Ja'Kobi Lane Leads Rookie WRs To Target In Fantasy Football

Should we start calling this rookie WR Tuesdays?

Last week we spotlighted Germie Bernard as a waiver wire darling to go after and Week 7 brings us two more intriguing WRs to target …

🎯 Omar Cooper (NYJ) - Available in 73% of leagues

Cupps’ take: “In his first game back off of injured reserve, Cooper showed us why he’s worthy of the top waiver wire pickup after Week 6 … The first-round rookie receiver hasn’t seen game action since Week 1, when he left with injury after his first NFL reception. He came roaring back in Week 6, with a performance that has me believing he should be the No. 1 priority this week.”

Role:

85% route participation (2nd only behind Garrett Wilson)
7 targets / 24% target share (1st on NYJ)
6 receptions, 103 yards (1st on NYJ)
22.3 fantasy points (6th among all WRs in Week 6)

Pete spin: My only note of caution here is that Cooper did this 1) while Christian Gonzalez shadowed Wilson and 2) with Adonai Mitchell still out. Still, I always want to bet on talent and Cooper looks legit.

🎯 Ja’Kobi Lane (BAL) - Available in 56% of leagues

Cupps take: “Lane was one of the hottest names after his Week 1 performance, where the rookie came onto the scene hot as the WR2 in route participation behind Zay Flowers—only to be sent to injured reserve for four weeks. In his return to game action in Week 6, he picked up right where he left off—serving as a top option in the Ravens passing attack. He didn’t do much in the boxscore, finishing with only 4 receptions for 40 yards, but he was second on the team in target rate.”

Role:

5 targets / 16% target share (2nd behind only Zay Flowers)
4 receptions, 40 yards
23% TPRR (targets per route run)

Pete spin: The Lane stuff isn’t as gaudy as Cooper’s, but Lane immediately serving as the WR2 after a multi-week absence is very encouraging. He’s going to be a difference maker once Lamar Jackson returns. I think he’s neck-and-neck with Cooper as far as “add of the week” if he’s available.

For more Week 7 Waiver ideas—including QBs for you Jalen Hurts managers—check out the full article …

BUTTON

Scammers Scout You Like You Scout Sleepers

You dig through snap counts and target shares looking for an edge. Scammers do the same homework, and you're the one being scouted. The BBC caught scam call center workers on hidden cameras laughing at the people they were tricking. One worker bragged about making $250k from victims. The disturbing truth? Scammers don't pick phone numbers at random. They buy your data from brokers.

Once your data is out there, it's not just calls. It's phishing, impersonation and identity theft. That's why we recommend Incogni: They delete your info from the web, monitor and follow up automatically, and continue to erase data as new risks appear. Try Incogni here, and only for Cyberweek get 58% off your subscription with code FANTASY58.

GET 58% OFF NOW

Around the Watercooler

It’s on to Week 7, and your favorite football nerds are back and bringing you the latest news, content and memes from the NFL universe …

💪 Sitting Josh Allen, T-Law or Jayden Daniels on bye? Here’s 3 options.

🚑️ Hurts done for the year? What a brutal runout.

🏈 You might need an RB streamer or two. Opportunity is everything.

🔒 Put these players on your waiver wire radar. Lock in.

😡 It gets worse … Davante Adams is on ice now, too.

🍋 Byes & injuries are depleting WR depth. Squeeze a little Lemon in there.

🫡 Looking for an RB handcuff? Nice to have Washington at your side.

👀 Big week and a benching. Dynasty tale of two young WRs.

🤢 You don’t want to be on this list of QBs. Yikes.

🙌 A big TE has scored twice in last three games. Underrated play this week.

🤔 The Seahawks are thin at TE now. More work for AJ Barner?

🤯 Wait, JJ McCarthy is elite? He was on Sunday.

🙃 Does anyone want to win this division? Really, anyone?

No. 1 Takeaway From The Week 6 Utilization Report …

Germie Bernard flashes WR1 upside against Tampa Bay

Bernard was the priority waiver wire add last week in the Utilization Report, and he didn't disappoint in a tough matchup against the Buccaneers. The Round 2 NFL pick scored 25.7 points with an 83 Utilization Score.

Most importantly, we now have two games with Bernard in a full-time role. In those two contests, Bernard has a 28% target share, averaging 10 looks per game. That has fueled 20.1 PPG with an 86 Utilization Score.

If there is a nitpick with Bernard, it is his low aDOT (3.8). His average route depth of 6.0 yards ranks 83rd out of 85 WRs with at least 100 routes this year. That is in the same range as names like Khalil Shakir (5.1), Deebo Samuel (5.4), Kendrick Bourne (6.6) and Makai Lemon (7.0).

But unlike those players, Bernard is in a full-time role, and Aaron Rodgers is peppering him with opportunities. While the underneath looks have historically made it hard to sustain high-end outcomes, Bernard is averaging 9.5 catchable targets in two starts—that goes a long way in PPR formats.

Bernard is averaging 5.1 yards after the catch, which is slightly below the average for his historical aDOT comps (6.0). Still, his ability with the ball in his hands matches his rookie scouting profile. And the Steelers are designing plays to protect and amplify the skill set of their new playmaker:

Slot: 50%
Screens: 19% of targets (9th out of WRs with at least 100 routes)
Motion at snap: 16% (24th)

He can play inside or outside and handle more intermediate work. That makes him a strong bet to keep the starting role even after Michael Pittman Jr. (IR at least two more games) and Roman Wilson (IR at least three more games) return.

Pittman is a possession WR with similar route depth (6.9) this season. Bernard is simply the better option to feed opportunities because of his superior ability after the catch. Plus, Bernard is a second-round pick, and the Steelers can get out of Pittman's contract next season. Depending on timing, they could save $10M-$19M in cap space.

Wilson also plays slot, but is best as a vertical threat. He is more of a rotational player, as we saw when he was healthy. Wilson's routes spiked in Week 2 with Pittman out at 91% but fell to 51% and 40% in Weeks 3-4.

Of course, we can never assume rational coaching. Bernard could return to a part-time role when Pittman and Wilson are healthy. But we want to lean into young talents flashing upside early in their career.

From 2015 to 2025, Round 2 WRs improved their fantasy PPG by 30% from Weeks 1-7 vs. Weeks 8-18. And they improved their snap shares by 22%.

In a nutshell: We want to bet the Steelers won't put this genie back in the bottle.

Using the Utilization Score (86) in a small sample can be dangerous. Take look at both scenarios for Bernard's range of outcomes when you read the full article below. ⬇️

FULL UTILIZATION REPORT FOR WEEK 7

Week 7 DST Streamers: Cleveland Rocks!

Often an important component of picking a good streaming defense is the opponent. Target a young quarterback going through growing pains. Or an offense that doesn’t have many playmakers. Or one that turns the ball over a lot. Jonathan Fuller identified three defenses that have these opponents for Week 7, starting off with a unit that has been a surprise. One might say they have a lot of dog in them. ⤵️

MORE WEEK 7 DST STREAMERS

Week 6 Overreactions: Welcome Back, Loveland!

Three rookie WRs shined, Cam Skattebo is in the doghouse and we’re not ready to say goodbye to Jameis Winston. Kendall and Pete bring you the overreactIons from Week 6, as well as Scott Turner’s weekly spot to talk Real Football vs. Fake Football. Catch all the episodes on the Fantasy Life Show YouTube channel by subscribing today.

HOW TO HANDLE SOME TOUGH SITS IN WEEK 7 BYES

Published Oct 20, 2026, 6:00 AM ET