As we get ready for Week 8 of the 2023 NFL Season, we enter our first critical period of the fantasy football season. Many fantasy managers will face their first serious roster decisions of the season. For managers who lost players to injury in Week 7, this may be their only chance to stay afloat. So let’s take a look at my Week 8 Waiver Wire Targets for fantasy football.
* I will be using Yahoo Fantasy Rostership & for this Week 8 Waiver Wire article. I will also attempt to give several options at each position, for varying league sizes. The dollar value next to the player’s name is the desired amount of FAAB to bid on them with a $100 budget.
Quarterbacks
Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts ($15)
Week 8 Opponent: New Orleans Saints, Rostership: 8%
Minshew exploded in Week 8 as he racked up 305 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns and 39 fantasy points in a loss to the Browns. Minshew was excellent as a passer, but his true value boost came on the ground where he added an additional 29 yards and two touchdowns.
He faces the Saints in Week 9, so if you are in need of a one-week streamer he may not be your guy. If you are looking for a rest-of-season starter, he is an excellent option with nothing to lose.
Shallow League Options (More than 70% Rostership): Jordan Love, GB (77% rostered), Matthew Stafford, LAR (77% rostered)
Medium League Options (50 to 70% Rostership): CJ Stroud, HOU (65% rostered), Sam Howell, WSH (58% rostered)
Deeper League Options (25 to 50% Rostership): Kyler Murray, ARI (42% rostered), Derek Carr, NO (35% rostered)
Dart Throw Options (Less than 25% Rostership): Gardner Minshew, IND (8% rostered), Mac Jones, NE (8% rostered)
Running Backs
Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams ($ 10)
Week 8 Opponent: Dallas Cowboys, Rostership: 24%
Henderson was on his couch a week ago, now he is in my waiver wire column. What a crazy game we play. In Week 7 he operated as the Rams starting running back and rushed for 61 yards and one touchdown. He was not spectacular and his fantasy day was saved by the touchdown, but if his usage from Week 7 carries over to the future he could be a sneaky add.
Shallow League Options (More than 70% Rostership): AJ Dillon, GB (72% rostered), Jaylen Warren, PIT (70% rostered)
Medium League Options (50 to 70% Rostership): Kareem Hunt, CLE (65% rostered), Gus Edwards, BAL (65% rostered), D’Onta Foreman, CHI (64% rostered)
Deeper League Options (25 to 50% Rostership): Roschon Johnson, CHI (49% rostered), Ezekiel Elliott, NE (46% rostered), Tyjae Spears, TEN (41% rostered)
Dart Throw Options (Less than 25% Rostership): Darrell Henderson, LAR (8% rostered), Joshua Kelley, LAC (21% rostered), Emari Demarcado, ARI (14% rostered)
Wide Receivers
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts ($20)
Week 8 Opponent: New Orleans Saints, Rostership: 36%
Downs had his rookie breakout game in Week 7 with Minshew at quarterback. In Week 7 he totalled 5 catches for 125 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown. He had six targets and looked to be a reliable second option for Minshew against a tough Browns defence.
Shallow League Options (More than 70% Rostership): Courtland Sutton, DEN (74% rostered), Diontae Johnson, PIT (71% rostered)
Medium League Options (50 to 70% Rostership): Jaxon Smith-Njigba, SEA (66% rostered), Romeo Doubs, GB (65% rostered), Rashee Rice, KC (58%), Joshua Palmer, LAC (57% rostered)
Deeper League Options (25 to 50% Rostership): Tank Dell, HOU (48% rostered), Tutu Atwell, LAR (46% rostered), Rashid Shaheed, NO (37% rostered), Josh Downs, IND (36% rostered)
Dart Throw Options (Less than 25% Rostership): Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG (24% rostered), Michael Wilson, ARI (19% rostered), Jalin Hyatt, NYG (5% rostered)
Tight Ends
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills ($10)
Week 8 Opponent: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rostership: 42%
Week 7 may have finally seen Dalton Kincaid have the breakout game many expected weeks ago. He totalled eight receptions on eight targets, for 75 yards. His 17 fantasy points was a career high and he finally took over the snap lead from Dawson Knox.
There is still plenty of room for improvement, but Kiincaid may be about to bloom after a lacklustre start to his rookie campaign.
Shallow League Options (More than 70% Rostership): Cole Kmet, CHI (75% rostered)
Medium League Options (50 to 70% Rostership): David Njoku, CLE (62% rostered), Dalton Schultz, HOU (55% rostered)
Deeper League Options (25 to 50% Rostership): Jake Ferguson, DAL (46% rostered), Dalton Kincaid, BUF (42% rostered), Jonnu Smith, NE (42% rostered), Michael Mayer, LV (26% rostered)
Dart Throw Options (Less than 25% Rostership): Gerald Everett, LAC (24% rostered), Taysom Hill, NO (9% rostered), Cade Otton, TB (2% rostered), Trey McBride, ARI (2% rostered), Luke Musgrave, GB (9% rostered)
If you like Fantasy Football 2023: Week 8 Waiver Wire Targets, head over to our rankings page for a full breakdown.
