Week 8 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Top Pickups & Adds

Week 8 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Top Targets

1. Jonah Coleman
2. Makai Lemon
3. Omar Cooper Jr.
4. Antonio Williams
5. Mike Washington Jr.

Welcome to Week 8 of the waiver wire.

Recommended adds are available in at least 60% of ESPN leagues, and the watch list consists of players worth monitoring.

The deep cuts section for running backs and receivers highlights players who are rostered in fewer than 5% of ESPN leagues, for all you “not in my league” degens.

I do not list recommended FAAB percentages for every player because a much better resource for researching what you need to bid is available, thanks to our friends at FAABLab.

Finally, I do not rank kickers and defenses because, frankly, I don't care about them and would like to see them disappear from the game.

With those caveats out of the way, let's get to it.

Week 8 Quarterback Waiver Wire Targets

1. Sam Darnold
2. Jacoby Brissett

Week 8 Running Back Waiver Wire Targets

1. Jonah Coleman
2. Mike Washington Jr.
3. Kaelon Black
4. Seth McGowan

Week 8 Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Targets

1. Makai Lemon
2. Omar Cooper Jr.
3. Antonio Williams
4. Troy Franklin
5. Jordyn Tyson

Week 8 Tight End Waiver Wire Targets

1. Chig Okonkwo
2. AJ Barner
3. Mason Taylor

Week 8 Quarterback Fantasy Football Waiver Targets

1. Sam Darnold, Seahawks – Available in 69% of ESPN leagues

This one is pretty simple. If Darnold is forced to throw more because Chicago can score against the Seahawks, he should have a good fantasy game. The Bears are dead last in yards per attempt allowed, 25th in touchdown rate allowed, and 26th in explosive pass rate allowed. We need the Bears to push the scoreboard and get the Seahawks into more passing situations, but if that happens, Darnold will find success.

2. Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals – Available in 80.3% of ESPN leagues

Brissett should probably top this list, as this looks like a prime matchup and game-script combo for him to hit his fantasy ceiling. My main concern is an in-game benching given Brissett's struggles, but the fact that Carson Beck is dealing with back spasms could mean those fears are unwarranted.

Watch List

It was relative to their pre-bye performance, but the Dolphins were impressive on offense against the Jets, and Malik Willis had a good fantasy game. I would like to see the offense function well again before chasing it…The Bucs are a pass funnel, but they have not been a great target for fantasy quarterbacks. Michael Penix does have 3 touchdowns in back-to-back games…Geno Smith threw 3 touchdowns last week and has a good matchup against the Raiders, but the Jets simply have not been throwing enough to really trust him as a streaming option.

Week 8 Running Back Fantasy Football Waiver Targets

1. Jonah Coleman, Broncos – Available in 75.8% of ESPN leagues

I hope you got him last week, because I would imagine the FAAB price has gone up. As a word of caution from a Coleman truther, we need him to completely send J.K. Dobbins to the bench to be a real fantasy factor. Getting 50% of the running back carries in his first game back is positive, but he built a lot of that lead in the fourth quarter (4 carries to Dobbins' 0). Also, 50% was still only 9 carries. Sure, Sean Payton said he wants to get Coleman more work, but he has said that about Marvin Mims roughly 1,000 times, and it has never happened. Coleman is an add in every league. That is not in question. But he is still more of a stash than a fantasy starter, even in the bye weeks.

2. Mike Washington Jr, Raiders – Available in 82.3% of ESPN leagues

Another week. Another game where Washington looks much better than Ashton Jeanty when given opportunities. For the season, Washington is averaging 4.9 yards per carry with an explosive run on 15% of his attempts. Jeanty is at 3.1 yards per carry with an explosive run on 4.7% of his attempts. At some point, this usage has to flip, though I still am not sure what Washington's ceiling ultimately is unless Jeanty is shut down and given a chance to get healthy. Assuming Jeanty remains active, even if Washington gets more carries, Jeanty would seemingly still be a factor in the passing game.

3. Kaelon Black, 49ers – Available in 78.1% of ESPN leagues

It does not seem like Christian McCaffrey‘s injury is serious (he came back to play through it in the second half), and the 49ers are on bye this week. Still, Black is someone to stash in an open roster spot just to see what happens.

4. Seth McGowan, Colts – Available in 96% of ESPN leagues

The Colts started their fire sale by trading Quenton Nelson on Tuesday, and it would not be a shock if Jonathan Taylor joins him out the door ahead of the trade deadline. That alone makes McGowan worth stashing, especially after he set a new season-high with 12 touches against the Vikings. That said, it is not a given that McGowan would be a locked-in fantasy starter even if Taylor is moved. Indy's offense is bad and would be worse without Taylor. We also don't know how the Colts view McGowan. Is he just a good complement to Taylor, or do they think he can start if something happens to Taylor? Either way, McGowan is worth stashing, but keep expectations in check.

Watch List

Jeremiyah Love is supposed to return to practice on Wednesday, which would seemingly mean Bam Knight‘s time in the sun is over…Samaje Perine did not get a bump in usage coming out of the bye, putting him back in that handcuff group. I like Emmett Johnson and Ray Davis more as pure handcuff stashes. I could also get on board with Chris Rodriguez as a handcuff if something happens to Bhayshul Tuten, given how good Jacksonville's offense is. We need to see Brian Robinson back healthy before he gets back on that list…I would imagine Kyle Monangai returns this week, which puts Roschon Johnson back on the wire.

Deep Cuts

We will see how the Chargers split the backfield coming out of the bye, but Kimani Vidal needs to really own the usage to be a fantasy asset…Ty Johnson should continue to have a defined passing-game role in a very good offense…Corey Kiner did get nearly 31% of the running back carries in Week 7, though that was only 4 attempts. He is more likely to be a thorn for the fantasy value of the other two backs rather than a real fantasy factor himself…With Tyrone Tracy heading to injured reserve, Devin Singletary‘s role in the offense is more secure.

Week 8 Wide Receiver Fantasy Football Waiver Targets

1. Makai Lemon, Eagles – Available in 62.5% of ESPN leagues

It makes sense that Lemon was dropped in many leagues given his start to the season, but he was always running routes. He finally converted the targets on Monday night, going for 67 yards and a touchdown. Staying away from this crumbling offense the rest of the way might be the answer, but I am interested in adding Lemon because of the conversations we saw last week about shutting down DeVonta Smith so he can get healthy. There is a real scenario where Lemon is the WR1 for an offense that has to throw a lot the rest of the way.

2. Omar Cooper Jr, Jets – Available in 65.3% of ESPN leagues

We invested in Cooper last week, despite concerns about Adonai Mitchell‘s potential return, because he was a young player who flashed. Mitchell did eat into some of Cooper's usage, with the rookie's route rate falling to a disappointing 69.7%. Still, Cooper received 17.2% of the team's targets and 35% of the air yards. Most importantly, he continued to make plays. I will always bet on young players who flash, but I would like to see that route rate pick back up.

3. Antonio Williams, Commanders – Available in 92.9% of ESPN leagues

I assume Lemon and Cooper are already rostered in most competitive leagues, and Williams should have been added last week even with the Commanders on bye. Even so, he is available in a lot more places. The Commanders have said Stefon Diggs‘ role will not expand with Terry McLaurin out for the season. That could just mean a lot more Treylon Burks (assuming his health; he left the game late before the bye) and Dyami Brown, but as is the theme of this article, I am willing to bet on youth. Williams is a third-round rookie who has made plays with the ball in his hands this year, even if some of those have been called back. He was already running a route on 75% of the dropbacks before McLaurin was hurt, so we have a good idea he will be on the field.

4. Troy Franklin, Broncos – Available in 99.6% of ESPN leagues

I would much rather stash Tyson or some of the names on the watch list, but if you need someone for this week, Franklin could be an option. Jaylen Waddle left late in Denver's Week 7 win with what appeared to be a significant shoulder or chest injury. Sean Payton gave his yearly speech about getting Marvin Mims more involved, something that never happens, but with Pat Bryant on injured reserve, Franklin is more likely to get snaps and targets if Waddle has to miss time. Franklin was already in that role last year, and there was a long stretch where he out-targeted Courtland Sutton.

5. Jordyn Tyson, Saints – Available in 65.7% of ESPN leagues

Tyson was never expected to play last week, but it was a bit disappointing that he did not return to practice. Either way, he appears to have a real chance of returning to the field after the Saints' Week 8 bye. It has been up and down, but we have seen the Saints offense support multiple pass catchers already this season, and Tyson is a first-round rookie who matches the upside archetype we are looking for in bench stashes.

Watch List

As with Malik Willis, I would like to see the Dolphins offense be functional for another game before I dive in on any of the pass catchers. Caleb Douglas had a big game, but he ran fewer routes than Malik Washington and saw fewer targets than Chris Bell…I expect D.J. Moore to return following the bye, which sends Keon Coleman back to the waiver wire…Travis Hunter‘s role is growing, but he still ran just 7 routes before the bye…The argument for Makai Lemon could be made for Dontayvion Wicks, though we need to see how his injury situation shakes out, and Darius Cooper. I would just rather bet on the first-round rookie…We don't know exactly when De'Zhaun Stribling will return, but he is eligible…I would like to see him running more routes, but Ja'Kobi Lane is second on the Ravens in targets over the last two games…The concerns I raised about Konata Mumpfield last week came true. Even with Davante Adams out, he ran a route on just 60% of the dropbacks with 2 targets.

Deep Cuts

Malachi Fields keeps making plays, though his ultimate target upside is questionable behind Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely…It seems like Amon-Ra St. Brown is fine, but stashing Isaac TeSlaa in deeper leagues makes some sense…Mike Evans could be back after the bye, so it might not matter, but Jordan Watkins finally turned his routes into some targets against the Falcons…Emeka Egbuka will probably be back this week, but Tez Johnson benefited big from his absence…Elic Ayomanor ran a route on nearly 91% of the dropbacks in Week 7. Unfortunately, he plays for the Titans.

Week 8 Tight End Fantasy Football Waiver Targets

1. Chig Okonkwo, Commanders – Available in 95.1% of ESPN leagues

I am buying in on Antonio Williams, but the answer to the Terry McLaurin question could end up being Okonkwo. The tight end set a season high in route participation before the bye (88.9%) and was targeted 7 times. Okonkwo has been a low air yard target throughout his career and has just 11 end-zone targets in 72 career games, so he is a better bet in PPR formats. That said, he has been good after the catch in his career, and we have seen players like Evan Engram get there on volume alone as a primary target in a passing game.

2. AJ Barner, Seahawks – Available in 93.8% of ESPN leagues

I don't want to chase Barner every week because, despite his high route rate, he is a secondary option in a low-volume passing attack. That said, the game environment this week against the Bears could lead to more attempts, and the Seahawks have some receiver injuries. Barner has a 15.8% team target share over his last five games.

3. Mason Taylor, Jets – Available in 99.7% of ESPN leagues

This could be point-chasing after he scored twice in Week 7, but Taylor has had a consistent role in the passing game since returning from injury. His 66.3% route rate over the last three games leaves something to be desired, but he has 17.2% of the team's targets over that span. This week, the Jets get a Raiders defense that has struggled against tight ends. Las Vegas is fourth in fantasy points per game allowed to the position and sixth in expected fantasy points allowed.

Watch List

I lost out in my game of Rams TE roulette last week, and now Terrance Ferguson is eligible to return from injured reserve. That will make it tough to project Ferguson, Davis Allen, Colby Parkinson, and Tyler Higbee each week…Mike Gesicki has scored a touchdown in four straight games, but that touchdown has been his only catch in each of the last two. He is running a route on fewer than 50% of the dropbacks…Darren Waller scored a 50-yard touchdown against the Bucs, but he remains a part-time player…Greg Dulcich is a part-time player on a low-volume passing offense, which is a hard way to live as a fantasy asset…Eli Raridon continues to produce when given the opportunity, but he is just not running enough routes right now to be a fantasy asset.