Week 8 Waiver Wire: Russell Wilson, Ricky Pearsall, Tank Bigsby and Pickups to Know
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson validated Mike Tomlin's decision to name him the starter and may have reemerged as a fantasy football asset in the process.
As the 2024 NFL season nears the halfway point, it will become harder and harder to find good value on the waiver wire. But it's still early enough for an impactful addition to either help turn around a slow start or solidify an already strong squad primed for a deep playoff run.
Here are some of the top performers from Week 7 who should be on fantasy radars and are rostered in fewer than 70 percent of Yahoo Sports leagues, per FantasyPros.
Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers
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Wilson and the Steelers offense shook off a slow start to put up 37 points in a win over the New York Jets on Sunday night. The nine-time Pro Bowler threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns, adding three yards and one score on the ground.
For fantasy managers in leagues that utilize the superflex, putting some of your remaining waiver budget toward Wilson is worth it.
The 35-year-old isn't without some risk. Just ask those who picked up Andy Dalton immediately after his 319-yard and three-touchdown performance in Week 3. Wilson could regress as opposing defenses see more tape of him in Pittsburgh's scheme.
But it's tough to imagine a better solution for QB-needy managers emerging between now and the start of the fantasy playoffs.
Wilson is also rostered in just seven percent of Yahoo leagues, so he's widely available.
Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers
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Ricky Pearsall didn't go above and beyond in his NFL debut with the San Francisco 49ers, but the rookie wide receiver might see his role significantly increase with Brandon Aiyuk suffering a potentially serious injury in Week 7.
Aiyuk was carted off in the 28-18 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs and the early concern is he tore his ACL.
Pearsall, who's rostered in 13 percent of Yahoo leagues, had three receptions for 21 yards on five targets against Kansas City.
The 49ers saw enough in the 24-year-old to use a first-round pick on him. From a fantasy perspective, he's a low-cost addition who could provide a lot of upside.
Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars
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It's a little surprising that Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby isn't rostered in 34 percent of Yahoo leagues. If you're one of the lucky few who still has a chance to add him, he should be your top priority.
Bigsby ran for 118 yards and two touchdowns in the Jags' 32-16 win over the New England Patriots. It was the second time in three weeks he eclipsed the century mark and scored twice.
There simply isn't a case to plausibly argue that Travis Etienne Jr. would be a better option than Bigsby on the ground for Jacksonville when he recovers from his hamstring injury.
As much as head coach Doug Pederson says otherwise, you'd have a hard time believing the Jaguars would shift away from what's working once their backfield is at full strength.
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Jameis Winston, Cleveland Browns
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As with Wilson, your approach to Cleveland Browns quarterback Jameis Winston should hinge on whether your league has a more traditional setup or instead uses the superflex. If it's the latter, he's a worthwhile gamble.
Deshaun Watson suffered an Achilles injury in the Browns' 21-14 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals. As with Aiyuk, his season could be over.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson was the backup in Week 7, but his and Winston's performance made the QB hierarchy pretty clear moving forward. Thompson-Robinson threw two interceptions on 24 attempts, while Winston went 5-of-11 for 67 yards and a touchdown.
While Winston has been maddeningly inconsistent across his career, he should be a serviceable QB2 solution assuming he maintains a firm grip on the starting job with Watson out.
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