Well, Week 6 wasn't especially kind to fantasy managers with yet another slew of critical injuries impacting multiple weeks. What's worse is it either directly impacted some of the top fantasy players (Emeka Egbuka, Puka Nacua) or created even more confusing fantasy situations. Complicating matters even further is the dreaded Byemaggedon, where over Weeks 8 and 9, 10 teams have a bye. More power to you if you're able to prepare ahead of time, but for just about every one of my 17 leagues, I'm flying by the seat of my pants one week at a time.
Looking to upgrade your roster? Check out our trade analyzer and stay in the know with breaking news that drives every deal.
For the audio and video component of the article, I also went through a fully developed list on the RotoWire YouTube channel that you can view below.
Teams with Week 7 Bye: 
Bills and 
Ravens
Tuesday Update: Luther Burden, Luke McCaffrey
Wednesday Update: Josh Reynolds, Jack Bech
Thursday Update: Michael Wilson, Luke McCaffrey
Quarterback
Michael Penix, Falcons - This article will be published ahead of Monday's difficult matchup against the Bills, but regardless of what happens in that marquee contest this might be as good as it gets for streaming options. Sterling waiver wire options like Sam Darnold (against the Texans), Jaxson Dart (against the Broncos) and Tua Tagovailoa (Browns) have difficult opponents, making Penix effectively the last man standing for bye-week needy teams looking to replace Josh Allen. FAAB: 3 percent if you need a starter for multiple weeks
Bryce Young, Panthers - In a similar vein to the above blurb, Young gets a Jets defense that has yielded a plethora of points whenever it plays in the States. I don't particularly trust Young, but the potential return of Jalen Coker (quadriceps) could help matters too. FAAB: Post-waiver pickup in shallower leagues
Running Back
Bam Knight, Cardinals - Oh, so you thought you were done being annoyed with the Arizona backfield? Guess again! Despite Michael Carter accumulating plenty of counting stats in the Week 5 loss to the Titans, coach Jonathan Gannon evidently was not pleased with the former Jet and turned to ... another former Jet, in practice squad call-up Knight, to resurrect a defunct rushing attack. That the starting RB switch was announced late Sunday morning was predictably a headache for fantasy managers, and while Carter at least salvaged the day with 64 total yards, it wasn't as if Knight was particularly impressive in his own right (11 for 34 and a touchdown). The availability of Kyler Murray (foot) muddies the water in Arizona, even more especially with a Week 8 bye looming as additional recovery time. I assume Carter will be much more useful against the Packers as a pass-catching specialist, but the incarnate spinning wheel of whim known as Jonathan Gannon means any live body is a speculative play for the Cardinals. FAAB: 7 percent of FAAB
Kimani Vidal, Chargers - I guess if you read this article last week Monday and listened to none of my subsequent conversations throughout the week, you'd feel pretty pleased to get the leg up on this controversial backfield. After we learned Omarion Hampton would miss at minimum Week 6 against the Dolphins (and now longer after landing on injured reserve due to an ankle injury), Daniel Popper from The Athletic, in my mind one of the best beat reporters in the country, suggested Hassan Haskins was "next man up" in the backfield. Vidal, who admittedly had done little in similar opportunities last year for a larger share of the workload, must not have the coaching staff's confidence I figured. There was a bunch of coach speak during the week about a split backfield, and then on gameday Haskins was hinted as the preferred starter. So naturally Vidal erupts for 138 yards and a touchdown in a massive win over the Dolphins while Haskins compiles just 23 yards as a clear afterthought. I still believe the Chargers could trade for a backup, but Sunday's performance alone, particularly as a pass catcher, might have solidified a longer leash for the second-year back. He's rostered already in 31 percent of leagues, but even in 10-team leagues, Vidal needs to be picked up everywhere. FAAB: 34 percent if somehow available
Wide Receiver
Zay Jones, Cardinals - Marvin Harrison left Sunday's loss to the Cardinals early with a concussion. Harrison doesn't have a significant history with concussions so he could be available Week 7, but with the Cardinals on bye the following week, it's unclear how quickly he'll return. Jones stepped up in his absence, recording five receptions for 79 yards on eight targets, but that volume could dissipate against a Packers secondary that has done well against slower, smaller boundary targets. FAAB: Could go up to three percent if news about Harrison is negative
Michael Wilson, Cardinals - As of Thursday, Marvin Harrison remains limited in practice due to a concussion and Zay Jones (above) hasn't practiced due to a knee injury. It might literally be last man standing for Wilson, who will see enough volume in a game against the Packers to warrant WR3 upside if the aforementioned players are unable to suit up. FAAB: Desperate last resort
Jordan Whittington, Rams - Puka Nacua suffered an ankle injury that likely keeps him out this week with the Rams on bye in Week 8. Tutu Atwell suffered a hamstring injury during practice last week that kept him out of the Rams' win against the Ravens, so the next man up might be Whittington, who saw a big uptick in playing time Sunday. I've liked Whittington as a prospect specifically in Sean McVay's scheme, as he's a willing blocker and can be good after the catch, but I have almost zero confidence he'll actually get volume despite the increased routes. That said, he should be on the waiver-wire radar. FAAB: Post-waiver pickup
Tez Johnson and Kameron Johnson, Buccaneers - I suspect this won't quite be on the level of name shenanigans like when the fantasy community had to decipher between the Bears' Adrian Peterson and the Vikings' Adrian Peterson, but the facts are important to lay out when sorting out who to roster between Johnson and Johnson (not a law firm).
A) Baker Mayfield is thriving despite facing adverse circumstances.
B) Chris Godwin (fibula) could be out an extended time and may be joined by Emeka Egbuka, who suffered a hamstring injury in Sunday's win.
C) Mike Evans might return from his multi-game absence due to a hamstring injury, but the Buccaneers might play this one ultra safe given the comical level of injuries.
D) Tampa Bay's Week 7 opponent, Detroit, is potentially missing four of its preferred starting secondary players and likely won't have Brian Branch available due to stupidity.
All right, with all that in front of us, Tez Johnson has seen the largest playing time bump with the litany of injuries playing at least 20 offensive snaps each of the prior three weeks before earning a season-high 36 snaps Sunday. Tez has also compiled seven targets the last two weeks and capitalized on the blown coverage to snare a difficult 45-yard touchdown to effectively put the game away against San Fran. Kameron Johnson, usually the team's top returner, surprisingly saw four targets and looked good after the catch as well. Then there's Jalen McMillan, who is eligible to return off injured reserve, but was still in a neck brace earlier this week. I think Tez is the first target I'd look to, but there could possibly be leagues where Kameron is also worth considering too. Good grief this is a mess. FAAB: Tez Johnson three percent, Kameron Johnson post-waiver pickup in deep leagues
Luther Burden, Bears - The rookie is rostered in just 12 percent of Yahoo leagues, but that feels like a bit of a false flag given he's picked up in basically any league I'm in that has moderate-sized benches. I never bought the premise DJ Moore was a potential trade candidate, which would have in theory opened up more run for Burden, but after the veteran was hospitalized for a groin injury following Monday's win, the 2025 second-round pick could be poised for more playing time. I wasn't a major fan of Burden's as a prospect, but I have such confidence in Ben Johnson, especially scheming up opportunities for YAC and that's undeniably a skillset of Burden's when given volume. He's worth a speculative bid especially with his bye week past. FAAB: 2 percent of budget
Luke McCaffrey, Commanders - I have to assume once Terry McLaurin returns from a multi-week absence due to a quadriceps injury we'll see the second-year wide receiver disappear. Until that point, McCaffrey has become a pseudo Nick Westbrook-Ikhine from last year scoring a touchdown in three of the past four weeks. That's all McCaffrey is doing, however, and he's only averaging about 40 percent of the offensive snaps too. Washington also gets a juicy matchup against a horrendous Dallas defense this week. FAAB: Post waiver-wire pickup
Josh Reynolds, Jets - I don't know what level of desperation someone might have to stoop to in order to consider starting any wide receiver, but I consider this the most psychotic waiver wire article in the fantasy sphere and I'll be damned if we don't at least mention it here. I really only like Mason Taylor as a possible pass-catching threat for Justin Fields, but if there was a wide receiver that emerges out of this dumpster, I think it's probably Reynolds. FAAB: I hope you don't need to
Jack Bech, Raiders - There's a lot of smoke around a Jakobi Meyers trade, and while I don't know why the Raiders would suddenly entertain a trade now when the veteran's value is at its lowest, it does sound like a very Raiders thing to do. I think Tre Tucker will (fairly) be the presumed target getter in the event Meyers is traded, but Bech has already been trending up a bit more in playing time and comes with the sort of draft capital that might make the Raiders force him on to the field. I was never a Bech fan coming out of college, but it costs you literally nothing to speculate on it right now. FAAB: 0 percent of budget
Luke McCaffrey: McCaffrey has been a frequent addition to this article during the week given the injuries to Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) and Deebo Samuel (heel). I have no idea who is ultimately going to play for Washington, but if the above options are out, McCaffrey elevates to a nice enough role against a defense that's easily among the worst in the league. FAAB: 0 percent of budget
Tight End
Harold Fannin, Browns - David Njoku left Sunday's loss to the Steelers with a knee injury. Fannin was already playing 75 percent of the offensive snaps, so there won't be a playing time bump, but if Dillon Gabriel is only comfortable throwing in the middle of the field for five yards, one less target to occupy that zone is beneficial for the rookie. Fannin joins a list of it feels like seven tight ends who max out at TE8 on a week-to-week basis in PPR leagues. FAAB: 8 percent of FAAB
Oronde Gadsden, Chargers - Hey look, another member of the list! Gadsden is obviously in a better offense and isn't blocked by potential competition, but the Chargers have so many other prominent red-zone targets, and just overall explosive capabilities, that I wouldn't even call him my favorite TE pickup this week. FAAB: 6 percent of FAAB
Michael Mayer, Raiders - Mayer probably constitutes the top TE waiver wire pickup for me, but it's risky because Brock Bowers (knee) could technically play. The Raiders have a bye next week, so it seems silly to trot out the All-Pro after how severely limited he's looked this season, but Las Vegas is an unserious franchise, so I won't rule it out. It's not a particularly easy matchup for Mayer if Bowers is eventually sidelined, but I do think the 2023 second-round pick is a capable pass catcher and could be in for plenty of volume if Geno Smith falters once again. FAAB: 6 percent or higher if one-week starter needed
