Sneaky Starts, Pivot Plays and Post-Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8

Craig Rondinone's sneaky fantasy football starts, pivot plays and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 8 lineups. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.

The shelves will not be as empty on fantasy football waiver wires this week. Only the Las Vegas Raiders and Baltimore Ravens are on bye this week, which is a welcomed relief after fantasy managers endured a half-dozen teams and countless players being on bye in Week 7.

There will be plenty of players to choose from on fantasy waiver wires if you need an emergency replacement for one of your banged-up starters who is ruled out before Sunday morning.

Without further ado, here are my sneaky starts, pivot plays and post-waiver pickups for Week 8 – and the questionable superstars who you might need to replace at the last minute in your fantasy lineup:

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

Sneaky Pickups and Starts for Week 8

If New England’s Jonnu Smith (shoulder) cannot be cleared in time for Halloween, you could pick up and play….

Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts (TE) vs. TEN

A lot of fantasy footballers are probably shying away from Cox because they feel like veteran Jack Doyle is still in the mix and will take some targets and time away from him. I would not be worried after what I have seen the past month. While Doyle has been relegated to blocking and has only caught two passes over Indy’s last four games, Cox has 10 receptions for 145 yards and four touchdowns over the same span.

Cox will line up against division rival Tennessee in a crucial midseason matchup for AFC South superiority. The Titans are ranked 24^th against the pass, but they have been ranked much lower for most of the season and only went up a few notches after they somehow bottled up Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs last weekend. Alie-Cox should keep the good times and good numbers rolling this Sunday against the Titans’ soft secondary.

If Cleveland’s Jarvis Landry (knee) is ruled out before Sunday’s kickoff, you could pick up and play….

Kalif Raymond, Detroit Lions (WR) vs. PHI

I tried my luck with Raymond a couple columns ago to no avail, but now he is back on the fantasy radar after racking up 115 receiving yards against Jalen Ramsey and the Los Angeles Rams this past weekend. With top tight end and usual No. 1 passing option T.J. Hockenson playing at less than 100 percent and starting wideout Tyrell Williams out with a concussion, Raymond’s role has increased in recent weeks on a Lions team as desperate for quality pass catchers as restaurants are for waiters and waitresses.

Raymond will be covered by a Philadelphia defense that might be ranked 11^th against the pass but looked like an XFL-caliber defense against Las Vegas last weekend. The Eagles allowed Derek Carr to complete 31 of 34 passes for 323 yards even though top target Darren Waller was not on the field as they made backup tight end Foster Moreau look like the second coming of Dave Casper. I cannot guarantee Raymond will top the 100-yard mark again, but I would not be surprised if he supplied fantasy managers with five catches for 75 yards and a TD.

If Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield (shoulder) is holding a clipboard instead of playing on Sunday, you could pick up and play…

Teddy Bridgewater, Denver Broncos (QB) vs. WAS

Bridgewater hobbled through a mediocre-at-best performance in his last game two Thursdays ago and is available in 75 percent of leagues. Before you write him and his bad foot off for this week though, listen to all the things he has going for him heading into Week 8. The list is endless.

Teddy B. should be closer to 100 percent with 10 days off. He will also have Jerry Jeudy back from his ankle injury to go along with Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant, so his top trio of pass catchers should be at full strength. On top of that, Bridgewater will throw against a Washington defense ranked last in the NFL versus the pass that is allowing 300 passing yards per game. Even Darrell Green in his prime being beamed onto the field cannot save that secondary. Bridgewater can throw for 250 yards and two-to-three touchdowns thanks to this scenario. He has a better chance of being a treat than a trick for fantasy managers this Halloween.

If Chicago’s Allen Robinson (ankle) misses Sunday afternoon’s contest, you could pick up and play….

Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills (WR) vs. MIA

I am sure fantasy managers were worried Beasley was getting phased out of Buffalo’s game plans either because of the superb play of Dawson Knox and Emmanuel Sanders or due to an anti-vax conspiracy. In Weeks 4 and 5, Buffalo’s outspoken slot receiver only mustered three catches for 21 yards on four targets and his snap count shrunk. Heading into Week 6, the fantasy value for Beasley was measly.

Beasley is back on the fantasy map after his 7-88-1 line against Tennessee two weeks ago, though. With Knox out with a broken hand and Beasley seemingly an integral part of the offense again after being on the back burner for two games, Buffalo’s No. 3 WR should be a great get considering he is on waiver wires in over 40 percent of leagues. You cannot ask for him to have a nicer matchup than the one he has this week – at home against Miami’s 30^th-ranked pass defense. Beasley’s legs should be fresh since Buffalo is coming off a bye, too. Look for him to post seven catches for 80 yards as he runs away from Dolphins defenders as if they all have syringes loaded with the COVID vaccine.

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