Doing your weekly waivers in fantasy football can be more stressful than performing life-saving surgery on a loved one without any professional tools or medical knowledge. While that might be a slight exaggeration, deciding which players to add off the waiver wire each week can be stressful.
Finding and adding the right guys in shallow leagues is simple, as there are plenty of appealing options, and the waiver wire is full of talent. Unfortunately, making your waiver wire claims in deeper leagues can be a massive pain in the neck.
However, I’m here to help by giving fantasy players eight waiver wire targets they should add in deeper leagues in Week 8.
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Deep League Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets
All the players in this article are rostered in under 25% of ESPN leagues.
Joe Flacco (QB – CIN): 4.9% Rostered
After averaging only 203.8 passing yards and 6.5 fantasy points per game in four contests with the Cleveland Browns, Flacco has been outstanding with the Bengals. The veteran has completed 65.2% of his pass attempts for 280.5 yards, 2.5 touchdowns, and 22.4 fantasy points per game since getting traded, totaling at least 18.8 fantasy points in both contests despite facing two talented defenses. Meanwhile, he has an excellent upcoming schedule, with matchups against his former team, the New York Jets, and the Chicago Bears over the next two weeks.
Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI): 4.1% Rostered
While he won’t replace D’Andre Swift as the starter, Monangai has started to earn a fantasy-relevant role. He had 13 rushing attempts for 81 yards, a touchdown, and two receptions for 13 receiving yards on Sunday against the New Orleans Saints, totaling 17.4 PPR fantasy points and 6.2 yards per attempt. While some of his production came late in the blowout victory, Monangai had only six fewer touches than Swift. The rookie is a startable flex option over the next few weeks, thanks to the matchups against fantasy-friendly run defenses.
Isaiah Davis (RB – NYJ): 4.1% Rostered
The Jets are the only winless team, as their offense has been a nightmare the past two weeks. Meanwhile, Davis hasn’t been fantasy relevant, averaging three PPR fantasy points per game, totaling 6.3 or fewer in every contest. However, he is the team’s No. 2 running back with Braelon Allen on injured reserve, potentially out for the year. If New York decides to move Breece Hall before the November 4 trade deadline, Davis would be the team’s starting running back. He’s worth stashing on the chance that Hall gets traded.
Xavier Legette (WR – CAR): 23.8% Rostered
Fantasy players shouldn’t expect Legette to have another fantasy performance like the one he had on Sunday against the New York Jets. Furthermore, fantasy players with him on their roster should explore sell-high options after the second-year pro had nine receptions on 11 targets for 92 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 24.2 PPR fantasy points in Week 7, leading the Panthers in every category. Yet, Legette has averaged 12.8 fantasy points per game since returning from a hamstring injury. He is a weekly potential flex option in deeper leagues.
Alec Pierce (WR – IND): 14.8% Rostered
Unfortunately, the Colts didn’t have Josh Downs on Sunday because of a concussion. However, Pierce stepped up, totaling five receptions on 10 targets for 98 receiving yards and 14.8 PPR fantasy points, leading the team in targets and yards. More importantly, the former Cincinnati star has played well even with Downs in the lineup. Pierce has averaged 10.8 fantasy points per game since Week 1, totaling double digits or more in all but one contest. Indianapolis has multiple upcoming fantasy-friendly matchups, including against the Tennessee Titans in Week 8.
Chimere Dike (WR – TEN): 0.9% Rostered
Calvin Ridley missed the Week 7 contest with a hamstring injury, opening up more opportunities for Dike. The rookie made the most of them, catching all four targets for 70 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 16.9 PPR fantasy points. He out-played Elic Ayomanor, as the former Stanford star had two receptions on five targets for 29 receiving yards and 4.9 fantasy points on Sunday. Whether the Titans trade Ridley or cut back on his playing time, Dike is worth rostering in deeper leagues after his strong Week 7 performance.
Oronde Gadsden II (TE – LAC): 2.1% Rostered
Hopefully, fantasy players listened to me last week and added Gadsden off the waiver wire. Thankfully, they get another chance this week. The rookie has been outstanding the past two weeks, averaging seven receptions on 8.5 targets for 116 receiving yards and 20.6 PPR fantasy points per game, totaling at least 7-8-68-11.8 in both contests. Furthermore, Gadsden was Justin Herbert’s best big-play weapon in the passing game, averaging 23.4 receiving yards per reception in Week 7. He is a must-add candidate, especially with Quentin Johnston struggling the past few weeks.
Gunnar Helm (TE – TEN): 0.2% Rostered
Tennessee has given Helm more opportunities lately. The rookie has averaged 3.3 receptions on 4.3 targets for 28.3 receiving yards and 6.2 PPR fantasy points per game over the past three weeks, totaling five targets and at least 7.4 fantasy points in two contests, including on Sunday. Meanwhile, Chig Okonkwo didn’t catch either of his two targets in Week 7. The veteran is in the last year of his rookie contract and has been the subject of trade rumors. Helm could be the Titans’ starting tight end sooner than later.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
