From fresh quarterback hope for the New England Patriots to a new running back in San Francisco, we look at some of the NFL's top Fantasy Football waiver wire targets ahead of Week Seven in the 2024 season...
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers ran riot in Week Six with 594 yards of total offense in their victory over the New Orleans Saints - 277 of which came on the ground. With Rachaad White absent, 2023 undrafted running back Sean Tucker produced a breakout game with 14 carries for 136 yards and a touchdown alongside three catches for 56 yards and a score to stake his claim for increased involvement over the coming weeks. Tucker, who has spent most of his time on special teams since arriving out of Syracuse last year, was also supported by Bucky Irving's 14 carries for 81 yards and a touchdown from 64 per cent of snaps to his teammate's 38.
White, who missed the game with an ankle injury, has been used prominently in the passing game by offensive coordinator Liam Coen, retaining hope of more Tucker-Irving backfield opportunities even upon his return. A word of caution, though: the Bucs host the Baltimore Ravens' and their No 1-ranked rushing defense in Week Seven.
Without wanting to leap to conclusions, there is new and long-awaited life at quarterback for the New England Patriots in their ongoing mission to find a solution under center since the days of Tom Brady. On Sunday Jerod Mayo handed a first start to rookie No 3 overall pick Drake Maye, who took over from Jacoby Brissett in the team's 41-21 defeat to the Houston Texans.
Maye finished his debut 20 of 33 for 243 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions while leading the Patriots with 38 rushing yards. His three touchdown passes were more than Brissett had thrown all season through five games, Maye's first being a 40-yard back-shoulder dime to Kayshon Boutte. It served as the longest touchdown pass in air yards by a Patriots quarterback since the 2022. He now travels to London to take on a Jacksonville Jaguars team trending towards an outright collapse, having shipped four touchdown passes to Chicago Bears rookie Caleb Williams.
Among the greatest traits of Kyle Shanahan and his disciples is the ability to conjure production from any and every running back on the roster. Christian McCaffrey out? No problem - enter Jordan Mason with 609 rushing yards, second only to Derrick Henry in the NFL through six weeks.
Mason impressed again with nine carries for 73 yards in Thursday night's win over the Seattle Seahawks, but was dealt a setback as he suffered a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder. It paved the way for Isaac Guerendo to take his opportunity with 10 carries for 99 yards in his best game since being drafted in the fourth round out of Louisville earlier this year. The 49ers now face the Kansas City Chiefs and their fifth-ranked rushing defense in a Super Bowl rematch this week, before hosting a beaten and bruised Dallas Cowboys defense allowing the seventh most rushing yards per game in the league.
By way of Maye's inclusion, it is only right we throw in a Patriots wide receiver (or two). Demario Douglas was recently guilty of letting his frustration show on the sideline during New England's loss to the San Francisco 49ers, having been targeted just three times. He has since apologised, and now looks primed to become a chief beneficiary of Maye's introduction after making six catches from nine targets for 92 yards and a touchdown against the Texans.
Douglas now leads the team with 24 catches for 245 yards, insisting after Sunday's game he would 'run through a brick wall' for Maye. Increased targets equals happy wide receiver. The second-year wideout has now posted double digit Fantasy points in three of his last four outings, with nine targets in each of his last two games.
Alongside him, Boutte recorded 14.90 points after catching all three of his targets for 59 yards and a touchdown amid immediate signs of a more expansive offense behind Maye.
This slot continues to be reserved by any defense about to run into Deshaun Watson and Kevin Stefanski's Cleveland Browns offense, which ranks worst in yards, 30th in passing, 28th in rushing and 30th in scoring. It is a lay-up for even the most middle-of-the-road units in the league, Cincinnati having faced issues of their own while ranking 23rd in total yards and 26th in scoring but coming off a game in which they held the New York Giants to just seven points - granted, the Giants offense continues to hobble through the season. Watson is still yet to throw for more than 200 yards in a game through six weeks; the Bengals have struggled, but the Browns are there to be mauled.
The open audition for involvement on the Los Angeles Chargers offense continues! It isn't a bad time to be a running back in Hollywood, with Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman putting an emphasis on ground production as they look to build from the ground up in view of supporting Justin Herbert. J.K. Dobbins has flourished as a result in a reunion with his former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Roman, and on Sunday it was the turn of Kimani Vidal to throw his hat in the ring.
The sixth-round rookie out of Troy snagged his first career touchdown, latching onto the end of Herbert's perfectly-placed pass on a wheel route beginning in the backfield for a 38-yard house call. As the Chargers continue to sell the run, it will only heighten the opportunities in the passing game.
Watch Week Seven begin on Thursday night when the New Orleans Saints face the Denver Broncos from 1.15am in the early hours of Friday, Also stream with NOW
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