Analysis
10/23/23
9 min read
2023 Fantasy Football: NFL Week 8 Waiver Wire Targets
Welcome to The 33rd Team’s fantasy football waiver wire article. The players listed below are recommended acquisitions in both points-per-reception (PPR) and half-PPR scoring formats. The list will be updated as news breaks throughout the week.
Players listed below are available in at least 50.0 percent of Yahoo! and/or ESPN leagues unless otherwise stated.
>>READ: Takeaways From Every Week 7 Game
Top Waiver Wire Options
Rashee Rice, Kansas City WR
Forty-two percent of current Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB)
Rashee Rice, the Kansas City Chiefs’ second-round wide receiver, has taken over as QB Patrick Mahomes’ No. 1 wideout.
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers WR
Twenty-six percent of current FAAB
Romeo Doubs is the Green Bay Packers’ new No. 1 receiver following Christian Watson’s non-contact knee injury. Green Bay TE Luke Musgrave also suffered an ankle sprain of undetermined severity. The Packers face the Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers over the next four weeks. Doubs is available in 35 percent of Yahoo leagues and over 47 percent of ESPN leagues.
Darrell Henderson Jr., Los Angeles Rams RB
Twenty-six percent of current FAAB
As detailed in Takeaways From Every Week 7 Game, Darrell Henderson Jr. stole the starting role from Royce Freeman last week, crucially operating as the Rams’ primary passing-down player, and Henderson was featured in the green zone.
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts WR
Sixteen percent of current FAAB
Josh Downs continues to make good on his prior listings. His 17.43 PPR points per game and 2.53 yards per route run in Weeks 5-7 both rank No. 11 among NFL wide receivers with at least 15 targets during that span.
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills TE
Sixteen percent of current FAAB
Buffalo’s rookie tight end is thrust into full-time duties because Dawson Knox is out indefinitely following wrist surgery. Dalton Kincaid impressively is averaging 1.55 yards per route run (YPRR) over his past three games.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks WR
Twelve percent of current FAAB
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the Seattle Seahawks’ first-round rookie wide receiver, broke out with DK Metcalf (ribs/hip) sidelined and Tyler Lockett playing through a hamstring strain. The dishonestly optimistic coach Pete Carroll was noncommittal on Metcalf’s Week 8 availability, raising a red flag for Metcalf managers.
Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots WR
Thirteen percent of current FAAB
Among 26 NFL wide receivers with at least 15 targets in Weeks 6 and 7, Kendrick Bourne boasts top-10 PPR points per game (17.80) and YPRR (2.38) averages. The New England Patriots face the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders in Weeks 8 and 9. Miami’s 70.6 percent wide-receiver-catch-rate-allowed ranks 27th, and Washington’s 16.7 yards-allowed-per-wide-receiver-reception ranks 32nd.
D’Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears RB
Twelve percent of current FAAB
D’Onta Foreman dominated in a full-time role (120 yards from scrimmage, three receptions and three total touchdowns) for the Chicago Bears but exited partway through the second half after landing hard on his backside. His injury status remains to be determined, but starter Khalil Herbert remains out (Injured Reserve) through Week 9, and Roschon Johnson has yet to clear the concussion protocol following his Week 5 concussion.
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers WR
Eleven percent of current FAAB
Watson and Musgrave’s injuries, coupled with Green Bay’s advantageous four-game slate, create high-scoring opportunities for rookie WR Jayden Reed, whose 60 percent green zone TPRR ties with Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins for No. 1 among 58 wide receivers with at least 30 targets.
Josh Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers WR
Eleven percent of current FAAB
Josh Palmer is a volume-based PPR WR3 against the Bears in Week 8, the Detroit Lions in Week 10 and the Packers in Week 11. He remains available in over 40 percent of ESPN and Yahoo leagues.
Pierre Strong Jr., Cleveland Browns RB
Nine percent of current FAAB
Pierre Strong Jr. took over for the Cleveland Browns following fill-in starter Jerome Ford’s apparent high-ankle sprain. Backfield-mate Kareem Hunt could play spoiler to Ford’s role moving foward, pending Hunt’s health (thigh).
Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns RB
Nine percent of current FAAB
The coaching staff treated Strong Jr. as the next man up after Ford exited, but Hunt was playing through an injury, leaving room for a potential Week 8 start, should his thigh injury heal,
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens RB
Six percent of current FAAB
Gus Edwards is a volume-based play, facing a weak Arizona Cardinals run defense in Week 8.
Ezekiel Elliott, New England Patriots RB
Four percent of current FAAB
Ezekiel Elliott has taken over as the New England Patriots’ primary green zone running back, converting two of six such attempts for touchdowns over the last two weeks. He faces a Miami Dolphins front seven that is likely to be without stud S Jevon Holland (concussion) in Week 8. Elliott is a Zero-RB RB2 candidate.
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Stash These Players Now
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals QB
Eighteen percent of current FAAB
Kyler Murray’s return-to-play date (ACL reconstruction) is still unknown, but he took first-team repetitions in practice last week.
Jalin Hyatt, New York Giants WR
Seven percent of current FAAB
As detailed in Takeaways From Every Week 7 Game, Jalin Hyatt’s “58 routes run trails only WR Darius Slayon’s 68 and TE Darren Waller’s 64 during that span, solidifying Hyatt’s status as a weekly starter moving forward.”
Jamaal Williams, New Orleans Saints RB
Three percent of current FAAB
Jamaal Williams returned to his No. 2 role last week for the New Orleans Saints, following his return from Injured Reserve.
Royce Freeman, Los Angeles Rams RB
Three percent of current FAAB
Freeman totaled 12 rushing attempts in Week 8 despite playing second fiddle to Henderson Jr.
RB Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders
Two percent of current FAAB
Washington rookie RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.’s seven Week 7 rushing attempts (4.4 yards per rushing attempt) closely tailed backfield mate Brian Robinson Jr.’s eight. Robinson Jr. entered Week 7 averaging 3.9 yards per rushing attempt, perhaps prompting coach Ron Rivera to give the 5-foot-11, 224-pound, tackle-breaking Rogriguez Jr. an audition. Robinson Jr.’s 2.9-yard average carry in Week 7 did him no favors.
Tyrod Taylor, New York Giants QB
One percent of current FAAB
New York Giants fill-in QB Tyrod Taylor’s 16.9 percent 20-plus-yard average depth of target in Weeks 6 and 7 ties for fourth. Should starter Daniel Jones (neck) remain sidelined, Taylor is worth a Week 9 start against the Las Vegas Raiders but cannot be trusted to return value against the New York Jets in Week 8. However, Taylor’s 24.5 yards rushing per game helpfully reinforces his fantasy-scoring potential.
Demario Douglas, New England Patriots WR
One percent of current FAAB
Shifty slot receiver Demario Douglas played behind only Bourne in Week 8, totaling 64 yards from scrimmage, four receptions, one rushing attempt and 25 return yards. Monitor practice reports and consider him as a high-leverage flex play in Week 8.
Leonard Fournette, Free Agent RB
Zero percent of current FAAB
Across the league, the running back position continues to suffer from injuries, and Leonard Fournette teased a “signing” on social media over the weekend.
Streaming Options
Quarterbacks
Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons @ Tennessee Titans
Six percent of current FAAB
Desmond Ridder has thrown for 300-plus yards in two of his last three games while beginning to leverage his above-average speed and agility. Ridder successfully converted two of four green zone rushing attempts for touchdowns during that span, averaging 1.33 such attempts per game.
The Tennessee Titans’ 8.0 yards allowed per passing attempt are the fourth-most in the NFL, and Ridder’s opponents in Weeks 9 and 10, the Vikings (7.2) and Cardinals (8.1) rank 20th and 30th, respectively.
Mac Jones, New England Patriots
Four percent of current FAAB
New England faces the Dolphins, Commanders and Indianapolis Colts over the next three weeks. Miami’s potent offense will keep Mac Jones and the Patriots in a pass-heavy game script. At the same time, Washington and Indianapolis’ injury-plagued and talent-poor secondaries allow for easy per-play production.
Tyson Bagent, Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Four percent of current FAAB
Chicago fill-in QB Tyson Bagent played well as a Week 7 dual-threat game manager, picking up three first downs on three rushing attempts (8.0 yards per rushing attempt) against the Raiders. The Chargers’ pass defense allows a league-high 298 yards passing per game, and their middling run defense gives up 4.0 yards per rushing attempt (No. 16).
Defenses
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Six percent of current FAAB
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ nine interceptions this season trail only the San Francisco 49ers. The Steelers’ 43.5 percent quarterback-pressure-rate-allowed ranks third-highest in the NFL.
Looking Ahead to Week 9
New England Patriots vs. Washington Commanders
One percent of current FAAB
New England’s cornerback corps has returned two injured starters and traded for former Patriot J.C. Jackson over the last three weeks. Washington QB Sam Howell’s 13.5 percent sack rate trails only Giants QB Jones’ 15.6 percent. Howell helpfully tacks on the league’s 11th-highest interception rate (2.7 percent).
Tight Ends
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints @ Indianapolis Colts
Seven percent of current FAAB
Taysom Hill has averaged 0.5 passing attempts, 37.5 routes run, 6.5 targets and 3.3 rushing attempts per game over the last two weeks. He faces the Colts, Bears and Vikings’ pushover defenses in Weeks 8-10.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams
Four percent of current FAAB
The Rams’ 12.9 yards allowed per tight end reception are the most in the NFL, so look at Jake Ferguson in this matchup.
Kicker
Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals @ San Francisco 49ers
Three percent of current FAAB
The game’s 45.5-point FanDuel over/under ties for the fourth-highest on the week.
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