Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 8

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 based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Drake Maye, Patriots

Maye continues to overcome a bad situation in New England and produce for fantasy. He finished as the QB10 overall in his first start last week and currently sits as the QB4 with two Monday night games left to be played in Week 7.

His rushing stats have elevated his fantasy performances, but he's also shown a willingness to push the ball downfield. He's having more success than Jacoby Brissett did in the passing game.

The only problem is Maye now has to take on a Jets defense that's been a tough matchup for quarterbacks more often than not.

So, while the rookie is definitely worth picking up as a potential back-end QB1 for the rest of the season, you might want to consider a different starting option for Week 8.

Tua Tagovailoa is near the 50% rostered mark but is worth considering as a high-end QB2 add this week.

Streaming options: Bo Nix vs. CAR (13% rostered), Aaron Rodgers at NE (50% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Justin Herbert vs. NO (46% rostered), Russell Wilson vs. NYG (7% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starting): Jameis Winston vs. BAL (1% rostered), Dorian Thompson-Robinson vs. BAL (0% rostered), Marcus Mariota vs. CHI (0% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Trevor Lawrence vs. GB (50% rostered), Matthew Stafford vs. MIN (40% rostered), Daniel Jones at PIT (15% rostered), Gardner Minshew vs. KC (2% rostered), Andy Dalton at DEN (11% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starting): Spencer Rattler at LAC (3% rostered), Mason Rudolph at DET (1% rostered), Will Levis at DET (8% rostered)

Long-term stashes: Derek Carr (14% rostered), Drew Lock (0% rostered)

Running backs

Tyler Goodson, Colts

There isn't an obvious plug-and-play running back on the waiver wire this week, so don't get your hopes up.

Goodson is the closest thing to it, but Jonathan Taylor is nearing a return from his ankle injury and might even get back in the lineup this week.

After looking far more explosive than Trey Sermon in the last two games, Goodson finally got an opportunity to out-touch his fellow rusher in Week 7.

We don't know if that was due to the coaching staff recognizing his potential or because Sermon was dealing with a knee injury, but the end result was 51 yards and a touchdown for Goodson.

If Taylor gets back this week, Goodson will revert to being a bench stash. However, if Taylor misses another game, you could use Goodson as a fantasy RB3 with RB2 upside.

Tyrone Tracy Jr., Alexander Mattison, and Zach Charbonnet are just over the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in all leagues.

High-upside backups like Braelon Allen (41% rostered), Blake Corum (16% rostered), Kimani Vidal (15% rostered), Jaylen Wright (8% rostered), Kendre Miller (4% rostered), Dameon Pierce (7% rostered), and Trey Benson (18% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Tyler Allgeier at TB (39% rostered), Ray Davis at SEA (26% rostered), Roschon Johnson at WAS (15% rostered)

Flex options (if starter is out): Trey Sermon at HOU (35% rostered),

Flex options (if healthy): Tyjae Spears at DET (49% rostered)

Risky flex options: Ty Chandler at LAR (32% rostered), Bucky Irving vs. ATL (20% rostered), Jaylen Warren vs. NYG (41% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Antonio Gibson vs. NYJ (36% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Jaleel McLaughlin vs. CAR (15% rostered), Emanuel Wilson at JAX (8% rostered), Justice Hill at CLE (18% rostered), Samaje Perine at LV (6% rostered), Pierre Strong Jr. vs. BAL (0% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): D'Ernest Johnson vs. GB (7% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Audric Estime (1% rostered), Isaac Guerendo (20% rostered), Clyde Edwards-Helaire (7% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell (1% rostered), Ty Johnson (4% rostered), JaMycal Hasty (0% rostered), Jeremy McNichols (2% rostered), Julius Chestnut (0% rostered), Jamaal Williams (2% rostered), Emari Demercado (0% rostered)

Trade-deadline stashes: Miles Sanders (2% rostered), Khalil Herbert (7% rostered), D'Onta Foreman (2% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: MarShawn Lloyd (5% rostered), Keaton Mitchell (7% rostered)

Wide receivers

Jauan Jennings/Ricky Pearsall, 49ers

Jennings went from being a waiver-wire add to a short-term fantasy star to a drop candidate once all the 49ers' pass-catchers were healthy and he started missing time due to injury.

Then Brandon Aiyuk suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 7 and the script got flipped again, which opened the door for Jennings to be a fantasy starter the rest of the way.

We also found out Deebo Samuel has been hospitalized with pneumonia and fluid in his lungs and doesn't have a timeline for when he'll return, according to Adam Schefter. If Samuel is out for an extended period of time, Jennings would be a locked-in WR2.

The situation makes Pearsall, who's fresh off making his NFL debut, an intriguing fantasy add as well. When Samuel is healthy, the rookie is likely to be part of a rotation as the Niners attempt to fill the hole left by Aiyuk's injury. However, if Samuel can't suit up, the rookie has an excellent chance to carve out a meaningful role.

If you're in a deep league, you should keep San Francisco's other rookie, wideout Jacob Cowing, in mind. He flashed his abilities by turning his two grabs into 50 yards Sunday and could earn more touches moving forward with the veterans banged up.

Jakobi Meyers and Tyler Lockett are just over the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in all leagues.

WR3 options: Romeo Doubs at JAX (44% rostered)

WR3/flex options: Jalen Tolbert at SF (20% rostered)

WR4/flex options: Dontayvion Wicks at JAX (27% rostered)

Flex options: Keon Coleman at SEA (32% rostered), Xavier Legette at DEN (19% rostered), Jerry Jeudy vs. BAL (48% rostered), Cedric Tillman vs. BAL (0% rostered), Michael Wilson at MIA (18% rostered), Tutu Atwell vs. MIN (10% rostered), DeAndre Hopkins at DET (49% rostered)

Flex options (if healthy): DeMario Douglas vs. NYJ (42% rostered)

Risky flex options: Rashod Bateman at CLE (16% rostered), Allen Lazard at NE (44% rostered), Gabe Davis vs. GB (17% rostered), Elijah Moore vs. BAL (1% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Quentin Johnston vs. NO (18% rostered),

Dart-throw flex options: Noah Brown vs. CHI (2% rostered), Troy Franklin vs. CAR (1% rostered), Bub Meansat LAC (9% rostered), Tre Tucker vs. KC (10% rostered), Ray-Ray McCloud at TB (20% rostered), Joshua Palmer vs. NO (13% rostered), Sterling Shepard vs. ATL (0% rostered), Jalen Nailor at LAR (2% rostered), KaVontae Turpin at SF (1% rostered), Kalif Raymond vs. TEN (0% rostered), Tyler Boyd at DET (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy): Jordan Whittington vs. MIN (14% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Jake Bobo vs. BUF (0% rostered), Mason Tipton at LAC (1% rostered), Cedrick Wilson Jr. at LAC (0% rostered)

Other receivers to roster: Jacob Cowing (0% rostered), Kayshon Boutte (1% rostered), Kendrick Bourne (1% rostered), Tim Patrick (1% rostered)

Trade-deadline stashes: Mike Williams (11% rostered)

Injury stashes: JuJu Smith-Schuster (45% rostered)

Tight ends

Noah Fant, Seahawks

Fant has quietly been putting up solid fantasy numbers with at least 60 yards in three of his last five outings, including each of the past two weeks.

With DK Metcalf dealing with a knee injury that could force him to miss time, Fant's target share should rise for however long his teammate is sidelined.

If you're searching for help at tight end, Fant profiles as a possible low-end TE1 while Metcalf is out.

Streaming options (if healthy): Taysom Hill at LAC (29% rostered)

Streaming options: Hunter Henry vs. NYJ (31% rostered), Cade Otton vs. ATL (38% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Zach Ertz vs. CHI (30% rostered), Jonnu Smith vs. ARI (4% rostered), Colby Parkinson vs. MIN (23% rostered), Ja'Tavion Sanders at DEN (1% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Grant Calcaterra at CIN (1% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Juwan Johnson at LAC (4% rostered), Lucas Krull vs. CAR (0% rostered), Tyler Conklin at NE (22% rostered), Noah Gray at LV (1% rostered), Chigoziem Okonkwo at DET (6% rostered), Foster Moreau at LAC (1% rostered), Will Dissly vs. NO (0% rostered)

High-upside stashes: Ben Sinnott (2% rostered), Erick All Jr. (1% rostered), Charlie Kolar (0% rostered)

Defenses

Week 8 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Chargers DEF (41% rostered), Commanders DEF (17% rostered)

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