Week 8 brings the first of the six-team bye weeks, which means you need to find value on the waiver wire. Sure, your waiver claims likely processes yesterday, but if any of the guys below are still out there, snap them up before your league mates wisen up.
Best of luck in Week 8!
All Waiver Wire Team – Week 7
| Position | < 75% Owned | < 50% Owned | < 25% Owned | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Jameis Winston | Alex Smith | Trevor Siemian | |
| RB | Jacquizz Rodgers | Jacquizz Rodgers | Dwayne Washington | |
| RB | James White | Devontae Booker | Chris Thompson | |
| WR | Ty Montgomery | Ty Montgomery | Brandon LaFell | |
| WR | Jamison Crowder | Brandon LaFell | DeVante Adams | |
| TE | Jack Doyle | Jack Doyle | Jack Doyle | |
| Flex | Michael Thomas | Tyler Lockett | Marqise Lee | |
| K | Mason Crosby | Brandon McManus | Sebastian Janikowski | |
| D/ST | Philadelphia Eagles | Tennessee Titans | New York Jets |
QB ｜ RB ｜ WR ｜ TE ｜ K ｜ D/ST
Quarterbacks
Less than 75% owned
Jameis Winston – Winston’s season stats do not jump off the page. A nearly 4:3 touchdown to interception ratio certainly highlights some of the recklessness of the second-year quarterback. He has taken advantage of his matchups against bad defenses, throwing eight touchdowns to just two interceptions against defenses currently ranked in the bottom third of defensive DVOA. His Week 8 opponent, the Oakland Raiders, fall into that category, too. Winston should perform like a QB1 this week.
Others considered: Kirk Cousins, Alex Smith, Tyrod Taylor
Less than 50% owned
Alex Smith – This makes it three straight weeks that Smith is being featured in this spot. He has not thrown for more than three touchdowns in a game this year, so he will not light up the scoreboard. But he’s not going to lose you many points, having only turned it over four times (two interceptions and two fumbles, the fumbles occurring in the same game). Smith faces his third straight subpar passing defense in the Indianapolis Colts. Again, he is a very safe play for those wanting to set and forget the quarterback position.
Others considered: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Trevor Siemian
Less than 25% owned
Ryan Fitzpatrick – Fitzpatrick was benched to start the Jets Week 7 game against the Ravens, but an injury to Geno Smith (torn ACL) thrust him back into the starting role. He did just enough to lead the Jets to a 24-16 victory. Now, if you thought Winston’s 4:3 touchdown to interception ratio was bad, what do you think about Fitzpatrick’s nearly 1:2 ratio? And that doesn’t include the five fumbles he’s lost, too. Why trust him? Well, he’s facing the Browns. This should be a game filled with positive regression for Fitzpatrick.
Others considered: Trevor Siemian
Running Backs
Less than 75% owned
Jacquizz Rodgers – I talked about Rodgers in the Week 7 AWWT recap after he broke off his second straight 100 yard game. With the 27th ranked DVOA rush defense coming to town in the Oakland Raiders, bet on Quizz to make it three straight games hitting the century mark.
Devontae Booker – With C.J. Anderson out for at least a few weeks, the Denver backfield now belongs solely to Booker. Owners who handcuffed or stashed him have to be ecstatic, especially since his role was growing by the week already. Booker propels into RB1 range going against a mediocre San Diego rush defense.
Others considered: James White, Knile Davis
Less than 50% owned
Jacquizz Rodgers – Best anagram of Jacquizz Rodgers: Jazz Squid Grocer
Devontae Booker – I was not impressed with the anagram selection for Booker. How about some fun facts from his college days? While he only played at the University of Utah for two years (he was a JUCO transfer), he rushed for more than 100 yards in more than half the games he played. And in one of the games he didn’t, he threw a touchdown pass, so that makes up for it.
Others considered: Matt Asiata, Knile Davis, DeAndre Washington, Alfred Blue (if Lamar Miller can’t play, Blue jumps Booker for the starting spot here)
Less than 25% owned
Dwayne Washington – Washington will be fighting for carries with Zach Zenner and Justin Forsett, but you can’t forget that he was in line to take over the bulk of the carries once Ameer Abdullah suffered a season ending injury in Week 1. He’s probably going to get eased back in, especially since the Lions have a plethora of running backs. Washington will get work, though, which is tough to envision for some other running backs this deep down the waiver wire.
Chris Thompson – Thompson has received double digit touches in his last two games. Starter Matt Jones ended up in the doghouse after losing a goalline fumble against the Lions last week and Thompson filled in nicely, averging about six yards per carry with a long of just 16 yards, which demonstates consistency. He travels to London to face a Bengals defense that is in the bottom third of the league in rushing defense.
Others considered: Alfred Blue (if Lamar Miller can’t play, Blue jumps both Washington and Thompson for the starting spot here), Zach Zenner (becomes a starter here is Dwayne Washington is out again), C.J. Prosise, Ka’Deem Carey
Wide Receivers
Less than 75% owned
Ty Montgomery – Knile Davis is likely going to eat into some of Montgomery’s running work, but he should still get a few carries and will dominate passing downs. Even taking away his 30 yard run last week, he averaged over four yard a carry, which should be tough for the Packers to ignore, especially if it looks like Davis needs another week to really get going. His Week 8 opponent, the Atlanta Falcons, rank 21st and 24th in passing defense and rushing defense DVOA, respectively. Montgomery is a PPR darling and also carries upside in standard leagues.
Jamison Crowder – While Crowder is the four most targeted receiver on the Redskins, he has the most receiving yards and touchdowns. He has taken advantage of Jordan Reed‘s absence, especially with his seven catch, 108 yard game against the Lions last week. Cincinatti’s pass defense is not as bad as Detriot’s (no one’s is by DVOA), but Crowder should still be active again this week.
Others considered: Michael Thomas, Michael Floyd, Tyrell Williams
Less than 50% owned
Ty Montgomery – Fun with college football trivia: Montgomery was an All-American as a return specialist during his junior year at Stanford. It’s also worth noting that he never carried the ball more than five times in a game during his whole career at Stanford.
Brandon LaFell – LaFell has burst onto the fantasy radar with four touchdown receptions in his last three games. He won’t sustain that pace, but 5+ targets in his last four games suggests that a strong yardage total is more likely than not. Redskins star cornerback Josh Norman will likely shadow A.J. Green all day, leaving LaFell to make headaway against an otherwise average Redskins secondary.
Others considered: Tyler Lockett, Quincy Enunwa, Corey Coleman (dealing with a broken hand)
Less than 25% owned
Brandon LaFell – LaFell caught his first touchdown pass of his collegiate career from JaMarcus Russell. Good times.
DeVante Adams – I’m a little nervous featuring two Packers wide receivers on AWWTs, especially since Green Bay already has two other very capable receivers in Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. It’s tough to ignore at 16 target, 13 reception, 132 yard performance, though, the stat line Adams put up against the Bears last week. Like I said with Montgomery, the Falcons have a soft pass defense. Rodgers could still conceivably put the ball in the air 50 times, especially if Knile Davis is ineffective and the Falcons jump out to a lead (Atlanta is favored by 3, for what it’s worth). A repeat of last week’s performance is not likely, but Adams still has solid upside to justify being used as a WR3/flex.
Others considered: Marqise Lee, Cordarrelle Patterson, Marquise Goodwin, Justin Hunter (only playable if both Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin are inactive)
Tight Ends
Less than 75% owned
Jack Doyle – We’re going all in on Doyle this week. You’ll looks at the stats and see that the Chiefs have only allowed one touchdown all year and 60 or less receiving yards in every game this season to tight ends. Look at the Chiefs schedule, though. They have not faced anyone like Andrew Luck and Doyle. Doyle is arguably the second best pass catcher until Donte Moncrief comes back. Get him in your lineups in every single league.
Others considered: Vernon Davis (Jordan Reed needs to be inactive)
Less than 50% owned
Jack Doyle – How many of you changes your team name to “Jack Doyle Rules”? If you did, here’s your team logo.
Others considered: Cameron Brate, C.J. Fiedorowicz
Less than 25% owned
Jack Doyle – Get your Jack Doyle shirts now! Supplies are limited!
“Jack (Doyle) Does Everything” pic.twitter.com/34MmWH91Yg
— Kevin Bowen (@KBowenColts) October 26, 2016
Others considered: C.J. Fiedorowicz
Kickers
Less than 75% owned
Mason Crosby – The Packers vs. Falcons game has the highest over/under for Week 8. Take any kicker involved in a game projected to be high scoring. Crosby is reliable, too, making 12/13 field goals (4 for 4 from beyond 40 yards) and 14/15 extra points.
Others considered: Sebastian Janikowski, Cairo Santos
Less than 50% owned
Sebastian Janikowski – O/U of 49.5 for the Raiders/Buccaneers matchup suggests Janikowski should be busy once again. He’s already had six chances from beyond 50 yards, making three of them. He’s been perfect from inside 50 yards and on extra points.
Others considered: Cairo Santos, Nick Folk, Nick Novak
Less than 25% owned
Sebastian Janikowski – Remember when everyone freaked out when the Buccaneers took Roberto Agyayo in the second round of last year’s NFL draft. How do you think people would have reacted to the Raiders using a first round pick on Janikowski in 2000? Oh, and Agyayo and Janikowski both graduated from Florida State.
Others considered: Cairo Santos, Nick Folk, Nick Novak
Defense/Special Teams
Less than 75% owned
Tennessee Titans – There are a lot of things to like about the Titans D/ST this week that make them a premier streaming option. 1) Short weeks hurt offenses more than defenses. 2) Blake Bortles. Bortles has thrown an intercpetion in every game played in the United States this season (his Week 4 game against the Colts was in London). 3) The Titans defense is tied for third in the league with 20 sacks. The Jaguars have allowed a sack in every game so far. 4) The Titans are playing at home. The Titans could conceivably end up with more fantasy production than mainstays like the Seahawks or Chiefs.
Others considered: Tennessee Titans, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles
Less than 50% owned
Tennessee Titans – 5) Can a team really win with the jerseys that the Jaguars will be wearing tonight? Yikes!
Others considered: New York Jets
Less than 25% owned
New York Jets – The defense playing the Browns. Are you nervous about Josh McCown coming back from his collarbone injury? No is the correct answer. It’s true that the Jets defense has been far from stellar this year, recording only six turnovers all season and only six sacks since Week 2. But, with all the bye weeks, a good performance from this D/ST is about a good of a bet as any.
Others considered: Chicago Bears