It’s Week 8, but it can pay to look ahead to Week 9 and beyond to consider the players currently on waivers you might want to stash. Go ahead and grab them now rather than having a waiver-wire war with your league mates in a few days’ time.
This column will take a look ahead each week at players rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. With bye weeks in full effect, we might consider a few just above that range as well.
- Waiver Wire Advice
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Week 8 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Stashes
Daniel Jones (QB – NYG): 38% Rostered
Jones is set to miss this week for his third game in a row due to a lingering neck injury, but it’s worth zooming out for a more global view on his situation. In March, the Giants signed Jones to a $160MM, four-year deal, and its fair to say that, so far, they haven’t gotten what they expected from Jones. Still, they’re committed to him and need to see Jones show that extending him was the right move.
Jones has returned single-digit fantasy points in his last three games but in the next five games he’ll face the Commanders twice as well as the hapless Raiders. In shallow single quarterback leagues this move is probably overkill, but for those with deeper benchers, it’s worth remembering how many QBs have gone down with injuries lately.
Roschon Johnson (RB – CHI): 49% Rostered
D’Onta Foreman has seized the opportunity he was granted with both Khalil Herbert and Johnson dealing with injuries. Foreman’s play deserves a level of respect, however, it’s hard not to remember that, after Week 1, he spent several weeks as a healthy scratch while Johnson played as the RB2 in a run-heavy Bears’ offense.
Before sustaining a concussion, Johnson had been rushing for 4.56 yards per carry over his last three games and his ability in passing protection, as well as picking up solid yardage on the ground has made him a consistent part of this offense. Perhaps Herbert comes back soon and immediately reestablishes himself as the RB1, or perhaps Foreman has earned more snaps.
In any case, if Johnson gets a chance to show his ceiling outcomes, it could be truly wheels up given the Bears play the Vikings, Raiders and Chargers in the coming weeks.
Tyjae Spears (RB – TEN): 48% Rostered
Rumours continue to swirl around the future of Derrick Henry ahead of the upcoming trade deadline, with plenty of contenders needing depth at running back. Despite Henry still being a part of the team, it hasn’t stopped Spears from impressing in recent weeks with three top-30 RB performances in his last three games and 83 receiving yards in his last two games.
This all adds to an impressive resume for a rookie. Spears has rushed for 4.5 yards per carry in four of the six games he’s played. That impressive start has helped the Titans at least consider moving on from their former pro-bowl talent. One way or another its hard to see Spears not earning more playing time.
Tank Dell (WR – HOU): 49% Rostered
The Texans’ wide receivers have been the most reliable and impressive part of their offense outside of QB C.J. Stroud. If it wasn’t for a concussion and a bye week, Dell’s impressive form could have kept rolling.
Dell has two top-20 WR finishes out of five weeks, accumulating 28 targets in those games and totalling at least 50 yards in three of five games. In the coming weeks the Texans take on the Panthers, Buccaneers and Bengals, none of whom should worry the Texans passing attack.
Kendrick Bourne (WR – NE): 42% Rostered
The Patriots have been a complete let down thus far. The idea that Bill O’Brien would make them more watchable has been far wide of the mark to date.
The only bright spot on this offense has been Bourne. He has had two top-15 WR performances and now faces the Dolphins, Commanders and Colts in coming weeks. It’s not overly pretty, but if you’re in a pinch, Bourne at least seems to have a solid floor.
Michael Mayer (TE – LV); 18% Rostered
Just as Mayer started to gain a bigger role in this Raiders’ offense, Jimmy Garoppolo was lost to a back injury. With Garoppolo nearing a return, its worth considering Mayer again. The rookie TE has played over 65% of snaps for three weeks running and faces a run of games against the Lions, Giants, Jets, and Dolphins. All of those teams have struggled against tight ends at times this year.
Atlanta Falcons D/ST: 29% Rostered
Rostering Falcons’ players in fantasy football can be a frustrating and tricky prospect, but the Atlanta defense might be a little less of a headache than the skill position players. In the next three games, the Falcons play the Titans without Ryan Tannehill, the Vikings without Justin Jefferson, and then the Cardinals possibly starting Kyler Murray fresh off his return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines and trying to learn a new offense. The Falcons aren’t an elite defense, but they’ve picked up eight sacks and two turnovers in their last two games.
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