Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups and Available Sleepers in Most Yahoo Leagues

Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season kicked off on Thursday night. This means that managers who have waited to scour the waiver wire could be in some trouble.

The waiver-wire player pool was already shallow this week because of injuries and bye weeks. The Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks are all off this week. The list of readily available sleepers is even smaller now that waiver claims have been processed.

However, this doesn't mean that managers are totally out of luck. A few potential Week 8 sleepers might still be available in your league.

Joe Flacco, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar

40-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco really might help salvage the Cincinnati Bengals' season. He's a clear upgrade over Jake Browning, and he wasted no time in deciding that chucking it to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins is a good idea.

Flacco racked up 342 yards and three touchdowns in last week's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

This week, Flacco might be able to salvage a few fantasy games too. The Bengals will be back at home, hosting a New York Jets defense that has been average against opposing quarterbacks (18 fantasy points per game allowed). Flacco is rostered in only 39 percent of Yahoo leagues.

The list of potential sleeper QBs still available in over half of Yahoo leagues includes Aaron Rodgers, Spencer Rattler and Tyrod Taylor.

Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski

Chicago Bears rookie running back Kyle Monangai is more of a boom-or-bust option than Flacco. The Rutgers product is firmly entrenched as D'Andre Swift's backup, and his floor isn't nearly as high as his ceiling.

If the Bears take a pass-heavy approach against the Baltimore Ravens this week, Monangai may see very limited opportunities. If Chicago goes run-heavy, he could thrive.

During his first five games, Monangai averaged just five touches. In Week 7, however, he logged 13 carries, caught two passes, tallied 94 scrimmage yards and found the end zone. The Ravens, for what it's worth, have surrendered the second-most fantasy points to opposing running backs.

Monangai is still available in over 60 percent of Yahoo leagues. Tyler Allgeier, Kenneth Gainwell and Brian Robinson Jr. are other backs who are still available in over half of Yahoo leagues.

Alec Pierce, WR, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/Darron Cummings

The Indianapolis Colts are dealing with a couple of receiver injuries this week, and the outlook for Josh Downs (concussion) and Ashton Dulin (chest) is uncertain. This potentially raises the ceiling for Alex Pierce, who is coming off a strong game.

With Downs out against the Los Angeles Chargers last week, Pierce caught five of 10 targets for 98 yards. That marked the third time this season that the 25-year-old topped 65 receiving yards in a game.

This week, the Colts will host the Tennessee Titans, who have a middling pass defense that has surrendered an average of 27.5 fantasy points to opposing receiver groups. The last time the Colts and Titans faced off, Pierce caught four of five targets for 65 yards.

Pierce is only rostered in 24 percent of Yahoo leagues. The list of receivers available in the majority of Yahoo leagues also includes Kayshon Boutte, Darnell Mooney, Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr.

Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets

AP Photo/Marta Lavandier

If the Jets hope to keep pace with Flacco and the Bengals, they're probably going to have to rely on rookie tight end Mason Taylor early and often. With Garrett Wilson still dealing with a knee injury, Taylor is one of the few dynamic pass-catchers the Jets have.

While Taylor had just four receptions for 33 yards over his past two games, he flashed his upside against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5. In that game, he caught nine of 12 targets for 67 yards. He could have a similar outing against a Bengals defense that has been vulnerable to opposing tight ends.

No team has surrendered more fantasy points to the position this season.

Taylor is available in over 60 percent of Yahoo leagues. Juwan Johnson, Dalton Schultz, Jonnu Smith and Colston Loveland are available in over half of Yahoo leagues.

*Fantasy roster and scoring information from FantasyPros.