Fantasy Injury Updates: Adam Thielen, Will Fuller V, Delanie Walker impact Week 8 waiver wire pickups/drops

Billy Heyen

Fantasy Injury Updates: Adam Thielen, Will Fuller V, Delanie Walker impact Week 8 waiver wire pickups/drops image

Receivers' legs are their money makers. Sunday, and both Adam Thielen and Will Fuller V left their respective games due to hamstring injuries early on Sunday. Hamstring injuries aren't run-of-the-mill leg injuries, as they also have a tendency to linger. Those injuries make Olabisi Johnson and Kenny Stills possible Week 8 waiver wire pickups. Jonnu Smith might also get claimed on waivers in some leagues with Delanie Walker's status in doubt in Tennessee.

For updates on banged-up RBs David Johnson and Kerryon Johnson, click here; for more on Matt Ryan's ankle, go here; for updates on Alvin Kamara and James Conner, click here; for the latest on DeSean JacksonDavante Adams, and other injured WRs, go here; for more on Drew Brees, Cam Newton, and Mason Rudolph, click here. For more news and updates, follow us on Twitter @SN_Fantasy.

WEEK 8 NON-PPR RANKINGS
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Is Adam Thielen playing Thursday night?

Thielen injured his hamstring on a remarkable touchdown catch Sunday. He was initially listed as questionable to return after limping off, but he eventually was ruled out. NFL Network reported Thielen is "optimistic" he'll play in Week 8, but it's a quick turnaround to Thursday Night Football against the Redskins.

(Update: Thielen is "unlikely" to play on Thursday Night Football, per NFL Network. Further update: Thielen sat out practice Tuesday.)

Against a bad Washington team, it wouldn't be shocking to see Minnesota take the cautious approach and hold Thielen out. That would make Stefon Diggs a must-start against a bad secondary coming off two big games, while Olabisi Johnson should be a popular waiver-wire claim after his eight targets Sunday, as he would start with Thielen out. Tight ends Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith Jr. also saw upticks in production with Thielen out, putting both into consideration if you're desperate at that position.

WEEK 8: Waiver wire | FAAB planner | Trade valuesSnap counts

Will Fuller V injury update

Fuller left Sunday's game in the first quarter and didn't return due to a hamstring injury. One person tweeted at the SN Fantasy account and said, "He was due." A hamstring injury for a speedy, injury-prone WR isn't great. We'll learn more as the week goes on.

(Update: Ian Rapaport reports Fuller has a significant hamstring pull and is expected to miss several weeks.)

Kenny Stills and Keke Coutee both received five targets Sunday. Stills, who topped the 100-yard mark in Week 7, has the more direct correlation to Fuller's role and would probably be a boom-or-bust FLEX option in Week 8 against Oakland if Fuller was out.

WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end

Is Delanie Walker injured?

Walker's ankle injury eventually held him out of Sunday's second half, although there was a lot of uncertainty during the game as to why he wasn't playing. In the first half, he was shown with a helmet on his head on the sideline, as if he could come back in. In the second half, he was just wearing a baseball cap, looking like his day was over.

Week 8 DFS Lineups: 
Y! Cash | Y! GPP | FD Cash | FD GPP | DK Cash | DK GPP

Ryan Tannehill appears to have slightly revitalized the Titans' passing attack, so there could be fantasy value for backup TE Jonnu Smith if Walker misses time. Smith caught all three of his targets for 64 yards on Sunday.

Billy Heyen