Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 8

Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone will run down the recommended waiver wire pickups.

Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. FAAB bids are set off a $100 budget. Only players owned in less than 60 percent of leagues are considered.

Fantasy Podcast: Week 7 takeaways, and early look at waiver wire

Quarterback

Mitch Trubisky, Bears

Trubisky might be the only quarterback on this list who warrants consideration as a rest-of-season starter. The Bears' sophomore collected his third straight 300-yard game and threw multiple touchdowns for the fourth time this season. He's also getting it done with his legs, rushing for 81 yards and a score on Sunday. The Bears' offense should have no problem scoring on a Jets secondary that's allowed two or more passing touchdowns to five of their last six opponents.

Baker Mayfield, Browns

It wasn't exactly the performance we were hoping for from Mayfield last week, but he finished with a pair of touchdowns and 43 rushing yards despite just 215 yards through the air against a weak Bucs pass defense. The rookie's excellent schedule continues this week versus the division-rival Steelers, who were surrendering the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks heading into their Week 7 bye. Keep your faith in Mayfield.

Joe Flacco, Ravens

This is not a good week for quarterback streamers, and with Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers among the passers on bye, owners will need to dig deep to find decent fill-ins. Surprisingly, the Ravens are second in pass attempts per game, behind only the Colts. With an underrated group of pass-catchers at his disposal, Flacco will become the sixth consecutive quarterback to toss multiple touchdowns on the Panthers.

Other options: Case Keenum at KC (20 percent owned), C.J. Beathard at ARI (9 percent owned), Derek Carr vs. IND (27 percent owned)

Running Back

Marlon Mack, Colts

Mack was one of the top adds in this space last week and until he cracks the 60 percent ownership mark, he'll remain a star on this list. A week after putting up 93 yards on 16 touches, Mack was unleashed 21 times for 159 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in a complete domination of the Bills. You can safely start him as an RB2 moving forward, with his next target being a Raiders team that's seemingly in the midst of a going-out-of-business sale.

Ito Smith, Falcons

This column goes up early Monday night, so if anything changes based on the results of the Giants-Falcons game, it will be updated by morning. For now, Smith's role is secure, serving as a complement to Tevin Coleman in Atlanta's backfield. He's shown he can score touchdowns, and if his touches increase we may see his yardage totals rise as well, making him an intriguing flex option with upside.

Doug Martin/Jalen Richard, Raiders

Marshawn Lynch has officially been put on injured reserve, meaning Martin and Richard are now the best options Oakland has at running back. It's hard to get excited about the Raiders' rushing attack, so try to avoid breaking the bank on either player unless you are truly desperate for an immediate starter. In the short term, Martin has some appeal thanks to the schedule, which features games against the Colts, 49ers, and Cardinals over the next month. Those are contests that the Raiders should be competitive in, meaning Martin won't be phased out by game script. Long term, it's Richard who offers more in fantasy, as Oakland projects to be trailing often.

Chris Ivory, Bills

As we wait for an update on LeSean McCoy's health after he was forced from Sunday's game with a head injury, Ivory needs to be scooped up everywhere. Not only is it likely that McCoy misses time due to injury, but it also remains possible that he gets traded before the deadline. Regardless of the reason, if McCoy isn't in the Bills' lineup, Ivory can produce as evidenced by his 106 yards from scrimmage on 19 touches last week. It's tough to get behind owning any Bills player in fantasy, but Ivory deserves to be rostered.

Raheem Mostert, 49ers

If you're looking for someone with a little more upside, Mostert is in a similar situation to Ivory with his current starter's health in question. After Matt Breida re-aggravated his ankle injury, it was Mostert who powered the 49ers' rushing game, giving the team a spark for the second straight week. Mostert has amassed 165 yards over the last two games, displaying some Breida-esque skills in the process. With Breida's status in doubt, Alfred Morris fading, and a beautiful matchup with the Cardinals on deck, Mostert is someone I'll be bidding on in all my leagues this week.

Ronald Jones, Buccaneers

It turns out Peyton Barber's Week 6 performance against Atlanta had a lot more to do with the Falcons' struggling defense than it did with Barber's talent. Barber went back to a pedestrian stat line of 11 carries for 30 yards Sunday and suffered an injury that the team refused to identify. Whether Barber is hurt or not, it's well past time to get Jones more involved on offense. Jones doesn't have elite skills, but the team needs to find out what it has in its second-round rusher. Fantasy owners would be wise to stash him until we find out.

Kenjon Barner, Patriots

Reports indicate Sony Michel avoided structural damage to his knee and is week to week. While he's out, James White is a borderline RB1 with Barner entering the flex mix. If Michel's absence is extended, it's likely the Patriots sign a free agent, but until then Barner is in line for a significant portion of touches in the Patriots' backfield. He's a must-add heading into a potential blowout against the Bills on Monday night.

Other options: Duke Johnson at PIT (54 percent owned), Rashad Penny at DET (17 percent owned), LeGarrette Blount vs. SEA (13 percent owned), Spencer Ware vs. DEN (4 percent owned), Malcolm Brown vs. GB (2 percent owned), Trenton Cannon at CHI (0 percent owned)

Wide Receivers

Geronimo Allison/Randall Cobb, Packers

Allison and Cobb are expected back in the lineup as the Packers return from their bye week. Allison had emerged as the clear No. 2 option behind Davante Adams and despite his lower ownership, is the one to target. We may eventually see Cobb's snaps scaled back in favor of rookie Marquez Valdes-Scantling (8 percent of leagues) after the latter brought a new dimension to the offense over the last few weeks. The rookie just offers more to the Packers' offense at this point in Cobb’s career.

Chris Godwin, Buccaneers

You were warned not to let Godwin stay on waiver wires and yet he's still under 50 percent owned, meaning I have to go through his numbers again. Godwin has 50 yards or a touchdown in every game but one this season. He's even more enticing after seeing his playing time increase in Week 7 when he took the field on 69 percent of the Bucs' snaps.

Tre'Quan Smith, Saints

Smith has now stepped into the Ted Ginn role over the last two games, most recently playing on 73 percent of New Orleans snaps Sunday, with Cameron Meredith lining up on just 18 plays. The rookie's numbers didn't jump off the page, but three catches for 44 yards against one of the best pass defenses in the league on a windy day was convincing enough. He also nearly hauled a touchdown that would have boosted his final line. Smith can be treated as a borderline WR3 the rest of the way.

Tyrell Williams/Mike Williams, Chargers

Tyrell and Mike Williams are boom-or-bust wideouts who pack a major punch when they connect. Neither is seeing much volume, but Tyrell has caught seven of his eight targets over the last two weeks, going for 236 yards and three scores. Mike's production has been much quieter the last few weeks, but it only takes one play to make an impact and he hit it with a 55-yard score in London. If you're looking for ultimate upside, Tyrell and Mike are volatile options who have the ability to erase fantasy deficits in the blink of an eye - as long as you can live with the down weeks as well.

Courtland Sutton, Broncos

Sutton has shown flashes in limited opportunities, and it's exciting to hear reports that the Broncos could move Emmanuel Sanders and/or Demaryius Thomas before the deadline. If that happens, Sutton would instantly rise to WR3 status, with a chance for more. Don't let him sit on the waiver wire, stash him now.

Christian Kirk, Cardinals

Kirk has accrued 57 yards or more in four of his last five games and gets the benefit a new offensive coaching staff, who will hopefully breathe life into this floundering attack. He's another rookie worth stashing to see how his situation develops.

Danny Amendola/DeVante Parker, Dolphins

Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills are sidelined, forcing Amendola and Parker into prominent roles on a short week. Amendola caught six passes for 84 yards and a score on Sunday and will have no problem rising to the occasion. Parker has been a healthy scratch for the last couple weeks and his agent recently ripped head coach Adam Gase. Despite that odd turn of events, Gase confirmed Parker will play on Thursday. The Dolphins' receiving corps has been a hard group to project this season, but Parker still has a high ceiling if he can bring it all together on the field.

Other options: Robby Anderson at CHI (47 percent owned), Chris Hogan at BUF (50 percent owned), Donte Moncrief vs. PHI (11 percent owned), Kelvin Benjamin vs. NE (15 percent owned), Martavis Bryant vs. IND (4 percent owned), Michael Gallup on Bye (6 percent owned), Anthony Miller vs. NYJ (7 percent owned)

Tight Ends

Vance McDonald, Steelers

In a year with so many tight end injuries, how is McDonald still available in 60 percent of leagues? The Steelers' tight end has gone over 60 yards in three of his last four games and plays in one of the most potent aerial attacks in football. Whether he's a full-time starter or a one-week streamer, he needs to be picked up this week.

C.J. Uzomah, Bengals

The targets weren't there Sunday versus the Chiefs, but Uzomah managed to salvage another quality fantasy outing. With Tyler Eifert and Tyler Kroft not coming back anytime soon, Uzomah will continue to be a high-end TE2 capable of serving as a weekly starter for tight end-needy owners. He gets his best matchup of the season in Week 8 against a Bucs defense that's surrendered a touchdown to each of the last four tight ends they've faced.

Other options: Ben Watson at MIN (40 percent owned), Jack Doyle at OAK (22 percent owned), Dallas Goedert at JAX (5 percent owned), Chris Herndon at CHI (1 percent owned)