Welcome to Week 8, folks, where six teams are taking a breather and the injury report reads longer than a CVS receipt. You wake up Sunday morning, check your lineup, and suddenly realize half your roster is either chilling on a bye week or nursing an injury that sounds like it came straight out of a medical textbook.
This week is absolutely brutal. Arizona, Detroit, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Seattle, and the Rams are all on bye, which means if you’re rostering studs like Jahmyr Gibbs, Kyler Murray, or Puka Nacua, you’re scrambling. And that’s before we even talk about the injury carnage that’s turning fantasy rosters into MASH units.
But here’s the good news: chaos creates opportunity. While your leaguemates are panicking, you can stay calm and hit the waiver wire like a pro. Let’s break down who you need to target to keep your playoff hopes alive.
The Quarterback Carousel Keeps Spinning
The QB situation this week is messier than a college dorm room. You’ve got six quarterbacks on bye: Jared Goff, Kyler Murray, Trevor Lawrence, Matthew Stafford, Geno Smith, and Sam Darnold. Then there’s the injury list that includes Jayden Daniels (hamstring), Bryce Young (ankle), and Michael Penix Jr. (foot). It’s enough to make any fantasy manager reach for the aspirin.
Joe Flacco (Bengals, 22% rostered) should be your top waiver priority if you need a QB. The guy’s been absolutely slinging it in Cincinnati. In his two starts, he’s thrown for 561 yards and five touchdowns, scoring at least 22.8 fantasy points each time out. Against the Jets in Week 8, he’s got a real shot to keep that momentum rolling.
If Daniels is going to miss time with that hamstring issue, Marcus Mariota (Commanders, 4% rostered) becomes instantly relevant. He’s already shown he can produce, dropping at least 20 fantasy points in his two earlier starts this season. Not a bad insurance policy.
Michael Penix Jr. (Falcons, 44% rostered) has a bone bruise in his foot, but if he’s good to go against Miami at home, he’s worth a look. J.J. McCarthy (Vikings, 33% rostered) has been dealing with an ankle injury since Week 2, but he dropped 25 fantasy points in Week 1. Keep an eye on his status.
For those in deeper leagues desperately searching for a dart throw, Tyrod Taylor (Jets, 2% rostered) could be a sneaky play against the Bengals.
Running Back Roulette: Finding Gold in the Backfield
The running back position is an absolute nightmare this week. Twelve running backs are on bye, including some heavy hitters like Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, and Kenneth Walker III. The injury report isn’t any prettier, with Kendre Miller (knee), Aaron Jones (hamstring), and Joe Mixon (foot) all banged up.
Kyle Monangai (Bears, 29% rostered) is your top pickup. He looked fantastic running alongside D’Andre Swift in Week 7, and with the Bears showing they’re willing to use him, he’s got legitimate flex appeal moving forward.
If Breece Hall’s ankle injury from Week 7 is more serious than expected, Isaiah Davis (Jets, 15% rostered) instantly becomes one of the hottest pickups on waivers. Hall briefly left the game, and while he returned, ankle injuries have a nasty habit of lingering.
Brashard Smith (Chiefs, 18% rostered) is starting to carve out a real role in Kansas City’s backfield. He had his best game of the season in Week 7, and with the Chiefs always finding creative ways to move the ball, he’s worth a stash.
Out in Arizona, Bam Knight (57% rostered) has taken over as the lead back with Trey Benson (knee) sidelined. Benson won’t be eligible to return from injured reserve until Week 10, so Knight has a clear path to touches for at least the next few weeks.
Down in New Orleans, with Kendre Miller done for the season after tearing his ACL, Devin Neal (2% rostered) becomes an intriguing lottery ticket. The Saints’ backfield is murky, but opportunity is everything in fantasy football.
Wide Receiver Wasteland Gets Even Worse
Six teams on bye means a ton of receivers are unavailable, including Amon-Ra St. Brown, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Cooper Kupp. The injury situation features Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder), Deebo Samuel (heel), and Terry McLaurin (quadriceps), all dealing with various ailments.
But here’s where things get interesting on the waiver wire.
Troy Franklin (Broncos, 9% rostered) is quietly becoming a fixture in Denver’s passing attack. He’s second on the team in targets, receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Against the Cowboys in Week 8, he could have a big day.
Darnell Mooney (Falcons, 5% rostered) continues to be undervalued. He’s getting consistent work in Atlanta’s offense and faces a Miami defense that’s been generous to opposing receivers all season.
Xavier Legette (Panthers, 2% rostered) is worth a speculative add, especially with Bryce Young potentially missing Week 8 with that high-ankle sprain. When Andy Dalton came in during Week 7, he targeted Legette five times in just one quarter, connecting on four for 60 yards. That kind of usage screams opportunity.
Josh Downs (Colts, 39% rostered) should be rostered in way more leagues than he currently is. If he’s somehow sitting on your waiver wire and you need receiver help against the Titans, grab him immediately.
Tight End Treasures Worth Mining
The tight end position remains a weekly headache for most fantasy managers, but there are a few names worth pursuing this week.
Oronde Gadsden II (Chargers, 1% rostered) is the most exciting name on this list. The rookie has the most receiving yards by an NFL tight end within his first five career games in the Super Bowl era, with 308 yards on the season. Against the Vikings in Week 8, he could absolutely go off.
Juwan Johnson (Saints, 43% rostered) had a season-high 79 receiving yards against the Bears and continues to be Spencer Rattler’s safety valve in the passing game. With the tight end landscape being what it is, that kind of floor is valuable.
Mason Taylor (Jets, 13% rostered) and Noah Fant (Bengals, 0.6% rostered) are both worth a look if you’re streaming the position. Taylor’s getting more involved in New York’s offense, while Fant benefits from playing alongside Flacco.
Colston Loveland (Bears, 31% rostered) saw his largest workload of the season in Week 7. With the Bears figuring out their offense, he could be a sneaky add for the stretch run.
The Bottom Line
Week 8 is going to test your roster management skills. Between the massive bye week crunch and the mounting injuries, there’s no such thing as a set-it-and-forget-it lineup right now. The managers who stay active on waivers, who aren’t afraid to make tough drops, and who can identify emerging opportunities before their leaguemates: those are the ones who’ll be playing in championship games come December.
Don’t overthink it. Trust your gut, grab the guys who are getting opportunities, and remember: in fantasy football, volume is king. Whether it’s Joe Flacco throwing 40 times because the Bengals are trailing, Monangai getting goal-line carries in Chicago, or Gadsden II emerging as a red zone weapon in LA, opportunity equals fantasy points.
Good luck out there. You’re going to need it.
