Waiver Wire Adds for Week 8

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Running backs galore! Could we be looking at the ascension of a pre-season tight end darling? A WR 1 on waivers?

Oh yeah, it’s a wild week on the wire. Welcome to our Waiver Wire targets for Week 8 of the 2023 NFL season.

Quarterbacks

We should caveat here: while these guys are often listed as viable pickups for multiple weeks, you can also view our QB recommendations as synonymous with streaming recommendations. 

Gardner Minshew, IND

The Mullet cannot be stopped. Minshew went beserk against the Browns, totaling 334 yards and 4 touchdowns. He showed why teams like having him in the locker room, even if he is a perennial backup nowadays. Minshew likes to throw the rock, and he’s done so effectively. He continues to lose fumbles, but he can likely fix that as the weeks carry on. Grab Minshew if you’re in dire straights at QB and enjoy the big weeks, while acknowledging there will be some missteps along the way. 

Tyson Bagent, CHI

It’s come to this, eh? This is more likely a desperation, 2QB/Superflex only option, but Bagent was able to lead the Bears to an impressive win over Las Vegas. He didn’t break 200 yards passing, but he didn’t turn the ball over and found a little bit of room on the ground as well. He’s only viable if Justin Fields remains out in Week 8 or longer, but Bagent did show up when it mattered and gets a softball matchup against the Chargers this week. 

Kyler Murray, ARI

The Cardinals opened the 21 day window for Murray to return from IR last week, which means he has roughly 2 more weeks before he must be active. That lines up for a Week 10 return against the Falcons. If he’s healthy and up to speed, it’s hard to imagine Murray not playing. Grab him now before you have to fight leaguemates on the wire.

Running Backs

Darrell Henderson, Jr., LAR

Ole reliable came back for another go under Sean McVay. After being signed off the street to immediate game action, Henderson saw 18 carries in Week 7. Zach Evans was a swing and a miss, and it looks like the Rams are more inclined to go with a seasoned vet who’s been there before than they are a rookie. His role is set until Kyren Williams returns, so grab him if he’s still on your league’s waiver wire

D’Onta Foreman, CHI

Just when I think I’m out, they suck me back in. Foreman exploded for 120 total yards and 3 TDs as the lead runner in Chicago, pulverizing the Raiders’ defense. Roschon Johnson might come back this week, but how can a team move off a guy who runs the way Foreman does when given the chance? Don’t let him go another week not on your squad. 

Chuba Hubbard, CAR

The Panthers have to find something that works on offense, and Hubbard seems to be a sparkplug. He’s looked better than starter Miles Sanders, and he totaled 90 yards before the team’s bye. Even though Sanders is likely to return to action, the odds of this becoming at least a 50/50 time share are good. Given the Panthers’ record, seeing what they have in Chuba isn’t the worst thing they could do.

Pierre Strong, CLE

Kareem Hunt is the lead runner with Jerome Ford shelved for a couple weeks with an ankle injury. That said, Strong did come in and spell Hunt after Ford left with his ailment, taking 8 carries in the second half. Strong won’t carry the load, but he will get work and could take some goal line touches from Hunt.

Jamaal Williams, NO

It’s easy to see why you wouldn’t trust Jamaal Williams: Derek Carr is throwing the ball to Alvin Kamara more times than you can count, and Kamara is making magic with those touches. However, the Kendre Miller breakout seemingly a ways off, Williams will fill the Mark Ingram role in New Orleans. You don’t sign a guy who led the league in touchdowns in 2022 and not use him near the goal line. The further removed from his injury he gets, the more upside Williams will have as a weekly flex option. 

Honorable Mentions:

Kareem Hunt, CLE

Jaylen Warren, PIT

Emari Demercado, ARI

Devin Singletary, HOU

Ezekiel Elliot, NE

Wide Receivers

Josh Downs, IND

Sheesh. We said a few weeks ago that Downs was a favorite target of Gardner Minshew’s, and Week 7 saw him go 5 for 125 and a touchdown, with an almost 20% target share. He’s not going to do this every week, but if the Colts want to remain competitive, geting Downs and Michael Pittman both rolling will be crucial to their success. Easily a favorite for pickup of the week, and you should expect solid production for the rest of the season. 

Kendrick Bourne, NE

Juju Smith-who? Bourne is very much the top target for the Patriots, especially with the recent falling off of Hunter Henry. The Patriots haven’t showed much on the offensive side of the ball, but having the guy who is the obvious WR1 on a team and getting him off waivers is always the proper way to handle a player like Bourne. He’ll be a decent spot-start and solid bench player for your squad.

Jayden Reed, GB

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Christian Watson is dealing with an injury. Both Watson and Luke Musgrave came out of the loss to Denver banged up, which means Reed should see more targets in Week 8, and possibly beyond. Jordan Love is having issues getting the ball downfield recently, but Reed has certainly flashed enough to be worthy of a pickup.

Jaylin Hyatt, NYG

A big-play guy in the making, Hyatt has a lot of air yards to his name, but not much of a statline to show for it. That said, the Giants’ offense looks like it’s finding a stride, though it remains to be seen how that will hold once Daniel Jones returns. However, Hyatt was drafted to be a field stretcher, and he is the guy who can turn one play into a nice-enough stat line you’ll be happy to have started him. The definition of a risk-reward player, Hyatt could be a guy who wins you weeks down the stretch.

Honorable Mentions

Rashee Rice, KC

Josh Palmer, LAC

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA

Tight Ends

Dalton Kincaid, BUF

The time has come for all the Kincaid truthers to take a victory lap. It’s unfortunate that the breakout is coming partially as a result of Dawson Knox needing wrist surgery. We wish Knox a speedy recovery, and now it’s time for Kincaid to prove he was worth the draft capital the Bills spend on him.

Jake Ferguson, DAL

Coming off a bye week and into two juicy matchups in Week 8 and 9 against the Rams and Eagles, Ferguson is a good floor play every week moving forward. He’s arguably the number 2 receiving option in Dallas, and Dak has a history of finding his tight end more and more as the season progresses. He’ll be a low-end TE 1 most weeks, and that’s plenty for us. 

Taysom Hill, NO

Oh yeah, we’re going here. Juwan Johnson is still out, and Derek Carr is struggling to move the ball with anyone other than Alvin Kamara. Last week against Jacksonville, Hill caught 4 balls for 50 yards and a TD. That won’t be a weekly occurrence, but Hill provides a bright spot in a dim offense. If he gets you some rushing yards as well as his growing usage in the passing game…Hill could be worth a spot start where needed. Proceed with caution, and imagine the upside.

Anyone you think we missed? Who are you spending your top waiver priority on this week? Sound off on social media and let us know!

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