With week 8 bringing six teams on byes and injuries continuing to pile up across the league, fantasy owners need to get creative on the waiver wire this weekend are you prepared to make the right moves before your matchup hits?
I have been tracking the most added players and watching ownership percentages rise throughout the week. There are some sneaky good options available at every position that could help you navigate this challenging week.
From quarterbacks like Jaxson Dart and Joe Flacco who are getting more love as the week progresses, to running backs like Woody Marks who looks like the top back in Houston going forward, to tight ends like Cade Otton who’s been stepping up with the Bucs battling so many injuries this week’s waiver wire offers plenty of streaming upside and potential league winners if you know where to look.
Whether you are desperate for immediate starting help in standard leagues or looking for deeper league gems that could surprise, I have identified the guys worth adding and utilizing this week, along with the favorable matchups and situations that make them appealing enough to consider for your roster.
Quarterbacks
Joe Flacco remains the most-added waiver wire option right now, climbing 9.89% to reach 57.77% overall ownership as the weekend hits, and for good reason: he’s facing a favorable matchup against the Jets that makes sense to consider in standard fantasy leagues, especially during a week where six teams are on byes.
Since becoming a Bengal, Flacco has played well enough to deliver consistent fantasy outings, and I like him enough to start him this week 8 at home. Meanwhile, Jaxson Dart sits at 85.2% after a 2.36% increase, bringing him to the top of my list of three waiver wire quarterbacks on FantasySP, just a few slots ahead of Flacco and several spots above Michael Penix, who jumped 1.87% to 33.24% overall.
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Dart faces the Eagles again for the second time in a couple of weeks and delivered a nice fantasy outing against Philly before, so more fantasy owners should be willing to play him despite what looks like an average matchup on paper, especially after he worked through a tough Denver defense recently.
Penix has been so-so or underwhelming more often than not this season, though a fantastic matchup against the Dolphins has getting fantasy owners high on him for the coming week, and while he’s working through an injury, he appears on track to play which is enough to add him to your league if you need a streaming QB below the top ranked tier and behind the other two here.
Running Backs
There’s several running backs on the rise that you need to consider adding right away, and I’m telling you to stop reading this and go pick up Woody Marks if he’s still available in your leagues he looks like the top Houston back going forward, yet he’s only rostered in 84.78% of leagues after a 4.35% increase, which is surprising already given his recent showing.
I have him ranked 24th among RBs for week 8 against San Francisco, a pretty average matchup that makes it a fine week to try him in standard or deeper leagues, especially with so many other backs injured or on byes use that to your advantage immediately and add him as a sneaky good starting option.
Meanwhile, Kyle Monangai sits at 65.56% overall now after jumping 6.07% following his best career game in week 7, and the Bears’ rookie has a great reason to be in lineups this week: a stellar, favorable matchup against the Ravens that even made my top 30 PPR backs list, so using him isn’t the craziest idea in really deep formats where you’re desperate for help.
Samaje Perine is up 2.86% to 9.18% owned, but he’s been a bit below average as a fantasy asset over the past several weeks, having topped 30 total yards in only one game so far, though a matchup against the Jets could make sense as a sneaky pickup for those in really deep leagues looking for a flex spot player to keep an eye on.
Devin Neal (bringing his overall mark to 9.51% after a 2.16% increase) should emerge as the RB2 in New Orleans after Kendre Miller’s season ending injury, and with a stellar test against the Buccaneers, fantasy owners are hoping he can deliver right away in week 8, though I’d want Taysom Hill more as the guy to actually own at this point.
Justice Hill (34.6% owned after a 1.9% increase today) is another No. 2 back you think is actually underowned he’s factored in more than expected this season for the Ravens and has been better than Derrick Henry at times, making him a good starting option in a favorable matchup against the Bears where adding and starting him in standard leagues isn’t that crazy of an idea, and I’d definitely do that in deeper formats.
Wide Receivers
With all the injuries and bye weeks hitting fantasy leagues in week 8, you’re probably desperate for wideout help, and the good news is there are several streaming options worth considering on the waiver wire right now.
I like Tez Johnson best among the most added names (up 4.81% to 66.07% overall) because the Buccaneers are dealing with Mike Evans being out for a while and Chris Godwin not likely to play again this season, which makes him potentially the WR2 behind Emeka Egbuka (who’s also battling an injury), so after watching a poor showing in week 7, I see the Bucs’ offense bouncing back and marching down the field against the Saints in what looks like a so-so matchup that could still deliver a decent starting spot in standard or deeper leagues for those in a pinch.
Kayshon Boutte (1.81% added, at 54.22% rostered) has been on a roll over the past two weeks with three touchdowns in that span despite just seven catches but going for 148 yards, and though a tougher test awaits him against the Browns, it’s easier to start the guy given how the Patriots offense is performing, making him deserving of a spot I wouldn’t hate utilizing even in standard formats.
Troy Franklin (bringing his mark to 55.16% after 3.79% increase) is coming off a game where he had 10 targets and has two double-digit fantasy outings this season (both included a touchdown grab), so while getting 10 targets again seems unlikely, a favorable matchup against the Cowboys gives him streaming upside in deeper leagues where you think you could do better in standard leagues but he’s not the worst choice in a pinch.
Josh Downs (up 1.7% to 60.49%) missed last week with a concussion so his status is still one to watch, although he’s trending toward playing and met Tennessee before with 34 yards on three catches and five targets in what’s a slightly above-average test, making him another option to consider between all the bye chaos even though he’s been so-so this season.
Marvin Mims (36.78% overall, 1.62% added) is on the rise after being good in week 7 when the Broncos threw a ton to rally past the subpar Giants’ defense, and that matchup against Dallas is appealing enough to consider him alongside Franklin and Courtland Sutton, though I’d only want to start Mims in deeper leagues unless he happens to lead the team in targets none of these wideouts made my top 30 PPR list for week 8, but several were close and are steadily involved enough to help you navigate the past couple of weeks of name value additions.
Tight Ends
Looking for tight end help on the waiver wire this week? Cade Otton should be your top priority if he’s somehow still available in your leagues—he’s been the guy I’ve wanted most after watching the Bucs deal with so many injuries over the past three weeks, particularly with Evans missing extended time, and his 6.95% jump to 76.36% overall ownership shows I’m not alone in adding him.
What makes Otton a pretty safe start is that I expect him to excel again in week 8 against New Orleans, a fairly average matchup where he should post another top 10 fantasy showing based on his recent usage and the team’s battling through roster chaos.
Meanwhile, Theo Johnson (now at 34.95% after a 3.22% increase) was promising in week 7 but struggled his last time against Philly, managing just 27 yards on two receptions with four targets, so I’d really try to avoid him this week and only consider Johnson in deeper leagues since Philadelphia remains a tough test for tight ends.
Noah Fant represents the most intriguing deeper league idea after being added in 2.38% of leagues (bringing his mark to 6.89% overall) because he could emerge as Cincy’s No. 3 pass catcher behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and he had a decent outing back in week 6 during Flacco’s first start, so with the Jets on tap for week 8 (New York offers a pretty favorable spot for tight ends), I like the game script and matchup enough that utilizing Fant in some formats is worth a shot I think he’ll surprise again and deliver good value for those willing to take a chance on the guy who’s been stepping up at just the right time.