Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 8 (Fantasy Football)
With Halloween just around the corner, Week 8 is enough to make any fantasy manager cower in fear. Welcome to the Bye-pocalypse. The Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks are all on bye, leaving teams scrambling for reinforcements on the waiver wire. To make matters worse, the available options this week are among the weakest of the season. That said, we have highlighted a few players who could help you survive and even potentially strengthen your roster down the stretch. Here are the top pickups for Week 8.
Make sure to catch the weekly Waivers episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast!
Running Back Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
2
1
2
4
1
2
3
6
3
3
4
2
8
4
5
3
7
5
6
8
4
6
7
5
6
7
8
7
5
8
Brashard Smith, RB, Kansas City Chiefs – Waiver options didn’t exactly light up the box score this week, but Brashard Smith quietly delivered the best performance of his young career. In Sunday’s dominant win over the Raiders, Smith handled a season-high 14 carries for 39 yards and caught all five of his targets for 42 yards. While his rushing efficiency left something to be desired, the converted receiver’s impact as a pass-catcher was no surprise. His increased workload was encouraging, though it likely stemmed from both game script and Kareem Hunt’s leg injury. The injury is not expected to sideline Hunt, but Smith’s dynamic showing may have earned him a larger role moving forward. That makes him one of the more intriguing pickups this week, more of a stash and see play than an instant starter, as he looks to build on his momentum against the Commanders in Week 8.
Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears – While D’Andre Swift has dominated the spotlight in Chicago’s backfield lately, Kyle Monangai made his presence felt in Week 7’s win over the Saints. He saw an expanded role, turning 13 carries into 81 yards and a TD while adding two catches for 13 yards. It was the first double-digit carry game of his career, and he made the most of it with impressive efficiency. Still, with Swift playing at a high level, Monangai’s workload will likely remain limited unless an injury occurs or the Bears find themselves in a blowout. That makes him more of a stash candidate for now, but it is clear he is the handcuff to roster in Chicago should Swift miss time. Keep an eye on whether his role continues to grow heading into a key Week 8 matchup against Baltimore.
Isaiah Davis, RB, New York Jets – This week’s RB waiver options might not jump off the page, but there is a clear theme among them: young backups with the potential to thrive if given a larger role. While the 0-7 Jets have been a mess, things nearly got worse when Breece Hall appeared to go down with an injury. Fortunately, he was able to return, but that brief scare served as a reminder that Isaiah Davis would be next in line if Hall were to miss time. Davis finished with two carries for 10 yards and added two catches for 22 yards, modest numbers but enough to warrant attention in deeper leagues. With a favorable matchup against a vulnerable Cincinnati defense in Week 8 before the Jets’ bye, Davis is worth stashing as a speculative upside play.
Wide Receiver Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
3
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
1
7
2
4
5
4
4
5
4
3
5
6
15
6
6
7
7
10
7
8
6
11
11
9
8
5
18
10
9
8
12
11
14
9
8
12
11
12
10
13
16
14
9
14
13
13
16
15
10
18
13
16
12
15
17
17
17
16
15
18
18
17
14
Alec Pierce, WR, Indianapolis Colts – The Colts are absolutely rolling with Daniel Jones under center, and while Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Warren, and Michael Pittman have been grabbing the headlines, Alec Pierce has quietly become a steady contributor. His combination of size and speed makes him an ideal target for Jones to take shots downfield, and that chemistry was on full display in Week 7’s win over the Chargers. Pierce caught five of ten targets for 98 yards, marking his best performance of the season. He now offers weekly flex appeal with legitimate boom potential. Pierce will look to build on that momentum in a favorable Week 8 matchup against the Titans, though the game script could shift toward the run if Indianapolis jumps out to an early lead.
Tez Johnson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Tez Johnson became a popular pickup last week with uncertainty surrounding Emeka Egbuka and Mike Evans heading into Week 7. Even with both active, Johnson made the most of his opportunity in Monday night’s loss to the Lions, hauling in four of nine targets for 58 yards and a TD. With Evans now out for the season with a broken collarbone, Johnson becomes a priority pickup for fantasy managers looking for a spark, especially with a favorable matchup against New Orleans on deck.
Yannick Peterhans / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers – After showing flashes of promise as a rookie, Xavier Legette got off to a rough start in his sophomore season. That finally changed in Week 7. In Sunday’s win over the Jets, Legette caught nine of 11 targets for 92 yards and a TD. He has now found the end zone in two of his last three games and has become a key piece during Carolina’s surprising three-game winning streak. While this performance was impressive, Legette still feels too inconsistent to fully trust in fantasy lineups. If he can sustain this level of play and solidify himself as the clear WR2 in the offense, he will move from being a one-week standout to a potentially more reliable option. He will get a good test in Week 8 against Buffalo, where Carolina could be forced to throw early and often.
Chimere Dike, WR, Tennessee Titans – Even in the most struggling offenses, finding potential rookie breakouts is crucial as the second half of the season approaches. Chimere Dike turned heads in Week 7, even if it was just one game. In Sunday’s loss to the Patriots, the rookie caught all four of his targets for 70 yards, flashing his electric speed. This was Tennessee’s first game after parting ways with their head coach, and a simplified playbook could benefit struggling rookie QB Cam Ward. If the offense finds its rhythm, Dike has the potential to emerge as a key contributor. With Calvin Ridley potentially sidelined again, Dike could build on his performance and deliver another statement game in Week 8 against the Colts. That makes him an intriguing pickup and a worthwhile stash in deeper leagues.
Jaylin Noel, WR, Houston Texans – While little went right for Houston’s offense in Monday night’s loss to Seattle, rookie Jaylin Noel was a bright spot. He caught four of nine targets for 77 yards, showing impressive chemistry with C.J. Stroud despite constant pressure on the QB. Nico Collins had an unusually quiet game and exited with a head injury that could keep him out in Week 8. If that happens, Noel and fellow rookie Jayden Higgins become intriguing pickups for managers navigating the bye-pocalypse as the team looks to bounce back against the 49ers.
Tight End Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
3
3
3
3
2
4
5
4
5
5
4
6
6
6
7
5
4
7
6
9
8
8
9
7
7
9
8
8
9
Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Los Angeles Chargers – When you pair a freakishly athletic rookie TE with Justin Herbert’s electric arm, big plays are bound to happen. Oronde Gadsden has been on the radar since Week 3, and after a solid seven-catch, 68-yard outing last week, he saved his best performance for Sunday. In the loss to the Colts, Gadsden erupted for seven catches on nine targets for 164 yards and a TD, flashing the elite athleticism that makes him such a unique weapon. The Chargers have plenty of mouths to feed, but they have not had a TE this explosive in years. With back-to-back games of eight or more targets, Gadsden’s role is expanding quickly, and he can be trusted in starting lineups for teams in need of help at the position. He will face a tougher challenge in Week 8 against Minnesota, but his recent surge makes him hard to ignore.
Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
Evan Engram, TE, Denver Broncos – Evan Engram earned a mention in last week’s article after posting five catches for 42 yards against the Jets in Week 6. He followed that up with the exact same stat line in Week 7, this time on two additional targets. It is now the fourth straight game he has seen at least six targets, solidifying his role as a key part of this evolving offense. Both Engram and the Denver offense have struggled to find consistency early in the season, but there are signs they may be turning the corner. Engram will look to keep the momentum going in a favorable Week 8 matchup against the Cowboys.
Quarterback Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
3
3
4
3
5
4
5
5
4
5
6
6
2
6
7
4
7
7
8
7
6
8
3
8
8
Check out Javier Manzanera’s weekly article on QB Streamers to Consider.
Team DST Waiver Rankings
Player
Rank
Andy
Jason
Mike
1
1
1
1
2
5
2
2
3
3
3
4
4
4
4
3
5
2
5
5
Catch the weekly Waivers episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast
Final Thoughts
Week 8 may feel like a nightmare with so many teams on bye, but these challenges are exactly what separate the good managers from the great. It is easy to panic and make hasty decisions, but smart, strategic moves now can pay huge dividends down the stretch. Remember, fantasy football is a marathon, not a sprint. Every savvy pickup, every calculated stash, and every bold waiver claim is an opportunity to gain an edge over your league. Good luck in your upcoming matchup, and may these pickups help you survive the Bye-pocalypse.