Weeden is on track to throw for 4,000 yards.

Brandon Gibson, WR STL
9 targets for 91 yards in Week 6. Gibson looks to have emerged as Bradford’s “#1 WR” in the absence of Danny Amendola. Primarily a possession receiver, he is getting the most targets.

Chris Givens, WR STL
Less targeted than Brandon Gibson, but more explosive. Givens had 7 targets for 85 yards on Sunday, producing as a close second to Brandon Gibson. Givens is a rookie, but will get plenty of opportunities. I’m sure there will be inconsistent weeks but there aren’t many other options in St. Louis and I like his upside.

Nate Washington, WR TEN
Always a bye week option. Washington came in second on the team in targets in Week 6, totaling 10 targets for a respectable 57 yards.

Kendall Wright, WR TEN
Even with Kenny Britt back he still received a solid 8 targets for a productive 71 yards. Wright is settling in quickly as a WR in the NFL. He is a serviceable flex or bye-week play.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR OAK
Carson Palmer is on pace to throw for 4,500 passing yards. DHB is locked in as a starter.

Donnie Avery, WR IND
12 more targets for 60 more yards on Sunday. Avery is only owned in 15% of leagues. In the last five games he’s had 3 serviceable fantasy performances and 2 poor outings. Avery has some upside, and is better than a 50/50 proposition as a stopgap measure.

Mario Manningham, WR SF
He’s heating up. 10 targets for 72 yards on Sunday and a touchdown last week. The Niners are getting him involved. I wouldn’t mind plugging him into my lineup if push comes to shove.

*Update 10/17 – Pierre Garcon is likely to miss time. Santana Moss and Leonard Hankerson can be deployed if necessary.

Tight End:

Brandon Myers, TE OAK
He’s averaging a very steady 6 points per game. Myers is a solid TE option. His weekly points totals are – 7,9,6,2,6.

Jermaine Gresham, TE CIN
7 targets for 68 and a touchdown in Week 6. Most of it came on one big play, so be cautious. He has been fairly consistent this year and is finally showing some upside. Gresham hasn’t had a any complete disaaperaing acts like many other fantasy tight ends have this year.

Joel Dreessen, TE DEN
The Broncos have a bye week coming up but he still may be worth an early pickup. Dreessen is emerging as Manning’s #1 tight end, which is a good a sign. His last four fantasy scores are very consistent and very serviceable – 10,8,8,6.

Defense:

Minnesota (vs ARI)
12 PPG on the season. In three home games 9 points is their lowest fantasy output. They’ve also shown upside with a 27 point performance in Detroit.

Buffalo (vs TEN)
They’ve been very good versus mediocre teams. The Bills defense does have a low floor.

Cleveland (at IND)
Averaging 12 PPG with upside and decent floor of 6 points. Joe Haden is back.