Week 6 of the 2020 NFL season did not produce those huge breakouts from unknown players as previous weeks have, making this week’s waiver wire pickups a bit tougher to predict. In what felt like a very ho-hum week of football with no real breakout outliers, fantasy football did not end up having that kind of spark that even last week had.
As in the past, this article will list out 10 waiver wire pickups for you to look into for Week 7 and beyond. Keep in mind, these players may not necessarily become instant starters right away, but solid bench depth is always needed and you can never have too much depth, especially in a season that has been substantially affected by the pandemic so far.
All included players on this list are on fewer than 50 percent of all fantasy football rosters, according to ESPN, meaning that the likelihood of you finding them on your league’s waiver wire is quite high. An important fact to also note: If you do not necessarily feel comfortable picking up any of these listed waiver wire pickups, sit back and watch for who your opposing teams let go, which could provide you with better waiver wire pickups than what you would have originally picked up in the first place.
10. Tim Patrick, WR
Denver Broncos
18.6% Rostered
Tim Patrick has stepped into the void filled by the season-ending injury to Courtland Sutton and has helped create a 1-2 punch with Alabama rookie Jerry Jeudy to form a stellar young core moving forward.
Patrick has hauled in at least four passes in all but one game this year, recording games of four, two, four, six, and four receptions, respectively. He set a career-high mark in receptions and yardage in Denver’s Week 4 victory over the hapless New York Jets, hauling in six passes for 113 yards and his second score of the season.
Obviously, the Jets are just downright awful on both sides of the football, but this performance came after he caught four balls for 43 yards and a score against a good Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad. Patrick then put forth another strong effort in Week 6 against the New England Patriots with four catches for 101 yards.
While four catches isn't exactly a large amount of work for Patrick to get and produce relevant fantasy football results, he was able to put up 14.1 points in standard full PPR leagues because of his big yardage.
In next week’s matchup, the Broncos get to host the Kansas City Chiefs in what projects to turn into a high-paced offensive game. Look for Patrick to produce in a consistent manner yet again, even potentially setting a career high in catches.
9. Cole Beasley, WR
Buffalo Bills
29.8% Rostered
In all but one game this year, Cole Beasley has produced double-digit full-point PPR games this year (four catches for 58 yards against the Jets to open the season), showing that he has the full trust of Josh Allen to be his underneath weapon. For a quarterback who still has questions about his consistency and accuracy following him, Beasley is a solid safety valve for Allen.
Beasley’s second TD of the season came just against the Chiefs in Week 6, as he took a slight underneath route and turned that into a score to pull the Bills back within one possession.
With the Bills still needing to figure out their offensive identity, Beasley pairs well with Stefon Diggs as the top receiving options for Allen moving forward, and he should be able to produce a solid showing in the team’s second matchup against the Jets in Week 7 on the road. Keep an eye on a potential ankle injury, though.
8. J.D. McKissic, RB
Washington Football Team
23.6% Rostered
As hard as it may be to feel like rostering a member of the Washington Football Team’s offense not named Terry McLaurin or Antonio Gibson is a smart play, there is one other player who looks to have earned his keep: running back J.D. McKissic.
In the second game this season he earned eight carries, McKissic also produced his third consecutive game of at least six catches, showcasing his dual-threat abilities on a team that consistently is playing from behind.
For McKissic, he's splitting time with Gibson in the backfield. While Gibson is more of the household name even in his first season, McKissic’s production should not be swept under the rug either.
The loss against the New York Giants was the second consecutive double-digit full-point PPR game by McKissic (eight rushes for 41 yards and six catches for 43 yards), and while none of those yardage totals really jump out, the fact remains that he was a key part of the attack and will remain in that role moving forward.
7. JaMycal Hasty & Jeff Wilson Jr., RBs
San Francisco 49ers
0.1% & 8.8% Rostered
With Raheem Mostert having been added back to the injury report with a semi-serious ankle injury, he will be down for at least one week, with a potential short-term injured reserve visit in the realm of possibilities. With Tevin Coleman still on IR and Jerick McKinnon not being fantasy football relevant even when Mostert went out against the Los Angeles Rams, there are certainly some touches there to be had.
Now, McKinnon obviously took over backfield control when Mostert was out, and with there not being a ton of clarity provided yet on how serious Mostert’s injury is, proceed with caution here for either JaMycal Hasty or Jeff Wilson Jr.
Wilson has had a bigger role in the past, but he also is overcoming some injuries right now. Hasty earned nine carries for 37 yards in relief, showing that he would probably be the bigger pickup up this group if McKinnon is not guaranteed the fill-in role if Mostert misses considerable time.
6. Drew Lock, QB
Denver Broncos
5.6% Rostered
Having missed two games this year due to injury, Drew Lock came back Week 6 against the Patriots and put up a dud in a field goal fest, throwing for 189 yards and two picks. While he does face off against the Chiefs next week, the shootout mantra that has followed the Chiefs in almost every one of their games this year certainly holds merit here as well.
Lock is still certainly fresh in his QB1 role in Denver, but he has looked like a decently seasoned QB who can help lead this team for many seasons to come, something that has the potential to start as soon as Week 7. Lock gets better fantasy football opportunities in Weeks 8, 9, and 10 (Los Angeles Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Las Vegas Raiders), so pick him up and stash him if you can.
5. Boston Scott, RB
Philadelphia Eagles
10.6% Rostered
Miles Sanders has faced some injury concerns already this season, so this new development is not something that owners of Sanders want to hear. However, even with the team using more of a game flow approach than letting a depth chart dictate who earns the bulk of the touches in the backfield with Sanders hurting, Boston Scott is the main beneficiary of his injury.
Scott out-touched Corey Clement five carries to zero when Sanders left on Sunday with his knee injury, showing that he is the top option there until Sanders returns, making him a fantastic waiver wire pickup. An above-average matchup against the Giants on a short week presents teams with an interesting early-week decision to make, but Scott’s role should be fleshed out enough to give him a decent fantasy floor.
4. Dalton Schultz, TE
Dallas Cowboys
42.4% Rostered
Dalton Schultz has stepped into the starting role after Blake Jarwin’s season-ending ACL tear early in the year. Who is the best friend of a backup QB thrust into a starting role? A tight end, of course.
While Schultz has only had two big games (9/88/1 and 4/72/1), his other contests have otherwise been very disappointing or middle of the road. However, Andy Dalton very well will need a trusty TE option to look at, and Schultz has a high ceiling moving forward for the rest of the year with Dalton under center.
3. Mike Williams, WR
Los Angeles Chargers
41.5% Rostered
Rookie QB Justin Herbert has taken the starting role and looks to be going full speed ahead for the Los Angeles Chargers, and while his favorite target has obviously been Keenan Allen, Mike Williams has not been forgotten about either in the offense.
Williams has two scores on the season, both coming against the Saints in Week 5, so outside of that game he has been somewhat underwhelming. However, with games against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets up on the docket, Williams could feast while Allen commands the top opposing CB, opening the door for Williams to use his big frame to bring down a ton of jump balls.
2. Brandon Aiyuk, WR
San Francisco 49ers
25.0% Rostered
The San Francisco 49ers just cannot get away from the injury bug this year. With the RB core seeming to be a bit low on healthy bodies, the receivers have stepped up and are taking on some of that pressure.
Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk both have stepped up and have become the top two receiving options for Jimmy Garoppolo, but Aiyuk has especially stepped up into a low-volume, high-output role.
He has only caught more than two balls in two weeks this year (three and five catches, respectively), but has scored three TDs, with two coming on the ground.
Kyle Shanahan obviously is an offensive guru and has been able to get Aiyuk involved in the offense, and while a tougher schedule upcoming against the New England Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, and Green Bay Packers may not produce favorable results on paper, Aiyuk will get his touches and is a solid part of the game plan, meaning that he will get enough touches to make him fantasy football relevant.
1. Tee Higgins, WR
Cincinnati Bengals
43.9% Rostered
A.J. Green looks to have returned from the dead at least for one game after his 8/96 performance against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, but that performance is a huge outlier for what he has produced so far this year. Tee Higgins, on the other hand, has produced four consecutive double-digit performances, including setting a career-high receiving yardage mark with 125 on six catches against the Colts.
Higgins seems to have a really solid connection with rookie QB Joe Burrow, and both Higgins and Tyler Boyd are the top options in Cincinnati through the air. Higgins is for sure one of the top waiver wire pickups you should be looking for on the fantasy football waiver wire.
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