Welcome to week 7 of last-minute moves to make. This article is intended to give you late-week waiver and free-agent advice based on late-week news and gameday inactives. Injuries and other late-week developments can have a huge impact on lines and rosters, and being up-to-date on these, especially before waivers and free agency locks before kickoff, is a huge advantage.
Stash someone on Monday Night
This week is dominated by late-game injuries to auto-start players who are game-time decisions.
DK Metcalf is a true game-time decision with a hip pointer injury suffered in week 6. Our Dr. Adam Hutchinson leans towards Metcalf playing, but the kickoff time is 4:05 PM, leaving you with the option to play an early game player in his place if Metcalf is out.
Monday Night is also turning into a major question for fantasy GMs. Christian McCaffrey was a limited participant on Saturday after missing the first two days of practice this week. He is dealing with an oblique/core injury, and there is little clarity about his position. Our Dr. Adam Hutchison noted:
I've been vocal about my skepticism around McCaffrey. I am still not 100% convinced that McCaffrey will be dressed come Monday Night, but even if he is, prepare for the possibility of limited snaps, which will lead to a capped ceiling.
On average skill position players with a core/abdomen injury have a 23% decrease in fantasy football production with evidence of lingering effects. After a core injury, skill position players also experience a 19% decline in fantasy points over a 3-game sample.
Fantasy GMs will want options in the event either are inactive. The most natural player is Christian McCaffrey’s backup, Jordan Mason. If McCaffrey sits, Mason will likely lead the backfield committee with Elijah Mitchell, as he did in week 6 when McCaffrey was injured. If McCaffrey does play, Mason can still be an emergency option for fantasy GMs with Metcalf.
With Deebo Samuel out for Monday Night, you have other options to hedge on Metcalf. Jauan Jennings was operating as the WR3 for San Francisco leading into week 6, but it was Ray-Ray McCloud who saw a big spike in usage after Samuel was injured in week 6, playing with a season-high 81% route participation.
McCloud is a limited player but gives you options if you have Metcalf.
On the other side of the ball, Minnesota has the option of Brandon Powell, who took over the WR3 role in Minnesota after Justin Jefferson was placed on injured reserve. Powell ran a route on 76% of Minnesota’s dropbacks in week 6 and saw four targets.
If you are in this situation, try to make sure your gametime decision is in the flex so you have positional optionality. If your opponent is in a similar situation, consider playing keep away and stashing McCloud, Powell, or Jennings leading up to Monday Night Football.
Stash Someone in the Rams' Backfield
The Rams backfield was completely upended when Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers were injured in week 6. Both have been placed on injured reserve, guaranteeing both will be out for at least four weeks. The pecking order for week 7 is unclear. The team signed familiar face Darrell Henderson and Myles Gaskin in free agency this week. Gaskin has familiarity with the system, playing in both Miami and Minnesota’s derivative of the McVay-Shanahan style offense.
Zach Evans is also an incumbent on the depth chart, but quotes by head coach Sean McVay suggest he is far from playing time.
This is the week to take a shot at a running back in the Rams backfield, with an order of priority of Freeman, Henderson, and Gaskin. week 7 should clarify their roles and give you an understanding of whether they are a potential lineup option or a cut candidate in week 8.