FAAB Waiver Wire Bidding - Fantasy Football Pickups to Target for Week 8 (2025)

Nick Mariano's fantasy football waiver wire FAAB bidding guide for Week 8 (2025) -- how many FAAB dollars (free agent acquisition budget) to spend on waivers.

It's time to hit the worst part of the bye-week blues as we trudge into the second half of our fantasy season. But hey, you've been pushing through international games and Monday night doubleheaders, so you're a tough cookie. Let's win together with our famous waiver wire pickups list and our fantasy football waiver wire columns by position -- specially tailored for leagues using FAAB.

Remember that these FAAB prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for, and you should know how many other big bankrolls remain to contend with as you go. We hope you planned accordingly for Week 8, which has the Cardinals, Jaguars, Lions, Raiders, Rams, and Seahawks on bye. The Browns, Bucs, Eagles, and Jets will be off in Week 9.

As always, I cannot know your specific league outlook, so please try to leverage historical data and personal knowledge whenever possible. We're going to cap the rostered rate at 40% on Yahoo!, but you can adjust if someone is dropped or remains on the wire above that threshold. Don't get complacent, and be sure you're churning the wire to stack as many edges over the competition as you can!

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks

We’ve highlighted Jaxson Dart for the past couple of pieces, so we’ll move along, but that stellar game at Denver just seals that he’s a locked-in, weekly top-12 QB to buy into. At this point, he may demand a 15-20% bid.

Marcus Mariota (QB, WAS) - 1% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-4%

Any time Jayden Daniels is unavailable, Mariota becomes an automatic streamer. Despite an ugly relief effort against a soft Dallas defense on Sunday, he still turned four completions into 63 yards and two rushes into another 34 yards.

His 10-94-1 rush line in limited work is impressive, and what keeps us hooked. The matchup at Arrowhead Stadium against an operational Kansas City Death Star is quite poor, but perhaps both Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr. will be active, which would liven up our hope on a heavy bye week.

Joe Flacco (QB, CIN) - 11% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%

Flacco led the Bengals to an upset over the Steelers on Thursday and just had a long week to recover and finally settle into Cincy. The man has thrown five TDs without a turnover in two games for the Bengals, showing exceptional chemistry with, and a willingness to spam target, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

The Jets haven’t allowed a passer to exceed 250 yards yet, but have allowed a pair of four-TD games, and Cincinnati moves through the air like no other. Game on, old man.

Aaron Rodgers (QB, PIT) - 28% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%

Would anyone buy that Rodgers, fresh off his second four-touchdown performance of the season, is hoping for a juiced stat line against his old team? The Steelers are finding something in their stable of tight ends, which leans into Arthur Smith’s playcalling comfort zone.

Michael Penix Jr. (QB, ATL) - 24% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%

With six teams on bye, some of you may seek out a healthy floor play, which is the QB facing Miami.

That happens to be Penix in Week 8, and while Bijan Robinson may score four times with 250 total yards, perhaps one or two of those TDs are through the air? It isn’t glamorous, but we rarely get cupcake matchups in tight binds.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs

Kyle Monangai (RB, CHI) - 7% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 6-10%
Aggressive Bid: 10-14%
Desperation Bid: 14-18%

The streets are saying that Ben Johnson has found confidence in his dynamic duo, akin to the Jahmyr Gibbs-David Montgomery one-two punch in Detroit. While Swift once again went off for 138 total yards and a score on 20 touches (175 yards, TD on 16 last week), Monangai effectively doubled his typical workload toward even footing with Swift.

Kyle Monangai Week 7

- 46% snaps
- 13 carries, 81 yds, TD
- 11 routes, 3 targets, 2 rec, 13 yds
- 17.4 fantasy points

— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) October 19, 2025

Good things happen when the Bears can go up by multiple scores and salt away the game! While Monangai did score his TD in the second quarter, he only had six carries before entering at the end of the third quarter with the Bears up nine.

In other words, this is not Detroit’s situation (yet). But if Chicago gets leads more consistently, then we're all eating. Seeing 10-15 weekly touches would vault him into flex consideration, and now he has consecutive plus matchups against BAL and CIN to deliver for us.

Tyler Allgeier (RB, ATL) - 39% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-8%

Allgeier had a brief injury scare in the fourth quarter on Sunday night, but was able to walk off and eventually re-entered the game for a fourth-down effort. Assuming no setbacks, the Falcons are about to walk into a home date with Miami’s generous defense, which puts Bijan Robinson on nuke watch.

All eyes will be on the superstar, but Allgeier has gotten double-digit carries and scored a touchdown in every single Atlanta victory of the year. Do you think the Falcons trounce a drifting Dolphins team? This writer does. Allgeier will be a healthy flex play as a result.

Bam Knight (RB, ARI) - 22% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-7%
Desperation Bid: 7-10%

Knight outworked Michael Carter with 17 touches to nine on Sunday, racking up 64 total yards to Carter’s 36 in the process. While Carter looks like a more effective receiver, Knight’s decisiveness on the ground displays why he’s running ahead of MC.

Now, Arizona will be on its bye, and Trey Benson has already missed three games on the injured reserve, so that conversation will start to bubble. However, Week 9 brings a ripe matchup against the Cowboys. Decide how much you’re going to invest in stashing Knight for that, or if you want to consider moving along from the backfield altogether.

Brashard Smith (RB, KC) - 6% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-7%
Desperation Bid: 7-10%

Another double-edged add that you can either view as a prospect delivering on an expected increase in work as the season goes on, or a simple garbage-time merchant. With Kareem Hunt dealing with an ankle injury and the Chiefs en route to a 31-0 rout of a Maxx Crosby-less Raiders, Smith saw 14 carries (39 yards) and five catches (42 yards).

Unlike Monangai, Smith did not dazzle as a rusher to close out the game, but the five catches came with the A-team and keep him in deep PPR conversations. His midseason trust in a stellar offense makes him a prime stash.

Devin Neal (RB, NO) - 0% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-4%
Desperation Bid: 4-6%

The Saints’ backfield is in trouble after word that Kendre Miller tore his ACL hit the wire. This will force Neal, who has only three total NFL touches through seven games, to step up.

Alvin Kamara is averaging 2.97 yards per carry over his last three games (3.6 YPC on the year), and is unlikely to blow past 20 touches per game in Year 9 anyway. Unless the Saints bring back someone like Jamaal Williams, then this is Neal’s chance.

The sixth-round pick out of Kansas cruised to a 6.0 YPC in his last three collegiate seasons, scoring 16 rush TDs in both his junior and senior years. He has pass-protection chops and the power on his 5-foot-11 frame to make some waves. Kamara hasn’t played in 16 games since his rookie year, so opportunity is not far.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers

Darnell Mooney (WR, ATL) - 29% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-8%

Neither Mooney nor Drake London could consistently get going against the 49ers on Sunday night, but Mooney’s three catches (five catches) still led to 68 yards. London has yet to surpass 55 yards in any game that Mooney also plays in!

We have to respect Mooney’s starting role in a potent dome offense, but Michael Penix Jr.’s inconsistency can make things maddening. Next week against Miami, and then two shootout scripts with New England and Indianapolis could make things interesting.

Marvin Mims Jr. (WR, DEN) - 23% rostered
Troy Franklin (WR, DEN) - 21% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-8%

Denver found itself in a rare 19-0 hole to the Giants, which left Bo Nix and company to throw caution to the wind and score 33 points in the fourth quarter for a miraculous comeback.

Courtland Sutton’s 87 receiving yards paced the team, but Mims had 6-85-0 on seven looks and a 13-yard rush while Franklin caught a tipped TD to salvage his day. Franklin’s game could’ve been incredible, as he only connected on 3-of-10 targets, including some premium downfield opportunities.

Troy Franklin's 152 unrealized air yards were the second most in a single game by any player this season behind Jameson Williams' 175 vs CLE #BroncosCountry

— John Laghezza MLB / NFL Moving Averages (@JohnLaghezza) October 20, 2025

Next week may take what we saw in the fourth quarter and stretch it over 60 minutes with the high-flying Cowboys offense coming to Denver. Be ready!

Jaylin Noel (WR, HOU) - 1% rostered
Jayden Higgins (WR, HOU) - 14% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-8%

Houston looked overwhelmed against Seattle's defense during Monday's nightcap, and then injury was added to insult when Nico Collins smashed the back of his head on the field while falling by the sideline. He did not return after being lifted for concussion evaluation, which left Noel to lead the WR room with four catches and 77 yards.

Higgins still has plenty of potential, yet he went catchless on three looks. Dalton Schultz was allowed by Seattle to roam freely as a safety valve, which led to a 9-98-0 line. Xavier Hutchinson should also see a rise in playing time against a depleted San Francisco defense in Week 8, but Noel/Higgins have the ceiling.

I will note that Kirk is 24% rostered and could be intriguing, but he suffered a hamstring injury during Friday's practice, and so our hopes for Week 8 availability are low.

Xavier Legette (WR, CAR) - 6% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-4%
Desperation Bid: 4-6%

Look away, fellow Jalen Coker enthusiasts. Legette owned the day, catching 9-of-11 targets for 92 yards and his second TD of the year. Sauce Gardner typically stayed with Tetairoa McMillan, which left Legette free to roam. The Panthers may experience turbulence with Andy Dalton at QB against Buffalo, but Legette’s role seems solidified at this time.

Alec Pierce (WR, IND) - 9% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-4%
Desperation Bid: 4-6%

Pierce rolled with five catches for 98 yards (10 targets) as the No. 2 WR, working well ahead of Adonai Mitchell and Anthony Gould with Josh Downs (concussion) and Ashton Dulin (chest) out.

The difference between Pierce being a boom-bust deep threat and a high-volume piece for Week 8 at Tennessee will be Downs’ status. The Colts have now scored fewer than 29 points in a game only once and shouldn’t be afraid to crush a flailing Titans squad.

Chimere Dike (WR, TEN) - 2% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%

Dike hauled in all four targets for 70 yards and his first career TD, with a one-yard loss on a rush as well. This weekend didn’t bring any rise in usage, but he got chances and converted on all of them.

Dike only played 30 of Tennessee's 53 offensive snaps on Sunday, running a route on 26 of them according to PFF. Without Calvin Ridley, Dike and Van Jefferson have stepped up alongside Elic Ayomanor, who clearly led TEN in snaps/routes, but walked away with little show for it (again).

Tyler Lockett is now out of town, but the low team ceiling and VanJeff involvement keep Dike on the periphery, for now.

Parker Washington (WR, JAX) - 1% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-5%

Brian Thomas Jr. hasn’t looked right for much of the season, but Sunday’s early London tilt brought the panic to a new level. BTJ was in visible pain from simple hand-checking at the line of scrimmage late and did not return to a game that was already lost.

Now, Washington had several drops, but was the clear No. 2 option behind Travis Hunter, seeing 13 opportunities (three carries, 10 targets). Dyami Brown only had two catches for 50 yards on four targets, while neither Hunter Long nor Johnny Mundt has emerged as a strong receiving TE with Brenton Strange (hip) on IR.

Let’s see what news comes out of the team’s Week 8 bye, but Week 9 in the dome of Las Vegas could be a solid PPR spot for Washington.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends

Oronde Gadsden (TE, LAC) - 3% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 10-12%
Aggressive Bid: 12-16%
Desperation Bid: 16-20%

Any worries about Gadsden’s 7-68-0 pop in Week 6 being solely reliant on facing Miami with Quentin Johnston sidelined were put to rest with a monstrous Sunday. Against a solid Indianapolis defense with all three of Justin Herbert’s top wide receivers in play, Gadsden caught 7-of-9 targets for 164 yards, including a 15-yard TD.

This gives the talented TE a 14-232-1 receiving line on 17 targets in two weeks, which demands our attention. Getting that many looks from Justin Herbert will differ from someone like Mason Taylor panning for gold flecks amidst his volume.

Jonnu Smith (TE, PIT) - 19 % rostered
Pat Freiermuth (TE, PIT) - 7 % rostered
Darnell Washington (TE, PIT) - 0 % rostered

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-5%

This TE room feels like one that demands a check-in. Smith had a fine 3-28-1 line, but still has not surpassed 30 total yards in a game for the Steelers. As the “most expensive” TE of the bunch, he is a disappointment, but still the most athletic.

Freiermuth exploded for 5-111-2 on six looks after being unusable through five games, with only two catches between Weeks 3-5. We can’t chase the dragon against Green Bay without a second encouraging data point.

Don’t let Washington’s strange 3-2-1 receiving line distract you from the fact that he saw five targets (his second straight game with that mark). All of them could hit at any time, especially with Calvin Austin III (shoulder) out, leaving the team with only one reliable WR. Let’s see if Rodgers gets another couple of scores to his TEs against a Packers team that has allowed the second-most points to the position in ‘25.

Isaiah Likely (TE, BAL) - 6% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-5%

Just a friendly reminder that Likely should be as healthy as he’ll be on the other side of a bye, and Baltimore should no longer be an offensive joke with Lamar Jackson back under center. Mark Andrews has been quite disappointing, posting 15 catches for 83 scoreless yards beyond that 6-91-2 line in Week 3.

Much like my hopes for Chicago tagging Colston Loveland into a substantial role moving forward (especially with Cole Kmet’s back injury), Likely has the talent to make a fantasy-relevant leap. And that’s all we’re after!

Dollar Bin: Theo Johnson, Noah Fant, Terrance Ferguson (Late addition: Dalton Schultz)

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams

Colts (49% rostered) and Chargers (51%) are strong $2 options if available.

Buffalo Bills Defense (at CAR) - 38% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 3%
Desperation Bid: 4%

The Bills come out of their bye week with a date against Andy Dalton and the Panthers with Bryce Young already ruled out with an ankle sprain. Buffalo better have a plan for bottling up Rico Dowdle/Chuba Hubbard.

Still, the quality of quarterback play and the likelihood that BUF tilts the scoreboard into Carolina taking risks makes this a great spot.

Atlanta Falcons Defense (vs. MIA) - 9% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 3%
Desperation Bid: 4%

The Falcs are putting together a very impressive defensive resume in 2025, even if it doesn’t translate particularly well to fantasy points. As we saw in Week 2 at Minnesota (six sacks, four turnovers, six points allowed), things can fall apart quickly.

The Dolphins just got washed by Cleveland, with Tua Tagovailoa tossing three interceptions and getting lifted for Quinn Ewers late. Lean into their disarray with Atlanta at home in Week 8.

If you really want to lean into disarray, you can throw a last D/ST dart at Cincinnati, who hosts the Jets (Justin Fields? Tyrod Taylor?) in Week 8.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense (at NO) - 10% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%

It’s a tough spot for Tampa on the second leg of back-to-back road games with this being a short week, but Tampa Bay is widely available, and the Saints are simply not good.

Most recently, the Bears just registered four sacks and four turnovers against them, with New Orleans failing to score more than 21 points all year.

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