The sixth week of the 2016 regular season is just about coming to a close with only the Monday Night Football game remaining. Most fantasy football leagues will run their waiver wires late Tuesday or early Wednesday, but we are here to help you get a jump on the best options to consider.
We will be ranking the top five players likely to be available in your league at each of the four major positions. Some weeks there might not be five good options available, but we’ll scour for the best we can find. Additionally, throughout the week, we will update each of these articles as ownership percentages change (via Yahoo!) and news arrives.
Waiver wire quarterback rankings, Week 7
1. Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs (29 percent owned)
Smith had a favorable matchup against the Raiders in Week 6, but the game script and a good running game did not allow for the Kansas City quarterback to score any touchdowns. Smith passed for 224 yards and no scores or interceptions in the Chiefs’ win over Oakland. While Smith left most owners wanting more in Week 6, he faces a porous Saints defense in Week 7. The matchup with New Orleans alone is enough to make Smith a worthy replacement for a starting quarterback on bye.
2. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens (29 percent owned)
The Ravens quarterback attempted more than 45 passes for the third straight week, but was unable to push his team to a victory for the third straight outing as well. Flacco passed for 307 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions in Baltimore’s Week 6 loss against the Giants. Flacco has defied the odds by attempting this high volume of passes without a touchdown, but will have a very good chance at redemption next week against a Jets secondary that has struggled thus far.
3. Brian Hoyer, Chicago Bears (20 percent owned)
Hoyer struggled in the Bears’ Week 6 loss to the Jaguars, but should maintain his starter status for the foreseeable future. The Bears quarterback managed to pass for 302 yards, with no scores or turnovers. Hoyer has passed for over 300 yards in every game he’s started in this season, and has attempted at least 35 passes per game in that span. While he was unable to find the end zone against the Jaguars, his volume of passes buoys his fantasy value.
4. Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers (eight percent owned)
In his first start of the year Kaepernick was unable to change the fortune of the 49ers, but was able to prove himself a viable starting quarterback. The San Francisco signal caller passed for 187 yards and a touchdown, as well as adding 66 yards on the ground. Kaepernick was able to connect with Torrey Smith for his first touchdown of the season, and could’ve added a few more scores to Smith if he was able to throw the ball more accurately. However, Kaepernick remains an intriguing option at quarterback due to the offense he generates with his legs. The San Francisco quarterback could make for a good bye week fill-in next week against the Buccaneers.
5. Case Keenum, Los Angeles Rams (three percent owned)
While Keenum ultimately lost the game for his team by throwing an interception late in the fourth quarter, he was still able to produce impressive fantasy numbers in Week 6. The Los Angeles quarterback threw for 321 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. While the Detroit defense has been ineffective this season, it also appears that the Rams have been able to find more of a rhythm on offense. Keenum’s late game blunder shows why he isn’t an elite NFL quarterback, but he should be able to serve as a decent fill-in against the New York Giants in Week 7.