It’s hard to believe we are approaching the halfway mark of the fantasy season, but here we are. True to 2020 form, Week 7 had some injuries to big names like Chris Carson, Kenyan Drake, Chris Godwin, and Odell Beckham Jr. We also had some incredibly exciting games over the weekend, unlike Monday night football that nearly put people to sleep.
Let’s dive into the waiver wire and see if there are any players you can target for Week 8 to help your team to fantasy win. Remember to listen to the Week 8 Waivers episode from The Fantasy Footballers to get a full breakdown.
Also, check out the weekly Snap Count Observations, Target Report, and Injury Report to help you make the best decision possible for your squad.
Editor’s Note: Click on any player name to open up their Player Profile!
WRs
Probably Rostered
Antonio Brown, Buccaneers (Rostered: ESPN 75% / Yahoo 78%)
Not eligible Week 8
Weeks 9-11: NO, @CAR, LAR
Main Waiver Wire Pickups
Mike Williams, Chargers (Rostered: ESPN 53% / Yahoo 60%)
@DEN, LV, @MIA
Week 7 vs JAX — 3 targets for 1/4/0 (75% of snaps)
Sterling Shepard, Giants (Rostered: ESPN 36% / Yahoo 29%)
TB, @WSH, PHI, BYE
Week 7 @PHI — 8 targets for 6/59/1 (77% of snaps)
Christian Kirk, Cardinals (Rostered: ESPN 49% / Yahoo 55%)
BYE, MIA, BUF, @SEA
Week 7 vs SEA — 8 targets for 5/37/2 (79% of snaps)
Henry Ruggs, Raiders (Rostered: ESPN 55% / Yahoo 51%)
@CLE, @LAC, DEN
Week 7 vs TB — 3 targets for 2/35/0 — 1/10/0 rushing (75% of snaps)
Nelson Agholor, Raiders (Rostered: ESPN 2% / Yahoo 4%)
Week 7 vs TB — 9 targets for 5/107/1 (79% of snaps)
Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers (Rostered: ESPN 20% / Yahoo 49%)
@SEA, GB, @NO, BYE
Week 7 @NE — 7 targets for 6/115/0 (76% of snaps)
Scotty Miller, Buccaneers (Rostered: ESPN 9% / Yahoo 9%)
@NYG, NO, @CAR
Week 7 @LV — 9 targets for 6/109/1
Tyler Johnson, Buccaneers (Rostered: ESPN 1% / Yahoo 0%)
Cole Beasley, Bills (Rostered: ESPN 41% / Yahoo 41%)
NE, SEA, @ARI, BYE
Week 7 @NYJ — 12 targets for 11/112/0 (No John Brown) (82% of snaps)
Rashard Higgins, Browns (Rostered: ESPN 1% / Yahoo 2%)
LV, BYE, HOU
Week 7 @CIN — 6 targets for 6/110/0 (85% of snaps)
Jalen Reagor, Eagles (Rostered: ESPN 10% / Yahoo 14%)
DAL, BYE, @NYG, @CLE
Tim Patrick, Broncos (Rostered: ESPN 25% / Yahoo 27%)
LAC, @ATL, @LV
Week 7 vs KC — 4 targets for 3/44/0 (66% of snaps)
Day-to-day with a hamstring injury
Denzel Mims, Jets (Rostered: ESPN 3% / Yahoo 4%)
@KC, NE, BYE, @LAC
Week 7 vs BUF — 7 targets for 4/42/0 (79% of snaps)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are in desperate need of talented pass-catchers (not) so, logically, they went out and signed WR Antonio Brown. Brown will be available to play in Week 9 and it is likely he is already rostered, but it’s worth taking a look. Staying with the Buccaneers, however, WR Scotty Miller could see an uptick in targets with Godwin sidelined with a broken finger in Week 8. Tyler Johnson is a long shot and I would avoid picking him up unless you have no other options.
Mike Williams is an interesting name to consider. He has a pretty good history against the Denver Broncos who the Chargers will face in Week 8, but he is still a boom or bust player. Justin Herbert has been a heavy passer, but he has been spreading the ball around to several different receivers.
My favorite player to target among these wide receivers is the 49ers Brandon Aiyuk. He should see an increase in targets with Deebo Samuel banged up and with injuries to various pass-catching backs like Jeff Wilson. He is a talented receiver who is capable of making big plays on contested catches. They will face the Seattle Seahawks in Week 8 who bleed points to the WR position.
Another option to target, especially if you had Beckham, is the Browns WR Rashard Higgins. He is already seeing a healthy dose of snaps and had over 100 receiving yards last week. With Beckham injured, Higgins has a chance to see his target share increase even though the Browns are a run-first team.
If you are looking for a safe floor play, Cole Beasley has been quietly doing well in PPR formats with John Brown dealing with injury. He has had two 100+ yard games since Week 3, and the weeks he did not reach 100 yards during that time, he scored a touchdown. His upside is limited because of Stefon Diggs, but if you need a safe play, Beasley may be your best bet.
RBs
Probably Rostered
Chase Edmonds, Cardinals (Rostered: ESPN 55% / Yahoo 63%)
BYE, MIA, BUF, @SEA
Week 7 vs SEA — 5/58/0 — 7 targets for 7/87/0 (61% of snaps)
Giovani Bernard, Bengals (Rostered: ESPN 53% / Yahoo 59%)
TEN, BYE, @PIT, @WSH
Week 7 vs CLE — 13/37/0 — 5 targets for 5/59/1 (76% of snaps)
Jamaal Williams, Packers (Rostered: ESPN 63% / Yahoo 63%)
MIN, @SF, JAX
Week 7 @HOU — 19/77/1 — 4/37/0 (89% of snaps)
Boston Scott, Eagles (Rostered: ESPN 50% / Yahoo 69%)
DAL, BYE, @NYG, @CLE
Week 7 vs NYG — 12/46/0 — 5 targets for 3/46/1 (69% of snaps)
Main Waiver Wire Pickups
Carlos Hyde, Seahawks (Rostered: ESPN 5% / Yahoo 11%)
SF, @BUF, @LAR
Week 7 @ARI — 15/68/1 — 4 targets for 3/8/0 (49% of snaps)
Travis Homer, Seahawks (Rostered: ESPN 1% / Yahoo 1%)
DeeJay Dallas, Seahawks (Rostered: ESPN 1% / Yahoo 1%)
Tevin Coleman, 49ers (Rostered: ESPN 20% / Yahoo 27%)
@SEA, GB, @NO, BYE
JaMycal Hasty, 49ers (Rostered: ESPN 4% / Yahoo 21%)
Week 7 @NE — 9/57/0 — 1 target for 1/16/0
J.K. Dobbins, Ravens (Rostered: ESPN 46% / Yahoo 54%)
PIT, @IND, @NE
Week 6 @PHI — 9/28/0 — 4 targets for 2/1/0
Gus Edwards, Ravens (Rostered: ESPN 2% / Yahoo 9%)
Week 6 @PHI — 14/26/1
La’Mical Perine, Jets (Rostered: ESPN 11% / Yahoo 16%)
@KC, NE, BYE, @LAC
Week 7 vs BUF — 11/39/1 — 3 targets for 2/16/0 (70% of snaps)
Joshua Kelley, Chargers (Rostered: ESPN 54% / Yahoo 43%)
@DEN, LV, @MIA
Week 7 vs JAX — 12/29/0 — 5 targets for 5/24/0 (47% of snaps)
Wayne Gallman, Giants (Rostered: ESPN 1% / Yahoo 2%)
TB, @WSH, PHI, BYE
Week 7 @PHI — 10/34/1 — 5 targets for 5/20/0 (53% of snaps)
Zack Moss, Bills (Rostered: ESPN 37% / Yahoo 46%)
NE, SEA, @ARI, BYE
Week 7 @NYJ — 7/47/0 — 3 targets for 3/25/0 (47% of snaps)
Malcolm Brown, Rams (Rostered: ESPN 32% / Yahoo 20%)
@MIA, BYE, SEA, @TB
Week 7 vs CHI — 10/57/1 — 1 target, zero catches
Royce Freeman, Broncos (Rostered: ESPN 2% / Yahoo 1%)
LAC, @ATL, @LV
Week 7 vs KC — 3/12/0 — 2 targets for 1/5/0
The waiver wire was a bit of wasteland for running backs in weeks past, but the options open up a bit this week. The two running backs who I think have the best chance of being available, and have the opportunity to see fantasy production are 49ers RB JaMycal Hasty and Giants RB Wayne Gallman.
Both Hasty and Gallman are the beneficiaries of injuries to the players ahead of them. Devonta Freeman did not practice today (Tuesday) with an ankle injury. It was the same injury that took him out of his matchup on Sunday and Gallman capitalized in his absence. However, the Giants will face the staunch Buccaneers defense so his upside is capped in Week 8.
Hasty could see a featured role with Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, and Wilson all injured. Coleman may be activated in Week 8, however, he may see limited snaps. Unbeknownst to fantasy managers, HC Kyle Shanahan decided to essentially rest RB Jerick McKinnon. Whether he is on the field or not, both backs have the opportunity to be productive.
TEs
Mike Gesicki, Dolphins (Rostered: ESPN 56% / Yahoo 66%)
LAR, @ARI, LAC
Week 6 vs NYJ — 2 targets, zero catches
Trey Burton, Colts (Rostered: ESPN 6% / Yahoo 21%)
@DET, BAL, @TEN
Week 6 vs CIN — 5 targets for 4/58/1 — 1-yard rush TD
Richard Rodgers, Eagles (Rostered: ESPN 4% / Yahoo 9%)
DAL, BYE, @NYG, @CLE
Week 7 vs BAL — 3 targets for 3/31/0 (85% of snaps)
Eric Ebron, Steelers (Rostered: ESPN 51% / Yahoo 46%)
@BAL, @DAL, CIN
Week 7 @TEN — 8 targets for 6/50/0
Harrison Bryant, Browns (Rostered: ESPN 1% / Yahoo 1%)
LV, BYE, HOU, PHI
Week 7 @CIN — 5 targets for 4/56/2 (77% of snaps.. Compared to 60% of Njoku)
Logan Thomas, Washington (Rostered: ESPN 9% / Yahoo 26%)
BYE, NYG, @DET, CIN
Week 7 vs DAL — 4 targets for 4/60/1
In case you missed it, Sunday was dubbed National Tight End Day. Naturally, we had a slew of TEs crush in fantasy. There are some interesting options on the waiver this week for tight ends. My favorite add is Harrison Bryant of the Browns, especially now that Beckham is out and David Njoku has been asking for a trade. His timeline for fantasy may be limited until Austin Hooper gets back in the lineup after an appendicitis. It’s worth noting the Browns have a Week 9 Bye as well.
Eagles’ TE Richard Rodgers is another interesting add. Zach Ertz is set to miss multiple weeks and Dallas Goedert is not going to see action until Week 10. The Eagles will face a sinking Cowboys team in Week 8 before their bye. If you need a TE for one week, Rodgers is one of the only pass-catchers left for Eagles.
Mike Gesicki, a favorite coming into the year, has been dropped in several leagues. He is available in 56% of ESPN leagues and 66% of Yahoo leagues. He will be a wild card as the Dolphins move forward with Tua Tagovailoa under center instead of Ryan Fitzpatrick. They had their bye in Week 7, which gave Tagovailoa time to get used being the starter, but we have no idea what will actually happen come game-time. Their schedule is formidable as they face the Rams, Cardinals, and Chargers but a rookie QB’s best friend is often the tight end.
Don’t forget to listen to the Fantasy Footballers Week 8 Waivers episode. They go in-depth on these players as well as give you their D/ST and QB streamers for the week.
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