Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 8

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

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are set off a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Daniel Jones, Giants

Aside from an injury-shortened Week 5 appearance against the Cowboys and a four-turnover day versus the Rams a week later, Jones has been a decent streaming option this season.

A big part of his fantasy value is derived from his rushing stats; he's recorded at least 27 yards on the ground in every game, except the aforementioned losses to Dallas and Los Angeles.

Fortunately for Jones, his next opponent is one of the easiest matchups for quarterbacks. The Chiefs have allowed multi-touchdown days to five of the last six passers they've faced. They've also shown vulnerability to dual-threat passers like Lamar Jackson (107 rushing yards, 2 TDs), Jalen Hurts (47 rushing yards), Josh Allen (59 rushing yards, TD), and Ryan Tannehill (6 yards, TD).

Additionally, it's possible Jones could get reinforcements in the form of Kadarius Toney or Sterling Shepard, with an outside shot to have either Kenny Golladay or Saquon Barkley back as well.

Streaming options: Teddy Bridgewater vs. WAS (20% rostered), Trevor Lawrence at SEA (41% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Carson Wentz vs. TEN (37% rostered), Tua Tagovailoa at BUF (48% rostered), Ben Roethlisberger at CLE (20% rostered), Taylor Heinicke at DEN (14% rostered)

Trade deadline stashes: Deshaun Watson (18% rostered)

Long-term stashes: Trey Lance (21% rostered)

2QB/Superflex streaming options: Case Keenum vs. PIT (3% rostered), Geno Smith vs. JAX (6% rostered), Mac Jones at LAC (31% rostered), Jimmy Garoppolo at CHI (12% rostered), Joe Flacco vs. CIN (0% rostered)

2QB/Superflex injury stashes: Baker Mayfield (39% rostered), Tyrod Taylor (4% rostered)

2QB/Superflex long-term stashes: Cam Newton (1% rostered)

Running backs

Kenneth Gainwell/Boston Scott, Eagles

With Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni calling Miles Sanders week-to-week, fantasy managers can feel more confident bidding on Gainwell and Scott.

The duo split time after Sanders left with an ankle injury Sunday. Gainwell played more snaps (34-23), ran more routes (21-12), and saw more targets (7-1) in the game, but Scott outcarried him (7-5).

Both backs will have value in a matchup with the Lions, who've given up the most fantasy points to running backs in 2021, including at least 70 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown to six different runners.

You can deploy Gainwell as a low-end RB2 and Scott as a flex option in Week 8.

Marlon Mack, Colts

We've listed Mack as a pre-emptive pickup for multiple weeks now, as rumors continue to highlight him as a potential trade candidate before the NFL's deadline Nov. 2.

Mack has performed well in limited duty behind Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines this season, especially considering he's coming off a torn Achilles.

However, stashing him in the hopes that he lands with a team that would offer him significant volume is still a long shot.

Keep your expectations in check, but toss Mack on your bench for the week until we know where he'll be playing in the second half of the season.

Flex options: Samaje Perine at NYJ (7% rostered), Rashaad Penny vs. JAX, Brandon Bolden at LAC (6% rostered), J.J. Taylor at LAC (6% rostered), Sony Michel at HOU (42% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: David Johnson vs. LAR (22% rostered), Mark Ingram vs. LAR (36% rostered), Ty Johnson vs. CIN (4% rostered), Salvon Ahmed at BUF (1% rostered), Giovani Bernard at NO (28% rostered), JaMycal Hasty at CHI (4% rostered), DeeJay Dallas vs. JAX (5% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Devonta Freeman (42% rostered), Peyton Barber (2% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Ronald Jones at NO (28% rostered), Darrynton Evans at IND (2% rostered), Rhamondre Stevenson at LAC (15% rostered), Jerick McKinnon vs. NYG (8% rostered), Justin Jackson vs. NE (1% rostered), Royce Freeman at ATL (0% rostered), Ty Montgomery vs. TB (0% rostered), Chris Evans at NYJ (3% rostered), Wayne Gallman vs. CAR (0% rostered)

Injured reserve stashes: Jeff Wilson Jr. (16% rostered), Anthony McFarland Jr. (1% rostered)

Wide receivers

Rashod Bateman, Ravens

It's the second straight week Bateman is leading the receiver section of the waiver wire column.

We recommended picking him up after his four-catch, 29-yard debut where he saw the field on 65% of the Ravens' offensive snaps and yet he remains available in the vast majority of leagues.

In his second game, he continued to operate as Baltimore's No. 2 wideout in terms of snaps and routes run, only this time he tied Marquise Brown for the team lead in receiving yards with 80.

Based on what we've seen the last two weeks, it'd be surprising for the Ravens to infringe on their first-round wideout's playing time once Sammy Watkins returns to the lineup.

Bateman will return from the bye in Week 9 with an excellent chance to break out as a fantasy WR3 over the final two months of the season.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling/Randall Cobb, Packers

Davante Adams and Allen Lazard have been placed on the COVID-19 list, making it unlikely they'll be able to suit up for Thursday's contest in Arizona.

That means the Packers will have to turn to a receiving corps led by Valdes-Scantling and Cobb.

MVS is returning from injured reserve, but he had three catches, 59 yards, and a score in his last outing back in Week 3. Meanwhile, Cobb only saw more than five targets in one game this season - and the result was a five-reception, 69-yard, two-touchdown afternoon against the Steelers.

They'll both be in the WR3 conversation with Adams and Lazard out of the lineup.

Kadarius Toney, Michael Gallup, Mecole Hardman, Hunter Renfrow, Laviska Shenault, Rondale Moore, and Marquez Callaway are close to the 50% cutoff line but should be rostered in most leagues.

Long-term upside stashes: Curtis Samuel at DEN (14% rostered), Will Fuller at BUF (29% rostered)

Flex options: Kalif Raymond vs. PHI, Jamal Agnew at SEA (1% rostered), Kendrick Bourne at LAC (6% rostered), Nelson Agholor at LAC (27% rostered), Darius Slayton at KC (15% rostered), Darnell Mooney vs. SF (49% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy): T.Y. Hilton vs. TEN (36% rostered), DeVante Parker at BUF (36% rostered)

Risky flex options: Tim Patrick vs. WAS (39% rostered), Quez Watkins at DET (3% rostered), Russell Gage vs. CAR (10% rostered), K.J. Osborn vs. DAL (7% rostered), Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. PHI (19% rostered), Van Jefferson at HOU (9% rostered), Jamison Crowder vs. CIN (22% rostered), Tre'Quan Smith vs. TB (3% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Jalen Reagor at DET (12% rostered), Zach Pascal vs. TEN (8% rostered), Byron Pringle vs. NYG (1% rostered), Elijah Moore vs. CIN (16% rostered), Dante Pettis at KC (1% rostered), Nico Collins vs. LAR (1% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Bryan Edwards on Bye (13% rostered)

Tight ends

Cole Kmet, Bears

It's a rough week for streaming tight ends, with no one standing out from the pack.

Kmet has put together back-to-back solid stat lines with 4-49 and 5-43 against the Packers and Buccaneers, respectively.

Betting on the Bears' passing attack is a dangerous proposition, but the 22-year-old Kmet has the talent to facilitate a breakout performance if Justin Fields continues to target him.

His outlook is very similar to the other risky streamers listed below.

Ricky Seals-Jones is close to the 50% cutoff line but should be rostered in all leagues.

Risky streamer options: Jared Cook vs. NE (43% rostered), Evan Engram at KC (31% rostered), Tyler Conklin vs. DAL (9% rostered), C.J. Uzomah at NYJ (19% rostered), Dan Arnold at SEA (4% rostered), Mo Alie-Cox vs. TEN (17% rostered),

Dart-throw streamer options: Pat Freiermuth at CLE (5% rostered), Tommy Sweeney vs. MIA (0% rostered), Gerald Everett vs. JAX (31% rostered)

Bye week stashes: Foster Moreau (3% rostered)

Defenses

Week 8 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Chargers DEF (16% rostered), Cowboys DEF (39% rostered)