Heading into the Week 7 fantasy football slate, I want to start at the wide receiver position, because there are potential streaming options -- with positive matchups -- who can boost your lineup this week.
There's a dynamic slot receiver in here, a perimeter target for Lamar Jackson and more. And with a bunch of day-to-day, or week-to-week injuries to running backs across the league, I have multiple ball carriers to look at, as they could potentially see their roles increase based on reports as we get closer to game time.
As always, I'll hit on the quarterback position, with a few signal-callers I like this week, while also giving you a tight end and a pair of matchup-based defenses to use as a streaming option.
Players listed below are deeper-league targets, rostered in less than 50% of ESPN leagues entering this week's waiver period. Although you might notice overlap with Eric Moody's waiver wire column that publishes on Mondays, an important distinction is that the options mentioned in this column are solely for this week's matchups and not based on the players' values for the remainder of the season.
Wide receivers
DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots (37.7% rostered; at Jaguars)
Douglas saw a team-high nine targets in his first game with rookie Drake Maye at quarterback, catching six passes for 92 yards while adding a late touchdown. That usage bodes well for Douglas heading into the Week 7 matchup versus a Jags defense allowing the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. He's a deeper-league flex play for me this week, and he should see plenty of middle-of-the-field/underneath targets versus the Jags' 2-deep coverages.
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens (6.8% rostered; at Buccaneers)
Bateman is emerging as a steady perimeter target for Lamar Jackson, as he has scored 10 or more points in three of his past four games while notching a touchdown reception in two. Bateman, who has seen 12 targets over the past two weeks, also gets a matchup versus a Bucs defense that ranks in the bottom 10 versus wide receivers.
Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers (28.3% rostered; at Commanders)
Legette has produced a touchdown reception and double-digit points in two of his past three games. And while his target volume has declined over the past two weeks (five targets), I see this as a matchup-based play versus a Commanders defense allowing 7.5 YPA. Take Legette as a deeper-league option this week.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs (43.7% rostered; at 49ers)
Smith-Schuster saw his role jump the last time the Chiefs played in Week 5, as he scored 20.0 points in the win over the Saints, catching seven of eight targets for 130 yards. Smith-Schuster is willing to work the heavy-traffic areas of the field, and he can produce after the catch on underneath throws. With his ability to play through contact, I like Smith-Schuster as a flex this week in San Francisco.
Running backs
Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders (41.9% rostered; at Rams)
Mattison's usage is tied to the health of Zamir White (groin), so we need to stay on top of the Raiders' injury reports this week. If White is still down for the Week 7 game versus the Rams, go get Mattison. He has logged at least 17 touches in each of his past two games, and he has a total of seven receptions during that stretch. Plus, with four games of double-digit fantasy production this season, Mattison is a solid play against an L.A. defense that ranks in the bottom 10 versus running backs.
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (52.2% rostered; vs. Seattle)
Allgeier continues to split carries with Bijan Robinson in the Falcons' backfield, as he paced the teams with 18 attempts for 105 yards and a score in the Week 6 win over the Panthers. While that game plan was more run-heavy due to the matchup, the Falcons could once again lean on the ground attack against Seattle this week. The Seahawks are allowing 5.0 yards per carry (28th in the league), which could open the door for both Allgeier and Robinson to be featured at the top of the call sheet again. I see Allgeier, who has posted double-digit points in two of his past three games, as a deeper-league flex play.
Trey Sermon (33.3% rostered) and Tyler Goodson (6.3% rostered), Indianapolis Colts (vs. Dolphins)
With Jonathan Taylor (ankle) expected to sit again this week, managers can pivot to Sermon and Goodson. Sermon, who scored 18.3 points back in Week 5, lacked rushing efficiency last Sunday in the win over the Titans, averaging only 1.6 YPC, but he did log a team-high 18 carries. If Sermon can work through an ankle injury to play against Miami this week, he has value as an early-down runner. Meanwhile, Goodson has seen a total of 13 carries over the past two games, averaging 5.9 YPC, and he can boost your lineup as a receiver. He has caught at least three passes in each of his past two games, and he has the open-field vision to produce in space.
Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10.9% rostered; vs. Ravens)
Tucker's unexpected 34.2 points led all running backs in Week 6, as he posted 192 total yards -- and two touchdowns -- on a team-high 17 touches. And that creates some real intrigue into how the Bucs backfield will shake out moving forward. Rachaad White (foot) missed the Week 6 win over the Saints, and Bucky Irving totaled 105 yards on 16 touches. So, let's keep an eye on the reports out of Tampa, because if White is down again, then Tucker can be played in deeper formats, as he will most likely split touches with Irving.
Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers (9.4% rostered; vs. Chiefs)
Guerendo could be a potential late-week add as we await the injury news on starting running back Jordan Mason (shoulder). In relief of Mason last Thursday night versus Seattle, Guerendo had 99 yards rushing on 10 carries, highlighted by a 76-yard run late in the game. If Mason is out, Kyle Shanahan will scheme up daylight for Guerendo, who can really go once he hits that second level.
D'Ernest Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars (13.5% rostered; vs. Patriots)
With Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) potentially out this week in London, Johnson could move into a backfield rotation with Tank Bigsby. In last week's loss to the Bears, Johnson totaled 42 yards on eight touches, and he led the Jags with 28 yards rushing.
Quarterbacks
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (48.1% rostered; at Vikings)
Goff is playing his best football of the season, and it's reflected by both the numbers and the game tape. Over his past three games, Goff is completing 81.8% of his throws, with multiple touchdown passes in each, and he has scored over 25 fantasy points in his past two. The offensive system in Detroit is setting Goff up with timing concepts that create open voids in the coverage, too. Yes, Goff will see a more pressure-heavy defense in Week 7 versus the Vikings, but I still like his fit here as a streamer in a key NFC North matchup.
Drake Maye, New England Patriots (12.1% rostered; at Jaguars)
If you play in a 2QB or superflex format, take a look at starting Maye this week, given the matchup versus a Jags defense allowing a league-worst 276.7 yards passing per game. In his first pro start versus the Texans in Week 6, Maye threw three touchdown passes and finished with 19.52 points. Yes, his point total was impacted by three turnovers (two picks, one fumble). However, with his ability to add numbers on the ground (38 rushing yards in Week 6) and extend plays outside of the pocket, Maye can give you some upside in the lineup.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (36.7% rostered; vs. Patriots)
In deeper leagues, Lawrence fits as a streaming option here for this matchup with the Patriots in London. Lawrence has thrown for multiple touchdowns in three straight games, with 17 or more fantasy points in the past two. While I'd like to see Lawrence use his legs more (only 26 yards rushing in his past three games), he's been more accurate with the ball, completing 73.9% of his passes over the past two weeks.
Tight end
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (25.6% rostered; at Jaguars)
Henry had 15.1 points in Week 6, his first game with double-digit points since back in Week 2, and he added a touchdown. I expect Henry to see volume against Jacksonville as an underneath outlet for Maye, with schemed throws to test the seams.
D/ST
Cincinnati Bengals (70.2% rostered; at Browns)
The Bengals have recorded a defensive turnover in each of their past three games, and they just held the Giants to seven points in a Week 6 win. So, let's take the matchup versus a Cleveland offense that has registered a league-worst 3.9 yards per play while scoring only 15.8 points per game (30th in the NFL). And with the subpar play of quarterback Deshaun Watson, I think the Bengals defense can post another solid week.
Indianapolis Colts (29.2% rostered; vs. Dolphins)
Since the Bengals have been among the most added in fantasy this week, here's another option. The Colts have registered only one game of double-digit fantasy production this season, but I'll take the matchup against a Miami offense that has struggled without starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins have averaged just 10.0 points per game from Weeks 3 through 6, which is the lowest in the league in that span. I don't love the play here, but the Colts have forced at least one turnover in each of their past five games. I'll take it on a week where the defensive options are limited.