Fantasy Football Week 8 Waiver Wire: Jackie Battle and More Shining Flex Options

Some players aren't worth starting in fantasy football, but they can contribute as flex options.

As we head into Week 8 of the NFL season, waiver-wire pickups are becoming scarce as most of the talent has been nabbed by the rest of the league.

But there are still some players who can put up good numbers and potentially be the difference in a close matchup.

Here are three players bound to shine as flex options in Week 8.

Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens

I still can't figure out why the Ravens aren't getting rookie Torrey Smith more involved after his scintillating performance against the St. Louis Rams in Week 3.

Smith has shown time and time again he is ready for the NFL and he's made some remarkable catches already, including a sprawling 20-yard catch at the end of the Ravens' 12-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 7.

I think it's only a matter of time before Smith starts getting more respect from the Ravens, and he faces a bad Arizona Cardinals pass defense in Week 8.

Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans Saints

It's completely understandable why not much is expected of Pierre Thomas in fantasy football this season, given the Saints drafted rookie Mark Ingram and signed Darren Sproles.

But Thomas is showing he can still hang around, and Ingram suffered a heel injury in Week 7.

In Week 7 against the Indianapolis Colts, Thomas rushed for 57 yards on 10 carries and caught five balls for 67 yards.

Thomas and the Saints face a soft St. Louis Rams rush defense in Week 8, a rush defense that just allowed Dallas Cowboys rookie DeMarco Murry to rush for 253 yards.

Thomas should get you around 10 points with Ingram in the game, and he'll score even more if Ingram is held out of the game or limited.

Jackie Battle, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

I'm not exactly calling Jackie Battle a star, but I will say he surprised me with a second straight solid performance in Week 7 against the Oakland Raiders.

After racking up 119 rushing yards against the Colts, Battle had a team-high 16 carries for 76 yards against the Raiders.

Battle faces a Chargers defense in Week 8 that is giving up 4.7 yards per carry and just gave up 112 rushing yards to Shonn Greene of all people.

The Chiefs are on a roll after winning their last three games, and Battle is rolling along with them.