Week 8 Waiver Wire: Wide Receivers You Must Add to Your Fantasy Football Roster

Fantasy football owners, raise your hand if you enjoy bye weeks.

No one? I didn't think so. Once Week 4 of the NFL season hits, and teams start taking a week to rest up, fantasy football rosters become more difficult to manage. Some believe that that's part of the fun, but others think it's just plain difficult.

With four more teams being off in Week 8 (Baltimore, Buffalo, Cincinnati and Houston), owners are scouring the waiver wire for players to fill an assortment of roles—one of which is wide receiver.

If you're stuck, here are three targets that you must add as Week 8 approaches.

Brandon Gibson, St. Louis Rams

According to ESPN, the Patriots have "allowed an average of 31.2 fantasy WR points per game since Week 3." Even for the Rams' somewhat-anemic passing attack, that bodes well.

Gibson is Sam Bradford's No. 1 target. He's been targeted 16 times in the last two games, hauling in 12 catches and 151 yards in the process. He hasn't found the end zone, but he does have two touchdowns this season so it's not like that's an impossible idea.

Normally, the Rams are not the optimal fantasy offense. Unless you're talking about Steven Jackson, St. Louis doesn't produce many fantasy dividends.

This week, though, especially if bye weeks have you in a bind, snatch Gibson off of the waiver wire. The Patriots are 29th in the league at defending the pass, and St. Louis will likely be playing from behind. That will force them to go to the air, and Gibson is the only viable threat.

He's not a household name, but Gibson is worth a short-term pickup here.

Jeremy Kerley, New York Jets

Picking up any New York Jets player is borderline laughable, but Kerley makes sense this week. The Dolphins have a daunting run defense, but their 28th-ranked pass defense leaves something to be desired.

Mark Sanchez still made a few critical turnovers last week, but his 328 passing yards were the best he'd had in weeks. Given that Kerley is the team's leading receiver, and most dynamic option underneath, he's a solid pickup in PPR formats.

Kerley has 25 catches for 435 yards and two touchdowns this year. He's not the vertical threat that Stephen Hill can be, or the possession option that Dustin Keller is, but he's been consistent. With 15 targets in the last three games, he's become one of Sanchez's go-to options.

Normally, staying away from the Jets' offense is ideal. It's a mediocre, at best, unit. But this week is different. The Dolphins will present a challenge in many ways, but pass defense isn't one of them.

If Kerley is out there in your league, snag him.

Brandon Stokley, Denver Broncos

Stokley is Peyton Manning's No. 3 receiver, but that won't matter against the Saints Sunday night. Against New Orleans' pathetic defense, Manning will complete passes galore.

The Saints are 30th in the league against the pass. They don't pressure the quarterback very often (12 team sacks), and the secondary—aside from Patrick Robinson—isn't very good. Stokley won't be covered by Robinson, at least most of the time, which makes him an ideal pickup in Week 8.

There's no doubt that Stokley and Manning have rapport. Playing together in Indianapolis for four seasons does that for a duo, despite Stokley's secondary role in Mile High country.

Stokley has 19 catches and three touchdowns this season. His production is hit and miss, but New Orleans presents an extremely ideal matchup.

Manning loves to spread the ball around, having completed more than 15 passes to six players this year. That doesn't bode well for Stokley in the long term, but the Saints defense is going to allow for a plethora of opportunities.

If you're stuck for an option, add Stokley. He's going to have a breakout day versus the Saints' porous defense.