A lack of injuries in any given week usually means a weak crop of potential adds on the wire, but a few benchings (Terrelle Pryor, Martavis Bryant) and a suspension (Marshawn Lynch) breathe a little life into Week 8's top fantasy waiver pickups. Expect to see Josh Doctson, Latavius Murray, and at least one of Oakland's two handcuff RBs (DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard) on rosters when waivers clear around 5 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning in ESPN and Yahoo leagues, but guys like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Mohamed Sanu, Kenny Stills, and more could be available as free agents.
Of course, with a six-team bye week upon us (Cardinals, Packers, Jaguars, Giants, Titans, Rams), at least a few owners will need to go hunting for streamer D/STs and TEs. We highlight four potential defense pickups and several TEs in our full waiver wire list, as well as a whole bunch of capable WR3 fill-ins.
It feels like we're overdue for a big, multi-week RB injury, so it's never a bad idea to hold onto your waiver position for as long as possible, but with skilled receivers in pass-happy offenses available, plus a couple potential starting running backs, make sure you're not waiting at the expense of immediate help that can win you matchups now.
Top fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 8
Unless otherwise noted, only players owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues considered.
Josh Doctson, WR, Redskins. Doctson has caught a couple touchdowns this year, but he really hasn't shown anything that would make you think he could be a consistent fantasy receiver. He's apparently won over coach Jay Gruden, though, and that's really all that matters. Doctson started in place of Terrelle Pryor on Monday, playing 54 of 64 snaps. He only caught three passes (five targets) for 39 yards, but he was essentially named Washington's No. 1 receiver after the game by Gruden, so clearly he's someone worth picking up. Both Pryor and Jamison Crowder have been huge busts this year, so the door is open for the second-year man from TCU to take the job and run with it.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, Steelers. Smith-Schuster hasn't caught more than four passes in a game and is yet to top 58 yards, but he's scored three times and is seemingly in line for more targets with Martavis Bryant demanding to be traded. According to reports, Bryant won't be traded, but that doesn't change the fact Smith-Schuster is steadily gaining momentum as a potential No. 2 receiver. It's tough to imagine Bryant's season suddenly turning around given his attitude.
MORE: Full Week 8 waiver wire list
Mohamed Sanu, WR, Falcons. Sanu returned from a one-game absence in Week 7 and caught six of 10 targets for 65 yards, narrowly missing his second TD of the season by a couple of inches. The veteran receiver has had at least six targets in all four full games this year, averaging 5.3 catches for 56.3 yards in those contests. The numbers aren't mind blowing, but Sanu is a fairly high-floor option with a favorable Week 8 matchup against the Jets. If the Falcons offense can ever figure things out, Sanu has legit upside.
WEEK 8 RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Latavius Murray, RB, Vikings. The Vikings will likely continue to alternate between Jerick McKinnon and Murray, but Murray's 100-yard breakout in Week 7 shows he still can have value. Even when McKinnon was playing well, Murray was getting touches (27 carries in Weeks 5 and 6), so he's worth owning even if you can't trust him every week.
Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington, RBs, Raiders. Marshawn Lynch's one-game suspension could lead to a wholesale changing of the guard in the Oakland backfield. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, it's impossible to discern between Richard and Washington, who are similar in virtually every way on the field. Washington got the call for a short touchdown in Week 7, so that's the only reason to give him a slight edge, but both could have value this week and beyond if Oakland's offense continues to click without the reeling Lynch.