Week 7 Waiver-Wire Pickups: Sleepers Available in Majority of Fantasy Leagues
Want to know how important depth is for a fantasy football roster? Look no further than what transpired Thursday night and changed the fantasy landscape.
The Carolina Panthers are trading Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. That lowers the value of other running backs on the team (such as Jeff Wilson Jr.) and means the 26-year-old is unlikely to be familiar enough with his new team's playbook to feature in Week 7.
Some fantasy managers may now be scrambling to find RB options on waivers. It doesn't help that the four teams on byes this week (the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles) are loaded with top playmakers who will be out of action. And of course, there are injury situations that could sideline other strong players.
With all of this in mind, here are some sleeper players available on the waiver wire in the majority of fantasy leagues who should be targeted by managers.
Kyren Williams, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Kyren Williams isn't a player who can help your fantasy team in Week 7, as the Rams are on a bye and he's still recovering from an ankle injury that has sidelined him since Week 1. But if you want a potential boost at running back in the near future, it could be wise to pick up the rookie now and stash him on your roster.
Los Angeles didn't get to see the 22-year-old in action much, considering he exited his NFL debut before getting an opportunity to touch the ball. However, the Rams' backfield situation has changed greatly since then, and he could get into the mix quickly upon his return.
Cam Akers is likely to be traded away from Los Angeles. Darrell Henderson Jr. hasn't been too effective, as he hasn't had more than 47 rushing yards in a game and is averaging 3.9 yards per carry.
Meanwhile, Rams head coach Sean McVay said Williams is "making good progress," per Stu Jackson of the team's official site.
The Notre Dame product is only rostered in 18 percent of Yahoo leagues and 4 percent of ESPN league, (per FantasyPros. So, if you have the room on your team (especially if there's an IR slot or two), add him and wait for his imminent return.
Williams could quickly have a sizable role in the Rams' offense as they look to get more out of their running game later in the season.
Alec Pierce, WR, Indianapolis Colts
It's a bit surprising Alec Pierce isn't rostered in more fantasy leagues at this point.
The rookie Colts wide receiver remains available in 46 percent of Yahoo leagues and 67 percent of ESPN leagues, per FantasyPros, even though his stock is on the rise.
Pierce had 80 receiving yards in Week 4, then 81 more in Week 5. He scored his first NFL touchdown in Indianapolis' Week 6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. And he was also on the field for a season-high 65 percent of offensive snaps in that victory against the Jags.
If you're in need of a start-worthy wide receiver in Week 7, look no further than the 22-year-old, who will have a tremendous opportunity to build off that recent momentum. The Colts are taking on the AFC South rival Tennessee Titans, which are allowing an NFL-high 287.6 passing yards per game.
Once Pierce has another strong showing on Sunday, more fantasy managers will be trying to pick him up off waivers. So, get a jump on the rest of your league by adding him now.
Greg Dulcich, TE, Denver Broncos
Greg Dulcich missed the first five games of his rookie season due to a hamstring injury, but that didn't stop the tight end from enjoying an impressive NFL debut in the Broncos' Week 6 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.
Although the 22-year-old had only two catches (and three targets) in that contest, he finished with 44 yards and his first career touchdown. He scored on a 39-yard pass from Russell Wilson late in the first quarter that gave Denver a 10-0 lead.
The Broncos' passing attack hasn't been great thus far, so they need playmakers to step up. Dulcich should get an opportunity to do that, as he was on the field for 71 percent of the team's offensive snaps last week.
There's a chance the UCLA product becomes a reliable fantasy tight end down the line, which is difficult to find. And with him rostered in only 9 percent of Yahoo leagues and 3 percent of ESPN leagues, per FantasyPros, now is the time to take a chance on him.