Waiver Wire Targets 2016 Week 8

By Armando Marsal

The waiver wire can be your best friend in fantasy football. Especially in times like these where injuries are piling up and teams are on bye. That being said, let’s waste no more time and take a look at some players you may want to target on waivers.

Quarterback

Jay Cutler – Bears: Cutler has been cleared to return in Week 8 and is expected to get the start for the Bears with Brian Hoyer on IR. Cutler has not played since Week 2 after suffering a thumb injury, followed by good quarterback play from Hoyer, however, this is Cutler’s offense now. Prior to getting injured, Cutler was not playing well. In Week 8, he has a tough matchup, but after the bye week he has games against Tampa Bay, Detroit, San Francisco, and Green Bay, all of which have struggled against the pass. He could be a streaming option in those matchups, so adding and stashing him now may be a good idea.

Others to consider: Ryan Fitzpatrick – Jets, Alex Smith – Chiefs

Running Back

Jacquizz Rodgers – Bucs: Rodgers has to be the number one priority in every league that he is still available in. He has topped 100 rushing yards in two consecutive games and has become the workhorse for the Bucs. With Doug Martin still sidelined and with no set timetable to return, Rodgers should continue to see the majority of touches out of this backfield. Even when Martin returns, Rodgers has done enough to earn himself a prominent role on this offense. He has been the most efficient back out of this backfield for the Bucs this season.

Chris Thompson – Redskins: Matt Jones’ fumbling issues provided Thompson to receive more playing time and he was successful in his opportunity. He rushed for 73 yards on 12 carried and caught all seven of his targets for 40 yards, while out snapping Jones. On Monday, it was reported that Jones could see a decrease in touches due to his fumble issues. This should create more chances for Thompson to get some run. He has displayed his ability to be able to handle a pass catching role and may get some more carries moving forward.

Others to consider: Knile Davis – Packers, Matt Asiata – Vikings, James White – Patriots, Dion Lewis – Patriots, Jay Ajayi – Dolphins, Devontae Booker – Broncos, Mike Gillislee - Bills

Wide Receiver

Ty Montgomery – Packers: Montgomery has seen double-digit targets in two consecutive games. He has also seen a role in the run game and has a high usage rate in the last two games. Based on the injuries to the Packers backfield and the lack of depth at the position, this could be something we see moving forward. Montgomery is still available in a lot of leagues and should be snagged off of waiver immediately. He is also eligible to be played in the running back slot, making him even more valuable.

Davante Adams – Packers: Adams is coming off of a monster game where he was peppered with 16 targets and caught 13 passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns. Although, that is not what I expect on a week-to-week basis, I do think that with the lack of run game in Green Bay at this time, they will be forced to pass more which will translate to potentially more looks for Adams. He is averaging 7.2 targets per game and accounts for 17.8 of the Packers targets. He can be considered a WR3 moving forward with upside.

Others to consider: Marquise Lee – Jaguars, Kenny Britt – Rams, Corey Coleman – Browns, Brandon LaFell – Bengals, Jamison Crowder – Redskins, Quincy Enunwa - Jets

Tight End

Jack Doyle – Colts: Doyle got the start for the injured Dwayne Allen last week and caught nine of his 10 targets for 78 yards and a touchdown. He has now caught 13 of his 14 targets in the last two games and has scored in each of those contests. There is no set timetable for Allen’s return at this time, so Doyle can continue to see a decent amount of work, making him an appealing option off of waivers.

Others to consider: Cameron Brate – Bucs, Charles Clay – Bills, Ladarius Green – Steelers

If you have any questions or comments, you can find me on the Twitter machine: @Armando_Marsal