Fantasy Football Week 7: Top Waiver Wire Additions by Position

It's Tuesday. Your week of fantasy football has ended, and you, hopefully, are sitting at the top of the league.

With teams with major fantasy studs on byes (Texans, Lions, Jets, Colts), it's time to hit the waiver wire and do some work.

I'm 5-1 in my league and have picked up on many of the big waiver wire additions (Brandon Lloyd in Week 1, Peyton Hillis, Kenny Britt this week, etc.), so trust me when I say these guys are very likely to be studs, or at least very good bye week fill-ins for you this week.

Just a note on the format of this slideshow: I will start with the top two quarterbacks and then proceed to the top two wide receivers and running backs and the top tight end pickup.

QB No. 2: Matt Cassel

Bob Levey/Getty Images

HOUSTON - OCTOBER 17: Matt Cassel #7 of the Kansas City Chiefs during game action against the Houston Texans at at Reliant Stadium on October 17, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

In a disappointing loss for the Chiefs to the Texans on Sunday, Cassel was one of the parts of the incredibly successful offense we saw that put up 31 points two days ago.

He threw for 201 yards and three touchdowns and is facing a very mediocre pass defense in the Jaguars this week (see: Kerry Collins overpowering the Jags this week).

While you shouldn't come in full-heartedly expecting another three-touchdown performance, Cassel is a good bet for a solid start this week and should have at least a touchdown this week, but that's at the minimum.

Projection: Look for him to throw for over 200 yards and more than likely have two touchdowns at the least.

QB No. 1: Kevin Kolb

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 17: Kevin Kolb #4 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates with Mike McGlynn #77 after passing a touchdown to Jeremy Maclin #18 in the third quarteragainst the Atlanta Falcons during their game at Lincoln Financial Field on October 17

You already knew this was coming, and it's no doubt that Kevin Kolb is the top pickup of the week if he remains on the waivers in your league.

HC Andy Reid expressed a ton of confidence in Kolb before his disappointing start to the year and his injury, and now we know why. Kolb threw for 326 yards and three touchdowns in Week 6; look for more of the same in Week 7 against the Texans this Sunday.

Projection: Expect Kolb to likely throw for more than 250 yards (for you guys in a passing yards-heavy league) and at least two touchdowns (for you guys in a touchdown-heavy league, like myself).

Kolb is not only a bye week fill-in, but if he takes the job away from Michael Vick when he comes back, he could be a top QB in all fantasy leagues as well.

RB No. 2: Christopher Ivory

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TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 17: Running back Chris Ivory #29 of the New Orleans Saints is knocked out of bounds by linebacker Quincy Black #58 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 17, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by

Ivory surprised and impressed everyone this week with a 15-carry, 158-yard performance where he seemingly dominated the entire game. Finishing with 175 yards in the game, Ivory looked like the No. 1 option in New Orleans over Ladell Betts and Julius Jones.

Hope for Pierre Thomas to not return this week, because in that case Ivory will be the No. 1 running back against a subpar Browns rush defense. Even if Thomas returns this week, Ivory will definitely see a fair number of carries and will still be a good bye week fill-in.

Projection: Expect Ivory to have around 14-15 carries and gain at least 100 all-purpose yards if Thomas isn't in there.

He's a great start this week and in deep leagues is a must start.

RB No. 1: Ryan Torain

Win McNamee/Getty Images

LANDOVER, MD - OCTOBER 17: Ryan Torain #46 of the Washington Redskins heads up field for a long gain against the Indianapolis Colts at FedExField on October 17, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. The Colts won the game 27-24. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

Torain was a pretty hot waiver wire addition a few weeks ago, but after not really panning out a lot of people might have given up on him or maybe even not picked him up.

In any case, for those of you watching Sunday Night Football, you saw how dominant he was against an okay Colts rush defense. He had 20 carries for 100 total yards and two touchdowns.

The Skins are playing the Bears this week, which is obviously a tougher matchup. Nonetheless, he is an absolute must pickup in any league, a great bye week fill-in and more than likely a great starter for the remainder of the year, especially if you're weak at the running back position.

Projection: Expect Torain to have around 100 yards again this week and at least a touchdown; the Redskins really liked going to him in the red zone, which is a very promising sign.

WR No. 2: Jason Avant

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - DECEMBER 27 : Jason Avant #81 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter against the Denver Broncos at Lincoln Financial Field on December 27, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsa

Avant had five catches for 62 yards after DeSean Jackson went down. He is a solid pickup this week considering that Jackson is likely to miss this week. The throws have to go somewhere, and Avant seems to be the big winner in the Jackson injury.

Projection: You can expect a lot of targets, five or six catches and hopefully he'll get one in the end zone for the Eagles this week against the Titans. Solid WR3 play this week to plug in for someone on a bye.

WR No. 1: Deion Branch

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

FOXBORO, MA - OCTOBER 17: Deion Branch #84 of the New England Patriots reacts after he caught a touchdown pass in the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium on October 17, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The Patriot won 23-20 in ove

Any skeptics of Branch's potential were turned into believers Sunday, as Branch caught nine balls for 98 yards and a touchdown this week in his return to the Patriots.

He and Tom Brady make a great connection, and you can look for him to get at least seven or eight catches and a touchdown this week against the Chargers. If he's on your waiver wire, pick him up now!

Projection: Expect a lot of targets, at least 60 yards and at least one touchdown.

TE No. 1: Heath Miller

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PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 17: Heath Miller #83 of the Pittsburgh Steelers catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Sheldon Brown #24 of the Cleveland Browns during the game on October 17, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wic

Heath Miller is a great pickup for anyone who just lost Jermichael Finley on the Packers or has been suffering with Visanthe Shiancoe the last two weeks. I'm picking him up as a bye week fill-in, and I suggest you do too.

With Big Ben Roethlisberger back, Miller is getting the targets he was used to again. If the Steelers get in the end zone, Miller will too this week, and against the Dolphins I'd say that's a pretty good possibility.

Projection: Look for at least five catches and a touchdown or more from Miller.

Great pickup this week, and not just a one-weeker. He's a long-term addition who could be coming through for your team for the rest of the season.

Honorable Mentions

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 26: Quarterback Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions looks on prior to the start of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field on September 26, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty I

For anyone in a deep league who wants more names, here are the rest that could be considered great pickups.

Quarterbacks 

Matt Stafford (for next week) 

Running backs 

Thomas Jones 

Danny Woodhead 

Wide receivers 

Dwayne Bowe

Davone Bess 

Kenny Britt (who I skipped because he is owned in many leagues) 

Anthony Armstrong 

Lance Moore 

Robert Meachem 

Danario Alexander 

Danny Amendola 

Tight Ends 

Fred Davis 

Owen Daniels 

Ben Watson 

Lastly: Good luck, and I hope you enjoyed the article and put it to good use.