NFL
By: Bill Carroll
Waiver Week 8 not only means that the NFL trade deadline is looming, but also that it is time to make the moves that will build your roster’s depth and buttress any weak spots. Hopefully, you were able to add: Kyren Williams, but he is on the Injured Reserve at least through Week 11. So how do you replace him? I was more of a fan of Darrell Henderson, than I was of Royce Freeman, during the pre-draft process. I would choose Henderson, but both will share the load and the “hot hand” may be a deciding factor.
Henderson just scored his first touchdown since Week 10 of 2022, producing 18 carries for 61 yards, in addition to the score, Freeman posted 12 carries, tied with a team-high 61 yards. Henderson was drafted by the Rams in the third round (70th overall) of the 2019 NFL Draft. In 40 regular season games (21 starts) he showed both power and speed. In his best year, 2021 he tallied 688 yards rushing on 149 carries, with 176 yards receiving and eight total touchdowns. He appeared in 12 games, starting 10.
Hopefully, you ignored everything that I wrote about Zach Evans, the talented rookie, who is apparently too raw with regard to the offensive scheme, pass protections, and routes to see the field. Evans is a solid stash for keeper or dynasty leagues, but his time has not yet come. But there are some even more inviting Waiver Week 8 additions.
Waiver Week 8 Running Backs
Hopefully, you were able to add: Jerome Ford, he had a however he will now miss one, or more likely, two weeks, at least, with an ankle sprain. So back to the future with Kareem AJ Hunt, who has amassed 4128 rushing and 1852 receiving with 51 total touchdowns. He is an obvious must-add. I think he’s good for about 11.2 points in a standard scoring league, about 12.6 in .5 Point PPR, 13.9 in full point PPR, meaning his halcyon standard scoring league, 18.6 per game days of 2018 are likely long gone, but he and D’Onta Foreman, who has a career fantasy, [standard scoring], point per game average of 7.7, is also a top Waiver Week 8 selection.
In week seven D’Onta Foreman had 16 carries for 89 yards, three catches from five targets, for 31 yards, and a total of three scores. In Waiver Week 8, I would expect 12.9 points in a standard scoring league, about 14.5 in .5 Point PPR, up to 17.7 in full point PPR. Emari Demercado has been somehow, both a revelation and a disappointment. He was in a committee in college, his TCU career had 1,615 yards and 10 TDs on 338 carries to go along with 40 receptions for 277 yards and one TD , that is about the same production as the months of September and October of Jonathon Taylor‘s last season at Wisconsin.
I get that his season debut as a contributor was 13 carries for 58 yards, with 4 catches for 17 yards, but it appears that may be his high water mark. But my number one favorite of the Waiver Week 8 Running Backs is Dameon Pierce. In 10 or 12 team leagues Waiver Week 8, he is not always available, but if he is, it is, in part, due to a very poor start to the season: 97 carries in six games for a dreary 2.9 yards-per-carry. Pierce has only produced one touchdown, but I believe that will change. He is facing the 31st-ranked tun defense of the Carolina Panthers (144.3 yards allowed per game).
Waiver Week 8 Wide Receivers
Waiver Week 8 is a good one to explore the trade market for receivers, with a team that may have Cooper Kupp returning from the IR or anyone else in your league is willing to part with a receiver. As has been written previously Kendrick L. Bourne is not a prototypical number-one receiver, however, he has had seven or more targets and scored double-digit fantasy points in each of his last two games. Michael McCorkle “Mac” Jones has been at his best when targeting Kendrick Bourne. When throwing to him, in the last two weeks, Jones posted a 123.5 quarterback rating.
As badly as I botched the buy call on Zach Evans, in Waiver Week 7. I hopefully redeemed myself with some of the receiver buy and holds. Heading into Waiver Week 8 the stat-line, for the last three weeks, of Josh Downs has been strong, posting a 19.7% target share and 2.5 yards per route run. Downs snagged five of his six targets for 125 yards and a touchdown. He scored in consecutive weeks, hopefully, you added him.
Jayden Reed In his last three games, Reed has grabbed seven receptions on 11 targets, for 83 yards, and has accumulated 5.4 fantasy points on average, he is to be considered in deep leagues, as should be Jalin Daveon Hyatt. In his most recent game, he broke out with five receptions on nine targets for 96 yards, including a 75-yard, circus catch. His 64.3% catch rate is almost bound to improve.
The last two Waiver Week 8 receivers are Diontae Lamarcus Johnson and Michael William Thomas Jr. as strange as it sounds to say it, they are now both in the same tier as Waiver Week 8 flex options or number two wide receivers in a deep league. Thomas checks in at an average of 8.6 points in .5 point PPR, while Johnson checks in at 8.4.
Waiver Week 8 Tight Ends
I wish I had great news, but these are Waiver Week 8 Tight Ends, so the news is only so good, but if you grabbed Dalton Mosser Kincaid, late in your draft or off of waivers and stashed him, now is your moment, take a bow! With starter, Dawson Knox injured and a 8 catch for 75 yards game versus the Patriots, he is the strongest buy in the currently available TE market. Another young player who is ascending is Trey McBride, while he has a tough match-up against the Ravens, he has McBride out-snapped Ertz over the last two weeks and now Ertz joins James Conner on Injured Reserve.
“From Weeks 14 through 18 last season, while Ertz was sidelined, McBride was the TE11 in fantasy football. In Week 17, he was the TE2 in half-PPR scoring formats on the back of 10 targets that he turned into seven receptions for 78 yards and a touchdown,” wrote Kyle Yates.”
I really liked McBride at Colorado State, he is athletic and a dangerous runner, after the catch, which his 11.33 yards per catch shows. He had a season-high six targets in week 7 In deeper leagues, Taysom Hill good for 6.8 in .5 point PPR leagues, 6.1 for Skarino Gerald Rashard Everett, but monitor his hip injury, Tyler Conklin produces 5.4 in .5 point PPR leagues, even Jake Ferguson has some upside. He he just had a season-high 84% routes run rate, that was for just one target, but Peyton Hendershot is on injured reserve. He is a deep leagues flyer.
Waiver Week 8 Quarterbacks
Kyler Cole Murray is returning to the gridiron, this is not a drill. Now I would still urge caution, he may or may not play in week 8. So add him as a future stash in all leagues. The other names will be a tad less exciting.
The Colts allowed 32 offensive points to one of the league’s worst offenses on Sunday and while Gardner Flint Minshew II managed 305 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception against a talented and tough Browns’ defense. He also added 29 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. Derek Dallas Carr exceeded 300 passing yards in each of his last two games, he also Thomas back, it seems that Christian Josiah Olave will be available, despite showing of his speed in the wrong place. Olave garnered double-digit totals during his last two games, he saw 15 targets in Week 7. He has accumulated at least 10 targets five times, so far.
The Colts versus Saints game feels like a Waiver Week 8 game with shootout potential. A few more Waiver Week 8 games earmarked for high scoring include: Dolphins versus New England, the Kansas City Chiefs face the Denver Broncos and [I know I don’t like saying this any more than you like hearing it], believe it or not, the Bears going west to the Los Angeles Chargers. I do not love any of the quarterbacks in those games, but in some 10-12 team leagues Russell Carrington Wilson may be available, but in deeper leagues or two QB/super-flex leagues Tyson Bagent and Michael McCorkle Jones are 100% worthy of consideration and do not discard Robert Joshua Dobbs just yet. Arizona may take it slow with Murray and there is the threat of re-injury.
Waiver Week 8 Defenses/Special Teams
The Atlanta Falcons visit the Tennessee Titans, I think both defenses are intriguing, but I would take the Falcons. Tannehill has been ruled out, so the Titans, it seems as of now, will be playing both rookie Will Levis and Malik Willis. That sounds like a fantastic chance to force multiple turnovers. The Ravens have the Cardinals for some bird-on-bird violence and the Jacksonville Jaguars are the fourth-best defense in the NFL at yards-per-carry at 3.6. In deeper leagues the are a possibility.
Waiver Week 8 Kickers
Younghoe Koo is the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, the NFL announced on Wednesday. Versus the Buccaneers, he was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts, hitting from 24, 41 and 51 yards. and has been 13 of 14 on flied goals in 2023. In the last three seasons, Koo’s nailed seven walk-off kicks. Seven game-winners as time expired, including overtime, tying him with Las Vegas’ Daniel Carlson for the most, since the start of the 2021 season. I believe in the power of confidence and momentum. Another trustworthy leg is Brandon Aubrey of the Cowboys, he may have been dropped due to his bye. He should be one of the a top Waiver Week 8 Kickers. He been perfect on all 16 of his field-goal attempts this season, including two from 50+ yards out.
