There weren’t many new injuries to key fantasy football contributors last week, but there were still plenty of twists with surprise personnel usage. That means there should be ample help across multiple positions on the Week 8 waiver wire, some assets being less obvious — and requiring lower FAAB bids — than others.
The Rams and Cardinals offer more intrigue about backfield replacements given the injuries to Kyren Williams and James Conner. At wide receiver, more options are emerging as having some baseline value. Although the byes go from six to zero in Week 8, streaming strategies still come into play.
Whether you’re thinking short- or long-term, how should you prioritize the pickups, either through the running of waivers or allocation of your free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB)? Here’s your advice and buying guide for the latest week of the fantasy open market:
WEEK 8 FANTASY: Top waiver pickups
Week 8 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire QB pickups, streamers
1. Derek Carr, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 65%). Carr has salvaged some decent fantasy outings with volume, but it’s looked pretty sloppy. It can get prettier on the road against a struggling Colts’ secondary, as his weapons like Alvin Kamara and Chris Olave can support him as a strong streaming option. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
2. Kenny Pickett, Steelers (Yahoo league availability: 80%). Pickett looked better with the whole Steelers offense coming off the bye. He was more confident as a runner and passer and was boosted by the return of Diontae Johnson to lift the entire wide receiver corps. His numbers can add up better vs. the Jaguars’ leaky secondary than they did vs. the Rams. Projected FAAB bid: 1-2% of total budget
WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 8 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire RB pickups, streamers
1. Darrell Henderson, Rams (Yahoo league availability: 76%). Henderson returned to the Rams and immediately filled a familiar role as their lead back with no Kyren Williams (ankle) or Ronnie Rivers (knee), plus Zach Evans being buried and Myles Gaskin not being a factor. Both Henderson and Royce Freeman ran well vs. the Steelers, but Henderson got six more carries and a TD to stamp his day. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
2. Royce Freeman, Rams (Yahoo league availability: 71%). Freeman also looked good in the somewhat-even committee and remains a valuable asset for his pass protection. Unfortunately, Sean McVay is fickle with his backs, and usage can change based on the hot hand and game situation. Freeman is worth a shot. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
3. Emari Demarcado, Cardinals (Yahoo league availability: 86%). Fool me once, shame on you (Cardinals). Fool me twice, shame on us (fantasy owners). What the? After the weird Keaontay Ingram-Damien Williams usage without James Conner (knee) in Week 6, Arizona pivoted back to giving Demarcardo feature-like touches in Seattle. He might disappear next week or he might not, but starting running backs aren’t growing on trees, so you can take another shot if he was dropped. Projected FAAB bid: 6-7% of total budget
4. Tyjae Spears, Titans (Yahoo league availability: 59%). Don’t forget about Spears, who, along with Derrick Henry, was off in Week 7. He still should see more key touches in this offense playing off or stealing from Henry against the Falcons and beyond. Tennessee’s youth movement offensively could go into full force soon. Projected FAAB bid: 6-7% of total budget
5. Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots (Yahoo league availability: 54%). Elliott is getting the key work while Rhamondre Stevenson is looking much better, too, along with the entire offense. Elliott led the team in carries (11) and scored for the second straight week in Week 7. Projected FAAB bid: 6-7% of total budget
6. Devin Singletary, Texans (Yahoo league availability: 86%). He was more effective running the ball against the Saints in Week 6 before the bye, and Houston draws a good rushing road spot at Carolina in Week 8, so he can work to asset himself more next to Dameon Pierce. Projected FAAB bid: 6-7% of total budget
7. Pierre Strong, Browns (Yahoo league availability: 99%). Strong, the former Patriot, was the first up to replace Jerome Ford (ankle), along with Kareem Hunt, as the rushing committee went to work in Indy. Seattle is next, so not a bad matchup, but Strong is in position for a bigger role should Hunt get hurt again, too. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Week 8 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire WR pickups, streamers
1. Josh Downs, Colts (Yahoo league availability: 64%). This is the last call to grab Downs, who’s now making big plays with key target volume, including getting into the end zone, as a key rookie go-to guy for Gardner Minshew. Projected FAAB bid: 10-12% of total budget
2. Jayden Reed, Packers (Yahoo league availability: 84%). Rookie wide receivers keep having increased relevance. Reed joined Romeo Doubs in scoring in Denver, and both Luke Musgrave (ankle) and Christian Watson (knee) were hurt in the game. Reed can have a much bigger role for Jordan Love in the near future. Projected FAAB bid: 8-9% of total budget
3. Jalin Hyatt, Giants (Yahoo league availability: 95%). This other early-drafted rookie was unleashed a little bit for big plays downfield with strong-armed Tyrod Taylor. There’s no true No. 1 in this wideout committee to support tight end Darren Waller, but Hyatt has a chance to literally separate as a downfield threat. Projected FAAB bid: 7-8% of total budget
4. Brandin Cooks, Cowboys (Yahoo league availability: 62%). Cooks was back in the kitchen for Dak Prescott and the No. 2 option behind CeeDee Lamb before Dallas’ bye. The Cowboys should keep getting the veteran involved well going forward. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
5. Kendrick Bourne, Patriots (Yahoo league availability: 74%). Bourne’s identity was once again New England’s top pass-catching target for a revived Mac Jones vs. the Bills, and it turned into six catches for 63 yards and a TD on seven targets. The Patriots’ offense needs to be consistently relevant, but it’s a nice spot against the Dolphins’ defense in Week 8. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
Week 8 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire TE pickups, streamers
1. Taysom Hill, Saints (Yahoo league availability: 91%). He’s back as a big part of the offense, and he looked great as a traditional tight end while also getting key rushing touches again to supplement Carr. He was recommended as a sneaky streamer last week. Now, he should be rostered in 12-team leagues ahead of Week 8. Projected FAAB bid: 9-10% of total budget
2. Dalton Kincaid, Bills (Yahoo league availability: 54%). The rookie first-rounder went from being injured and out to having his best game so far, leading the team in receiving vs. the Patriots. He caught all eight targets for 75 yards, suggesting Buffalo needs to use him more for a shockingly limited offense at times. Projected FAAB bid: 7-8% of total budget
3. Jake Ferguson, Cowboys (Yahoo league availability: 54%). Cooks’ usage is cutting a little into Prescott relying on Ferguson, but he’s still the tight end security blanket of choice. The Rams’ matchup is pretty darn good for streaming in Week 8. Projected FAAB bid: 5-6% of total budget
4. Michael Mayer, Raiders (Yahoo league availability: 72%). Mayer was not effective in Week 7 in a good matchup against the Bears, as Brian Hoyer dragged the entire offense down. Assuming it’s Aidan O’Connell or Jimmy Garoppolo (back) in Week 8, Mayer should be deployed better in a very tight end-friendly matchup in Detroit. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
5. Hunter Henry, Patriots (Yahoo league availability: 69%). Henry has been seeing less work in relation to Pharaoh Brown and Mike Gesicki in key situations. The wide receivers and backs also have been used better in the passing game. That said, he can reemerge as a dart throw play in Week 8 vs. the Dolphins. He put up 7-51-1 on them in Week 2. Projected FAAB bid: 3-4% of total budget
Week 8 Fantasy FAAB Advice: Waiver wire D/ST pickups, streamers
(Note: Do not spend any of FAAB budget on D/ST! Get them for $0 after waivers run!)
1. Jacksonville Jaguars (Yahoo league availability: 74%). The Jaguars keep forcing takeaways at a high rate despite having inconsistent pressure. The design of their defense is making QBs make coverage mistakes. They should be rostered and played almost every week. In Week 8 against the Steelers is no exception.
2. Los Angeles Chargers (Yahoo league availability: 93%). Tyson Bagent did well at home for the Bears, but assuming he starts again, he steps into a long road trip against former Bear Khalil Mack and friends in L.A., who have proved they can excel against lesser offenses. The prime-time emotional bump will also help the Chargers.
3. Houston Texans (Yahoo league availability: 96%). DeMeco Ryans is scheming up his many core playmakers well, and he gets a shot to go after the lowly Panthers on the road after a bye in Week 8.
4. Tennessee Titans (Yahoo league availability: 98%). The Titans should clean up a few things defensively after the bye and draw mistake-prone Desmond Ridder and the Falcons, against whom they can make impact plays after slowing down the run.
5. Green Bay Packers (Yahoo league availability: 73%). The Packers’ defense kept them in the game well in Denver despite giving up some rushing yards. They get the turnover-prone Vikings at home next.
6. New York Giants (Yahoo league availability: 97%). The Jets are playing better offensively and this can be a trap in a crosstown game, but if you’re really hurting, you could do a lot worse after New York looked good on defense the past two weeks.
