As Week 8 approaches, we are now officially halfway through the fantasy football regular season. It’s only fitting that, at the halfway point, a boatload of challenges arise to test our managerial skills. Trades, like Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco 49ers and James Robison to the New York Jets, shake things up for the four NFL teams involved. Meanwhile, injuries, like Breece Hall’s torn ACL, Mike Williams’ high-ankle sprain, or D.K. Metcalf’s patellar tendon issue, are enough to make you sick at a time like this. All of these reasons and more lead us back to the waiver wire to handle everything that comes our way.
You may be dealing with injuries, bye weeks, or just need to cycle out players from your bench. Whatever the case may be, the waiver wire is there to help. There’s not always a need to put in a claim for players each week, but if you do, make it count. Below, we’ll look at players at each position, who are on 50% or less of most fantasy football rosters, that could be considered on the Week 8 waiver wire.
Week 8 Waiver Wire By Position
Running Back
James Robinson, New York Jets
It’s possible James Robinson is available on your league’s waiver wire so let me take this time to talk about him. In the last few weeks, he’s simply been out-snapped and outplayed by Travis Etienne in Jacksonville. Robinson now gets a new opportunity at a heavy workload as a New York Jet. On the same day that the team announced Breece Hall’s rookie season is over due to a torn ACL, they acquire Robinson from the Jags for a conditional sixth-round pick.
The Jets are a middle-of-the-pack run team this season. Their 176 rushing attempts rank 15th league-wide. However, they are tied for the third-most rushing touchdowns with nine. Breece Hall’s role was clearly defined as the early-down back. His 80 rushing attempts still lead all Jets even after logging just four before his injury in Week 7. I expect Robinson to slide right in, though not totally command Hall’s vacant workload, nor as effectively.
Michael Carter’s role will likely grow, though not as large as it would have had New York not added a player like Robinson. Carter is third in receptions amongst all Jets players and should continue to see most of the passing-down work. Assuming the Jets fall behind in a good portion of their remaining games, Carter should be busy. Still, the Jets could have added a wide variety of backs into the mix. They chose 24-year-old Robinson for a reason.
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens
In his first action of 2022, Edwards led all Ravens running backs in snaps and opportunities. He handled 16 carries for 66 yards and found the end zone twice. Meanwhile, Kenyan Drake’s answer to his 119-yard day in Week 6 is one to forget. His 11 carries this past weekend went for just five yards.
Edwards will continue to operate as the lead back in Baltimore. The schedule could be better with back-to-back road games in Tampa Bay and New Orleans before a Week 10 bye. Keep in mind, too, that Lamar Jackson will always get his fair share of carries. He currently ranks 30th amongst all players in rushing attempts this season. He’s averaging just under 10 per game.
Still, with J.K. Dobbins landing on the Injured Reserve, this is Edwards’ backfield at least for the next three games. His expected volume on a fairly successful offense is enough to target on the Week 8 waiver wire.
Chuba Hubbard and D’Onta Forman, Carolina Panthers
Of course, following the Christian McCaffrey trade, fantasy managers everyone are going to do their best to grab the next man up in the Carolina backfield. Prior to Week 7, I would have bet on Foreman. However, Chuba Hubbard was not only named the starter, but found the end zone, too, in addition to 63 yards on nine carries. He did not finish the game due to an ankle injury. However, the injury is said to be minor.
Foreman’s role after Hubbard’s injury should not go unnoticed. After just two carries in the first half, he finished with 15 total racking up 118 yards. The Panthers will move forward using both Hubbard and Foreman as a 1-2 punch, assuming both are healthy. Since Matt Rhule is no longer the head coach, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly who the current regime is more loyal to.
I think Foreman’s performance should give him more opportunities moving forward. However, I don’t expect the Panthers to dominate many games like they surprisingly did against the Buccaneers in Week 7. Chuba Hubbard presents more upside as a pass-catcher. He will probably see a lot of passing work as Carolina plays with plenty of negative game scripts.
Other Running Backs to Consider:
Isiah Pacheco saw a career-high snap percentage (30%) in his debut as the Chief’s starter in Week 7. As the game rolled on, though, he filed in with Jerrick McKinnon and Clyde Edwards-Helaire finishing third in running back snaps. Still, the rookie runs hard, evident by his 5.4 yards per carry average against a tough San Francisco run defense. Pacheco’s role could grow after Kansas City’s Week 8 bye. Any size role he has is bad news for Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s ceiling.
Tyler Allgeier will continue to benefit from the Falcons’ stubborn commitment to the run game. The rookie saw the majority of running back opportunities in Week 7 with a 16-50-1 rushing line. Atlanta’s offense is awful, though, so I don’t see Allgeier getting too many opportunities to score those ever-important touchdowns. Cordarelle Patterson and Damien Williams should also both be back soon from IR.
Kyren Williams is getting closer to returning to the Rams to make his NFL debut. The NFL trade deadline is also one week away. Los Angeles continues to suggest Cam Akers will be on the move. If so, Williams could have a much larger role than once expected when he’s back. He’s worth the speculative add on this week’s waiver wire if all of this comes to fruition.
Any and All Handcuffs are going to be important to roster during the back half of the fantasy football season. Injuries to lead running backs can strike at any time. Make sure you’re cuffing your own starters, but don’t be afraid to add others on the Week 8 waiver wire. Rachaad White, Dontrell Hilliard, and Samaje Perine are three that immediately come to mind.
Wide Receiver
Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants
This is your last call to add Wan’Dale to your roster. After just 15 snaps in Week 6, upon returning from an early-season knee injury, Robinson’s snaps skyrocketed to 53 in Week 7. With his increase in playing time, the rookie led the Giants in targets (8) and receptions (6) in a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Giants are averaging just 160.9 passing yards per game. That’s the third-lowest average across the league. Robinson, of all Giants wide receivers, should see a good chunk of that moving forward. Choice matchups against the Seahawks, Texans, Lions, and two with the Commanders will present weekly start value for Robinson in most fantasy football formats. He should not be available after Week 8 waiver wire claims process.
Parris Campbell, Indianapolis Colts
I’m going to admit something. I have completely overlooked Parris Campbell this fantasy football season because of an injury-riddled past and crushed hopes I had for him in recent years. A part of me is waiting for the letdown in 2022. It happens. However, I’m not so sure a letdown is coming.
Not to bury the lead, but Sam Ehlinger will be the Colts’ starting quarterback for the remainder of the season. Matt Ryan not only has a shoulder injury but is heading to the bench as this Indy team looks to evaluate their young quarterback. Until we see him play, I’m not starting any Colts other than Jonathan Taylor or Michael Pittman. However, Campbell’s role up until this point should not change. He is operating as the team’s WR2 having played 92% or more of the snaps in the last three weeks, just five snaps total less than Pittman.
Campbell’s 23 targets over the last two weeks really stand out. He’s hauled in 17 of them for 127 total yards and a touchdown in each of the last two games. His playing time plus the production as a result make him a must-add on the Week 8 waiver wire. Indianapolis will likely be one of the more pass-heavy teams down the stretch as they continue to battle and play from behind in most games.
Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers
It’s not exciting to add a player on the waiver wire that’s heading into their bye week. Palmer is a prime example of that as the Chargers get a much-needed break in Week 8. Mike Williams’ Week 7 ankle sprain is a high-ankle injury that is described as “week-to-week” as far as recovery is concerned. Keenan Allen should be that much more healthy in Week 9, but was still not 100% this past weekend.
Palmer will likely be back from a concussion from Week 6 then next time the Chargers take the field. His 40 targets this season are second to only Mike Williams and that’s without playing in Week 7. Palmer boasts six or more targets in five of six games played this season with 10+ in two of them. He will go right to the bench from the Week 8 waiver wire, but he is an excellent wide receiver “handcuff” option with flex appeal for all league sizes.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider:
Nico Collins is a dirt-cheap add on the Week 8 waiver wire. He’s dealing with a minor groin injury, but is the clear-cut WR2 on the Houston Texans offense. If Brandin Cooks is traded in the next seven days, Collins’ value will boom. Grab him before it does.
Marquise Goodwin will be the biggest beneficiary of the D.K. Metcalf injury from Week 7. Metcalf has no timetable to return. Goodwin is fast and immediately showed out upon Metcalf’s exit. His two touchdowns in Week 7 are a bit fluky, but he did catch four of his five targets for 67 yards. Teammate, Tyler Lockett, is also playing through a hamstring injury. Goodwin is worth adding in 12-team or deeper leagues.
Van Jefferson is due back for the Los Angeles Rams sooner than later after recovering from a knee injury. Jefferson is a boom/bust deep threat when healthy. It’s hard to imagine him carving out a sizable target share when Allen Robinson and Ben Skowronek each have just 29 behind Tyler Higbee’s 50 and Cooper Kupp’s 72 on the season thus far.
Elijah Moore could bounce back after asking for a trade leading up to Week 7. The Jets claim they have no intentions of fulfilling his wishes. Especially with Corey Davis working through an MCL sprain, now is Moore’s chance to get back to any sort of fantasy relevancy. He is a bench stash in all formats. I should mention that I’m prioritizing Garrett Wilson over Moore if he’s available.
Tight End
Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos
It doesn’t matter if Russell Wilson or Brett Rypien is under center for the Broncos. Greg Dulcich is getting it done either way. In the last two games, with two different quarterbacks, Dulcich is averaging 11.75 fantasy points per game. His first game’s point total is a result of finding the end zone on one of his two catches. This past week, though, Dulcich scored his 11.1 points on a voluminous six catches for 51 yards on nine targets. He’s another quality streamer, especially if Brett Rypien is under center just one game prior to the Broncos’ Week 9 bye.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cade Otton and the Buccaneers host the Ravens this Thursday night. In two games without Cameron Brate this season, Otton has played 94% and 81% of snaps respectively in each game. Not so coincidentally, those two games are Otton’s only games with double-digit fantasy points. He has 10 receptions for 107 scoreless yards on 12 targets. Brate is probably not going to play in Week 8 given the Did Not Practice designation from Monday. Otton is a streaming option on the waiver wire especially as Brate remains out.
Quarterback
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
After his best game of the season on Monday Night Football, against Bill Belichick’s Patriots no less, it’s time to start adding Justin Fields everywhere in all fantasy football formats. His 20.26 points per game average over the last three weeks cannot get passed up on the Week 8 waiver wire. In his last two games, Fields has at least 12 rushing attempts and 82 rushing yards at in each game. The rushing upside is mouth-watering for fantasy football. Fields has topped 200 passing yards just once this season but has shown flashes of arm strength and accuracy each game.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants
Following his best fantasy game of the season, Jones is worth adding on the Week 8 waiver wire, especially if you need a one-week replacement for Patrick Mahomes or Justin Herbert who are both on a bye. Jones’ road matchup against the Seattle Seahawks is one to target. Not only should Saquon Barkley move the ball with ease, but the attention the Seahawks’ defense needs to give him will open things up for Jones. The Seahawks are allowing the seventh-most passing yards and sixth-most rushing yards to quarterbacks. He’s scored three rushing touchdowns in his last four games. I could see another 20.0-point day for Daniel Jones this weekend.
More Week 1 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex Rankings