Welcome to the Fantasy Football Waiver Wire for Week 8.
Week 7 saw a return to more normal scoring after the fantasy wasteland of Week 6. But for the third straight week, we’ve got four teams on bye in Week 8. Between injuries and byes, fantasy players are in the middle of a long and challenging stretch. The Waiver Wire figures to be busy again this week, as managers scour it for streamers, stashes, and even longer-term starting options.
One trend to highlight is the emergence of the 2026 rookie receiving
class. It’s good, and it’s deep, and we still haven’t seen the second receiver drafted. We’re up to a half dozen or so rookie receivers who are fantasy-relevant, and that number could jump to close to a dozen in the second half of the season. I say it every year – be patient with rookie receivers. Many of the rookies are rostered, but some are still available.
The Process: Each week, I try to identify the top Waiver Wire targets and evaluate the short- and long-term prospects of those players. I also do my best to reveal which players who are coming off a big week are fool’s gold. Finally, I look at streamers who might help you in a pinch (this is usually more important during Bye weeks).
Some players discussed won’t be available in your league. I try to list players who are available in more than 50% of leagues. But what does that even mean? A 10-team league with six bench spots will have a much larger Free Agent pool than a 14-team league with eight. Most leagues fall somewhere in between. This isn’t “one size fits all.” By way of example, I won’t list Baker Mayfield, Kirk Cousins, Rachaad White, K.C. Concepcion, Rome Odunze, DeVaughn Vele, Germie Bernard, Brenton Strange, or Michael Mayer, among others who probably aren’t available in any of your leagues.
Note that I’m writing this column BEFORE the Week 7 Monday night game (DAL @ PHI).
WEEK 8 BYES: Giants, Saints, Texans, 49ers
Week 8 Waiver Wire
Quarterback:
Malik Willis was a popular sleeper in the preseason because of his dual-threat upside, on a rebuilding team expected to chase points all season. That upside didn’t show up in September, but he’s heating up. In each of his last two games, he ran one in and topped 20 fantasy points, albeit on low passing volume. Miami’s offense hasn’t been putting up points (their 28 against the Jets on Sunday was a season high), but their young receivers are getting better with more reps, and Willis could be a plug-and-play streamer as needed over the second half of the season. The Patriots pose a tough challenge this week, but the four opponents after that are tasty — Lions, Colts, Bills, and Jets again, this time at home.
I’ve never been a J.J. McCarthy believer, but through five quarters he’s been surprisingly good – dare I say great — as the Giants’ main man. I’ll happily eat crow on this one, Big Blue View readers. The G-Men ran all over the Texans on Sunday, but McCarthy played mistake-free football on the road against a great pass rush and a talented secondary, and made a lot of terrific throws. He can also run, and his O-line and weapons are above average. He’s 100% worth stashing through New York’s Week 8 Bye if you need quarterback help in a Superflex league.
I’ve been pushing Aaron Rodgers as a QB2/streaming option all season, and the old man continues to produce decent numbers. Another veteran who can put up some numbers in the right matchups is Geno Smith, who threw for three TDs against Miami and keeps getting more weapons back from injury.
Need a Week 8 streamer? Last week I recommended Willis and Smith and both broke 20 fantasy points. Jacoby Brissett gets the Cowboys in Week 8, and Tanner McKee gets the Lions. Neither one is all that attractive, but if you’re stuck at QB, they’re worth considering.
Finally, Michael Penix, Jr. and Sam Darnold can be decent streaming QB2 options in the right matchups.
Running Back:
Jonah Coleman is back and he played 50% of the snaps in his return. All three Denver backs should be rostered, but they’re hard to trust as starters week to week when all three are healthy, as they are now.
The Giants are also deploying three backs without a clear bell-cow. Tyrone Tracy, Jr. and Cam Skattebo both suffered what appear to be minor hamstring injuries in the big upset win at Houston. Tracy and Devin Singletary, who scored the game-winner in OT, should be rostered.
Samaje Perine saw a dip in touches this week, but Chase Brown is still struggling to produce. Perine should be on rosters.
Tyjae Spears and Nick Singleton are stashes in deeper-bench leagues, even though both missed this week’s game. It’s a terrible offense, but Tony Pollard is a trade candidate (and that was some audition on Sunday).
Seth McGowan, who saw a season-high 12 touches on Sunday, is also a stash, with Jonathan Taylor potentially on the move at the trade deadline (did the Vikings get an in-person audition?)
A few other names to think about, if you’re in need and/or want some depth that could pop later: Tyler Allgeieir, Tyler Goodson, Emmett Johnson, Kaelon Black, Dylan Sampson, Jonothon Brooks (IR stash), and Mike Washington, Jr.
Wide Receiver
It seems less likely that we’ll see Tyreek Hill anytime soon, but he’s still worth stashing in deep leagues. Another stash I keep listing is Jordyn Tyson, who could return from IR right after the Saints’ Week 8 Bye.
There are quite a few players who are worth considering at WR, and as I mentioned in the prelude and last week, rookies make up a good chunk of the options.
Omar Cooper, Jr. tops the list, after back-to-back games with 100 yards and a score in his return from injury. The Jets will often have negative game scripts, which helps, and he looks really good.
Dolphins’ third-round rookie Caleb Douglas was only targeted three times on Sunday, but he turned that into two TD catches, including a long one. In the two games he started and finished this season, Douglas has a 7-164-2 line. Malik Willis has a big arm, and while the passing volume hasn’t been high, favorable game scripts could help Douglas. I like him as a WR4-type add for rosters.
Here are not two, not three, not four, but FIVE more rookie receivers who I think you can consider if you need bench help. I’ll list them in my preferred order: Antonio Williams, Ja’Kobi Lane, Makai Lemon, Malachi Fields, and Jordan Watkins. If you have an IR spot free you can also think about a sixth rookie — De’Zhaun Stribling, who could be back to the depleted 49ers in a few weeks.
Need depth? I’ll repeat a bunch of names I’ve listed in recent weeks, together with some new ones: Keenan Allen, Malik Washington, Travis Hunter, Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne, Savion Williams, Brandin Cooks, Cyrus Allen, Tank Dell, and Tre Harris.
Tight End:
Five to target, if you need help at tight end, and again this is my preferred order: Chig Okonkwo (gets a bump with Terry McLaurin gone for the season), A.J. Barner, Terrance Ferguson (IR stash), and Mason Taylor.
I think both New England tight ends – Hunter Henry and Eli Raridon – are also in play if you need help.
Finally, Darnell Washington has scored in three of the last four games. He’s purely TD or bust, but clearly Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers like those man vs. boy matchups of the gargantuan Washington against smaller DBs at the goal line.
That’s all I’ve got. Good luck with your waiver claims!
***This column appears each Monday right here at Big Blue View. Each Thursday, my weekly fantasy preview with my rides, fades and sleepers (start/sit) appears here, and on Fridays you can find my weekly Giants Props of the week, also right here. ***
