RADIO
Hayden's fantasy football risers, breakouts, waiver wire sleepers for Week 8 of 2025. Are these unexpected booms legit for Oronde Gadsden, Pat Freiermuth, Xavier Legette, others?
Week 7 began with a bang on Thursday Night Football as the Bengals eked out a thrilling 33-31 victory over the Steelers. While Sunday provided just four games that were decided by one score, one of those matchups was completely insane. The Broncos scored 33 points in the fourth quarter, 25 of which came in the final six minutes, to beat the Giants 33-32.
Some great fantasy football performances got posted by some big names on Sunday, too. Bo Nix put up gaudy numbers in Denver's comeback win; he threw two touchdown passes and reached the end zone twice with his legs. Jonathan Taylor and Christian McCaffrey also came through for fantasy managers, as did DeVonta Smith in Philadelphia's 28-22 triumph over Minnesota.
However, there were some more surprising players this week who joined those stars with strong showings of their own. Will they be able to replicate their successes moving forward? Let's take a look at five of Week 7's unexpected booms, beginning with a veteran tight end who put up great numbers on Thursday.
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Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers
Freiermuth has been a key contributor for the Steelers since the franchise drafted him in the second round in 2021. He got off to a quiet start this season, though. Through Week 6, Freiermuth had seen a total of just 11 targets. He entered Thursday Night Football averaging just 2.3 half-PPR points per game, making him a fantasy non-factor.
Freiermuth made a huge splash in Week 7, though. He caught five of his six targets on Thursday for 111 yards and two touchdowns. The second of his scores was a 68-yarder to give Pittsburgh a late 31-30 lead. The Steelers would ultimately fall to Cincinnati, however, following a clutch Evan McPherson field goal in the closing seconds.
68-YARD TOUCHDOWN!!!!! @pat_fry5
📺: #PITvsCIN on @NFLonPrime pic.twitter.com/9cu7D5Kgc5
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 17, 2025
Ranking as this week's tentative TE2, Freiermuth compiled 25.6 half-PPR points on the night. This was his best showing ever in the NFL, topping his 18.8 fantasy points in Week 9 of his rookie season. The game also marked just the second time Freiermuth has reached the 100-yard mark in his five-year career thus far. Moreover, he posted a strong 88.4 PFF grade.
Freiermuth is someone TE-needy fantasy managers can consider on waiver wires this week. However, he would be a risky player to rely on. Freiermuth's big night came in a matchup where the Steelers trailed for nearly the entire second half. He also must contend with Jonnu Smith and Darnell Washington. There are likely better streaming options available at tight end for Week 8.
Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers drafted with the final pick of the first round in 2024. He did not have a standout rookie season, however, catching 49 of 84 targets for 497 yards and four touchdowns. Unfortunately, Legette was making less of an impact as a sophomore in 2025, as he entered Week 7 with just eight catches on 20 targets for 50 yards in four games.
Legette's brutal efficiency to open the season improved on Sunday. The South Carolina product caught nine of his 11 targets, gaining 92 yards. Legette scored the only touchdown in Carolina's bout with the New York Jets, and he also made a key catch late in the game to seal a 13-6 win for his squad. The game was a far cry from his horrific outing in Week 2 in which he had -2 receiving yards on eight targets.
Patience from Bryce Young leads to a Xavier Legette touchdown!
CARvsNYJ on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/XIiXPIXZ8m
— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2025
With 19.7 half-PPR points on the day, Legette did enough to be tied with Rashee Rice as Week 7's WR8 before the Monday Night Football doubleheader. His targets, catches, and receiving yards on Sunday were all career-highs. This was despite the presences of Jalen Coker, who made his season debut, and first-round rookie Tetairoa McMillan.
Still, Legette will need to vie for targets with McMillan moving forward, something he had been having an increasingly difficult time with. As Coker gets acclimated, Legette will face further competition. Additionally, quarterback Young left Sunday's game with an ankle injury. Feel free to add Legette on the waiver wire this week, but there are likely other receivers out there who are more appealing.
Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears
The Bears drafted Monangai out of Rutgers in the seventh round of this year's draft. The rookie has spent this season thus far in a backup role behind starter D'Andre Swift. In his first five games, Monangai totaled 22 carries for 81 yards, pus four catches for 48 yards. He also did not have a snap share above 41 percent during that span.
Monangai had the best outing of his young career on Sunday versus New Orleans. The former Scarlet Knight carried the ball 13 times, nearly double his previous best of seven. He gained 81 yards on those attempts, good for an average of 6.2 yards per carry. Monangai also scored his first NFL touchdown to help the Bears beat the Saints 26-14.
Kyle Monangai scores his first NFL TD!
NOvsCHI on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/tlabBDz5Mb
— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2025
With two catches for 13 yards on top of his rushing stats, Monangai finished with 16.4 half-PPR points. That was enough to make him the week's RB10 through Sunday Night Football.
Importantly, this game did not represent a Monangai ascension on the depth chart, though. Swift excelled with 19 carries for 124 yards as New Orleans struggled mightily to contain Chicago's rushing attack. Still, Monangai played 46 percent of Chicago's offensive snaps per PFF, a new high for him.
Monangai has been a viable bench stash since the preseason, and that remains unchanged. What has changed is fantasy managers have now gotten a real glimpse of his potential should he eventually receive a bigger role. Monangai is worth a long look on waiver wires this week, though it is important to remember that he will remain Swift's backup for the foreseeable future barring injury.
Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants
First-round rookie quarterback Dart had a promising first few starts for the Giants this season. In Week 6, he even finished as the week's QB3 with 23.6 fantasy points. In Week 7, though, he faced a tough Denver Broncos defense. The Broncos entered the week yielding the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks.
Dart managed to play very well despite the challenging matchup. The young passer connected on only 15 of his 33 pass attempts, but those completions went for 283 yards. Dart also tossed three touchdowns and ran for a fourth. The Giants had led by 19 points before squandering their advantage, but Dart led a drive capped off by his rushing score to retake the lead in the final minute. Alas, the Broncos won on a field goal as time expired.
after review... DART IS IN FOR THE LEAD! THIS GAME!
NYGvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/a6zdCUUfyB
— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2025
The productive afternoon led to 29.42 fantasy points for Dart. This not only marked a new career-high, besting his total from a week ago, but also made Dart the day's QB3. He ran just five times for only 11 yards, his lowest such figures so far in a start. Fortunately, his personal-best passing numbers did more than enough to compensate for his relative lack of rushing.
Dart's back-to-back excellent fantasy outings have proven that he belongs in the QB1 conversation. Dart ought to be acquired in any leagues where he remains available. He and the Giants will take on the Eagles for the second time in three weeks in Week 8; Dart will look to turn his momentum into another big performance.
Oronde Gadsden, TE, Los Angeles Chargers
Fifth-round rookie tight end Gadsden saw seven targets in his debut in Week 3, but in the subsequent two weeks he got just four targets combined. He regained the attention of some fantasy managers following his seven-reception game in Week 6, though. Gadsden also entered Week 7 having led all Chargers tight ends in snaps for three consecutive weeks.
With that said, Gadsden's explosion on Sunday was still shocking. He set a new career-high with nine targets and tied his best reception mark with seven grabs. However, Gadsden blew his yardage best of 68 yards out of the water with a whopping 164 yards against the Colts. His biggest plays were a 53-yard catch and run in the third quarter and a 15-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter.
rook gets his first nfl td
📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/XMA5gdtDdI
— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) October 19, 2025
Gadsden's elite stat line earned him 25.9 half-PPR points, making him the unexpected TE1 for the week pending Monday's results. Gadsden's snap share continued to expand, reaching 79 percent according to PFF. Any remaining doubt that Gadsden is the top tight end for the Chargers has now been eliminated.
Entering Week 8, Gadsden definitely belongs on fantasy rosters. The Chargers do boast Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Keenan Allen at receiver, dampening Gadsden's outlook. Moreover, the team was in comeback mode versus Indianapolis, leading to 55 pass attempts. While Gadsden's big day should not be the new expectation for him, he can be seen as a worthwhile waiver addition due to his rising stock.
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