On this week’s special edition of the fantasy football waiver wire, we have five players that should be rostered in your league heading into Week 7. However, what makes it special is that this week is featuring all rookies who are breaking out of their shells and showing stand-alone production for their teams whether due to talent or injury. All five of these guys will be players that in a few short weeks, you will be glad that you decided to roster before your league mates.
Roschon Johnson, RB, Chicago Bears
Roschon Johnson left the Bears game early last week with a concussion and didn’t return. In the last two weeks, Johnson has posted far below-average lines of just eight carries for 32 yards and one reception for two yards in two weeks combined. However, Johnson finds himself on this list because Khalil Herbert also went down with a high-ankle sprain that will likely keep him out for multiple weeks. This will be Johnson’s time to snag the touches and prove he was just a shadow of Bijan Robinson at Texas.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Tennessee Titans
Tyjae Spears has slowly been climbing the rankings of running backs in the NFL. He ended Week 1 as the RB53 and just 3.80 points. In Week 2, he was the RB32 with 7.50 points. By Week 4, he was the RB29 with 8.80 points, and last week, he was the RB9 with 16.90 points all while Derrick Henry was healthy and playing. Spears is carving out stand-alone value for himself in fantasy. He has seven carries for 34 yards and a house call along with four receptions on five targets for 35 yards. He was the third-most targeted player on the roster Sunday behind DeAndre Hopkins and Chig Okonkwo.
Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Josh Downs, a former UNC product, has shown flashes of production this season. It wasn’t until Week 3 that we saw Downs make an impact hauling in eight receptions on 12 targets for 57 yards. He went silent again in Week 4 before emerging for a big game last weekend with six receptions for 97 yards. He has yet to find the endzone this year either. The injury to Anthony Richardson might have an impact on his role, but he is becoming the true WR2 behind Michael Pittman. It’s only a matter of time before he is FLEX-eligible.
Quentin Johnston, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Quentin Johnston is on a bye week in Week 5 so you might have another week before he becomes on players’ radar. Johnston is coming out of a bye week after getting a full week’s rest and time to emerge as the No. 2 guy for Justin Herbert. In Week 3, Mike Williams went down with a season-ending injury and I said that Johnston would fill his shoes. That did not seem the case in Week 4 as he saw just one reception on three targets. However, I am here giving him one more shot on my roster and you should take advantage before he explodes in the coming week.
Michael Mayer, TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Michael Mayer has done absolutely nothing this season for the Las Vegas Raiders. In fact, in Weeks 1-4, he totaled just 3.20 points on one reception for two yards with two targets in all four weeks. Well, Jimmy Garoppolo finally figured out that his second-round tight end out of Notre Dame was present in the team’s Monday Night win over Green Bay. Mayer saw three targets and pulled in two receptions for 39 yards, all career highs. He will now have a chance to capitalize on the progress with a Week 6 matchup against New England. Might I add as well, Mayer’s schedule against defenses softens up tremendously after this matchup which should only bolster your confidence in his abilities.
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