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Fantasy Sports

Week 8 Waiver Wire Pick-Ups: Finally Catching On

It’s time for the Week 8 waiver wire. Another week of NFL, another week of action, another slew of injuries. 2020 has been rough in many ways and a seemingly extraordinarily rough batch of injuries is one of them. If you caught our last installment and went with Boston Scott, Christian Kirk, or even went bold and played Sterling Shepard you certainly came away happy. Teddy Bridgewater and Kyle Allen also delivered usable performances.

The Week 8 first look has some long-term solutions at wide receiver and at least one running back that could turn his upcoming audition into a permanent gig. We’ll also take another swing at a tight end position that has been as volatile as ever. Remember, we lose a lot of firepower this week. The Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Washington Football Team are all on bye.

Week 8 Waiver Wire

Quarterback

Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals

What does the first-overall pick have to do to get another win? It’s been three weeks (and losses) since Joe Burrow last led his team to victory. They got blown out by Baltimore but blew a 21-0 lead against the Colts and allowed the Browns to go on a game-winning, 75-yard scoring drive in five plays. Through it all, Burrow has been slinging the rock and leads the league in passing attempts. 

The rookie is currently QB10 so his wide availability is a bit surprising. He’s only had one bad performance; the game against Baltimore. He’ll take on the Tennessee Titans 21st-ranked pass defense in Week 8 who have allowed 15 touchdown passes, tied for fifth-most in the NFL. He’ll then face the Steelers in Week 9. That game could be a struggle but he should continue chucking it more than 40 times a game.

Tua Tagovailoa

Miami Dolphins

You might have forgotten with all that went on over the weekend. But Tua Tagovailoa, the fifth-overall pick in last April’s draft, is set to make his NFL debut in Week 8. He’ll try to notch his first win against the Los Angeles Rams who are coming off a short week. Starting a rookie is always sketchy but his running ability is a bonus. What more could you ask for in a streaming option? Tua’s first opponent could be much better.

The Rams have Aaron Donald leading one of the top pass-rushes in the NFL and Jalen Ramsey anchoring a stingy backend. Tagovailoa could be running for his life but if he’s able to break contain and find the edge that could end up being a good thing. This is obviously more a move for the future. Ryan Fitzpatrick led the 12th-ranked scoring offense, was QB16 on the season, and threw multiple touchdowns in four of six games. If Tua can approach that plus add value with his legs he could be a top-12 quarterback from here on out.

Running Backs

Carlos Hyde

Seattle Seahawks

Chris Carson is the RB8. He’s seeing a career-low 11 carries per game but averaging career-highs in targets and receptions. Carson left Monday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinal and is set to miss some time with a foot injury. In steps Carlos Hyde who feels like he has been around forever but is only 30. Hyde took the rock 15 times for 68 yards and a score. He also caught three of four targets for just eight yards. 

Seattle hosts the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8, a daunting task for any back. The 9ers rank ninth in yards per carry allowed and have given up just four rushing scores. The Seahawks are among the dregs in the NFL in terms of rushing attempts and yards. But Carson was still productive. Keep an eye on the injury reports, but if Carson misses time, Seattle could lean on the run game to take some pressure off of their porous defense.

Wayne Gallman

New York Giants

The New York Giants lost another running back this weekend when Devonta Freeman went down with an ankle injury Thursday against the Eagles. Freeman had been a relative revelation as a bright spot on an awful team. He was RB25 from Weeks 4-6. Wayne Gallman entered Thursday’s contest and proceeded to carry the ball 10 times for 34 yards and a touchdown while catching all five of his targets for 20 yards. The former fourth-round pick could be busy if Freeman misses Week 8.

Unfortunately for Gallman and the Giants, they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8. They’re second in total rushing yards allowed and lead the NFL in allowing just 3.0 yards per tote. Fret not, though, as Gallman has another path to fantasy production. Tampa has seen the fourth-most targets to running backs, is allowing the third-most catches, and has given up the fifth-most receiving yards to opposing backs.

Wide Receivers

Nelson Agoholor

Las Vegas Raiders

No, it isn’t 2017. But we are entertaining getting excited about the prospects of Nelson Agholor in fantasy. At what point do you generally consider a player’s production to be legit? Agholor scored for the third-straight week on Sunday but went beyond the most volatile aspect of fantasy football. He finally saw adequate volume, garnering nine looks. He caught five of them for 107 yards and the aforementioned score, his fourth on the year.

He’ll see the Browns in Week 8 and they just gave up at least five catches and 70 yards to the Bengals top three wideouts. Cleveland is allowing the third-most yards to wide receivers and the second-most receiving touchdowns. Bryan Edwards cold return and hamper things. They also lean heavily on the run and tight end Darren Waller. But the former 20th-overall pick has earned some extra attention from his quarterback going forward.

Rashard Higgins

Cleveland Browns

Odell Beckham was already having a career-worst year with lows across the board. It got substantially worse on Sunday. He tore his ACL making a tackle following quarterback Baker Mayfield’s interception. Rashard Higgins stepped into the Browns 37-34 comeback win over the Bengals and chipped in six catches and 110 yards. The outing surpassed his catch and yardage totals from all of 2019.

Cleveland is ideally a run-heavy team; even without stud runner Nick Chubb. But their defense is suspect and will have them in more shootouts than they’d prefer. You’re still behind Jarvis Landry and Austin Hooper in the pecking order, but he and Mayfield have shown a strong connection in the past. Higgins had nine-plus fantasy points in six of 13 games back in 2018. Facing the Raiders in Week 8, he’ll see a defense that’s pretty middle-of-the-road against receivers but has allowed seven touchdown receptions to the position already.

Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco 49ers

Another rookie on the list, Brandon Aiyuk has dabbled with fantasy relevance several times already this season. First, he caught five balls for 70 yards and ran three times for 31 yards and a touchdown against the Giants in Week 2. Then he turned three touches into 56 yards and another score. And he just caught six passes for 115 yards in Sunday’s undressing of the New England Patriots.

Aiyuk, who caught his first touchdown two weeks ago, could be in for a big Week 8 against the Seahawks non-existent secondary. Deebo Samuel left the 49ers Week 7 contest with a hamstring injury and could miss some time. San Francisco is a running team first, second, and fourth. The third is the pass but even that is headed by all-world tight end George Kittle. Still, just as with Samuel, the 49ers get Aiyuk the ball in a variety of ways. San Fran plays the Packers and Saints after facing Seattle.

Tight Ends

Richard Rodgers

Philadelphia Eagles

How did you get here? Nobody supposed to be here. Stop if you’ve heard this already, tight end is a wasteland this season. Injuries have knocked top performers like Zach Ertz out of commission. Even the 49ers Kittle missed time with injury. The Philadelphia Eagles, even down Ertz and Dallas Goedert, maintained their healthy involvement of the tight end position in the offense. Richard Rodgers repaid their trust by catching six of eight targets for 85 yards in last Thursday’s comeback win over the Giants.

Ertz and Goedert are still on IR and the Dallas Cowboys are limping into town. They just got pelted by the Washington Football Team 25-3. Dallas couldn’t stop a JV squad at this point and even got called out by tv analysts for quitting after no one came to Andy Dalton’s aide following a vicious hit from Jon Bostic. One thing we know about the Eagles is they won’t quit. Pick up Rodgers for Week 8 but monitor Goedert. He was reportedly close to coming off IR last week.

Logan Thomas

Washington Football Team

If “trust the process” was a football player, it would be Logan Thomas. There might not have been worse production in comparison to the opportunity in the history of fantasy football. Thomas has at least four targets in every game and has three-plus catches in five of seven. He’s finally started finding the endzone, scoring his first touchdowns since the opener in consecutive weeks.

The Football Team will see the Giants in Week 8. They allowed Eagles backup Richard Rodgers to be TE6 last week. Thomas was Week 7’s TE5 so it’s not a stretch to think he could extend his streak of production, though New York has only allowed one touchdown to tight ends. The beauty (using the term loosely) of Thomas is Washington in thin on playmakers beyond Terry McLaurin. So Thomas’ role is pretty secure as long as he keeps producing.

Fantasy Sports

NFL Week 7 Waiver Wire: Beggars Can’t Be Choosers

Another week of exciting NFL action has gone by and, for those of us who play fantasy football, the attention turns to the waiver wire for Week 7. In a shift of recent trends, there was more news on players returning to action than would be missing time going forward. Unfortunately, that didn’t mean we were injury-free. All in all, it should be another busy waiver period. So let’s see who should be on your radar ahead of Wednesday.

There’s a good chance you’re going to bristle at first blush upon reading several of these names. But with the number of injuries we have seen already, beggers can’t be choosers. Hopefully, if you’re looking for a quarterback or tight end, it is just for streaming or a short-term injury replacement. If it’s a wide receiver or running back then you’re in luck. There are a couple of options at either position that will get you through.

Beggars Can’t Be Choosers in Week 7 Waiver Wire

Quarterbacks

Teddy Bridgewater – Carolina Panthers

Teddy Bridgewater was certainly a letdown in Week 6. That can happen when playing a stout Chicago Bears defense that ranks fifth in DVOA, per Football Outsiders. Teddy Two-Gloves is your QB16 on the season though and was the QB4 back in Week 4 and QB12 in Week 5. He has a favorable Week 7 matchup on deck against the New Orleans Saints. Bridgewater has thrown three of his six touchdowns on the road. He’s also thrown for more yards and completed a higher rate of his passes away from Bank of America Stadium.

New Orleans is eighth in defensive DVOA but that is thanks in large part to their superb run defense. While the Saints rank third against the run and fourth in run defense DVOA, they are a middling pass defense. They rank 19th in passing yards allowed and 15th in pass defense DVOA. They’ve allowed top-10 performances to quarterbacks in their three home games, including a QB4 performance by Justin Herbert in Week 5.

Kyle Allen – Washington Football Team

Let’s be honest, you’re only doing this if you’re a Lamar Jackson owner and your league is competitive or is a two-quarterback or superflex league. Kyle Allen got his second start of the season in Week 6 and ended up as the QB16 for the week. He did so against the New York Giants 21st-ranked pass defense (23rd in DVOA) but will face a Dallas Cowboys defense that ranks 23rd against the pass and just got lit up by the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football. Dallas has allowed three QB6 or better performances already. Again, if you’re desperate.

Running Backs

Boston Scott – Philadelphia Eagles

For the second time this season, Boston Scott will be called upon to handle the majority of the backfield touches for the next few weeks while Miles Sanders recovers from yet another injury. Sanders is the RB19 so far but missed Week 1. Scott struggled in that game against the Washington Football Team’s stout front to the tune of 3.9 yards per carry. This time, he steps into the role with the Philadelphia Eagles needing all the playmakers they can get.

He’ll face the Giants who, if you’ve read to this point, you already know have a suspect defense. They allow a respectable 3.7 yards per tote but have faced the ninth-most carries and rank 15th in run defense DVOA. They’re also tied in facing the fifth-most passes to running backs, are eighth in receptions, and sixth in receiving yards allowed to backs. Scott could be very busy with the Eagles so depleted.

J.D. McKissic – Washington Football Team

You may not have felt the sting of bye weeks at quarterback, but running back might be different. No solid-if-unspectacular Jonathan Taylor, or the suddenly reliable Myles Gaskin, or Alexander Mattison who was already filling in for the injured Dalvin Cook. That’s the RB15 and RB16 in Taylor and Gaskin, respectively. And Cook is still the RB4 on the year. Enter J.D McKissic, the forgotten back for the Washington Football Team. With Antonio Gibson garnering all the pub, you may not have noticed that McKissic was the RB12 in Week 6 and that he has out-snapped Gibson, 50 percent to 43.7 percent.

Gibson has the touch advantage (83-58) but, as we saw against the Giants, McKissic is still a vital part of this team. He’s just RB37 on the season but did come in as RB27 in Week 5 and has seen multiple carries in five of six games while catching multiple passes in his last four. He’ll see a Dallas defense that is most vulnerable on the ground. But in a game that will have serious implications for the NFC East, McKissic is worth a shot this week.

Frank Gore – New York Jets

Death. Taxes. Frank Gore getting the bulk of the carries over an intriguing rookie. This time Gore has relegated LaMical Perine to speculative bench duty while he plods his way to 3.3 yards per rush. He did up that to 4.2 in a losing effort against the Miami Dolphins and, as long as Adam Gase in running the show, appears locked into double-digit touches. If you aren’t hurting for running back help, maybe stash Perine in case the winless New York Jets boot Gase and they start evaluating players. It won’t be pretty and there isn’t much upside. But as it stands, Father Time has nothing on the 37-year-old.

Wide Receivers

Christian Kirk – Arizona Cardinals

It can be hard not to get wrapped up in big performances during primetime games. There’s always a random, fringe player that makes a huge impact on the night. Sometimes, like with the Pittsburgh Steelers Chase Claypool, it can be a springboard. But the road to fantast football glory is paved with unrealized potential. Some guys just use the national stage to announce themselves to the rest of us. Christian Kirk was the WR4 in Week 6 and is WR14 over the last three weeks.

This is undoubtedly DeAndre Hopkins’ show, but with Arizona among the league leaders in plays per game, there are points to go around. That should be particularly true this week with the Seattle Seahawks and their sieve-like passing defense (29th DVOA) coming to town. Shaq Griffin will likely be tasked with covering Hopkins which should leave plenty of opportunity for Kirk, who has three touchdowns the last three weeks, to make plays.

Tim Patrick – Denver Broncos

Would you believe the Denver Broncos Tim Patrick is the WR36 on the season? It’s true. When Courtland Sutton went down we all anticipated Jerry Jeudy to dominate the looks there. But Patrick has more catches, yards, and touchdowns than the rookie from Week2 on with just one fewer target. Most of that, by the way, came without starting quarterback Drew Lock, who struggled in his return.

Patrick, the WR24 in Week 6, was WR7 in Week 4, and WR34 in Week 3. That makes him the WR19 on average since Week 3 with a matchup against the high-powered Kansas City Chiefs in Week 7. You shouldn’t expect him to out-produce Jeudy all the time. And Melvin Gordon missing last week helped some. But Patrick is looking like a solid WR3/Flex player available for a bargain.

Breshad Perriman – New York Jets

I know, I know. There’s no way two Jets made it on the list, right? Well, here’s the thing, sure you could go after James Washington and Demarcus Robinson, two guys getting extra burn due to injuries. Or you can take a chance on Keelan Cole or Corey Davis and hope you get one of their boom performances. Or you can go after the guy set to fill the Robby Anderson role for the Jets. Breshad Perriman is no stranger to fantasy relevance. He was the WR5 from Weeks 13-17 last season, catching 25 passes for over 500 yards and five touchdowns.

He isn’t likely to put up those kinds of numbers in New York but the Anderson role is a valuable one nonetheless. Anderson was the WR40 in 2019 and had three 100-yards games, two additional 80-yard games, and five touchdowns. The Jets face the Bills, Chiefs, and Patriots the next three weeks before their bye. Jamison Crowder is still the top option but the Jets are bad and figure to be trailing the rest of the season. Perriman will get his opportunities.

Alshon Jeffery – Philadelphia Eagles

Sterling Shepard – New York Giants

A twofer! Both of these guys are coming back from injury but have arguably the highest ceiling of any players listed. Sterling Shepard has been out since Week 2 with a turf toe injury but has a shot to come of the injured reserve in time for the Giants Thursday Night Football game against the likewise beaten-up Eagles. He’ll return to an offense that has only cracked the 20-point threshold once (they hit it one other time) and will compete with Golden Tate and Darius Slayton for targets. But neither of them are world-beaters that command a certain number of looks.

Alshon Jeffery’s Eagles need him in the worst way. He has yet to suit up this year as his team has lost weapons left and right. DeSean Jackson is still working his way back from a hamstring injury, rookie Jalen Reagor hasn’t played since Week 2, and they just lost Zach Ertz and Miles Sanders. Travis Fulgham has been their go-to guy the past two weeks for goodness sakes. Jeffery could bring WR2 upside if he gets (and stays) healthy.

Tight Ends

Greg Olsen – Seattle Seahawks

The “Frank Gore” of tight ends, Greg Olsen just keeps coming back and producing for his team. His tenure with the Seattle Seahawks has been more of the same. The volume hasn’t been heavy, but he’s had four-plus targets and receptions in three of five games this season. Week 5 against the Vikings, before the Seahawks bye, Olsen put up a dud. That just served to further remove him from your league-mates memories.

Olsen is the TE27 in 2020 but was TE15 from Weeks 3-4, grabbing 10 of 13 passes for 96 yards. The downside is that MVP-hopeful Russell Wilson spreads the ball around and there are even other tight ends on the roster that pose a threat to Olsen’s (who only has one touchdown) production. But losing Mark Andrews (TE3).  Mike Geisicki (TE11), and Indy’s bunch of productive tight ends at an already thin position makes people desperate. You could do much worse than Olsen.

Darren Fells  – Houston Texans

We’ve seen this movie before. From Weeks 3-13 in 2019, Darren Fells was the quintessential streaming tight end. He wasn’t seeing a ton of targets and averaged just under three catches per game. But he had a better-than-not chance to catch a touchdown from one of the most dynamic passers in the league in Deshaun Watson. Well, Fells might be at it again, having more than 50 yards and catching a touchdown in each of the last two weeks. He gets the Green Bay Packers in Week 7, who just let the ghost of Rob Gronkowski go off for 5/78/1 in Week 6.

Fantasy Sports

Week 6 Waiver Wire: Banking with Chase

Week 5 in the NFL came and…well, that’s it because at the time of this writing, the Buffalo Bills and Tennessee Titans had yet to play their matchup. It was rescheduled for Tuesday after the Titans had a self-inflicted outbreak of COVID. Similarly, the New England Patriots had their game against the Denver Broncos pushed from Week 5 to Week 6.

That’s all besides the point though because we’re here to find some help for out ailing fake football teams. Injuries have the quarterback of a high-octane offense, a rookie wide receiver that looks like a tight end, and a backup running back making the case for more time all available on the Week 6 waiver wire.

Andy Dalton

Dallas Cowboys – QB – 99.8% Avail

First and foremost, let’s send wishes for a speedy recovery to Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. While trying to fight for more yardage on a scramble he suffered a compound fracture and will miss the rest of the season. He has a long recovery ahead and the Cowboys will have to try and regroup with their backup.

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Fortunately for them, Andy Dalton has nine years worth of starting experience in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL, the AFC North. Dalton threw just under 3500 yards in 13 games last season with a far less talented group. Putting him under center may not cure what ails the Cowboys (hint: it is ailments) but he could do wonders for you if you’re hurting at QB.

Dalton hasn’t been a top-12 fantasy quarterback since 2016, but this is by far the most offensive talent he’s played with. He also doesn’t need to be elite, just get you through a bye week. But the fact that a 30-something quarterback carries the kind of upside Dalton does in this offense is rare for a backup quarterback.

Alexander Mattison

Minnesota Vikings – RB – 58.4% Avail

Dalvin Cook is one of the most talented backs in the NFL right now. Unfortunately, staying healthy has been his biggest hurdle. That’s why the Vikings took Alexander Mattison out of Boise State in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. All he did in relief was take 20 carries for 112 yards against the Seattle Seahawks in a losing effort.

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Cook is expected to miss Week 6 against the woeful Atlanta Falcons with his abductor injury; a predictable move given the Vikings Week 7 bye. Cook becomes a plug-and-play option in this situation. He’s only averaging 68 yards in the five games he’s handled double-digit carries, a figure aided by his output last week.

Still, Atlanta is 0-5 and dealing with an interim head coach while Minnesota is third in rushing yards and fourth in attempts as a team. There is a risk this becomes a shootout, and Mike Boone is a threat to vulture any week. But finding 18-plus carries on the wire isn’t anything to sneeze at, even if it’s likely only for one week.

Chase Edmonds

Arizona Cardinals – RB – 53.5% Avail

We head to the desert to find another back on the wire. This one carries more long-term potential but is far more speculative. Whereas a Cook injury opens a brief window for Mattison, it’s the ineffective play of Kenyan Drake that has many hoping that Kliff Kingsbury opts to move on from a player they’re paying $8 million on the transition tag.

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Arizona’s big-money, short-term commitment plodded his way to 60 yards on 16 carries against the lowly New York Jets, scuffling to 3.3 yards per carry; up from 2.7 the week before. Edmonds only had 36 yards (and a touchdown) on three carries but that’s 12 yards per tote. The former Fordham runner also had five catches for 56 yards, another aspect of Drake’s game that’s been lacking.

Again, this is speculation with a hint of hope. Drake was a part-time player in college and with the Miami Dolphins. It would make sense that Edmonds at least eats into his workload regardless. But the Alabama alum might be forcing his coach’s hand. Even though an injury didn’t knock Drake out of last week’s game as some had expected, his poor play just might.

Chase Claypool

Pittsburgh Steelers – WR – 91.2% Avail

Ok, so maybe you don’t need this guide to realize that Chase Claypool should be added. Anytime a receiver goes for 110 yards on seven grabs and three touchdowns you take notice. When that player also gets three carries and scores a rushing touchdown you make them a priority. And when that player is but a rookie you get the types of hyped headlines we have seen this week.

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Claypool stepped in for Diontae Johnson (back) and proceeded to shine so brightly he overshadowed Philadelphia Eagles wideout Travis Fulgham who had 10 catches for 152 yards and two scores of his own. His 11 targets were nearly double those of the next pass-catcher, Eric Ebron. They were also the second-most looks a Steelers receiver has gotten in a game this season.

It was Ebron’s drops, a recurring issue throughout his career, that made way for Claypool who looks more like a tight end than a receiver. Johnson’s injury seemingly opened the door for Claypool and Ebron being himself held it there. It was the rookie’s own performance though that could have him looking like a modern version of Plaxico Burress.

Mike Williams

Los Angeles Chargers – WR – 65.4% Avail

From one big-bodied wide receiver to another, Mike Williams was a popular player before the season but early passing struggles and a strong ground attack left Williams’ owners feeling burned. Perhaps his two touchdowns and 109 yards on five catches will get some investors back in the fold.

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Williams has battled injuries and he actually got hurt at the end of Monday Night Football but was able to walk off the field under his own power. Just keep an eye on it. He wasn’t the only receiver to go down as top-option Keenan Allen also left early with a back injury. If Williams was just banged up, he could be in for a big role if Allen (who has also battled injuries) misses time.

The injury risk this season has been devastating and even worse for the Chargers. Keep that in mind with Williams. But even if he misses time, he could be useful as we continue through the bye weeks. Any concerns about the offense should have already been laid to rest with the announcement that Justin Herbert would start at quarterback the rest of the season.

Robert Tonyan

Green Bay Packers – TE – 51.4% Avail You may have forgotten but the last time we saw the Green Bay Packers they were being carried by third-year tight end Robert Tonyan. Okay, “carry” may be too strong for an offense featuring Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones. Tonyan put on a show nonetheless. Six grabs, 98 yards, and three touchdown catches is one way to get your name out there.

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What was most notable about Tonyan’s performance was that it was his third-straight game with a score and second with 50-plus receiving yards. He’s just one target shy of his 2019 total and has already surpassed his catch and yardage totals from last season. Aaron Rodgers playing lights out right now is the cherry on top.

The elephant in the room here is Davante Adams. He missed the game against the Falcons and left early in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions. His imminent return will put a dent into Tonyan’s production. But, despite investing draft capital at tight end in each of the past two drafts, Tonyan appears to be the best option the Packers have at the position.