NFL waiver wire pickups Week 7: Matt Ryan, Daniel Jones and more

Modified Nov 08, 2022 11:49 GMT

Jacksonville Jaguars v Indianapolis Colts — Indianapolis Colts QB Matt Ryan

The waiver wire is getting a bit more interesting as we enter Week 7 of the NFL season. Right now, your fantasy football team is either riding high, struggling or somewhere in between. Nonetheless, this is the time to jump on some key positional players. Two things to look out for are increased player usage and injuries to starters, which go hand in hand.

Week 7 is nearing the midpoint of the season when things start to become a bit clearer. Without further ado, here are some waiver wire pickups for Week 7.

#1 QB Matt Ryan, Indianapolis Colts

When the Colts traded for Ryan this offseason, they were expecting shades of his 2016 season, where he won the league MVP. Despite the slow start offensively, the former Atlanta Falcons star is finding his groove. In their win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, he threw for 389 yards passing with three touchdowns and zero interceptions.

It may have taken him six weeks but Ryan is getting the hang of head coach Frank Reich's offense at the right time. With top fantasy quarterbacks heading into bye weeks in the near future, pick up the former MVP to stay competitive.

#2 RB Kenyan Drake, Baltimore Ravens

In Baltimore's loss to the New York Giants, Drake played over 50 percent of the Ravens' offensive snaps. He rushed for 119 yards on 10 carries, finding the end zone on the ground and in the air. The trend seems to be for Drake to get more carries in this offense as J.K. Dobbins struggles to stay healthy.

All things considered, signing the former Miami Dolphins star is a solid move as the Ravens love to run the football. Drake is also a capable receiver for Lamar Jackson in the backfield.

#3 WR Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants

We saw increased usage with Robinson, taking in almost a fourth of the Giants' offensive snaps versus the Ravens. He had three receptions, 37 receiving yards, and his first NFL touchdown. Robinson was targeted four times in the game, up from just one the week before.

With the Giants' receiving core being average at best, Robinson could be a breakout target for Daniel Jones. He's also healthy, which cannot be said about all of the wideouts on this team.

#4 TE Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

One of the biggest reasons why Henry is a smart waiver wire pickup is because he's always on the field. He's been involved in over 80 percent of the Patriots' offensive snaps in the last three games. Henry was in on 98 percent of the snaps in their win over the Cleveland Browns.

Speaking of that Browns game, Henry had four catches for 61 yards and and a touchdown. He was targeted seven times in the game. As this Patriots offense continues to develop, expect the 27-year-old to be a part of it.

#5 QB Daniel Jones, New York Giants

For Jones, he entered this season with his NFL future on the line and has answered the bell thus far. He has just two interceptions and has thrown for five touchdowns this season. Jones is also a threat to run the ball as he's scored two touchdowns on the ground. Under head coach Brian Daboll, he's looked more efficient in seasons' past. As long as he stays healthy, this Giants offense under him will only get better as the season goes on.

#6 WR Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals

Moore will see more targets come his way as wideout Marquise Brown is out with an injury. Arizona's trade for former Carolina Panthers star Robbie Anderson doesn't look to impact Moore and workload in the offense. In their loss to the Seattle Seahawks, he had 10 targets, more than what saw the previous two weeks.

The former second-round pick was on the field for nearly every snap versus the Seahawks. For now, Moore will be Kyler Murray's main target moving forward.

#7 TE Daniel Bellinger, New York Giants

Bellinger is seeing more and more of the field for the Giants, playing 94 percent of the snaps against Baltimore. Last week versus the Packers, he was on the field 74 percent of the time offensively. Despite having just two touchdowns so far this season, Bellinger's finding a groove in the offense.

Overall, he could be a safety net for Jones as the rookie tight end is gaining the trust of Daboll and the offensive staff.