Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 8
It’s hard to believe the 2023 campaign is now halfway over. The inaugural half ended with a whimper, with six teams on bye and decreased scoring. However, no teams have a bye in Week 8, so scoring should improve. The playoff drive starts Thursday. Let’s see what FullTime‘s Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 8 additions we can target to improve our postseason odds.
FAAB denotes Free Agent Acquisition Budget
Josh Downs (WR) Indianapolis Cotls (25% FAAB) – Over his last three games, Downs has out-scored Michael Pittman. Downs has developed a solid rapport with Garnder Minshew. However, Downs has been producing all season. He’s played 75.8% of Indianapolis’s snaps and boats a 20.1% target rate. Downs is now WR25 for the season but is still widely available on waiver wires. Prepare to bid high. Also, keep Alec Pierce (1% FAAB) in mind as a low-price option.
Darrell Henderson (RB) Los Angeles Rams (20 % FAAB) – Welcome back to the league, Hendo! Days after being signed as a free agent, Henderson re-debuted with the Rams and led the backfield in Week 7. Henderson played 57% of LA’s snaps and out-touched Royce Freeman (7% FAAB) 19-12. Kyren Williams went to IR last week. Subsequently, Henderson has RB2/3 upside for the next three games. Or as long as he can hold onto the nominal starting gig.
Chuba Hubbard (RB) Carolina Panthers (15% FAAB) – Hubbard was one of my top adds last week. However, with Carolina on bye, he may have slipped through the cracks. Miles Sanders was already losing snaps to Hubbard. Also, Sanders missed Week 6 with a shoulder injury. Sanders has underperformed in 2023 and was already losing his grasp on the starting job. Hubbard stands to benefit.
Jalin Hyatt (WR) New York Giants (10% FAAB) – Tyrod Taylor has been good for Hyatt. However, his role was increasing before Taylor started. Hyatt’s had his best game on Sunday. He set career-best marks in snaps (56, 73%), routes (33), targets (4), and catches (3). Also, Hyatt has the long speed lacking in New York’s other wideouts. He looks entrenched into a top-3 role. And, that won’t change when Jones returns.
Kyler Murray (QB) Arizona Cardinals (10% FAAB) – Arizona opened the 21-day window to activate Murray from IR. The Cardinals’ offense has cooled off, opening the door for a change. He won’t run as much as he has in the past, but Murray is a significant upgrade over Josh Dobbs in all areas. Murray offers weekly QB1 upside. Also, he’s still available in many leagues.
Tyjae Spears (RB) Tennessee Titans (10% FAAB) – Spears has made this list multiple times and will continue to do so as long as his usage remains strong. Through six games, Spears has played only 17 fewer snaps than Derrick Henry. In fact, he has been on the field for over half of Tennesee’s offensive plays this season. Even with the bye week factored in, Spears is a top-40 fantasy running back in 2023.
Emari Demercad0 (RB) Arizona Cardinals (6% FAAB) – Two weeks back I urged caution when many fantasy managers were blowing their budget on Demercado. He then got three touches in Week 6. However, Demercado started on Sunday and led the backfield with 17 touches and 75 yards.
Latavius Murray (RB) Buffalo Bills (5% FAAB) – The Bills were embarrassed Sunday. This week, Buffalo returns home in a ‘get right’ spot against Tampa. Murray played 45% of the snaps in New England. Also, he’s the red-zone back. In a game that the Bills should be comfortably leading in the second half, Murray could rack up some valuable touches.
Taysom Hill (TE) New Orleans Saints (5% FAAB) – Classic fantasy irony. Hill is back to his hybrid role after being used sparingly in the first five games, but he’s scored 28.9 PPR points in the last two. And that’s without a touchdown. That kind of role will always be volatile. But the Saints need a spark. That will keep Hill involved.
Odell Beckham (WR) Baltimore Ravens (5% FAAB) – Everything clicked for Baltimore in Week 7. OBJ posted his best numbers of the season, seeing season-highs in targets, receptions, and yards. That lack of a role caused Beckham to be cut from many fantasy rosters. That makes it easier to snatch him off waivers. If you miss out, Nelson Agholor (5% FAAB) has played better all season and would cost less.
Devin Singletary (RB) Houston Texans (5% FAAB) – Before their bye, Singletary played a season-high 54% of Houston snaps. Also, he almost matched Dameon Pierce in carries while turning 14 opportunities into 62 yards. DeMeco Ryans indicated that Singletary has earned more playing time. That makes him a viable add this week as Houston takes on Carolina’s 31st-ranked run defense.
Pierre Strong (RB) Cleveland Browns (5% FAAB) – Jerome Ford left Week 7 and was seen in a walking boot. That doesn’t bode well for Ford’s Week 8 availability. Should Ford miss time, Kareem Hunt (25% FAAB) would be the top add. However, Hunt is unavailable in many leagues. Strong earned eight carries against Indianapolis. However, he only has one target for the year. Subsequently, Strong is more of a fantasy depth add than a potential starter.
Dalton Kincaid (RB) Buffalo Bills (5% FAAB) – Dawon Knox is set for wrist surgery. His absence will increase the snaps and targets for Kindcaid. After missing Week 6, the first-round rookie commanded a season-high eight targets in New England. Kincaid caught all of them and produced a career-best 75 yards. Expect top 15 numbers while Knox is sidelined.
Gardner Minshew (QB) Indianapolis Colts (3% FAAB) – One of the biggest surprises on Sunday, Minshew carved the Browns with 305 passing yards and four total scores. This week, Minshew gets another home tilt against the Saints, who have allowed a QB1 performance in four of their last five games.
Demario Douglas (WR) New England Patriots (2% FAAB) – With Juju Smith-Schuster out, Douglas took the majority of New England’s slot snaps. He took advantage of the opportunity versus Buffalo. Douglas played 62% of snaps and boasted a 20% target share. However, those numbers will be hard to replicate once Smith-Schuster returns. Therefore, use a minimal bid. Douglas’s teammate Kendrick Bourne (8% FAAB) has more sustainability and should be targeted first.
Jake Bobo (WR) Seattle Seahawks (1% FAAB) – Bobo took advantage of the absence of DK Metcalf, earning a 21% target share and 75% snap rate. However, Metcalf should return this week. Also, Seattle has an imposing matchup against Cleveleand’s stout defense. Bobo is worth adding as a potential stash. However, only with a minimal FAAB bid.
Malik Willis (QB) Tennessee Titans (1% FAAB) – Ryan Tannehill is expected to miss Week 8 with an ankle injury. Willis will fill in for at least one start. The Titans emerge from their Week 7 bye with a home matchup against a subpar Atlanta pass defense. UPDATE: Will Levis is now favored to start, but Willis will mix in. This is a situation to avoid.
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Thanks for reading our Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 8.