Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups Show from Fantasy Insiders

Shallow League Options

Austin Ekeler

Melvin Gordon missed the London game with a hamstring injury, but it doesn’t sound serious. Ekeler isn’t a priority if he’s available.

Nick Chubb

Definitely break the bank if Chubb is somehow still available. He’s a top 20 PPR back now that Carols Hyde is in Jacksonville, and racked up 80 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries against Tampa Bay.

Kerryon Johnson

Johnson should already be owned, but grab him if he’s still out there. The Lions gave him a season-high 19 carries on Sunday and he’s clearly a better option than LeGarrette Blount or any other Detroit rushers.

Marlon Mack

Mentioned on the show last week, Mack came through with another big performance torching Buffalo for 126 yards and a touchdown. The running back position was hit hard by injuries in Week 7, making Mack the top waiver add this week. He should continue to get a large share of carries despite the presence of Nyheim Hines and Jordan Wilkins, who both got work when the game was out of hand.

Tyrell Williams

Similar to Mack, Williams was discussed last week and had another good showing, catching a touchdown and finishing with exactly 118 yards receiving for the second straight game. His production is unpredictable and the wide receiver position isn’t as barren as running back, so Mack is the top add, but Williams is worth a look as well.

Big Performers – Pickup or Nah?

Michael Roberts

Roberts is an intriguing prospect, but his two-touchdown performance is likely a blip on the radar. The Detroit passing game is concentrated between the three wide receivers and Theo Riddick when healthy, so there isn’t much room for a tight end to emerge into a meaningful workload. The position remains tough to fill on a weekly basis and owners may need a Rob Gronkowski replacement once again, but there should be better options available.

Chris Herndon

The Jets have divided tight end snaps between four different players, but Herndon has seen the most passing game opportunities. He had four catches and a touchdown against Minnesota, and could have had a much bigger day after getting tackled at the 1-yard line. Herndon’s seven targets were encouraging even though his upside is capped by the presence of the other tight ends. He’s a worthy additions for TE-desperate teams.

Michael Gallup

Possibly the sneaky pickup of the week, Gallup is on a bye so he could be overlooked by other owners. The rookie had a career-highs in catches and yardage against Washington, plus caught his first touchdown. Gallup has an excellent SPARQ score and has made some amazing grabs so far, the primary issue going forward being volume in the Dallas offense.

D.J. Moore

Another rookie who’s shown flashes, Moore may see an increased workload with Torrey Smith potentially missing time. His involvement has slowly increased and Moore is definitely worth a speculative add where available.

Albert Wilson

Miami got Wilson the ball in a variety of ways on Sunday, but a hip injury may cost him going forward. Wilson is someone to keep an eye on as more is reported about the injury timeframe.

Robby Anderson

Anderson hasn’t gotten on the same page with Sam Darnold just yet, as the pair connected on just three of 10 targets against Minnesota. Anderson’s downfield prowess is well-documented, making him someone to consider adding as chemistry between him and his rookie quarterback develops.

Possible Injury Replacements

Kenjon Barner

Sony Michel’s knee injury leaves a big opening in the New England backfield, with James White and Barner the only healthy options at the moment. Barner was moderately effective with his 10 carries against Chicago, but there’s a decent chance New England goes out and replaces Michel via trade or free agency. Mike Gillislee looms as another potential option, as he was in contact with the team after being cut by New Orleans a couple weeks back. Whoever takes on the Michel role will have value and is worth an add once the situation is sorted out.

Raheem Mostert

Matt Breida went down with an ankle injury against Los Angeles, returned, and then left the game again. Mostert turned his 11 touches into 78 yards, averaging an impressive 8.4 yards a carry after an equally explosive Week 6. If Breida rests his ankle for multiple weeks, Mostert is definitely worth a look in most leagues, as he appears far more talented than Alfred Morris at this stage of their careers. Even if Breida is healthy, Mostert’s production warrants waiver wire consideration.

Buffalo RBs

Just no. In this offense a healthy LeSean McCoy has little value, so if he misses time with a concussion, neither Chris Ivory or Marcus Murphy would be worthwhile options. Running back is rough right now, but not that rough.

Trenton Cannon

Bilal Powell went down with a neck issue and Cannon stepped in with four catches for 69 yards against Minnesota. Isaiah Crowell will continue to get the majority of carries, but Cannon could carve out a decent role in the passing game. He’s worth consideration in deeper leagues. Elijah McGuire is another guy to watch, as he returned to practice this week and could return from IR in Week 9.

QB Streamers

Andy Dalton vs. TB

Quarterbacks against Tampa Bay are always in play. Dalton may not be available in many leagues as he’s been a popular streaming option with so many plus matchups, but check waiver wires just to be sure.

Derek Carr vs. IND

Carr throwing it a ton, he just doesn’t have many options in the receiving game. It could be a high-scoring affair against the Colts so Carr is worth consideration.

Case Keenum @ KC

Keenum is preferred over Carr, getting a better matchup and having far better options to utilize against Kansas City.

Mitchell Trubisky vs. NYJ

The rookie had another big performance on Sunday, lighting up New England through the air as well as on the ground. He’s worth grabbing this week and probably a hold going forward given his production the past few weeks.

About the Author

cawright95
Charlie Wright (cawright95)

Charlie Wright (aka cawright95) is a former journalist who left the news world to pursue a career in the gambling industry. He writes weekly content for the NFL, NBA, and MLB while also contributing betting picks for ScoresAndOdds. Charlie has held a variety of roles for Better Collective. He currently leads the Marketing team for RotoGrinders, ScoresAndOdds, and FantasyLabs. Follow Charlie on Twitter – @Chuck_Wright5