4 waiver wire quarterbacks you should add for Week 7

Last week’s column brought you the QB1, QB15, QB16, and QB21. Let’s see if we can’t beat that this week.

Sam Darnold, NYJ QB (vs. MIN)

9% owned in Yahoo! Leagues, 6.4% owned in ESPN Leagues

Sam Darnold has turned in usable fantasy performances in each of the last two weeks and now faces a Minnesota Vikings defense that has been vulnerable through the air, to all quarterbacks not named Josh Rosen. Even Josh Allen posted legit fantasy numbers against the Vikings, back in Week 3. Although it’s fair to point out Allen did most of his damage with his legs, the last solid passing offense the Vikings faced (Philadelphia) racked up 5 touchdowns through the air. Don’t sleep on Darnold this week.

Mitchell Trubisky, CHI QB (vs. NE)

29% owned in Yahoo! Leagues, 32.8% owned in ESPN Leagues

A repeat-resident on the Waiver Wire QB list, Mitchell Trubisky kept his hot streak going after the team’s Week 5 bye, throwing for 316 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT last week against Miami. Tarik Cohen’s increased usage in the passing game along the narrowing of the target-tree (a hyper-efficient Taylor Gabriel has caught 12 of 12 targets in the last two games – solidifying himself as a reliable go-to No. 2 target for the young signal-caller) has driven up Trubisky’s aerial abilities. Trubisky’s rushing floor has been a factor in all but 1 game this season (Week 3 against Arizona). Outside of that contest, he’s posted rushing totals of 32, 24, 53, and 47 yards – the latter two being the most recent. He added a rushing score in Week 1.

Michael Lombardi and Evan Silva, boosted by Josh Hermsmeyer’s game-speed tracking data, have made it a point to highlight New England’s defensive Kryptonite: speed. The Patriots have a very slow defense, and opposing offensive speedsters have been thrashing them all season-long. Trubisky’s rushing ability combined with the newly utilized receiving-game playmakers, like Gabriel and Cohen, bode well for Chicago’s Week 7 date at home against New England.

Joe Flacco, BAL QB (vs. NO)

27% owned in Yahoo! Leagues, 18.7% owned in ESPN Leagues

Joe Flacco has posted back-to-back duds over the last two weeks, facing both Cleveland and Tennessee on the road. Despite decent yardage totals, his lack of touchdown production (just 1 passing TD) has burned us. Fortunately, he has a home date against the Saints this week, which should result in a solid, Top 15 fantasy QB finish. His ceiling is likely capped at the low-end QB1 mark, but that’s fine for streaming purposes.

Baker Mayfield, CLE QB (at TB)

42% owned in Yahoo! Leagues, 42.7% owned in ESPN Leagues

Baker Mayfield injured his ankle last week, but the injury is not considered to be serious and he should see a normal passing workload this week against the league’s worst pass defense. Tampa Bay is allowing 355 passing yards per game. They’ve allowed 16 passing touchdowns and tallied just 1 interception – all worst in the league. Confidently fire up Mayfield and as a QB1 this week.