The Only Fantasy Football Waiver Article You Need, Week 7

WR Tyquan Thornton (NE) 4% Rostered

I liked Tyquan Thronton ahead of the NFL draft as a semi-sleeper. One rookie episode on Dynasty Fever was called “Alone on Tyquan Thornton Island.” My prospect rankings are no longer in the Fantasy Pros platform, so I can’t see exactly where I ranked him, but I had him somewhere between Khalil Shakir and Romeo Doubs. Admittedly, I thought he was a bit of a reach when the Patriots selected him in the second round, but getting that kind of draft capital is often very meaningful.

Thornton got some offseason/pre-season buzz, but went down with an injury, and he made his debut last week on against the Lions. Thornton is slim, with a 183-pound weight stretched along a 6’2″ height, but he has very good speed (unoffical 40 yard dash time of 4.21, offical time of 4.28).

On Sunday against the Browns, he caught 4 of his 5 targets for 37 yards and a touchdown, and he was used out of the backfield, tallying 3 rushes for 16 yards and another score on a jet sweep. Thornton should be more of a deep threat for New England, and he will likely supplant Nelson Agholor in that role. However, we don’t see the Patriots throw deep often, and Jakobi Meyers is much more aligned with Mac Jones’s skill set.

It’s important to note Thronton only had a 16% target share on Sunday, and both of his scores came in the second half with New England in the lead. Additionally, the rushing TD came from a mistake on the Browns’ defense. Finally, he saw more action after Kendrick Bourne hurt his toe htan he did before that. This is not a “to the moon” take. However, with Bourne’s status TBD, his own big play ability, and bye weeks starting (and injuries on your roster), Thornton is worth a look in deeper redraft leagues.

In shallower ones, it’s likely you don’t have an easy drop to accommodate ading him. If Thornton’s role continues to grow, in line with the praise he was getting in camp, your results will look even better. In a 12-team superflex semi-shallow league that has sharp managers (and where I’m 1-4 and more willing to take a swing), I just bid 17% of my remaining FAB on him.

I would bet an even lower precentage would get him in some leagues, but if 17% of your budget is $3 that might not be true – and we know how people like to jump on the shiny new toys. You know your leagues better than I do, so adjust accordingly.

WR Tre’Quan Smith/Marquez Calloway (NO) 22%/43%

It’s really hard to get a grasp on which player will be more valuable so I’ll give you both. This is a temporary, low FAAB waiver move but the Saints play on Thursday night so if Michael Thomas, Jarvis Landry and/or Chris Olave are ruled out again then there is some value in these WRs. Between the 2, Calloway lead the way in targets with 7 but Smith was able to turn his 3 catches into more yards and got into the endzone. Week 7 has another 4 teams on bye and it happens to be teams with heavy WR implications.

If the injuries to the Saints trio of WRs continues to linger, weeks 8 and 9 feature some very friendly secondary’s so these temporary pickups could make their way into your lineups. I would not burn a top priority on either player but I would throw a low dollar bid or see if they survive the waiver period and pick one up for free Wednesday. 

WR Van Jefferson (LAR) 11%

A premature add of Van Jefferson might be the help many are seeking. With the Rams being on bye this week and reports that Jefferson will be activated off of the week eight bye, he’s in line to contribute early per McVay. The Rams’ offense hasn’t been outstanding, and they need Jefferson back to help take the top off of defenses. With Jefferson’s 4.3 speed, he gives the Rams an actual deep threat.

In Jefferson’s second year with the Rams, he had 89 targets and over 800 yards as the 3rd option for the Rams. With Jefferson coming back, the Rams should use him as much as possible, making him a valuable fantasy option. The early add will guarantee you get him. You’ll have to ensure you have an IR sport or an available spot on your bench. Jefferson should be a WR3/flex option with big play ability. 

QB Taylor Heineke (WAS) 1%

If you are like me who has had injury nightmares in superflex leagues and SFB12 Heinke is worth and add. I know it isn’t a pretty add but I’m talking to Mac Jones owners in superflex here for the most part.

TE Daniel Bellinger (NYG) 7%

The Giants are actually good. Weird, right? Who’s catching passes for them? Last week, the leader in targets (and catches) was Daniel Bellinger. In 6 games this year Bellinger already has 3 touchdowns. Production has been fairly consistent (if not slowly getting bettter) over the season so he is a decent grab at a position that’s been mostly erratic this year.

RB Kenyan Drake (BAL) 8%

After a surprising performance against the New York Giants, in which he saw 58 percent of the snaps, Drake has put himself back on the fantasy map. It’s obvious that J.K. Dobbins still has not fully recovered from his knee injury and he is hard to trust going forward.

WR Robbie Anderson (ARI) 18%

A perfect storm of events has made Anderson at least a speculative addition this week. First he gets kick out of the game for screaming at his coach, then he gets traded to the Cardinals almost immediately after, and then we get word that Hollywood Brown is likely to miss at least six weeks. Anderson could find himself in a large role almost immediately, and playing with the best QB he has had in his career.

TE Greg Dulcich (DEN) 4%

All my dynasty guys know who Dulcich is, but the redrafters may not be so keen. He was one of the top 3 tight ends coming out of this class, but an injury slowed him down. There were rumors he had overtaken Albert Okwuegbunam during the preseason, but Dulcich’s injury kept him off the field. Now fully healthy, and Albert O. a healthy scratch, Dulcich is an exciting player with some upside, as we saw on Monday night.

QB Bailey Zappe (NE) 3%

Bill Belichick can’t draft wide receivers or running backs very well, but he seems to have a knack for the late-round quarterbacks. Zappe has played well in relief of Mac Jones and should get at least one more start. If you’re desperate for a QB2 in SuperFlex, you could do worse.

WR Wan’Dale Robinson (NYG) 20%

Robinson only played 23 percent of the snaps, catching three passes for 37 yards and a touchdown. What can he do with a full complement of snaps? Time will tell.

Others to Consider

RB Latavius Murray (DEN)

QB Marcus Mariota (ATL)

WR Alec Pierce (IND)

RB Kyren Williams (LAC)

WR Josh Palmer (LAC)

WR Donovan Peoples-Jones (CLE)

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