Fantasy Football 2025 Week 7 Waiver Wire Pickup Advice
Is your fantasy team in need of new blood? Each week I’ll bring to you the best pickups to make ahead of the waiver deadline. All the players I list will be rostered in fewer than 50 percent of leagues, with the roster percentages coming from Yahoo.com.
Immediately Useful
Josh Downs, WR, Colts (49% Rostered): Downs has not had the breakout season many of us, myself included, felt was possible despite Daniel Jones working out at QB better than anyone could’ve predicted. Couple that with a snap rate that’s stubbornly stuck near 50% each week and Downs sure seems like a player whose ceiling is capped. He’s starting to show that he’s deserving of more snaps though, with six receptions in back to back weeks, and a touchdown vs. the Cardinals on Sunday. Downs is supremely talented, in an offense that’s firing on all cylinders, and who has upward mobility if his snap count rises. I’d be happy to have him as depth on my team in leagues of any size.
Tre Tucker, WR, Raiders (48% Rostered): Another week, another useful outing from Tre Tucker. He’s on the field for 90% of snaps every single week, and despite Geno Smith’s major struggles Tucker is proving to be reliable fantasy oatmeal. His volume is perfect as roster depth, but he also has big play potential that is rare in this player archetype, which we saw when he exploded for 145 yards and three scores in Week 3. Tucker is a perfect bandaid for teams that are gutted with injuries, struggling with bye week absences or both.
Juwan Johnson, TE, Saints (47% Rostered): Johnson’s involvement has cratered the last few weeks, and he’s operating in an offense that isn’t high-powered. The return of Taysom Hill could also spell doom for his red zone value, but for now, Johnson remains playable thanks to his size and TD potential. Another poor week though, and it may be time to start leaving him on waivers.
Kareem Hunt, RB, Chiefs (43% Rostered): Hunt’s snap count dropped vs. the Lions, and for a pass-catching back he’s extremely uninvolved in that phase of the game. The Chiefs backfield is close to unusable these days, but Hunt always has TD upside and therefore continues to be a passable desperation FLEX.
Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, WR, Chiefs (43% Rostered): Brown had himself a night vs. the Lions, striking for two touchdowns. While I believe he’s the second-best WR on this team behind Rashee Rice, the results here don’t necessarily mean anything’s changed. He was still on the field for just over 50% of snaps, and just because he got the scores this time and Tyquan Thornton was shut out doesn’t mean that can’t be reversed in Week 7. Brown is worth rostering due to his ability and because Patrick Mahome is all the way back, but don’t rely on him as anything more than depth.
Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Steelers (42% Rostered): Gainwell continues to see enough snaps to have an inkling of standalone value, but to also do very little with his opportunities. Against Cleveland, Gainwell gained 22 rushing yards on six carries, and put up 14 receiving yards on six receptions. Not exactly riveting stuff, but if you’re a Jaylen Warren manager you need to have Gainwell, and if your team is resembling a triage tent then you also have use for Gainwell.
Sam Darnold, QB, Seahawks (38% Rostered): If you’re looking for a QB this week, I’m sorry, it’s ugly out there. Darnold has been great the last two weeks, but that had something to do with his matchups. Darnold is a quality QB, and his connection with Jaxon Smith-Njigba is high-speed fiberoptic, but the Texans present a challenge for any QB. Still, Darnold is likely the best of a weak bunch, as it seems managers in the community have prepared for the lean weeks. At this point, Darnold has proven that even in tough matchups he can find JSN and have an impact.
Mason Taylor, TE, Jets (37% Rostered): Taylor absolutely bombed in London after drawing 12 targets vs. the Cowboys. It sucked, and the Jets were abhorrent, but flush it. This was a tough Denver defense they faced, and nobody did anything. Taylor is about to become the focal point of this passing game with Garrett Wilson out a few weeks, and genuinely no receivers of note in reserve. With Justin Fields as the passer, that doesn’t mean he’s going to be a league-winner. It does mean that he’ll be a volume hound.
Kendrick Bourne, WR, 49ers (35% Rostered): Bourne has racked up 142 yards in back to back games for the 49ers, and clearly is showing that he’s fantasy relevant with all of the San Fran injuries. The problem is that we might see Ricky Pearsall and TE George Kittle back, and we have no idea how much that would decimate Bourne’s currently heavy target share. He’s worth an add because if either Pearsall or Kittle misses this week, Bourne stays involved, but don’t blow the budget as he’s a temporary solution.
Kimani Vidal, RB, Chargers (31% Rostered): We got our answer as to who rules the Chargers’ backfield in the absence of Omarion Hampton, and it’s Vidal. He had 67.9% of snaps on Sunday, and turned 18 carries into 124 yards while also catching three passes for a TD. Vidal has been around, and I don’t view him as a league-winning pickup, but he’s an RB2 for sure
Speculative/Deep Cuts
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Browns (27% Rostered): Fannin Jr. had one of his best games on Sunday, stepping up for seven catches and 81 yards with fellow TE David Njoku going out with a leg injury. Fannin is not going to be a superstar as a rookie because the Browns offense is too low-powered, and QB Dillon Gabriel just doesn’t have enough to put points up. But Gabriel is delightfully accurate on short throws, and Fannin is about to soak those up with Njoku out. Fannin has the look of a season-long option if Njoku misses a lot of time.
Troy Franklin, WR, Broncos (27% Rostered): Franklin is very much on the cusp of fantasy irrelevance, but upcoming matchups with the Giants and Cowboys keep him on the fringe. Franklin’s not a priority target for the Broncos’ passing game, which really revolves around Courtland Sutton as the only steadily targeted pass catcher. Franklin has physical tools, but the role is not stabilized and the running game is paramount, leaving him to eat scraps. He can be played in an emergency, but he’s more of a hold.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Steelers (20% Rostered): Rodgers hasn’t done much of note fantasy-wise since scorching the Jets in Week 1 for four touchdowns, but if you’re down bad the matchup this week against the Bengals seems attractive. Cincinnati’s defense is just not good, and even though Rodgers has one big-time pass catcher, that guy is D.K. Metcalf and feeding him alone can sometimes make a fantasy day.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans (24% Rostered): Spears is the backup in a bad, bad offense but he’s shifty, explosive and has a carved out role. He has the juice to break big plays, so he has some standalone value, but he’s not going to really be in your lineup unless Tony Pollard gets hurt.
AJ Barner, TE, Seahawks (15% Rostered): Barner had a fantasy-relevant outing without a TD, which is a plus. He caught just three passes, but amassed 73 yards on them and continues to be a chunk play option. There’s big doughnut risk here with Barner, but he’s on his third straight week of being a top fantasy TE. He shouldn’t be ignored, and there’s room for him to become a bigger part of this offense.
Bam Knight, RB, Cardinals (12% Rostered): Knight was ignored in the rush to add Cardinals RBs in the wake of Trey Benson’s injury, and he seems to be the guy on the goal line. With Emari Demercado getting hurt, the roles seem clearer. Carter is the lead dog, with Knight as the short yardage hammer. Arizona’s offense is functional, and even with Kyler Murray out it seems possible for them to move the football. Knight should be considered a FLEX-worthy play, on the low end, since he seems to be in a fairly even split now with Carter if Demercado is out.
IR Stashes
Jayden Reed, WR, Packers (38% Rostered)
Handcuffs
Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jaguars (45% Rostered)
Brian Robinson Jr., RB, 49ers (35% Rostered)
Tyler Allgeier, RB, Falcons (35% Rostered)
Kendre Miller, RB, Saints (34% Rostered)
Ollie Gordon II, RB, Dolphins (18% Rostered)
Justice Hill, RB, Ravens (13% Rostered)
Blake Corum, RB, Rams (14% Rostered)
Ray Davis, RB, Bills (13% Rostered)
Kyle Monangai, RB, Bears (7% Rostered)
Isaiah Davis, RB, Jets (4% Rostered)
Emanuel Wilson, RB, Packers (3% Rostered)