6 Last-Minute Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements (Week 8)

Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver-wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week. Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.

Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 8.

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Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements

All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.

Joe Flacco (QB – CIN) vs. New York Jets (30.2% Rostered)

Welcome back from the fantasy graveyard, Mr. Flacco. The veteran was awful during his four games with the Cleveland Browns, averaging only 203.8 passing yards, 0.5 touchdowns, and 6.5 fantasy points. However, he has been outstanding since getting traded to the Bengals, completing 65.2% of his pass attempts for 280.5 yards, 2.5 touchdowns, and 22.4 fantasy points per game, totaling at least two scores and 18.8 fantasy points in both contests despite facing two talented defenses. Meanwhile, Flacco is an appealing starting option for the next two weeks.

The veteran starts his excellent two-week stretch against his former team. Last week, the duo of Bryce Young and Andy Dalton had 198 passing yards and 12.7 fantasy points against the Jets. However, New York had surrendered 207.5 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 18.9 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the first six weeks, allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per contest. Don’t be surprised if Flacco has at least three passing touchdowns and over 22 fantasy points in Week 8 and Week 9 against the Chicago Bears.

Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI) vs. Baltimore Ravens (34.9% Rostered)

Speaking of the Bears, Chicago turned into a run-heavy offense in their win over the New Orleans Saints last week. While D’Andre Swift was outstanding, Monangai had a career day, totaling 13 rushing attempts for 81 yards, a touchdown, two receptions for 13 receiving yards, and 17.4 PPR fantasy points, setting career highs in nearly every category. Furthermore, the rookie averaged 6.2 yards per rushing attempt after averaging 3.7 over the first six weeks. More importantly, the former Rutgers star could have a similar performance against the Ravens on Sunday.

Thankfully, the Ravens defense is getting healthy. However, they are still a fantasy-friendly matchup for opposing running backs. Baltimore has surrendered 29.1 fantasy points per game to running backs, the second-most in the NFL. The Ravens have given up at least 98 rushing yards or a touchdown to running backs in every game this year. Furthermore, running backs have scored six rushing touchdowns against Baltimore over their past four matchups. Monangai should see an increased workload following last week’s performance, especially with Swift dealing with a groin injury.

Brashard Smith (RB – KC) vs. Washington Commanders (11.4% Rostered)

According to DraftKings, the Chiefs are 12.5-point favorites over the Commanders on Monday night. Therefore, fantasy players should expect Smith to see an uptick in snaps and touches in a likely blowout win for Kansas City. Last week, he played a career-high 28 offensive snaps in a blowout win over the Las Vegas Raiders. By comparison, Smith played 31 snaps over the previous three games. More importantly, Smith had had 14 rushing attempts for 39 yards, five receptions for 42 receiving yards, and 13.1 PPR fantasy points against Las Vegas.

Not only did the rookie set career highs in every category last week, but Smith has become a consistent part of the Chiefs’ passing attack. He has had at least three receptions in four consecutive contests, averaging 3.5 receptions for 30.5 receiving yards and 6.6 fantasy points per game in the air over the past month. Meanwhile, Washington has surrendered 119.8 rushing yards and 28.4 fantasy points per game to running backs over the past month, allowing at least 126 yards and 24.5 fantasy points in all but one contest.

Marvin Mims Jr. (WR – DEN) vs. Dallas Cowboys (23.1% Rostered)

Ideally, fantasy players haven’t had to trust Mims in their lineup every week this season. He is the WR44 for the year, averaging 8.4 PPR fantasy points per game. However, Mims has scored under 4.9 fantasy points in 57.1% of the contests. Yet, the third-year pro has been outstanding in the other three games, averaging 15.6 fantasy points per outing. More importantly, he has averaged six receptions for 77 receiving yards and 18.2 fantasy points per game in the two contests with over five targets in the past month.

Last week, Mims had six receptions on seven targets for 85 receiving yards and 15.8 fantasy points in the comeback win over the New York Giants, setting season-highs in nearly every category. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have had an awful pass defense, surrendering 40.1 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the second-most in the NFL. Dallas has faced struggling pass offenses over the past three weeks. However, they gave up 248 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and 60.2 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over their previous three matchups.

Chimere Dike (WR – TEN) vs. Indianapolis Colts (2.4% Rostered)

While the Titans haven’t given up on the season, fantasy players should expect them to start focusing on the future and their younger players. Therefore, Dike will continue to see an uptick in work after playing at least 56% of the snaps in back-to-back games. Furthermore, Tennessee released Tyler Lockett earlier this week after the veteran played the third-most wide receiver snaps on the team over the first seven contests. More importantly, the former Florida star is coming off the best performance of his career in Week 7.

Dike had four receptions for 70 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 16.9 PPR fantasy points on Sunday, setting career highs in receptions, yards, touchdowns, and fantasy points. Unfortunately, Tennessee will be without Calvin Ridley for the second consecutive game because of a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Indianapolis has surrendered 40.9 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this year, the most in the NFL. They have given up 213.5 receiving yards, 1.5 touchdowns, and 47.8 fantasy points per game to wide receivers since their last matchup against the Titans.

Jonnu Smith (TE – PIT) vs. Green Bay Packers (17.3% Rostered)

Anyone who watched the Week 7 Thursday night matchup saw Aaron Rodgers throw four touchdowns to his tight ends, including one to Smith. The veteran hasn’t been the most fantasy-relevant tight end this season, ranking as the TE28, averaging 7.5 PPR fantasy points per game. However, he has been productive when targeted, averaging a touchdown and 12.2 fantasy points per game in the two contests with over four targets this year, including last week. More importantly, Smith has an excellent matchup Sunday night in a revenge game for Rodgers.

The Packers’ defense has played well following the preseason addition of Micah Parsons. However, they’ve struggled to slow down opposing tight ends. Green Bay has surrendered 19.6 fantasy points per game to tight ends, the second-most in the NFL behind the Cincinnati Bengals, the team Smith faced last week. Furthermore, tight ends have at least one receiving touchdown and 18.5 fantasy points against the Packers in four of their past five matchups. Smith should have his second double-digit fantasy performance against a team that has struggled to stop tight ends.