Preemptive Strike: Week 6

If you’re 0-5 it’s time to shake things up and make some trades or be a shark on the waiver wire. Being ahead of your league mates will be more important than ever for Week 7 because we have six teams on bye (Panthers, Bengals, Cowboys, Jets, Titans, and Texans). This week’s edition of Preemptive Strike is going to be a quick-hitting addition, so let’s kick into to gear.

Quarterbacks

Jordan Love, QB Packers 64% Rostered

Jordan Love had his worst performance of the season in Week 5 and is on bye this week. There is a good chance that the Love owner dropped him in your league. If you can, add him now because next week he will face the Broncos who are allowing the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. 

Daniel Jones, QB Giants 46% Rostered

What’s good about adding Daniel Jones now is that he is ruled out for Week 6 already, so you can add him and place him on IR for the week and then pick up someone else. If he returns from his injury prior to next week’s game versus the Commanders you will be sitting pretty. Washington is allowing the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season so add him now. If you’re in a super-flex you may want to consider adding Tyrod Taylor for deeper leagues this week and just in case Jones remains out for next week. 

Sam Howell, QB Commanders 37% Rostered

As mentioned above the Commanders face the Giants, therefore you may want to add Sam Howell now for free. Howell is coming off a career performance with 388 passing yards and two touchdowns. Whether you need a quarterback or have one on bye next, Howell must be rostered in all league formats.

Baker Mayfield, QB Buccaneers 27% Rostered

Baker Mayfield has been surprisingly good this season. Most fantasy managers didn’t even consider drafting him before the season. He even scored 30 fantasy points against the mighty Saints' defense before his bye last week. Consider adding him now since he faces the Falcons in Week 7.

Kyler Murray, QB Cardinals 24% Rostered

Kyler Murray should be rostered and stashed on IR until he returns. Especially in two-quarterback and super-flex leagues.

Malik Cunningham, QB Patriots  0% 

The Patriots are very much in need of a spark on offense and have finally decided to pull the trigger and sign Malik Cunningham off the practice squad. Cunningham is an athletic/versatile player who can be an offensive weapon not only for the Patriots but for fantasy managers in deep two-quarterback and super-flex leagues.

Running Backs

Check to see if these running backs are available to add first: Jaylen Warren 59% Rostered, Roschon Johnson 54% Rostered, Antonio Gibson 54% Rostered, Jeff Wilson Jr. 53% Rostered, and Zach Charbonnet 50% Rostered. 

Tyjae Spears, RB Titans 48% Rostered

Although Tyjae Spears is on bye in Week 7, he has been steadily getting increased work in the Titans backfield and is a dual-threat on offense. Derrick Henry is still the lead dog but Spears is getting it done and must be rostered in all league formats.

Chubba Hubbard, RB Panthers 45% Rostered

If you need a running back this week stop reading this and go pick up Chubba Hubbard now off waivers. Miles Sanders is ruled out for Week 6 and Hubbard is set to receive the majority of the work. Raheem Blackshear is a name to consider adding to your deeper league formats. Unfortunately, the Panthers are on bye in Week 7 but at least Hubbard is a solution for you to get the win this week.

D’Onta Foreman, RB Bears 41% Rostered

Another running back to consider adding not only for Week 7 but for this week as well is D’Onta Foreman. The Bears placed Khalil Herbert on IR this week and Roschon Johnson is still recovering from a concussion. Foreman is set to receive all the work in this Bears’ backfield.

Keaton Mitchell, RB Ravens 23% Rostered

Keaton Mitchell is a name you better remember and add now while you can. Mitchell is an undrafted rookie free agent who made the Ravens' 53-man final roster but suffered a shoulder injury and has been on IR since the start of the season. He has more juice than Gus Edwards, Justice Hill, and Melvin Gordon and was just activated from IR. Add him now and thank me later.

Keaontay Ingram, RB Cardinals 18% Rostered

When James Conner was placed on IR earlier this week, everyone rushed to pick up Emari Demercado off waivers, and rightfully so. But many have forgotten that the running back that is sitting on top of the depth chart now is Keaotay Ingram. Ingram was out due to a neck injury. Ingram is not on the injury report anymore and is ready to suit up for the Cardinals this week, so add him if you need a running back.

Here are other running backs to add and stash in deeper leagues: Kendre Miller 16% Rostered, Tank Bigsby 17% Rostered, Salvon Ahmed 16% Rostered, Jordan Mason 3% Rostered, Ronnie Rivers 2% Rostered, Sean Tucker 1% Rostered, and Chris Brooks 1% Rostered. 

Wide Receivers

Check to see if these wide receivers are available to add first: KJ Osborn 65%, Tank Dell 61% Rostered, Josh Palmer 56% Rostered, and Tutu Atwell 56% Rostered. 

Jameson Williams, WR Lions

Jameson Williams had his six-game suspension shortened by two weeks and got his feet wet in Week 5. Williams is a stud and he will start making his presence felt in this offense soon enough. Add him now while you can.

Jaxon Smith-Njiba, WR Seahawks 49% Rostered

If a fantasy manager dropped Jaxon Smith-Njiba last week due to his bye, snatch him up now, because I feel that Smith-Njiba will start being more involved in the offense. And should either D.K. Metcalf or Tyler Lockett suffer an injury then look out.

Curtis Samuel, WR Commanders 33% Rostered

The forgotten man in the Commanders’ wide receiving core has probably been the most consistent over the last couple of weeks. Curtis Samuel is that man. He has scored over 18 fantasy points in the last two weeks and gets the Giants in Week 7. 

Quentin Johnston, WR Chargers 31% Rostered

With Mike Williams out for the season, the door is open for talented rookie Quentin Johnston to get targets and make plays for the rest of the season. 

Here are other wide receivers to add and stash in deeper leagues: Josh Downs 31% Rostered, Michael Wilson 24% Rostered, Chase Claypool 10% Rostered, and Tyquan Thornton 1% Rostered. 

Tight Ends

Check to see if these tight ends are available to add first: Logan Thomas 57% Rostered, Dalton Kincaid 53% Rostered, and Zach Ertz 53% Rostered. 

Luke Musgrave, TE Packers 19% Rostered

Pickings may be slim at tight end since most of the tight ends I have been touting are now rostered in over 50% but  Luke Musgrave was targeted seven times before this week’s bye. With so many teams on bye, you may need to reach for this one and pray for it to work out.

Jonnu Smith, TE  Falcons 18% Rostered

I must say even with Kyle Pitts on the roster, it’s pretty amazing that Jonnu Smith has averaged close to eight targets and 10.9 fantasy points per contest over the last four weeks. Smith is a must-add in deeper league formats.

Michael Mayer, TE Raiders 5% Rostered

Dalton Kincaid and Sam LaPorta have got most of the love so far but now fellow rookie Michael Mayer is starting to get in on the fun. Mayer had a career-high of two receptions for 39 tards. With so many teams on bye next week some fantasy managers that are in deeper leagues may be desperate at tight end. Mayer at least has a favorable match-up in Week 7 with the Bears who are allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to tight ends this season.

Streaming Defenses for Week 7

Seattle Seahawks Defense has the Cardinals coming to town in Week 7.

Washington Commanders Defense plays the Giants in Week 7.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense tangles with the Falcons at home next week.

What players are you looking to add prior to this week's game? If you would like to discuss this or have any fantasy football questions feel free to reach out to me on X @smooth1074.