Thomason: Top Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 7
By Jack Thomason--
(CBS) It's amazing how many running backs drafted in the first few rounds in fantasy drafts have been a complete bust. Maybe it's recency bias, but it seems more than ever, the zero-running back draft strategy was the way to go. Unless you had a top pick and took Jamaal Charles (he was a beast before his injury), Adrian Peterson or Matt Forte or waited out Le'Veon Bell, Arian Foster or Todd Gurley, all the stud running backs have come from mid- to late-round fliers and waiver additions. It's something to keep in mind for future seasons.
Here are my top waiver adds for 10- and 12-man leagues in Week 7.
1. Christine Michael (RB, Dallas Cowboys) -- The Cowboys aren't sold on Joseph Randle as their starter. Heading into their bye last week, multiple reports surfaced about using the break to get Michael ready for a large role in which he would be expected to carry at least as much as Randle. Running backs coach Gary Brown also stated the team wants to take the "reins" off Michael and "let him rock." Now, Michael has been taking first-team snaps of late.
2. James Starks (RB, Green Bay Packers) -- Packers coach Mike McCarthy admitted that Eddie Lacy is banged up and nursing a sore ankle. He also stated that Starks had been running well in practice and that they will ride the hot hand moving forward. With the bye on the horizon, Lacy's going to have time to heal up, but with McCarthy's recent hot-hand comment, there's reason to believe it will be a committee. Starks has averaged 4.5 yards per carry to Lacy's 3.9, and Starks looked great against the Chargers, tallying 117 total yards and two scores. If you're in need of a running back, he may be worth the top waiver spot or even worth picking up and exploring a trade with the Lacy owner to improve your team where needed.
3. Stefon Diggs (WR, Minnesota Vikings) -- This kid was a baller at Maryland, a true playmaker who threatened to score every time he touched the ball. He has been involved for two games now in Charles Johnson's absence and has racked up 13 reception and 216 yards on 19 targets. The Vikings need a playmaker in the pass game to complement Peterson in the backfield. Mike Wallace and Kyle Rudolph have been inconsistent, and Johnson hasn't been healthy. Diggs is grabbing hold of a starting job and building a rapport with Teddy Bridgewater. Ride the wave.
4. Marvin Jones (WR, Cincinnati Bengals) -- Jones led the team in every receiving category this past Sunday, ripping off nine receptions on 12 targets for 95 yards and a score. It's perplexing that he's available in as many leagues as he is, but be happy to snag him if you can this late in the season. Jones is a bona-fide WR3 with weekly upside. He's playing in an offense that ranks fourth in points per game and second in total yards. Sing me up.
5. Michael Floyd (WR, Arizona Cardinals) -- Cardinals coach Bruce Arians has been talking about getting Floyd more involved, and that he did Sunday. He had eight targets, snagging five balls for 50 yards and a score. His eight targets were third on the team, but in this offense in which the Cardinals consistently attack downfield, there will be plenty of opportunities.
6. Blake Bortles (QB, Jacksonville Jaguars) -- In Bortles' last five games, he hasn't thrown fewer than 242 yards and has two 300-yard-plus passing games. I normally won't put quarterbacks on the list, but Bortles is still available in a lot of leagues and is likely outplaying your current starting fantasy quarterback. He has formidable weapons in Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns and Julius Thomas (just returned from injury), and the Jaguars haven't scored a rushing touchdown. That's not going to last all season, but through six weeks and excluding Monday's night Eagles-Giants game, Bortles is the sixth-ranked quarterback.
7. Theo Riddick (RB, Detroit Lions) -- He's been the most consistent running back for the Lions, and again this past Sunday he was heavily involved. Riddick touched the ball 10 times and totaled 78 yards while splitting time with Ameer Abdullah. Regardless of Joique Bell and Zach Zenner being banged up, Riddick is the team's passing down back, and the Lions are often playing from behind. If you're desperate for a running back through the bye weeks, you could do worse than Riddick, especially if you're playing in any sort of PPR format. He has 33 receptions through six games.
8. Michael Crabtree (WR, Oakland Raiders) -- Crabtree has been Derek Carr's go-to receiver on third downs and in the second half of games. He has more catches than rookie Amari Cooper, has 46 targets through five weeks and is Pro Football Focus' No. 7 receiver on the season. Now offensive coordiantor Bill Musgrave is calling for Crabtree to have an increased role in the offense. There are more than enough positives here to make the former No. 10 overall pick a part to your team.
9. Ahmad Bradshaw (RB, Indianapolis Colts) -- Bradshaw was an RB1 through the first 10 weeks of last year before breaking his leg. He was putting up gaudy numbers, especially in the passing game, but was splitting time with Trent Richardson. Now, he we will be sharing the backfield with Frank Gore but is likely to be heavily involved in the passing game again. If the Colts believe they are going to rebound from early season struggles and make a playoff push, they're going to want to keep Gore fresh, and we know they throw the ball a lot. We saw Bradshaw playing Sunday night, which was impressive for basically walking off the street and just getting signed.
10. Jamison Crowder (WR, Washington Redskins) -- Crowder led the team Sunday with nine targets, something that has been a theme now over the last four weeks. DeSean Jackson and Jordan Reed have been out with injuries, as Reed is dealing with another concussion and Jackson just suffered a setback with his hamstring injury. Crowder converted on only four of his nine targets for 40 yards, but this is about his rapport with Kirk Cousins and his ability to consistently get open. He will continue to have a large role and is a great WR3 in PPR leagues
11. (Bonus suggestion) Robert Turbin (RB, Cleveland Browns) -- There could be a changing of the guard for the Browns and their early down running back. Claimed from Seattle, Turbin played his first game with Cleveland this week and saw 10 carries for 27 yards. It isn't much in the way of production, but it was only one fewer carry than Isaiah Crowell, a player the Browns have openly been displeased with dating back to the offseason. This is a speculative add given how thin running back is within fantasy right now.
On another note, I wanted to highlight a couple players I have on my "other considerations" list. Dorial Green-Beckham is a great NFL prospect. He saw a season-high 29 snaps and six targets last week, so keep a close eye on him. Ben Watson is a nice target at tight end if you're in need. He has two scores over the last two weeks and is becoming a favorite of Drew Brees. Reed may be a couple weeks away from returning, but he was a top-five tight end before injury. If someone dropped him, it may be in your best interest to add him now. Lastly, Brandon LaFell is going to be coming back for New England, and he may be worth a pick-up if you are short on receivers, though I don't expect consistency with all the options the Patriots have.
Just missed: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh McCown, Denard Robinson, Charles Sims, Jeff Janis, Robert Woods, Brandon LaFell, Dorial Green-Beckham, Malcom Floyd, Ben Watson and Jordan Reed.
Jack Thomason is 670 The Score's fantasy football expert and co-host of "Chicago's Fantasy Football Today," which can be heard every Sunday during football season from 8-9 a.m. CT on WSCR-670 and 670thescore.com/listen. Follow him on Twitter @jthomason77and feel free to ask fantasy questions.