Week 8 Rankings: Standard | PPR
Before we get into this week's Waiver Wire, we should reflect on Arian Foster's career after he announced his retirement Monday. There was a report that he got hurt again, and injuries ruined a great career for one of the stellar Fantasy running backs.
From 2010-14, Foster was competing with Adrian Peterson, Jamaal Charles and Marshawn Lynch, among others, for being the best of the best running backs. He had four seasons during that span of at least 1,500 total yards and 12 touchdowns, and he was simply awesome for the Texans.
He came to the Dolphins this year after two injury-plagued seasons in Houston with the hope of one final hurrah, but he once again couldn't stay healthy and lost the starting job to Jay Ajayi. We knew Foster wasn't going to be great this year at 30, but many Fantasy owners had a sliver of hope he could bounce back one more time.
It wasn't meant to be, and now Foster's career is over. And we should all thank him for the Fantasy memories.
Speaking of the Dolphins, they are one of six teams on a bye this week, which is tough for Fantasy owners. Miami, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Los Angeles, San Francisco and the Giants are off, and along with injuries, it could lead to some ugly lineup decisions, especially in deeper leagues.
We'll get into all our recommended suggestions below, but here are some guys who might be available in shallow leagues: Cole Beasley (78 percent ownership on CBS Sports), Tyrell Williams (75 percent), Dak Prescott (72 percent), Devontae Booker (71 percent) and Alex Smith (69 percent). Of these guys, you can potentially start all of them this week except for Williams, who has a tough matchup at Denver.
Prescott and Smith are decent bye-week replacements, although Smith has the better matchup at Indianapolis. Beasley should continue to be a solid No. 3 receiver, especially in PPR, and he has a good rapport with Prescott. But we'll see what happens now that Dez Bryant is expected to return.
As for Booker, we've been saying to add him for weeks, and his talent was on full display in Week 7 against Houston with 17 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown. C.J. Anderson also played well with 16 carries for 107 yards and a touchdown, and this looks like a timeshare moving forward. But both running backs are worth starting in Week 8, especially with all the bye weeks.
Quarterbacks
Names of note on bye: Joe Flacco, Ryan Tannehill, Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Case Keenum and Colin Kaepernick
Injuries of note: Brian Hoyer (arm), Cody Kessler (concussion) and Geno Smith (knee)
Priority list
* - Add these players in this order, and they are owned in 65 percent of leagues or less on CBS Sports.
Fitzpatrick is only worth starting this week if you're desperate, but many Fantasy owners are hurting due to the teams on a bye. But he's back starting this week with Smith out, and every quarterback has thrown multiple touchdowns against the Browns, with everyone scoring at least 20 Fantasy points in a standard league. It's obviously a risk to trust Fitzpatrick, but this week it could be worth it.
- Brock Osweiler (32 percent): Like Fitzpatrick, Osweiler benefits from a tremendous matchup, but he's been terrible this year and is hard to trust. That said, he faces DET, and the Lions have allowed more FPTS to quarterbacks than CLE. He's a streamer if you're stuck.
Drop list
* - If you need to make a move, these are players you can drop for this week.
- Blake Bortles (94 percent): If he's not helping you in good matchups (see OAK in Week 7 at home), when can you start him? He's lived up to being a bust so far this year.
- Eli Manning (90 percent): He has as many games with 20-plus Fantasy points (two) as he does with eight points or less. There's still hope for him after the bye, but you don't need to stash him.
- Joe Flacco (60 percent): He has one game this season with multiple passing touchdowns, which was Week 2 at CLE. Like Manning, there's no reason to carry him during his bye week.
Running backs
Names of note on bye: Terrance West, Jay Ajayi, Rashad Jennings, Le'Veon Bell, Todd Gurley and Carlos Hyde
Injuries of note: LeSean McCoy (hamstring), Tevin Coleman (hamstring), Don Jackson (hand), Jerick McKinnon (ankle) and Doug Martin (hamstring)
Priority list
* - Add these players in this order, and they are owned in 65 percent of leagues or less on CBS Sports.
McKinnon is dealing with an injured ankle, and if he's out then Asiata would be a must-start option in all leagues against the Bears. But even if McKinnon plays it might be time to consider Asiata as the best Fantasy running back for the Vikings. He's been better than McKinnon in the past two games against Houston and Philadelphia, he has the better chance to work at the goal line and Minnesota is using Asiata more in the passing game. For this week, given the bye weeks, Asiata has the chance to be a solid No. 2 running back in the majority of leagues.
- Dwayne Washington (41 percent): We hope Washington is back this week because he could do well against HOU. If he's out, then you should consider adding Zach Zenner (8 percent) or even Justin Forsett (33 percent). But I'd speculate on Washington with the hope he returns this week from his nagging ankle injury. And moving forward, we hope he forms a quality tandem with Theo Riddick (ankle), who is also hurt.
- Chris Thompson (36 percent): There's a good chance the Redskins start taking work away from Matt Jones because of his fumbles and relying more on Thompson and Rob Kelley (5 percent). Thompson just had his best game of the season at DET in Week 7 with 12 carries for 73 yards and seven catches for 40 yards, and he's scored at least nine FPTS in a standard league in three of seven games this year.
- Kenneth Dixon (42 percent): The Ravens are on a bye this week, but coach John Harbaugh said Monday the team wants to get Dixon more involved. He hasn't done much in his three games since coming back from a knee injury in the preseason, but he could be a factor down the stretch.
- Paul Perkins (11 percent): The Giants need to add some life to their backfield, and Perkins could be the answer. It would mean New York benching or limiting Jennings' role, but Perkins could also be a factor for Fantasy owners later this year.
- Peyton Barber (0 percent): We hope Martin is back soon, but if he remains out for an extended period of time and something happens to Jacquizz Rodgers then Barber could be next in line to start in Tampa Bay. He's worth a look in deeper leagues.
- Ka'Deem Carey (3 percent): No one is trusting a Bears running back in Week 8 vs. MIN, but Carey has been better than Jordan Howard the past two games. Jeremy Langford (ankle) could return soon, which would limit Carey's long-term upside, but maybe CHI gives him more touches against the Vikings to help his cause.
Drop list
* - If you need to make a move, these are players you can drop for this week.
- Eddie Lacy (83 percent): There's little upside to stashing him while he's on injured reserve. He is unlikely to make an impact this season if he does return later this year.
- DeAngelo Williams (79 percent): He's still the top handcuff for Bell, but Williams is hurt and on a bye. The Bell owner is the only one who should own Williams now.
- DeAndre Washington (52 percent): With Latavius Murray back in action, the Raiders should lean on him and use Washington and Jalen Richard in reserve roles.
Wide receivers
Names of note on bye: Mike Wallace, Jarvis Landry, Odell Beckham, Sterling Shepard, Antonio Brown and Kenny Britt
Injuries of note: John Brown (hamstring), Marquise Goodwin (concussion) and Jaron Brown (knee)
Priority list
* - Add these players in this order, and they are owned in 65 percent of leagues or less on CBS Sports.
Adams was a bust last season when he was thrust into a bigger role than he was ready for in his second year. But in his third season, with Jordy Nelson back, Adams is thriving and is worth adding in all leagues. He's scored a touchdown in four of six games, and he's had at least five catches, 85 yards and a touchdown in two of his past three outings. Nelson is struggling now, and Aaron Rodgers is leaning on Randall Cobb, Ty Montgomery and Adams. We don't see Adams slowing down, especially in the red zone, and he is worth starting in all leagues in Week 8 at Atlanta.
- Ty Montgomery (50 percent): He might lose playing time in the backfield as Knile Davis gets more familiar with the offense, but he has 15 targets, 10 catches and 164 yards in his past two games, along with 66 rushing yards. This week, he faces an ATL defense that struggles with pass catchers out of the backfield, and since he's been lining up next to Rodgers, that should help him thrive in Week 8.
- Donte Moncrief (64 percent): He's expected to return to practice this week after being out since Week 2. He could make an immediate impact for Fantasy owners and should be added in all leagues where he's still available.
- Jamison Crowder (41 percent): As long as Jordan Reed (concussion) is out we should see Kirk Cousins continue to lean on Crowder, who has been better than DeSean Jackson this year. Crowder has at least 10 FPTS in a standard league in three of his past five games.
- Brandon LaFell (20 percent): He's scored four touchdowns in his past three games, and he's doing a nice job stepping up opposite A.J. Green. This week, he could be facing an injury-plagued WAS secondary in London and could stay hot for another game.
- Quincy Enunwa (52 percent): He had an impressive touchdown in Week 7 vs. BAL and gets a great matchup in Week 8 at CLE. He's a solid No. 3 WR in all leagues this week.
- Anquan Boldin (44 percent): He's been great the past two weeks with Eric Ebron (ankle/knee) out and has 13 targets, 11 catches, 88 yards and two touchdowns over that span. He should be used as a No. 3 WR in all leagues in Week 8 at HOU.
- Marquise Lee (1 percent): PPR owners in deeper leagues should take a long look at Lee, who has 13 catches for 168 yards in his past two games on 14 targets. He has at least six targets in five games in a row, with at least five catches in four games over that span. At this point, I'd rather own Lee than Allen Hurns.
- Corey Coleman (44 percent): He has yet to practice since breaking his hand before Week 3, but CLE can use him in the passing game. He's a great stash candidate and should soak up targets once he's back in action, which will hopefully be soon.
- Cordarrelle Patterson (2 percent): He's quietly been good in the past two games with 11 catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 13 targets against HOU and PHI. MIN needs playmakers in the passing game, and we hope Patterson continues to make plays. He's worth adding in deeper leagues.
- Russell Shepard (0 percent): With Vincent Jackson (knee) out, there's an opening in the receiving corps for TB. Shepard filled that void in Week 7 at SF with five catches, 77 yards and a touchdown on six targets. He's worth adding in deeper leagues.
Drop list
* - If you need to make a move, these are players you can drop for this week.
- Sammie Coates (81 percent): He's on a bye, and we don't know how long Roethlisberger will be out. He's also dealing with this nagging finger injury.
- Cameron Meredith (81 percent): He faces MIN this week, has a bye next week and now Hoyer is out. Maybe he makes plays with Jay Cutler back, but he's not worth holding for the next two games.
- DeVante Parker (79 percent): He's on a bye and has struggled for the past four games with 13 FPTS combined in a standard league over that span. He's not worth stashing now.
- Steve Smith (64 percent): We hope he comes back at 100 percent after the bye, but he's been out with an ankle injury and isn't worth holding onto right now in most leagues.
Tight ends
Names of note on bye: Dennis Pitta
Injuries of note: Hunter Henry (concussion), Delanie Walker (chest) and Jordan Reed (concussion)
Priority list
* - Add these players in this order, and they are owned in 65 percent of leagues or less on CBS Sports.
I actually like Vernon Davis as the No. 1 free agent tight end this week, but there's the chance Reed returns, which makes Davis a risky add. But Fiedorowicz is a Top 12 tight end in my rankings this week, and I like his matchup against the Lions, who have been miserable against tight ends all season. Fiedorowicz has done well in his past four games with 19 catches for 229 yards and two touchdowns on 27 targets, and Osweiler should lean on him again this week.
- Davis (27 percent): If Reed remains out, look for Davis to stay hot. He has eight catches for 129 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets in two games with Reed sidelined.
- Cameron Brate (59 percent): Brate needs to step up with a big game this week against OAK, which has struggled with tight ends and just allowed a touchdown to Julius Thomas in Week 7. But Brate has just 11 FPTS in his past three games and is due for a big outing.
- Jack Doyle (61 percent): Doyle was awesome last week and lived up to our expectations with nine catches for 78 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets at TEN. But that was an easier matchup than what he has this week vs. KC, which is why he's low on this list. Moncrief could also return this week, which further lowers the value for Doyle in Week 8. And he could struggle when Dwayne Allen (ankle) is back.
Drop list
* - If you need to make a move, these are players you can drop for this week.
- Dennis Pitta (72 percent): He's played well in PPR leagues, but he hasn't scored a touchdown yet this year. There's little reason to stash him during the bye week.
- Zach Miller (71 percent): Miller has combined for 14 FPTS in a standard league in his past three games and faces MIN this week and then a bye. It might be time to move on and start streaming.
- Zach Ertz (67 percent): He's been awful in three games since coming back from his rib injury with five catches for 73 yards and no touchdowns on just nine targets. He's been a bust so far this year.
DST streamers
* - If you need a DST for this week, these teams have favorable matchups are worth starting.
- Jets (31 percent) at CLE
- Titans (50 percent) vs. JAC
- Panthers (60 percent) vs. ARI
K streamers
* - If you need a kicker for this week, these guys have favorable matchups are worth starting.
- Matt Prater (34 percent) at HOU
- Blair Walsh (33 percent) at CHI
- Will Lutz (12 percent) vs. SEA
