Fantasy Football Whiplash! | Week 7: Injuries, Notes, & Waiver Wire

by Samwise · Injuries
Fantasy Football Injuries Waiver Wire

Barrelling down the highway of the NFL in 2025, let’s make a quick pit stop at Week 7 of the fantasy football season. Welcome back to “Fantasy Whiplash!” As our travels pick up speed every Tuesday, the fantasy football news, injuries, and waiver wire wonders wait for no man(ager). This ride is not for the faint of heart. There are ebbs and flows to every fantasy journey, and the next couple of weeks will separate the contenders from the pretenders.

Let’s get into a little bit of everything: Waiver advice, news & notes on upcoming (and past) games, maybe even some notable starts/sits. The information turns over like an engine, and comes in a long-winded stream of consciousness rivaled only by the YouTube show/podcast of the same name (9 p.m. EST Tuesday nights on YouTube)

Above all, the aim is to keep you informed about all the latest noteworthy developments in the NFL and how they impact you, the manager. This may include trending thoughts from industry analysts on Twitter, as well as my own perspectives on specific subjects. It’s all for the benefit of everyone, from casual fans to accomplished veterans.

You picking up what I’m putting down? Good. Let’s keep the stream of consciousness flowing and become your go-to stop as we embark on another week! Speaking of “picking up,” a few friends are jumping on board at the next exit. Week 7 is square in our sights … It’s crunch time.

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Fantasy Football News

We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat

Just when the cupboards of the fantasy football waiver wire seemed bare and completely devoid of talent, respite in the form of “many happy returns.” It may feel like a birthday for some fantasy managers with the welcome return of injured players to their lineups.

The gifts don’t stop there; the shockwave of a player influx affects all teams. Managers pulling someone from the injured reserve (IR) are forced to make some difficult decisions. Suddenly, there is an influx into the talent pool on waivers. Maybe the guy you missed out on before is available again?

The moral of the story is that at this point in the redraft season, whether you are 6-0 (yeah, right) or 0-6, there is still time to make improvements to the ship for the push to the playoffs. There is a lot of football to be played, and you’re trying to make a run.

Call in the Reinforcements

Week 7 of the fantasy football season should see the return of some big names, and some that may not be ready will return next week or in short order. If you had designs on making a move for Rashee Rice or CeeDee Lamb, you’re out of luck. Those managers (particularly those in the cellar of the standings) have waited this long to get those players back. Nothing short of an enormous overpay would pry them away, thus depleting your own roster.

Waiver wire help is available when managers have to make drops. Players like Woody Marks, Zonovan Knight/Michael Carter, Tyler Allgeier, Justice Hill, Kareem Hunt/Isiah Pacheco, and other recent additions could be cut candidates as managers right their rosters. Likewise, players like wide receivers Christian Watson (9% rostered) and Brandon Aiyuk (42%) are stash options for teams that have just cleared their IR slot.

If I’ve said it once in this column and on the show, I’ve said it a million times: The No. 1 waiver wire priority this week should be Jalen Coker (WR – CAR), who is still available in over 80% of leagues and who was the real keystone in Bryce Young‘s late-season resurgence in 2024. Coker practiced all last week and narrowly missed being activated in time for Sunday. The uber-athletic “do it all” wideout will be chomping at the bit this Sunday.

Hold the Line!

Some managers have been treading water as multiple injuries befell their teams. However, players who were injured early in the season are headed for a homecoming. The San Francisco 49ers are making strides in the right direction. Aside from Aiyuk, who is “close” to returning to practice, they will also be welcoming back quarterback Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle. Both are set to practice this week, as are receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings. Pearsall is improving, and only Jennings has played through his injuries. He may need some time off, though, as he told reporters on Sunday that he was playing through five broken ribs and two sprained ankles.

Batten Down the Hatches

In addition to the 49ers, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have seen their fair share of injuries to the wide receiver corps. Mike Evans (all he does is catch touchdowns) has not been on the field since Week 3. He is returning to practice this week and, according to head coach Todd Bowles, has “a chance” to return to game action this week. Chris Godwin, since returning from injury, has missed Week 6 and is not expected back next Monday night. This is compounded by Sunday’s loss of electric rookie Emeka Egbuka to a hamstring injury that could cost him as many as four games. Sterling Shepard (5% rostered) should continue to see slot work in Godwin’s absence, while a hot waiver add this week will be rookie Tez Johnson (1%), who collected 45 yards and a touchdown on Sunday.

But wait … there’s more! Aside from the 49ers, Bucs, and aforementioned Rice and Lamb, we will be seeing returns soon for names like Terry McLaurin and MarShawn Lloyd (2%). Both are due back at practice this week. Week 8 will likely see the return of Godwin if his leg doesn’t fall off, as well as Minnesota running back Aaron Jones, who will likely remain in a timeshare with Jordan Mason.

Play Chess, Not Checkers

This is the time managers will look back on at the end of the season to see if they were doing everything they could to improve their squads. Waiver wire articles are great, but so is the need to dig deeper.

With so many players shifting on and off of rosters, one can no longer just look at the top of the waiver wire. There needs to be a view of moves before they are made. Combing through every player that was cut from an opponent’s team is as important as analyzing players originally on waivers. If you want to win, start paying attention to players whose participation is steadily increasing. Take note of backups for players that may be trade candidates before the Nov. 4 deadline. Start checking remaining schedules down the stretch when you’re choosing between two similar options.

One of the most rewarding things you can hear as an analyst is when you’ve recommended a player to pick up and invariably, even the most seasoned players will say, “Who?!” There is always a mismatch to exploit, a Vegas line to take note of, and a no-name that’s about to come out of (seemingly) nowhere.

Fantasy Football Injury Watch

Quarterbacks

  • J.J. McCarthy (MIN) returned to practice during the team’s bye week and is coming along. However, reports from the Vikings are that the coaches need to see him moving adeptly on his ankle, which is still not 100%. If his mobility remains limited, it will mean another start for Carson Wentz (2-1 as the starter). Wentz has returned to practice from a sore shoulder post-bye.
  • Brock Purdy (SFO) missed another game in Week 6, a 30-19 loss to Tampa Bay. The 49ers signal caller (toe/shoulder) is set to practice this week in anticipation of making a return for Sunday’s home tilt with the Falcons.
  • After missing a second-straight game, Lamar Jackson (BAL) plans to return to practice following the Ravens’ Week 7 bye with hopes that his ailing hamstring will allow him to get back on the field in Week 8. Rivals of the team are hoping to see either one of the backup quarterbacks emerge from the tunnel in two weeks, presumably to pull another Amber Heard for a season that’s already off the rails.
  • Kyler Murray (ARI) hurt his foot during Week 5 and was unable to practice for the majority of the week. He is day-to-day. While Jacoby Brissett played admirably in his stead, Arizona still fell to the Indianapolis Colts. Murray hopes for a full week of practice in preparation for a home matchup with the NFC North-leading Packers.

Running Backs

  • Bucky Irving (TBB) has already been ruled out for next week’s Monday night game. What was initially an ankle injury also turned out to be an unreported shoulder subluxation, which is what’s holding him back. Irving has eyes on getting back for Week 8, but if he can’t, we won’t see him until Week 10 after the team’s bye.
  • Chuba Hubbard (CAR) has transitioned to sideline drills with the Panthers, suggesting he may return to practice this week. The chances are 50/50 on whether he’ll suit up on Sunday. If he does, it may come to fisticuffs between the managers of him and Rico Dowdle, who just unleashed two 200-plus yard games. Expect every manager to start both until we see how the situation plays out.
  • Omarion Hampton (LAC) and Trey Benson (ARI) will both remain on the IR for several more weeks. See the Waiver Wire section below for the rostership percentages of all four pertinent fill-ins.
  • Aaron Jones (MIN) is practicing but not ready as of yet. He’ll eye a Week 8 return if all goes well.

Wide Receivers

There are quite a few receivers for whom we don’t have updates yet. It’s best to consider these players day-to-day:

  • Calvin Ridley (TEN) reinjured his hamstring and is likely to miss at least Week 7.
  • Emeka Egbuka (TBB) also has a hamstring strain that will likely keep him out for multiple weeks.
  • Puka Nacua (LAR) hurt his ankle and left Week 6’s game. All signs point to a two or three-week absence.
  • Mike Evans (TBB) is set to return to practice in the hopes of playing Sunday. The same goes for Terry McLaurin (WAS), though he may still be another week away.
  • Jalen Coker (CAR) has practiced for 10 days, and his quad has responded well. Expect him to make his debut this week.

Tight Ends

  • George Kittle (SFO) hopes to practice this week and get back onto the field Sunday.
  • Mike Gesicki (CIN) will be out “a while” with a pectoral injury. We’ve seen these injuries drag on for weeks, and Gesicki is not worth rostering.
  • Brock Bowers (LVR) is likely to remain sidelined with a bum knee until Week 9. Las Vegas has a bye in Week 8.
  • David Njoku (CLE) is day-to-day with a knee injury that forced him out of the team’s Week 6 game.
  • Brenton Strange (JAX) was placed on the IR with a quad injury. Ja’Tavion Sanders (CAR) should have gone there weeks ago. His ankle injury is still making him miss practice nearly every other day.
  • Dalton Kincaid (BUF) missed last week with a strained oblique. The Bills have a bye this week for him to get treatment.

Walking the Waiver Wire | Priority Adds

  • Jalen Coker (WR CAR, 12% rostered) started the season on the IR (quad) but practiced in full last week and is raring to go for his debut this Sunday. Last season, he became a key figure for Bryce Young‘s breakout. He had 32 catches for 478 yards and a pair of touchdowns, even though none of his four starts came until the home stretch of the season. Young is throwing the ball 30 times a game, and the athletic marvel will be lined up across from rookie Tetairoa McMillan. Go get him. He is a weekly flex play.
  • Tampa Bay receivers Tez Johnson (WR TB, 1%) and Sterling Shepard (WR TB, 5%) are joined by Kameron Johnson (WR TB, 0%). However, if Evans returns, that likely bumps K. Johnson down to WR4.
  • Why Harold Fannin Jr. (TE CLE, 27%) is still available widely in anyone’s guess. He was already leading the team in receptions with David Njoku playing meaningful snaps. Now, Njoku is nursing an injury of his own. Fannin is currently the TE12 in PPR, league-wide.
  • Elic Ayomanor (WR TEN, 25%) will see the lion’s share of targets from Cam Ward with Calvin Ridley sidelined. Gambling on anyone in the Titans’ offense is just that — a gamble — but volume is king in fantasy football, and Tennessee just kicked HC Brian Callahan to the curb. All reports indicate that he was in way over his head. It will be interesting to see if the team changes its trajectory.
  • Jordan Whittington (WR LAR, 2%) was already making his presence felt in a wideout room featuring veterans. With Nacua set to miss time and Tutu Atwell nursing a hamstring injury, this is an opportunity for one of Matthew Stafford‘s favorite targets to seize some of the spotlight.
  • Kendre Miller (RB NO, 34%) keeps seeing his snap count rise and is getting about the same amount of carries as Alvin Kamara. He is a must-stash if you have room. Kamara is very likely to be traded by Nov. 4, in which case Miller would become a workhorse back.

Pick & Choose!

  • Running back Hassan Haskins (RB LAC, 52%) or Kimani Vidal (RB LAC, 32%) in Los Angeles? It would appear to be Vidal based on a big game Sunday. People who were fooled into grabbing Haskins shouldn’t fret yet, though. Vidal went off against the worst rush defense in the league against Miami. He’s quick and a dynamic pass catcher. In four of their next six games, the Chargers will face the Colts, Jaguars, Vikings, and Steelers. Seems more like a “pound it between the tackles” stretch, doesn’t it? Both are worthwhile adds, as coach Jim Harbaugh will go with whatever works from one game to the next.
  • Is it Michael Carter (RB ARI, 54%) or Bam Knight (RB ARI, 12%) at running back while Trey Benson is missing from the Cardinals’ backfield? Knight only had two more carries than Carter, who is also the better pass-catcher. This is another timeshare waiting to happen, and both should be rostered until there’s a clear frontrunner.
  • Kendrick Bourne (WR SFO, 25%) has had back-to-back games that a lot of managers owe wins to. With Kittle, Pearsall, and Jennings all in the fold, however, there won’t be many table scraps. He is still worth a flier in case more injuries befall the team, but you can likely add him after waivers run.
  • Tight Ends Michael Mayer (TE LVR, 2%) and Noah Fant (TE CIN, 1%) should both be snatched up. Mayer for the short-term (Bowers likely not back before the bye) and Fant if you need a longer-term option. Joe Flacco is known to favor his tight ends, and Gesicki (pec) and Tanner Hudson (concussion) are both set to miss time. Thursday night, in particular, Fant should see nearly every snap in 11-personnel sets.

More “Whiplash!” to Come

Next Tuesday, we’ll go again with more football junk food to satisfy those cravings before you settle in for waiver wire claims! More Quick Hits and Injury Updates than you can shake a stick at. Start your studs, smash the waivers, talk some smack, and get your popcorn ready. Buckle up for Week 7 of the fantasy football season.

Keep in mind, on “Fantasy Whiplash! LIVE” at 9 p.m. EST on Tuesdays (that’s tonight!), we dig deeper into waiver wire gems, fades, and sleepers! I’ll see you back next Tuesday for all your fantasy football news needs.

Be sure to check us out on “Fantasy Whiplash LIVE!” wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube at 9 p.m. EST every Tuesday night! It’s completely different from the hum-drum same-old you’re used to!

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