Scott Engel is in his ninth season of Fantasy Football coverage on Seahawks.com. Scott is a 20-plus year veteran of the Fantasy industry and an inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame. You can find more of his Fantasy analysis at RotoBaller.com and SportsLine.com. You can listen to Scott on weekend mornings and on demand on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio. Scott has also won his highly competitive Fantasy Football league with other experts and top players in each of the past three years.
For many Fantasy players who rostered top Seahawks players during their bye weeks, it was not easy to replace the likes of Russell Wilson, DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. The Saints, Chargers and Raiders were also off, forcing Fantasy leaguers to dip into their reserve slots and even free agency to fill in for top starters such as Alvin Kamara, Keenan Allen and Darren Waller.
Now that the byes are here, this will be a drill that we have to do every week for the rest of the Fantasy Football regular season. Having Wilson, Metcalf and Lockett available regularly from here on will help your chances of winning every week, because the Seahawks offense has been a superb source of Fantasy production so far, but you won't be able to field a fully ideal lineup at every spot in many weeks. That is just the reality of Fantasy, if you will. We all have to face such challenges and those who navigate through it best will advance to the playoffs.
Properly assembling and maintaining your bench is a key to success in a season where we have already worked through many significant injuries as well as the usual bye concerns, and will continue to deal with the possibility of unforeseen postponements. To deal best with varied situations in which a player can become unavailable at any time, your priority should be to fill your bench with players who can be useful as starters at any time if needed.
It is always enticing to "stash" players who may eventually become quality options, but you simply can't roster long-term contributors over the types who can step forward and start for you at a moment's notice. You don't want to have to scramble to the free agent list for a suddenly necessary lineup replacement, especially in situations where the main waiver run for the week has already come and gone.
Because of the circumstances we have mentioned, your waiver wire may already seem more scarce than usual. So in many situations, Fantasy players have had to dig deep for lineup replacements. Several times this year, you may be putting together your lineup and realize you have to go with a deeper type of choice as a one-week streamer. That does not mean your chances of winning the week's Fantasy matchup decrease. You will just have to either take a shot on a performer with potential upside, or a player who can give you an adequate statistical floor. These sorts of players are widely available in Fantasy leagues and can give your team the boost or respectable production to help ensure a victory.
David Moore is a good example of the upside type who can make a big play or two and contribute to your Fantasy cause in any given week. Metcalf and Lockett command so much defensive attention, the potential for other Seahawk pass-catchers to make important plays is always possible. Now in his fourth season, Wilson has also developed a very comfortable rapport with Wilson.
Moore is a downfield artist who is averaging 17.3 yards per catch this season and in his career. He has already caught three TD passes and had a season-high 95 yards at Miami in Week 4. If you need a deeper Fantasy streamer at WR or flex in any week, Moore deserves lineup consideration. His potential for more than one big play or an end zone visit in any game should put him on your Fantasy radar.
Greg Olsen is a prime example of a player who can give you a respectable amount of production as a streamer, especially at the ultra-thin tight end position. He delivered double figure Fantasy outings in Weeks 1 and 3 this season, and came close again in Week 4. Olsen is a Fantasy TE2 who will often ensure that you don't suffer a major statistical letdown at his position.
Players like Moore and Olsen deserve Fantasy lineup consideration when you have to utilize a deeper streamer. Deciding when to use an upside or decent statistical floor play will depend on matchups and recent trends. The potency of the Seahawks passing game makes them both capable of filling your streaming needs in any week.
Week 7 Waiver Wire Targets
Players listed in order of preference for acquisition at each position
Running Backs
Boston Scott, Eagles (3.7 percent rostered on NFL.com): Miles Sanders is out because of a knee issue, so Scott should again be the lead Fantasy producer candidate in a time share situation. He will get some goal line chances and can also contribute in the passing game. On Thursday, he faces the Giants, who rank 24th in Fantasy Points Per Game vs. RBs.
J.D. McKissic, Washington (2.9): We recommended the former Seahawk in this space last week, yet he remains widely available. He totaled 84 yards from scrimmage on Sunday and has scored over 25 points in the past two weeks, so you can't leave him on free agency any longer.
JaMycal Hasty, 49ers (zero percent): The electric Raheem Mostert is unfortunately headed to injured reserve because of an ankle injury. Hasty served the Niners well in late relief of Hasty, totaling 37 yards on nine carries. San Francisco does not rely on one running back, so Hasty has the potential to contribute in a time share. But keep a close watch on this situation, as a healthy Jeff Wilson could also figure into the mix for San Francisco.
Gus Edwards, Ravens (0.7 percent): Baltimore has a bye this week, but Mark Ingram has an ankle injury that can make his status uncertain for Week 8. Edwards carried 14 times in Week 6 and scored. There is a chance he could be useful as a streaming option next week, so he is worth the forward-looking pickup.
Wide Receivers
Christian Kirk, Cardinals (41): He is truly emerging as the top receiving option for Kyler Murray opposite DeAndre Hopkins. Kirk caught an 80-yard bomb on Monday night as one of his two scores, and he has scored in increasing double figures in Fantasy points in each of the past three games (10.90, 12.80, 22.60 on NFL.com). Kirk was the fifth-highest scoring Fantasy WR of Week 6.
Tim Patrick, Broncos (18.4): For further convincing, Patrick registered his second consecutive 100-yard outing in Week 6, yet he remains widely available. This is likely a last chance for many players to add Patrick, who is for real. He has always flashed potential for making tough grabs and timely plays in the past, and has taken advantage of his opportunity to play more.
Henry Ruggs, Raiders (34.8): In his return to action in Week 5, Ruggs finished with 118 yards, scoring on a 72-yard TD reception. Because of previous time missed and a bye week, he has went unclaimed in many leagues. You have to acquire Ruggs before he starts exploding for more big plays.
Demarcus Robinson, Chiefs (0.8): He has stepped forward in the past when injuries called for him to do so, and Robinson caught five passes for 69 yards on Monday. Patrick Mahomes will not hesitate to gun the ball to Robinson from anywhere on the field. He has shown trust in Robinson before in all types of situations.
Tight Ends
Trey Burton, Colts (0.6): He was the third-highest scoring TE of Week 6, with 21.9 points and two TDs. Philip Rivers has long shown an affinity for tight ends, and Burton is his top target at that position right now.
Irv Smith, Vikings (2.0): This rising, promising pass-catcher has nearly 25 Fantasy points in his past two games.
Quarterbacks
Carson Wentz, Eagles (57.4): He was dropped in many leagues, yet he was the third-highest scoring QB of Week 6 and has scored 20-plus points in three of his past four games.
Derek Carr, Raiders (20.8): This is another QB who has posted 20-plus points in three of his past four games. Carr is overlooked and the return of Ruggs has boosted his outlook.
Week 7 Defensive Streamers
Kansas City is a solid choice vs. Denver. ... Philadelphia is a quality option vs. the Giants. .. Washington is underrated and a good play vs. Dallas
Week 7 Fantasy Lineup Considerations
Mike Williams may find the end zone again vs. Jacksonville. … Tee Higgins has TD promise vs. Cleveland. … Travis Fulgham will continue his breakout stretch vs. the Giants. … Laviska Shenault is worth streaming consideration vs. the Chargers. …David Johnson should find the end zone vs. the Packers. … Ronald Jones may hit 100 yards again vs. the Raiders. … Devin Singletary is a quality flex option vs. the Jets. … D'Andre Swift should be locked in as a flex play/low-end RB2, as he came on strong in Week 6. … Gardner Minshew will continue to be aggressive vs. the Chargers. … Ben Roethlisberger will bounce back vs. Tennessee. … Dalton Schultz is a viable starter vs. Washington. … Robert Tonyan is a strong option vs. Houston.
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