Here are some players to consider picking up this week, if available, to get ahead of the other managers in your league. Remember, your roster can always improve, and even if you don’t need a player, you still want to keep another manager from picking them up.
Welcome to Bye Weeks:
Week 6: Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings
Week 7: Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders, Jacksonville Jaguars
Beat the Waiver Wire: No-Brainers
In most leagues, these guys aren't available. But if you're fortunate enough to see them on the waiver wire, grab them.
Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings (51.4% rostered on ESPN)
We only had Jordan Mason one week before he went to IR with a thumb injury; however, he is eligible to return in Week 7, after Minnesota's bye week. The team is undefeated and has a great overall schedule on the horizon. And you get to check the bye week off your calendar already. If your league has multiple IR spots, he might not be available, but with the amount of injuries that have been going around, other managers may have had to be brutal with their cuts.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Quarterbacks
Week 7 byes are brutal when it comes to quarterbacks, so make sure you are prepared now if you own Josh Allen, Justin Herbert, Jayden Daniels, or Trevor Lawrence.
Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings (53.8% on ESPN)
On Sunday, Kyler started to show why he can be a viable fantasy starter - his legs. He had 10 rushing attempts that translated to 51 yards. This is why you start Murray. In Week 7, he has a solid matchup against the Colts, who are giving up 1.4 fantasy points over expectation to the QB position. Not incredible, but if you are the Josh Allen owner, you'll take it. Murray looks even better when you look at Week 8, where he heads to Detroit to take on the Lions. Jacoby Brissett, the quarterback of his former team, enjoyed a QB6 finish against them in Week 5.
Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals (34.6% on ESPN)
Speaking of Brissett, he might get dropped this week as a matchup for the Cardinals against Denver looms, but if you can grab him to use in Week 8, he gets the Dallas Cowboys, who are the 7th-best fantasy matchup for quarterbacks. Be aware, though: this team should make a move to Carson Beck somewhat soon to see what they have in the rookie. Beck can also be considered a deep, deep stash (especially in SuperFlex) - he is .4% rostered on ESPN.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Running Backs
Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns (58.8% on ESPN)
Sampson has been out with a knee injury for a few weeks, and while he has not been playing for the Cleveland Browns, they have gone through several running backs. Both Quinshon Judkins and Raheim Sanders left the game against the Jets on Sunday due to injury, and Sampson's 21-day practice window was opened this week. The team is desperate at the running back position, so he may see the field faster than anticipated, and with only Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime as the active backs on the squad, Sampson could usurp quickly.
Jonah Coleman, Denver Broncos (20.3% rostered on ESPN)
Coleman is eligible to return in Week 7 after dealing with a high ankle sprain, and if he is back that week, the matchup is solid against the Arizona Cardinals, who are bleeding points left and right. Before Coleman went down, he was the RB12 in Week 2 on only a 40% snap share, but with three carries in the red zone.