Fantasy Football Today – Waiver Wire! Injury Replacement WRs and TEs, Kimani Vidal, Aaron Rodgers (10/14/25)

Hosts: Adam Aizer, Dave Richard, Jamie Eisenberg
Date: October 14, 2025
Episode Theme:
Dominating Week 7 fantasy football waiver wire amidst a brutal injury landscape – actionable advice on priority pickups, FAAB strategies, injury replacements, and preparing for upcoming bye weeks.

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a no-nonsense guide to navigating one of the strongest (and strangest) waiver wire weeks so far in 2025. With an explosion of injuries to star receivers and tight ends, Adam, Dave, and Jamie run through essential pickups, FAAB spending, stash-and-stream strategies, and position-by-position priorities. They also highlight the domino effect of team injuries (especially with wide receivers), discuss backup plans, and forecast the treacherous Week 8 bye-pocalypse.

Key Topics & Segments

Setting the Scene: The Brutal WR Landscape

• [01:08] Adam: Sets the tone: "The Week 7 waiver wire is a doozy."
• [02:21] Jamie: “It’s an interesting waiver wire week… The receiver rankings this week are awful. No one's healthy. There’s like seven good receivers and everybody else is a giant question mark.”
• [03:06] Jamie: Reads out a mammoth list of injured WRs – including Puka Nacua, Garrett Wilson, DJ Moore, CeeDee Lamb, Mike Evans, and more.
• [03:48] Adam: Adds the context of byes and even more names missing.

Notable Quote:

“I don't think I've ever had a list this long.” – Jamie ([03:08])

Top Waiver Wire Priorities: Running Backs

• [04:13] Jamie: “Vidal would be one, Harold Fannin would be two, and three would be Donovan ‘Bam’ Knight.”
• [04:26] Dave: Flips priorities, emphasizing Knight second.
• [05:12] Jamie: Warns about limited upside for Bam Knight due to timeshare and potential for Kyler Murray’s return to steal carries: “It’s a rental… a timeshare that may not be that great. So just don’t go crazy with your fabric.”

FAAB Guidance:

• Kamani Vidal: 30–45% if desperate, less if stable at RB ([09:01])
• Donovan Knight: 8–15%, only if very needy at RB ([13:19])
• Other positions: Not more than 8% for streamers/injury guys.

Targeting Replacement WRs: High Risk, High Uncertainty

• [11:14] Jamie: “Receivers… you’re looking at a lot of ‘maybe this, maybe that.’”
• [24:48] Adam: Zeroes in on the Lions-Bucs game for possible shootout value but notes the difficulty in knowing which Tampa WR will matter if Evans plays.
• [24:56] Jamie & Dave: Tez Johnson, Cameron Johnson, and Sterling Shepard are all lottery tickets at WR. Prefer Otten (TE) to all TB WRs if Evans/Godwin are out.

Analyst Tips:

• If you don’t need a WR this week, stash Darius Slayton or Luther Burden for possible future upside ([12:50])
• Josh Downs, Jalen Coker, Kayshawn Boutte (NE) floated as the best widely-available WRs, but all with uncertainties.

Streamer Tight Ends: Harold Fannin, Cade Otton, Mason Taylor

• [08:37] Dave: Najoku’s status unclear, but “Harold Fannin is the priority.”
• [08:58] Adam, [28:12] Dave: Otton & Mason Taylor both viable if streaming; Otton especially if Evans is ruled out for TB.
• [28:12] Dave: “Fannin one, Otten two, Taylor three. Let’s just end it there.”

Available Streamers: Michael Mayer, Arandae Gadsden also in the mix, but “all potentially one-week rentals.”

Quarterback Help: Short & Long-Term

• [20:29] Jamie: Top 3 QBs to add:
  1. Aaron Rodgers (CIN match-up) – best for immediate stream
  2. Jackson Dart – rough NYJ match-up Week 7 but set for great schedule Weeks 8–10
  3. Bryce Young – streaky, matchup-dependent
• [21:19] Adam: “There is no matchup that’s even in the ballpark of the Dallas Cowboys.”
• [34:51] Jamie: Darnold (Sam) is also discussed as an under-rostered steady option with upside.

News & Notes: Injury Round-Up and Team Updates

Key Player Statuses (selected, full list at [17:17]):

• Lamar Jackson: Back after Week 7 bye.
• Titans Coach Change: Expect possible Tajie Spears usage uptick ([16:07]).
• Kyler Murray: May be back, which would affect AZ RB distribution ([16:37]).
• Garrett Wilson, Puka Nacua, DJ Moore: All likely OUT Week 7.
• Mike Evans: Trending to play, but unclear if full snap count ([27:04]).
• George Kittle: Expected to play.
• David Njoku: Not considered severely hurt.

Waiver Wire by Position (highlights & analysis)

Quarterbacks

• Top adds: Rodgers (immediate), Jackson Dart (stash), Darnold.
• Deeper leagues: Carson Wentz, Jacoby Brissett, Joe Flacco as desperation streams ([38:08]).

Running Backs

• Kamani Vidal: Clear top pickup, workhorse opportunity, good matchups, but rental ([04:13], [10:21]).
• Donovan Knight: Flex play-level, timeshare risk, add but don’t expect heroics ([05:12], [13:19]).
• Tajie Spears: Could gain usage if coaching changes stick ([22:10]).
• Deep handcuffs: Tyler Allgeier, Isaiah Davis, Emmanuel Wilson, Jayden Blue.
• Stashes: Trey Benson IR return coming ([07:00], [61:48]).

Wide Receivers

• Boutte, Coker, Downs: Ranked highest for upside + role ([23:09]).
• Bucs WRs: Tez Johnson, Cam Johnson, Shepard—only useful if Evans, Godwin, and Buka are out; GLs on Evans status ([27:04], [43:26]).
• Kendrick Bourne (NE): “If available, he’s the number one receiver to get” ([29:58]).
• Others: Darius Slayton (stash), Zay Jones (deep leagues), Wondale Robinson, Matthew Golden, Jerry Judy.
• Ultra-deep:
  • Bears: Luther Burden (if DJ Moore out).
  • Cardinals: Zay Jones, Michael Wilson.

Tight Ends

• Harold Fannin Jr.: Priority pickup, but monitor Najoku status.
• Cade Otton, Mason Taylor: Good streamers, especially if TB injuries.
• Michael Mayer, Arandae Gadsden: Viable deep league flyers.
• Bengals TEs: Good schedules, but avoid spending much.
• Others: Zach Ertz (shallow leagues), Evan Engram (PPR), Jake Tongas as possible fill-in if Kittle sits.

DSTs & Kickers

• DSTs: Chiefs vs. Raiders (recommended), Seahawks, Vikings, Bears/Dolphins as desperation streams ([30:56], [69:21]).
• Kickers: Chris Boswell, Jason Myers, Josh Carty ([32:05]).

Deeper League & Bye Week Preparation

• [40:38] Dave: Urges setting Week 8 lineups before waivers—6 teams on bye, be proactive!
• Best deep-league WRs: Tez Johnson, Cam Johnson, Sterling Shepard, Luther Burden.
• RB stashes: Xavier Scott, Sean Tucker.
• TE deep dives: Otten, Mayer, Gadsden.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jamie ([03:08]): “I don't think I've ever had a list this long [of injured WRs].”
• Dave ([09:03]): “If you’re really desperate, go to 45% [FAAB] on Vidal.”
• Adam ([24:48]): “When I look at WR, I’m really circling that Lions–Bucs game. The total is 52.5. You could see so much potential… for Baker Mayfield to be throwing a lot.”
• Jamie ([29:58]): “If [Kendrick] Bourne is available, he’s the number one WR to get.”
• Dave ([38:08]): “The deep league targets at QB are gross.”
• Jamie ([40:04]): “If you don’t have to play anybody this week, [Luther Burden’s] a great WR stash.”
• Dave ([41:48]): “You need to go and make sure that you’re covered. Week 8 is a ‘Binato’—six teams on bye.”

Strategic Takeaways

• Don’t overspend FAAB: Outside of injury-replacement RBs (Vidal, Knight), most options are short-term or lottery tickets—spend 8% or less except for desperation needs.
• WR landscape is wild: Play floor over ceiling unless you’re desperate; the Bucs/other injury-replacement WRs may not be worth the gamble if the injured starters play.
• Tight End is deep: Stream for matchup, don’t chase single-week upside.
• Plan ahead: Set Week 8 lineups before waivers, stash handcuffs and bye-week fill-ins now.
• Monitor news until kickoff: Final WR/TE value hinges on injury clarity through the weekend.

Wrap Up

This episode highlights the chaos of Week 7—brutal injuries, unreliable replacement WRs, and key bye weeks. The hosts provide actionable, prioritized waiver pickups at every position, with strong context for both short- and long-term tactics. Take their advice: don’t panic or blow your FAAB except for true difference-makers.

Essential priorities:

• RB: Kamani Vidal, Bam Knight (RB)
• WR: Kendrick Bourne, Kayshawn Boutte, Jalen Coker, Josh Downs, Darius Slayton, Luther Burden
• TE: Harold Fannin Jr., Cade Otton, Mason Taylor
• QB: Rodgers (for this week), Jackson Dart (for coming weeks), Sam Darnold (if available)
• DST: Chiefs, Seahawks

Above all: Survive the injury storm, plan for the bye-pocalypse, and leverage this week’s waiver opportunities without overcommitting resources.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:08] Episode opens: The Week 7 injury crisis
• [04:13] Top waiver priorities: RBs Vidal, Knight, and Fannin
• [09:01] FAAB strategies for top pickups
• [11:14] WR replacement chaos begins
• [20:29] Quarterback streamer priorities
• [28:12] Tight end streamer rankings
• [30:56] DSTs and kickers for Week 7
• [40:38] Preparing for Week 8 byes (six teams!)
• [43:26] Inside scoop on Bucs WRs with Fox’s Greg Auman
• [53:12] & [54:08] Debating Rodgers versus other QBs for streaming
• [60:15] “Beat the waiver wire”: Week 8 forward-looking advice

Memorable quote:

"You need to go and make sure that you’re covered. Week 8 is a ‘Binato’—six teams on bye. Set your lineup for Week 8 before you set your waivers!” – Dave ([41:48])

Listen to the full show or tune in to the CBS Sports Network’s special Waiver Wire episodes for ongoing updates and news. Good luck weathering the fantasy football storm!