Welcome to Waiver Wire (Week 8). This is where we highlight a few players at each position that we want to add this week. As for ownership percentages, we will be using Sleeper. For our full weekly rankings list, head to The FFU Weekly Rankings Page or try our Sit/Start Tool Powered by Fantasy Pros. As far as the quarterbacks are concerned, we will be referring to 1QB leagues. That’s the only format where quarterbacks are readily available, if you’re in a superflex league, it’s doubtful any usable quarterbacks are available.
NFL Teams On Bye: Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears.
Quarterbacks
Deep League Options (0-25% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesDrake Maye, Patriots (25% Rostered)
Drake Maye is right on the cutoff line, so if he is unavailable, or you are chasing points in week 8, pivot to Bo Nix, as Drake Maye is the rest of season play. In 2 starts, Drake Maye has finished as the QB10 and QB7. He has given hope to an offense that looked lost under Jacoby Brissett. Here is a tweet from Jacob Gibbs highlighting how impactful the change at quarterback has been for New England. On top of that, Drake Maye adds in rushing work, and with the difficult schedule over the next month, expect Maye to use his legs to his advantage. The bottom line is that you are getting a supremely talented quarterback who can give you weekly QB1 weeks. The juice is more than worth the squeeze.
Russell Wilson (13% Rostered), Bo Nix, DEN (22% Rostered),Jameis Winston, CLE (3% Rostered), Derek Carr, NO (18% Rostered),
Medium League Options (26-50% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesTua Tagovailoa, Dolphins (46% Rostered)
We all know the concussion concerns surrounding Tua, so I will not discuss them much. He is expected to play in week eight and has a juicy matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. The hope is that the house of horrors for the Miami offense is over and that 2023 QB9 can revitalize the offense. Miami still has a shot at the wild card, and a healthy Tua can take the Dolphins offense to another level while also supporting the skill position players. How quickly we have forgotten that in week 1, Tua threw for 338 yards and guided Miami to a come-from-behind win against Jacksonville.
Trevor Lawrence, JAC (47% rostered), Matthew Stafford, LAR (31% rostered), Justin Herbert, LAC (44% rostered), Daniel Jones (22% rostered)
Shallow League Options (51-75% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesCaleb Williams, Bears (70% Rostered)
The chosen one has started living up to the hype, as he finished as the QB6 and QB1 the two weeks prior to the bye. Next up on Caleb’s docket is the Commander’s defense in week 8 and the Cardinal’s defense in week 9. Enjoy the fantasy points, as they will overflow your cup. I could bore you with statistics regarding Caleb’s improvement, but when it comes down to it, do you want to watch Caleb Williams’s ascension to the land of elite, as your opponent beats you with him in the next two weeks? I know I wouldn’t.
Geno Smith (63% Rostered), Sam Darnold, MIN (68% Rostered), Aaron Rodgers (53% Rostered), Kirk Cousins, ATL (68% Rostered)
Running Backs
Deep League Options (0-25% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesRay Davis, Buffalo (14% Rostered)
Ray Davis is a primary handcuff running back who can provide some weekly flex value. What makes Davis stand out is that we already have evidence of his productivity within the Bills’ offensive scheme. If James Cook were to miss time, Davis could potentially replicate nearly 100% of Cook’s production. He is similar to Tyler Allgeier in that he can effectively close out games for Buffalo. There are multiple ways Davis can contribute to your fantasy team, which makes him an intriguing option to add off waivers.
Jaylen Wright, MIA (19% rostered), D’Ernest Johnson, JAC (18% rostered), Kimani Vidal, LAC (16% rostered), Tyler Goodson, IND (14% rostered)
Medium Leagues (26-50% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesJaylen Warren, Steelers (42% Rostered)
In just his second game back from injury, Jaylen Warren out-snapped Najee Harris in week 7. Meanwhile, Najee still got the majority of the work (23 opportunities, compared to 15 for Warren). The snap rate is a sign the team believes in Warren. The Jets game got out of hand, and Warren will be pushing Najee in more neutral game scripts as Warren had a 61% snap share in the first half, compared to 39% for Najee. Warren is the passing down back in the Steelers offense, and if Najee were to miss time, Warren becomes a must-start running back every week.
Tyler Allgeier, ATL (50% rostered), Ty Chandler, MIN (25% rostered), Justice Hill, BAL (32% rostered), Antonio Gibson, NE (43% Rostered)
Shallow Leagues (51-75% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesTyrone Tracy, Giants (67% Rostered)
We are running it back with Tracy, as even with a healthy Singletary, Tracy was the leader in both snaps and opportunities. While the Eagles game did get out of hand, Tracy’s pass-catching ability will keep him on the field. It is a tough matchup for Tracy in week 8 versus Pittsburgh, but stay patient as he gets Washington and Carolina in weeks 9 and 10. We bet on rookies because of the upside scenario they present, especially when that rookie has already shown it. Tracy is a player we all should want on our rosters, and if he is at all available, go get him ASAP.
Jonathon Brooks, CAR (72% Rostered), Tank Bigsby, JAX (73% rostered), Alexander Mattison, LV (63% rostered), Rico Dowdle, DAL (73% Rostered).
Wide Receivers
Deep Leagues (0-25% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesRicky Pearsall, 49ers (25% Rostered)
I am cheating by putting Pearsall in the deep leagues category, as he will be a hot commodity on the waiver wire this week. What allows Pearsall to stand out is his ability to win versus man coverage, something Aiyuk excelled at in the Shanahan scheme. He is not a direct 1-for-1 Aiyuk replacement. Still, he gives Shanahan more freedom with the playbook, given his inside-outside ability and the fact Pearsall can also win against zone coverage. While he is a rookie, it may take time for Pearsall to get entirely comfortable; I prefer the Swiss army knife ability of Pearsall to Jauan Jennings for fantasy rest of the season.
Jalen McMillan, TB (6% Rostered), Rashod Bateman, BAL (24% rostered), Cedric Tillman, CLE (2% rostered), Troy Franklin, DEN (8% Rostered).
Medium Leagues (26-50% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesJauan Jennings, 49ers (37% Rostered)
Jennings has already shown he can be an impact fantasy asset in the right scenario. With the season-ending knee injury to Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel currently dealing with pneumonia, the suddenly crowded wide receiver room in San Fransisco is wide open. Given that offense’s ability to support weapons until Samuel returns, Jennings will be a player in fantasy lineups. The only concern for Jennings for the time being is the hip injury that limited him in week 7.
Jalen Tolbert, DAL (33% Rostered), Dontayvion Wicks, GB (34% Rostered), Xavier Legette, CAR (41% Rostered), Jordan Whittington, LAR (33% Rostered)
Shallow Leagues (51-75% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesKeon Coleman (52% Rostered)
We are finally seeing the rookie step forward in Buffalo. The addition of Amari Cooper to the Bills lineup is going to allow Coleman the freedom to move around the field and not strictly play the X position. Coming into week 8, Coleman has played 255 of 271 snaps out wide. 94% of snaps on the outside will likely decrease moving forward, giving Coleman easier matchups and improving his efficiency. Coleman leads all rookie wide receivers with 10 yards after contact per reception. Imagine where that number will be with more routes out of the slot.
Tyler Lockett, SEA (65% rostered), JuJu Smith-Schuster, KC (52% rostered), Demario Douglas, NE (52% Rostered), Romeo Doubs, GB (63% rostered).
Tight Ends
Deep Leagues (0-25% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesTaysom Hill, Saints (22% Rostered)
With a New Orleans offense suddenly bereft of talent across the board, expect Taysom Hill to be a focal point to help ease the burden off of Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara. Taysom Hill has some of the highest weekly upside at the tight-end position.
Noah Fant, SEA (24% Rostered). Ja’Tavion Sanders, CAR (7% Rostered), Juwan Johnson, NO (8% Rostered), Will Dissly, LAC (2% Rostered).
Medium Leagues (26-50% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesCade Otton, Buccaneers (42% Rostered)
Cade Otton is by no means a sexy pick, but he is coming off of a career-high game on Monday Night where he caught eight balls for 100 yards. When you add that the Bucs are expected to be without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin for an extended period, Otton gets a boost for the rest of the season and will be a weekly top-12 option.
Hunter Henry, NE (29% rostered), Zach Ertz, WSH (42% Rostered) *Sorry to list only three total tight ends; Otton, Henry, and Ertz were the only three tight ends on the sleeper to fall into this 25%-50% range of rosters.
Shallow Leagues (51-75% Rostered)
Embed from Getty ImagesCole Kmet, Bears (73% Rostered)
Cole Kmet has become a focal point for the Bears, and his production has shown that he is the TE3 with 12.2 PPG. With plus matchups in the next two weeks, expect Kmet to continue his tear. He is a must-start TE moving forward.
T.J. Hockenson, MIN (75% Rostered), Dalton Schultz, HOU (69% Rostered), Tucker Kraft, GB (72% Rostered), Pat Freirmuth, PIT (73% Rostered).
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