Welcome to TheFantasyFix.com’s week seven fantasy football waiver wire. Injuries are still decimating teams and matchups are becoming easier for us to recognize and exploit. This week the Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints are on a bye, meaning those of you with shares of Drew Brees or Denarius Moore could be cruising the wire for some bye week magic. We’ll be looking at players like Nick Foles, Joseph Randle, Jarrett Boykin and Jordan Reed in this week’s edition of the waiver wire..

For those expecting to read about the Keenan Allen, Zac Stacy, or Percy Harvin, you won’t find them in this week’s edition. We wrote about them last week here, so get your read-on if you’ve yet to make those adds.

Before we get to this week’s potential waiver wire pickups, it’s important to note that I indicate below each name what type of waiver priority I would use on said player as well as the amount of FAAB I’d be willing to use to acquire their services. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Joseph Randle | Cowboys

There never seems to be an exact science to earning a starting running back gig in the NFL. Many times true talent shines early providing younger backs the opportunity to get on the field and prove they were worth their high draft pick. For others it may be about patience, timing and opportunity. With both DeMarco Murray and Lance Dunbar banged up, the opportunity for Joseph Randle may just be week seven — and possibly more.

Randle, a fifth round pick from Oklahoma State in the 2013 NFL Draft, rushed for over 3,000 yards (career 5.5 yards/carry average in college) and scored 40 touchdowns in 39 games for the college version of the Cowboys. He rushed for 100 or more yards fourteen times and scored two or more touchdowns on thirteen occasions, most of which came against Big XII opponents. In his Junior season, Randle led the Big XII in rushing attempts (274), rushing yards (1,417) and total plays from scrimmage (302). Color me impressed.

The pedigree appears to be there based on his success in college, but some aren’t impressed with what they’ve seen from the rookie in preseason along with his 11 carries in week six against the Redskins. In five preseason games, Randle carried the ball 55 times for 215 yards — just a 3.9 yards/carry average. He was, however, able to force a bunch of missed tackles (10) and gain some ground after contact (141 yards), bringing some positives into the conversation. The time for Randle to get those opportunities to prove his worth is now.

In the short-term, Randle will fill in for DeMarco Murray who could be out 2-4 weeks with a sprained MCL. And over the next four weeks, the Cowboys’ bell-cows will have a few decent matchups: the Eagles, Lions, Vikings and Saints — the Vikings and Saints are both among the top ten teams who allow the most fantasy points to opposing running backs.

Consider in leagues: 10-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 2 and lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 20-25%
Players I’d drop for him: Chris Ivory, Mark Ingram, Montee Ball

Brandon Jacobs | Giants and Michael Cox | Giants

The David Wilson hype train officially screeched to a halt in week five. Well, the running back hype train that is. If you’re in a points-per-backflip-league, Wilson could be your guy when he returns to the field. But for now, old man Brandon Jacobs will be the lead back for the oh-and-six New York Football Giants.

Jacobs carried the ball 22 times for 106 yards and two scored against the Chicago Bears last Thursday evening. Forty-eight of the 106 yards Jacobs ran for came after contact (2.2 yards after contact/carry) and his longest scamper of the day was a 16 yarder. He also added one reception on just two targets for an additional eight yards. Time to turn back the clock and make the add if you’re a desperate owner.

Michael Cox will spell Brandon Jacobs when the elder needs to rest, making him a consideration in deeper league formats. We’ve yet to see the rookie out of UMass carry the ball in the regular season, but in the preseason, Cox ran the ball just 18 times for an unimpressive 32 yards.

The Giants face the league’s friendliest team to opposing running backs in week seven, the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are yielding more than 30 fantasy points per week to opposing backs in points-per-reception leagues.

Consider in leagues: 12-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 3 and lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 15-20%
Players I’d drop for him: Chris Ivory, Mark Ingram, Montee Ball

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Jarrett Boykin | Packers

The Packers will be without Randall Cobb for the next 6-8 weeks as the stud all-purpose back fractured his fibula on a nasty play on Sunday. Jarrett Boykin, a second-year man out of Virginia Tech, appears to be the wide receiver to add in his stead. In three preseason games, Boykin hauled in six-of-eight targets for just 63 yards. And in just one regular season contest in ‘13, the former Hokie connected with quarterback Aaron Rodgers just once for 43 yards despite being targeted five times.

Consider the add in 14-team and deeper leagues. Don’t set the bar too high and you won’t be disappointed.

Consider in leagues: 14-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 10 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 5%
Players I’d drop for him: Ryan Broyles, Lance Moore, Kenny Britt

Jordan Reed | Redskins and Joseph Fauria | Lions

Reed seems to be the go-to tight-end right now in Washington, likely because their only other option is Fred Davis. In the four games Reed has played in this season, he’s collected 17-of-22 targets for 165 yards and one touchdown. He was on the field for more than 70% of the Redskins’ offensive plays last week — a season-high — and ran receiving routes on close to 65% of the snaps he took part in. Confidence in the youngster appears to be growing and his value in fantasy leagues will continue to rise as well.

Fauria has earned three looks in each of the three games he’s played in. Nine targets have yielded five touchdowns. Love the scores, but the volume of targets is a concern for fantasy owners. Add him late if you’re pressed for an alternative at tight-end.

Consider in leagues: 12-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 8 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 5%
Players I’d drop for him: Fred Davis,Owen Daniels, Brandon Myers

Aaron Dobson | Patriots

The rookie out of Marshall saw double-digit targets for the third time this season from future Hall-of-Famer Tom Brady. The two connected on six of those attempts for 63 yards, including a crucial play during the Patriots game-winning drive in which the rookie displayed good awareness by stepping out of bounds to stop the clock. But Dobson still failed to hang onto two of the passes that hit him in the hands — making that six drops on the year for the rookie — surely frustrating both the Patriots brass and their field general. Despite the drops, Brady and company continued to call Dobson’s numbers showing they still believe he belongs on the field. Knowing this, fantasy owners in deeper leagues should consider Dobson knowing the progress he is making and the confidence the team has in him.

Consider in leagues: 12-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 10 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: <5%
Players I’d drop for him: Ryan Broyles, Lance Moore, Kenny Britt

Brandon LaFell | Panthers

Here is our annual “Brandon LaFell waiver wire mention” for 2013. Feels like he finds his way into this column every season, but this week, it took him until week seven to make it. Cam Newton went off in week six, resulting in a four receptions for 100-yards and a score for LaFell. He saw a spike in his yards/reception and yards after the catch (YAC) due to a 76-yard connection between he and Newton, but hopefully this is the beginning of more of the same.

Consider in leagues: 12-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 8 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 10%
Players I’d drop for him: Ryan Broyles, Lance Moore, Kenny Britt

Tim Wright | Buccaneers

More targets equal more opportunity. And that is exactly the case with Timothy Wright. In week six, the Bucs looked Wright’s way a season-high nine times, connecting on seven of the said passes for 91 yards. Currently, Wright has been taking part in just over 50% of the Bucs’ offensive snaps, but with his successful effort in week six, look for him to play a bit more and continue to get looks going forward. Wright is a deep league play at tight end for now.

Consider in leagues: 12+ teamers
Waiver Priority Worthy: N/A
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: <5%
Players I’d drop for him: Lance Moore, Brandon Myers, Fred Davis

Nick Foles | Eagles

Foles appeared in last week’s installment of the waiver wire, but at just 15% owned in Yahoo! leagues, we decided to toss him name out there again for those late to the party.

Consider in leagues: 10-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 6 or lower
Spend this much FAAB 10-15%
Players I’d drop for them: Carson Palmer, Matt Schaub, Brandon Weeden

San Diego D/ST and Miami D/ST

San Diego draws Jacksonville in week seven who are allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing defenses in the NFL. Miami gets Buffalo and their injury woes, making them a borderline top-ten fantasy defense in week seven.

Consider in leagues: 10-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: N/A
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: <5%
Players I’d drop for him: New Orleans, Oakland, Tampa Bay

Thanks to our friends at ProFootballFocus.com for the advanced NFL statistics.