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RotoBaller staff's fantasy football Week 8 waiver wire pickups for 2025. Expert advice for waiver wire RB, WR, TE, QB targets from Phil, Dan, Craig and Alex.
With a whopping six teams on a bye in Week 8, most fantasy managers will need to navigate the waiver wire to find the final pieces of starting lineups. Finding diamonds in the rough on the waiver wire is key to staying competitive throughout the season, so we're here to help.
Pivoting when your players are injured, underperforming, or on a bye is always the name of the game in fantasy football, and we're here to guide your waiver-wire decisions.
Our RotoBaller experts Phil Clark, Alex Ciulla, Craig Rondinone, and Dan Fornek are here to help you identify the top RB, WR, TE, and QB targets ahead of Week 8.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 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
Running Backs Waiver Wire Week 8
Selections By Phil Clark
Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears
Monangai continues to progress through his rookie season with a consistent role as the RB2 behind D'Andre Swift in Chicago’s offense. Monangai had registered season highs in snap share (41.2%), attempts (seven), and 28 rushing yards (28) in Week 2.. However, Monangai surpassed those numbers during his performance in Week 7.
Monangai secured a 46% snap share, while accumulating 13 carries, generating 81 rushing yards, and securing his first NFL touchdown. Monangai also finished third among all backs in efficiency (2.69) according to Next Gen Stats. Monangai has now secured a 35.7% snap share while averaging 23.4 7.0 attempts/32.4 rushing yards per game since Week 2. He has also accrued seven carries inside the red zone and generated 52 yards after contact during that sequence. He has also run 59 routes, secured five of his eight targets, and assembled 50 yards as a receiving weapon.
Kyle Monangai scores his first NFL TD!
NOvsCHI on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/tlabBDz5Mb
— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2025
There is no discernible evidence that Roschon Johnson is emerging as a threat to Monangai’s workload, as Johnson enters Week 8 with a total of four snaps throughout the regular season. Monangai is somehow available in 94% of all leagues. However, he would become a valuable asset if Swift is sidelined for any reason during the Bears’ upcoming matchups.
Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints
Kendre Miller had been a mainstay in this column due to the encouraging role that he had secured in Kellen Moore’s offense. Miller had operated with a 27.8% snap share from Weeks 1-6, and was primed to secure another favorable workload when the Saints traveled to Chicago in Week 7. Unfortunately, Miller sustained a torn ACL during his matchup with the Bears which will prematurely end his promising season.
That development has also elevated Devin Neal directly below Alvin Kamara on New Orleans’ reconstructed depth chart. The Saints selected Neal in Round 6 of the 2025 NFL draft (184th overall), after Neal had assembled 4,342 rushing yards (88.6 per game) and 49 touchdowns with his 760 attempts (15.5 per game) during four seasons at the collegiate level.
Neal will now operate as the RB2 for the Saints, while Kamara remains cemented as the primary back for New Orleans. Neal is also positioned to vault into a sizable workload if Kamara is sidelined for any reason during the Saints upcoming matchups. Those factors have launched Neal among this week’s running backs to pursue on the waiver wire.
Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars
The allocation of snaps between Tuten, Travis Etienne Jr., and third-down back LeQuint Allen Jr. has restricted Tuten’s usage during the Jaguars’ first seven matchups. However, Tuten remains a dynamic presence while operating with exceptional speed, proficiency at breaking tackles, and possessing the potential to erupt for significant yardage.
Tuten’s involvement was also encouraging in Week 7, as he secured a season-high 28.6% snap share. Tuten was also tied with Etienne for the team lead in carries (five), and led the backfield with 22 rushing yards during the contest, before Etienne garnered three attempts during the Jaguars’ final drive.
Tuten has now reached a 20.7% snap share in four contests since Week 1. He has also carried 32 times (4.6 per game), generated 130 rushing yards (18.6 per game), and has accumulated 72 yards after contact. Tuten has also run 44 routes, while collecting six of his eight targets from Trevor Lawrence, and assembling 59 yards as a receiving weapon. Tuten would also operate as the Jaguars’ RB1 if Etienne is unable to sustain that role for any reason. That provides the rationale for stashing him this week.
Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
It is understandable if you were becoming underwhelmed with the prospects of adding Smith to your roster, as he has only exceeded a 13.1% snap once between Weeks 1-6. There had been indications that Smith was approaching the threshold of an expanded role that would launch him into the top tier of waiver wire targets. That had not translated to an increased workload, before Week 7, as the majority of snaps that were distributed within Kansas City’s backfield had been confiscated by Isiah Pacheco (56.2%), and Kareem Hunt (38.4%).
However, Smith easily established season highs in multiple categories during Week 7, including snap share (34.6%), attempts (14), rushing yards (39), targets (five), and receiving yards (42). Smith’s attributes also provide the potential for the explosive rookie to sustain a larger role in Andy Reid’s attack. He operated as a wide receiver during his first three collegiate seasons before accumulating 235 attempts and 1,332 yards as a running back during 2024.
Smith’s prowess as a pass-catcher also propelled him to the highest receiving grade from PFF (90.8) among Power Four running backs last season. He remains available in over 90% of all leagues, which bolsters your rationale for pursuing him from your waiver wire.
Wide Receivers Waiver Wire Week 8
Selections By Alex Ciulla
Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons
Mooney came back from a 1.5-game absence due to a hamstring injury on Sunday night to lead the Falcons in receiving, much to the detriment of target hog Drake London. The veteran didn't post an eye-popping stat line (3/68), although he did immediately slot back into Atlanta's WR2 role, participating on 10 fewer snaps than London (64), and one more than TE Kyle Pitts Sr.
Lineup options could be thin come next weekend's slate of games. With six teams on bye, fantasy managers could do worse than Mooney in a smash spot against a Miami Dolphins squad in a tailspin. Atlanta's passing attack has quite a few mouths to feed, so expectations should be tempered. Still, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has taken shots downfield to the 27-year-old at a nice rate.
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts
Back and forth. Pierce and Josh Downs (concussion). Downs was the victim of a rare mid-week concussion -- and we oddly saw two of them this week -- so Pierce stepped back into a more prominent role. The 25-year-old flourished, posting 98 yards on 5-of-10 receiving (season-highs), while pacing the team in snaps for the second time this season. His targets and yards were team-highs.
After another impressive win this weekend, it's clear that the Daniel Jones/Shane Steichen combo works. Moreover, all of Pierce, Downs, and Michael Pittman Jr. will have relevant fantasy weeks. It's unlikely they coincide, particularly with Indianapolis rushing at the sixth-highest rate, but Pierce is the most skilled deep threat of the trio, and Jones has taken a liking to him. The Illinois native currently boasts the third-highest average depth of target (19.2) amongst pass-catchers.
Kayshon Boutte, New England Patriots
Boutte continues to lead New England's wide receiver corps in snaps. He wasn't called upon too often in Week 7, catching both of his targets for 55 yards and a touchdown -- his third in two weeks. However, the 23-year-old likely would have been utilized more frequently had Tennessee not been drastically outclassed.
There's a chance that Drake Maye's efficiency, coupled with a strong defensive unit, could lead to this game script more often than we'd like. Still, there's no denying that this team is on the rise, and Maye is elevating the play of everyone around him. Besides, the playmaking options in New England are thin. Boutte's floor is slightly diminished from where we want it, but there's chemistry brewing between this duo.
Tight Ends Waiver Wire Week 8
Selections By Craig Rondinone
Oronde Gadsden, Los Angeles Chargers
Oronde Gadsden II keeps plugging and chugging along, although what he did in Week 7 was extraordinary compared to what he did in the weeks leading up to it. Gadsden has gone from loading up on small gainers to breaking big gainers. He piled up seven catches for 164 yards and a TD after posting seven catches for 68 yards the week prior.
This fifth-round rookie is the biggest tight end surprise of 2025. Gadsden should be scooped up in all fantasy formats before the week’s end. He has the speed of a greyhound but the size of a tight end. Gadsden hopefully has the staying power to be a fantasy force for future years in dynasty and keeper leagues. Still, he is certainly worthy of a waiver wire selection in standard leagues with the way Justin Herbert and he are connecting lately.
Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns
Harold Fannin Jr. was Cleveland’s top pass catcher again in Week 7, catching four passes for 36 yards. He now has 15 receptions for 130 yards and a TD over his last three games and has shown that he can produce whether David Njoku (knee) is playing alongside him or not.
Fantasy managers should hope for both of their sakes that Njoku is dealt to a contender before the NFL trade deadline. Both tight ends deserve more targets and a higher fantasy value. Tight end tandems never do fantasy managers justice, and this is another case. Fannin should be able to have another solid outing against New England’s shaky secondary on Sunday.
Theo Johnson, New York Giants
New York has been losing receivers at a rapid rate, but Theo Johnson has been standing upright through the firestorm of injuries. He was able to have a great game against a staunch Denver defense that is arguably the best in the league. He had three catches for 66 yards and a fluky touchdown, but those touchdowns count like the rest of them.
TIPPED. CAUGHT. THEO JOHNSON 41-YARD TD!
NYGvsDEN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/lvra7BVdWo
— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2025
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Just when millions of fantasy managers gave Pat Freiermuth his walking papers in their leagues, the burly-bodied tight end racked up five catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns against Cincinnati. It might just have been a one-game wonder and not a precursor of things to come, though. Jonnu Smith is still on the team, too.
Quarterbacks Waiver Wire Week 8
Selections By Dan Fornek
Jaxson Dart, New York Giants
It didn’t take long for us to arrive at a place where Jaxson Dart needs to be rostered in all formats. Dart continues to put up strong fantasy production each week, regardless of his matchup, thanks to his ability to attack defenses down the field, combined with the Giants’ willingness to utilize him as a rusher. Dart had his best fantasy performance in Week 7 against arguably the best defense in the NFL, scoring 32.4 fantasy points thanks to a combination of passing (283 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception) and rushing (five carries for 11 yards and a touchdown).
The rookie quarterback has been able to be a consistent producer in fantasy football despite losing his best weapon, Malik Nabers (knee), in his first start. Over the last four games, Dart has seven passing touchdowns and three interceptions. He has three games with at least 50 rushing yards (two of which also had a touchdown) and an additional game with a rushing score.
Since being elevated to the starting role, Dart is averaging 21.8 points per game in fantasy. He has matchups against the Eagles (he scored 23.6 in their first matchup), the 49ers, and the Bears over the next three weeks, giving him multi-week appeal.
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
The 2025 version of Aaron Rodgers is a far cry from the MVP-level quarterback of his prime, but he has still been usable for fantasy. Rodgers has four games with multiple passing touchdowns this season, including two games with four. He scored over 22.0 fantasy points in both of those games.
Rodgers has been playing his best football since the Steelers’ Week 5 bye. The veteran quarterback is completing 68.8% of his passes while throwing for 484 yards and six touchdowns and zero interceptions. That has helped him score at least 17.0 fantasy points per game in the last two weeks.
Expect Rodgers to continue to throw the ball at a high level in Week 8 when he matches up with the Green Bay Packers. The Packers have an offense that can force the Steelers to pass the ball, but Rodgers will also have extra motivation in a revenge matchup for his former team.
Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns
Joe Flacco’s strong start with the Cincinnati Bengals continued in the team’s upset win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7. Flacco completed 31 of 47 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns. Since joining the Bengals, the veteran quarterback is averaging 46 passing attempts and has thrown for 561 yards and five touchdowns with zero interceptions.
Look at Flacco, man. pic.twitter.com/2k3KTryez9
— NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2025
Flacco has back-to-back weeks with 18.0+ fantasy points since being traded to the Cincinnati Bengals despite playing behind a porous offensive line against two teams with strong pass rushes (Green Bay and Pittsburgh). Of course, it certainly helps when all you have to do is get the ball to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on the perimeter.
More importantly, the Bengals have an abysmal defense that opposing offenses have had no problem exploiting consistently all year. Flacco will continue to throw the football because the Bengals will need to keep pace with offenses, regardless of who they have under center. The Bengals have two excellent quarterback matchups before their Week 10 bye against the Jets and Bears. Flacco will be fantasy relevant, especially with 10 teams on bye the next two weeks.
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