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Early Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8 (Fantasy Football)

Early Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8 (Fantasy Football)

The bulk of Week 7 action is in the books, and already we have some solid waiver wire pickups for fantasy owners to check out to get a jump on the competition for Week 8. Injuries and big games have made some players far more valuable after this week. The options are fairly lean this week but there are still players with value.  Let’s take a look at some early suggestions for your waiver wire, including the player’s Yahoo! ownership and upcoming schedule. Players listed here typically have under 30% ownership.

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Wide Receivers

Tyrell Williams (WR – LAC): 14% owned
Williams was mentioned in this article last week in the “others to consider” section but he’s made the leap to full-fledged pickup after another solid performance in Week 7. He’s now gone back-to-back weeks with 118 receiving yards and a receiving TD, finishing Weeks 6-7 with a 7-236-3 line. That pace can’t continue but he’s starting to emerge as a quality option on a good offense. He’s flex-worthy moving forward.
Next three weeks: BYE, @SEA, @OAK

Danny Amendola (WR – MIA): 10% owned
He’s a much better PPR play but he’s still a good pickup in any format. The former Ram and Pat has seen his target volume rise dramatically in the last two weeks, with 18 balls thrown his way in Weeks 6-7. He’s hauled in 14 of them for a buck forty-three and a score. Albert Wilson will likely miss Thursday’s game and maybe some additional games with a hip injury in Week 7, so Amendola should stay involved in the offense.
Next three weeks: @HOU, NYJ, @GB

Tajae Sharpe (WR – TEN): 0% owned
He finished 7-101 on nine targets in a loss to the Chargers in Week 7. The yards and targets led the team and he’s led the Titans in receiving yards for two straight weeks. He has no ownership right now and with Tennessee on a Week 8 bye he’s not likely to get picked up in many leagues. If you need help at WR or need a bye week replacement, he’s a solid pickup.
Next three weeks: BYE, @DAL, NE

Other WRs to consider: KeKe Coutee (WR – HOU) 31%, Tre’Quan Smith (WR – NO) 17% owned

Running Backs

Oakland Raiders RBs
Marshawn Lynch is out for at least a month dealing with a groin injury but there’s a strong possibility that he ends up on IR. That immediately makes Doug Martin (23%) and Jalen Richard (20%) hot pickups this week. Martin is the likely starter but Richard has high-floor PPR value because of his pass-catching abilities. Martin could turn into a weekly flex in any format if he is productive, and Richard is already a flex in PPR leagues. Grab either of these guys if you can, as they are widely available.
Next three weeks: IND, @SF, LAC

Chris Ivory (RB – BUF): 7% owned
LeSean McCoy left the game against the Colts early and his status is unclear moving forward. Ivory totaled 106 yards on 19 touches this week and he did well in Shady’s absence in Week 3, leading the Bills in rushing and receiving in that game. Buffalo has far from an all-star QB rotation of Derek Anderson and Nathan Peterman, so they’re likely to rely on the run game until Josh Allen returns. The Bills have a friendly schedule from Weeks 13-16 and Ivory is more than capable of handling the load until McCoy returns. A Week 8 matchup with New England won’t be scary for Ivory.
Next three weeks: NE, CHI, @NYJ

Raheem Mostert (RB – SF) 12% owned
Mostert led the Niners in rushing last week and he seems to have secured a role in the backfield rotation in San Francisco. This week, Mostert only touched the ball 11 times but he racked up 78 total yards. Matt Breida is still dealing with an ankle injury and he only had five carries for 15 yards and a lost fumble. Mostert split time with Alfred Morris but the former is a much better option for the team. He needs to be picked up with some good matchups in the coming weeks. 
Next three weeks: @ARI, OAK, NYG

Kenjon Barner (RB – NE)1% owned
Sony Michel went out with a knee injury in Week 7 after a red-hot start to his rookie campaign. Barner rushed 10 times for 36 yards after Michel went out and he could be a valuable add in case Michel misses any time. New England’s backfield rotation can be a headache but the Pats are pretty thin at the position behind Michel and James White. Grab Barner if you have a roster spot.
Next three weeks: @BUF, GB, @TEN

Other RBs to consider: D’Onta Foreman (RB – HOU) 19% owned

Tight Ends

Chris Herndon (TE – NYJ): 1% owned
The TE position is as thin as it has ever been and Herndon should be picked up if needed. Over the last two weeks, he’s gone 6-98-2 on nine targets, scoring in each contest. The target volume won’t be consistent, but that’s the case with most TEs right now. He’s a streaming option in the hollowed-out Jets receiving corps.
Next three weeks: @CHI, @MIA, BUF

Other TEs to consider: Jack Doyle (TE – IND) 22% owned, Geoff Swaim (TE – DAL) 10% owned

Quarterbacks

C.J. Beathard (QB – SF): 9% owned
He had a poor Week 7 but the Rams’ defense is no joke. Owners shouldn’t be clamoring to get Beathard off of waivers this week so he’s likely yours for the taking. Beathard, in his last three starts, is averaging nearly 300 yards passing per game to go with six passing TDs, five INTs and a rushing score. He has a good upcoming schedule and he makes for a decent streaming option next week against Arizona.
Next three weeks: @ARI, OAK, NYG

Brock Osweiler (QB – MIA): 3% owned
Yeah, I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone recommending Osweiler here, but that’s the world we live in now. Filling in for an injured Ryan Tannehill, Osweiler has averaged over 300 yards per game passing in Weeks 6-7 with a 5-2 TD:INT ratio. The Dolphins travel to Houston for a Thursday night tilt with the Texans and Osweiler will likely draw the start. It’s a tough matchup, but the production should still be there. If Tannehill takes longer than anticipated to get cleared, Osweiler can be plugged into lineups if you need help at that position.
Next three weeks: @HOU, NYJ, @GB

Other QBs to consider: Dak Prescott (QB – DAL) 35% owned

D/STs

New York Jets D/ST: 33% owned
Next three weeks: @CHI, @MIA, BUF

Arizona Cardinals D/ST: 30% owned
Next three weeks: SF, BYE, @KC

Washington Redskins D/ST: 17% owned
Next three weeks: @NYG, ATL, @TB

San Francisco 49ers D/ST: 3% owned
Next three weeks: @ARI, OAK, NYG


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Zachary Hanshew is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Zachary, check out his archive and follow him @zakthemonster.

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