Waiver Wire Week 8: Top Pickups, Drops and Expert Analysis

As we approach the stretch run of the fantasy regular season, your waiver-wire maneuvers will vary based on where you are in the standings. I bring this up because the running back position will once again be a hot topic following the events of Week 7.

The names who will likely draw the most attention are Dallas Cowboys running back Darren McFadden and Houston Texans running back Alfred Blue. McFadden looks like the hot hand the Cowboys will stick with after Joseph Randle was injured and Christine Michael was a non-factor against the New York Giants.

Following the loss of Arian Foster to a torn Achilles, Blue will likely be the next man up for the Texans based on the fact that he's played that role before, including earlier this year. He'll be a player who draws attention from anyone looking for a possible volume back, not just those who lost Foster.

While I acknowledge both McFadden and Blue as the top pickups heading into Week 8, I merely think of them as the latest flavors of the week at the running back position. The NFL is a week-to-week league as it pertains to matchups, player roles and injuries. With that, it's very hard to find a running back you can rely on to put in your lineup each week without concern, much less two of them.

I'd make the argument that there aren't even 20 running backs you can play with confidence each week. Obviously, you'll get varying degrees of success, but in terms of consistent producers, the list is short. That's why scouring the waiver wire remains important regardless of your record.

How long will McFadden last before he gets hurt or fails to live up to the high expectations he set for himself in Week 7? Will Blue get enough volume each week to be a fantasy-relevant back, or will a career 3.3 yards-per-carry average expose him for the average player he is and open the door for someone like Chris Polk to carve out a bigger role?

What I'm saying is enjoy whatever you get out of McFadden and Blue in the coming weeks, but don't expect it to continue. For the most part, I consider just about every running back off the waiver wire to be a short-term solution. If you locked up Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs any time in the last two weeks, you may have a WR2 for the rest of the year.

There are no season saviors in this week's look at the waiver wire, but with some roster juggling, an addition this week might bridge the gap for a few weeks until you find the next flavor of the waiver (wire).

Quarterbacks

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Teddy Bridgewater, MIN

Percent Owned: ESPN – 27.6, Yahoo – 43

Did the Minnesota Vikings finally figure out their passing game? Thanks to the play of wide receiver Stefon Diggs over the last three games, Bridgewater's had his best three performances in terms of passing yards, including a season-high 316 yards and two touchdowns against the Detroit Lions in Week 7.

I was high on Bridgewater coming into the season and believed he could be a low-end fantasy starter by the end of the year. Obviously, that hasn't come close to happening, but the team started to turn a corner when Diggs was asked to step in for the injured Charles Johnson in Week 4.

With Diggs sticking in the starting lineup, Bridgewater seems to have a new top receiver and an excellent chance to build on his Week 7 performance against a vulnerable Chicago Bears defense this week. If you've been streaming quarterbacks, Bridgewater should be a good play for Week 8.

Week 8 Projection: 260-270 passing yards, two touchdowns

Derek Carr, OAK

Percent Owned: ESPN – 33.3, Yahoo – 35

Carr had a solid start to his season through the first four weeks, but the challenges were clear in his second month. Week 5 was a tough matchup against the Denver Broncos, yet Carr managed to complete nearly 67 percent of his attempts for 249 yards with a touchdown and an interception in a loss that went down to the wire.

Following the Week 6 bye, Carr and the Raiders took on the Chargers in San Diego in yet another tough matchup, and he had arguably his best game ever. Carr completed 24 of 31 attempts for 289 yards with three touchdowns and no turnovers in a victory that wasn't as close as the final score indicated.

He'll need to stay on top of his game with an even tougher matchup against the New York Jets in Oakland in Week 8. If you can find another QB to use, I'd recommend staying away from Carr, but I'd still pick him up now since the schedule gets easier with games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions coming up after the Jets.

Week 8 Projection: 225-230 passing yards, one touchdown, two interceptions

Droppable Players: Joe Flacco

Running Backs

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Darren McFadden, DAL

Percent Owned: ESPN – 42.6, Yahoo – 37

If you're thinking long-term for fantasy when it comes to any Dallas Cowboys running back, you're delusional. It's been mostly Joseph Randle leading the way, but heading into Week 7, the hype for Christine Michael had reached peak levels, yet it was McFadden who came out of the game as the Dallas back to own…for now.

Michael's hype seemed to quiet considerably throughout the week and remained nothing more than that during the game, as he ended up with just five carries for 18 yards on just seven snaps. That was quite telling since Randle went down early in the game with an oblique injury, yet the team turned to and basically stuck with McFadden instead of giving Michael an extended look.

McFadden ended up playing 61 of a possible 76 snaps, rushing for 152 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries and adding two receptions for 10 yards. Because Randle's injury could cause him to "miss some time," per Rand Getlin of NFL.com, this looks like McFadden's backfield for the time being.

Knowing McFadden's injury history, you shouldn't be looking too far ahead on the schedule to see if he'll be worth keeping around. The Cowboys host the Seahawks this week and know they have to run it since the quarterback situation hasn't gotten much better with the switch from Brandon Weeden to Matt Cassel.

Week 8 Projection: 18 carries, 95 yards, one touchdown; three receptions, 14 yards

Alfred Blue, HOU

Percent Owned: ESPN – 18.8, Yahoo – 17

The Houston Texans suffered a crushing blow in Week 7 when starting running back Arian Foster tore his Achilles in an ugly loss to the Miami Dolphins. Foster will miss the rest of the season, meaning the Texans will have to reach into the depth of their backfield as they did when Foster missed time with a groin injury to open the season.

I'd expect the team to turn to Blue to lead the way once again. He started the first three games of the season, including a huge performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3, when he posted 139 yards and a touchdown on 31 rushing attempts. Unfortunately, he hasn't rushed for more than 42 yards in any other game.

Because Blue has led this committee in the past, he's a good bet to do it again, although it may not be a strong majority of the snaps and touches over Chris Polk. The Texans face the Tennessee Titans this week, which isn't an overly difficult matchup, so we'll see what Blue can do with his latest crack at replacing Foster thanks to injury.

Week 8 Projection: 17 carries, 65 yards, one touchdown

Orleans Darkwa, NYG

Percent Owned: ESPN – 0, Yahoo – 3

We go from two running backs most fantasy players know about to one who many learned about for the first time when they watched Darkwa take advantage of an expanded role to post 48 yards and a touchdown on eight carries. While Darkwa played just 14 snaps, he had more than Rashad Jennings (11) and Andre Williams (5) but was behind Shane Vereen (23).

There's no issue with keeping Vereen involved, because he should have a bigger role in the offense, but when neither Jennings nor Williams is averaging even four yards per carry, the team should give more chances to Darkwa.

Head coach Tom Coughlin is very hard to predict when it comes to the team's running backs, but on Monday, he said, "The coaches felt strongly that he [Darkwa] should be given an opportunity," per Art Stapleton of the Record. Darkwa deserves an even bigger opportunity when he faces the New Orleans Saints this weekend, and he could get it if he performs like he did last week.

Week 8 Projection: 10 carries, 51 yards; one catch, seven yards

Droppable Players: Rashad Jennings, Knile Davis, Isaiah Crowell

Wide Receivers

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Note: This is a particularly bad week for the wide receiver position. I disqualify anyone owned in at least 60 percent of either ESPN or Yahoo leagues, so that's why you're not seeing players like Miami Dolphins WR Rishard Matthews, Green Bay Packers WR Davante Adams and New England Patriots WR Brandon LaFell included on this list. If those players are available in your leagues, they're certainly worth adding.

Marvin Jones, CIN

Percent Owned: ESPN – 34.7, Yahoo – 40

I suspect Jones was dropped heading into Week 7 or during the week at some point because those who had him needed the spot for someone else with Jones on the bye. It's understandable, especially if Jones was the fourth or fifth wide receiver on your roster, but if you can snatch him back up, try to do so immediately.

In a great AFC North showdown, the Bengals head to Heinz Field to face the Pittsburgh Steelers. If quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is able to return from his knee injury, this could potentially be a high-scoring affair, which is only good news for Jones.

Jones is second only to A.J. Green in snaps in the team's wide receiving corps, which isn't a surprise, but he's had four games with double-digit fantasy points and at least eight targets in three of his last four games. While tight end Tyler Eifert can steal touches from Jones, the matchup and game flow indicate Jones may be busy yet again.

Week 8 Projection: Five receptions, 79 yards

Droppable Players: Leonard Hankerson, Andre Johnson

Tight Ends

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Ladarius Green, SD

Percent Owned: ESPN – 36.3, Yahoo – 48

I've been riding the Green bandwagon for the duration of the season and refused to get off when Antonio Gates came back from his suspension. As I detailed last week, Green has been the beneficiary of some great timing this season and came through once again in Week 7.

A sprained MCL kept Gates out of practice for all of last week and was bad enough to sideline him for the Week 7 matchup with the Oakland Raiders, the best possible matchup for fantasy tight ends though the first six weeks of the season. With Gates down, Green would end up catching four of nine targets for 45 yards and a touchdown plus a pair of two-point conversions.

According to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Gates could miss multiple games due to the injury, meaning Green's fantasy value remains high, especially since he's been reliable for quarterback Philip Rivers. The Chargers face another beatable defense in the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8. 

Week 8 Projection: Five receptions, 57 yards, one touchdown

Eric Ebron, DET

Percent Owned: ESPN – 27.3, Yahoo – 24

Ebron stormed back into fantasy relevance in Week 7 following a two-game absence due to a bruised knee. The Detroit Lions may not be very good, but when he's been on the field this season, Ebron has usually made the most of his opportunities, and that was true against the Minnesota Vikings.

After picking up 55 yards on a catch-and-run in the first quarter, Ebron finished off that drive with a seven-yard touchdown. He wound up bringing in all five of his targets for a team-high 89 yards and the aforementioned touchdown. He's scored in three of five games and has at least 50 yards in three of those games.

The Lions face the Kansas City Chiefs in London following some big coaching changes this week, including the firing of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi. Hopefully, nothing really changes for Ebron with quarterbacks coach Jim Bob Cooter taking over as the offensive coordinator, as Ebron has been one of the lone bright spots of a terrible season for the Lions.

Week 8 Projection: Five receptions, 61 yards, one touchdown

Droppable Players: Coby Fleener, Derek Carrier

Defenses

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Atlanta Falcons

Percent Owned: ESPN – 46, Yahoo – 52

With most of the top defensive matchups held by widely owned fantasy defenses, once again, the Falcons look like a widely available and strong play this week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after holding the Tennessee Titans to just seven points in Week 7.

They registered just one sack, but they did force a pair of interceptions from second-year quarterback Zach Mettenberger. They'll face another young quarterback in Jameis Winston on Sunday. Winston came out of last week's game without a turnover, but he does have seven interceptions and four fumbles on the season. The Falcons are worth taking a shot on against the rookie at home in Atlanta.

Week 8 Projection: Two interceptions, two sacks, one fumble recovery, 17-21 points allowed

Kickers

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Blair Walsh, MIN

Percent Owned: ESPN – 29.2, Yahoo – 15

The Minnesota Vikings sit at 4-2 and are starting to kick their passing attack into gear, which has afforded Walsh with more opportunities for field goals, and he's been able to convert. In the last three games, he’s hit 10 of 11 field-goal attempts and added four extra points, including five field goals in Week 7 against the Detroit Lions.

The Vikings should have a chance to keep the strong play up in Chicago against the Bears in Week 8. Like the Vikings, Walsh has only gotten better as the season's gone on, so he's one to add for an ascending team.

Josh Lambo, SD 

Percent Owned: ESPN – 27.6, Yahoo – 48 

The San Diego Chargers have limped their way to a 2-5 record, but they are actually fourth in the AFC in scoring with 165 points. That's really all we care about when it comes to our fantasy teams. That's kept Lambo pretty busy with at least two field goals in each of his last four games.

In Week 8, the Chargers face another team in a tailspin (the Baltimore Ravens), and considering how bad Baltimore's defense is, San Diego's offense should be able to have another big game and may not need garbage-time production to get there. That's even better news for Lambo, as he'll likely get more chances for extra points instead of the two-point conversions they went for trailing big last week.

Fantasy leaders provided by NFL.com. Targets provided by ESPN.com. Snap counts provided by ProFootballFocus.com.