Week 8 Fantasy Football Waiver Adds
Seven weeks are in the books. At this point, your fantasy roster has probably taken a few punches. Maybe your first-round pick is injured. Maybe your second-round pick has been a weekly disappointment. Maybe you’re still starting a tight end because he caught two touchdowns three weeks ago and you refuse to admit it was a fluke.
We don’t judge here. (Well, we do. But we try to make it entertaining.)
Week 8 brings another four-team bye week: Houston, New Orleans, the New York Giants, and San Francisco. That means fantasy managers will need replacements at quarterback, running back, receiver, and tight end while also looking ahead to the playoff stretch.
This week’s best opportunities include a rookie running back who immediately made his presence felt, a Jets receiver putting together back-to-back explosive performances, and a Miami wideout who returned from injury with a pair of touchdowns.
The waiver wire still has some bacon. Let’s find it.
Ownership disclaimer: These recommendations target players reported below 50% rostered in current waiver coverage. Public sources do not provide a synchronized ownership snapshot across ESPN, Sleeper, and Yahoo, so verify availability in your league before submitting claims.
Week 8 Waiver Wire Adds
1. Jonah Coleman — RB, Denver Broncos
The Rookie Who Kicked Down the Backfield Door
Coleman returned from injured reserve in Week 7 and immediately made Denver’s running-back situation a whole lot more interesting.
He played 50% of the offensive snaps, carried the ball nine times, caught two passes, and finished with 69 scrimmage yards.
More importantly, he played as many snaps as R.J. Harvey and J.K. Dobbins combined. That’s not a cameo. That’s a statement.
Dobbins scored a touchdown, and Harvey remained involved as a receiver, so don’t declare Coleman the unquestioned workhorse just yet. But the rookie has given Denver a reason to expand his role.
The potential payoff is substantial. If Coleman takes over more of the early-down work while Harvey handles passing situations, Coleman could become a useful fantasy starter rather than a bench stash.
Pigskin verdict: The top running-back add of the week. Get him before the workload becomes obvious to everyone else.
FAAB: 10–20%.
2. Omar Cooper Jr. — WR, New York Jets
Two Weeks. Two Explosions. One Very Busy Waiver Wire.
The number 2 waiver wire add suggestion from last week is back. Cooper has been on a heater since returning from injured reserve.
In Week 6, he caught six passes for 103 yards and a touchdown. In Week 7, he caught all five of his targets for 115 yards and another touchdown. That’s back-to-back 100-yard games, with a touchdown in each.
The Jets drafted Cooper in the first round, and the recent usage suggests they’re serious about getting him involved. He’s earning targets, creating explosive plays, and becoming a focal point of the passing game.
Will he keep averaging more than 100 yards and scoring every week? Almost certainly not.
But Cooper doesn’t need to maintain that pace to become a valuable fantasy receiver. If the targets remain steady, he has a path to weekly WR3 production with upside.
Pigskin verdict: A priority receiver add. If he’s available, don’t overthink it.
FAAB: 12–22%.
3. Caleb Douglas — WR, Miami Dolphins
The End-Zone is Calling
Douglas missed time with an injury, returned in Week 7, and immediately reminded fantasy managers why they should pay attention.
He caught two passes for 70 yards and two touchdowns against the Jets. Yes, two receptions. Yes, two touchdowns.
No, we’re not pretending three targets is a sustainable weekly workload. Touchdown production can be volatile, and the Dolphins’ passing game has not been a reliable fantasy factory.
But Douglas also caught five passes for 94 yards in Week 1. His two productive games have shown that he can make a difference when healthy and involved.
With Miami needing playmakers in the passing game, Douglas has an opportunity to build on that production.
The key question is whether the targets increase. If he moves from a big-play option to a receiver earning regular volume, his fantasy value could climb quickly.
Pigskin verdict: A high-upside receiver add. Treat him as a flex candidate with breakout potential, not a guaranteed weekly starter.
FAAB: 5–10%.
4. Jordyn Tyson — WR, New Orleans Saints
Buy the Talent Before the Box Score
Tyson has yet to make his regular-season debut, but the Saints selected him eighth overall in the 2026 NFL Draft for a reason.
He offers the sort of upside fantasy managers should be interested in at this point of the season: a highly drafted young receiver who could become an important part of the offense once healthy.
There are risks. New Orleans could ease him into action, Devaughn Vele has played well, and Tyson will still need to adjust to the speed of the NFL. But those risks are exactly why he’s still available in so many leagues.
The Saints are on bye in Week 8, so Tyson is not an immediate lineup solution. He’s a stash for managers who can afford to wait a week and want to get ahead of a potential return.
Pigskin verdict: A speculative upside stash, especially in deeper leagues. Check the latest practice reports before spending aggressively.
FAAB: 1–4%.
5. Travis Hunter — WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
The Talent Is Obvious. The Fantasy Role Is the Question.
Hunter is worth monitoring because of his receiving upside, but fantasy managers need to be careful about paying for a role that hasn’t fully materialized.
The Jaguars are managing a crowded offensive situation, and Hunter’s value depends on how consistently Jacksonville gets him involved as a receiver.
His athletic ability is not the concern. The question is whether the targets and routes become reliable enough to support weekly fantasy production.
That makes Hunter an appealing bench addition for managers who can afford to stash upside. It makes him a much riskier option for a team that needs a dependable starter right now.
Jacksonville is not on bye in Week 8, so Hunter can potentially contribute immediately if his role supports it.
Pigskin verdict: A speculative receiver stash with upside. Prioritize him in deeper leagues rather than expecting an instant breakout.
FAAB: 1–3%.
6. Chig Okonkwo — TE, Washington Commanders
The Tight End Who Might Actually Catch Passes
Fantasy managers have spent years searching for a tight end who can produce without requiring a touchdown, a defensive breakdown, and divine intervention. Okonkwo has shown signs of becoming that kind of player.
Before Washington’s bye, he recorded 60 receiving yards on six targets against the Giants and 69 yards on seven targets against San Francisco. That’s meaningful involvement, particularly at a position where many players disappear for entire afternoons.
Terry McLaurin’s absence could also create more opportunities for Okonkwo in the passing game.
The downside? Washington is on bye in Week 8, so you’ll need another tight end for this week if Okonkwo is your only option.
Still, if you’re looking for a tight end to help over the next several weeks, he deserves attention.
Pigskin verdict: A strong tight-end stash for managers who can cover the position during the bye.
FAAB: 2–5%.
7. Brenton Strange — TE, Jacksonville Jaguars
Targets Are Better Than Touchdown Prayers
Strange has been quietly building a useful fantasy profile.
Over the past month, he’s averaged one of the stronger target volumes among tight ends, including at least seven targets in each of his recent games. He’s also produced receiving lines of 7 catches for 95 yards, 7 for 68, and 5 for 44. That kind of involvement matters.
Tight ends who rely on touchdowns can disappear from fantasy relevance the moment they stop finding the end zone. Strange has been earning enough targets to offer a more stable foundation.
He plays in an offense capable of producing points, and Jacksonville gets to avoid a Week 8 bye.
If you’re streaming tight ends or looking for a potential rest-of-season starter, Strange is one of the more attractive options available.
Pigskin verdict: A strong tight-end add who can help immediately. Prioritize him if you’re tired of playing touchdown roulette at the position.
FAAB: 3–6%.
8. Malik Willis — QB, Miami Dolphins
The Streaming Option With Running Ability
Willis is worth considering for managers who need a quarterback replacement or a matchup-based streamer.
His fantasy appeal comes from the combination of passing opportunity and rushing upside. Quarterbacks who can contribute with their legs have more ways to reach a useful fantasy total, especially when the passing game is inconsistent.
The risk is that his production can swing with the game plan and the Dolphins’ offensive performance. Don’t treat him as a set-and-forget starter just because he’s available.
Still, in superflex leagues or deeper one-quarterback formats, Willis is worth checking if your current quarterback situation is shaky.
Pigskin verdict: A matchup-based streamer with rushing upside. More attractive in superflex leagues.
FAAB: 1–3%.
Time to Clean the Trough
For every player you add, somebody has to go. The hardest part is letting go of players you drafted with high expectations. But your draft slot is a sunk cost. Your roster spot is a resource you can still use.
If a player isn’t producing, isn’t earning opportunities, and has no clear path to a bigger role, it’s time to ask whether you’re keeping him for fantasy points or nostalgia.
Chris Godwin Jr. — WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Opportunity Was There. The Production Wasn’t.
Week 7 looked like a chance for Godwin to deliver. Emeka Egbuka was sidelined, and Godwin had an opportunity to step forward in the Buccaneers’ passing game.
Instead, he finished with four receptions for 27 yards. He did have a touchdown called back because of a penalty, but fantasy managers don’t get points for almost scoring.
Godwin has yet to reach 10 fantasy points in a game this season, and Egbuka could return in Week 8. The concern isn’t that Godwin suddenly forgot how to play football. It’s that the combination of limited production and increased competition makes him difficult to trust.
Pigskin verdict: Drop in shallow leagues if a higher-upside receiver is available. Hold only if your bench is deep or you expect his role to improve.
Josh Downs — WR, Indianapolis Colts
The Early-Season Spark Has Faded
Downs had back-to-back games with more than 70 receiving yards in Weeks 2 and 3, giving managers hope that he could become a reliable fantasy option.
Since then, he hasn’t reached 50 receiving yards in a game.
That doesn’t make him a bad NFL receiver. It makes him a difficult fantasy player to trust if his target volume and weekly production aren’t enough to justify the roster spot.
In deeper leagues, Downs may still be useful as receiver depth. In a shallow league, there may be more attractive players on waivers.
Pigskin verdict: Drop in shallow leagues if a better opportunity is available. Hold in deeper PPR formats if you can afford to wait.
Mark Andrews — TE, Baltimore Ravens
The Name Is Bigger Than the Box Score
Andrews has struggled to produce consistent fantasy numbers this season. He hasn’t topped 50 receiving yards in a game and has been held under 30 yards in each of his last four contests.
At tight end, the temptation is to keep a familiar name because the position is so frustrating. But the fantasy value of a tight end comes from targets, yards, and touchdowns — not what he used to do in previous seasons.
If Andrews isn’t earning enough opportunities to be a reliable starter, it’s reasonable to look elsewhere.
Pigskin verdict: Drop in shallow leagues if you can replace him with a tight end earning more targets. In deeper formats, keep him only if the alternatives are worse.
Juwan Johnson — TE, New Orleans Saints
The Bye Week Makes the Decision Easier
Johnson’s recent production has fallen off a cliff. Over his last three games, he has recorded lines of 4 catches for 16 yards, no catches, and one catch for seven yards.
Now the Saints are on bye. That means Johnson can’t help your lineup this week, and his path to regaining fantasy relevance is unclear. With Jordyn Tyson potentially nearing a return, the target competition could become even tougher.
If you’re holding Johnson because of what he did earlier in the season, take a fresh look at his current role.
Pigskin verdict: Drop in shallow leagues. In deeper formats, replace him if a tight end with a clearer path to targets is available.
MarShawn Lloyd — RB, Green Bay Packers
The Touchdown Opportunity Is Shrinking
Lloyd rushed eight times for just 10 yards in Week 7 and failed to catch his only target.
His fantasy value depends heavily on the opportunities available behind Josh Jacobs. If Jacobs returns to his usual workload, Lloyd’s path to meaningful touches could become very narrow.
This doesn’t mean Lloyd has no long-term value. A backup running back can become important in a hurry when an injury changes the depth chart.
But fantasy managers need to distinguish between a useful handcuff and a player who is simply occupying a bench spot.
Pigskin verdict: Drop in shallow redraft leagues if you need a roster spot. Hold in deeper leagues only if you have the room to stash him.
The Week 8 Pigskin Rule
At this point in the season, every roster spot should have a purpose.
Jonah Coleman is worth targeting because his role expanded immediately after his return. Omar Cooper Jr. is worth targeting because he’s producing across multiple weeks, not just one. Caleb Douglas is worth targeting because he’s shown big-play and touchdown potential when healthy.
Meanwhile, an injured player expected to miss the season or a veteran who isn’t earning targets may be costing you more than he’s worth.
The waiver wire isn’t about collecting names. It’s about collecting opportunities. Opportunity creates fantasy points.
Hope you enjoyed our Week 8 Fantasy Football Waiver Adds. Make your claims, check your injury reports, and don’t be afraid to send an underperforming player back into the wild.
Feed that pig. And clean out the trough.
