Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups (QB, RB, WR, TE): Free Agent Adds Include Drake Maye, Jauan Jennings, Tua Tagovailoa, Romeo Doubs, Cedric Tillman, Ray Davis

Welcome to our Week 8 fantasy football waiver wire pickups article for the 2024 season. We have yet to have a really strong waiver wire week, and this one certainly won't qualify as such, either. Fantasy managers should get some relief in Week 8. For starters, there are no teams on bye this upcoming week.

Secondly, Tua Tagovailoa and Cooper Kupp should both return in Week 8. Tagovailoa's return will help Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and De'Von Achane. However, fantasy managers may have also lost D.K. Metcalf for a week or two, and Brandon Aiyuk's season is likely over. The receiver injuries continue to pile up this season.

Our rosters should never stay stagnant. There's almost always a spot on our roster that we can improve, and this article aims to help you identify who that upgrade can be. If you want to take advantage of our great premium tools, please use promo code "BOOM" to receive a 10% discount.

• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
• Running back fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings
• Kicker fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• IDP fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Parameters

A few rules before we get started. Every league is different. Different roster formats. Different roster sizes. That makes this one of the more challenging articles because every league’s waiver wire can look dramatically different.

Even what host site you use matters. ESPN has rankings that are different from those of Yahoo!, which have rankings that are different from those of CBS or NFL, and all of that impacts which players are drafted or not drafted. This year, we’ll be using ESPN’s roster percentages.

The vast majority of players use ESPN. It’s a simple numbers game. We’ll only identify quarterbacks and tight ends with a roster percentage of less than 55%. For running backs and receivers, that number will drop to 45%. We won’t be diving into defenses and kickers too much, but I’ll identify a few streamers to target at those positions each week with a roster percentage below 60%.

Each position will be arranged based on who you should prioritize first at that position. In an attempt to cater to leagues of all sizes, you will see many players listed at each position, but remember, they're arranged in the order in which you add them. Hopefully, this makes the article relevant to even those playing in deep 12-team leagues or 14-team leagues.

Quarterbacks - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire for Week 8

Quarterbacks pick ups in 12-team leagues:

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears - 54.9% Rostered

Williams has been heating up as of late, scoring 28.6 and 23.5 points in his last two games. In fact, since Week 3, Wiliams has averaged 20.25 PPG. He has scored over 17 points in three out of four games. Williams has six in his last two games after not throwing any touchdown passes in his first two games.

CALEB WILLIAMS IS COOKING TODAY 🐻

⭐️ 17/21
⭐️ 172 passing yards
⭐️ 56 rushing yards
⭐️ 3 TDs

SUPERSTAR. pic.twitter.com/owgbvOQR6Y

— FanDuel (@FanDuel) October 13, 2024

Chicago was on bye in Week 7, but they'll return to play the Commanders in Week 8. This game will likely have one of the highest implied point totals of the week. It has great shoot-out potential. Through the first six weeks, Washington has allowed 18.6 PPG to quarterbacks, 13th-most in the league.

Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks - 54.0% Rostered

Smith had his first game with two passing touchdowns this season. That's hard to believe, considering how frequently Seattle has thrown the ball. His touchdown percentage was 4.0% in 2023, 5.2% in 2022, and just 2.8% this season. Smith leads the league in completions and yards.

Fantasy managers should expect some positive regression in the touchdown department. Once it does, he has top-five potential. He was QB11 through the first six weeks with a 17.3 PPG. Now, imagine if he started throwing touchdowns...

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions - 48.1% Rostered

The first two games of the season were rough for Goff. He had three interceptions and just one interception. He had just 20.2 points in total. Since then, however, Goff has been much better. He's thrown two or more touchdown passes in four consecutive games. He hasn't thrown an interception in his last three games. During this time, he scored more than 18.5 points in all three contests.

Since Week 4, Goff has averaged 23.7 PPG. Because Goff doesn't use his legs and Detroit has such a strong ground game, his odds of being a top-12 quarterback at season's end aren't great, but he's a fantastic QB2 who possesses top-12 upside weekly.

Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings - 45.1% Rostered

Darnold has come back to Earth in the past two weeks. He scored just 4.2 points in Week 5 against the Jets and had 16.2 points this past week against a weak Detroit secondary, despite having an extra week of preparation, coming off the team's bye. He scored 19.9 points or more in three straight weeks from Weeks 2-4, but he's likely best viewed as a strong QB2 with top-12 upside in good matchups.

Speaking of matchups, Darnold will face off against the Rams, Colts, and Jaguars in the next three weeks. Through Weeks 1-6, the Rams are giving up the 14th-most points to opposing quarterbacks. The Colts are giving up the fourth most, and the Jaguars are giving up the most. It's a tremendous three-week stretch for Darnold.

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins - 26.4% Rostered

Tagovailoa is expected back in Week 8. The Miami offense has been completely lost without him, but as long as Tua is back under center, the Dolphins should return to being an above-average offense. Tagovailoa and the Miami offense tend to be very matchup-dependent.

They often crush bad teams but struggle mightily against the top-echelon teams in the NFL. That's something to keep in mind moving forward. Tua should be considered a strong QB2 option who can finish as a top-12 quarterback any given week. He should

Strong Bench and Streamer Options

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars - 37.2% Rostered

You could make a case that Lawrence belongs in the section above. I wouldn't fight you on that. Lawrence has played much better as of late. After averaging just 11.3 PPG in Weeks 1-3, he's averaged 17.0 PPG in Weeks 4-7.

His three-week streak of throwing two touchdown passes ended this past weekend, but New England never threatened Jacksonville. He finished with just 20 pass attempts. However, he was very efficient on this minimal attempt.

He's completed 74% of his passes in the last three weeks. He's got a rough four-week stretch against the Packers, Eagles, Vikings and Lions. Those are four opponents who appear playoff-bound. All four will be favored against Jacksonville, but Lawrence and the Jacksonville offense might be playing catch-up in each of the next four weeks.

Drake Maye, New England Patriots - 13.2% Rostered

Maye first started in Week 6 against Houston and scored 19.5 points. This past weekend, against Jacksonville, he scored 20.8. Those are two quality outings from the rookie. He's thrown for over 240 and more than two touchdowns in both starts. He's also shown the ability to use his legs. He rushed for 38 yards in Week 6 and 18 this past week.

The view you *need* to see of Drake Maye's gorgeous layered throw here. The anticipation was all there on tape in the NCAA.

It's terrific seeing it in Foxboro now. pic.twitter.com/NXF4OB2Eid

— ZeeBee (@BellinoZee) October 21, 2024

He has a brutal three-week stretch coming up, however. He'll face off against the Jets, Titans, and Bears. Through the first six weeks, these three teams are in the top six in the fewest points allowed to fantasy quarterbacks. Maye has shown enough through two weeks; however, especially with his legs, he needs to be on fantasy rosters for his potential upside.

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams - 19.8% Rostered

Stafford cannot be started yet, not with how poorly the Rams' offense is playing. However, the Rams are getting closer to having Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back on the field. Once that happens, the Rams offense should start performing much better.

Their return will significantly improve Stafford's pass-catching group and raise the ceiling for all Rams players. If you're struggling at the quarterback position, he's worth adding and stashing until Kupp and Nacua return. He could provide similar value to Goff and Tagovailoa once his two best receivers are back on the field.

Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets - 54.8% Rostered

Rodgers is averaging the fifth-most pass attempts per game. He's also tied for the 11th-most touchdowns per game. The volume is there. The potential is there. The production hasn't been, but they just traded for Davante Adams. His addition should significantly help their offensive issues. He'll remove double coverage from Garrett Wilson and help open up the middle of the field.

Taking away play-calling duties from Nathaniel Hackett should also be net-positive for Rodgers and the New York offense. Rodgers has thrown 35 or more passes in the last four games. He has two touchdown passes in four out of his previous five games. Now add Adams. The potential is there.

Other Players to Consider: Bo Nix, Denver Broncos - 16.1% Rostered, Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers - 4.7% Rostered

Running Backs - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire for Week 8

RB3s with RB2 Upside

Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders - 42.4% Rostered

Mattison has scored six or more half-PPR points in every game this season. He's scored nine or more half-PPR points in five out of seven games. He's scored 13.5 half-PPR points in three. He's had games with 15, 14, and 23 carries in the past three weeks. During that time, he's also had 11 targets, 10 receptions, and 86 receptions. He's averaged 20.6 touches over the last three weeks.

The Raiders offense isn't very good, but Mattison's volume will keep on the RB3 radar moving forward. With his involvement in the passing game, as long as his touch total stays as high as it's been in recent weeks, Mattison will flirt with RB2 numbers. If you need a weekly starter, be aggressive in obtaining him.

RB4s with High Contingency Value

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers - 44.8% Rostered

Jaylen Warren is like this guy …..#Steelers pic.twitter.com/ygSAleoHhA

— ✨Joe✨ (@JoeSteelerFan) October 21, 2024

Warren is routinely seeing 8-12 touches per game when healthy. He’s been involved in the passing game and the quarterback change to Russell Wilson should only help in that regard. Wilson will be more willing to dump-off to the running back than Justin Fields.

Any running back who is getting 8-12 touches can be started in a pinch. Warren’s standalone value isn’t very high, but it is there. The quarterback switch could increase it, as well. On top of that, it Najee Harris were to miss time, Warren’s value would significantly increase.

Pure Handcuffs

Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills - 15.0% Rostered

Davis moved back to a backup role this past weekend after leading the way in Week 6 when James Cook was inactive. He had just five carries but made the most of them, finishing with 41 rushing yards and a score. Davis holds no standalone value. He cannot be started as long as Cook is healthy.

However, we've now seen what Davis can do if Cook is out. He had 97 yards on 20 carries in Week 6. He also had three receptions and 55 yards. He should be considered one of the best handcuffs available in fantasy football. He's a high-end bench stash.

Braelon Allen, New York Jets - 28.8% Rostered

Since the offensive coordinator change in New York, Allen’s role has decreased. From Weeks 2-4, Allen had 9-14 touches per game. The past two weeks, he’s seen his touch totals decrease. In Todd Downing’s first game as the play-caller, Allen had six touches. Allen’s role remained small this past weekend too.

Allen went from having low-level RB4 value since he was seeing 8-12 touches per game to just 4-6. He’s now nothing more than a pure handcuff. He holds little to no standalone value with Downing calling the shots. If Breece Hall were to get hurt, Allen would become a top-24 running back.

Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals - 18.1% Rostered

Benson hasn't received many touches this season. Emari Demercado has more touches than Benson does this season. Demercado has worked as the team's third-down back and has spared James Conner that way. If Conner were to miss time, we should expect Benson to work as the team's early-down runner and goal-line back.

Given his strong draft profile, there's a realistic chance given more touches, Benson's role could increase in the event of a Conner injury. Conner has struggled with injuries throughout his career, making Benson a strong handcuff option.

Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings - 32.3% Rostered

Minnesota traded for Cam Akers, which could make Chandler's handcuff status to Aaron Jones a little more questionable. However, fantasy managers should consider Chandler as Minnesota's primary No. 2 running back.

The Vikings' offense and Minnesota's offensive line should arguably be viewed in the top 10. If Jones were to miss time and struggle with hip and hamstring injuries this season, Chandler would be ranked in the top 30.

Blake Corum, Los Angeles Rams - 17.2% Rostered

Corum has started to get more work in recent weeks, and while he's still not someone fantasy managers can start as long as Kyren Williams is healthy, he seems to have solidified his role as Los Angeles' No. 2 running back. If Williams were to miss time, we should expect Corum to handle most of the touches Williams is now seeing. He'd immediately become a top-20 running back.

Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears - 11.2% Rostered

Rumors have indicated that the Bears' Khalil Herbert could be moved. He hasn't been part of Chicago's offensive game plan for several weeks, cementing Johnson's role as the team's No. 2 running back behind D'Andre Swift.

Johnson's not startable. He holds no weekly value, but if Swift were to miss time, Johnson would be valued as a top-30 running back. The Chicago offense is starting to click, so there's some upside here if Swift gets hurt.

Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 11.0% Rostered

Tucker is still the No. 3 running back on the Tampa Bay depth chart behind Rachaad White and Bucky Irving. However, the coaches have stated that all three backs will get touches, and they'll go with the hot hand. For fantasy managers with White and Irving, that sounds disgusting. However, if you're rostering Tucker, that sounds amazing.

It gives Tucker a shot at moving up the depth chart and earning more touches. He looked terrific last week, which likely earned him a more significant role. We don't know if that role will make him fantasy-relevant, but it was enough for fantasy managers to want to stash him on their bench.

Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers - 7.4% Rostered

With Gus Edwards now on IR, Vidal has moved into the No. 2 spot on Los Angeles' depth chart. Last week, he scored on a long touchdown reception but finished with just four carries. Edwards' trip to IR resulted in a bigger role for J.K. Dobbins, but it does leave the door open for Vidal to earn more touches.

If nothing else, Vidal is now on the handcuff radar. With the team's current depth chart, Vidal would likely be the biggest beneficiary if Dobbins were to miss time.

Jaylen Wright, Miami Dolphins - 8.0% Rostered

Raheem Mostert and De'Von Achane were active for Miami this past weekend and played a complete game. They finished with 26 carries. Wright had just five. However, neither Achane nor Mostert is a true workhorse back. Achane doesn't have the size to handle 17+ carries weekly, and it seems unlikely that's the kind of role head coach Mike McDaniel wants him to have.

Since neither player is unlikely to handle a big load, if Achane or Mostert were to miss time, Wright would likely handle 8-12 touches per game. Given their injury history, there's a decent chance Wright gets a shot as the No. 2 running back at some point this season.

Given Mostert's age, it's possible that Wright leap-frogs Mostert on the depth chart, especially considering Miami's recording. They may opt to play their younger players.

Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans - 3.9% Rostered

With Cam Akers now in Minnesota, Pierce is the clear and undisputed N0. 2 running back to starter Joe Mixon. Fantasy managers saw Akers largely struggle in Mixon's absence earlier this season, but he handled enough volume to give him flex value.

Houston's offense is one of the strongest ones in the league, which would provide Pierce with good touchdown odds if he were Houston's starter, assuming Mixon misses time. He's a decent handcuff to add, as well.

Antonio Gibson, New England Patriots - 42.8% Rostered

Gibson is the handcuff to Rhamondre Stevenson. The play of rookie quarterback Drake Maye has raised the upside inside the New England offense. Gibson was disappointed in Week 6 when Stevenson was ruled out, but if Stevenson were to miss time in the future, Gibson would still be worth starting as a flex.

Upside Stashes

MarShawn Lloyd, Green Bay Packers - 8.1% Rostered

Lloyd is eligible to return from IR in Week 8, but it doesn't sound like that will happen yet. He likely won't be back until Week 9 or 10, but if fantasy managers can add and stash him on IR until then, it could be worth it. Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay's No. 2 running back right now, has routinely been getting 7-12 touches per game.

That's enough volume to give Lloyd RB4 value if he surpasses Wilson as the team's No. 2. More importantly if Josh Jacobs were to miss time, Lloyd could be ranked in the top 24. The Packers have a great offense and strong offensive line, so if Jacobs were to miss time, he'd have a lot of upside.

Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints - 7.2% Rostered

New Orleans' season is going off the rails. Dennis Allen could be fired soon, and Alvin Kamara could be traded. Even if those things don't happen, they could quickly shift to a future mentality and start giving more playing time to their younger players.

That would boost Miller's fantasy value. Given Jamaal Williams' age and lack of efficiency, if Kamara were to miss time or see his role decrease, Miller would likely be the biggest beneficiary.

Possible Trade Candidates

Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears - 4.6% Rostered

There are rumors Herbert could be traded. He's Chicago's No. 3 running back. If he were to be traded, the Dallas Cowboys could be one of the potential landing spots. It's a long shot, but if that were to happen, it's not hard to envision him becoming their No. 1 running back over Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott.

Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers - 9.1% Rostered

Sanders has also heard his name on the trade block. With Jonathon Brooks's return imminent and Chuba Hubbard playing as well as he is, Sanders could be expandable. If he were traded to Dallas, he could also have flex value. Like Herbert, this is a long shot.

Wide Receivers - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire for Week 8

Must Add WR3

Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers - 45.7% Rostered

Brandon Aiyuk is suspected to have torn his ACL, ending his 2024 season. That'll put Jenning back into the lineup full-time. More importantly, it'll help him climb to the No. 3 spot in Brock Purdy's target hierarchy. That'll give him a chance to pop on any given week.

From Weeks 1-4, Jennings had games of 8.9, 41.0, and 10.3 half-PPR points. Jennings is a must-add player this week. He should flirt with being ranked as a WR3 moving forward. In San Francisco's offense, he has WR2 upside on any given week.

WR4s and WR5s Who are Solid Bye-Week and Injury Replacements

Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns - 0.3% Rostered

With Amari Cooper now in Buffalo, Tillman stepped into the X-receiver spot for the Browns. In his first start this season, Tillman had 12 targets, eight receptions, 81 yards, and 14.1 half-PPR points. With Deshaun Watson done for the season with a torn Achilles, we should see Jameis Winston under center for Cleveland.

That's a major upgrade to every offensive player for the Browns. We should expect David Njoku to lead the way as the team's No. 1 target-earner, but Tillman will compete with Jerry Jeudy for that No. 2 role. Jeudy has been a disappointment for most of his career.

That will give Tillman plenty of opportunity to solidify himself as Winston's No. 2 pass-catcher. If he's able to do that, Tillman could be a weekly WR4 with WR3 upside the rest of the season. He's a priority add this week.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs - 45.6% Rostered

Smith-Schuster exited their game this past weekend with a hamstring injury. He was listed on the injury report as having a hamstring injury, so he must have re-aggravated it mid-game. That could keep Smith-Schuster out for a few weeks, significantly hindering his waiver wire value. Fantasy managers must keep track of his injury status before waivers run this week.

JuJu Smith-Schuster questionable to return Sunday.

— Spoiled Banana Society 🏈🍌 (@SBSFantasy) October 20, 2024

However, if we get information that states his hamstring injury is minor, Smith-Schuster is worth adding. In Week 5, before the team's bye week, Smith-Schuster had eight targets, seven receptions, and 130 yards. He finished with 16.5 half-PPR points.

Head coach Andy Reid said Smith-Schuster brings many of the same qualities that Rashee Rice brought, and he worked in Rice's role in Week 5. That's a fantasy valuable position. If Smith-Schuster can get back on the field sooner than later, he can be a solid bench piece and fill-in starter for fantasy managers.

Demario Douglas, New England Patriots - 40.1% Rostered

Douglas suffered from an illness this past weekend and only played one snap after halftime. He was getting IV and taking anti-nausea medication. Douglas had a great matchup in Week 7 and was coming off back-to-back weeks of nine targets and six receptions.

He finished with 59 and 92 yards with 8.9 and 18.2 half-PPR points, respectively. With Drake Maye playing as well as he had in Week 6, Douglas was a solid start this past weekend. As hard as it may be, we must forget about Week 7.

His missing the game due to illness was not ideal, but it shouldn't change his future fantasy appeal. There's little to no target competition in New England. Drake Maye has significantly increased the volume and upside in New England's passing game. As long as Maye is under center, Douglas should be valued as a WR4 with a nice floor in any PPR-scoring league.

Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills - 44.4% Rostered

His rostered percentage is higher, but fantasy managers should check to see if he was dropped following the Amari Cooper trade. Coleman had the best game of his career this past weekend with seven targets, four receptions, 125 yards, and 14.5 half-PPR points.

Cooper didn’t play a full allotment of snaps, so it’s possible Coleman’s role decreases in future weeks, but hopefully Cooper cuts into Mack Hollins’ snaps. Coleman could benefit from Cooper’s presence, who will attract the majority of the defensive’s attention.

That could open Coleman up for more big plays down the field. He’s unlikely to be consistent, not with Cooper, Khalil Shakir, and Dalton Kincaid, but he has boom potential in the Buffalo offense which makes him rostering.

Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers - 36.7% Rostered

Most fantasy managers wrote Doubs off this offseason as the likely odd-man out in Green Bay's passing offense. However, the only consistent producer has been Jayden Reed through seven weeks. Between Doubs, Christian Watson, and Dontayvion Wicks, there's been no consistent hierarchy from week to week.

Over the past two weeks since coming back from his suspension, Doubs has 14 targets, 11 receptions, and 143 yards. He's scored 18.4 and 13.4 half-PPR points in those two games. Most of that production came this past weekend when he had ten targets, eight receptions, and 94 yards. He found the end zone twice in Week 6 when he had 49 yards.

The Packers' offense is one of the best in the NFL, and Jordan Love is playing excellent football. Since Reed is the only consistent pass-catcher for Love week-to-week, Doubs has just as good of a chance of popping off as Wicks or Watson. Doubs routinely plays far more snaps and runs more routes than both, giving him more opportunity.

Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers - 28.8% Rostered

Legette missed most of Week 7 with a shoulder injury but was back on the field this past weekend. Adam Thielen has been on IR since Week 4. Eliminating that Week 7 game, Legette scored 16.6, 9.8, and 1.9 half-PPR points in his three starts absent Thielen.

Carolina got the doors blown off this past weekend, and every Panther struggled, so it's hard to fault Legette too much for his 1.9-point performance. Diontae Johnson is in the final year of his contract, so he could potentially be traded. Even with Johnson, Legette has provided two solid starts out of three in Thielen's absence.

We are ignoring Week 7, when he left in the first quarter. We can't predict injuries, so we get little value in knocking him out for that game. As a bye-week and injury replacement player, Legette has shown he can be valuable in that role. Ideally, he's not in a position to be a regular fantasy starter, but as someone you're only starting in a pinch or when you have to, he

Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens - 7.2% Rostered

With Mark Andrews struggling significantly this season, the door has been opened for Bateman to become more involved in the passing attack. Through six weeks, Bateman has four games with three or more receptions. He has three games with 50 or more yards. He also has three games with over nine half-PPR points.

He cannot be viewed as a consistent weekly fantasy performer because Baltimore's offense is run-heavy. Still, with Andrews' struggles, his potential to be Lamar Jackson's No. 2 target-earner on any given week has increased significantly. With how potent the Baltimore offense is, Bateman has a good chance to find the end zone week-to-week.

Upside Stashes

Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers - 5.5% Rostered

50 days ago Ricky Pearsall was shot in the chest

Today, he makes his first NFL catch pic.twitter.com/dSSKsCBqLV

— 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙎𝙁𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 (@TheSFNiners) October 20, 2024

With Aiyuk's injury, Pearsall could have some fantasy value over the final half of the season. However, Deebo Samuels, George Kittle, and Jauan Jennings are still ahead of him. We all remember what Jennings did when Samuel missed time earlier this season. We also remember what happened to Jennings once their big three were healthy.

Pearsall is now in the role that Jennings held. However, Jennings is not Brandon Aiyuk, so it's possible Pearsall and Jennings flip-flop more than Jennings would have done with Aiyuk and Samuel. It's also possible, given Pearsall's first-round pedigree, that he surpasses Jennings. That seems unlikely, but that outcome is more feasible with Jennings than with Aiyuk.

Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos - 0.7% Rostered

Franklin's role has slowly grown throughout the season, and he's now coming off the best two games of his young career. In Week 6, he had three targets, two receptions, 31 yards, and a touchdown en route to 10.6 half-PPR points. In Week 7, Franklin was Denver's leading receiver with six targets, five receptions, and 50 yards. He finished with 7.5 half-PPR points.

Franklin played with Bo Nix in college at Oregon, and that familiarity could pay dividends over the second half of the season. There were trade rumors around Courtland Sutton this past offseason, and if Sutton were to be moved at the deadline, Franklin could end up being Denver's leading receiver for the second half of the season.

There have not been any trade rumors since the offseason, but given Denver's record, it's hard to rule that out entirely. Franklin played well in Week 7 and has likely earned a bigger role moving forward.

Denver is desperate for a pass-catcher to help support Sutton and Franklin showed more in Week 7 than anyone else has this season. Rookie receivers tend to get better as the season progresses, so stashing Franklin could pay off later in the year.

Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers - 19.6% Rostered

Wicks has always popped off when he's gotten his opportunities. His advanced metrics, such as target rate and yards per route run, have always painted Wicks as a very efficient receiver who needs more opportunities. In Green Bay, with Doubs, Christian Watson, and Jayden Reed, those opportunities are hard to come by. He operates as the No. 4 receiver for Green Bay but still finds ways to make plays.

If any of the receivers ahead of him on the depth chart were to get injured, Wicks would become a full-time starter. In that role, Wicks would be ranked as a WR3/4 with upside. Even in his current role, Wicks can still provide fantasy managers with good weeks, such as this past weekend when he scored 12.3 half-PPR points.

Ja'Lynn Polk, New England Patriots - 10.8% Rostered

Polk has been a disappointment thus far—there's no way around that. However, he's a rookie. He was drafted at the beginning of the second round. He was an excellent prospect, highly productive in college, and a great athlete. None of that guarantees he'll be good, but they're all good signs. They haven't paid off yet, but he wouldn't be the first rookie to struggle early in his career.

New England's group of receivers leaves a lot to be desired. There's virtually no target competition, and Drake Maye recently raised the bar for the Patriots' passing offense. He's thrown for 519 yards and five touchdowns in the past two weeks. If Polk can shake off his early-season struggles, there's upside to be had with Maye playing the way he is and the lack of quality pass-catchers in New England.

Others to Consider (Deep-Bench Options):

• Tutu Atwell, Los Angeles Rams - 15.3% Rostered
• Jordan Whittington, Los Angeles Rams - 6.2% Rostered
• Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys - 27.3% Rostered
• Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers - 21.9% Rostered
• Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers - 23.9% Rostered
• Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders - 16.8% Rostered
• Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals - 15.1% Rostered
• Noah Brown, Washington Commanders - 2.1% Rostered
• Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots - 0.5% Rostered
• Bub Means, New Orleans Saints - 5.4% Rostered

Tight Ends - Fantasy Football Waiver Wire for Week 8

Top-12 TE

Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears - 57.9% Rostered

Cole Kmet before half

2 TDs
2 long snaps
2 long snapping for extra points that are good

Have a day pic.twitter.com/jQvpfvceTF

— Just Another Year Chicago: Bears (@JAYChi_Bears) October 13, 2024

If you need a starter at tight end, add Kmet aggressively. He's become Caleb Williams' No. 2 target-earner. In his last four games, Kmet has three with more than 55 receiving yards. He's also scored 20 or more points in two of his games this season. That kind of upside is incredibly valuable this season at the tight end position.

He'll have some dud weeks (like every tight end), but Kmet is one of the few tight ends to provide weeks that can make a difference to your bottom line. He's recorded three or more receptions in every contest since Week 2. With Chicago's offense starting to find its stride, Kmet could have even more ceiling games in his future.

TE2 with Upside

Hunter Henry, New England Patriots - 27.4% Rostered

Drake Maye has thrown for over 240 yards and two or more touchdowns in his two starts. New England has also leaned into the passing game with Maye under center, throwing 33 and 37 pass attempts in his two starts. The volume and upside that Maye has brought have increased the ceiling for all the Patriots' pass-catchers, including Henry.

Henry has logged 14 targets and 11 receptions in the past two weeks. Henry has scored 13.1 and 17.2 half-PPR points in Maye's two starts. Henry is quickly becoming an exciting player. The New England receiver depth chart gives Henry to be Maye's No. 1 or No. 2 target-earner on any given week.

Streamers and Backups

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans - 57.7% Rostered

Schultz will remain a decent streamer for as long as Nico Collins is out, which will be at least another two weeks. Before Week 7, Schultz had four straight weeks with at least five targets. In Weeks 5 and 6, he had 14 targets.

The Packers' defense completely shut down the Houston offense, but they have a good chance to bounce back in Week 8 against the Colts' defense. The Colts have allowed the second-most points to tight ends through the season's first six weeks. The plus-matchup, Collins being out, and Tank Dell still not being himself should keep Schultz as a top-15 option this upcoming week.

Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks - 7.7% Rostered

Over the past two weeks, Fant has ten targets, ten receptions, and 128 yards. He has scored 9.3 and 8.5 half-PPR points. Fant has three games with 8.5 half-PPR points or more, which includes three games with 60 or more yards. Fant did not score four half-PPR points in his four other games.

The boom-or-bust nature of Fant's game is true for almost every tight end. Because of how Seattle's offense operates, though, Fant has a decent chance to "boom." Geno Smith leads the league in yards and attempts. They are one of the most up-tempo and pass-heavy offenses in the league.

The trio of D.K. Metcalf, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Tyler Lockett will continue to hinder Fant's upside and consistency. Still, this pass-heavy offense and the inconsistent play from JSN and Lockett will give Fant a chance to pop on any given week. He should be viewed as a solid streamer in positive matchups.

Others to Consider: Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 42.0% Rostered, Colby Parkinson, Los Angeles Rams - 28.0% Rostered

Team Defenses (D/ST) - Waiver Wire Streamers for Week 8

• Detroit Lions - 52.9% Rostered (vs Tennessee Titans)
• Kansas City Chiefs - 31.9% Rostered (at Las Vegas Raiders)
• Baltimore Ravens - 63.2% Rostered (at Cleveland Browns)
• Los Angeles Chargers - 30.7% Rostered (vs New Orleans Saints)
• Green Bay Packers - 34.1% Rostered (at Jacksonville Jaguars)
• Houston Texans - 40.3% Rostered (vs Indianapolis Colts)

Kickers - Waiver Wire Streamers for Week 8

• Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles - 56.7% Rostered (at Cincinnati Bengals)
• Cairo Santos, Chicago Bears - 21.7% Rostered (at Washington Commanders)
• Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings - 16.3% Rostered (at Los Angeles Rams)
• Brandon McManus, Green Bay Packers - 3.5% Rostered (at Jacksonville Jaguars
• Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills - 18.8% Rostered (at Seattle Seahawks)

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