FAAB Bidding - Week 8 Waiver Wire Targets

October 23, 2019

In fantasy football leagues that use FAAB (free agent acquisition budget), it can be hard to know how much money to spend on key players at QB, RB, WR, or TE. Nick Mariano gives fantasy owners his recommendations on how to spend FAAB for Week 8.

Assisting our famous waiver wire pickups list, and our weekly waiver wire columns by position, this column focuses on suggested waiver wire bidding percentages for fantasy football owners in leagues using a Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB).

As a caveat, these prices do not by any means indicate how much these free agent players will go for. Each league values players differently and will continue to do so. These values are here to provide a baseline to understand roughly how much you should be targeting to spend on a particular player. You only have so much FAAB money, spend it as wisely as possible.

We're nearly halfway through the season and in the thick of bye weeks. Don't be afraid of planning two or three weeks ahead, but also don't forget to win now. And try putting the squeeze on teams at the bottom of the pack, you may just find a bargain -- especially from owners with empty FAAB wallets. Without further ado, here are our FAAB auction bidding recommendations for Week 8 below.

FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Quarterbacks

Jacoby Brissett (QB, IND) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%

48% owned

Brissett shook off Week 5’s disappointment against the Chiefs with a four-touchdown whopper over the Texans. Only four QBs have 14 or more passing TDs on the season, and Brissett has played one fewer game than the other three.  He (and his line) helps sustain drives, having only been sacked an NFL-low seven times. Facing Denver in Week 8 is no cupcake matchup, but this line can trample anyone and Denver’s lack of offense tends to tilt the field.

Sam Darnold (QB, NYJ) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%

33% owned

I know, I know. He was seeing ghosts against the Patriots and making fadeaway throws right into the waiting arms of New England defenders. He was atrocious and Adam Gase did nothing to help him, refusing to utilize quicker slants, screens...anything. But the schedule opens up now with the terrifying Patriots in the rearview. With the lamentations of Patrick Mahomes owners heard far and wide since last Thursday’s injury, many have pointed to Darnold as a suitable replacement given the Jets’ favorable schedule for the weeks Mahomes is projected to miss. Yet, he’s still available in two-thirds of Yahoo leagues. Having to watch Luke Falk “lead” the team put a stench on the Jets offense, but Darnold reminded everyone of its potential with a Week 6 victory over the Cowboys. They'll face the Jaguars next, then take on the Dolphins, Redskins, Giants, Raiders, Bengals and Dolphins again.

Matt Moore (QB, KC) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%

1% owned

Maybe you just want Mahomes’ direct backup instead? Moore completed 10-of-19 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown after being called into action, the bulk of it coming on a 57-yard TD to Tyreek Hill, though the game was already in hand with Denver unable to move the ball. Week 8’s home tilt against a resurgent Aaron Rodgers should call for more action. KC’s ground game is providing little, so let’s see how creative Andy Reid gets with Moore at the helm next Sunday night. Do note that neither Week 9 against MIN nor Week 10 at TEN are favorable draws.

FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Running Backs

Chase Edmonds (RB, ARI) - FAAB Bid: 30-35%

47% owned

Edmonds single-handedly destroyed the Giants in Week 7, rushing for 27-126-3 with 24 receiving yards sprinkled on top. David Johnson left the game early after looking hobbled in Week 6, though he’d still out-snapped Edmonds in that game despite the clear injury. His being active in Week 7 led many, myself included, to underestimate Edmonds’ role in the offense. But this past week showed why Edmonds was a valuable handcuff, as this uptempo offense affords clear RB1 potential to whoever is leading the way.

Ty Johnson (RB, DET) - FAAB Bid: 10-12%

1% owned

Kerryon Johnson left Week 7’s game in the first quarter, only to appear on the sidelines with a knee brace and noticeable limp. It was Ty Johnson who saw goal-line looks and heavier usage (14 touches) over J.D. McKissic (seven) throughout the game. McKissic outgained Johnson, 60-to-57, but we’re looking for distinct roles and volume here, not chasing results. Keep an eye on Kerryon’s outlook in the week to come, but be prepared to flex Ty Johnson against a soft NYG defense that just made Chase Edmonds look like Bo Jackson.

UPDATE: Kerryon Johnson has officially been placed on IR.

Brian Hill (RB, ATL) - FAAB Bid: 2-3%

0% owned

Hill appeared after a scary injury to Ito Smith and the ejection of Devonta Freeman decimated Atlanta’s RB stable. He only accrued 25 total yards on seven touches, and only 11 rushing yards on five carries with Matt Schaub limiting the offense. For what it’s worth, Freeman only got 25 total yards prior to his ejection as well. It was a bad day for the Falcons overall, made worse by Matt Ryan’s sprained ankle. Still, Hill could take Ito Smith’s change-of-pace slot over the bigger Qadree Ollison in their Week 8 home game against the Seahawks.

FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Wide Receivers

Phillip Dorsett (WR, NE) - FAAB Bid: 8-10%

44% owned

Keep an eye on that hamstring injury, as well as Josh Gordon's status, but Dorsett looked just fine to me on Monday night. He only saw three targets in a runaway Pats victory, catching all three for 46 yards and a touchdown. His totals haven't been stellar thus far, but four TDs in five games is just life on the Patriots. You target anyone seeing meaningful play in this lineup and don't ask questions. Cleveland and Baltimore in the coming weeks should call for more legwork on offense, and the lack of any TE or splash from the ground game puts the onus on Tom Brady's arm and its recipients. Jakobi Meyers (6% owned) is a fringe asset with Gordon out, especially if Burkhead remains hobbled. Meyers has caught all nine of his targets for 101 yards over the last two games.

UPDATE: Josh Gordon has officially been placed on IR.

Corey Davis (WR, TEN) - FAAB Bid: 7-8%

41% owned

Davis has a long way to go in terms of regaining trust, but the former buzzy WR went 6-70-1 with new QB Ryan Tannehill in Week 7 and will face Tampa Bay in Week 8. Do note that A.J. Brown still out-targeted Davis, eight to seven, but Tannehill can support these two -- especially with Delanie Walker injured. Tannehill’s entrance also saw Tennessee’s WRs receive three red-zone opportunities after logging just one as a unit in each of their first six games. An increased willingness to throw in the RZ could make Davis (and Brown) top-48 WRs worthy of flexing.

Kenny Stills (WR, HOU) - FAAB Bid: 6-8%

13% owned

Stills stepped right into the oft-injured Will Fuller's field-stretcher role in Week 7, turning four catches into 105 yards. Keke Coutee is another good pickup, but Stills is best suited to run as the No. 2 on the perimeter next to DeAndre Hopkins. Fuller was averaging a snap count around 95% and leaves plenty of work in his wake. Stills can be compared to Fuller as a near 1:1 substitution.

Devante Parker (WR, MIA) - FAAB Bid: 4-6%

14% owned

Parker racked up 10 targets in Week 7 en route to a 5-55-1 line, giving us his third straight game with a touchdown. Miami’s offense provides no safety net and zero points is always a real possibility, but playing from behind has helped Parker average roughly seven targets per week. The gunslinging Ryan Fitzpatrick provides additional hope compared to whatever Josh Rosen was doing. You know the floor is low, but Fitz's aggression is an ally to fantasy owners everywhere.

Olabisi Johnson (WR, MIN) - FAAB Bid: 3-4%

0% owned

Johnson stepped up with Adam Thielen injured and Chad Beebe out, turning four catches into 40 yards and a score. Minnesota’s WR depth chart is thin, which is tolerable on a run-heavy team with two solid tight ends, but they still need WRs on the perimeter. Thielen is “optimistic” about his hamstring injury, but the Vikings are on a short week and Johnson becomes a sneaky add if Thielen is out against a soft Washington defense.

UPDATE: Adam Thielen has officially been ruled out for Week 8.

Zach Pascal (WR, IND) - FAAB Bid: 2-3%

1% owned

One game doesn’t crown a team’s No. 2 WR, but Pascal’s stellar 6-106-2 line against the Texans comes pretty close. No Devin Funchess has left a rotation of younger players operating behind T.Y. Hilton, but Parris Campbell is now injured as well and Pascal separated himself from Chester Rogers and Deon Cain on Sunday. Pascal’s seen 16 targets in Indy’s last three games, well above Rogers (nine) and Cain (six) and right alongside Jack Doyle (16) and Eric Ebron (15). Weeks 8 and 9 against Denver and Pittsburgh are poor matchups, but the usage makes him a decent deep add among the bye weeks.

Diontae Johnson (WR, PIT) - FAAB Bid: 1-2%

14% owned

Johnson stood no chance at value in Week 6 with Devlin Hodges under center, but Weeks 3 and 4 saw him hit paydirt with Mason Rudolph. Pittsburgh is still forging its identity without Ben Roethlisberger, but Johnson has worked as the No. 2 WR behind JuJu Smith-Schuster. James Washington also returned to practice, so keep an eye on how they deploy him and Johnson in a plus matchup against Miami in Week 8.

Alex Erickson (WR, CIN) - FAAB Bid: 1-2%

2% owned

Erickson filled Cincy’s A.J. Green role in Week 7, being force-fed 14 targets as the offense sputtered. To his credit, he hauled in eight of them for 137 yards. Tyler Boyd also had 14 targets, but could only muster five catches for 55 scoreless yards. Auden Tate got 65 yards on six targets (three catches), his fifth straight game with at least six looks. Week 8 against the Rams should call for tons of passing, making all three WRs playable, then you can dump them for the Week 9 bye before A.J. Green’s possible return against the Ravens.

FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Tight Ends

Chris Herndon IV (TE, NYJ) - FAAB Bid: 1-2%

29% owned

Herndon’s hamstring injury has caused him to miss at least two additional games on top of the four-game suspension served to open 2019. Missing a game against the Patriots here isn’t bad, but the Jets' upcoming games against JAX, MIA, NYG, WAS, OAK, CIN, MIA in Weeks 8-14 are juicy. He’ll need to get enough targets with Le’Veon Bell, Jamison Crowder and Robby Anderson all getting work in this offense, but his large frame should be a favorite near the red zone. Sam Darnold and the Jets will be desperate for a spark after getting diced by the Patriots on Monday night.

Foster Moreau (TE, OAK) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%

0% owned

There’s a theme with these next two guys. Both have an incumbent ahead of them, but injuries to the WR corps have thrust them into valuable action. Oakland may be missing Tyrell Williams for extended time given Jon Gruden’s pessimistic comments and new recruit Zay Jones was inactive. Marcell Ateman saw the field for crying out loud. Moreau caught two-of-three targets for 24 yards and a touchdown, though Darren Waller remains the clear No. 1 tight end (and overall receiver) right now. Eric Ebron just diced up the Houston defense -- Oakland's Week 8 opponent -- to the tune of 4-70-1.

Irv Smith Jr. (TE, MIN) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%

1% owned

Big Irv matched Kyle Rudolph’s six targets in Week 7, catching five of them for an impressive 60 yards. The big note is how well some of his run blocking looked, which will give him more opportunities in this run-heavy system. He’d seen just eight targets prior to Week 7, but Adam Thielen’s early injury in this game freed up some looks. Should Thielen miss Week 8 then Smith Jr. should get more work against the shaky Washington defense. I realize Rudolph is the familiar commodity, but you don't need me to tell you what Rudolph provides. Choose that route if you want to get 30-50 yards and pray for a touchdown.

FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Defense/Special Teams

Pittsburgh Steelers Defense (D/ST) - FAAB Bid: 1-2%

44% owned

The Steelers were on bye and are still 44% owned, which should speak to how intensely their Week 8 opponent, Miami, is being targeted. I can’t dispute it, as the Dolphins competed in Week 7 against Buffalo and managed to yield double-digit points to the Bills DST. Pittsburgh has given up an average of 15 points per game over their last three contests, with a whopping 19 sacks and 15 turnovers in five games since facing the Patriots in Week 1.

Seattle Seahawks Defense (D/ST) - FAAB Bid: 1-2%

47% owned

The Falcons may be without Matt Ryan in Week 8 and their defense is in shambles, making Seattle an intriguing add. They're still being put into lineups every week based on name value, but they haven't looked very good. Still, Russell Wilson should force the action and press Matt Schaub into throwing often to keep up. This would yield several opportunities for turnovers, perhaps even a defensive TD or two. Monitor Ryan's ankle sprain and practice status heading towards Sunday.

Indianapolis Colts Defense (D/ST) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%

12% owned

Indy’s defense was shaky to start the season, but they held the Chiefs to just 13 points in Week 5 and the Texans to 23 points in Week 7 with stud LB Darius Leonard back in the fold. They take on the Broncos next, who have neither Patrick Mahomes nor Deshaun Watson under center. They have Joe Flacco, who just got dumped by KC’s defense on every other play last week. The Colts have achieved three or more sacks in four-of-six games thus far, meaning Flacco may struggle with more pressure on Sunday. I'm in.

Detroit Lions Defense (D/ST) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%

9% owned

The Lions were just toasted by Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook, but get rookie Daniel Jones at home in Week 8. Saquon Barkley is still not 100%, though he obviously still helps this team substantially. Until Jones gets his feet wet and gets more comfortable playing at NFL game speed, he's a QB to target when streaming defenses. If you’re desperate the Lions are a decent target, though I'd prefer the Colts out of the widely-available DSTs.

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