Week 7 Waiver Wire: Post-Sunday priorities to help right now
Waiver wire plan for Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season. Updated October 21, 2025.
Good morning, managers. It’s Tuesday, October 21, 2025, and most Week 7 games are in the books. If your league processes waivers today, these sub‑60% rostered players can still swing the week (and set you up beyond). Priorities are grouped by how aggressively to bid and why, with Week 7 outlooks plus contingency notes on injuries and schedules.
[Tier 1 — Spend to win the week]
Every‑down roles or clear target earners you can start immediately in Week 7.
Kimani Vidal, RB — Chargers
- →FAAB: 18-28% (push to 30-35% if desperate at RB)
- →Availability: ~25-35% rostered on major platforms entering Week 7
- →Monitor: Usage could fluctuate if game script turns ultra pass‑heavy or if Haskins vultures short‑yardage work.
Why he’s a priority: With Omarion Hampton (ankle) on IR and Najee Harris already out for the year, Vidal seized lead‑back duties and produced in Week 6, then stayed heavily involved in Week 7. Week 7 outlook: The role is intact after a featured workload versus the Colts; volume + red‑zone access keeps him in RB2/FLEX range. Contingencies: If Hassan Haskins spikes usage in practice reports, lower expectations, but Hampton cannot return before at least Week 10. Upcoming: Vikings, at Titans—two defenses you can run on between the tackles.
Oronde Gadsden II, TE — Chargers
- →FAAB: 8-12% (TE-premium 12-18%)
- →Availability: ~5-15% rostered; widely available
- →Monitor: Rookie volatility and ball security (one recent fumble).
Why he’s a priority: Snaps and routes surged in Week 6 and he exploded in Week 7 (164 yards, TD). Usage profile (route participation and first‑read share) supports stickiness. Week 7 outlook: Streamable TE1 with Herbert trusting him in the intermediate seams. Contingencies: If Quentin Johnston’s hamstring limits him again, Gadsden’s floor/ceiling both rise; if Johnston is full-go, Gadsden still projects as a top‑15 TE on routes alone. Upcoming: Vikings, at Titans—middling TE matchups, but volume is king at the position.
Wan'Dale Robinson, WR — Giants
- →FAAB: 10-15%
- →Availability: ~50-60% rostered; still out there in many 10- and some 12-team leagues
- →Monitor: Low aDOT role limits TD upside; game‑to‑game variance tied to overall offense.
Why he’s a priority: He led the Giants in targets and yards again and remains the most reliable chain mover for Jaxson Dart. Week 7 outlook: High‑volume slot usage keeps him PPR‑friendly regardless of opponent; he drew 12 targets vs. Denver. Contingencies: If the Giants get healthier out wide, his ceiling dips but target floor stays intact. Upcoming: Eagles, then Commanders—both secondaries that funnel volume inside.
[Tier 2 — Strong adds and every-week FLEX/streamers]
Players with startable Week 7 roles and paths to more.
Jaxson Dart, QB — Giants
- →FAAB: 5-10% (or 1 QB leagues: 0-5% as a streamer)
- →Availability: Eligible per NFL.com’s <60% threshold entering Week 7
- →Monitor: Rookie volatility and protection concerns; INT risk in catch‑up scripts.
Why he’s a priority: Dual‑threat rookie with back‑to‑back impact performances and strong poise under pressure. Week 7 outlook: Provides rushing floor and aggressiveness downfield; viable streamer in 1‑QB and QB2 in superflex. Contingencies: Check mid‑week reports on Giants’ OL health and WR availability; more protection boosts his median. Upcoming: Eagles (pressure test) then Commanders (plus matchup for pass volume).
Kayshon Boutte, WR — Patriots
- →FAAB: 3-7% (spike-week WR4/FLEX)
- →Availability: Single‑digit rostered rate on most platforms entering Week 7
- →Monitor: Volatile target share week‑to‑week; OL pass pro can cap attempts.
Why he’s a priority: Boutte re‑emerged as a downfield/scoring threat and continued to contribute in Week 7 with a long TD versus Tennessee. Week 7 outlook: Secondary roles behind Stefon Diggs, but designed shots + red‑zone usage keep him in FLEX mix. Contingencies: If Drake Maye spreads it evenly, expect boom‑bust results; monitor practice notes on WR rotation. Upcoming: Browns (tough) then at Bears (friendlier).
Bam Knight, RB — Cardinals
- →FAAB: 5-10% (volume FLEX)
- →Availability: Widely available; sub‑20% on most platforms
- →Monitor: Efficiency has been shaky; workload tied to weekly hot hand.
Why he’s a priority: With James Conner out long‑term, the Cards have pieced together the backfield; Knight has handled early downs/goal line in recent weeks and found the end zone. Week 7 outlook: Touchdowns are in play when Arizona gets inside the 10; PPR floor modest. Contingencies: Role shares with Michael Carter and Emari Demercado can swing; if Trey Benson returns to health, Knight shifts to TD‑dependent FLEX. Upcoming: at Packers then Commanders—neutral run matchups.
[Tier 3 — Streamers and forward-looking stashes]
Usable in a pinch this week with upside or stash value.
Tyjae Spears, RB — Titans
- →FAAB: 3-6% (PPR bump)
- →Availability: Available in many leagues; sub‑40% on several platforms
- →Monitor: Game‑script dependent; capped goal‑line equity.
Why he’s a priority: Passing‑down leader on a team that needs juice; route share and missed‑tackle metrics trend up. Week 7 outlook: He profiles as a PPR FLEX in negative scripts with room for 4-6 catches. Contingencies: If Tony Pollard dominates early downs and Titans play from ahead, Spears’ touch count dips; if Calvin Ridley sits, targets can condense to backs/TEs. Upcoming: Browns then Jaguars—both favor RB targets when trailing.
Kendrick Bourne, WR — 49ers
- →FAAB: 3-6%
- →Availability: ~40-55% rostered depending on platform
- →Monitor: Target volatility tied to run‑heavy scripts and defensive game plans.
Why he’s a priority: Back‑to‑back 100‑yard efforts in Weeks 5‑6 and steady usage in Kyle Shanahan’s rotation. Week 7 outlook: Even after a quieter night vs. Atlanta, he remained on the field and is one big play from a WR3 finish. Contingencies: Usage can ebb with Jauan Jennings healthy and George Kittle ramping; monitor Ricky Pearsall’s status. Upcoming: at Texans, then Jaguars—projected neutral to positive for secondary WRs.
Matthew Golden, WR — Packers
- →FAAB: 1-3% (deep‑league FLEX)
- →Availability: Widely available in 10/12-teamers
- →Monitor: Low target volume; relies on aDOT and efficiency.
Why he’s a priority: Field‑stretcher usage has grown (three straight 50+ yard games pre‑Week 7) and the matchup profile vs. Arizona’s deep‑ball defense was favorable. Week 7 outlook: Boom‑bust WR4 with splash‑play upside; ideal if you need ceiling. Contingencies: If Christian Watson is limited mid‑week, Golden’s routes spike; if Packers lean run‑heavy, he’s a bench stash. Upcoming: at Bears, Lions—both allow explosives on the perimeter.
[Deep League Radar & Streaming Watch]
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Jonnu Smith (TE — Steelers) — Pittsburgh is leaning into multi‑TE sets, and Smith keeps drawing schemed targets in the red area. Usable as a touchdown chase when streaming tight end. (FAAB: 0-3% (TD‑or‑bust streamer))
- →Source: Steelers TE usage vs. Bengals; Smith finds end zone in Week 7
- →Monitor: Three‑way rotation with Darnell Washington and Pat Freiermuth caps routes.
- →Availability: Available in most leagues
- →
Cade Otton (TE — Buccaneers) — Role solidified with 50+ yards in recent games and red‑zone chances; a viable emergency streamer where TE is thin. (FAAB: 0-3%)
- →Source: Bucs-Lions MNF recap: Otton involved amid offensive struggles
- →Monitor: Target share fluctuates behind Mike Evans/Emeka Egbuka; offense inconsistent on MNF.
- →Availability: Widely available
- →
Eddy Pineiro (K — 49ers) — Consistent volume with long‑range leg on a top‑10 offense; a strong Week 7 (and beyond) kicker pivot. (FAAB: 0-2%)
- →Source: Best Kicker Waiver Adds for Week 7 (Pineiro, Myers, Grupe)
- →Monitor: Field‑goal chances tied to red‑zone efficiency swings.
- →Availability: <30% rostered in many leagues
- →
Harold Fannin Jr. (TE — Browns) — Rookie TE climbed into a featured receiving role and stayed involved in Week 7; matchup‑driven TE1/2 streamer with volume. (FAAB: 2-4% (TE-premium 6-8%))
- →Source: Browns Week 7: defense dominates; Fannin remains involved
- →Monitor: Rookie QB volatility; David Njoku health/news could squeeze routes if he returns to full strength.
- →Availability: ~30-40% rostered; available in many leagues
[Close it out]
Priority bidding this morning should start with backfield certainty (Vidal), then positional scarcity (Gadsden at TE), and finally target volume (Wan’Dale). For deeper shots, chase routes and leverage rather than box‑score spikes. As always, confirm Wednesday injury reports before finalizing drops and bids, and be mindful of bye‑week depth for next week.
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Good luck on the wire—let's build championship depth.