Pigskin Papers: 2023 Waiver Wire Week 8
Hendo is Back
(Published October 23, 2023)
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Welcome to the Waiver Wire, Week 8 edition. In a strange quirk of scheduling, the NFL is treating us to a full slate of games in Week 8, one week after having 6 teams on Bye. There were also fewer significant injuries suffered in Week 7 than during either of the prior 2 weeks. While all of the above is good news for fantasy managers, it doesn’t mean you should ignore the Waiver Wire in Week 8. Winning the Wire ALWAYS matters. So let’s jump in, as there are some interesting names to consider this week, including some longer-term stashes who might be difference makers for you in the second half of the season.
*****WEEK 8 FANTASY PREVIEW COLUMN: Fantasy Preview - Week 8 .******
WEEK 8 BYES: NONE
Strategy Reminder: A good strategy with the Byes is to try to plan ahead, and grab the top streamers (if you need them) at the “onesie” positions (QB, TE, PK and D/ST) a week early, jumping the competition. So if this applies to you, and you need a streamer next week, take a look at the WEEK 9 schedule and see if an early pickup makes sense.
The Process: Each week, I try to identify the top Waiver Wire targets and evaluate the short and long term prospects of those players. I also do my best to reveal which players who are coming off a big week are fool’s gold. Finally, I endeavor to find streamers who might help you in a pinch. Note that this advice is primarily intended for Season-Long leagues, and NOT Dynasty leagues.
Some of the players I’ll talk about won’t be available in your league. As a general rule, I list players who are available in more than 50% of leagues. But what does that even mean? A 10 team league with 6 bench spots will have a much larger free agent pool than a 14 team league with 8 bench spots. Most leagues fall somewhere in between. This isn’t “one size fits all.”
Minshew is Slinging it for Indy
Week 8 Waiver Wire:
QB: With so many backup QBs playing right now, and most of them being pretty forgettable, it’s hard to find higher-end free agent QBs on the Wire. If you’re in a Superflex league, and you’re stuck at the second QB slot, here are a few names to consider:
Derek Carr. Yeah, whatever. He’s become a check-down artist and I keep expecting more. They’ve got good weapons. He’s the QB21 through 7 weeks, so you could do worse at your QB2 spot. He’s boring, and relatively safe.
Gardner Minshew. He’s coming off back-to-back 300 yard games and has good skill players around him. The INTs are a concern, and his play is inconsistent, but he’s worth picking up if you need help at QB.
Kyler Murray. I’ve mentioned him as a stash for about a month now, and he’s probably rostered in the majority of leagues. If he’s still available, consider grabbing him as he could return in the next 2-3 weeks. The upside is worth the pickup.
Bryce Young. He looked better in his last couple of starts, and with the Panthers constantly trailing, he should have opportunities for some garbage time production. The lack of weapons around him are a concern, though.
Baker Mayfield and Desmond Ridder are both widely available, although probably not in 2-QB leagues. I’d grab each of them before either of the next 2 guys mentioned in the column.
Zach Wilson and Mac Jones have shown signs of life in their most recent outings. It’s hard to forget how horribly they’ve both played at points this season, and I’d rather stay away from both. But if you’re truly stuck at that 2nd QB slot, and you’re picking from the rubbish heap, they’re both passable in the right matchups. Jones gets a pretty banged-up Miami secondary this week, and Wilson faces the Giants.
Zeke is Proving He Has Something Left
RB: I’ve got some names for you this week:
Darrell Henderson is the top name on the Waiver Wire this week. He got scooped up in some leagues before Sunday’s game, but he’s still available in plenty. His role is likely short-lived until Kyren Williams returns, and he’s going to share the workload with Royce Freeman and possibly Myles Gaskin, but he came right off the couch and led his team in carries (18) on Sunday, got the goal line carry and TD, and was the only back on the team with any receiving targets (2). Not bad for a guy the Rams cut last year. I grabbed him in both of my main leagues before Sunday’s game and plugged him right in. Grab him if you can, and spend a little FAAB to make it happen if you’ve got needs at RB. There could be some longer-term value, potentially.
Tyjae Spears might be my first choice at RB this week, if I’m thinking thinking longer term. He’s been in this column as a stash multiple times. He’s more intriguing now, with the trade deadline looming and the growing probability that Derrick Henry could be moved by the end of the month. The Titans’ offense is pretty terrible and who knows who their QB is going to be over the next month, but still, if Henry packs his bags Spears is going to get volume and even if Henry stays, Spears should get increasing work as the team starts to look ahead to next season. He’s also worth some FAAB dollars.
Ezekiel Elliott has made this column before, and after another TD on Sunday, he makes it again. He’s running hard, and is the favored choice at the goal line. Up next for New England is Miami, which has allowed 5 rushing TDs to RBs in 7 games. While we’re talking about older backs who can still push the pile, Lat Murray is also a decent pickup for depth and especially with Damien Harris out.
Elijah Mitchell should be rostered in all leagues, with CMC not at 100%. This offense is just too good for RBs, so the upside is there if and when opportunity presents. And given Mitchell’s injury history, Jordan Mason also should be rostered in all leagues. I like them in this order.
Sometimes we forget about guys who were on a Bye, because we haven’t seen them in a week. And because of those Byes, sometimes they get dropped by a manager in need of a plug-in. I listed Devin Singletary last week and I’ll list him again. He’s getting a nice share of the work in Houston.
Jerome Ford left Sunday’s game late with an ankle injury, and it was Pierre Strong, Jr. who stepped up the most. If Ford misses time, Kareem Hunt should benefit the most, but Strong will also be in the mix so he’s a nice bench depth add.
If you miss on Henderson and you’re truly desperate, Royce Freeman is going to get a piece of the work, for the time being.
Cam Akers is getting more run for the Vikings. He’s worth an add as depth.
I’m having trouble recommending Emari Demercado, who already burned fantasy managers once, the first time his name swung around on the Wire. I think this 3-man committee, on a bad offense is too hard to trust.
A few stashes to consider, if you have the space: Zach Charbonnet, Keaton Mitchell, and Rico Dowdle. You can never have enough RB depth.
First Downs, Touchdowns, Josh Downs!
WR: It was a big week for rookie WRs. Which ones are worth an add?
I’ve listed Josh Downs for several weeks running, and at this point he’s more heavily rostered although I see it listed as below 50% on some platforms. He’s strung together 3 straight games with double digit fantasy points (Half PPR), and broke 20 points this past week. What are you waiting for? Minshew is throwing a ton, and the rookie is emerging as the Colts’ clear #2 passing option.
Tank Dell. His rostership has fallen below 50% on some platforms. That’s what happens when the Bye Week and injuries turn into a vice that squeezes hard. If he got dropped in your league, he’s a priority add.
Should you add JSN, after his breakout game? I guess so, but I’m skeptical. Remember, D.K. Metcalf missed this game, and Arizona is one of the worst pass defenses in the league. JSN did next to nothing from Weeks 1-6, and while I do expect him to come on to a degree, I wouldn’t feel confident picking him up and plugging him in. He’s more of a stash for me.
Quality depth adds: Kendrick Bourne, Josh Reynolds, Brandin Cooks, and Rashid Shaheed.
Stashes to consider: JSN (see above), Jalin Hyatt, Wan’Dale Robinson, Demario Douglas, and once again, Jameson Williams.
Yes, This is a Tight End
TE:
Dalton Kincaid led the Bills in both targets and receiving yards this week. He’s been inconsistent (as you’d expect for a rookie TE), and it’s going to be tough to trust him on a weekly basis, but at a weak position, he’s definitely a viable option.
Taysom Hill made the column the last 2 weeks and hopefully you listened. The Swiss army knife is doing it all these days, and he’s not only worth picking up, he’s currently worth starting unless you’ve got a Top 5 or 6 TE.
Jonnu Smith is a weekly mention here. Rinse and repeat. Other names I’ll mention again as depth options that you can stream as needed: Jake Ferguson and Logan Thomas.
Michael Mayer had a down week, but for the second straight game he was on the field for almost all of the offensive snaps (until it was garbage time), and I like his potential to produce once the QB situation is more settled.
Donald Parham is very TD-dependent, but with Gerald Everett leaving the game last week with an injury, Parham has streaming potential.
Trey McBride is an interesting add, with Zach Ertz now on IR, and Kyler Murray returning at some point.
PK Streamers, Week 8: K. Fairbairn (@CAR), C. Dicker (vs. CHI), M. Gay (vs. NO).
D/ST Streamers, Week 8: HOU (@CAR), ATL (@TEN), NYG (vs. NYJ).
Good luck to all with your Week 8 Waiver Wire claims!
DH
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