Fantasy Football Week 8 Waiver Wire: Oronde Gadsden, Kyle Monangai headline priority pickups to target

https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/article/fantasy-football-week-8-waiver-wire-oronde-gadsden-kyle-monangai-headline-priority-pickups-to-target-170224472.html

Every Monday during the season, Justin Boone breaks down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are generated from Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

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Key injuries to monitor

Jayden Daniels (hamstring)
Brian Thomas Jr. (shoulder)
Darren Waller (pectoral)
Bryce Young (ankle)
Kendre Miller (knee)
Cole Kmet (back)
Dontayvion Wicks (calf)

Bye weeks

Arizona Cardinals
Detroit Lions
Jacksonville Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks

Quarterbacks

Jaxson Dart, Giants

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
at PHI	42%	$15

While I didn’t want to lead this section with Dart yet again, he’s still rostered in less than 50% of leagues for some reason. He continues to overcome difficult opponents and a subpar receiving corps to post QB1 fantasy results.

Keep an eye on the ankle injury he suffered during this game, but as long as he’s healthy Dart will be in the mix as a potential top-12 fantasy option.

Joe Flacco, Bengals

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
vs. NYJ	12%	$1

Flacco has taken advantage of the incredible skill position talent in Cincinnati, turning in a QB14 finish on a short week in his Bengals’ debut and now a top-10 result on Sunday.

He’s thrown for five touchdowns and no picks during that time and his schedule is very friendly the rest of the way — starting with a Jets’ defense that might be without Sauce Gardiner in Week 8.

This is reminiscent of that impressive stretch run in 2023 with the Browns, when Flacco won the Comeback Player of the Year on the back of five strong starts, averaging 323 passing yards and nearly three touchdowns per contest. That was good enough to make him the second-highest scoring fantasy QB during those five weeks.

I’m treating Flacco as a top-15 fantasy option in positive matchups, thanks to his supporting cast.

Streaming options: Michael Penix Jr. vs. MIA (24% rostered), Aaron Rodgers vs. GB (28% rostered)

Streaming options (if starter is out): Marcus Mariota at KC (1% rostered), Mac Jones at HOU (13% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Spencer Rattler vs. TB (7% rostered), Tua Tagovailoa at ATL (24% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy): J.J. McCarthy (26% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Andy Dalton vs. BUF (0% rostered), Carson Wentz at LAC (5% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Andy Dalton vs. BUF (0% rostered), Cam Ward at IND (9% rostered), Dillon Gabriel at NE (5% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starter is out): Carson Wentz at LAC (5% rostered), Tyrod Taylor at CIN (0% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Sam Darnold (48% rostered)

Deep stashes: Quinn Ewers (0% rostered)

Running Backs

Kyle Monangai, Bears

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
at BAL	7%	$7

Monangai saw a small bump in playing time coming out of the Bears’ bye week, but it didn’t turn into significant box score numbers in that game.

This week was a different story, with the rookie stepping into a 55-45 split. D’Andre Swift still maintained the lead back role and was the more productive runner with 138 scrimmage yards and a score on 20 touches. But Monangai set season highs in yards (94) and touches (15), while scoring his first career touchdown.

We always wondered if Ben Johnson would make this a two-man backfield and it appears we are headed that way.

If this trend continues, it makes Monangai an intriguing fantasy RB3 with upside. He needs to be rostered everywhere.

Tyler Allgeier, Falcons

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
vs. MIA	38%	$4

Allgeier has been highlighted in this space on multiple occasions as an overqualified backup who turns into a strong RB3/flex in more positive matchups.

It doesn’t get more positive than the Dolphins, who have allowed Quinshon Judkins (84 yards, three TDs), Kimani Vidal (138 yards, TD), Rico Dowdle (238 yards, TD), Breece Hall (111 yards), James Cook (118 yards, TD) and Rhamondre Stevenson (142 yards) to post huge stat lines against them over the last six weeks.

Bijan Robinson is positioned for a monster performance, but Allgeier should see more work than usual with the Falcons as 8.5-point favorites at home.

Flex options: Tyjae Spears at IND (29% rostered), Brashard Smith vs. WAS (6% rostered)

Risky flex options: Kenneth Gainwell vs. GB (44% rostered), Isaiah Davis at CIN (4% rostered), Tyrone Tracy Jr. at PHI (44% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Sean Tucker at NO (10% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Justice Hill vs. CHI (10% rostered), Kareem Hunt vs. WAS (39% rostered), Jaydon Blue at DEN (12% rostered), Ollie Gordon II at ATL (14% rostered), Emanuel Wilson at PIT (16% rostered), Jeremy McNichols at KC (2% rostered), Dylan Sampson at NE (16% rostered), Samaje Perine vs. NYJ (1% rostered), Hassan Haskins vs. MIN (24% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster: Brian Robinson Jr. (31% rostered), Ray Davis at CAR (11% rostered)

Deep stashes: Keaton Mitchell (1% rostered), Ameer Abdullah (0% rostered), Chris Rodriguez Jr. (5% rostered), Will Shipley (3% rostered), Tank Bigsby (19% rostered), Tahj Brooks (1% rostered), DJ Giddens (2% rostered), Devin Neal (0% rostered), Kaleb Johnson (24% rostered)

Trade-deadline stashes: Jerome Ford (17% rostered), Devin Singletary (1% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Bhayshul Tuten (40% rostered), Blake Corum (11% rostered), Bam Knight (22% rostered), Michael Carter (41% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: MarShawn Lloyd (2% rostered)

Wide Receivers

Darnell Mooney, Falcons

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
vs. MIA	29%	$2

Mooney returned to the lineup in Week 7 and immediately made an impact by catching three of his five targets for 68 yards.

It’s easy to forget, but this is a player who has a 1,000-yard season on his resume and had 992 receiving yards last year despite not suiting up in Week 18.

Mooney isn’t a league-winner, but few waiver-wire receivers fit that description. Instead, he’s a solid WR3/flex who’s only available in 71% of leagues because of the injuries he’s dealt with this season.

Kayshon Boutte, Patriots

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
vs. CLE	32%	$1

With the Patriots ascending around Drake Maye, Boutte continues to run the most routes and finds ways to produce.

Over the last three weeks he has stat lines of 3-43-0, 5-93-2 and 2-55-1.

There will inevitably be some volatility with his profile due to the nature of New England’s offense and Maye’s willingness to spread the ball around. However, Boutte has shown he’s a big part of this passing attack and warrants consideration as a fantasy WR4/flex.

Flex options: Josh Downs vs. TEN (49% rostered)

Risky flex options: Jayden Higgins vs. SF (13% rostered), Alec Pierce vs. TEN (9% rostered), Troy Franklin vs. DAL (21% rostered), Hollywood Brown vs. WAS (44% rostered), Marvin Mims Jr. vs. DAL (23% rostered), Rashod Bateman vs. CHI (22% rostered), Jalen Coker vs. BUF (14% rostered), Xavier Legette vs. BUF (6% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Darius Slayton at PHI (18% rostered), Christian Kirk vs. SF (24% rostered), Christian Watson at PIT (11% rostered),

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Elic Ayomanor at IND (28% rostered),

Dart-throw flex options: Sterling Shepard at NO (15% rostered), Tez Johnson at NO (16% rostered), Chimere Dike at IND (2% rostered), Malik Washington at ATL (15% rostered), Isaiah Bond at NE (2% rostered),

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy): Joshua Palmer at CAR (11% rostered), Calvin Austin III vs. GB (7% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Luke McCaffrey at KC (33% rostered), Jaylin Lane at KC (1% rostered), Chris Moore at KC (3% rostered), Josh Reynolds at CIN (1% rostered), Tyler Johnson at CIN (0% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster: Luther Burden III (14% rostered)

Deep stashes: Pat Bryant (1% rostered), Tre’ Harris (3% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Tory Horton (5% rostered), Jack Bech (1% rostered), Isaac TeSlaa (3% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Brandon Aiyuk (41% rostered)

Tight Ends

Oronde Gadsden, Chargers

Next Up	Rostered	FAB
vs. MIN	4%	$9

Gadsden followed up his seven-catch, 68-yard performance in Week 6 with seven catches for 164 yards and a touchdown in Week 7.

There aren’t many tight ends that can offer a ceiling like that and it’s particularly impressive when you consider the Chargers had all three of their top wideouts active this week.

It sounds like the team sees a star emerging in their tight end room based on several quotes over the last few weeks and they’re throwing fuel on that fire with 17 targets over those past two games.

Gadsden, who is basically an oversized receiver, has now put himself into the low-end TE1 conversation for fantasy. When you see a rookie producing like this, you pick them up immediately in hopes that he can be the next difference-maker at the position.

Streaming options: Mason Taylor at CIN (39% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Colston Loveland at BAL (22% rostered), Theo Johnson at PHI (18% rostered), Jonnu Smith vs. GB (19% rostered), Juwan Johnson vs. TB (30% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Noah Fant vs. NYJ (1% rostered), Pat Freiermuth vs. GB (7% rostered), Cade Otton at NO (42% rostered), Dalton Schultz vs. SF (19% rostered), Taysom Hill vs. TB (6% rostered), Daniel Bellinger at PHI (0% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster: Isaiah Likely vs. CHI (6% rostered), Ja’Tavion Sanders (1% rostered), Gunnar Helm (0% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: AJ Barner (17% rostered)

Defenses

Week 8 streamers

Team	Next Up	Rostered
Colts	vs. TEN	49%
Falcons	vs. MIA	9%
Bills	at CAR	38%
Bengals	vs. NYJ	2%
Buccaneers	at NO	10%

Kickers

Week 8 streamers

Player	Next Up	Rostered
Will Reichard	at LAC	6%
Tyler Loop	vs. CHI	13%
Evan McPherson	vs. NYJ	46%
Michael Badgley	vs. TEN	11%
Matt Prater	at CAR	10%

https://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/article/fantasy-football-week-8-waiver-wire-oronde-gadsden-kyle-monangai-headline-priority-pickups-to-target-170224472.html