Here we are. Week 7, pretty much half-way through the fantasy regular season. We’ve learned a lot about teams and players that we were hyping and downplaying during the offseason. 

No matter if you’re 6-0 or 1-5, you need to be mining the waiver wire for hidden gems. If you’ve had some bad luck (like I have in one of my leagues), you just need to stay consistent in your weekly process to set a lineup. You may do the occasional hero play, which is fine. Just don’t pull someone in anger coming off a bad week, because that same player might go off a week later like Brandin Cooks did from Weeks 4 to 6. Let’s look at this week’s waivers to see who’s worth picking up (only players 50% or less in Yahoo leagues are eligible for this column):

QUARTERBACK

STREAMER OF THE WEEK
Kyle Allen vs DAL
3%
Not a good week for streaming QB teams, as the Colts, Ravens, Vikings and Dolphins are all on byes. Allen went 31-42 for 280 yards and 2 TD (1 INT). This is purely the matchup, as the Cowboy defense has been getting gored by offenses all season. Allen should try Terry McLaurin on the deep ball early and often. That killed the Cowboys on Monday Night Football.

Tua Tagovailoa BYE
7%
This is unique, because I won’t usually recommend picking up a player going into a bye week. But if you’re in 2-QB or Super Flex leagues, put in your claims on Tua now. With the success that Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert are having, the Dolphins are using the 2 weeks to get Tua ready. Ryan Fitzpatrick has played well, so Tua has a high bar to reach.

Daniel Jones @ PHI
29%
This is the 3rd and final week that I’ll be recommending Jones. His hellacious start to the schedule is past, and he’s had relative clunkers the past 2 weeks. The Eagles are 14th in FPPG allowed to the QB (19.7), and 12th in passing yards allowed at 1520. What helps make Jones a viable pickup is his rushing, as he had 74 yards last week. 

RUNNING BACK

Justin Jackson vs. JAX
50%
OK, so maybe fantasy managers have ignored Jackson because he was on a bye last week. Everything is pointing to picking up Jackson and starting him this week against the Jaguars, who are giving up 24.7 FPPG to the RB position (5th in the league). Jackson had 94 total yards against New Orleans before the bye, and looks to be the lead caballo for the Chargers. Austin Ekeler is going to be out another month, or more, and it could be more if the Chargers don’t string some wins together.

Boston Scott vs. NYG
16%
Let’s go back to 2019. Fans were in the stands, and a winning team was going to take the NFC East. And Scott had a pair of huge games against the Giants, totaling 264 yards and 4 TD in those games against the New Yorkers. Miles Sanders is expected to miss time, so Scott is a good play as long as Sanders is sitting. 

J.D. McKissic vs. DAL
14%
McKissic is sliding into that Chris Thompson role, as he caught all 6 of his targets last week for 43 yards. Washington is still figuring out its running game, and McKissic got 41 yards there. On the other side of the ball, Dallas is bad, so several Washington players could put up some numbers. 

JaMychal Hasty @ NE
1%
Next man up! That’s been the call as much as riding the hot hand in San Francisco. Hasty took over for the injured Raheem Mostert and turned 9 carries into 37 yards. The Patriots are a good test, but if Mostert does miss multiple weeks, Hasty will compete with Jerick McKinnon for carries. 

La’Mical Perine vs. BUF
20%
Nothing is going right for the Jets on offense, so the only thing to get excited about here is that Perine could be working into lead caballo status. He got 7 carries for 27 yards last week, and HC Adam Gase has openly talked about getting the rookie more carries. The Bills’ D is in the middle defending the RB position, allowing 19.7 FPPG.

WIDE RECEIVER

WR PICKUP OF THE WEEK
Christian Kirk vs. SEA
41%
Did you see that beautiful bomb that Kirk caught on the fingertips against the Cowboys and took it 80 yards to the house? Did you envision him doing it next week against the Seahawks, who are allowing the most FPPG to the WR position this year.? Shootout alert down in Arizona!

Cole Beasley @ NYJ
34%
He caught a TD against the Chiefs last week. That’s good, but you’re really concentrating on the fact that the Bills are playing the Jets. If you’re between Beasley and another player for your flex, the Jets tip the scales for Beasley.

Travis Fulgham vs NYG
31%
It’s 23 targets in 2 weeks for Fulgham. And last week he scored against Balitmore’s vaunted secondary. The Giants do have James Bradberry as the #5 ranked DB by PFF. As long as Fulgham can avoid shadow coverage, he could shake free for a few plays.

Tim Patrick vs. KC
18%
This is 2 games in a row with 100+ yards for Patrick. And he’s done it with 2 different QBs. The Chiefs are allowing the 5th fewest FPPG to WR at 20.5, but the Broncos will need to throw to keep up with Patrick Mahomes. 

TIGHT ENDS

Dallas Goedert vs NYG
41%
Not a great week for streaming TE. And Goedert might not play on Thursday, but he’s worth the stash because of Ertz’s injury (and ineffectiveness when he’s been on the field).

Logan Thomas vs. DAL
14%
After he had 24 targets the first 3 weeks of the season, he’s had exactly 4 in each week since. But let’s say it together now: It’s Dallas! The Cowboys are giving up points in droves, so Washington players could be a cheap way to get fantasy points this week.

STREAMING KICKER OF THE WEEK

Mason Crosby @ HOU
47%
Crosby has multiple field goals in 3 games this season, and we saw how the Titans moved the ball on the Texans last week. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will take out frustrations from the Tampa Bay loss this week. And there won’t be 35-MPH winds to deal with in the NRG Stadium dome. 

STREAMING DEFENSE OF THE WEEK

LA Chargers vs JAX
29%
This is a hunch play that the Charger defense got healthy during their bye week. Through 6 weeks, Gardner Minshew has been sacked 17 times, intercepted 5 times and lost 3 fumbles. It could be more of the same as the Chargers get all their starting defenders back.

KICKER