Waiver Wire Pickups Week 8
The injury bug continues to rear its ugly head for many NFL players. A few high-level fantasy contributors seem to leave the game early or get injured each week. Some of those players this week include Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, D.K. Metcalf, and Deshaun Watson. That is the unfortunate part of the NFL, but it is something that all fantasy managers are aware of. That is why it is critical to have depth on your fantasy team. If you need to find replacements for those players, look no further than the waiver wire. Here are the top waiver wire pickups heading into Week 8.
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Tua Tagovailoa – Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins’ franchise quarterback is set to return from injured reserve. He has missed the last four games with a concussion but is eligible to return in Week 8. In most 1QB leagues, Tagovailoa was probably dropped. That makes him a hot commodity on the waiver wire this week. He is one of the most productive passers when on the field, as we saw when he led the NFL in passing yards last season. He should be owned in all leagues, and all Dolphins’ skill players should be upgraded upon his return. If you are desperate for a QB, spend up to 15% FAAB.
Russell Wilson – Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers made a surprising change at quarterback, going from Justin Fields to Russell Wilson. But we saw on Sunday Night why that was a smart move. Wilson threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns while adding a third touchdown on the ground. The Steelers’ pass offense immediately improved with him on the field, which should continue to be the case. Wilson is a must-own in 2QB leagues and could be a solid bye-week fill-in in 1QB formats. He is worth around 10-12% FAAB, but you could go higher if you are desperate.
Jaylen Warren – Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers’ offense looked different with Wilson under center in Week 7. But that was not the only change we saw. Jaylen Warren led the backfield in snaps with 35 to Najee Harris’ 33. Warren carried the ball 12 times for 44 yards and caught two passes for 15 yards. While Harris was more productive in this game, Warren is someone the Steelers want to remain involved in the offense. He should consider passing down work and has flex potential in PPR formats. Spend around 8-10% FAAB on the young runner.
Kendre Miller – New Orleans Saints
Kendre Miller is someone to look at if you are in a deep league. The second-year rusher made his season debut on Thursday and carried the ball six times for 36 yards while adding two receptions. His value will not be much as long as Alvin Kamara is in the fold. But Miller could slowly start to creep into Kamara’s workload. Rumors are swirling that a potential Kamara trade could happen before the deadline. That could open the door for Miller to have the starting role in New Orleans and become a fantasy force. Only spend around 5% FAAB on the running back and stash him on your bench for now.
Ricky Pearsall – San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers drafted Ricky Pearsall in the first round, hoping he could be an impact player in their offense. He will get a chance to show that starting in Week 8. Brandon Aiyuk is done for the season, and Deebo Samuel is expected to miss time. In his season debut on Sunday, Pearsall played 76.2% of the snaps and caught three passes for 21 yards. He should play a significant role moving forward and is one of the top receivers to target on waivers. Spend up to 15% FAAB on the rookie wide receiver.
Cedric Tillman – Cleveland Browns
The Browns traded wide receiver Amari Cooper, which allowed Cedric Tillman to step into a larger role. The Browns lost Deshaun Watson for the season, and Jameis Winston will likely take over as quarterback. That could be good from a fantasy perspective, as Winston is not afraid to push the ball down the field. Tillman caught eight passes (12 targets) for 81 yards. After playing 82.1% of the snaps, he is worth adding in 10+ team leagues and could be a flex option with Winston at QB. Spend around 5-10% FAAB on the young WR.
Noah Fant – Seattle Seahawks
The injury to D.K. Metcalf will cause problems for the Seahawks’ passing game. But that means someone must step up if he misses a few weeks. One player who could see more targets is tight end Noah Fant. He caught four passes for 65 yards on Sunday and should continue to be involved in the offense. Like most weeks, tight ends have been a struggle in fantasy football. Fant could see consistent targets moving forward, making him a consistent scorer. He should not go for more than 10% FAAB in any league, so you could get a starting caliber tight end on the cheap.
