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Target Acquired: Surprise Target Grabbers from Week 8 and Possible Breakouts for Week 9

A bunch of wide receivers become relevant Week 8, seeing a boost in their target-volume and productivity, while another weapon emerged for Matt Ryan and the explosively dangerous Atlanta Falcons offense. Revis Island is also slowly becoming a vacation spot and not a scene from a wideout's worst nightmare.

Here is a look at the surprise target grabbers from Week 8, and a look at possible breakout options for Week 9 based on the usage they are seeing in the passing game. You can ask me more waiver wire and game day questions on Twitter @DemetriRafto.

Editor's Note: New users that sign up on FantasyAces, make a $20 deposit, and enter any game will receive our full season NFL (or NBA) Premium Pass for free, a $59.99 value. Just email [email protected] with your new FantasyAces username - and boom, that's it! We will email you with your Premium pass.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Surprise Week 8 Target Grabbers

J.J. Nelson - (WR, ARI)

Amidst the offensive weapons on the Arizona Cardinals, the unlikeliest of candidates broke out in Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers. J.J. Nelson posted eight receptions on a team-high 12 targets (one more than Larry Fitzgerald), for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Nelson's increased role was hinted at during last week's tie with the Seattle Seahawks, where he saw his then highest target total of the season (seven).

According to ESPN.com, head coach Bruce Arians announced that Nelson will be a starting wide receiver, likely bumping the struggling and injured Michael Floyd out of the third receiver slot. The Cardinals head into a bye, but Nelson is a solid stash for the future and he has a favorable matchup against the San Fransisco 49ers when the Cardinals return to action Week 10.

 

Andrew Hawkins - (WR, CLE) 

With Terrelle Pryor, Sr. spending most of his time, and succeeding, on Revis Island in Week 8 against the New York Jets, Andrew Hawkins was left all alone. Hawkins found plenty of space against Gang Green's weak secondary, scoring two touchdowns during the team's eighth loss of the season. Hawkins added five receptions on a season-high eight targets for 31 yards. Despite the low accumulation of yardage, it was Hawkins' best fantasy performance of the season.

Pryor, although he missed snaps due to fatigue late in Sunday's contest, appears to be healthy after nursing a hamstring injury the week before. This will definitely take looks away from Hawkins, but the Browns should be in another catchup game against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9, keeping the ball in Josh McCown's hands (he threw the ball 49 times versus New York). Despite the impressive showing, Hawkins hasn't warranted an add off the wire just yet. Let's see how he performs in Week 9.

 

Dorial Green-Beckham  - (WR, PHI) 

Dorial Green-Beckham also had his best showing of the season in the overtime thriller against the Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles wideout finished the night with five receptions on a season-high nine targets for 55 yards. The performance is nothing to dance and cheer about, but DGB's role with Philadelphia's offense has the potential to increase.

According to ESPN.com, Eagles receiver Josh Huff was allegedly found with marijuana and a firearm when stopped for speeding. If this leads to a suspension, as I'm sure it will, DGB's target-volume will certainly increase. He could likely be bumped to the team's third receiver slot behind Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor. Until the outcome of this situation is clear, it is safe to leave DGB on the waiver wire.

 

Possible Week 9 Breakout Options

Austin Hooper - (TE, ATL)

What a game between the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers. In the midst of a ton of throwing and scoring, Falcons' tight end Jacob Tamme went down with a shoulder injury in the first quarter. In came Austin Hooper, catching all five of his targets for 55 yards. Hooper has not been much of a factor in Atlanta's high-powered offense, but regardless of his low target-volume, he hasn't dropped a single pass yet this season (11 for 11).

With Tamme expected to miss Thursday night's contest versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Hooper has been confirmed as the team's starting tight end, according to head coach Dan Quinn and Yahoo! Sports. This immediately boosts Hooper's fantasy value, putting him behind Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu as the team's top three targets. Hooper is worth an add, especially for those with a tight end on bye or battling injury. He should be on the field for more than 75% of snaps in a pass-heavy offensive attack.

 

Kenny Stills - (WR, MIA)

We all saw what Pryor was able to do against Darrelle Revis last Sunday. That matchup will now likely feature Jarvis Landry, leaving Kenny Stills to face a less than threatening Marcus Williams (if Buster Skrine again misses action). We also saw what someone like Andrew Hawkins was able to do with the open space. Now insert someone more talented, like Stills, and the Jets secondary is in for another rough one.

The Dolphins and Ryan Tannehill, fresh off of a bye, have certainly elevated their game over the past couple of weeks. Stills is coming off his best performance of the season, catching five of eight targets for 100 yards and a touchdown in Week 7 against the Buffalo Bills. He has another favorable matchup against a Jets squad that has allowed the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. Stills should be picked up off the wire, if he isn't owned already.

 

Tyreek Hill - (WR, KC) 

Prior to Week 8's contest against the Indianapolis Colts, Tyreek Hill had tallied three touchdowns on the season, but had been relatively overshadowed because of his lack of targets and yards. He broke out in Week 8 facing a vulnerable Colts defense. Hill caught five of six targets for 98 yards and a touchdown (his second in as many weeks).

Travis Kelce and Jeremy Maclin have been inconsistent during the 2016 campaign, the receiver struggling more so than the tight end, while Spencer Ware is in danger of missing Sunday's game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars after suffering a concussion last week. Nick Foles could draw the start over Alex Smith, who also went down with a concussion. Foles, in relief of the Chiefs' starting quarterback, connected with Hill for one of his two touchdowns through the air, and is much more of a frequent passer than Smith. Considering Kansas City's head coach Andy Reid is the one who drafted Foles, I'd say the odds of him producing against a weak Jaguars team are pretty favorable. Hill will be one of the top waiver wire adds of the week.

 

Other Options: Adam Humphries (WR, TB) vs JAX, Quincy Enunwa (WR, NYJ) @ MIA, Eric Ebron (TE, DET) @MIN

 




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REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Bryce Young

Hopeful to Play in Week 9
Patrik Laine

Ruled Out for 3-4 Months
Brandon Montour

Ready to Face Oilers
Pierre-Luc Dubois

Available Saturday
Roman Josi

Out Week-to-Week With Upper-Body Injury
Anze Kopitar

Set to Rejoin Kings Lineup Saturday
William Nylander

Good to Go Saturday
Morgan Rielly

Returns to Action Saturday
Drake London

Downgraded to Questionable with Hip Injury
Christian Watson

Activated from Injured Reserve, Set for Season Debut
Zaccharie Risacher

Out Again on Saturday
Mark Williams

Sidelined Versus Denver
Jalen Johnson

Uncertain to Suit Up Versus OKC
Andrew Nembhard

Ruled Out Against Memphis
Kristaps Porzingis

Questionable on Saturday Night
Jalen Suggs

Ruled Out on Saturday
Chet Holmgren

Available to Face the Hawks
Tyrod Taylor

Ruled Out for Week 8 Due to Knee Injury
Terry McLaurin

Will Return in Week 8 After Four-Game Absence
Deebo Samuel Sr.

"Good to Go," Will Play in Week 8
Lamar Jackson

Will Not Play in Week 8, Expected to Return in Week 9
Lamar Jackson

May Be "a Week Away" From Returning
Chris Olave

Saints Unlikely to Trade Chris Olave
Brian Thomas Jr.

Jaguars Listening To Calls For Brian Thomas Jr.
Dillon Gabriel

Browns Want to See More from Dillon Gabriel
Kirk Cousins

Highly Likely to Start in Week 8
Jonathan Lekkerimaki

to Miss 2-3 Weeks
Matt Duchene

Expected to Remain Out Saturday
Alexander Kerfoot

Undergoes Surgery
Tyson Kozak

to Miss Rematch With Maple Leafs
William Nylander

Injured on Friday
Joseph Woll

Rejoins Maple Leafs
Dalton Schultz

Will Play Against 49ers in Week 8
Bryce Harper

Phillies Aren't Planning to Trade Bryce Harper
Josh Hart

Available Versus the Celtics
Karl-Anthony Towns

Cleared to Face the Celtics
De'Andre Hunter

Sidelined on Friday Night
Kristaps Porzingis

Won't Play on Friday
Nick Leddy

to Sit Out at Least Two Games
Nico Collins

Texans Rule Out Nico Collins for Week 8
Cody Glass

Set to Miss Time
Jason Zucker

Expected to Play Friday
Pierre-Luc Dubois

Misses Fifth Straight Game Friday
Brandon Aiyuk

Could Return to Practice Next Week
Morgan Rielly

Out on Friday
Lukas Reichel

Canucks Acquire Lukas Reichel
Brock Purdy

Officially Ruled Out for Week 8
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Carter Hart Signs Two-Year Deal With Golden Knights
Vince Williams Jr.

Grizzlies Injury Woes Continue, Without Vince Williams Jr. Friday
A.J. Brown

Ruled Out For Week 8
Bo Bichette

Starting at Second, Batting Cleanup in Game 1 of World Series
Lamar Jackson

Officially Listed as Questionable to Play in Week 8
D'Andre Swift

Officially Questionable to Play in Week 8 Due to Groin Injury
Jae'Sean Tate

Questionable to Return Friday
Danny Wolf

Will Miss Friday's Matchup with Ankle Injury
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Questionable to Play in Week 8 Due to Knee Injury
Drake Powell

Rookie Drake Powell Ruled Out for Matchup with Cavs
Calvin Ridley

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Set for First Official Title Defense
Mackenzie Dern

Can Become The New Strawweight Champion
Virna Jandiroba

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Mario Bautista

Aims To Extend His Win Streak
MMA

Umar Numagomedov A Favorite At UFC 321
Jailton Almeida

Hopes To Get A Title Shot With A Win
Caris LeVert

Probable for Friday's Game
Alexander Volkov

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Luka Garza

Unavailable Friday
Moritz Wagner

Remains Out Friday
Azamat Murzakanov

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Ja'Kobe Walter

Iffy for Friday Night
Aleksandar Rakic

In Dire Need Of Victory
Daniel Gafford

Listed as Questionable for Friday
Jeremy Sochan

Sits Out Friday's Game
Rasmus Sandin

Won't Play on Friday
CFB

Texas Tech QB Will Hammond Will Start vs. Oklahoma State Saturday
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Kansas State RB Dylan Edwards Out For Sunflower Showdown
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Arizona State WR Jordyn Tyson Will Not Play In Week 9
Zack Wheeler

Could be Ready for Opening Day in 2026
William Contreras

Could Need Finger Surgery
CFB

Utah QB Devon Dampier Listed as Questionable on Big 12 Injury Report
San Francisco Giants

Tony Vitello Named New Manager of the Giants
Francisco Lindor

has Elbow Surgery, Expected to be Ready for Spring Training
PGA

Alex Noren is a Smash Play at Bank of Utah Championship
Maverick McNealy

Look Out For Maverick McNealy This Week in Utah
Justin Lower

Unlikely to Flip The Script at Bank of Utah Championship
Stephan Jaeger

Looking for Repeat Performance in Utah
CFB

Behren Morton Will be Listed as Questionable on Wednesday
Max McGreevy

a Longer Shot to Contend in Utah
Jackson Suber

on the Bubble for the PGA in 2026
Greyson Sigg

Improving at the Right Time This Fall
Seamus Power

Hopes to Make More Birdies This Week
Patton Kizzire

May Struggle Once Again in Utah
Beau Hossler

Up and Down Heading to Bank of Utah Championship
Adam Hadwin

Looking to Find the Weekend in Utah
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Enjoying the Fall Golf Season
Tom Hoge

Sputtering into Bank of Utah Championship
Sahith Theegala

On the Upswing Heading into Utah
Andrew Putnam

Looks to Find Form in Utah
Matt McCarty

Looks to Defend Title in Utah
Ben Kohles

a Strong Value Play at Bank of Utah Championship
Max Homa

Trending Up Entering the Bank of Utah Championship
Nick Dunlap

Searching for Spark at Bank of Utah Championship
Quade Cummins

Struggling to Find Form Ahead of Bank of Utah Championship
Jason Day

Making a Spot Start at Bank of Utah Championship
Los Angeles Angels

Kurt Suzuki to be the Angels' Next Manager
Bo Bichette

Plans to be Ready for World Series
Brandon Woodruff

Expects to Be Ready for Opening Day
Reinier de Ridder

Reinier De Ridder Suffers His First UFC Loss
Brendan Allen

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Kevin Holland

Drops Decision
Mike Malott

Wins Third Fight In A Row
Marlon Vera

Loses Third Consecutive Fight
Aiemann Zahabi

Gets A Razor-Thin Split Decision Win
Jasmine Jasudavicius

Suffers First-Round TKO Loss
Manon Fiorot

Gets Back In The Win Column
Davey Grant

Suffers Submission Loss
Charles Jourdain

Gets First-Round Submission Win
Matt Frevola

Gets Dominated At UFC Vancouver

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