Author: Jake Ciely, Senior Writer
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their way into your starting lineup. Tough, I know. Don’t fret too much though, as there are a few options sitting out there to help you survive. It’s time to deal out the Week 8 waiver wire pickups and quarterback streamers.
As a reminder, these waiver wire players aim for the 50 percent or less ownership on average across the major sites and have Yahoo! ownership listed. They’re also good for DFS too, as they will often have a lower cost and present values.
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Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups QBs (Streaming Quarterbacks)
Dak Prescott, DAL (59%) – As with quarterbacks, we go up to 60 percent to cover all bases. Some owners may have dropped Prescott, and yes, I know the looming return of Tony Romo throws his long-term outlook into question, but Prescott has been Fantasy starter material. Prescott entered his bye with a 68.7 completion percentage, 1,486 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. In fact, all seven touchdowns came in the last four games. The Cowboys exit the bye rested and ready to host the Eagles, and wouldn’t you know Prescott gets Dez Bryant back too.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, NYJ (19%) – Okay, he burned you (and the Jets) already this season, but it’s hard to ignore a matchup with the Browns. After all, the Browns have allowed every quarterback to throw for at least two touchdowns, including four games with over 300 yards passing. Fitz either continues the streak or is dead to us for the rest of the season.
Brock Osweiler, HOU (14%) – The Chargers aren’t quite as forgiving as the Browns, but they have given up at least one passing touchdown in every game this year. With the way their offense is clicking, the Texans will have to be more aggressive than usual. Osweiler is risky, but again, it’s a heavy bye week.
Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups RBs
You Should Have Picked Them Up: Jay Ajayi, MIA; Jacquizz Rodgers, TB; James White, NE
Mike Gillislee, BUF (50%) – Assuming the Bills do what they should have last week and sit LeSean McCoy, Gillislee becomes the starter and is a must-own and must-start. Reggie Bush will likely be involved some as well, but any running back getting the majority share needs to be in lineups, especially with so many byes.
Chris Thompson, WSH (13%) – Matt Jones still hasn’t fixed his fumbling issues, which opens the door for Thompson… and Rob Kelley. While Thompson won’t see a workhorse role, he’s the most consistent option in Washington, especially in PPR leagues. If this were a normal week, Thompson’s value would be relegated to those leagues only, but he could have Flex value in standard as well.
Dak is back and a top option at quarterback in Week 8. Photo by Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire
Matt Asiata, MIN (21%) – Asiata’s value sees a big boost if Jerick McKinnon misses time. If so, Asiata jumps to the top running back add. Asiata has actually scored more than McKinnon thanks to the touchdowns, and if Asiata weren’t sharing touches, his value would be firmly inside the Top 20 running backs.
Ka’Deem Carey, CHI (2%) – John Fox is at least honest. He said he would use a hot-hand approach in the backfield and we’ll be darned if that isn’t the case. Carey looks to have moved into the lead role with Jordan Howard now getting the lesser share, but that could change weekly, so don’t drop Howard. Don’t spend much on Carey either, as he could falter and lose the gig and/or be part of the dreaded committee once Jeremy Langford returns soon.
Knile Davis and Don Jackson, GB (36%, 11%) – I would not recommend starting either player unless you’re desperate, as Ty Montgomery might just be the lead option again with Davis and Jackson sprinkled in a bit. However, there is still potential here if the Packers want to go more traditional, but it’s tough to predict who will emerge. Davis is a speedy running back that didn’t crack the rotation in Kansas City with Jamaal Charles, and Jackson is an undrafted free agent and practice squad player. They are the definition of fliers.
Mike Davis and DuJuan Harris, SF (26%, 0%) – Speaking of committees, Davis scored a rushing touchdown, Harris saw more work and Shaun Draughn had a receiving touchdown. Draughn is behind Davis and Harris, but as with the Packers, neither player is worth using unless you’re desperate.
Dwayne Washington and Zach Zenner, DET (9%, 8%) – What do we have here? Oh, just another messy backfield. Zenner has been serviceable as the lead option with Theo Riddick out, but the Lions like Washington and want to see what he brings… if he can get on the field. If Washington is active, this will be a risky situation, and if Riddick returns, all bets are off outside of Riddick.
Devontae Booker, DEN (34%) – The Broncos seemed set on creating a Falcons-like backfield, and that means Booker needs to be owned by more than just C.J. Anderson owners. It would be tough to start him regularly, but you may be thin at running back, and his value would skyrocket if Anderson were to miss time.
Alfred Blue, HOU (1%) – Let the injury concerns from Lamar Miller in Monday’s night game be a warning to his owners. We’ve seen the Blue story many times before, and he can certainly provide some big games if Miller were to be seriously hurt.
Damien Williams, MIA (0%) – Arian Foster surprisingly retired, which puts Williams as the next man up if Ajayi were to get hurt. Kenyan Drake has deep value, more so in PPR leagues, and is worthy of a stash as well. Ajayi looks amazing (finally) but if the waiver wire is thin and you’re just shooting for future value, feel free to stash Williams.
Deep Leagues/Handcuffs: Dion Lewis (time to stash), Thomas Rawls, Alfred Morris, Derrick Henry, Tim Hightower, Cameron Artis-Payne
Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups WRs
You Should Have Picked Them Up: Michael Thomas, NO; Ty Montgomery, GB; Tyrell Williams, SD; Sammie Coates, PIT; Quincy Enunwa, NYJ
Jamison Crowder, WSH (37%) – A few weeks ago, I asked you what Kenny Britt had to do in order to get some respect. Well, that applies to Crowder now. Did you know that he is WR27 in standard leagues, eliminating those “PPR only” concerns? In fact, Crowder ranks two spots lower in PPR. Crowder is second on the team in receptions and first in yards and touchdowns. He’s easily their most consistent receiver, and you can use him this week against a Bengals team struggling to stop the pass.
Davante Adams, GB (19%) – It’s always tough to trust a third wide receiver on a team, and there will be weeks where Adams is left out. However, Adams has greatly improved in route running and his receiving skills, as seen last week. The Packers look to be extremely pass-heavy with no Eddie Lacy, and Adams will have weekly value if Aaron Rodgers chucks it up 40-plus times a week.
Brian Quick, LA (8%) – As with Britt, Quick is quietly having a nice season, sitting as WR31 so far. Quick has been a decent source of touchdowns for the team, and he had a nice game against the Giants with 92 yards. That gave Quick at least 5.1 points in each of the last five games.
Marqise Lee, JAX (2%) – Not Allen Robinson, not Allen Hurns, not anyone else. No one has more receptions than Lee for the Jaguars, and only Hurns has more yards. The lack of touchdowns is overshadowing the fact that Lee has improved this year and has 60-plus yards in three games. Lee is just a score or two from becoming the highest-scoring Jaguars receiver. Think about that.
Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN (2%) – I know, I don’t want to buy in either but at some point, you have to stop ignoring production. Patterson teased as a rookie and then entered protective services… or at least that seems like the only excuse for why he disappeared. Yes, his emergence has coincided with Stefon Diggs being hurt, but 19 targets, 16 receptions, 144 yards and two touchdowns over the last three games are tough to ignore. If it weren’t a heavy bye week, I’d say ignore him one more time, but maybe Patterson just took a while to acclimate to the NFL… like three years.
Russell Shepard, TB (0%) – The good thing about Shepard? No one, nobody, not a single person owns him. The bad thing? It’s tough to feel good about his value on a team with Mike Evans absorbing so many targets and with Jameis Winston being, well, bad Jameis at times. The schedule is nice though, and Adam Humphries is a slot option and not built as Shepard is for the outside and red zone. Stash Shepard on the potential alone, but just know that he could be the next Kevin Ogletree.
Deep Leagues/Watch List: Corey Coleman, Donte Moncrief (need to stash both as returning soon), Rishard Matthews, Tyler Lockett, Kendall Wright, Brandon LaFell
Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups TEs
Jack Doyle, IND (31%) – Doyle is a TE1 for as long as Dwayne Allen is out, and that makes him a must-add. It’s truly that simple. Doyle has 13 catches, 131 yards and two touchdowns over the past two weeks, and it doesn’t get much better than that for tight ends.
Cameron Brate, TB (31%) – Brate has been quiet the last two weeks, but the upside is still there as the second most targeted option in the red zone. As mentioned with Shepard, the schedule is nice with the Raiders, Falcons and Bears next and all at home. For the last time (at least for this week) with so many teams on byes, Brate is almost a TE1.
Deep Leagues/Watch List: Eric Ebron, C.J. Fiedorowicz
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