Early Fantasy Football Week 7 Waiver Wire Stashes: Add Rachaad White, Germie Bernard Before Rosters Lock

Week 6 hasn’t even kicked off, but the top fantasy managers are already thinking about Week 7. Waivers lock Sunday, so today is the perfect time to get ahead of the rush and add players who could swing your lineup in a couple of weeks. Injuries have blown open several depth charts, and a few under-the-radar names are about to see a lot more opportunity.

This week’s early Week 7 waiver wire stashes include a Steelers rookie wide receiver and his tight end teammate, a Cardinals receiver who just moved up the pecking order, two running backs with paths to bigger roles, and a veteran quarterback who keeps putting up numbers in plus matchups. Whether you need a Week 6 streamer or a long-term stash for the middle of the season, these fantasy football pickups are worth a look before waivers lock.

Note: These players are rostered in roughly 50% or fewer Yahoo! leagues.

FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 7 WAIVER WIRE STASHES

Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups

JAMEIS WINSTON (NYG, 16% ROSTERED)

Jameis Winston was peak Jameis in Week 5. He completed 33 of 54 passes for 326 yards and three touchdowns in the Giants’ 27-27 tie with the Commanders, and added five carries for 27 yards. He also lost a fumble, because of course he did.

The Giants couldn’t run the ball, and Washington scored a touchdown two minutes in, so New York spent the day playing from behind. That meant a ton of volume for Winston, including 20 targets for Malik Nabers and 13 for Isaiah Likely. Fantasy managers who took the Winston gamble got a QB5 finish with plenty of ups and no real downs.

I’d stay the course this week and maybe beyond, because the matchup is another juicy one. New Orleans is one of only two teams allowing more than 30 points per game. The Saints also have the league’s worst defensive success rate (45.6%) and bottom-five marks in passer rating allowed (106.7) and completion rate allowed (70.6%).

Treat Winston as both a streamer in Week 6 and a stash in Week 7. If you don’t trust your QB1, he’s a low-ownership option worth rostering.

Other QB Targets: Kyler Murray (MIN, 52%); Aaron Rodgers (PIT, 41%); Jacoby Brissett (ARI, 32%)

Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups

RACHAAD WHITE (WAS, 45%)

Rachaad White is a streamer worth stashing now, with Jacory Croskey-Merritt ruled out for Week 6. After returning last week, White played 60 percent of the snaps, ran a route on 32.4 percent of dropbacks, and finished with eight touches for 20 total yards, per FantasyPros. Not exactly fireworks, but the role is what matters.

The Week 6 matchup helps, too. Washington will likely be playing catch-up against the 49ers, which should keep White on the field. San Francisco has quietly allowed the most receptions to running backs and the second-most receiving fantasy points per game to the position.

With old man Austin Ekeler also in the mix, expect a healthy dose of White this week, and possibly beyond, depending on Croskey-Merritt’s health. Get ahead of the Week 7 waiver rush and grab him before Sunday.

JONAH COLEMAN (DEN, 29%)

Jonah Coleman is one of the top stash options who needs to be added ASAP. The rookie landed on injured reserve after an ankle injury in Week 2, but he’s eligible to return as early as Week 7, when the Broncos play the Chiefs on November 1.

Coleman opened the year as the Broncos’ RB3, but he didn’t waste any time making an impression. In just his second game, he piled up 39 rushing yards, three catches, 19 receiving yards, and a touchdown.

When healthy, Coleman has a clear path to fantasy relevance. That production could also earn him more opportunities than JK Dobbins and RJ Harvey, who haven’t exactly blown anyone away and have injury concerns of their own.

If you want to add upside to your running back room before midseason, Coleman is a smart stash. Once he’s back, he could become a weekly RB3/flex option with upside.

Other RB Targets: Brian Robinson Jr. (ATL, 44%); Keaton Mitchell (LAC, 39%); Mike Washington Jr. (LV, 32%); Kendre Miller (NO, 31%); Kaelon Black (SF, 29%); Emmett Johnson (KC, 23%); Kimani Vidal (LAC, 23%); Dylan Sampson (CLE, 8%); Jaleel McLaughlin (CLE, 5%)

Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups

GERMIE BERNARD (PIT, 48%)

Read our full Week 6 breakdown of Germie Bernard.

Steelers rookie Germie Bernard is a name to grab before waivers lock Sunday. Injuries to Michael Pittman Jr. (IR), Roman Wilson (IR), and Ben Skowronek pushed him into a full-time role in Week 5, and he made the most of it with career highs of nine targets, six catches, and 80 yards. He played 92 percent of the snaps and led Pittsburgh with a 48 percent air yards share, ahead of DK Metcalf.

The second-round pick improved every year in college, and Aaron Rodgers already trusts him. With Pittman, Wilson, and Skowronek all out for Week 6 against the Buccaneers, the target share is wide open. If Pittsburgh’s pass-heavy approach holds, Bernard is a stash with WR3/flex upside in Week 7 and beyond.

KENDRICK BOURNE (ARI, 18%)

Kendrick Bourne is worth a look before waivers lock Sunday. In Week 5’s 45-21 loss to the Lions, he caught five of eight targets for 70 yards, leading Arizona in receiving yards. His five catches on eight targets ranked second on the team behind Trey McBride, who caught nine on 10.

Bourne stepped into a bigger role with Marvin Harrison Jr. inactive, and that opportunity looks like it will stick. With Harrison now shipped out of town to Houston, Bourne figures to operate as the clear No. 3 option behind McBride and Michael Wilson. If you need receiver depth, he’s a low-cost stash with WR3/flex upside in Week 7 and beyond.

Other WR Targets: Jordyn Tyson (NO, 48%); Dontayvion Wicks (PHI, 36%); Tre Tucker (LVR, 43%); Keon Coleman (BUF, 31%); Tyreek Hill (FA, 26%); Ryan Flournoy (DAL, 12%); Darius Cooper (PHI, 11%); Caleb Douglas (MIA, 8%); Christian Kirk (SF, 4%); Efton Chism (NE, 3%); Jalen Brooks (ARI, 0%)

Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups

PAT FREIERMUTH (PIT, 47%)

10/17 Note: Pat Freiermuth was a late add to the injury report on Saturday with a calf injury. Teammate Darnell Washington would be a solid pivot in his spot (and a fun anytime TD bet).

Pat Freiermuth belongs on your add list before waivers lock Sunday. He’s already posted two top-six weekly finishes at the position, and his four touchdowns are tied for the most among tight ends. The underlying usage backs it up: 10 red zone targets (fifth), 145 routes run (10th), and 25.2 receiving yards per game from the slot (sixth), per The Athletic.

His versatility is a big part of the appeal. Freiermuth can line up in-line or off the ball, with big-boy Darnell Washington handling more of the in-line work, and that flexibility helps Pittsburgh sustain a ton of pass plays for Rodgers. With several pass-catchers sidelined for a while, expect big games from Freiermuth and Germie Bernard. If you’re stuck at tight end, he’s a strong stash with weekly TE1 upside.

Other TE Targets: Kenyon Sadiq (NYJ, 24%); Tyler Higbee (LAR, 18%); Chig Okonkwo (WAS, 16%)