One of last week’s top quarterback waiver wire pick-ups, Kirk Cousins finished top five while fantasy prognosticators darling Sam Darnold and the Jets wife receivers were complete fantasy football busts. This week’s top pick-ups Teddy Bridgewater who looks like he is fitting in nicely to the Saints offense and Mason Rudolph, as a one week streamer, who gets a weak Dolphins' defense as he comes off injury and a bye week. The Titans look like a new team with Ryan Tannehill under center. He’s helping the fantasy football value of all the skills players around him, so far.
There are several waiver wire adds that could help those fantasy football team owners missing players because of the Week 8 bye. Finding a running back will likely be difficult depending on the size of your league, but you will have options at all other positions, especially in shallower leagues, at tight end and defense.
Don’t add a player to your fantasy football team if you don’t need one. “(S)” indicates a streaming option this week.
Teams on the Bye: Browns, Buccaneers, Panthers, Steelers
QUARTERBACKS
1 Kirk Cousins, Vikings
3 Matt Stafford, Lions
4 Teddy Bridgewater (S), Saints
4 Mason Rudolph (S), Steelers
5 Ryan Tannehill (S), Dolphins
6 Kyle Allen, Panthers
7 Gardner Minshew, Jaguars
8 Jameis Winston, Buccaneers
9 Derek Carr (S), Raiders
Cousins, Stafford, and Bridgewater are this week’s top quarterback adds. Cousins has re-discovered he can throw the football to anybody and is doing so. Kyle Allen continues to make a case that Cam Newton shouldn’t rush back with the Panthers winning four straight games but you never know when Newton will make it back.
RUNNING BACKS
1 Ty Johnson, Lions
2 Chase Edmonds, Cardinals
3 Adrian Peterson, Redskins
4 Latavius Murray, Saints
5 Mark Walton, Dolphins
6 Benny Snell (S), Steelers
7 Jamaal Williams, Packers
8 Alexander Mattison, Vikings
9 Jay Ajayi, Free Agent
It’s time for Chase Edmonds to be 100% owned in leagues. He should make a strong flex option whenever David Johnson makes it back to full strength. For now, Edmonds get one or two more starts with Johnson as a back-up while he heals.
The same can be said for Latavius Murray. As long as Murray remains healthy, Kamara can take his time healing from nagging injuries.
With Kerryon Johnson set to “miss some time,” according to Adam Schefter, Ty Johnson should be viewed as the top add for running back needy teams. Also, look for Mark Walton’s role to grow on the Dolphins, especially if the Dolphins trade Kenyan Drake.
If James Conner (quad) misses time, Benny Snell will be a top plug-and-play each week Conner is out.
Wide Receivers
1 Marquise Brown, Ravens
2 Corey Davis, Titans
3 Curtis Samuel, Panthers
4 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers
5 Kenny Stills, Texans
6 Marvin Jones, Lions
7 Dede Westbrook, Jaguars
8 Zach Pascal, Colts
9 AJ Brown, Titans
10 DeVante Parker, Dolphins
11 Danny Amendola, Lions
12 Alex Erickson, Bengals
If you’re looking for a wide receiver, it’s a great week to add one even in deeper leagues. As the Ravens head into their bye week, Marquise Brown was dropped in many leagues. The Ravens are on the bye but Brown is worth getting back onto rosters before a Week 9 game against the Browns
Corey Davis was the main beneficiary with Ryan Tannehill under center for the Titans. Expect his success to continue with Tannehill his quarterback.
Kenny Stills takes the spot of the injured Will Fuller. He should have explosive games, like Fuller, while he remains starter.
Tight Ends
1 Gerald Everett, Rams
2 Jimmy Graham, Packers
3 Chris Herndon*, Jets
4 Ricky Seals-Jones, Browns
5 Eric Ebron, Colts
6 Kyle Rudolph, Vikings
5 Daniel Fells, Texans
7 Rhett Ellison, Giants
8 Foster Moreau, Raiders
9 TJ Hockenson, Lions
10 Jonnu Smith, Titans
Gerald Everett has become a regular part of the Rams’ offense and Jimmy Graham continues to benefit with the Packers' wide receiver group fighting injuries. The same can be said for Kyle Rudolph and Rhett Ellison (with Evan Engram injured). They’re tough to trust, however. Chris Herndon could make his return this week. Jonnu Smith will be a top grab this week if Delanie Walker misses time.
Defenses
1 Steelers (v. Dolphins)
2 Lions (v. Giants)
3 Panthers (v. 49ers)
4 Titans (v. Buccaneers)
5 Eagles (v. Bills)
6 Chargers (v. Bears)
FOR WEEK 9: Jets (v. Dolphins)
The Panthers should be added in all formats. They were on a bye week in Week 7.
Need a one week filler with the Ravens on a bye week? The other defenses referenced above each play teams that have either struggled this season or are having problems producing offense due to injuries or poor play. Any defense playing the Dolphins is a solid play this season.
WEEK 8 INJURY REPORT
WEEK 7 PLAYER RANKINGS
WEEK 7 DEEP SLEEPERS