RADIO
Welcome to Week 8 everyone. Somehow, we're halfway through the 2017 fantasy season. Can you believe it? With a whopping six teams on bye this week -- Packers, Titans, Rams, Giants, Cardinals and Jaguars -- there is more reason than ever to be active on the waiver wire. There will probably be someone that can help you between all the byes and injuries as a fill-in.
Below are my recommended FAAB waiver wire bids for Week 8. Each FAAB auction price recommendation will be based on a $100 FAAB budget, and all players listed have less than 50 percent ownership on Yahoo.
Let’s look around the league at who is worth a bid going into Week 8.
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FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Running Backs
Dion Lewis (NE) - $15-20 (29% owned)
While it's always dicey trying to navigate a Bill Belichick backfield, it's looking like Lewis is the clear lead back now, as he's seen 24 carries in the last two weeks, good enough for 128 ground yards and a score. He'll still have to fight off James White, Mike Gillislee and Rex Burkhead, but Lewis currently has the most upside. Of course, New England's backfield picture could change drastically at the drop of a hat.
Jalen Richard, DeAndre Washington (OAK) - $10-15 (11%, 3% owned)
Beast Mode's poor decision making during an on-field scuffle last Thursday will cost him a game. As a bye-week fill-in, desperate owners shouldn't feel ashamed looking towards Richard or Washington on the road against the Bills. Each had nine carries while filling in for Marshawn Lynch against the Chiefs, with Washington getting the score.
Washington is the better plodder between the tackles and may be the favorite for a goal-line score, but Richard is the more appealing back overall and in PPR leagues. He had nine carries for 31 yards and also added four catches for 45 yards. Washington had three catches for seven yards in the Thursday night comeback win. Both players' upside is limited in what should be a pretty even timeshare in the absence of Lynch.
T.J. Yeldon (JAC) - $10-15 (1% owned)
In his first game action of the 2017 season, Yeldon certainly made a case to push Chris Ivory for the backup role. The 24-year-old had nine carries for a team-high 122 yards (13.6 yards per carry) and a touchdown with rookie Leonard Fournette (ankle) inactive. The Jags are off in Week 8, but don't be surprised if Yeldon is more involved down the stretch, even with Fournette expected to return.
Also consider: Austin Ekeler (LAC) - $10-15
Wide Receivers
Kenny Stills (MIA) - $20-25 (21% owned)
Don't look now, but Stills has 10 catches for 134 yards and three touchdowns in the last two weeks. It's also no coincidence that fellow wideout DeVante Parker (ankle) has missed the last two games. There's no guarantee Parker is back against the Ravens on a short week, either, so Stills could yet again be a successful fill-in flex candidate. The fact that backup Matt Moore is under center now shouldn't hurt Stills' outlook. In fact, it could help it.
Josh Doctson (WAS) - $20-25 (13% owned)
Even though Doctson had only three catches for 39 yards in the Monday night loss to the Eagles, the second-year wideout lined up as a starting receiver and appears to have passed Terrelle Pryor on the depth chart. Injuries have hurt Doctson up until this point, but he's finally healthy and head coach Jay Gruden seems to prefer giving Doctson more opportunities moving forward. If he can stay on the field, there is clear upside here in an offense that loves to air it out.
Deonte Thompson (BUF) - $15-20 (2% owned)
After fizzling out in Chicago, Thompson immediately made an impact for the receiver-starved Bills in Week 7, catching all four of his targets for a team-high 107 yards in the victory. Tight end Charles Clay (knee) may miss the rest of the year, Jordan Matthews (thumb) is being eased in due to injury and rookie Zay Jones has been invisible. There is clear opportunity for Thompson to continue producing.
Dede Westbrook (JAC) - $15-20 (2% owned)
The Jaguars are off in Week 8, but the rookie Westbrook is eyeing a return in Week 9. Even though he has yet to play a game in the NFL, the 6-foot, 178-pounder out of Oklahoma has the most upside of any Jacksonville Jaguar and could carve out a significant role immediately with both Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns underwhelming. There are much worse receiver stashes.
Tanner Gentry (CHI) - $5-10 (0% owned)
Gentry was often praised in the preseason for his production, but he was curiously left off the active roster to begin the year, even with Chicago hurting for pass catchers. The Bears are doing their best to hide rookie passer Mitch Trubisky (seven attempts in Week 7), which makes Gentry extremely tough to trust.
However, the Bears have all but phased Kendall Wright out of the offense -- 25 of 80 offensive snaps in Week 6, zero targets in Week 7 -- putting Gentry as one of the team's top options through the air. If the Bears ever need to air it out frequently again, which could easily happen at New Orleans this weekend, Gentry should benefit.
Also consider: Paul Richardson (SEA) - $5-10, Chris Moore (BAL) - $5-10, Brandon LaFell (CIN) - $5-10
Quarterbacks
Matt Moore (MIA) - $5-10 (1% owned)
Moore entered for an injured Jay Cutler (ribs) in Week 7 and led a comeback against the Jets, finishing 13 for 21 for 188 yards and two touchdowns. He'll remain the starter with Cutler expected to miss two to three weeks, and he's probably an upgrade at this point. Moore is definitely one to look to as a second starter in two-QB leagues, at least for the next couple of weeks.
Teddy Bridgewater (MIN) - $5-10 (3% owned)
Bridgewater missed all of last season after a gruesome knee injury suffered in the preseason, but he's almost all the way back and has resumed practicing with Minnesota. He won't play in Week 8 on a notoriously slippery field in London, but he could return to action as soon as Week 10 after the team's bye.
Case Keenum is merely a placeholder and Sam Bradford is out indefinitely with a knee ailment of his own, leaving Bridgewater as the most likely option to make most of the starts down the stretch if he can avoid any setbacks. Both he and the Vikings firmly believe that he'll make starts in 2017. Bridgewater is most definitely worth stashing in two-QB leagues if you're hurting at the position.
Also consider: Josh McCown (NYJ) - $3-5, Drew Stanton (ARI) - $1-3, Cody Kessler (CLE) - $1-3
Tight Ends
Jack Doyle (IND) - $10-15 (44% owned)
Doyle has become the most trusted fantasy weapon for the Colts given quarterback Jacoby Brissett's limitations down the field. The tight end has at least seven targets and five catches in the last three games and should be owned in more leagues, especially with so many teams resting up in Week 8.
A.J. Derby (DEN) - $5-10 (2% owned)
Denver's offense has fallen apart in the last couple of weeks. In the absence of Emmanuel Sanders (ankle) against the Chargers, Derby became Trevor Siemian's favorite target, catching a team-high six passes for 66 yards. He did have a costly fumble after a 23-yard reception on the first series of the game, but Derby's needle is pointing up. He could have another big workload if Sanders misses anymore time.
Defense/Special Teams
New Orleans Saints - $3-5 (44% owned)
The Saints defense was commonly avoided by fantasy owners early in the year, and for good reason. But they managed to keep the Packers to just 17 points with an inexperienced quarterback at the helm in Week 6, and they'll face rookie Mitch Trubisky at home this weekend. Despite mediocre overall production in yardage allowed (351 per game) and points per game (22.2), the Saints do have 10 total takeaways, including eight interceptions, and are 10th in the NFL with 16 sacks.
Also consider: Miami Dolphins - $1-3, Cincinnati Bengals - $1-3
