When you see Darrell Henderson Jr. and Emari Demercado among the top Week 8 fantasy waiver wire pickups and free agent adds, you might be wondering what week — or what year — it is. Yes, it’s Week 8 in 2023, and the good news about such a week crop of waivers headliners is that there weren’t many big injuries during Sunday’s action. The bad news…well, we already told you the bad news with the whole Henderson/Demercado bit.
Our full waivers list packs a little more punch, with plenty of potential short- and long-term contributors at RB (Ezekiel Elliott, Devin Singletary, Pierre Strong Jr.), WR (Josh Downs, Kendrick Bourne, Jalin Hyatt), and TE (Taysom Hill, Dalton Kincaid). We also have our usual complement of QB, TE, and D/ST streamer suggestions for Week 8. There are no byes next week, so you might not need to hit the waiver wire for a fill-in, but if you’re dealing with injuries or bad matchups, you at least have some options, especially at TE and D/ST. Those streamers can be found at the end of the list.
This is shaping up to be a slow week on waivers. Not only are there no obvious players worth high claims, but fewer teams will also be in need of fill-ins with no byes. Unless you’re besieged by injuries and need an RB like Henderson or Demercado, you shouldn’t burn a high claim on any of this week’s top pickups. Unfortunately, you probably won’t move too far up the waivers pecking order, but at least you won’t move further down.
MORE: Watch NFL RedZone live with Sling (50% off first month)
It will be a busy week in free agency, though, with all of the aforementioned RBs, several WRs, and plenty of streamers at TE and D/ST getting added and dropped. This is a great time to look ahead to Week 9 (Lions, Broncos, Jaguars, and 49ers on bye) and grab your preferred streamers while you (hopefully) have a stocked roster in Week 8.
WEEK 8 FANTASY: FAAB budget planner | Trade advice
Top fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 8
Unless otherwise noted, only players owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues are considered.
Darrell Henderson Jr. RB, Rams. Henderson started and wound up leading the Rams in carries (18) against the Steelers, pulling away from Royce Freeman (12 carries) in the second half. All told, Henderson finished with 61 rushing yards and a TD in his return to the Rams, and it seems likely that he’ll continue to lead the way — at least for one more week — in the Rams’ backfield until Kyren Williams (ankle) returns in Week 12. Henderson has a much tougher matchup against Dallas in Week 8, but if he gets a similar workload, he’ll be worth a flex spot.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Bills. Kincaid hauled in a team-high eight catches for 75 yards against the Patriots — by far his best game to date. The rookie TE was seemingly on the verge of a breakout before suffering a concussion in Week 5, but now that he’s healthy, he could be a TE1 down the stretch, especially with news of Dawson Knox’s wrist injury. Kincaid is a must-add in 12-team leagues ahead of Thursday’s game against Tampa.
WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Emari Demercado, RB, Cardinals. Demercado was a waiver-wire darling heading into Week 6, but after a two-carry outing against the Rams, he was almost universally dropped. Fast forward another week and Demercado is apparently Arizona’s lead back again, rushing 13 times for 58 yards and adding another 17 receiving yards on four catches against the Seahawks. Even more notable was the lack of touches for Keaontay Ingram (0) and Damien Williams (1). It’s anyone’s guess as to who will lead the backfield in Week 8 against the Ravens, but Demercado has to be considered the leader. He’s worth adding as a potential flex on the chance he sees another 15-plus touches.
Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Patriots. Elliott scored for the second-straight week, finishing with 31 rushing yards on a team-high 11 carries. We can’t definitively say Elliott has “jumped” Rhamondre Stevenson on the Pats’ depth chart, but he’s clearly just as effective as a runner and short-yardage back. Elliott deserves to be owned in more than 46 percent of Yahoo leagues, especially with a slightly favorable matchup against Miami on deck.
Pierre Strong Jr., RB, Browns. Jerome Ford injured his ankle, opening the door for Strong to see an uptick in snaps against the Colts. Strong finished with just 25 rushing yards on eight carries, but if Ford’s injury keeps him out, Strong will have flex value most weeks — including next week against Seattle — while splitting snaps with Kareem Hunt.
WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Josh Downs, WR, Colts. Downs continued his midseason surge, catching five-of-six targets for 125 yards and a TD, giving him at least 13.1 PPR points for the third-straight game. Downs’ big day was fueled by an early 59-yard TD catch that happened on a play where the Cleveland defense seemed to let up because of an obvious offsides, but either way, the rookie just keeps on producing. He’s a potential flex in next week’s matchup against New Orleans.
Kendrick Bourne, WR, Patriots. Bourne once again operated as New England’s No. 1 receiver, catching six-of-seven targets for 63 yards and a TD. He’s had at least seven targets in four-of-seven games and at least five in all but one game this year. You could do a lot worse for your WR3/flex, especially during the bye weeks. Bourne has WR3 upside next week while the Pats try to keep pace with the Dolphins.
Taysom Hill, TE, Saints. Hill hauled in four-of-five targets for 50 yards on Thursday and added another five carries for 18 yards and a TD on the ground. Over the past two games, Hill has seen 13 targets, handled six carries, and even thrown a pass. That kind of workload makes Hill a TE1, even in PPR leagues. Even if Juwan Johnson (calf) is healthy, Hill is one of the top streams next week in a favorable matchup against Indianapolis.
Royce Freeman, RB, Rams. Freeman ran almost stride for stride with Darrell Henderson Jr. in the first half against the Steelers, and he ultimately finished with just six fewer carries and five more rushing yards. All told, he handled 12 touches for 66 total yards. This could easily turn into a “hot-hand” situation in the future, giving Freeman flex value in favorable matchups. Even though he’s not a recommended start next week against Baltimore, he’s worth stashing in 12-team leagues.
Devin Singletary, RB, Texans. Singletary looked like more than a mere handcuff in Week 6, rushing 12 times for a team-high 58 yards. Dameon Pierce still had one more carry, but he averaged just 2.6 yards per tote, which is only slightly below his season average entering the game (2.9). If this truly becomes a split, Singletary will have flex upside most weeks. It’s not even crazy to think the veteran can take over this backfield now that Houston is through its bye. He’s a solid flex in a highly favorable matchup against the Panthers this week.
Dalton Schultz, TE, Texans. Schultz caught four-of-seven targets for 61 yards and his third TD in as many games in Week 6. He’s put himself in the discussion as an every-week TE after a slow start, and he should definitely be owned in more than 55 percent of Yahoo leagues, especially with a favorable matchup against Carolina in Week 8.
Jayden Reed, WR, Packers. Reed caught a TD on a deflection to cap off a four-catch, 21-yard day, but the main reason he’s on this list is because Christian Watson’s lower-leg injury suffered in the fourth quarter. It’s unclear how serious the injury is, but if Watson is forced to miss more time, Reed is worth a deep-league stash.
Jalin Hyatt, WR, Giants. Hyatt has seen an uptick in snaps lately, and the big-play specialist impressed with two catches (five targets) for 75 yards against the Commanders. He also almost came up with a highlight-reel one-handed TD catch early in the game. Hyatt will be a boom-or-bust option most weeks, but he’s worth stashing in deep leagues given the lack of consistent options in the Giants’ WR room.
Brandin Cooks, WR, Cowboys. Cooks finally got involved before Dallas’ bye, catching all four of his targets for 36 yards and a TD and adding a 14-yard run. Cooks has upside if Dallas’ offense gets going, and he’s worth grabbing now that the Cowboys are through their bye. Consider him a flex in Week 8 against the Rams.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans. Spears had just five touches in Week 6, but he turned them into 63 total yards and nearly took a short pass over 50 yards for a TD, showcasing his explosiveness. Derrick Henry is in no danger of losing his job as long as he’s healthy, but Spears should still be owned in more than 41 percent of Yahoo leagues. Look for his role to continue to expand this week against Atlanta, who had trouble with Rachaad White as a receiver in Week 7.
Top fantasy QB streamers for Week 8
Derek Carr, Saints @ Colts. It hasn’t been pretty, but Carr has posted 654 yards and a pair of TDs over the past two games. The Saints’ passing offense has definitely found something, and a matchup against a Colts’ defense that entered Week 7 allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) should help Carr even more.
Kenny Pickett, Steelers vs. Jaguars. Pickett has underwhelmed this year, but Jacksonville has been generous to QBs all season, including last week to Derek Carr (301 yards, TD). If you need a fill-in, Pickett should be able to post decent-enough numbers.
Top fantasy TE streamers for Week 8
Jake Ferguson, Cowboys vs. Rams. Ferguson is always a good bet for targets, and the Rams entered Week 7 allowing the third-most FPPG to TEs. Take advantage of this bye-week casualty and grab him now for the rest of the season.
Michael Mayer, Raiders @ Lions. Mayer has become a bigger part of the Raiders’ offense over the past three weeks, and the Lions entered last week allowing the seventh-most FPPG to TEs before giving up a pair of scores to Mark Andrews. Mayer should be better with Jimmy Garoppolo back.
Hunter Henry, Patriots @ Dolphins. Henry has been mostly a disappointment since a hot start to the year, but he can get back in the box against a mediocre Dolphins’ TE defense. When these teams met in Week 2, Henry caught six passes for 52 yards and a TD.
Tyler Higbee, Rams @ Cowboys. Higbee’s opportunities have fallen since Cooper Kupp returned, but he’s still on the field a lot and a trusted option in the red zone. Dallas allows the 10th-most FPPG to TEs, so Higbee is worth a look in deep leagues this week.
Chig Okonkwo, Titans vs. Falcons. Few TEs have disappointed as much as Okonkwo this year, but only seven teams allow more FPPG to TEs than Atlanta. If there was ever a time for one of Okonkwo’s patented big plays, it’s this week.
Top fantasy defense streamers for Week 8
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Bears. Even if Justin Fields (thumb) was expected to play, we’d be all over the Chargers and their fierce pass rush here, but potentially facing Tyson Bagent makes this an even easier call regardless of his success at home against the Raiders last week.
Miami Dolphins vs. Patriots. New England entered Week 7 allowing the second-most FPPG to D/STs, and the opportunistic Miami defense can take advantage like it did in Week 2 (four sacks, two takeaways, 17 offensive points allowed).
New York Giants vs. Jets. The Jets have been better than expected on offense lately, but they’ve still allowed nine sacks in their past two games. The surging Giants D/ST can take advantage and cause a few turnovers, too.
Atlanta Falcons @ Titans. Ryan Tannehill (ankle) will likely be out, meaning Atlanta will get to tee off on either Malik Willis or Will Levis. Even a mediocre D/ST can take advantage of Tennessee’s stumbling offense.
Houston Texans @ Panthers. Bryce Young hasn’t impressed so far in his rookie season, and the Panthers entered Week 7 allowing the ninth-most FPPG to D/STs. Houston has been a boom-or-bust D/ST all year, and we’re banking on another “boom” week.
Tennessee Titans vs. Falcons. Desmond Ridder has suddenly started turning the ball over like crazy, and the Titans have shown a decent pass rush most of the season. They’re not the top choice, but Tennessee has upside in deep leagues.
Green Bay Packers vs. Vikings. Minnesota has quietly allowed the eighth-most FPPG to D/STs, and Green Bay has shown it can take advantage of favorable matchups with its solid pass rush.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Steelers. Jacksonville has eight sacks, 10 takeaways, and two defensive TDs in its past four games. Ride the hot hand against a mediocre offense.
