Waiver Wire Targets For Week 8 – 2024 Waiver Wire Targets

We had a few key injuries and we also how the recent WR trades impacted the Bills, Jets, Browns and Raiders.  The waiver wire list is growing which is nice, that means you have more options.  There are plug-and-play players available at every position if you are desperate. 

I want to call out that I’m intentionally leaving a couple of guys off my list.  Ray Davis in Buffalo is serviceable, but I think his increased workload had more to do with the Bills easing Cook back from injury than a real depth chart shakeup…  Jonnu Smith played well for Miami, but I think that will change when Tua returns to the field next week…

Lastly, there are a couple of Monday Night Football players on this list.  I’m obviously publishing before the two games this evening.  If you’re looking for someone to take a chance on, the guys on this list could be candidates to take a chance on prior to the end of week 7. 

Quarterback:  

1. Jared Goff (46% available) – He’s been on a tear lately and I don’t see why that trend can’t continue.
2. Tua Tagovailoa (73%) – It looks like he’ll return in week 8.  He has the concussion issue, but when he plays he scores well.
3. Sam Darnold (55%) – Darnold is consistent and uses his legs more than you think.  I’d have no problem starting him if I needed a QB
4. Marcus Mariota (100%) – Jayden Daniels is week-to-week with a rib injury.  If Daniels misses a game, Mariota should be very good.  He played very well with limited reps this past week but what I was more encouraged by was how many yards he had rushing.  Mariota will be a high quality spot-start if you need one – even against the Bears in week 8 if he plays.
5. Caleb Williams (45%) – he’ll play a weak Washington defense coming off a bye week.  Williams should have a lot of potential for TD passes.
6. Drake Maye (87%) – I really like what I’m seeing and he’s more athletic than I thought.
7. Jameis Winston (100%) – The Browns will eventually land on Winston as their full time starter with Deshaun Watson out for the year.  I’m not a big fan of him due to inconsistency, but you will see a few strong games from him (and a few stinkers) this year.

Running Back:

1. Tank Bigsby (32% available) – I think he’s the top back available even when Etienne is back in the lineup.  He’s clearly a high caliber lead back when Etienne is out.
2. Bucky Irving (34%) – We’ll see him in action in MNF, but I like his talent.  I do worry about the Bucs possibly moving to a 3-back committee though.
3. Alexander Mattison (58%) – He’s clearly the top back for the Raiders and gets a high volume of touches. 
4. Tyler Allgeier (47%) – his usage dipped considerably this week (and I think that’s reasonable considering he shares a backfield with Bijan Robinson).  Keep an eye on this one, but I’d rather have Mattison because of his consistency week-to-week.
5. Tyrone Tracy (53%) – it looks like he might have supplanted Singletary as the dominant back in New York.  However, the Giants might have just been managing Singletary’s workload in a blowout game.
6. Kendre Miller (93%) – he returned to the field in week 7 and looked good in limited touches.  I wonder if he eats into Kamara’s workshare.
7. Keaton Mitchell (97%) – he’s not back yet, but will be soon enough.  I think he’ll be a strong addition to your roster, but Henry will be the gold standard in Baltimore moving forward.
8. Jaylen Wright (92%) – Wright will eventually be a weekly fantasy starter, but Raheem Mostert is blocking Wright’s ascension for now.  The next game Mostert misses due to injury may open the door wide enough for Wright to run through.
9. Trey Benson (82%) – I’m excited to see what he does vs the Chargers on MNF.  His workshare looked to be ticking up, but will that be a trend?  Benson is worth stashing tonight if you can still grab him.
10. Sean Tucker (89%) – for now, Tucker is 3^rd on the RB depth chart but he sure looked better than Rachaad White to me last week.  Let’s see how he fares on MNF.
11. Audric Estime (98%) – Estime had a nice Thursday Night performance, but he fumbled late which is not a good look for a team that already spreads touches around across the backfield.  Estime looks like he’ll be an eventual starter for the Broncos, but not if he fumbles.
12. Kimani Vidal (93%) – Vidal impressed me in training camp and he did well with his opportunity in week 6.  Can he keep it going in week 7 (on MNF)?
13. Tyler Goodson (91%) – I always thought Goodson was a better option than Trey Sermon, but I don’t think he’ll have much value once Jonathon Taylor returns from injury. 

Wide Receiver:

1. Cedric Tillman (100% available) – Tillman looks like the clear #1 receiver after Cooper was traded.  With he Browns likely to move to Jameis Winston, there should be plenty of downfield throws in Tillman’s future.  We could see the talented 2^nd year wideout breakout.
2. Jauan Jennings (55%) – Jenning’s is a close 2^nd in terms of my WR suggestions.  Aiyuk should be done for the year and I think that will result in Jennings playing in 2 WR sets with Deebo Samuel and then Persall operating out of the slot as a 3^rd WR option.  Jennings should see a considerable boost in targets moving forward.
3. Romeo Doubs (73%) – due to the spread in workshare I generally stay away from Packer WRs, but Doubs has put up two strong games in a row since his team suspension.  I don’t think he’ll keep it going, but if he does, he needs to be rostered.
4. Keon Coleman (56%) – Coleman was among team leaders in snaps.  I think the addition of Amari Cooper softened some of the coverage Coleman received and he rewarded the Bills with two big catches downfield. The rookie has been improving each week.  If the Bills let him play more with Cooper on the other side, Coleman could be a 2^nd half breakout this season.
5. Rome Odunze (52%) – I think we’ll see a jump in utilization from Odunze after the bye week.
6. Jalen Tolbert (73%) – Cooks will be back in the lineup soon which drives Tolbert down this list.
7. Alec Pierce (85%) – When Richardson is throwing passes, I prefer Pierce over Downs.  When Flacco is playing, it’s reversed.
8. Justin Watson (84%) – it looks to me like Smith-Schuster will miss a few weeks with that hamstring and if so, it looks like Watson is going to be the snap-leader for the Chiefs.  He’s had these opportunities before, but
9. Xavier Legette (71%) – he’s playing a decent amount, but the Panthers are awful so I have to move him down the list.
10. Ricky Pearsall (95%) – Pearsall will receive boosted opportunities now that he’s back on the field and with Aiyuk presumably out for the year.
11. Jalen Coker (100%) – I like Coker because he’s a rookie and is playing well with the chance he’s been given.  But again, we’re talking about a Panther here.  And Coker will probably go back to the bench once Thielen is back.
12. Tre Tucker (83%) – he will be a starter along with Jakobi Meyers moving forward.  That said, the Raiders passing attack is now routed through the TE position so I think it’ll be slim pickings for Tucker.
13. Tutu Atwell (85%) – I want to see what happens when Kupp and Nacua return to action.  If he’s the third WR (and I think he’s earned that job with his play), then I will move him up the list.
14. Mason Tipton (100%) – Shaheed is out for the year and the Saints threw a lot of passes Tipton’s way in a week where they were also missing Olave.  I think Tipton will slide into Shaheed’s role moving forward and should have weekly value.

Tight End:

1. Cole Kmet (42% available) – he was on a tear before the bye week.  I’d roster him and start him if my TE position was hurting.
2. Hunter Henry (73%) – Maye has looked his direction often.  I always say that a TE is a rookie QBs best friend.  It’s no coincidence that the top 3 guys on this list are on teams with rookie starters.
3. Zach Ertz (45%) – Ertz finally got his TD and Sinnott got another one later.  Ertz will be a strong starter moving forward this season.
4. Cade Otton (58%) – I like the value at TE this week.  Otton has had flashes of strong play in the past but the question is whether Tampa and Baker Mayfield will continue throwing the ball to him like they have in recent weeks. 
5. Noah Fant (92%) – Fant is also trending upward.  I’d be happy landing any of these top 5 guys at TE this week.
6. Jonnu Smith (80%) – he’s had a nice couple of weeks, but I suspect the numbers will come back to earth once Tua is throwing the ball to Waddle and Hill again.
7. Ja’Tavion Sanders (99%) – I loved what I saw this week, but I still am not sure if the Panthers prefer Tommy Tremble (when healthy).  Sanders is obviously the long term play, but I’m not convinced we’ll consistently see 6 targets a week for him either.

Defense:

1. Minnesota (31% available) – they still scored well vs the Lions thanks to sacks and a defensive TD.  As I’ve been saying, Minnesota is a weekly starter regardless of opponent.  They play the Rams in week 8.
2. LA Chargers (70%) – they play the Saints next week. I love that matchup for the Chargers.
3. Chicago (57%) – they play Washington in week 8.  Even if Mariota starts, I think that’s a tougher matchup for the team.  Still, Chicago forces a lot of turnovers and will create defensive scoring opportunities. 
4. Green Bay (66%) – They matchup vs the Jaguars, who are returning from England this week.  I think that’s a strong matchup for a high quality fantasy defense. 
5. Kansas City (68%) – They play the Raiders in week 8.  That’s a good matchup for the Chiefs.