Week 6 left the Eagles on their backup quarterback with Jalen Hurts on injured reserve (NFL.com recap), the Steelers beat Tampa Bay 26-19 in overtime on a Germie Bernard touchdown (NFL.com recap), and the 49ers held off Washington 23-17 on Monday night (NBC Sports). Mike Evans aggravated Achilles soreness and missed the second half, and Terry McLaurin left in the first quarter with a knee injury (NBC Sports). Free Agent Triage reads the week’s waiver columns, logs every name rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues, then checks each one against usage, injuries and the next three games. This week we could read full Week 7 columns from Yahoo Sports, Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated, NFL.com, DraftKings Network and FanDuel Research. Pages from FantasyPros, ESPN, CBS, Fantasy Life, Fantasy Points and The Fantasy Footballers were stale or unreadable when we published, so they are not cited.

Rankings are built for half-PPR, with PPR and standard notes where the format changes the call. Rostered percentages are Yahoo numbers from Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report unless a different platform is named. FAAB bids assume a $100 budget. Next-three schedules come from each team’s season page on Wikipedia, checked against the bye-week list at Fox Sports. Last week’s column is Free Agent Triage: Week 6.

1. Germie Bernard, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rostered: 50% (Yahoo) | FAAB: 18% | Next three: at NO (Paris), vs. CLE, bye (schedule), confirmed by Steelers Now

The case: Bernard caught 11 of 12 targets for 87 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay, including the overtime winner (NFL.com). He has 21 targets over his last two games (FanDuel Research). Michael Pittman Jr. and Roman Wilson are both on injured reserve (NFL.com).

Consensus check: Near-unanimous. Yahoo, Bleacher Report, SI, NFL.com, FanDuel and RotoBaller all list him. His rostered rate sits on the 50% line: Yahoo and Bleacher Report both say 50%, NFL.com says 44%, and SI says 58% on Sleeper, so check your league. Bleacher Report suggests $15 to $20.

Prognosis: Low-end WR2 for as long as the receiver room stays this thin. The Saints game is Sunday morning in Paris, and Pittsburgh is off in Week 9. In PPR he moves up a tier on volume alone. In standard he is a WR3 who needs the touchdowns to keep coming.

2. Omar Cooper Jr., WR, New York Jets

Rostered: 5% (Yahoo) | FAAB: 8% | Next three: vs. MIA, vs. LV, at KC (Wikipedia and FantasyData)

The case: The rookie returned from a four-week injured-reserve stint with six catches on seven targets for 103 yards and his first NFL touchdown in the 26-19 loss at New England (Yahoo, NFL.com recap). FanDuel has him running a route on 85% of dropbacks (FanDuel Research). Adonai Mitchell is week to week after a hand procedure, per the Jets.

Consensus check: Widely backed. Yahoo, Bleacher Report, SI, FanDuel and DraftKings list him. Yahoo says $11, Bleacher Report says $3 to $6, and SI has him at 13% on Sleeper.

Prognosis: Flex play against Miami. One big game does not make a trend, and Bleacher Report calls his consistency unproven. If Mitchell comes back, expect the target share to shrink. Same value in PPR, slightly less in standard.

3. Kendre Miller, RB, New Orleans Saints

Rostered: 34% (Yahoo) | FAAB: 6% | Next three: vs. PIT (Paris), bye, vs. CLE (schedule)

The case: Miller carried 20 times for 70 yards and had a team-high 22 touches in the 34-27 win over the Giants (NFL.com, SI). Travis Etienne Jr. is out, and Bleacher Report does not expect him back before Week 9. Alvin Kamara has a back issue but scored on nine touches, and NFL.com notes Kamara and Tyler Shough took the goal-line work (NFL.com).

Consensus check: Near-unanimous. Yahoo, Bleacher Report, SI, NFL.com and FanDuel list him, with bids from $4 to $7. NFL.com has him at 33%, SI at 47% on Sleeper.

Prognosis: Flex with one game before the Week 8 bye. He is best in standard, where his lack of receiving work matters less (Bleacher Report). He drops in PPR.

4. Keenan Allen, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Rostered: 47% (Yahoo) | FAAB: 5% | Next three: at MIN, at JAX, vs. DAL (schedule)

The case: Allen caught eight of 11 targets for 82 yards in the 26-20 loss to Tennessee (SI, NFL.com recap). Tyler Warren (groin) was inactive (NFL.com), and Bleacher Report lists Alec Pierce out with a heel injury.

Consensus check: Widely backed. Yahoo, Bleacher Report, SI and NFL.com list him. His rate runs from 39% at NFL.com to 47% at Yahoo and Bleacher Report, so he may already be gone.

Prognosis: WR3 while Warren and Pierce are out. SI notes he is 34. In PPR he is a safe flex. In standard he is a bench option.

5. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rostered: 42% (Yahoo) | FAAB: 2% | Next three: at NO (Paris), vs. CLE, bye (schedule)

The case: Rodgers has multiple touchdown passes and 230-plus yards in four straight games (NFL.com) and scored 17 or more fantasy points in each (SI). He threw for 253 yards and two scores in the overtime win (Bleacher Report).

Consensus check: Widely backed. Yahoo, Bleacher Report, SI and NFL.com list him. Rostered rates run from 26% at NFL.com to 57% on Sleeper at SI.

Prognosis: Two-week QB1 stream, then a bye. Bleacher Report points out he averaged only 5.2 yards per attempt on Sunday. In superflex, add him and hold.

6. Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB, New York Giants

Rostered: 4% (Yahoo) | FAAB: 3% | Next three: at HOU, bye, at PHI (schedule)

The case: Tracy had six carries for 18 yards and a touchdown, plus two catches for 27 yards and another score, on 26 snaps (Bleacher Report, SI). Cam Skattebo played six snaps with no carries after averaging 64.6% over the first five weeks (Bleacher Report, NFL.com recap).

Consensus check: Widely backed. Yahoo, Bleacher Report, SI, FanDuel and RotoBaller list him, and bids run from $1 to $3. SI says he shares work with Najee Harris and Devin Singletary, so this is not a clean takeover.

Prognosis: Speculative flex. Two touchdowns on eight touches will not repeat, and nobody has explained Skattebo’s snap drop. The Giants are off in Week 8. Same in PPR, a notch lower in standard.

7. Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Rostered: 12% (Yahoo) | FAAB: 5% | Next three: vs. CIN, at BUF, vs. JAX (schedule)

The case: Lane returned from a month on injured reserve (wrist) and caught four of five targets for 40 yards (NFL.com). Rashod Bateman left Week 6 with a shoulder injury (NFL.com). Baltimore lost 13-10 at Cleveland (NFL.com recap).

Consensus check: Widely backed. Yahoo, NFL.com, SI, FanDuel and RotoBaller list him. His rate is 10% at NFL.com and 26% on Sleeper at SI.

Prognosis: Flex only if Bateman misses time. NFL.com says Lamar Jackson may return this week, which would help the whole group. Yahoo says Jackson is expected back soon.

8. Michael Mayer, TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Rostered: 8% (Yahoo) | FAAB: 2% | Next three: vs. LAR, at NYJ, at SF (schedule)

The case: Mayer led the Raiders with seven catches on nine targets for 95 yards in the 33-30 loss to Buffalo, and has 12 or more fantasy points in three of his last four games (NFL.com, SI).

Consensus check: Widely backed. Yahoo, Bleacher Report, SI and NFL.com list him. NFL.com has him at 15% and SI at 16% on Sleeper.

Prognosis: Safe TE2 with TE1 weeks. He shares the field with Brock Bowers, so the ceiling is capped. PPR bumps him up, standard drops him a spot.

9. T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings

Rostered: 32% (Yahoo) | FAAB: 3% | Next three: vs. IND, at DET, vs. BUF (schedule)

The case: Hockenson left Week 5 with a concussion and Minnesota had its bye in Week 6 (Yahoo, SI). He had 13 targets and 119 yards in Week 4 (Yahoo). The Colts allowed two touchdowns to Pat Freiermuth in Week 5 (Bleacher Report).

Consensus check: Backed. Yahoo, Bleacher Report and SI list him. Bleacher Report has him at 31%, SI at 42% on Sleeper.

Prognosis: Add him only if you see a clean status on Friday. We found no official clearance, so check the Injury Report before kickoff. Healthy, he is a starting tight end.

10. Tanner McKee, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

Rostered: 4% (Yahoo) | FAAB: 3% | Next three: vs. DAL, at WAS, vs. NYG (schedule)

The case: McKee started in place of Hurts and went 26 of 45 for 215 yards and a touchdown, with three sacks, in the 25-14 loss to Carolina (DraftKings Network, NFL.com recap). The Eagles gave no return timetable for Hurts (AP). DraftKings Network says all three of McKee’s next opponents rank in the top 10 in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks (DraftKings Network).

Consensus check: Backed. Yahoo, SI and DraftKings Network list him. SI has him at 9% on Sleeper.

Prognosis: Superflex and two-quarterback add, and a bye-week stream elsewhere. The Eagles rushed for 35 yards against Carolina and the backfield is thin, so McKee will throw. Philadelphia is off in Week 10.

Just Missed the Cut

Dameon Pierce, RB, Eagles: He is above the 50% line. NFL.com has him at 56%, and he took all 12 Eagles running back carries against Carolina with one touchdown and four catches (NFL.com). SI says 68% on Sleeper (SI). Our Yahoo number was not published, so claim him only if he is still out there.

Jaylin Noel, WR, Texans (7% at Yahoo): He caught four passes for 107 yards and a touchdown against Jacksonville (SI, NFL.com recap). Marvin Harrison Jr. made his Texans debut with three catches for 34 yards, and Houston is off in Week 8. Yahoo suggests $3.

Samaje Perine, RB, Bengals (5% at Yahoo and Bleacher Report): He ran 14 times for 68 yards and caught a touchdown before Cincinnati’s bye (Bleacher Report). The Bengals visit Baltimore this week (Yahoo). Deep-league flex only.

Brandin Cooks, WR, 49ers (13% on Sleeper, per SI): Evans left Monday night with Achilles soreness (NBC Sports), which makes Cooks a one-week watch. SI lists him as a streaming option (SI). Wait for the Friday report.

Where the Doctor Disagrees

Mike Washington Jr., RB, Raiders (30% at Yahoo): Yahoo ranks him first and reports a season-high 35% snap share and 10 touches (Yahoo). Ashton Jeanty ran 10 times for 22 yards but also scored (NFL.com recap). Washington is a handcuff, and the case for him depends on a Jeanty injury. Pass unless one comes.

Tre Tucker, WR, Raiders (45% at Yahoo): He scored twice, including a 44-yard touchdown, in the loss to Buffalo (NFL.com recap). Yahoo calls him boom or bust and SI calls him inconsistent (Yahoo, SI). Treat him as a best-ball piece. Pass in weekly leagues.

J.J. McCarthy, QB, Giants (1% at Bleacher Report): He replaced the benched Jameis Winston and threw for 243 yards (NFL.com recap). Bleacher Report says John Harbaugh has not named a Week 7 starter (Bleacher Report). Do not spend a claim until he does. We recommended Winston in last week’s column, and that was wrong.

Safe to Drop

Jameis Winston, QB, Giants: He threw two interceptions and was benched in the loss to New Orleans (NFL.com recap). Cut him unless you play superflex and have no one else.

Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Steelers: He is on injured reserve (NFL.com), and Yahoo lists him among its suggested drops (Yahoo). We found no return date. Drop him if you need the roster spot and have no IR slot.

Don’t drop yet: Jalen Hurts and Cam Skattebo. The Eagles placed Hurts on injured reserve after finding a small blood clot in his calf and gave no timetable (AP, NFL.com recap), so keep him if you have an IR slot. Skattebo played six snaps with no carries (NFL.com recap), and none of the sources we checked explain why. Hold him until you know whether it was an injury or a demotion.

Week 7 Waiver Wire Priority Board

Rank	Player	Pos/Team	Rostered	FAAB	Consensus	Prognosis
1	Germie Bernard	WR, PIT	50%	18%	Near-unanimous	Low-end WR2
2	Omar Cooper Jr.	WR, NYJ	5%	8%	Widely backed	Flex
3	Kendre Miller	RB, NO	34%	6%	Near-unanimous	Flex, short window
4	Keenan Allen	WR, IND	47%	5%	Widely backed	WR3 while thin
5	Aaron Rodgers	QB, PIT	42%	2%	Widely backed	Two-week stream
6	Tyrone Tracy Jr.	RB, NYG	4%	3%	Widely backed	Speculative flex
7	Ja’Kobi Lane	WR, BAL	12%	5%	Widely backed	Flex if Bateman sits
8	Michael Mayer	TE, LV	8%	2%	Widely backed	TE2 with upside
9	T.J. Hockenson	TE, MIN	32%	3%	Backed	TE1 if cleared
10	Tanner McKee	QB, PHI	4%	3%	Backed	Superflex add

Quick Answers

Who is the best Week 7 waiver wire pickup? Germie Bernard. He has 21 targets in two games and both Pittsburgh receivers ahead of him are on injured reserve.

How much FAAB should I spend on Germie Bernard? About 18% of a $100 budget. Bleacher Report suggests $15 to $20 (Bleacher Report).

Which quarterback should I add in Week 7? Aaron Rodgers for a one-quarterback league, Tanner McKee for superflex. Wait on J.J. McCarthy until the Giants name a starter.

About Free Agent Triage

Free Agent Triage publishes every Tuesday during the season, before most leagues run waivers. Check the Injury Report for status updates through the week, Trade Rx for buy-low and sell-high targets, and Defensive Diagnosis for the five defenses to target.