Atrás
Bye weeks continue to test our depth, but filling an empty lineup spot shouldn’t be our only goal on waivers. There are still players available who could become considerably more valuable over the second half of the season. Our Week 8 waiver wire column covers immediate replacements, emerging rookies, and running backs worth stashing before their opportunities grow. Let’s figure out who deserves a roster spot and how aggressively to pursue them.
After a rough start to the season, Malik Willis has posted back-to-back games with at least 20 fantasy points. His legs are doing plenty of the work. Willis ran for 37 yards and a touchdown this past week after recording 74 rushing yards and a score in the game before the bye.
That rushing production gives Willis a way to help fantasy managers even when the passing numbers aren’t particularly impressive. Next week’s matchup against the New England Patriots isn’t ideal, but the schedule gets more appealing afterward with the Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, and Buffalo Bills.
Willis is worth adding for managers who need quarterback help, particularly those looking beyond just Week 8.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.0
Geno Smith was a viable streamer in Week 7 and delivered with 287 passing yards, three touchdowns, and 24.4 fantasy points. Unfortunately, that was only his second startable performance of the season. We’re still picking our spots here.
Next week against the Las Vegas Raiders could be another one. There’s potential for a sneaky high-scoring game, putting Smith back on the streaming radar for managers who need a quarterback.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1.0
This is a very tenuous bet. Jacoby Brissett managed 16.4 fantasy points in Week 7, and we love next week’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Nevertheless, it feels like we’re officially on Carson Beck watch.
This will probably be the last time this season we have much interest in starting Brissett. The matchup gives him a chance to deliver, but his hold on the starting job makes this an uncomfortable streaming decision.
If you need a bye-week replacement, Brissett is on the table. Just understand how little security comes with the pickup.
Aggressiveness Rating: 1.0
Jonah Coleman had an immediate role in his first game back from IR, carrying the ball nine times for 54 yards and catching two passes for 15 yards. His 8.9 fantasy points aren’t anything to write home about, but the usage was encouraging.
Coleman already looks clearly ahead of RJ Harvey in the rushing pecking order. If either Harvey or J.K. Dobbins missed time, Coleman’s upside would be substantial.
There’s also a chance he earns a larger role on merit alone. We don’t need to wait for an injury or a breakout game before taking that possibility seriously. Pick him up.
Aggressiveness Rating: 6.0
Kaelon Black was much more involved this week with Christian McCaffrey playing through a thigh injury. The rookie looked good with the additional work, carrying the ball 12 times for 63 yards and a touchdown while also drawing three targets.
Jordan James got some opportunities, too, but Black remains the clear handcuff. If McCaffrey missed time, Black would lead this backfield and be a viable fantasy RB2.
The San Francisco 49ers are on bye next week, giving McCaffrey extra time to recover. This probably won’t be an issue when they return, but it’s another reminder of why Black needs to be rostered. McCaffrey’s injury risk isn’t going away, and we know who stands to benefit if he misses time.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.0
Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson both returned this week, restoring the Cleveland Browns’ backfield to a two-man show. Judkins was the lead back, but Sampson was plenty involved, turning six carries and three targets into 77 total yards.
There’s some standalone RB4 value here, which matters as injuries and bye weeks make running backs increasingly difficult to find. More importantly, Sampson would be a weekly must-start if Judkins missed time.
Sampson can contribute in a complementary role while offering considerably more upside if the opportunity changes. That’s a player worth putting on your bench.
Aggressiveness Rating: 4.0
Cam Skattebo got his job back and played well, but Tyrone Tracy still has a role. Tracy operated as the New York Giants’ RB2 and received the first goal-line carry.
Tracy got a little banged up, so we’ll need to monitor his health before making a pickup. Assuming he’s okay, there’s enough here to justify keeping him on fantasy rosters.
At the very least, Tracy is an RB4 with upside if Skattebo misses time. The possibility of a full takeover has faded, but he’s still worth a bench spot.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
Seth McGowan carried the ball 11 times alongside Jonathan Taylor in Week 7 and has become increasingly involved in recent weeks. That alone puts him on our radar, but the Taylor trade rumors make him a more interesting stash.
If the Indianapolis Colts move Taylor, McGowan could find himself leading this backfield. That’s the type of possibility worth getting ahead of when the cost is still low.
Of course, the Colts could receive a running back as part of a Taylor trade, complicating McGowan’s path to the job. There are no guarantees here, but he’s worth putting on your bench to see what happens.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
The Arizona Cardinals’ offense is a mess, and when they fall behind, they abandon the run and throw. Bam Knight managed only seven carries and three catches this week, but he still ground out a respectable 9.8 fantasy points.
That’s hardly exciting, but it’s useful when you’re struggling to fill a lineup. If Jeremiyah Love misses another week, I will once again prefer Knight to Tyler Allgeier.
Knight’s appeal depends on Love remaining sidelined. If that happens, he’ll be a viable RB3 for managers who need help getting through Week 8.
Aggressiveness Rating: 3.0
Omar Cooper Jr. is easily the top pickup of the week. Adonai Mitchell returned, and it didn’t matter. Cooper is the New York Jets’ clear WR2 behind Garrett Wilson.
Since returning from IR, Cooper has reached 100 receiving yards and scored a touchdown in back-to-back games, producing 22 fantasy points in each. This is a first-round rookie showing signs of a breakout, and we already have evidence that his role can survive Mitchell’s presence.
There’s no reason to wait any longer. Cooper needs to be universally rostered, and I would make an aggressive effort to add him wherever he’s still available.
Aggressiveness Rating: 8.0
Malachi Fields posted a season-high 83 receiving yards this week. He only saw five targets, but that followed an eight-target game the week before. The rookie is starting to become more involved.
This is still a speculative pickup. J.J. McCarthy is unlikely to support more than two useful fantasy pass catchers, and Malik Nabers and Isaiah Likely remain the top options.
Nevertheless, rookies tend to play their best football over the second half of the season. Fields is giving us a reason to see whether that happens for him. He’s worth a shot if you have room on your bench.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.5
Caleb Douglas scored 21 fantasy points this week, which we have to acknowledge. Unfortunately, the usage underneath that production wasn’t nearly as exciting. Douglas saw only three targets, catching two of them for touchdowns.
That’s obviously not something we can count on happening again. The case for adding Douglas rests on the possibility that this performance earns him a larger role.
He’s worth a speculative pickup if you have an available bench spot, but he shouldn’t be a priority. We need more targets before we can feel comfortable putting him in a lineup.
Aggressiveness Rating: 2.5
Jordyn Tyson is still available in more than half of fantasy leagues. The wait has been frustrating, but Week 9 is now just around the corner. If you have room to stash him through the Saints’ Week 8 bye, this is the time to do it.
Tyson was a first-round pick and the second wide receiver off the board. He may need time to get going once he returns, but there’s still a path to earning the New Orleans Saints’ WR2 role during the second half of the season.
There’s no guarantee he returns in Week 9 or that the role materializes. Nevertheless, you won’t find many players on waivers with this much potential to help your team down the stretch. Tyson remains worth stashing if you can afford to wait.
Aggressiveness Rating: 5.0
Greg Dulcich wasn’t doing much to start the season, but he’s caught at least four passes in three of his last four games. That includes five catches for 86 yards against the New York Jets this past week.
It’s rough out there at tight end. With several teams on bye in Week 8, a player showing this much receiving involvement deserves consideration.
Dulcich is a viable streamer if you need someone to fill the position. We don’t need to make this more complicated than that.
Atrás
Top
| Declaración de privacidad Términos del servicio Contacto |
Refresca
|
All the best breaking news stories from Apex Football Lite. Optimised for feature phones and low end Android devices, Apex Football Lite helps users with legacy devices and poor network connectivity access the latest football news and live scores. Particularly relevant for breaking football news in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa.