Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Deep Dive. Week 8
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Deep Dive. Week 8

The Waiver Wire is crucial to fantasy football success, so we've created the Waiver Wire Hub to help you dominate your league.

I'll be using Yahoo's "percentage rostered" data. Players are listed in order of priority, by position. Only players who are available in at least 75% percent of leagues are considered.

These players are rostered in most leagues, but would be priority adds over anyone mentioned in this column if available in your league.

  • Michael Carter (Available in 35% of leagues)
  • D’Onta Foreman (Available in 51% of leagues)
  • Gus Edwards (Available in 57% of leagues)

Chuba Hubbard

  • Available in 64% of leagues

The departure of RB Christian McCaffrey left a gaping hole in the Panthers' backfield. The discussion surrounding whether it would be RB D’Onta Foreman or RB Chuba Hubbard who would have more fantasy value turned out to be both.

Foreman, who is rosterd in over half of leagues, racked up 118 rushing yards on 15 carries, but it was Hubbard who found the end zone. Both backs caught two passes as the Panthers dominated the Buccaneers on both sides of the ball. Foreman figures to remain the 1A, but Hubbard won’t be far behind.

FAAB: 20%

Van Jefferson

  • Available in 94% of leagues

WR Van Jefferson is reportedly targeting a Week 8 return after he missed the start of the season following a knee procedure. The Rams' offense desperately needs someone besides WR Cooper Kupp to contribute, and Jefferson could provide some relief for QB Matthew Stafford.

In 2021, Jefferson was the Rams' WR2 with a line of 50 / 802 / 6 through the air on 89 targets. He posted an impressive 16 yards/reception and averaged over 51 snaps/game (PFF). Assuming health, he should contribute almost immediately alongside Kupp and WR Allen Robinson.

FAAB: 15%

Mecole Hardman

  • Available in 76% of leagues

While it’s been WR JuJu Smith-Schuster who has assumed the WR1 mantle for the Chiefs, fellow WR Mecole Hardman continues to see his role expand as the secondary option. He topped 40 snaps again for the first time since Week 3 (PFF).

Normally tabbed as a boom/bust player, he has at least four targets in three straight games. He also has either 70 receiving yards or a TD in each game during that stretch. The Chiefs are on bye next week, so only stash Hardman if you have the space to wait an extra week.

FAAB: 10%

Kalif Raymond

  • Available in 100% of leagues

WR D.J. Chark is on Injured Reserve for the next four weeks, and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown left Week 7 with what appeared to be a concussion. However, it was reported that he did not suffer a concussion but was kept out of the game due to the league’s new concussion protocol.

WRs Kalif Raymond and Josh Reynolds (37% rostered) have both experienced fantasy success for stretches of this season and should be stashed if you have the space.

For Raymond, he’s averaging six targets and over 52 receiving yards/game over the last three weeks. For Reynolds, he averaged 18.5 fantasy points/game from Weeks 2-5. Both figure to see their share of opportunities in the weeks ahead, especially if ARSB is forced to miss time.

FAAB: 7%

Additional Waiver Targets

Parris Campbell

  • Available in 95% of leagues

Talent has never been an issue for WR Parris Campbell. His struggles have come from repeated injuries. His seven games played this year match the most he’s played in any season. Over the last two weeks, he’s racked up 23 targets and is averaging over 62 snaps/game this season (PFF).

However, QB Matt Ryan has been benched in favor of sophomore QB Sam Ehlinger. The surprise move may dampen expectations for Campbell, as Ehlinger has yet to attempt a pass in the regular season, but I still expect Campbell to be involved.

Donovan Peoples-Jones

  • Available in 80% of leagues

Last week, I tabbed WR Donovan Peoples-Jones as a player to stash for later in the season. I was hoping that the return of QB Deshaun Watson would vault the athletic wideout into a weekly starter. However, he’s quietly putting together some impressive performances.

Over the last four weeks, he’s topped 50 receiving yards four times and 70 receiving yards three times. He’s also averaging six targets/game this season. The only thing missing are TDs. If/when those start coming, monster fantasy performances will be at hand.

FAAB: 7%

Noah Brown

  • Available in 93% of leagues

Like many, I assumed the return of QB Dak Prescott would signal a bump in usage for WR Michael Gallup. However, it was WR Noah Brown that led the team in targets (7) and tied for the team lead in receptions (5). Brown has out-snapped Gallup in four straight weeks (PFF) and could continue to serve as a sneaky WR option for this offense.

FAAB: 7%

Justice Hill

  • Available in 90% of leagues

The Ravens' backfield is truly a mess. The loss of RB JK Dobbins has created the dreadful three-way committee consisting of RBs Gus Edwards, Kenyan Drake, and Justice Hill. Edwards (16 / 66 / 2) appears locked into the RB1 role, while Drake was wildly inefficient by way of his five rushing yards on 11 carries.

Hill, meanwhile, is the cheapest of the bunch and garnered 26 yards on just five carries. He’s been quietly productive in limited work this season and is worth a stash if you have the space.

FAAB: 5%

Marquise Goodwin

  • Available in 100% of leagues

WR DK Metcalf suffered a knee injury on Sunday and did not return to the game. In his stead, fellow WR Marquise Goodwin posted a season-best line of 4 / 67 / 2 on five targets. He’s also topped 30 snaps in four consecutive games (PFF). The speedy 31-year-old could have additional opportunities if Metcalf misses extended time. Keep an eye on injury reports in the days ahead.

FAAB: 5%

Greg Dulcich

Oct 17, 2022; Inglewood, California, USA; Denver Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich (80) and wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (10) celebrate after a touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Greg Dulcich

  • Available in 89% of leagues

It’s wild to think about how far TE Albert Okwuegbunam has fallen. For the second straight week, he was a healthy scratch. In his place, rookie TE Greg Dulcich has stolen the spotlight and made the most of his opportunities. He scored his first NFL TD last week and hauled in six of nine targets this week. He’s a fringe TE1 as long as he remains the starter and is an ideal bye-week streamer.

FAAB: 5%

Rex Burkhead

  • Available in 89% of leagues

A veteran pass-catching specialist, RB Rex Burkhead continues to thrive in negative game scripts, a situation the Texans routinely find themselves in. He’s averaging five targets/per game this season and already has his bye week behind him.

FAAB: 5%

Mark Ingram

  • Available in 80% of leagues

Veteran RB Mark Ingram continues to carve out just enough of a role to be viable in deeper leagues. He has at least 20 snaps in six of seven games this season (PFF). The Saints continue to lean on RB Alvin Kamara but should an injury occur, Ingram would step right into a high-volume role. If you roster Kamara, Ingram should be stashed on your bench.

FAAB: 3%

Juwan Johnson

  • Available in 97% of leagues

We often talk about RB handcuffs but not TE handcuffs. Needless to say, TE Juwan Johnson has been the ideal handcuff for fellow TE Adam Trautman. Don’t get caught chasing points from last week, but Johnson does have five games with at least 30 receiving yards. If you play in a TE premium scoring league and/or have upcoming bye weeks, Johnson could be worth a look.

FAAB: 3%

Matt Breida

  • Available in 99% of leagues

Veteran RB Matt Brieda is nothing more than a handcuff to RB Saquon Barkley. He’s averaging over five opportunities/game over the last three weeks and needs either a TD or an injury to Barkley to have meaningful fantasy relevance.

FAAB: 1%

QB Streamers for Week 8

Taylor Heinicke

  • Available in 95% of leagues

The second coming of QB Taylor Heinicke is off to a great start after the Commanders took down the Packers in Washington this week. After spending all of last season as the starter, Heinicke looked poised in his first game filling in for injured QB Carson Wentz. Heinicke has plenty of offensive weapons and familiarity with the system. Those make him an ideal streamer moving forward.

FAAB: 3%

Davis Mills

  • Available in 93% of leagues

Next week, QBs Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert will be on bye. One potential streaming option is QB Davis Mills. As mentioned with RB Rex Burkhead, the Texans won’t find themselves in many positive game scripts. Mills is a competent passer with competent weapons. He’s a fine option if you are desperate next week.

FAAB: 1%

Defense Streamer for Week 8

Carolina Panthers

  • Available in 97% of leagues

The New York Jets made me proud over the past two weeks, but the fantasy community has caught on. Now it’s time to bring you another cheap defense to stream. Enter the Carolina Panthers.

 They bottled up Tom Brady & Co. this week and have a date with the hapless Falcons in Week 8.

To the dismay of fantasy managers, the Falcons are annoyingly one-dimensional. They’ve only topped 200 passing yards twice and haven't done it since Week 3. The Panthers have racked up 10 sacks and have forced six turnovers this season. 

FAAB: 1%