Fantasy Football Week 8 Waiver Wire
By Brandon Lane
QUARTERBACK
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
*Roster Percentage: 40%
The 6-and-1 Giants keep finding a way to win and part of that has to do with quarterback Daniel Jones competent play. He’s not a weekly SMASH play but he has been getting the job done for fantasy with his legs and throwing enough to make him a weekly option. In Week 7 he completed 19-of-30 passes for 202 yards and a touchdown. But his mobility once again spiked his week as he added 11 rushes for 107 yards and another score. I expect Jones to keep things rolling in Week 8 when the Giants take on a Seattle defense that has given up the 10th most fantasy points to fantasy quarterbacks.
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
Roster Percentage: 34%
The Bears are FINALLY opening up the game-script and letting Justin Fields use his legs and throw downfield. While he didn’t exactly light it up through the air only completing 13-of-21 passes for 179 yards and a TD, he was electric on the ground rushing 14 times for 82 yards and an additional touchdown. He is still holding onto the ball too long and has a way to go in his development but the fantasy upside is there. Week 8 is not a match-up I would go after with Fields as the Bears face a Dallas defense that has been punishing QBs lately.
Jameis Winston/Andy Dalton, New Orleans Saints
Roster Percentage: 20/3%
This one was hard to watch but for fantasy purposes it worked out. Dalton completed 30 of his 47 passes for 361 yards and four touchdowns. On paper those stats look ok but it was the three interceptions (two of them back-to-back) that lost the games for the Saints. New Orleans has a tasty match-up this week vs Las Vegas who has given up the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Jameis Winston could return this week, but if not, Dalton will be behind center once again making either a solid streaming option this week.
Others to Consider:
Deshaun Watson (16% week 13 return), Davis Mills (7% vs TEN), Taylor Heinicke/Sam Howell (5/0% @ GB), Sam Ehlinger (1% vs WAS), Sam Darnold (1% could return from IR this week)
RUNNING BACK
If available: Michael Carter (66%), Khalil Herbert (53%)
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens
Roster Percentage: 44%
Gus had been on our stash list for weeks and while we knew he was close to returning this week it was a bit of a surprise to see him announced as the starter in Week 7. Playing on 36% of snaps in his first game back he took full advantage rushing 16 times for 66 yards and two touchdowns. The Ravens want to run the ball and the GUS BUS should be full throttle moving forward as a weekly RB2 option. Week 8 is a tough match-up against a Tampa Bay defense who has given up the 6th fewest fantasy points to running backs, so temper expectations.
D’Onta Foreman/Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
Roster Percentage: 49/36%
It was Chuba Hubbard that got the start before suffering an ankle injury and then Foreman took on the lions share to close out the game. Prior to his injury Hubbard rushed nine times for 63 yards and a touchdown and also reeled in 2 catches for 10 additional yards. It appeared to be about a 60/40 split in Hubbard’s favor while both backs where healthy. Foreman did most of his damage in the second half rushing 15 times for 118 yards (60 of those yards coming on one long run). He padded his grand rushing day by adding two catches for 27 yards. Both are worth adding and even though the team gave Hubbard the start I still lean Foreman as my preferred add.
Latavius Murray, Denver Broncos
Roster Percentage: 40%
After giving Murray more opportunity in Week 6 the Broncos announced that Melvin Gordon was still their starter. They were true to their word but Latavius Murray still saw eight opportunities for 24 yards and a touchdown. Mike Boone was also involved but suffered an ankle injury which landed him on IR. This backfield could be hard to trust at this point but I do think Murray is worth rostering until we see how this plays out. Also something to consider is there is still a chance we might see Melvin Gordon traded before the deadline which could lead to Latavius landing a workhorse role.
Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
Roster Percentage: 8%
It sure seems like we might have seen the last of Cam Akers in a Rams uniform. The solution could very well be rookie Kyren Williams sliding in next to Darrell Henderson. Placed on injured reserve in mid-September with a high ankle sprain Williams could return this week. Williams became a starter for the Fighting Irish as a red shirt freshman who compiled back-to-back 1000 yard rushing seasons. Not the biggest nor the fastest back (4.65 40-yard dash) but a very efficient runner who carried the rock 204 times for 1002 yards and 14 TDs in 2021. But it is his pass-catching skill set that bolsters his NFL stock. In his final season at Notre Dame he was dynamic as a pass catcher hauling in 42 catches for 359 yards and 3 TDs. Thought to be one of the most complete prospects coming into the draft his stock fell after a disappointing NFL Combine. He could immediately step in as a complimentary back for the Rams in the mold of a James White style player.
Others to Consider:
Cam Akers (49% stash in hope he is traded), Alexander Mattison (46%), Damien Williams (3%), D’Ernest Johnson (1% stash with Kareem Hunt trade rumors), Ty Johnson (0%)
WIDE RECEIVER
If available: George Pickens (57%), Darnell Mooney (55%)
Josh Reynolds, Detroit Lions
Roster Percentage: 37%
Coming back from injury with minimal practice time Reynolds had a disappointing game catching 1 of his 2 targets for eight yards. The lack of practice time likely had something to do with it, but so did the match against the Cowboys. I expect him to bounce back this week against Miami especially if Amon-Ra St. Brown who was forced out in Week 7 sits. His teammate Kalif Raymond is also someone to consider in deeper leagues.
Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants
Roster Percentage: 29%
The Giants offense lacks play-makers but rookie Wan’Dale Robinson is trying to remedy that. The rookie looked good catching 6 balls for 50 yards in Week 7. While I do believe he should be rostered in more leagues, I still do not believe he will be a difference maker for fantasy managers. He’s a small guy who is being used more like a scat back than a wide-out and that will likely lead to a nice target share but not a lot of yards.
Parris Campbell, Indianapolis Colts
Roster Percentage: 5%
In Week 7 Campbell led the Colts with 12 targets reeling in 10 of them for 70 yards and a touchdown. While this seems promising the Colts offense is about to look a lot different as they announced the benching of veteran Matt Ryan for the younger Sam Ehlinger. What we know about Ehlinger is his mobility, but he is unproven as a passer so the wait-and-see approach might be best to see how this offense evolves.
Marquise Goodwin, Seattle Seahawks
Roster Percentage: 1%
Opportunity is sometimes the name of the game and when DK Metcalf was carted off the field Marquise Goodwin name was called. He went on to catch 4 of his 5 targets for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Metcalf suffered a knee injury that will keep him out a while and Tyler Lockett has been less than 100% so this should lead to more opportunity for the speedy vet Godwin moving forward.
Others to Consider:
Jameson Williams (31%), Donovan Peoples-Jones (20%), Treylon Burks (18%), Zay Jones (18%), Tre’Quan Smith (1%)
TIGHT END
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Roster Percentage: 14%
As long as Cameron Brate is out Cade Otton looks to be a solid option. He caught 4-of-5 targets for 64 yards and Brady has continued to trust him when the game is on the line. The Bucs take on the Ravens in Week 8 who have given up the 14th most fantasy points to tight ends.
Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos
Roster Percentage: 11%
It’s hard to know who to trust in this Broncos offense but since Dulcich returned from IR he seems to be one of the dependable pieces in this dysfunctional offense. In Week 7 he caught 6-of-9 targets for 51 yards. Russell Wilson sounds like he will return this week which should give a slight boost to the offense when they go up against Jacksonville who has given up the 8th fewest fantasy points to TEs.
Others to Consider:
Hunter Henry (45%), Irv Smith Jr. (42%), Mike Gesicki (41%), Noah Fant (12%), Juwan Johnson (1%), Harrison Bryant (1%)
DEFENSE
Jacksonville vs DEN
Tennessee @ HOU
Indianapolis vs WAS
Washington @ IND
Seattle vs NYG
*Roster percentages based on Yahoo
