Fantasy Football Week 7: Iowa Transfer Jaziun Patterson Emerges as Must-Add RB After Breakout Game
Week 6 of the college football season brought major fantasy implications, especially for Iowa fans tracking former Hawkeye running back Jaziun Patterson. The Iowa transfer has taken over as Michigan State's starting running back and delivered a monster performance that should make him a priority waiver wire pickup heading into Week 7.
Patterson rushed 17 times for 93 yards and three touchdowns while adding three catches for 26 yards and another score in Michigan State's heartbreaking 38-37 overtime loss to Illinois. His 37.4 fantasy points marked a season-high and confirmed his stranglehold on the Spartans' RB1 role, with only four carries going to the rest of the running back room.
The former Hawkeye is highly streamable this week against Northwestern, making him one of the top adds at the position for fantasy managers looking to bolster their rosters for the second half of the season.
Who are the top quarterback waiver wire pickups for Week 7?
BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier continues to be one of the most consistent fantasy producers at the position. Bachmeier has scored 29 or more points in three of five games and cleared 20 points in four contests, averaging 24.4 points per game. His rushing ability provides a high floor, with 239 yards and four touchdowns on the ground this season.
Bachmeier has developed strong chemistry with true freshman wide receiver Legend Glasker, who leads the team with a 17.4 average depth of target. The Cougars' offense ranks fifth in the FBS with a 53 percent success rate, emphasizing precision and staying on schedule.
One caveat: Notre Dame comes to Provo this weekend, so fantasy managers may want to stash Bachmeier on the bench for this tough matchup before his favorable Big 12 slate in the second half.
Other quarterbacks worth considering include Cal's Fernando Lopez, who has posted 45.4 and 31.1-point performances in his last two games, and Arizona's Noah Fifita, who has scored at least 21 points in all six games this season. Fifita is on bye this week but faces Iowa State in Week 8, a dream matchup for fantasy purposes.
Which running backs should fantasy managers target on the waiver wire?
Beyond Patterson, several running backs emerged as valuable additions after strong Week 6 performances.
Notre Dame true freshman Kedren Walton has amassed 36 carries for 301 yards and two touchdowns over his last two games, outscoring his backfield contemporaries. While the Fighting Irish have a three-way rotation, their favorable schedule makes all three backs viable options.
Arizona State freshman Cardae Mack celebrated his 19th birthday with 13 carries for 154 yards and two touchdowns against Hawaii, putting starting running back Kyson Brown on notice. Mack is an excellent bench stash for the second half.
Rutgers running back Kaylan Ijeboi exploded for 31 carries, 195 rushing yards, three touchdowns and 43.1 fantasy points against Minnesota in Week 6. He faces a hapless Washington Huskies defense in Week 7 and should be active in all lineups.
What wide receivers are worth adding this week?
Arizona wide receiver Reymello Mizell made his first career start in Week 6 and delivered six catches for 183 yards and two touchdowns against West Virginia, good for 30.3 fantasy points. With top receivers Tre Spivey and Giovanni Richardson both missing extended time, Mizell has emerged as quarterback Noah Fifita's new primary target.
Mizell is poised to take over the Wildcats' WR1 role after their Week 7 bye, setting up a favorable matchup against Iowa State's secondary that ranks 126th in yards per successful pass.
Wake Forest freshman Jack Foley has been a revelation, reeling in eight catches for 156 yards and a touchdown against NC State for a career-high 24.4 points. The Demon Deacons have scored 30 or more points in five of six games, and Foley is well worth starting against Cal in Week 7.
BYU's Legend Glasker continues to produce, scorching Iowa State's secondary for a 75-yard touchdown reception and 19.9 points. He has produced 80 or more total yards in four of five games and is also a dangerous weapon in the run game with 11 carries for 83 yards and two rushing scores.
Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Mosley is officially back after missing three games to injury, posting a 22.5-point explosion against Penn State. He is a matchup-proof superstar who should be everyone's priority on the waiver wire this week despite his Week 7 bye.
Are there any tight end sleepers to consider?
Syracuse tight end Dan Bacheyie has somehow flown under the radar at just a 1 percent roster rate despite catching a pass in four of five games. He blew up for four receptions, 97 yards and a touchdown against Virginia for a career-high 17.7 points.
NC State tight end Dante Douglas has taken over the high-volume TE1 role and has scored at least 7.0 points in every game this year. He is a safe option who can be stashed on the bench for his Week 7 bye before an auto-start matchup against Stanford in Week 8.
Fantasy football waiver wire FAQ
When should fantasy managers prioritize adding Jaziun Patterson?
Patterson should be a top priority add this week given his clear RB1 role and favorable Week 7 matchup against Northwestern. His four-touchdown performance in Week 6 demonstrated his ceiling, and he has secured the bulk of carries in Michigan State's backfield.
Which quarterback has the best upcoming schedule for fantasy?
Arizona's Noah Fifita has been the model of consistency with 21-plus points in all six games. After a Week 7 bye, he faces Iowa State's vulnerable secondary in Week 8, making him an excellent stash for fantasy managers who can afford the bench spot.
What should fantasy managers do with players on bye in Week 7?
With several key players on bye, fantasy managers should look to stream players with favorable matchups like Patterson against Northwestern and Ijeboi against Washington. Stashing high-upside options like Fifita and Mosley for future weeks is also a smart strategy.