Kimani Vidal, RB (LAC)
Rostered: 26%
Kimani Vidal is one of the top running back pickups on the waiver wire in fantasy football after his breakout Week 6 performance. With Najee Harris out for the season and Omarion Hampton placed on injured reserve, the Chargers leaned on Vidal to handle a workhorse role against Miami. He responded with 18 carries for 124 yards (6.9 YPC), plus three catches for 14 yards and a touchdown. Vidal out-snapped Hassan Haskins 43-20, dominated touches 21-7, and showed the burst and vision that made him a preseason sleeper last year. While Los Angeles has flirted with trade calls at running back, Vidal’s explosive showing makes him the clear RB1 in this backfield for now.
The Chargers face a soft schedule over the next few weeks, giving Vidal a chance to solidify himself as more than just a temporary injury replacement. His workload and efficiency profile him as at least an RB3/Flex play, with room for more if he keeps stacking 15+ touches per game. Fantasy football managers should prioritize Vidal on the waiver wire, as Hampton won’t return until at least Week 10. With Justin Herbert stabilizing the offense and the Chargers committing to the run, Vidal could easily emerge as one of the best midseason waiver adds of 2025
Zonovan ‘Bam’ Knight, RB (ARI)
Rostered: 13%
Bam Knight is quickly becoming one of the most valuable waiver wire pickups in fantasy football as the Cardinals navigate injuries at running back. With James Conner out for the season and Trey Benson sidelined, Knight has stepped into a lead role alongside Michael Carter. In Week 6, he logged 11 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown while adding a 20-yard reception. More importantly, Knight handled all of Arizona’s goal-line snaps and out-snapped Carter 37-32 once Emari Demercado left with an ankle injury. Back-to-back weeks with touchdowns highlight Knight’s red-zone role, giving him weekly Flex upside.
Arizona’s coaching staff has shown trust in Knight, and with Kyler Murray nearing a return, this offense could take a step forward at the right time. The Cardinals face Green Bay in Week 7, then get a bye before an easier matchup against Dallas, but Knight’s usage puts him squarely on the fantasy radar. Fantasy football managers dealing with bye-week crunches should consider Knight a priority waiver wire add, as his combination of volume and scoring opportunities could keep him relevant even when Benson returns. He may not be a workhorse, but Knight is trending as the most valuable in Arizona and could be a sneaky midseason gem.
Jaxson Dart, QB (NYG)
Rostered: 29%
Jaxson Dart is the type of upside quarterback fantasy football managers love to find on the waiver wire. The Giants’ rookie passer stunned the Eagles on Thursday Night Football, completing 17-of-25 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown while rushing 13 times for 58 yards and another score. Dart has now rushed for 50+ yards in each of his first three NFL starts, becoming just the third quarterback of the Super Bowl era to do so. Despite missing Malik Nabers and Darius Slayton, he elevated a depleted New York passing game with efficiency and poise. His dual-threat profile makes him one of the most intriguing waiver wire stashes of Week 7.
The schedule presents challenges, including a Week 7 matchup against Denver’s stingy defense, but Dart’s rushing ability raises his weekly floor. As the Giants lean on their rookie backfield duo of Dart and Cam Skattebo, the offense has shown flashes of explosiveness that were missing for years. Fantasy football managers in need of a QB streamer or looking ahead to bye weeks should stash Dart now. With his rushing volume locked in and the potential for growth once his receivers return, Dart has the tools to emerge as a top-15 quarterback rest of the season.
Harold Fannin Jr, TE (CLE)
Rostered: 25%
Harold Fannin Jr. has emerged as one of the most intriguing waiver wire targets at tight end in fantasy football following David Njoku’s knee injury. Before Njoku went down, Fannin was already carving out a role, but once he exited in Week 6, the rookie took over as Cleveland’s full-time tight end. Fannin finished with a career-high seven receptions for 81 yards on a 20.8% target share and 75.8% route participation rate, per PFF. He’s now averaging double-digit PPR points per game and looks like the type of streaming tight end who can turn into an every-week starter.
Cleveland’s offense has relied heavily on two-tight-end sets all season, and with Fannin stepping up, his involvement should remain steady even if Njoku returns. The Browns face Miami and New England next, two defenses ranked bottom 10 against tight ends, which makes Fannin an immediate streaming option for fantasy football managers. On the waiver wire, he’s a priority add, especially in TE-premium leagues or deeper formats. If Njoku misses extended time, Fannin carries TE1 upside and could be the breakout rookie tight end who changes fantasy seasons.
Oronde Gadsen, TE (LAC)
Rostered: 1%
Oronde Gadsden is a name fantasy football managers need to circle on the waiver wire after his Week 6 breakout. Despite veteran Will Dissly returning from injury, Gadsden remained the Chargers’ top receiving tight end, playing 75% of snaps with an 82% route share and commanding a 21.6% target share. The rookie rewarded that usage with seven receptions for 68 yards, cementing his role in an offense led by Justin Herbert. With Los Angeles frequently deploying Gadsden in high-leverage passing situations, he looks like a streaming tight end who could flirt with TE1 value the rest of the season.
The Chargers’ receiver corps has dealt with injuries all year, further boosting Gadsden’s target stability. Even in games where Los Angeles rotates multiple tight ends, his usage on third downs and passing downs gives him the edge. Fantasy football managers searching for tight end help should prioritize Gadsden on the waiver wire, especially with his usage profile pointing toward sustained involvement. If his chemistry with Herbert continues to build, Gadsden could be one of the better late-season finds at the position.
Jalen Coker, WR (CAR)
Rostered: 11%
Jalen Coker is one of the better forward-looking waiver wire stashes in fantasy football as he nears his return from injured reserve. Before going down with a quad injury, he was locked into a starting role opposite Tetairoa McMillan and had earned the trust of the coaching staff throughout the offseason. With a revolving door of second options in Carolina’s passing game, Coker can reclaim a meaningful role immediately. In his last six games of 2024, he posted an 18.3% target share and averaged nearly 56 receiving yards per game, flashing weekly Flex upside. The Panthers‘ offense has also shown signs of life, which boosts Coker’s appeal once he’s activated.
Carolina faces the Jets in Week 7, a defense that has struggled against opposing receivers this year, making Coker a sneaky stash before he’s widely discussed. His versatility allows him to play both outside and in the slot, and Dave Canales’ history of feeding slot receivers could unlock additional volume. Fantasy football managers looking to stay ahead of the waiver wire curve should roster Coker before he returns to full practice. He’s the type of mid-season addition who can become a weekly Flex option by November. With Bryce Young in need of a reliable secondary target, Coker could emerge quickly once healthy.
Kendrick Bourne, WR (SF)
Rostered: 32%
Kendrick Bourne has positioned himself as one of the hottest waiver wire wide receiver adds in fantasy football after two straight monster performances. With Brandon Aiyuk sidelined so far all season, George Kittle out, and Ricky Pearsall banged up, Bourne has stepped up as San Francisco’s No. 1 option. Over the last two weeks, he’s caught 15 passes for 284 yards, ranking as the second-best fantasy receiver in that span. Bourne’s familiarity with quarterback Mac Jones, dating back to their New England days, gives him an edge over the rest of the 49ers’ receiver group.
The 49ers face Atlanta in Week 7, a defense that has generally been solid against wideouts, but injuries in San Francisco’s receiving corps leave Bourne locked into a high-volume role. Even if Kittle or Pearsall return, Bourne should remain a featured weapon given his back-to-back 100+ yard games and 20%+ target shares. Fantasy football managers should not overlook this stretch as a fluke. Bourne has the opportunity to be a consistent Flex option as long as the 49ers remain shorthanded. On the waiver wire, he’s a must-add who could continue producing WR2 numbers until San Francisco gets healthier.
Kendre Miller, RB (NO)
Rostered: 32%
Kendre Miller is one of the most important running back stashes on the fantasy football waiver wire. With Alvin Kamara’s snap share trending down, Miller has seen his role expand in recent weeks, including a 10-carry outing in Week 5 where he handled all of New Orleans’ short-yardage opportunities. He’s healthy for the first time in his NFL career and has shown the physicality to handle early-down work. With Kamara’s name floating in trade rumors and the Saints’ playoff hopes fading, Miller could be positioned for a bigger workload sooner than expected.
Even if Kamara stays, Miller has carved out enough usage to flirt with Flex value during the heavy bye weeks ahead. The Saints face Chicago in Week 7, a favorable matchup for running backs, before a stretch of byes that will test fantasy rosters. Managers looking ahead should stash Miller now, as he carries league-winning upside if Kamara is traded or injured. On the waiver wire, few running backs offer his blend of short-term Flex appeal and long-term contingency value.
New England Patriots, DEF
Rostered: 48%
The New England Patriots are one of the top defensive streaming options on the fantasy football waiver wire heading into Week 7. Through six weeks, they’ve logged 13 sacks and eight takeaways, and now they draw one of the softest matchups in the league against rookie quarterback Cam Ward and the Titans. Tennessee’s offense has surrendered 25 sacks and 10 turnovers already, and Ward’s struggles under pressure make this a prime spot for New England to deliver a top-five fantasy finish.
The Patriots also get rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel and the Browns in Week 8, making them a multi-week streamer. New England’s defense ranks top-10 in fantasy scoring and thrives against inexperienced quarterbacks, making them a priority waiver wire pickup for fantasy football managers streaming defenses. With back-to-back plus matchups and a track record of strong pressure rates, the Patriots are a safe bet to provide immediate value in fantasy lineups.
Honorable Waiver Wire Mentions
- Sam Darnold QB (SEA) – 35% rostered
- Trevor Lawrence QB (JAC) – 49% rostered
- Tyjae Spears RB (TEN) – 33% rostered
- Kyle Monangai RB (CHI) – 11% rostered
- Tyler Allgeier RB (ATL) – 30% rostered
- Josh Downs WR (IND) – 48% rostered
- Kayshon Boutte WR (NE) – 7% rostered
- Elic Ayomanor WR (TEN) – 22% rostered
- Isaiah Bond WR (CLE) – 21% rostered
- Michael Mayer TE (LV) – 5% rostered
- AJ Barner TE (SEA) -13% rostered
- Mason Taylor TE (NYJ) – 34% rostered
- Carolina Panthers DEF – 1% rostered
- Kansas City Chiefs DEF – 28% rostered
- Eddy Pineiro K (SF) – 21% rostered
Droppable Players
- Bhayshul Tuten RB (JAC)
- Hassan Haskins RB (LAC)
- Travis Hunter WR (JAC)
- Troy Franklin WR (DEN)
- Juwan Johnson TE (NO)
Don’t Drop these Guys Just Yet
- Bo Nix QB (DEN)
- RJ Harvey RB (DEN)
- Jakobi Meyers WR (LV)
- Jauan Jennings WR (SF)
- Mark Andrews TE (BAL)
