Waiver Wire Week 8: Fantasy Projections for Top Pickups and Sleeper Targets
As the 2023 NFL season nears the halfway mark, extracting value from the waiver wire in fantasy football will become more and more difficult.
The biggest breakout candidates have already emerged, and fans have a much better idea of where players from the 2023 draft class stand.
That's not to say fantasy managers can't find some impactful additions on the waiver wire heading into Week 8. There's enough time to right the ship after a slow start to the year as well.
Here are five targets who merit consideration and are likely to be available.
Darrell Henderson Jr., RB, Los Angeles Rams
1 of 5
Rostered: 25 percent
Week 7 stats: 18 carries, 61 yards, one rushing TD, one reception, five yards, 12.6 points
Week 8 projections: 12.8 carries, 52.9 yards, 0.4 rushing TDs, 1.7 receptions, 12.7 yards, 0.1 receiving TDs, 9.5 points
Darrell Henderson Jr. got the majority of the carries in the Los Angeles Rams' 24-17 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers with Kyren Williams out injured. Williams is still unavailable for at least three more games, which means Henderson should continue to occupy a big role in the rushing attack for Week 8.
There is some risk considering Royce Freeman was more effective against Pittsburgh on fewer touches (66 yards on 12 carries).
In Week 8, Freeman and Henderson could have a timeshare that benefits neither from a fantasy perspective, or the former could wind up outshining the latter.
For now, Henderson is the more attractive of the two based on his Week 7 usage and stronger continuity with the offense.
Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts
2 of 5
Rostered: 37 percent
Week 7 stats: five receptions, 125 yards, one TD, 18.5 points
Week 8 projections: 3.8 receptions, 50.5 yards, 0.3 receiving TDs, 6.7 points
It's a little surprising that Josh Downs is still rostered in fewer than 40 percent of Yahoo's leagues to this point. He averaged nearly seven targets per game through the first six weeks, a run punctuated by catching five passes for 21 yards and a touchdown in a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Now, the secret is out with the 2023 third-round pick after he had 125 yards and one touchdown on five catches in the Indianapolis Colts' 39-38 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
The New Orleans Saints don't present a favorable matchup in Week 8. They're allowing the fourth-fewest yards per game (187.0) through the air.
When it comes to Downs, you have to look beyond this week and what he might deliver across the rest of the season. And if you don't jump on him now, you might not get another chance.
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers
3 of 5
Rostered: 58 percent
Week 7 stats: N/A
Week 8 projections: 10.1 carries, 39.9 rushing yards, 0.2 rushing TDs, 1.6 receptions, 12.2 receiving yards, 6.8 points
We'll include Chuba Hubbard even though the Carolina Panthers running back eclipses the 50 percent threshold on Yahoo.
There are still a lot of leagues in which he's not rostered. Some fantasy managers might cut bait, too, with Miles Sanders presumably returning to the lineup for Sunday's game against the Houston Texans.
Head coach Frank Reich isn't yet tipping his hand for how he'll handle the backfield. On merit, Hubbard should feature more prominently than Sanders on the ground. The 24-year-old made the most of his start in a Week 6 defeat at the hands of the Miami Dolphins, carrying the ball 19 times for 88 yards and a touchdown.
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Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
4 of 5
Rostered: 43 percent
Week 7 stats: N/A
Week 8 projections: N/A
This is a case of playing the long game.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is at least another week away from getting back on the field, but he's inching closer and closer to his return. The team triggered the 21-day window for him to be activated on Oct. 18, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported he could suit up in Week 10 against the Atlanta Falcons or perhaps even Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns.
Expecting Murray to immediately be the player he was prior to his torn ACL is unrealistic. He will have missed nearly a full year, and he'll be trying to shake off the rust when opposing defenses are in midseason form.
The 26-year-old could offer a lot more value than you'd otherwise get from the QB market at this point, though. Assuming he returns by Week 10, he might be hitting his stride just in time for the fantasy playoffs, too.
Kenny Pickett, QB, Steelers
5 of 5
Rostered: 20 percent
Week 7 stats: 230 passing yards, one rushing touchdown
Week 8 projections: 223.3 passing yards, 1.2 passing touchdowns, 0.9 interceptions, 16.9 rushing yards, 0.2 rushing TDs, 15.2 points
The Pittsburgh Steelers have the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 8 and Tennessee Titans in Week 9, and both of those present favorable matchups for Kenny Pickett and the passing game.
The Jaguars have the second-most porous defense in the NFL through the air, with 273.9 yards allowed per game. The Titans are a little better overall (237.0 yards per game), but they're giving up 8.0 yards per attempt.
Because of that Kenny Pickett is a sensible streaming option or a helpful replacement for any fantasy managers whose starters are injured or heading for a Week 9 bye.
Rostered percentage, scoring and projections via Fantasy Pros
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