Germie Bernard and the Best Week 7 Fantasy Football Waiver-Wire Pickups

The 2026 fantasy football regular season is reaching the halfway mark, making Week 7 an ideal time to review your lineup and make some significant adjustments.

Sleepers and breakout candidates who haven't seen the field or contributed with any regularity should be long gone at this point. Potential stars who should have produced by now—such as Cam Skattebo and Brian Thomas Jr.—can also go. Tying up valuable roster spots with these disappointing players is no longer reasonable, not with so many consistent performers and high-upside players still up for grabs in free agency.

Although there may not be many clear league-winners lurking in the free-agent pool right now, there is still tons of talent worth turning over the bottom of your roster for. With that in mind, let's highlight the top waiver-wire targets for Week 7.

Suggestions are available in approximately half or more of all Yahoo! Sports leagues. Fantasy points and rankings courtesy of FantasyPros ' PPR data. Suggested free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) bids are based on a $100 starting budget.

Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings (51 Percent Rostered)

Murray hasn't been putting up QB1-tier numbers over his first four games with the Vikings, but he did deliver his best performance of 2026 right before the team's Week 6 bye.

That 18.3-point effort in a win over the New Orleans Saints makes him an intriguing option for managers searching for a quarterback upgrade.

All the pieces are in place for Murray to build on his season-best showing. Justin Jefferson (ankle) returned to the lineup in Week 5 after missing a game and posted a 6/79/1 line on seven targets, while tight end T.J. Hockenson (concussion) should be back after an explosive 13-catch, 119-receiving yard showing in his last full game.

These weapons, coupled with Murray's rushing ability, provide a safe fantasy floor.

The schedule is also highly favorable for the signal-caller. Minnesota is set to square off against several weak defenses in the coming month, starting with the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7. After that comes a pair of teams in the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills that both rank bottom-three in fantasy points allowed to opposing passers.

For this reason, Murray is the best waiver choice for managers needing a longer-term option at the QB position.

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (42 Percent Rostered)

Rodgers has become a dependable fantasy option, recording four consecutive top-12 finishes entering Week 7. Although his latest performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wasn't his most efficient, he still helped his managers with another low-end QB1 showing.

The veteran completed a season-high 33 of 49 pass attempts for 253 yards and two touchdowns in Week 6, finishing with 17 fantasy points. While his 5.2 yards per attempt left something to be desired, Rodgers slung the rock enough to move the needle.

Expect the 42-year-old to continue airing it out when the Steelers take on the New Orleans Saints in Paris this weekend. The contest has the makings of a high-scoring affair, setting Rodgers up to work as a strong one-week rental before landing back on the free-agent scrap heap during his Week 8 bye.

J.J. McCarthy, New York Giants (1 Percent Rostered)

McCarthy saw his first extended action as a Giant on Sunday, coming in to relieve an ineffective Jameis Winston.

Even more shocking, the third-year QB's presence provided a massive offensive spark, with McCarthy leading a remarkable fourth-quarter comeback attempt that brought the G-Men within a touchdown after trailing by 24 points.

Despite playing just a single quarter, McCarthy completed 11 of 21 passes for 243 yards, one touchdown and one interception, adding 26 rushing yards on two carries. He delivered a surprising top-12 fantasy finish, demonstrating the upside that made him a top-10 pick in the 2024 draft.

Head coach John Harbaugh has thus far declined to name a starter for a Week 7 battle against the Houston Texans, but McCarthy should get serious consideration after such an impressive display.

Managers in deeper formats seeking a high-upside passer could do worse than rolling the dice on McCarthy earning New York's QB1 role and performing at a high level in the back half of the season.

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints (34 Percent Rostered)

Miller is the healthiest Saints running back right now, with Travis Etienne Jr. languishing on the IR and Alvin Kamara nursing a back injury. That availability and opportunity make him one of the top waiver-wire targets for Week 7.

While Kamara did play in Week 6 and salvaged his day with a touchdown reception, the veteran star spent some time in the blue medical tent and had just nine touches in total. Miller was the preferred rushing option for much of Sunday's win over the New York Giants, generating 70 yards on a season-high 20 totes.

Miller doesn't get many looks in the passing game, is mostly utilized on early downs and will likely experience a huge workload reduction once Etienne returns, but that won't be until Week 9 at the earliest.

Even with those limitations and his potentially short-lived role, Miller's projected workload over the next few weeks makes him a strong volume-based flex play for desperate managers seeking to patch a lineup hole.

Jonah Coleman, Denver Broncos (29 Percent Rostered)

Coleman was a marquee waiver target in the wake of a breakout Week 2 performance, but wound up landing on the IR just days later due to a high-ankle sprain. Now that he's finally eligible to return, the Broncos RB could be a sneaky strong addition on the Week 7 waiver wire.

Denver desperately needs a playmaker to emerge after its bottom-10 offense mustered a pitiful 168 yards this past week. The team is averaging fewer than 85 yards per game on the ground this season and hasn't been able to get anything consistent going with the tandem of J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey leading the backfield.

Expect Coleman to get ample opportunity to energize this rushing attack if he returns against the Arizona Cardinals as expected. Coleman amassed a respectable 58 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries against a historically strong Jacksonville Jaguars opponent in his last appearance and could feast against a much-weaker Arizona front.

Samaje Perine, Cincinnati Bengals (5 Percent Rostered)

Chase Brown managers have reason for concern after Perine's performance in Week 5. He helped compensate for Brown's lackluster production and could see an expanded role when Cincinnati returns from its Week 6 bye.

Perine was the most effective Bengals running back during the team's most recent outing, turning his 14 carries into 68 yards while adding 10 yards and a score on two receptions. Brown saw an equal number of touches in that 31-24 win over the Miami Dolphins, but only gained 60 yards in total and failed to find pay dirt.

It remains to be seen if Cincinnati will continue to divvy up the touches equally between the two backs, but Perine should be rostered and even deserves some flex consideration in Week 7 due to his upside in a timeshare.

Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants (4 Percent Rostered)

The G-Men shocked the fantasy world with their soft benching of Cam Skattebo in Sunday's clash against the New Orleans Saints.

With the star sophomore seeing action on just six offensive plays (a 7.8 percent offensive snap share that was far below the 64.6 percent he was averaging over the first five weeks) and failing to log a single touch, a path was cleared for Tracy's return to prominence.

Tracy seized the opportunity, finishing a 34-27 loss with 18 rushing yards plus a touchdown on six totes and catching two of his three targets for 27 receiving yards and another score.

While Tracy's 18.5-point fantasy day was inefficient and largely buoyed by a pair of TDs, he's still worth deploying while Skattebo is stuck in head coach John Harbaugh's doghouse.

Don't invest too heavily here, though, as Skattebo returning to his usual role would quickly render Tracy—who had just seven carries over the first five weeks—irrelevant for fantasy purposes.

Germie Bernard, Pittsburgh Steelers (50 Percent Rostered)

Bernard was a trendy waiver pickup at this time last week thanks to a promising Week 5 performance, but Sunday's 25.7-point explosion makes him a must-add in just about every format he's still available in.

The rookie cemented his status as Pittsburgh's top wideout during an 11-catch, 87-receiving yard, one-touchdown Week 6 performance. He even reeled in the game-winning score in overtime, showing he's fully earned the trust of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and won't shrink from the spotlight.

After racking up 20 targets and 40.1 fantasy points over the past two weeks, Bernard should be considered a low-end WR2 for his Week 7 bout against the New Orleans Saints.

While he'll be out on bye the following week, the rookie will be a big contributor for the remainder of the season and should be your top priority waiver target if you need any help whatsoever at the WR position.

Jordyn Tyson, New Orleans Saints (49 Percent Rostered)

This is the last call on Tyson, who is still available in just over half of all leagues despite his sky-high ceiling and potential to return as early as Week 7.

Saints head coach Kellen Moore revealed that Tyson made the trip to Paris on Monday morning, setting the stage for a possible debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

While only truly desperate managers will want to roll the dice on Tyson making a fantasy impact this week, he's the perfect stash candidate for those who can free up a bench spot for the next couple weeks. Once he's through his Week 8 bye, Tyson's talent and upside in a high-octane New Orleans offensive system should make the No. 8 overall pick a plug-and-play WR3 with WR2 potential for the remainder of the campaign.

Keenan Allen, Indianapolis Colts (47 Percent Rostered)

Allen has turned back the clock during his brief stint in Indianapolis. The 34-year-old has garnered at least five targets in all five games he's been active for and continues to gain steam as the season wears on.

A groin injury kept him out in Week 4, but Allen is firmly back on the fantasy radar after generating 20 targets over the last two weeks and achieving season highs with eight receptions and 82 receiving yards during Sunday's loss to the Tennessee Titans.

While some of this increased production can be attributed to the absence of star tight end Tyler Warren, Allen has emerged as Indy's most trustworthy wideout and a clear favorite for QB Daniel Jones to target.

As one of the few consistent contributors in Indianapolis' offense, Allen should remain fantasy-relevant—especially if deep threat Alec Pierce continues to miss time with his heel injury.

With Allen's rostership approaching 50 percent, managers looking for a reliable receiver should consider adding him before his availability shrinks further.

Omar Cooper Jr., New York Jets (4 Percent Rostered)

Cooper's rookie campaign hit a snag when he picked up a high-ankle sprain in the opener, but he made his triumphant return from a four-week IR stint on Sunday. The Indiana product hit the ground running and consistently flashed the elite talent that led Gang Green to draft him in the first round.

Cooper exploded for 103 yards and a touchdown on six catches, adding some much-needed punch to a passing game that had stagnated without him. The 22-year-old led New York in targets, receptions and receiving yardage during a 26-19 defeat to the New England Patriots.

While he still needs to prove he can perform at this level on a consistent basis before fantasy managers can trust him as a reliable starter, Cooper has flex appeal for the Jets' upcoming clash with the Miami Dolphins.

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (52 Percent Rostered)

Although Henry started off the 2026 campaign on a low note, his reestablished chemistry with quarterback Drake Maye is resulting in steady TE1-tier numbers.

By hauling in four of his five targets for 48 yards and a touchdown against the New York Jets, Henry has now tallied double-digit fantasy point totals in three consecutive weeks and scored in back-to-back contests.

Even with A.J. Brown returning to the lineup and commanding a team-high 10 targets in Week 6, the veteran tight end still managed to achieve a respectable fantasy line—one that indicates he can continue producing at that level for the remainder of the season.

Henry hasn't finished worse than the TE16 since Week 3 and has a bright Week 7 outlook against a Chicago Bears defense that just got torched for two touchdowns by Kyle Pitts. Whether you need a one-week rental or a long-term starter, Henry is the best choice on waivers right now.

T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings (31 Percent Rostered)

Hockenson is one of the more intriguing tight ends you can scoop off waivers in Week 7.

The Vikings' veteran hasn't had a real opportunity to build on the explosive 24.9-point outing he put together in Week 4. Hockenson's TE1 momentum was stalled by a concussion suffered less than a minute into a Week 5 tilt against the New Orleans Saints, the final game before Minnesota's bye.

With Hockenson benefitting from an extra week to heal up, he should come out of the break strong against the Indianapolis Colts. Indy hasn't done well against tight ends recently—most notably allowing Pat Freiermuth to ring up a pair of touchdowns in Week 5—and will struggle to contain Hockenson if he rekindles the form he displayed when he was last healthy.

Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders (8 Percent Rostered)

Backup tight ends rarely generate anywhere close to the type of target volume required to be fantasy relevant, but Mayer is bucking the trend in 2026. He's well behind superstar Brock Bowers in the Raiders' hierarchy, but Mayer has emerged as a viable waiver target at a position largely bereft of consistent contributors.

Mayer is coming off his best game of the campaign, tallying 16.5 fantasy points and recording his second top-10 finish of the past three weeks. Vegas' potent tight end tandem each generated nine targets in Week 6, but Mayer's 7/95/0 line outshined the starter's 4/70/0 performance.

Although he doesn't have a high ceiling, Mayer has established a safe floor by finishing as the TE25 or better in five out of six contests in 2026. He's breached double-digits in fantasy points in three of his last four games, a string that could easily continue when the Raiders face the reeling Los Angeles Rams in Week 7.