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We are officially in the second half of the fantasy season, so most of the waiver wire gems have been snatched up. The bye weeks continue and injuries keep mounting, though. This is a good time to plan for the playoffs by looking at high-end insurance policies and players who have favorable schedules down the stretch.
The waiver wire is more important in 2020 than ever. The players suggested here should be top priorities for early-week waiver claims; keep the others in mind for later in the week if necessary and check our NFL news feed for the latest injury updates.
As always, the options listed at each position below are listed in order of priority to help you plan your claims accordingly. Players listed include only those rostered in approximately 50% or fewer Yahoo leagues. For a deeper look at each position, check out our separate weekly waiver wire columns at QB, RB, WR, and TE.
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Running Backs - Waiver Wire Options
Damien Harris, New England Patriots - 46% rostered
In typical fashion, the Pats running game is completely unpredictable. Harris was questionable heading into Week 8 yet wound up carrying the load with 16 carries for 102 yards. He's been effective when given a healthy workload so one would assume he'll see upwards of 15 carries per game going forward. He's the closest thing to a lead back available in most fantasy leagues, so he should be rostered anywhere he's still available. A Monday Night matchup with the Jets makes him a strong RB2 and must-start in Week 9.
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens - 32% rostered
The urgency to add Edwards kicked up with the news that Mark Ingram would not only miss Week 8 but multiple weeks. In a difficult matchup with the Steelers Defense that was allowing 4.02 yards per carry, he was able to roll up 87 yards on 16 carries including a touchdown. The Colts Defense is even tougher, as they were allowing the second-lowest rushing average to running backs heading into the weekend and absolutely smothered the Lions' RB duo of Adrian Peterson and D'Andre Swift; the two rushers combined for eight yards on 11 attempts. If he remains in an even split with J.K. Dobbins, which seems likely, then he'll still retain flex value in standard leagues.
DeeJay Dallas, Seattle Seahawks - 24% rostered
Kudos to anyone who made him a last-second pivot in Week 8. With every other Seattle running back sidelined, Dallas took 18 carries for 41 yards and caught five balls for 17 yards. Not impressive except that he reached the end zone twice. Chris Carson will probably return for the next game but Dallas could serve as the primary backup if Carlos Hyde is still injured and provides some pass-catching value.
Tevin Coleman, San Francisco 49ers - 45% rostered
He came back, started in Week 8, gained 20 yards early on and then left in the first quarter with an apparent aggravation of his knee injury. If this latest injury sets him back multiple weeks, he can be ignored and/or dropped. If he is OK to play in Week 9 or even just held out for one game, he's still worth rostering as long as Raheem Mostert is out.
La'Mical Perine, New York Jets - 42% rostered
He couldn't get much going in a rout loss to the Chiefs with a total of 33 scrimmage yards. This will be the case most weeks as the winless Jets limp through 2020. Perine still saw fewer carries than Frank Gore and was only targeted twice in the passing game so he remains no more than a desperation flex or bye-week filler.
Jordan Wilkins, Indianapolis Colts - 1% rostered
Week 8 brought 89 rushing yards, a touchdown, and a 24-yard reception. It would be nice if it were Jonathan Taylor getting those numbers but instead it was third-year running back Jordan Wilkins. To think, he was very much on the bubble to even stay on the active roster until Marlon Mack tore his Achilles in Week 1. It was puzzling to see Taylor so ineffective and then pulled from the game, but we got some clarity from Philip Rivers. In his post-game interview, he said "JT was a bit nicked up." This won't signal a change on the depth chart but Wilkins could see more work going forward and is a great insurance policy if Taylor is indeed more hurt than the team is letting on. This isn't what fantasy GMs want to see, but it's becoming a reality - this is turning into a full-blown RBBC.
Colts are going to use 3 RBs (JT, Wilkins, Hines), 3 TEs (Doyle, Burton, Cox) and 4 WRs (TY, Pascal, Pittman, Johnson) every week. https://t.co/rxwveYPQWz
— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) November 2, 2020
Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts - 29% rostered
It's easy to forget about Hines, who hadn't scored a TD since Week 1 and didn't carry the ball once in the previous game. Naturally, he scored twice and finished with a team-high 54 receiving yards. Hines' workload is inconsistent and usually bumps up in negative rushing matchups because he is used as another receiver. That could be the case in Week 9 when they face Baltimore, especially if Taylor misses time or is limited. While the touchdowns are hard to count on, Hines provides a decent PPR floor.
Cam Akers, Los Angeles Rams - 31% rostered
In an altogether ugly game for the Rams, injury was added to insult when Darrell Henderson left early with a thigh injury. It doesn't appear to be serious but if it turns out to be something that will keep him out of action beyond the Week 9 bye, we could finally see more of Akers. He took nine carries for 35 yards in limited time but was behind Malcolm Brown, who had 10 carries for 40 yards. This may be hoping against hope but at some point Akers has got to get a fair shake, right?
D'Onta Foreman, Tennessee Titans - 0% rostered
Raise your hand if you knew that Foreman was on an active roster. Hands down, all you liars. Foreman was once a promising prospect for the Texans after a monster 2016 at UT-Austin where he ran for 2,028 yards as a junior. An Achilles tear late in his rookie season effectively ended his NFL career, or so we thought. He has resurfaced in Tennessee midseason and looked sharp on five carries, gaining 37 yards. He won't get many touches behind Derrick Henry, but he stands to win out as the high-end insurance policy that Darrynton Evans might have been if he stayed healthy. If you have Henry on your roster and room to spare on your bench, it might come in handy to take Foreman now.
Others to consider: Brian Hill, Atlanta Falcons (11% rostered); Eno Benjamin, Arizona Cardinals (0% rostered)
Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Options
Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans - 47% rostered
What if I told you that Davis now has more receiving yards than A.J. Brown in the same number of games? His 128-yard outburst in Cincinnati marked the second 100-yard effort of the season and the second-most of his career. We could be looking at the classic post-hype breakout as the fourth-year receiver is on pace for his best season yet. Even though the Week 9 matchup versus Chicago is the worst possible for a wideout, Davis should be rostered for his ROS value.
Allen Lazard, Green Bay Packers - 31% rostered
Lazard has a chance to be activated from IR this week after getting in limited practice time before Week 8. The fact that Green Bay plays on Thursday night makes it tougher to see him being active right away. Lazard is certainly worth stashing as he would immediately return to WR2 status for Aaron Rodgers, assuming the team doesn't swing a deal for a big-name player like A.J. Green before the deadline.
Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears - 30% rostered
Mooney saw his ownership climb when it was thought that Allen Robinson would miss Week 8 while in concussion protocol. A-Rob wound up playing but Mooney was productive anyway and rewarded his managers with 69 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. He has seen at least five targets in six straight games and has overtaken Anthony Miller as the No. 2 target in the passing game. It's not the most dynamic offense but Mooney can continue to grow as his rookie year continues.
Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs - 30% rostered
There are few players more frustrating than Hardman, who is the epitome of boom or bust. He went off for 96 yards and a TD on seven catches in a choice matchup with the Jets. He's got three scores on the year but has also posted three games without a score and 30 yards or less. Carolina has been tough on receivers, so it's a roll of the dice as usual if you choose to stream Hardman following his season-best game.
Jalen Reagor, Philadelphia Eagles - 24% rostered
In his first action since Week 2, Reagor made an immediate splash with a short touchdown. He didn't do much else, finishing with three receptions for 16 yards. This would have been a great spot to shine but we have to keep in mind that he is a rookie with less than a game of NFL action under his belt coming off injury. The Eagles are on bye in Week 9, so he is a stash-only prospect.
Kendrick Bourne, San Francisco 49ers - 8% rostered
He paid off as a smart streamer in Seattle with Deebo Samuel out in Week 8. Bourne tied Brandon Aiyuk for the team lead with eight receptions and his 81 yards and 10 targets fell behind only Aiyuk. Although the Packers will be a much tougher matchup, the news that George Kittle is out for the foreseeable future keeps Bourne within the WR4 value range, even with Mullens at QB.
Denzel Mims, New York Jets - 9% rostered
The opportunity for a high target share was squandered, as Sam Darnold made a point of targeting Braxton Berrios 11 times instead. It was a tough matchup anyway, as the Chiefs were a top-five fantasy defense vs wide receivers. The Patriots were the top team in that category last season but are middle-of-the-pack in 2020 and Stephon Gilmore is reportedly on the trade block. Mims is a risky streamer and then has a bye in Week 10, so he may be best left on waivers outside of very deep leagues.
Quintez Cephus, Detroit Lions - 1% rostered
Cephus was heavily involved in Week 1-2 when Kenny Golladay was out injured, seeing 10 targets in the season opener, but disappeared ever since. We could see a repeat since Golladay left with a hip injury in the loss to Indianapolis and has already been declared out for Week 9. Marvin Hall was the one who stepped in this week but he serves as a field stretcher whereas Cephus fits better in the X receiver role.
Auden Tate, Cincinnati Bengals - 1% rostered
He didn't catch a pass last week and had a total of four receptions on the season, so it seems obvious that his seven-catch, 65-yard output in Week 8 was simply a showcase for teams looking to acquire Tate before the Tuesday trade deadline. He could become an interesting option if he lands in the right spot but we should find out before waivers clear so get preemptive claims ready if you are in need.
Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts - 7% rostered
Pittman made his return after missing the past month and was barely involved, catching one pass for six yards. He should be more involved going forward but also holds more intrigue as TY Hilton suffered a groin injury in Week 8. He can be stashed in 14-team leagues or deeper.
Others to consider: Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (42% rostered); Scotty Miller, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (30% rostered); Curtis Samuel, Carolina Panthers (20% rostered); Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons (13% rostered); Danny Amendola, Detroit Lions (1% rostered)
Tight Ends - Waiver Wire Options
Eric Ebron, Pittsburgh Steelers - 45% rostered
Ebron is starting to become a consistent target in this offense - far more consistent than Diontae Johnson or James Washington. He caught four balls for 48 yards and a touchdown on a day when Ben Roethlisberger threw for less than 200 yards. Ebron is a strong starting option in Week 9 when the offense should roll over the Cowboys.
Logan Thomas, Washington Football Team - 21% rostered
The bye week makes Thomas more widely available, so take advantage of him as one of the best TE streamers of the week. He is coming off back-to-back games with at least 40 yards and a touchdown. The first of those games came against his Week 9 opponent, the New York Giants.
Trey Burton, Indianapolis Colts - 22% rostered
Make it three touchdowns in two games for Burton. He's not getting much in the way of yardage but when the Colts get to the red zone, they look his way. He is firmly on the streaming radar due to team context.
Albert Okwuegbunam, Denver Broncos - 1% rostered
With Noah Fant healthy, his target share fell to one in Week 8. Of course, that one target turned into a touchdown. Rarely is a TE2 on his own team a viable option but the Falcons Defense is by far the worst statistically against the position. If you need to replace Kittle, Albert O might well be a strong option.
Ross Dwelley / Jordan Reed, San Francisco 49ers - 0% rostered
News broke on Monday afternoon that George Kittle is out indefinitely and could miss the rest of the season. It's a gut punch to all those who were set with a top-tier tight end after investing an early pick at the position. Ross Dwelley now becomes a legitimate streaming option. He caught a touchdown pass late in the loss to Seattle and has been modestly productive in spot duty before. He is in a tougher spot for Week 9 since the Packers are one of the stoutest defensive units against tight ends but can be used if the above options are unavailable.
As far as Reed, he could be activated from IR within the next week or two but you know the risk. He has never played more than 14 games in a season and only made three appearances in 2020 before spraining an MCL. The talent has always been there but if ever a player earned the tag "injury prone", it's Reed. Proceed at your own risk.
Others to consider: Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys (26% rostered); Darren Fells, Houston Texans (7% rostered)
Quarterbacks - Waiver Wire Options
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins - 33% rostered
Those tuning into the Dolphins-Rams tilt hoping to see what the rookie would do in his first start were left wanting more. He was barely on the field as Miami only had the ball on offense for 23 minutes thanks to a defensive touchdown and punt return touchdown. Tagovailoa was decent, completing 12 of 22 passes for a touchdown and no interceptions. His lone mistake was a fumble on his first dropback of the game courtesy of a strip-sack by Aaron Donald. It's hard to take much away from his performance, so next week will be a truer test when they face Arizona. He's a risky stream in single-QB leagues.
Philip Rivers, Indianapolis Colts - 19% rostered
Rivers threw for four touchdowns over his first five games in Indy. He's thrown for three touchdowns in each of the last two games. The first time against Cincinnati, it was a matter of necessity as the Colts fell behind early. In Week 8, they had no problem moving the ball against Detroit through the air and on the ground but Rivers was efficient with his opportunities despite the lack of volume. Rivers faces Baltimore in Week 9, which is an average matchup on paper. He is usable but hard to predict from a fantasy standpoint given his past propensity for turnovers.
Drew Lock, Denver Broncos - 9% rostered
Lock hasn't been a viable fantasy option, even in Superflex leagues. An impressive comeback win over the Chargers may change that perception and give this team a kickstart. Lock wound up with 248 yards and three touchdowns, all coming in the fourth quarter. He accomplished this with Tim Patrick sidelined and Courtland Sutton on season-ending IR, so credit is due. A matchup with Atlanta makes him an interesting streaming option, as they are still terrible defending opposing passers despite keeping Teddy Bridgewater in check on Thursday night.
Nick Mullens, San Francisco 49ers - 40% rostered
Jimmy Garoppolo apologists would have a tough time explaining away a second consecutive dud where he failed to throw a TD and managed 84 passing yards against a Seahawks Defense that entered the week allowing the most fantasy points per game to the quarterback position. His ankle injury must be to blame because it now appears he will miss Week 9 and beyond to recover. He was replaced late by Nick Mullens who put up some quality garbage-time stats (238 yards, two TD). It's tough to recommend him against a decent Packers Defense, especially without George Kittle or a reliable running game, but it goes to show how slim the pickings are for quality streaming QBs this week.
Others to consider: Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders (42% rostered); Nick Foles, Chicago Bears (9% rostered)
Team Defense - Waiver Wire Options
Houston Texans Defense - 5% rostered
Houston's once-formidable DST has been nothing short of awful this season. They've allowed 27 or more points in all but one game with the lone exception coming in Week 5 versus Jacksonville. Their Week 9 opponent is... Jacksonville, except this time without starting QB Gardner Minshew. This is the ideal DST to stream and bound to be the hottest pickup of the week.
Washington Football Team Defense - 13% rostered
When Washington met the division rival Giants in Week 6, they only registered one sack and one INT. They did limit them to 14 points too. In leagues where opposing points matter more, Washington is a safe bet against the league's second-lowest scoring offense.
Miami Dolphins Defense - 15% rostered
Sure, this recommendation would have been useful a week ago but it could still come in handy. Arizona is a potent offense but they are averaging two offensive turnovers per game and the Dolphins have obviously shown that they can force turnovers.
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