Fantasy Football 2019: Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups
Davis had six catches for 80 yards and a TD in the Titans' Week 7 win over the Chargers.
Silas Walker/Getty Images
We are halfway through the fantasy football season and more injuries are opening up opportunities for players available on the waiver wire. Even if the roster is in good shape, always work the waiver wire. There were several injuries in Week 7 and we already know Lions running back Kerryon Johnson and Texans wide receiver Will Fuller will miss time.
Below are players I recommend adding who are owned in under 40% of leagues on Yahoo, ESPN or CBS.
Quarterbacks
Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings
Cousins was dropped in a lot of leagues since the passing game has had a low floor in many weeks. But since Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen complained, the production has been better. Cousins has shown with a favorable matchup and no pressure in his face, he can excel. He has consecutive games with four touchdown passes and 10 in the last three. Cousins has passed for at least 306 yards in three straight games and hosts the Redskins this week before playing at Kansas City.
Sam Darnold, New York Jets
Regardless of his performance against the Patriots, Darnold is a good option going forward. He boosted the Jets' offense in his return in Week 6 against the Cowboys with 338 yards and two touchdowns. The Jets will play the Jaguars, Dolphins, Giants, Redskins, Raiders, Bengals and Dolphins in the weeks ahead.
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans
The Titans' passing offense showed life with Tannehill. His value means more for the wide receivers, but those with Patrick Mahomes may need to dig deep to find a replacement. Tannehill passed for 302 yards with two touchdowns and one interception against the Chargers in Week 7. The Titans will play the Buccaneers in Week 8. They have been staunch against the run, limiting Christian McCaffrey twice. The Buccaneers have allowed 318.5 passing yards per game, and that includes 166 yards from Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 1.
Matt Moore, Kansas City Chiefs
This is a play for super-flex leagues and ones in which two quarterbacks can start. The expectations have to be downgraded with Moore at quarterback, but he does have good weapons to throw to. If the defense can't improve, Moore could be asked to throw often.
Running Backs
Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals
If Edmonds is still available, you're lucky. He was drafted in deep formats and was picked up in most leagues over the last few weeks. David Johnson was active against the Giants after dealing with an ankle injury and a back issue the week before. He had the first carry of the game. After that, it was all Edmonds with Johnson playing three snaps. Edmonds rushed for 126 yards on 27 carries with three touchdowns and caught two passes for 24 yards. He has 51 carries for 287 yards (5.6 yards per rush), while Johnson is averaging 3.9 yards per carry. It was the third consecutive game Edmonds reached double-digit points in PPR formats. Even if Johnson returns to be the main back, Edmonds has carved out a role.
Ty Johnson, Detroit Lions
Kerryon Johnson left Week 7 with a knee injury and had a brace on it. He will miss some time and is considered week-to-week. Ty will get the bulk of the touches in a great matchup against the Giants. He played 64.5% of the snaps and had 10 carries for 29 yards and four catches for 28 yards against the Vikings.
Mark Walton, Miami Dolphins
It's not very appealing to play a Dolphins running back, but with injuries and bye weeks, Walton comes into play. With the Dolphins tanking, Walton's role could grow each week. He led the backfield in touches against the Bills with 15, while Kenyan Drake had nine and Kalen Ballage added three. Walton had 14 carries for 66 yards and is averaging 4.6 yards per carry. There are rumors that Drake could get traded.
Darrell Henderson, Los Angeles Rams
Henderson has value as long as Malcolm Brown is out. Todd Gurley will get most of the touches, but Henderson had 12 touches against the Falcons. He didn't do much with 11 carries for 31 yards and an eight-yard catch, while playing 34% of the snaps. If Brown is out next week, Henderson is an option in deeper formats with the Bengals next.
Benny Snell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Snell is the backup to James Conner while Jaylen Samuels is out with a knee injury. Snell had 17 carries for 75 yards and caught a 14-yard pass against the Chargers in Week 6. The Steelers play the Dolphins in Week 8 and there's a chance he gets double-digit touches if the Steelers control the game. Conner was also banged up in the last game and there's been no update since the team was off. At worst, he's a handcuff.
J.D. McKissic, Detroit Lions
Ty Johnson appears to be the lead back while Kerryon Johnson is out. McKissic is more of a pass-catching back. He had five carries for 29 yards and two receptions for 31 yards against the Vikings.
Brian Hill, Atlanta Falcons
Ito Smith has already been ruled out for Week 8 due to a concussion. Devonta Freeman will get most of the touches, but Smith has played 35% of the snaps. Don't count on the same production, but those in deeper formats can take a shot.
Wide Receivers
Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans
Davis was dropped in many formats after being quiet for weeks. Marcus Mariota wasn't helping the receivers be consistent and Ryan Tannehill took over at quarterback against the Chargers and was getting the ball to the receivers. Davis had a season-high seven targets, catching six passes for 80 yards with a touchdown. With the Buccaneers ahead in Week 8, Davis has another chance to have a good game.
Kenny Stills, Houston Texans
Will Fuller left Sunday's game with a hamstring injury and reportedly could miss several weeks. Stills came back from a hamstring injury in Week 6 and played a big role when Fuller left after three snaps. Stills is a big-play threat with a good quarterback in Deshaun Watson. Stills caught four of five targets for 105 yards against the Colts. The Raiders and Jaguars are ahead the next two weeks.
DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins
After showing potential in his first few seasons but lacking consistency, Parker is producing in a terrible offense. The Dolphins will be trailing often and passing a lot, so it's helping Parker get volume. He had 10 targets against the Bills and caught five passes for 55 yards with a touchdown. Parker has scored in three consecutive games. He has at least six targets in four games this season and 38 total on the year.
A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans
The Titans passed a lot more with Ryan Tannehill taking over at quarterback for the Titans. Brown has shown dominance at times this season, but he wasn't getting the targets consistently. That could change now. Brown had eight targets against the Chargers and caught six passes for 64 yards. He has two games of at least 94 yards this season and gets the Buccaneers in Week 8. They have allowed four 100-yard wide receivers.
Zach Pascal, Indianapolis Colts
Pascal had his best game of the season against the Texans, catching six of seven targets for 106 yards and two touchdowns. He had two targets the week before against the Chiefs when the Colts went run-heavy. In Week 5, Pascal had seven targets and caught four passes for 72 yards. He has three touchdowns in the last four games.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers
Johnson could have been dropped since he had a bye week. He has 20 targets with Mason Rudolph at quarterback and scored two touchdowns in his three full starts with him. Johnson gets the Dolphins this week.
Keke Coutee, Houston Texans
Stills is the preferred add of the Texans receivers, but Coutee played 66% of the snaps when Will Fuller left the game early against the Colts. Coutee had five targets, catching three passes for 25 yards, and rushed for a four-yard score.
Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots
Josh Gordon sat out in Week 7 against the Jets with a knee injury. As long as Gordon is sidelined, Meyers will play more snaps.
Alex Erickson, Cincinnati Bengals
Erickson saw six targets in Week 6 and caught four passes for 47 yards before getting 14 targets against the Jaguars. He caught eight passes for 137 yards against the Jaguars in Week 7. With Tyler Boyd and Auden Tate getting more attention, Erickson took advantage. The Bengals will be passing a lot as they play from behind, but Erickson can't be counted on every week. This is for deep leagues.
N'Keal Harry, New England Patriots
Harry is eligible to return from injured reserve in Week 9. He's a stash in deeper leagues if you have the roster spot. He could become a red-zone target.
Tight Ends
Chris Herndon, New York Jets
Herndon was eligible to come back from suspension in Week 6, but has sat the last two games due to a hamstring injury. There's a chance he could return in Week 8 and the Jets have an excellent upcoming schedule.
Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Goedert has played a role in the Eagles' offense and has 12 targets over the last two games. He caught all four targets against the Cowboys for 69 yards with a touchdown. The week before he had five catches for 48 yards. The Eagles run a lot of two-tight end sets and Goedert has seen his snaps increase the last few games.
Ricky Seals-Jones, Cleveland Browns
Seals-Jones is getting some targets downfield. He caught three passes for 82 yards with a touchdown in Week 4 and followed with one target against the 49ers. He caught three of six targets for 47 yards with a touchdown in Week 6, and the Browns haven't had a third receiver step up.
Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans
Delanie Walker tried to play through an ankle injury against the Chargers, but he couldn't be effective. There's a chance he could sit in Week 8 against the Buccaneers, who struggled against the pass. Smith had three catches for 64 yards against the Chargers.
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