Nearing the midway point of the fantasy football season, the waiver wire continues to be one of the most important tools for a manager to access down the stretch.
Oddly enough, there are no teams on a bye in Week 8, so we’ll have the full slate of games to choose from.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo, using the 75% rostered mark (at least 25% availability) as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Priority Free Agents
1. RB Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars
Most likely rostered but in the off-chance he’s not, Bigsby is probably the top add this week after exploding for a 26-118-2 rushing line. This was mostly due to Travis Etienne (hamstring) being inactive so managers shouldn’t get used to that kind of line. However, the second-year back has likely carved out a usable role for fantasy purposes even when Etienne returns. His ceiling will be capped each week by a lack of receiving work and with a few potential negative game scripts coming up, Bigsby is far from a league-winner. Still, he looks good, and he likely has a flex-value floor moving forward.
Availability: 34%
FAAB: 15%
2. RB Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys
Coming off the bye week, there’s a slight chance Dowdle is available. If so, he’s a solid option to have as a back-end RB2 or flex on the roster. His usage has been wonky, but some of that has to do with game script. The Cowboys offense is still one to buy into, and the schedule softens up during the second half. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Dowdle saw consistent usage close to what he did in Weeks 4 and 5 (67% rush share) the rest of the way.
Availability: 69%
FAAB: 15%
3. WR Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks
Lockett finds himself as a potential priority add this week after D.K. Metcalf (knee) exited Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. It’s unclear how severe the injury is for Metcalf, but if there’s a chance he misses time it would mean a major bump for Lockett (and Jaxon Smith-Njigba). Lockett’s 17.1% target share isn’t amazing, but it shows he’s still a part of the offense. If that jumps to the mid-20s, Lockett immediately becomes a WR3/flex option. Don’t go crazy spending for Lockett, but monitor the news surrounding Metcalf before waivers run.
Availability: 42%
FAAB: 10%
4. RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It will be interesting to see what happens with the Bucs backfield on Monday night. With Rachaad White (foot) inactive in Week 6, Irving and Sean Tucker split the workload and both finished as RB1 options on the week. Head coach Todd Bowles hinted at the possibility of a three-headed backfield, which would be a mess for fantasy. Irving is probably the best option of the three moving forward, and we should be buying into this offense if we can.
Availability: 32%
FAAB: 10%
5. RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants
Even with Devin Singletary (groin) returning from an injury, it was pretty clearly Tracy’s backfield in Week 7. The rookie led the backfield in snaps (39), routes run (27), targets (three) and carries (six). The overall production wasn’t great, and the Giants offense stinks without OT Andrew Thomas, but Tracy could be the 1a in this backfield moving forward, which means he needs to be rostered.
Availability: 43%
FAAB: 10%
6. WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
Since being inactive in Week 5 over a dispute pertaining to his role, Doubs has been great for fantasy purposes. He found the end zone twice in Week 6 and led the way with a season-high 30% target share in Week 7. The Packers are going to spread the ball around at a frustrating rate, so Doubs will have some duds mixed in, but he’s turning into a viable WR3 option, especially with favorable matchups coming up over the next two weeks.
Availability: 56%
FAAB: 10%
7. WR Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers
Though his ceiling is capped, McConkey should be rostered in more leagues than he is. It will be interesting to see how he performs Monday night in a favorable matchup against Arizona, but the usage is undeniable. The rookie has a 27% target share on the season and at least a 26% target share in four of his five games. His role with in a run-first offense will limit his ceiling, but rookie wideouts are typical solid bets to make for the second half of the season.
Availability: 40%
FAAB: 10%
8. RB Jonathon Brooks, Carolina Panthers
The rookie has yet to be activated from the PUP list, but the Panthers did open his practice window, so it’s likely to happen within the next two weeks. There will be a ramp-up period for Brooks as he recovers from ACL reconstruction surgery, and Chuba Hubbard will likely have a role in some capacity, but there’s plenty of upside to roster Brooks for teams who can afford it.
Availability: 37%
FAAB: 10%
9. QB Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
It may have seemed like a peculiar decision to start Wilson over Justin Fields, but the offense looked much more potent on Sunday night against a good New York Jets defense. In his first start of the season, Wilson threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns while adding three rushing attempts for one yard and a rushing touchdown. He’s the QB1 on the week entering Monday night, and the Steelers have a pretty favorable schedule coming up. He’s a high-end QB2 until further notice. Quarterback needy teams can bump him up a bit in the rankings.
Availability: 93%
FAAB: 10%
10. WR Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills
The addition of Amari Cooper will limit Shakir’s already capped ceiling, but it’s clear he’s still going to have a role in the offense. In Week 7, Shakir posted a 22% target share and a season-high seven receptions on seven targets for 65 yards. He has the trust of Josh Allen, which could come in handy when defenses try to take away Cooper moving forward.
Availability: 41%
FAAB: 8%
11. RB Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas Raiders
Mattison has officially taken over the starting running back role from Zamir White, and he posted his best game of the season in Week 7. Mattison took 23 carries for 92 rushing yards while adding three receptions on three targets for 31 receiving yards. The Raiders offense isn’t very good, but Mattison has an 80% running back rush share and 10% target share over the last three weeks, so that’s something we simply cannot ignore.
Availability: 46%
FAAB: 8%
12. TE Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears
Coming out of the bye week, Kmet is a solid target for teams in need of a tight end. He has at least a 14% target share in every game since Week 2, and the fact that he has two separate 20-point fantasy games shows he has the type of upside that is rare for most tight ends. He’s playing above expectation right now, but sometimes that’s all we need in a barren landscape at the position.
Availability: 32%
FAAB: 5%
13. TE Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
If Kraft isn’t rostered, he needs to be. The Packers have a lot of mouths to feed, but it’s one of the best offenses to buy into, and Kraft has completely taken over the tight end position. Averaging 12.6 fantasy points per game over his last four, Kraft has at least a 12% target share in every game since Week 2.
Availability: 31%
FAAB: 5%
14. TE Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
The emergence of rookie Drake Maye has benefitted Henry the most out of all New England pass-catchers. It’s a small sample size but in Maye’s two starts, Henry has posted 11.6 and 13.2 fantasy points in half-PPR scoring to go along with target shares of 16% and 25%, respectively. It’s at least something to monitor moving forward.
Availability: 69%
FAAB: 5%
Grab-n-Stash
Suggested FAAB usage for potential stash players shouldn’t exceed more than 5%. It’s best to try to get these players without spending any FAAB at all, if possible.
WR Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears: The rookie wideout has had a breakout performance, but he’s been unusable otherwise. It may take an injury ahead of him to truly breakout, but Odunze is a fantastic stash for the second half if he’s available.
Availability: 36%
RB D’Ernest Johnson, Jacksonville Jaguars: Etienne’s hamstring injury will play a major role in Johnson’s usage but as long as he’s out, the latter has a role as the pass-catcher in Jacksonville.
Availability: 93%
RB Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers: He’s not a starting asset for fantasy right now, but he did lead the backfield in snaps, routes run, and targets in Week 7.
Availability: 59%
RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons: Bijan Robinson had his best game of the season in Week 7, so Allgeier is still a high-end handcuff.
Availability: 61%
RB Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers: We’ll see what Monday night holds. For now, the rookie is simply an intriguing backup in case J.K. Dobbins gets injured.
Availability: 89%
RB Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills: It’s still James Cook‘s backfield, but Davis was efficient on the ground and found the end zone in Week 7. We’ve seen what he can do when Cook misses time.
Availability: 74%
WR Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers: Maybe he should be a priority add, but he’s simply too volatile to trust every week. Still, he should be rostered in most leagues given his upside.
Availability: 73%
WR Jerry Jeudy, Cleveland Browns: This is solely if Jameis Winston takes over the starting role. Then things get interesting in Cleveland.
Availability: 52%
WR Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills: He probably won’t ever have a dominating target share, but there’s upside in the Gabe Davis role, even if that means high volatility.
Availability: 68%
WR Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers: The rookie made his debut after missing the first six weeks recovering from a gunshot wound. The likely season-ending injury to Brandon Aiyuk (knee) could open the door for a bigger role. The same goes for Juaun Jennings (hip), who was inactive in Week 7.
Availability: 87%
WR Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos: The fourth-round pick has seen an increase in usage over the last two weeks. If anything, monitor his production on the waiver wire.
Availability: 99%
Streamers of the Week
QB Bo Nix vs. Carolina Panthers: The rookie has had some rough misses as a passer, but he’s running a lot and has at least two touchdown passes in two of his last three games. Also, Carolina allowed Marcus Mariota to finish Week 7 as the QB5 entering Monday night.
Availability: 87%
QB Matthew Stafford vs. Minnesota Vikings: I don’t love this option, but the cupboard is barren this week. Hopefully, the expected return of Cooper Kupp (ankle) will provide a jolt for Stafford. Minnesota has allowed eight touchdown passes over their last three games. Jameis Winston against Baltimore would be a higher upside play, but it’s unclear if he will start.
Availability: 60%
TE Dalton Schultz vs. Indianapolis Colts: Even without Nico Collins (hamstring), Schultz has been disappointing. However, Indy has allowed the most receptions (43) and tied for the most touchdown receptions (four) to tight ends.
Availability: 29%
TE Noah Fant vs. Buffalo Bills: With at least four receptions and 60 yards in three of his last five games, Fant is an option against a middling Buffalo defense against tight ends, especially if D.K. Metcalf is out.
Availability: 70%
Detroit Lions D/ST vs. Tennessee Titans: Regardless of whether Will Levis or Mason Rudolph is under center, the Lions are the top streamer of the week.
Availability: 81%
Los Angeles Chargers D/ST vs. New Orleans Saints: We’ll see how Monday night goes and whether Derek Carr (oblique) is back, but the Chargers are in a good spot regardless in Week 8.
Availability: 59%
PK Chase McLaughlin vs. Atlanta Falcons: McLaughlin has been one of the top kickers throughout the entire season, and the Falcons have allowed the most field-goals made (19) and second-most field-goal attempts (19).
Availability: 47%
PK Wil Lutz vs. Carolina Panthers: Lutz has been a strong asset for fantasy managers, while the Panthers have allowed the fifth-most field-goal attempts (17) this season.
Availability: 94%
