Waiver Wire Watch: Week 8

Oct 26, 2020

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I hope you found time to watch as much NFL football as possible yesterday, because this was one of the more enjoyable Sundays all season. There were a ton of thrilling games and finishes, all the way up to Sunday night. If you missed out, find some highlights or get a GamePass subscription and soak it all in. Anyway, let’s get to some waiver wire targets.

Recommendations are based on a PPR-scoring, four-point passing touchdown, 12-team league, with ownership percentages coming from Yahoo. I try to mention when a player is a better streaming play (short-term/one-week starter) versus a long-term addition. Free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) suggestions are based on a $100 season-long budget. Lastly, the great John Paulsen will edit this article every week and adjust rankings and prices if necessary. Essentially, you’re getting two minds collaborating on this piece instead of one, so lucky you.

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Now, with that out of the way, here are some players to target heading into Week 7.

BYES: Cardinals, Football Team, Jaguars, Texans.

Quarterbacks

Teddy Bridgewater, Panthers
Baker Mayfield, Browns
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers
Derek Carr, Raiders
Kirk Cousins, Vikings
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins

Teddy Bridgewater, Panthers, 43% rostered ($3)

Bridgewater delivered in a plus-matchup this past week, tossing two touchdowns and 254 yards against the Saints. He gets another favorable matchup in Week 8 when the Panthers host the Falcons on Thursday Night Football. Bridgewater has thrown multiple touchdowns in three of his last four games, with the lone exception being a matchup against the stingy Bears defense.

Baker Mayfield, Browns, 32% rostered ($1)

Just when fantasy managers were leaving Mayfield for dead, he responds with a career game, setting season-highs in passing yards (297) and touchdowns (five). Odell Beckham Jr. is done for the year (torn ACL), but Mayfield proved he can still move this offense without his top option. He’s a solid streamer next week when the Browns play the Raiders, a team that can score points but also is fond of letting others score them as well.

Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers, 30% rostered ($1)

Garoppolo was able to coast to a win over the Patriots, throwing for 277 yards and two interceptions (though one was on an end-of-the-half heave). Next week won’t be as easy, as Garoppolo will have to keep pace with the high-octane Seahawks offense. The 49ers passing attack is healthier now than at any point this season, so the pieces are there for Garoppolo to put up a nice streaming performance.

Derek Carr, Raiders, 29% rostered ($1)

Carr started out pretty hot against the tough Buccaneers defense but wasn’t able to put up enough points to win. In the end, he passed for 284 yards, two touchdowns, and one pick. Things should be a bit more open next week when Carr faces the Browns. Joe Burrow just carved up the Browns for over 400 yards and three touchdowns, showing the weakness in this Cleveland secondary. Carr should offer a solid floor and reachable fantasy ceiling in what could turn into a shootout.

Kirk Cousins, Vikings, 29% rostered ($3)

Cousins has as many turnovers (five) as passing touchdowns in his last two games, but he might be a viable streamer in Week 8 coming out of his bye and facing a beatable Packers secondary. Cousins put together some nice garbage time production against the Packers in Week 1, throwing for 259 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. There’s obvious risk with Cousins, but he offers a decent floor.

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins, 28% rostered ($3)

Tua is an intriguing, but risky streamer in his first NFL start. While Tua will get the benefit of piloting an offense with talented pass-catchers, the Rams have been a really tough opponent for opposing quarterbacks and wideouts. Tua offers some running upside, but it might be best to wait and see before locking Tua into starting lineups.

Other potential streamers: Nick Foles vs. Saints, Drew Lock vs. Chargers.