RADIO
Michael Florio's fantasy football sneaky starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 8 of 2024. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.
The injuries continue to pile up. If you have avoided the injury bug, consider yourself lucky because it is coming for everyone. However, when there are injuries, there are bound to be replacement options you can nab off the waiver wire.
Every week is different regarding the sneaky starts and pivot plays. This is a week that favors the wide receiver and tight-end position. If you need an option there, you have plenty. However, if you need a streaming running back off the waiver wire, that can be a little tougher this week.
As always, though, the goal is just to win the week and keep your team afloat. If you find yourself at 3-4 or worse, we have reached the point of the season where you have to focus on just winning each week. You cannot take a long-term approach now. But this article will help you do so!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings (redraft)
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- Tight end fantasy football rankings
Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options
If you need a QB…
Tua Tagovailoa has returned to practice with the goal being he will suit up this Sunday. There is obvious risk tied to him, but we also know the upside he can bring in fantasy. He also gets a fantasy-friendly landing spot facing the Cardinals, who have allowed the fifth-most fantasy PPG to QBs. Tagovailoa is one of the best replacement options you will find on waivers this season.
Drake Maye has a tough matchup this week. That is why he is not just a straight-up start. He brings enough upside, though, to remain in play as a pivot option even in a tough matchup. Maye has scored 19.5 or more fantasy points in his two starts and finished as a fantasy QB1 in each game. With the Pats always in catch-up mode, he could be like what Blake Bortles was years ago. He is a fun fantasy option.
The One Thing about Drake Maye No One Sees....
It's not about this year for the New England Patriots, it's about proving they picked the RIGHT guy....I believe without a doubt they have their guy.
All 22 QB Breakdown: Drake Maye pic.twitter.com/iTCYKIjy9N
— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) October 22, 2024
Russell Wilson returned last week and scored nearly 25 fantasy points. He threw for 264 yards and two scores. His numbers were elevated due to a one-yard rushing TD on what was nearly a pick-six, but hey, the points count. We saw last year that at this point in his career, Wilson is more of a safe-floor QB play, but if you are in a pinch, that is enough to trust.
Bo Nix is running a bunch and that is great for fantasy football purposes. Not only does he have three rushing TDs this season but he has run for 25-plus in all but two games. Three times he has topped 45 rushing yards, and in his last two, he has topped 60. For context, 60 rushing yards equate to 150 passing yards. His legs elevate his floor and ceiling. It is why he has topped 19 fantasy points in three of his last five games. He is very much in play as a pivot option in a fantastic matchup against the Panthers.
Jameis Winston is here for those who love fun! Winston may not always get the best results, but he is never boring. I would also argue that the little glimpses we have seen of him have been the best QB play by the Browns this season. Winston is not afraid to air it out and take chances. It leads to him being a volatile, but high-upside fantasy option.
If you need an RB…
Alexander Mattison remained the lead back last week even with Zamir White returning. He played nearly 70 percent of the snaps and had 23 carries and three targets. I do not love Mattison this week because he has a very tough matchup. But beggars can’t be choosers. If you need an RB to plug in, one seeing that much volume is worth a shot.
Jaylen Warren had the most usage of any game this season last week. He carried the ball 12 times and saw three targets. The change in QB is significant for Warren because Russell Wilson is much more likely to dump it off than Fields is. The Giants have allowed the eighth-most receiving yards to RBs. Warren brings some upside this week.
D'Ernest Johnson is in play as long as Travis Etienne Jr. is out. Tank Bigsby has a role as the physical runner on this team, but when Etienne is out, Johnson takes over passing downs. He saw a season-high nine carries and four targets, reaching double-digit fantasy points.
Tyler Goodson is in play if Jonathan Taylor is out this week. Goodson carried the ball 14 times for 51 yards and a touchdown last week. He was not targeted last week, but two weeks ago, he had five targets. That is more of an Anthony Richardson thing than Goodson. But he has surpassed Trey Sermon and will be the lead back for the Colts if JT cannot play. If he suits up, you can get away from Goodson.
If you need a WR…
I like all of the Packers receivers this week. Jayden Reed is a play, but the others can be used if you are in a pinch. Romeo Doubs is my favorite as the Jaguars use man coverage at the fifth-highest rate in the NFL. Doubs leads the Packers in yards and passer rating when targeted against man coverage. Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks always bring a high ceiling, and that keeps them in play, but the floor is low.
Jauan Jennings is a must-play if he returns this week. We saw Jennings step up when Deebo Samuel Sr. missed time already and he has real chemistry with Brock Purdy. He could be a league winner moving forward. However, so much is up in the air for the Niners with Samuel and Jennings being questionable.
Ricky Pearsall would be the next man up for the Niners. Pearsall is a good route runner who can line up out wide or in the slot. He is the kind of player that head coach Kyle Shanahan could have a lot of fun with. He led the Niners in routes last week and had five targets. Jacob Cowing is a boom-or-bust big-play threat for the Niners.
Jalen McMillan flashed early in the season, but now is his time to shine with Chris Godwin and Mike Evans hurt. McMillan is a big slot receiver who could immediately step into the Godwin role. He brings league-winning upside the rest of the way, pending the Bucs making a trade. The Falcons are in the top 10 in fantasy PPG allowed to WRs.
All-22 of Jalen McMillan's 8 targets against the Baltimore Ravens.
🔥 17.8% Target Share
🔥 31 Routes
🔥 59.6% Route Participation Rate
🔥 100 Air Yards
🔥 12.5 ADOTMcMillan ran 24.2% of of his snaps in the slot. This equated to 3 balls caught for 15 yards. We just missed a… pic.twitter.com/FD4Zn31YB2
— Bruce Matson (@MetricScout) October 23, 2024
While I prefer McMillan, Sterling Shepard and Trey Palmer are deeper options as someone has to catch the ball from Baker Mayfield. I prefer Shepard of the two, but Palmer could bring some upside if he is operating out wide.
Rashod Bateman has earned some respect! He has averaged 83 yards per game in his last three games with over 11 fantasy points in each. He has two touchdowns in that span. Now, he gets the Browns, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy PPG to receivers. They also play man at the second-highest rate in the NFL. Bateman is second in targets vs. man on the Ravens and has a 122 passer rating when targeted. Bateman is definitely in play this week.
Rashod Bateman
WR36 in fppg
Full szn pace: 957 rec yards & 7 rec tds
Among 89 qual WRs per @FantasyPtsData
3rd in separation
7th in route win ratePER Route Data Matters & NO ONE does it better than @FantasyPtsData
— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) October 22, 2024
Troy Franklin is an option for you deep-league players. He is coming off his best game as a pro when he caught five of his six targets for 50 yards. He led the Broncos in targets and was behind only Courtland Sutton in routes. Franklin has chemistry with Bo Nix going back to their college days.
If you need a TE…
Cade Otton is a must-play tight end this week. He saw 10 targets and went for 100 yards last week in a game where Chris Godwin was healthy until the very end. Otton has eight-plus targets in three of his last five games. He has nine-plus fantasy points in four of his last five. He was already blossoming into a safe-floor fantasy TE, but he has much more upside now. Get him in your lineup this week.
Cade Otton
- 22.0 Fantasy Points Week 7
- Career High 100 Receiving Yards
- Career High 8 Receptions
- 25% FAABOnly Brock Bowers has more targets at the TE position since Week 3.
Chris Godwin injury means even more volume for Otton.
Start every week.pic.twitter.com/umXNWZkdFo https://t.co/ZZwn9WOKVT
— Joe Orrico (@NoExpertFF) October 22, 2024
Hunter Henry saw huge volume last week, catching eight of his nine targets for 92 yards. In Drake Maye’s first start, Henry saw five targets and caught a touchdown. We have seen a big-volume game before and then he fades away, but it feels different with Maye at the helm. The floor may be low, but the upside is high enough that it is worth taking a shot on him if you are in a pinch.
Jonnu Smith has 15 targets in his last two games. He has topped double-digit fantasy points in each and went off for 23 fantasy points last week. The only concern I have is what happens now that Tua Tagovailoa is back. Smith could struggle to see consistent volume with the top two receivers being fed so much, but he brings upside, as we have seen. If you are diving a little deeper, Smith is in play.
Noah Fant has reached double digits in two straight games and three of his last five. He has reached 60 yards in all three of those games. He has not shown much more upside than that, but a safe floor is enough to have a TE in play in this article. However, we could see more upside this week if DK Metcalf is out.
Ja'Tavion Sanders takes a hit with Bryce Young starting this week. He still is a big-bodied, athletic tight end who can win after the catch and in the red zone. His fantasy points have increased in four straight and he has averaged six targets per game in his last three. Plus, the Broncos are elite at stopping receivers but have allowed the fourth-most fantasy PPG to TEs, so he could see a little more volume go his way this week. He is a deep sleeper.
Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio.
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