Hey! Heeeeeeey! Put on your parachute pants, kids, it’s time to take a trip back to years gone by and reminisce of what used to be and what can be. But before you get carried away thinking I’m discussing something from the early 90’s (current Millennial fashion is bringing that back up quite enough), pump the brakes a bit once you get to 2010.
Pump the brakes. That’s what I need y’all to do for me. Just a little bit. Because, see, back in 2010 we saw a ‘breakout’ occur for the one Kenny Britt. What did that breakout entail? 73 targets in 12 games for a 42/775/9 line (18.5YPC) when playing for the Titans. I remember Britt then bring primed for further ascension into the upper echelon of WR tierdom before the 2011 season. However, if you didn’t pump the brake you were duped when he produced a 17/289/3 line in just 3 games. Which leads us to how you should work the waiver wire heading into Week 7 of the 2016 fantasy football season!
Note: The threshold for appearing as one of the targets is <25% ownership on either Yahoo or ESPN as of Monday. 
= BURN NOTICE…it’s worth burning your waiver for the player.
- Kenny Britt, WR – STL (ESPN 13.3%, Yahoo 10%) – His season line of 30/492/2 is just a hair under his season totals in 16 games from 2015. He’ll easily break those numbers, but I don’t know that I’m confident enough in his reliable production to burn the waiver for him. Now, as I say that, he has thrown up double digit points in 4 of 6 games this year, and will clearly be the most added player this week after going 7/136/2 against the incredibly porous Detroit secondary. Looking forward Britt will face a few more susceptible secondaries (NYG, CAR) in the next three weeks, but listen…as much as I’m hesitant to trust Britt, I’m even more hesitant to trust anything Case Keenum throws in the air. He’s absolutely worth the add, and should be the most added player based on his semi-reliable numbers so far, but don’t make the mistake of burning the waiver on him. Could you not easily see him putting up 6 catches for 80 yards and no scores in the next two games? After all, those two TDs on Sunday were his first two of the year. He’s a huge threat for the deep ball, but the only Ram I trust on my fantasy squads is Todd Gurley, and every week that looks sillier and sillier (somehow).
- Robert Woods, WR – BUF (ESPN 21.9%, Yahoo 22%) – I actually prefer Woods to Britt, though neither of them actually get the burn notice this week. If you’re in deep need of a WR, though, I like Woods’ situation much more than Britt. Namely, Tyrod Taylor over Case freaking Keenum. 5/44/1 in Week 6 makes it four straight weeks of 6+ targets since Sammy Watkins went down. He’s the defect #1 WR in Buffalo, and as they continue figuring out this new run-heavy offense the lanes should open up for Woods to haul in a similar line to last Sunday as a floor. Not a burn, but worth the add.
- Terrance Williams, WR – DAL (ESPN 18.2%, Yahoo 9%) – Williams shouldn’t be surprising anyone with what he’s doing. This is the guy that should have been the compliment to Dez Bryant for the past three years. But we all know that hasn’t happened. However, this year he’s emerged as a solid option in the Dallas pass attack with Dak Prescott under center, hauling in receptions at an 83% catch rate. He’s not getting a ton of targets (4-0-4-6-5-5), but he’s putting up solid yards on the minimal work. Williams is essentially a less threatening, but safer version of Sammie Coates. A lot of variables could diminish his value (Dez return, Romo return, Williams being Williams…), but four straight games around 10ppg in standard scoring is solid production.
- Ty Montgomery, WR – GB (ESPN 0.2%, Yahoo 2%) – Who knows what’s going on with Aaron Rodgers, but the Packers will ride his arm into the ground, especially given their laughable stock of RB now. In Week 6 Montgomery emerged as a target monster for Rodgers while they played from behind against Dallas. His 10/98/0 line will likely be the apex for catches, but he’s talented enough to reach triple digits. Randall Cobb needs to stay inside (and may even line up in the backfield more), which means a spot is open for Montgomery to emerge as a reliable pass catcher for Rodgers while Davonte Adams is out (and potentially even when he’s back), something he desperately needs. Thursday night’s matchup against the Bears makes him a sneaky, early option to FLEX, and potentially get in early on Ty if he has another great game.
- Zach Zenner, RB – DET (ESPN 1.5%, Yahoo 1%) – I really wish I could highlight Dion Lewis here, especially given James White’s production in the Pats offense with Brady back, but he’s not practicing this week, increasing the path to him not playing at all this season. In the wake of that news, I’ll give Zenner the nod for the deep RB add on the week. After getting the main carries for Detroit against St. Louis (14/58/0), he doesn’t have a long shelf life as a nice pickup, but for Week 7 he could bring some value. Justin Forsett is figuring out the playbook, Theo Riddick is recovering, and Matt Stafford throws it far more than they run, but…if he gets the lead again there’s potential for some points. The ‘Skins defense is the 8th-worst against fantasy RB on the season, meaning with 15 touches Zenner could reach 70 yards and, potentially, a score. That’s worth an awful lot for someone owned at only 1%.
- C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE – HOU (ESPN 1.1%, Yahoo 1%) – Consistency is so difficult to come by when working the wire, but especially when it comes to TE. They’re typically so sporadic and difficult to project from week-to-week, in terms of usage. That doesn’t mean consistency doesn’t exist, though. Look no further than the emerging TE1 in Houston for occasionally inept QB Brock Osweiler. Every good QB has a blanket option, and when DeAndre Hopkins is shaded by the entire defense, Fiedorowicz has proved a capable back up option. 6/85/1 makes it three straight weeks of valuable production at a really weak position (4/48/1 and 4/61/0 in Weeks 4 and 5, respectively). After the first few options and names, I don’t see any reason why this guy couldn’t get the nod to be the top stream TE for the next few weeks.
Now…DROP THOSE COMMENTS! I know that makes it three straight weeks without a burn notice, but there just hasn’t been anyone fully worthy of that’s owned in under 25%. Slow clap to Cameron Meredith for breaking the threshold, because he certainly would get my this week had he remained available for this.
Little tip: don’t pick up Landry Jones. Ok. You’re welcome. And good luck in Week 7!
