A couple NFL trades and a few more injuries to running backs has the Week 8 Waiver Wire lit with options! First, the Jacksonville Jaguars sent a fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for Carlos Hyde. It immediately made me think Leonard Fournette was in rough shape, but he reportedly has a chance to return Week 10 after the bye. On the flip side, it opens things up for Nick Chubb, as he has a serious chance to win people championships. Chubb is a rock solid RB2 the rest of the way, with upside to be a low end RB1. Hyde will make his Jaguars debut Week 8 in London, against the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s not a great matchup and if Fournette returns in Week 10, it’ll ruin any value Hyde has… or had. The Jaguars cut Jamaal Charles and T.J. Yeldon is worth a hold, but his stock is falling by the day.
Moments before that trade, the Oakland Raiders announced Marshawn Lynch would likely miss multiple weeks with a groin injury. Lynch was later placed on IR and he’ll be sidelined until Week 16. There’s no reason to hold onto Lynch, and last week’s waiver wire target in Jalen Richard becomes that much more meaningful. Doug Martin will get a crack at a few carries, but Richard is a better play in PPR formats. Especially since – which brings me to trade number 2 – Amari Cooper is no longer around. That’s right, the Raiders dealt Cooper to the Dallas Cowboys for a first-round pick. Richard will continue to get work in the passing game and the Raiders will continue to play from behind. Things couldn’t get any worse for Cooper and, although, it’s an expensive price to pay, it’s exactly what Dallas needs to stretch the field and open things up for Ezekiel Elliott.
Lost in all this was the fact Le’Veon Bell won’t report this week. James Conner owners live to see another week. The New York Jets signed Rishard Matthews, to replace injured Quincy Enunwa and Terrelle Pryor. Jermaine Kearse was disappointing to say the least last week and Robby Anderson remains the guy to own in that offense, but in deeper formats I’ll roster Matthews.
Key Week 8 Injuries
Leonard Fournette (hamstring) – RULED OUT
Sony Michel (knee) – missed practice Wednesday
Dalvin Cook (hamstring) – likely out until WK 11
Marshawn Lynch (groin) – placed on IR
Royce Freeman (ankle) – missed practice Wednesday
LeSean McCoy (concussion) – in protocol
Chris Thompson (knee/ribs) – missed WK 7
Bilal Powell (neck) – placed on IR
Theo Riddick (knee) – returned to practice Wednesday
Darren Sproles (hamstring) – missed practice Wednesday
Cooper Kupp (knee) – missed WK 7
Keke Coutee (hamstring) – likely out WK 8
Quincy Enunwa (ankle) – missed WK 7; likely out
Randall Cobb (hamstring) – expected to return WK 8
Geronimo Allison (concussion) – expected to return WK 8
Jamison Crowder (ankle) – missed WK 7
Albert Wilson (hip/leg) – likely headed for IR
Kenny Stills (groin) – ruled out WK 8
John Ross (groin) – expected to miss few weeks
Rishard Higgins (knee) – missed WK 7
DaeSean Hamilton (knee) – missed practice Wednesday
Rob Gronkowski (back) – missed practice Wednesday
Jack Doyle (hip) – returned to practice Wednesday
Josh Allen (elbow) – RULED OUT WK 8
Derek Carr (arm) – not expected to miss any time
Adam Vinatieri (groin) – likely out WK 8
Kwon Alexander (knee) – torn ACL; done for season
Week 8 Waiver Wire (under 60% Owned on Fantrax)
Jalen Richard, RB – Oakland Raiders (43%)
Jalen Richard was in last week’s waiver wire piece as a free pickup with the Oakland Raiders entering the bye week. Richard surprisingly only jumped about seven percent on Fantrax even with the Raiders placing Marshawn Lynch on IR. Doug Martin will likely lead the backfield in touches, but Jalen Richard has more upside, especially in PPR formats as his 37 targets rank 10th and his 31 catches rank sixth among backs. Richard only has 11 carries for 32 rushing yards, but he has 253 receiving yards which ranks 10th among RB’s. The Raiders defense is awful and the Cooper trade could mean more work in the passing game for Richard who has 14 targets and 13 catches in his last two games. I’d roster Martin in a 14-team standard league due to expected volume, but he wouldn’t come close to my starting lineup.
C.J. Uzomah, TE – Cincinnati Bengals (50%)
C.J. Uzomah makes a third straight appearance in the waiver wire piece. By now, Uzomah is likely owned, but I think you can feel good about him being a TE1 the rest of the way. If you had a second tight end, deal one of them. I’d flip Gronk and roster C.J. for the rest of the season. Uzomah found the end zone last week despite only catching two balls.
Kenjon Barner – New England Patriots
Both of these guys are available everywhere, but we need more clarity on Sony Michel’s knee injury before deciding on which one and how much to spend. This is all we know…
Sources: #Patriots RB Sony Michel’s knee injury is not considered serious following his MRI. His timetable isn’t clear, but this is pretty good news for their impressive rookie runner. He still could miss time, but if he does, it may not be much.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 22, 2018
That’s really good news for Michel owners, but he may miss a couple games. James White will continue to ball out (leads all backs in targets), but he’s not the type of back New England wants to give the ball to 10-15 times on the ground. White had 11 carries last week, but Kenjon Barner chipped in with 10 and totaled 36 yards. I lean Barner over Gillislee, but there’s a chance he gets back on the roster if Michel is sidelined, which would make things confusing. Barner is going to be the guy and keep in mind Michel ranks third in red zone rushing attempts.
Raheem Mostert, RB – San Francisco 49ers (27%)
Raheem Mostert burst onto the scene in Week 6 with 87 yards on 12 carries. He completely passed Alfred Morris on the depth chart and received a bit more play last week with Matt Brieda in and out of the lineup. Mostert totaled 78 yards on 11 touches, which included four catches. Morris did have more carries than Mostert, but he wasn’t as efficient with them and Morris won’t have much value in PPR leagues (or at all) should Breida miss time.
Tre’Quan Smith, WR – New Orleans Saints (47%)
Tre’Quan Smith was grabbed in most leagues when the New Orleans Saints placed Tedd Ginn Jr. on injured reserve. Smith is not a must start and could be the fourth option on his team week in and week out, but this injury should bring more looks. Smith hauled in three of his six targets in a tough matchup last week and he caught three for 111 yards in Week 5.
Danny Amendola, WR – Miami Dolphins (39%)
I’m not excited about this pick, but the Miami Dolphins will be without Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson this week. Danny Amendola has 28 targets, 14 catches and 143 yards in his last two weeks. He racked up 84 yards and a touchdown last week. Volume pays the bills and you can move Amendola up the rankings if you need a start this week in a PPR format.
Tyrell Williams, WR – Los Angeles Chargers (58%)
I wouldn’t spend a lot of money or waste a high priority waiver wire add on Tyrell Williams. I like what I’ve seen over the past two games, but he’s still not getting a lot of targets. Plus, the Los Angles Chargers are entering their bye week. Williams is very boom or bust and only worthy of plays in deeper standard formats moving forward.
Martavis Bryant, WR – Oakland Raiders (33%)
Martavis Bryant should be in line for more targets with the loss of Cooper. Bryant has yet to get five catches in a game and has zero touchdowns, but the Raiders just lost their two best weapons on offense. Targets will come for Bryant, and he has a 91 yard showing on the game log this season to remind us just how explosive he can be.
Chris Ivory, RB – Buffalo Bills (43%)
This isn’t a must add, but if LeSean McCoy remains in concussion protocol all week and misses Monday’s game, Chris Ivory would rack up 15 plus touches. Assuming Ivory is fine to play himself, as he was a bit banged up in last week’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Ivory has finished in the Top 10 in touches in both games filling in for McCoy, which includes last week’s game as he left early. Ivory had 106 total yards on 19 touches and he had 126 on 23 touches in a game earlier in the year. He should move up the ranks if you need an RB this week.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR – Green Bay Packers (28%)
As discussed last week, Marquez Valdes-Scantling may just be a short term play, but it’s one you have to make while Randall Cobb and Geronimo Allison are sidelined. Both may be back in Week 8, but this offense has so much potential which makes MVS a great depth piece. Valdes-Scantling has 10 catches on 16 targets for 171 yards and a touchdown in his last two games.
Spencer Ware, RB – Kansas City Chiefs (33%)
Kareem Hunt owners better have Spencer Ware on their roster. This offense is so legit that Ware could put up RB2 numbers if given the opportunity. Ware is the number one running back handcuff in football after those that were already hit on (James Conner & Latavius Murray).
Cole Beasley, WR – Dallas Cowboys (49%)
The addition of Cooper could hurt Cole Beasley who has racked up 16 catches in the last two weeks. He’s locked into the slot, though, and maybe he’ll have some more space with Cooper on the field. This offense could flow better and they’ll have a couple weeks to figure it out as they enter their bye week. Beasley is a free add and should only be considered in PPR formats.
QB Streams:
Case Keenum, QB – Denver Broncos (56%) @ KC
Eli Manning, QB – New York Giants (53%) vs WAS
I wouldn’t want to start either if these quarterbacks, but you could be in a tough spot. I’ll lean Case Keenum, just because the Kansas City Chiefs have allowed the most yards and passing yards this season, but they’ve been better of late.
Deep League Add:
Trenton Cannon, RB – New York Jets (4%)
There still isn’t much news regarding Bilal Powell’s neck injury and this pick up would only make sense should the Jets receive bad news. Even still, maybe Cannon should be on your radar. Isaiah Crowell has been dealing with a knee injury for the past two weeks, and it’s showed in his play as he only has 69 yards on 24 carries in his last two games. The game script favored Cannon as he caught four of his five targets for 69 receiving yards. Two 69 references…nice.
Hang on, just don’t start:
Keke Coutee, WR – Houston Texans (57%)
Willie Snead, WR – Baltimore Ravens (48%)
Chester Rogers, WR – Indianpolis Colts (41%)
Paul Richardson Jr. WR – Washington Redskins (48%)
Jermaine Kearse, WR – New York Jets (20%)
Mike Davis, RB – Seattle Seahawks (48%)
Like these Week 8 Waiver Wire adds? Get more Chris Meaney on his new podcast, By Any Means. Each week he’ll bring in guests from around the industry to break down all the fantasy news you need to know for your march to the championship.