Week 8 Waiver Wire: Anthony Dixon, Denard Robinson Highlight Pickups to Know

Typically the toughest position to locate anybody of use on the waiver wire, running back is flushed with a few valuable fantasy football pickups heading into Week 8.

Three backs tussled their way from the dungeon of their teams' depth charts. Injuries and impatience led them to a cavalcade of carries on Sunday, making them exciting adds given the high demand for starting tailbacks.

A handful of interesting options exist elsewhere, so now is an opportune time to unload dead weight wasting real estate on your bench. Here's a rundown of some players more deserving of a precious roster spot.

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins (Ownership Rate: 12.7 Percent)

David Banks/Getty Images

This is the Ryan Tannehill pundits expected when anticipating a breakout campaign during the summer.

Remember the odd incident when coach Joe Philbin wouldn't confirm Tannehill's status as the starting quarterback? Since then, Tannehill has lit up the box score for 799 passing yards and six touchdowns on a 72.3 completion percentage.

Date	Opponent	CMP/ATT	Pass YDs	TDs	INTs	YPA	Rush YDs
9/28	at Oakland Raiders	23/31	278	2	1	8.97	35
10/12	Green Bay Packers	20/31	244	2	2	7.87	49
10/19	at Chicago Bears	25/32	277	2	0	8.66	48

His best game of the year came in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears, whom he torched with remarkable precision by completing 17 of his first 18 passes. He also sprinkled in 48 rushing yards, which gives him 132 yards through the ground during that torrid three-game stretch.

After averaging 5.03 passing yards per attempt during the first three games, he has rocketed that rate to 8.5. Not sold on adding him yet? He faces the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend, making him a tremendous spot start right off the bat. 

Whether Philbin's comments ignited his young quarterback or Tannehill's production has simply returned to the mean, he is once again a talented No. 2 fantasy passer laden with potential for more.

Tre Mason, RB, St. Louis Rams (Ownership Rate: 2.3 Percent)

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

After making his NFL debut during Week 6 with five carries, Tre Mason looked poised to slowly absorb more touches, setting up the Auburn alum to make a fantasy playoff impact.

Jeff Fisher decided to drastically expedite that timetable, banishing Zac Stacy completely and leapfrogging Mason up from No. 3 back to first-stringer. He received nearly all the carries against the Seattle Seahawks, while Tavon Austin more than doubled the rushes (five) of Stacy and Benjamin Cunningham combined.

Player	Carries	Rush YDs	TDs	YPC
Tre Mason	18	85	1	4.7
Benjamin Cunningam	2	3	0	1.5
Zac Stacy	0	0	0	0

Seattle, of course, is no cupcake opponent. The reigning champions entered Sunday's slate with a defense that surrendered a meager 3.1 yards per carry. Yet in his first career start, Mason delivered more rushing yards than Stacy has in a single game all season.

This is the guy to put No. 1 on your waiver list, even if you don't need a running back at the moment. Stacy and Cunningham will likely snipe a few more carries from the rookie in ensuing weeks, but Mason boasts the highest upside of any widely available option.

Denard Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (Ownership rate: 0.5 percent )

You're excused for thinking nobody would emerge from the Jaguars backfield as a worthwhile fantasy option. They entered Sunday's tilt against the Cleveland Browns last in rushing offense without producing a single 50-yard rusher in six tries.

So when Denard Robinson was declared the starter at the last second over Storm Johnson, only those in the most hardcore leagues adapted their lineups accordingly. In hindsight, we all should have. The former Michigan quarterback finished with 127 rushing yards on 22 carries.

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

Fantasy gamers shouldn't expect that high level of production again, as the 1-6 Jaguars rarely have the opportunity to establish such a frequent presence on the ground. Yet the barren backfield creates a chance for Robinson to pounce on more touches.

After averaging 2.6 yards per carry in the first five games, Toby Gerhart has sat out the past two weeks with an injured ankle. Don't expect the struggling newcomer to return with a prominent role waiting. Johnson has punched in touchdowns in each of the last two games, but he did so while averaging 2.3 yards per carry.

Robinson isn't built to keep operating as a workhorse, but he's speedy and elusive enough to draw more targets in the receiving game. Even if he's not a must-start, Robinson should get grabbed in all leagues.

Anthony Dixon, RB, Buffalo Bills (Ownership Rate: 0.2 Percent)

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Despite earning a last-second victory over the Minnesota Vikings, the Buffalo Bills watched both members of their prolific running back tandem get carted off the field during a gut-wrenching day.

Jackson left the game early in considerable pain due to a groin injury. In his place, Spiller promptly went down next after rattling off a 53-yard run. CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reported the early prognosis on both rushers. 

According to Pro Football Talk, Spiller will undergo season-ending surgery on Monday.

The news on Jackson isn't as dire, but he won't play Week 8 against the New York Jets. Per NFL.com's Ian Rapoport:

Those injuries left Anthony Dixon as the only halfback on the active roster, so he naturally received some reps during Buffalo's 17-16 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The 27-year-old, who toiled away on the San Francisco 49ers for four uneventful years, produced 66 yards on 16 total touches.

Someone who has averaged 3.4 yards per carry over his career obviously won't save your fantasy squad. This is solely a matter of opportunity, as the Bills literally have nobody else at the moment to take Spiller and Jackson's place.

If Jackson can return at 100 percent, Dixon then fades back into obscurity with sporadic touches behind the steasy veteran. For now, Kyle Orton isn't throwing the ball every play, so give Dixon a look.

Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks (Ownership Rate: 19.4 percent)

Doug Baldwin became an immediate player to add once the Seahawks unloaded Percy Harvin on the New York Jets last week. Anyone who hesitated to scoop up Russell Wilson's new No. 1 target may now be too late to the party.

In Seattle's stunning loss to St. Louis, Baldwin led the team in targets (11), receptions (seven) and receiving yards (123). The 26-year-old also registered his first touchdown of the season for good measure.

Following a down week against the Dallas Cowboys, he noted the offense's bounce-back performance to The Seattle Times' Bob Condotta. 

When Harvin played just one game in 2013, Baldwin recorded 778 receiving yards and five touchdowns. With Harvin in the fold this season, Baldwin blended into the background as Pete Carroll worked tirelessly to involve the explosive wideout. But take a look, courtesy of Pro Football Focus, at how Baldwin previously thrived in the slot position Harvin snatched away.

"

In Harvin's absence in 2013 Doug Baldwin was among the league's better slot receivers. 33/50, 568 yds, 0TD on slot targets.

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) October 17, 2014"

Without Harvin, Wilson has few other options in the passing game, Jermaine Kearse becomes a deep-league add, but he won't eat too much into Baldwin's spotlight. He makes for a tremendous source of catches and yardage going forward, especially with the struggling Seahawks forced to air it out more often than usual.

Other Top Waiver-Wire Adds

Position	Player	Team	Ownership %*
QB	Carson Palmer	Arizona Cardinals	9.6
QB	Mike Glennon	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	0.3
RB	Jonathan Stewart	Carolina Panthers	25.2
RB	Jerick McKinnon	Minnesota Vikings	11.5
WR	Odell Beckham Jr.	New York Giants	20.2
WR	Andrew Hawkins	Cleveland Browns	10.1
WR	Kenny Stills	New Orleans Saints	3.6
WR	Allen Robinson	Jacksonville Jaguars	1.3
TE	Dwayne Allen	Indianapolis Colts	28.4
TE	Owen Daniels	Baltimore Ravens	22.1
D/ST	Baltimore Ravens	-----	23.1
D/ST	Indianapolis Colts	----	12.0
K	Chandler Catanzaro	Arizona Cardinals	11.6

All ownership rates pertain to ESPN leagues.