Fantasy Football: Waiver Wire Recommendations for Week 8 from Top Experts

Every Wednesday at FFSpin, we take a look around the web for advice from the experts on which players to pick up and plug into your fantasy lineup. We then provide our own Fantasy Football Spin.  

ON BYE: Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, NY Giants, Philadelphia

WIDE RECEIVERS

With Roddy White, Anquan Boldin, Hakeem Nicks and Steve Smith on BYE this week, look no further as we’ve scoured the injury reports and analyzed the box scores to offer up some players that are destined for fantasy success, but could still be available on the fantasy waiver wire. 

Four offenses (San Diego, Indianapolis, Denver and Dallas) are averaging over 300 passing yards per game. On the flip side, four passing games are floundering as they are averaging less than 160 passing yards per game. These anemic aerial attacks include Tennessee, Arizona, Buffalo and Carolina.

Expert Views:

Razzball.com recommends adding Miami’s No. 2 WR Davone Bess as he has now scored in three straight weeks.

YahooSports.com believes that Bills 7th round rookie Steve Johnson is worth adding as he is an integral part of an emerging Bills passing attack.

ProFootballWeekly.com is expecting Cowboys castoff Patrick Crayton to continue to produce in the Chargers No. 1 ranked pass offense as long as Malcolm Floyd and Legedu Naanee remain sidelined with injuries.

Fantasy Football Spin:

The Bills aerial attack is beginning to evoke memories of Jim Kelly to Andre Reed.  In Week 7, the once lowly Bills passing game unexpectedly gained 374 yards against a Baltimore defense that welcomed back Ed Reed and ranks eighth in passing defense.

The past two games, Lee Evans has displayed his upside potential by amassing 192 yards and tallying four TDs making him a legit WR3. Evans failed to top 80 yards in any game last season and finished with  a career-low 44 catches for 612 yards and seven TDs. In the three prior seasons (2006-2008), the 29-year-old Evans averaged 67 catches and 1,050 yards. There is some upward potential for the remainder of 2010. 

The Bills No. 2 WR is Steve Johnson, a third year 6’2" WR that has scored in four straight weeks. Johnson’s yardage totals were less than impressive before his breakout party in Week 7 when he totaled eight catches for 158 yards. His yardage total was probably an anomaly, but he remains a decent flex play in favorable match-ups based on his red zone prowess.

Former first round bust Mike Williams has been targeted 15 times in each of the past two weeks and has an eye popping 21 catches for 210 yards and a TD. Seattle’s newly anointed No. 1 WR (now that Branch is in New England) will get a real test in Week 8 when he’ll likely be shadowed by Raiders shutdown CB Nnamdi Asomugha. Williams (6’5", 242 pounds) is an intriguing size/speed combo, but his long term prospects are somewhat cloudy as he has shown flashes in the past, only to fizzle into obscurity.

In Miami, Davone Bess has benefited from the presence of free agent acquisition Brandon Marshall. He has scored in three straight weeks and remains a valuable asset in PPR leagues as he is averaging five catches and 58 yards through six games.  He went undrafted, but was a consistent presence on sleeper lists based on his upside, something that we are now witnessing

Austin Collie is out for at least a week.  Dallas Clark and Austin Collie being sidelined coincides with the return of Anthony Gonzalez. He has a great opportunity to prove to detractors that he can play and stay healthy.  Here is a piece that we wrote earlier that explains why we like Gonzalez and why Blair White has a shot at being productive as well.  

Check out our Spin on the waiver wire selections at Running Back and Quarterback.