Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Watchlist for Week 8: Streaming targets, free agent sleepers include Teddy Bridgewater, JaMycal Hasty, Marquez Callaway

We’re heading to Week 7, which is a brutal one for bye weeks, but we’re also looking toward the Week 8 waiver wire with our weekly watchlist. Even though the Ravens and Raiders are the only two teams on a bye, we still need to look ahead at possible waiver pickups and free agents. With Lamar Jackson, Marquise Brown, Mark Andrews, Josh Jacobs, and Darren Waller on bye — and plenty of other key players injured — finding streamers and matchup-based sleepers is still going to be important, especially at tight end.

Our Week 8 waiver watchlist can help get ahead on potential top streaming targets in fantasy football. We’ll continue to help you identify one-week solutions, but we’re not giving up on finding season-long value either. The waiver wire might be getting thin, but as injuries mount and bye weeks rip away your fantasy studs, we have to prepare for all scenarios. Teddy Bridgewater, JaMycal Hasty and Marquez Callaway are some of the top free agent pickups to watch leading up to Week 7 in preparation for Week 8.

WEEK 7 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

We know not all leagues have enough roster spots to really take advantage of “stashing players,” but for those in deeper leagues (or those who have players on IR or busts worth cutting), our week-ahead watchlist will be useful. Stashing a player or two on your bench when they’re still free agents can really pay off if those players have good games. If they don’t, they’re easy drops. Your spot in the waiver order is valuable, and you want to hold it as long as possible. At the very least, it’s good to have a list of names of players to watch on Sunday so you can monitor snap share and targets/touches, and it’s always smart to claim matchup-based streamers at positions like TE or D/ST before there’s competition for them.

WEEK 7 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Watchlist

Reminder: This list was put together in the lead-in to Week 7, looking forward to the players who could be popular waiver-wire targets ahead of Week 8. If you have a roster spot to play with, these are free-agent options you could grab early to beat the waiver buzz.

All these players are below 50-percent ownership on Yahoo unless otherwise specified. 

Week 8 Waiver Wire Watchlist: QB

Teams on a Week 8 bye: Raiders & Ravens

Jameis Winston, Saints (48 percent owned)

We like Jameis as a full-time bench stash, but he’ll play Tampa Bay in Week 8, who has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to QBs. Winston leads the league in touchdown passes per attempt, and New Orleans will be forced to finally open up the offense since the Bucs’ have the No.1 rushing defense.

Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (45)

Lawrence has obviously struggled this year, but he’s only laid a complete egg in two games this season. One of those games was against Denver, who is a top defense against QBs. Meanwhile, Seattle is in the bottom-third of the league against fantasy QBs and Lawrence will be coming off of a Week 7 bye.

Carson Wentz, Colts (37)

Many might not have noticed, but Wentz is playing pretty good football right now. He’s only thrown one interception this year and has scored 17-plus fantasy points in five-of-six contests. His one down game came against Tennessee in Week 3 when he was nursing two sprained ankles, but Wentz is playing at a higher level now and the Titans have been the seventh-worst defense against fantasy QBs. Look for him to have a nice game against them this time.

Trey Lance, 49ers (36)

Jimmy Garoppolo is the starter again in San Francisco, but how long will that last? We saw what Lance can do on the ground in his lone start against Arizona, and we still think he has league-winning upside later down the road. Stay patient.

Daniel Jones, Giants (29)

Danny Dimes struggled against the Rams in Week 6, but knew that was likely. He’ll have another week to recover from his head injury from Week 6 and faces one of the worst defenses in the NFL (Kansas City) in Week 8. New York’s skill players are all kinds of banged up, but Jones’ rushing upside against KC makes him an intriguing streamer.

Teddy Bridgewater (20) vs. Washington

Bridgewater has played poorly against the Steelers and Raiders in the past two weeks in “real-life” football terms, but he’s actually been fine in fantasy. He scored 19-plus fantasy points in both contests and will face off against Washington in Week 8. After all the offseason hype, Washington is the single-worst defense against fantasy QBs.

WEEK 7 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em

Week 8 Waiver Wire Watchlist: RB

Teams on a Week 8 bye: Raiders & Ravens

Trey Sermon (54); JaMycal Hasty (2), 49ers

Sermon has been a bust and Hasty (ankle) has been injured, but this is Kyle Shanahan’s offense, and we know any RB has the potential to be an RB1 at any time. Running back is getting ultra-thin in fantasy, and these guys could have value as we inch closer to the fantasy playoffs.

Sony Michel, Rams (45)

Michel’s ceiling is capped by Darrell Henderson, but he is getting some work here and there for the Rams. He’s one injury away from being the primary back in the league’s best offense, so he’s worth stashing if you have the means to do so. That said, there is no guarantee he will pay off, but that’s the case with all these guys.

Mark Ingram, Texans (34)

This offense and team is awful, but Ingram is ninth in the NFL in rushing attempts. His ceiling is limited, but his workload makes him somewhat restorable. He’ll have many down weeks, but the Texans will play the Titans, Jaguars, and Seahawks down the stretch, so he may be usable at some point.

Rashaad Penny, Seahawks (31)

Penny (calf) is expected to return from IR and suit up for Seattle in Week 7, and Alex Collins is banged up with a hip injury. Sure, Penny hasn’t produced at all in his NFL career, but he carries first-round draft capital next to his name. You’d have to think Seattle would like to see what he can do, so there’s a chance he’s the primary back for a stretch with Chris Carson (neck) out for at least a few more weeks.

Marlon Mack, Colts (19)

Nothing has really changed here, but we’re just hoping for a trade. The Colts have given Mack 10 carries over the past two games, and we suspect they are trying to prove he still has value after tearing his Achilles’ a season ago.

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (17)

Stevenson has carried 16 times and caught three passes in the past two games, so perhaps his usage is about to pick up. Damien Harris has been up and down and has lost two fumbles this season, so Stevenson’s time to shine could come at any moment.

Tarik Cohen, Bears (10)

Cohen is eligible to return from injury as soon as Week 7, but that is not the expectation at his point. That said, he has a chance to become a factor in PPR leagues when/if he does come back. There’s also the chance he does next to nothing this year, as Damien Williams and Khalil Herbert have been solid in the absence of David Montgomery (knee)

Jaret Patterson, Washington (7)

Antonio Gibson (shin) is banged up, and J.D. McKissic likely won’t be an effective three-down back if Gibson misses time. It’s likely Patterson will get some run alongside McKissic, and he could be valuable soon or later in the season.

Le’Veon Bell (7); Devonta Freeman (7), Ravens

Can you really trust any of these guys? No, not really. However, they both scored touchdowns in Week 6 and are one injury away from being featured in some capacity in one of the league’s best rushing attacks. You don’t necessarily need to pick them up now, but at least monitor their situations.

WEEK 7 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel | Yahoo

Week 8 Waiver Wire Watchlist: WR

Teams on a Week 8 bye: Raiders & Ravens

Kadarius Toney, Giants (53)

It’s unbelievable that Toney’s ownership percentage is this low, but we beg you to take advantage here if you can grab him. He was knocked out in the first quarter of Week 6 with an ankle injury, but he’s caught 19 passes for 303 yards in his last nine quarters of action. There are a ton of guys who are rostered at higher percentages than him that simply shouldn’t be.

Mecole Hardman, Chiefs (50)

We’ve been burned by Hardman in the past, but he’s been targeted 17 times in the past two weeks. If he goes off against an awful Titans’ secondary, his ownership figures will go through the roof. He’s attractive for the same reason he’s always been — he’s the No. 2 WR in one of the league’s most explosive offenses with a generational quarterback.

Darnell Mooney, Bears (46)

Mooney is leading Chicago in targets, catches, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Justin Fields seems to favor him more than any other Bears’ pass-catcher, so when/if Matt Nagy decides to open the offense, it could be Mooney SZN.

T.Y Hilton, Colts (44)

Hilton looked like the Colts’ best WR in his first game of the season, catching all four of his targets for 80 yards. He apparently still has some explosiveness, and with Carson Wentz playing very well, he can be a solid depth piece and flex consideration moving forward. Let’s just hope his new quad injury isn’t anything serious.

Hunter Renfrow, Raiders (44)

In the first five games of the season, Renfrow caught at least five passes. He fell short of that in Week 6, but Derek Carr completed just 18 throws. The passing volume won’t be this low again, so Renfrow should return to having a safe floor in PPR leagues.

Michael Gallup, Cowboys (42)

Gallup (hamstring) should return to action after Dallas’ Week 7 bye, and he will immediately get a nice matchup against the Vikings’ defense. He looks like an attractive streaming option for Week 8 but has value for the rest of the season in one of the league’s best offenses.

DeVante Parker, Dolphins (41)

Parker (hamstring) has missed the past two Dolphins’ games, but Tua Tagovailoa is back and looked good in his return against Jacksonville. When Parker comes back, he has at least flex potential.

Tim Patrick, Broncos (40)

Patrick keeps producing, and it’s like no one cares. He’s just behind Brandin Cooks at WR28 in standard leagues thus far and has caught three touchdowns this season. He also has two games with over 90-plus yards. Yes, Jerry Jeudy (ankle) will be back any time now, but Patrick has played well enough to keep a role in this offense.

Rondale Moore, Cardinals (39)

Moore should be viewed as a boom-or-bust player, but his ceiling is high as a dynamic WR in one of the league’s best offenses.

Marquez Callaway, Saints (39)

Callaway remains the No. 1 WR in New Orleans for now, and he has the chance for monster weeks against Seattle and Tampa Bay in Weeks 7 and 8.

Will Fuller, Dolphins (32)

Fuller (finger) could return any week, and he carries a similar upside as we mentioned with Parker. He has yet to play a game with Tua Tagovailoa, so the unknown is exciting here.

Rashod Bateman, Ravens (27)

Bateman tied Marquise Brown with five targets in his first career game, and we know he fits the profile of an alpha X-receiver more than Brown does. Lamar Jackson has improved dramatically as a passer, so there is room for Bateman to be a productive fantasy asset.

Jamison Crowder, Jets (24)

As usual, he’s an attractive play in PPR leagues.

Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (18)

St. Brown has gotten at least seven targets in the past three games, and we’re confident his boom week is coming.

Curtis Samuel, Washington (17)

Samuel (groin) is another guy who could return from injury soon, and this Washington offense is desperate for playmakers.

Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns (11)

DPJ’s two-touchdown game in Week 6 might have been a fluke, but Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landy are allergic to staying healthy at this point in their careers. Baker Mayfield (shoulder) is out for Week 7 and could remain out even longer, but it’s not difficult to imagine Case Keenum playing better than him thus far this year.

MORE WEEK 7 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder

Week 8 Waiver Wire Watchlist: TE

Teams on a Week 8 bye: Raiders & Ravens

Jared Cook, Chargers (51) vs. Patriots in Week 8

This isn’t necessarily a good matchup for Cook, but he’s a top-12 tight end in all formats this year, so he should be rostered considering the scarcity at the position.

Jonnu Smith, Patriots (39) @ Chargers

You’re not going to love playing Smith, but Los Angeles has been a bottom-five unit against fantasy TEs this year. It’s been the Hunter Henry show for New England this year, but Smith’s breakout game could be in Week 8.

Evan Engram, Giants (33) @ Chiefs

Engram hasn’t done anything this year, but Kansas City is among the worst defenses against tight ends. Engram has drawn just over five targets per game this season, and that, combined with the poor Kansas City defense, makes him a streaming possibility.

Gerald Everett, Seahawks (30) vs. Jaguars

Everett has been underwhelming this season, but the Jags’ defense allows the seventh-most points to fantasy TEs and will surely be more worried about D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Geno Smith struggles to push the ball down the field, so Everett could serve as his safety blanket in this game.

Tyler Conklin, Vikings (12) vs. Cowboys

Conklin has been up and down this year, but he’s shown enough to be a streaming candidate unless Minnesota faces a stronger defense.

Juwan Johnson, Saints (7) vs. Buccaneers

New Orleans will be forced to be a high-volume passing offense in this contest, and Tampa Bay has been a bottom-five defense against QBs, WRs, and TEs. This could be the game Johnson is more productive than simply catching one or two passes and one touchdown.

Dan Arnold, Jaguars (6) @ Seahawks

Arnold has 13 targets in his last two games, and Seattle is a bottom-four team against fantasy tight end heading into Week 7.

Week 8 defense streamers and sleepers

Teams on a Week 8 bye: Raiders & Ravens

Chicago Bears DST (28) vs. 49ers in Week 8

The 49ers’ offense often looks pedestrian led by Jimmy G, and the Bears defense has plenty of talent and big-play ability.

Los Angeles Chargers DST (28) vs. Patriots

The Patriots have given up the most points to fantasy defense, including a few defensive touchdowns. Its offense lacks big-play ability, so Joey Bosa, Derwin James, and co. should be able to take advantage here.

Cincinnati Bengals DST (25) @ Jets

This isn’t the same ole Bengals defense, and their pass-rush and secondary should outmatch Zach Wilson and the Jets’ skill group in this matchup.

Seattle Seahawks DST (8) vs. Jaguars

Seattle’s defense is bad, but Trevor Lawrence is due for an interception or two every time he takes the field.

Philadelphia Eagles DST (5) @ Lions

The Lions lack decent WRs, and Jared Goff is certainly prone to bad turnovers. Philadelphia has played well on defense against mediocre QBs, so that should be the expectation here.