Running backs will dominate the top Week 8 fantasy waiver pickups and free agent adds, as backups Chuba Hubbard, D'Onta Foreman, Gus Edwards, and Isiah Pacheco all stepped into enhanced roles that should continue for the foreseeable future. We highlighted those players in our initial waivers article of the week, and little has happened to dethrone this quartet as the top claims. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of other potential free agent adds, like Monday night's star Justin Fields, who will be snatched up after waivers clear around 4-5 a.m. ET on Wednesday mornings in Yahoo and ESPN leagues.
Hubbard, Foreman, Edwards, and Pacheco aren't the only RBs who will be added this week, as Latavius Murray and Kyren Williams also present some value. Our full free agent list also features several emerging pass-catchers (Wan'Dale Robinson, Parris Campbell, Mecole Hardman, Marquise Goodwin, Greg Dulcich) and a bunch of streamer suggestions if you need fill-ins for your Chiefs or Chargers (or any player with a bad matchup). The QB, WR, TE, and D/ST streamer suggestions are ordered by position and can be found at the end of the list.
MORE WEEK 8 WAIVER PICKUPS: Full list
This should be a busy week on the wire, as at least four RBs (Edwards, Hubbard, Foreman, Pacheco) figure to receive high claims and a couple more (Williams, Murray) could garner lower claims. In 12-team leagues, we could even see pass-catchers like Robinson, Campbell, Goodwin, and Dulcich get bids.
If you use a claim this week, the good news is that you should start moving back up the pecking order quickly. If you're fortunate enough to not need (or want) any of this week's top pickups, then you should gain a lot of ground in waiver priority. Either way, there are plenty of opportunities to improve your situation this week, so don't waste them by throwing out a claim on a dime-a-dozen streamer.
WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Top fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 8
Unless otherwise noted, only players owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues are considered.
Justin Fields, QB, Bears. Fields still isn't the best real-life QB, but his rushing ability gives him a high floor in fantasy leagues. That was on display Monday night when he ran for 82 yards and a TD to go along with 179 yards and a TD through the air. It was the fifth-straight game in which he's had at least 47 rushing yards and the second-straight game in which he's topped 80. If he can continue to rush for 40-plus yards, Fields will be a borderline QB1 during the bye weeks. His ceiling is limited by his mediocre passing numbers, but Fields is still a nice QB to have on your bench. He isn't in a great spot in Week 8 against Dallas (then again, he wasn't in a great spot against New England), but things clear up after that with the Dolphins, Lions, and Falcons in Weeks 9-11.
WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Kyren Williams, RB, Rams. It's been reported that Williams will have a "big role" in the Rams' offense once he's back from preseason ankle surgery. That might not be for a few weeks, as the Rams still haven't opened his 21-day practice window, but with Cam Akers going AWOL and Darrell Henderson Jr. inspiring little confidence, clearly, there's a chance for Williams to be a second-half difference-maker. Grab him now and stash him on your IR.
MORE WEEK 8 WAIVER PICKUPS: Full list
Latavius Murray, RB, Broncos. Melvin Gordon (11 carries, 33 rushing yards, four targets) was Denver's nominal lead back in Week 7, but Murray still had a prominent role, rushing eight times for 24 yards and a TD and hauling in two-of-three targets for minus-one yard. Murray looks like Denver's goal-line back, which makes sense given his size and Gordon's fumbling problem, and as long as he's this involved, he'll have potential value. Consider him a flex next week against the Jags.
Marquise Goodwin, WR, Seahawks. Goodwin had a big Week 7 (four catches, five targets, 67 yards, two TDs), but his inclusion on this list has more to do with DK Metcalf's knee injury. It's unclear if Metcalf will miss more time, but if he does, Goodwin has a lot of upside as Seattle's No. 2 receiver. The big-play specialist will be a boom-or-bust flex most weeks (like Week 8 against the Giants), but the booms could be big, especially with increased targets.
Juwan Johnson, TE, Saints. Johnson broke out with two TDs in Week 7 in a favorable matchup against Arizona, and he has another highly favorable matchup in Week 8 against the Raiders (third-most fantasy points per game allowed to TEs). Johnson will continue to get enough key targets to be a solid streamer, and given all of the Saints' WR and TE injuries, he has potential staying power.
For additional waiver/free agent suggestions, including top pickups Gus Edwards, Chuba Hubbard, D'Onta Foreman, Isiah Pacheco, and more, check out our full Week 8 list.
