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Week 8 fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Brandon Aiyuk, Luke McCaffrey, Jalen Coker in 2025. Read their waiver wire outlooks for fantasy football.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee), Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey, and Carolina Panthers wideout Jalen Coker are among quite a few players who are interesting targets for waiver pickups ahead of Week 8.
Aiyuk hasn't played in a game yet this season. Coker just returned from a long absence due to a quad injury, and McCaffrey logged his most playing time of any game this season so far.
But which of these guys, if any, are worth adding to your rosters in fantasy leagues? Let's dive in.
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Brandon Aiyuk Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered: 54% of Leagues
Baller Move: Add in 14+ Team leagues
There isn't currently a projected return date for Aiyuk, who tore his ACL, MCL, and severely damaged his meniscus in Week 7 last season. He's been working out at the 49ers facility recently, signifying that he's closer to his return, at least.
But we're still a few weeks out, at best. You could stash him in your injured reserve spot if you have an extra one, but even when he returns, it seems unlikely that he'll be anywhere near 100 percent again and able to play to the level he did in 2023. His 2024 play wasn't inspiring.
What a wild day for BA, Let’s get some good Brandon Aiyuk buzz going on X now…
One of the best route runners in the NFL, let’s not forget it 👀⬇️ #49ers #FTTB pic.twitter.com/88rxMv9v4W
— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) October 13, 2025
Aiyuk has the potential to be one of the NFL's most productive receivers when healthy. He's a masterful route runner, able to create separation at one of the best rates in the NFL on a wide variety of routes, and is very strong at the catch point.
But it's hard to see him being a difference-maker this season. He might not return until Week 10 or later, and he'll need time to ramp up. The 49ers are extremely secretive, and often dishonest, about their players' upcoming usage and injury statuses.
There probably won't be clear messaging from the organization, but Aiyuk might not be much more than a desperation fill-in during the fantasy playoffs this year, if you make it that far. You can stash him in an IR spot if that's what you're looking for.
Luke McCaffrey Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered: 34% of Leagues
Baller Move: Don't Add
McCaffrey was the team's presumptive WR1, according to many reports for Week 7, due to injuries to the team's top-2 wideouts, Terry McLaurin (quad) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel). Despite playing in over 50 percent of his team's offensive snaps, McCaffrey was targeted just twice and held without a catch.
The Dallas Cowboys pummeled the Commanders 44-22, and starting quarterback Jayden Daniels (hamstring) suffered yet another injury. It looks like he'll miss at least one game, if not more, with his injury. And McCaffrey didn't do anything in this game anyway.
Luke McCaffrey appears to have concussed himself trying to hurdle for extra yards. His helmet hit the turf hard.
The #Commanders are already incredibly thin at WR. pic.twitter.com/Hh2szs47Fr
— Chad Ryan (@ChadwikoTWW) October 19, 2025
McCaffrey passed the league's concussion protocol in the middle of last week's game after he tried to hurdle a man on a return play and slammed his helmet on the turf, clearly showing signs of momentarily losing consciousness to some degree. It's possible that the team didn't involve him much after this intentionally.
But with the return of Samuel and McLaurin likely to be within the next two weeks, McCaffrey's value, whatever it could have been in an ideal scenario, could evaporate quickly. There isn't much reason to add him. If you want to speculatively snag a Commanders WR, go with Jaylin Lane.
Jalen Coker Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered: 25% of Leagues
Baller Move: Add In 12+ Team Leagues
Coker wasn't involved in his team's narrow 13-6 win over the ailing New York Jets in Week 7. It was his first week back from a quad injury that landed him on IR and sidelined him for the first six games of the year.
Bryce Young TO JALEN COKER. 83-YARD TD.
📺: #DALvsCAR on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/9DdQnhGIEP— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024
Coker had productive games last season, but he didn't get much playing time in his return. That should increase as the season goes on. Often, a player's first game back from injury can feature pretty minimal usage. The Panthers might be without their starting quarterback, Bryce Young (ankle), in Week 8.
Coker is a solid stash, though. Backup QB Andy Dalton isn't much of a downgrade from Young, if at all. He even had some solid games in relief of Young last year. With more playing time, Coker could be a productive flex start.
Who Should I Pickup Tool
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