Another crazy week in the books sees us down to one undefeated NFL team, the Kansas City Referees Chiefs. I am not one who thinks the league is fixed but watching Nick Bosa get held throughout the game with no calls seems a little suspect when adding that to other Chiefs conspiracy theories from the past. I digress. We welcome back both the Cowboys and Bears for Week 8. Let’s be honest, did anyone really miss either team in Week 7? I know I certainly did not. It is always nice when those two fanbases take a week off. The quiet is refreshing.
What now? Well, we look to continue to build rosters to withstand both injuries (Chris Godwin, Brandon Aiyuk, DK Metcalf, Jonathan Taylor, and Browns QBs) and bye weeks. Week 8, with no byes, is the time to prep for the dog days of the season while looking ahead to those bye weeks headed our way. Remember, you simply cannot afford to take any zeros at this point in the season where you have control (no, not looking at you Deebo).
An additional, small consideration for you, the reader, as you move through my weekly columns is to understand that a waiver article is not a mandate from me to add/drop players each week. Sometimes the best move is the one you do not make. I fully understand that waivers and trades are top of the fun list in fantasy football but remember winning trumps all other fun things in fantasy football. Take the following names as options, considerations for your squad versus must-add players. Only add players when it makes sense for you and your team(s).
Be sure to check out the latest tools on Razzball.com: Slot vs. Wide PPG Allowed | WR Slot vs. Wide| DEF Targets Allowed | Home vs. Away | Wins vs. Losses | TD Tool
Do not forget the @Razzball NFL team of writers will be hosting our Sunday Morning Start/Sit podcast every week starting three hours before kickoff all the way up to the official start of the early games. Bobby – @BobbyLaMarco, Sky – @SkyGuasco, Derek – @Derek_Favret, and me/Matt – @stiles08, will be answering all your questions to help you win your weekly matchups. Come for the analysis and stay for the laughs!
WAIVERS:
ADD OF THE WEEK = Our guy Jameis Winston – 1% rostered is back and I could not be happier. Unless your league penalizes minus ten points per interception, it is time to have fun with your roster and fire up Winston. Entering Week 7 as the emergency QB, Winston was just chilling on the sidelines, and then BOOM, Watson down (probably season ending Achilles) followed by DTR departing (finger). In steps our hero (someone please play Foo Fighters here!).
QB: Russell Wilson – 7% rostered cooked the Jets on SNF! After a rough start to the game, one I thought might see him benched to start the second half, Wilson turned a corner and looked serviceable against a beat up and battered Jets secondary. Wilson made George Pickens a thing again, and I am here for it. What Justin Fields showed as a rusher, he lacked as a passer. It appears as if the Steelers prefer the passing QB over the running one, so let’s consider Wilson especially in SuperFlex formats.
Drake Maye – 16% rostered: Maye is making the case to you. Are you even watching, bro? He has quietly put together two solid fantasy starts, averaging 23 fantasy points over the past two weeks. I think that is enough to garner some attention for the rookie. Maye is an absolute consideration in SuperFlex leagues and probably below a fringe, non-bye week in single QB leagues.
Honorable Mention/Cheaper Options:
Andy Dalton – 11% rostered (rough Week 7, but still the starter)
Bo Nix – 13% rostered (doing just enough that we need to keep an eye on him)
Mason Rudolph – 1% rostered (game manager with Will Levis szn possibly over)
RB: Tyrone Tracy – 57% rostered is better than Devin Singletary and we all know it…does Brian Daboll know it, and will he admit it?
Honorable Mention/Cheaper Options:
Ray Davis – 16% rostered (ever so slightly eating into Cooks playing time and touches)
D’Ernest Johnson – 7% rostered (appears to have stand-alone value until ETN returns)
Sean Tucker – 1% rostered (came back to earth Monday night; still involved, but nothing like Week 6.
JaMycal Hasty – 0% rostered (NE RBs are a mess; maybe he is the hot hand/best option?)
WR: Let’s see what Jameis Winston can do for the sophomore WR out of Tennessee. Cedric Tillman – 0% rostered probably has the best opportunity of the waiver wire WRs to make a difference for your fantasy squad. After the Browns dealt Amari Cooper to the Bills, speculation was rampant about who would see the targets in Cleveland, with most ‘experts’ landing on Jerry Jeudy. Well, folks, Cedric Tillman just saw 12 targets, hauling in eight of those for 81 yards while adding a 2-point conversion. We will not know if these numbers will continue until we see at least one more week of real game action. I like Tillman with Winston more than I do with DTR.
WR: Rashod Bateman – 18% rostered. I have never been a big fan of Bateman, but I will not deny the double-digit outputs are nice PLUS he just turned in a huge MNF game with 26 PPR points.
Honorable Mention/Cheaper Options:
Romeo Doubs – 44% rostered (back-to-back 17+ point PPR games; Love loves/trusts him)
Dontayvion Wicks – 27% rostered (came back sooner than expected; guessing the Packers WR of the week is harder than winning in Vegas)
Mecole Hardman – 0% rostered (WR of the week for KC or is this foreshadowing of what is to come from the Super Bowl hero; made the most of three touches)
Gabe Davis – 17% rostered (the real Gabe Davis showed up in Week 7; hard pass for me)
Bub Means – 9% rostered (was not terrible on short week; should be better when Carr returns)
Jalen McMillan/Sterling Shepard – both under 3% rostered (will get more looks with Chris Godwin possibly done for the season (ankle) and Mike Evans to probably miss time (hamstring))
Jauan Jennings/Ricky Pearsall – 31%/14% rostered – (someone will need to step up for Brandon Aiyuk who appears done for the year (leg); I lean Jennings who missed Week 7, and should be back for Week 8)
TE: This position is still anyone’s guess. I am OK adding names like Zach Ertz (solid floor; TD in Week 7), Noah Fant (solid floor; 10 PPR points in Week 7), Hunter Henry (Maye > Brissett), Cade Otton (Baker > everyone), and Ja’Tavion Sanders (appears to be taking TE1 role for CAR) – all under 30% rostered.
Remember, you do NOT have to make a move each week. You do not have to force trades. If you look at your roster and a hole does not immediately jump out to you, then maybe your team is good to go for Week 8. If you see a hole (injury, bye, underperformance), then start looking at options to make your team better.
Follow me @stiles08 on X and send questions comments at the bottom of this article. Make sure you jump around the Razzball site for all your fantasy football needs. We have a ton of free content to include our Slot Versus Wide tool, our Win Versus Loss tool, and many more.
-Stiles-
Hi Matt, Survived another week to go 6-1 , 1 PPR, Super Flex.
QB: J Allen, J Love
RB: Walker, Chuba
WR: Marvin, Diontae, Waddle
TE: Otton
Flex: Bigsby
Bench:
J Daniels (Hurt), Kmet, Singletary
Nico, JuJu, Downs
$61 FAAB Left:
QB: Winston, Mariota (Cuff)
RB: R Davis, R Johnson, T Goodson
WR: J Jennings, J McMillan, Wicks, Coleman, Bateman, Tillman
Please advise if I shall drop JuJu/Downs for any of the above from waivers? Thinking to keep both TEs unless trade works out. Winston might be going for high dollar. Thanks for all the help.
The add I like for you is Juaun Jennings for JuJu. I like Downs ROS more than JuJu and I love Jennings with the SF WR injuries. Bateman would be my second choice with McMillan third.
Thanks Matt. Guess we are keeping Downs and both TEs then. How much FAAB would you spend on Jennings / Bateman/ McMillan? If we cannot get any of them, like Wicks or Coleman or rather keep JuJu?
Also, don’t worry about Winston or Ray Davis?
$20 on Bateman/Jennings
$15 on McMillan
You do not need to add Davis or Jameis.
Thanks Matt. I will try to add a WR there. Hopefully someone from the Top 3.
Prefer JuJu over Wicks/ Coleman or put a cheap $3 bid even on them.
Probably leaving all three for someone else to bid on.
Hey man! Onto week 8! Lost my first matchup of the season to fall to 6-1
For waivers how would you order the priority?
Here’s who I’m targeting
1.) add Tua , drop cousins
2.) add Russell Wilson, drop cousins
3.) add Goff, drop cousins
4.) add Otton, drop Kincaid. That’s the best available TE , there’s no Henry or knet
5.) add chiefs d who get raiders
6.) add lions d who get titans
7.) add Vikings d who get rams
I’d be dropping chargers d
Chiefs d schedule:
– @ Vegas
– vs Bucs (no Godwin)
– vs broncos
– @ Buffalo
– @ Carolina
– vs raiders
Week 14 vs chargers
Vikings d schedule
– @ rams
– vs colts SNF
– @ jags
– @ Tenn
– @ Chicago
– vs cards
– week 14 vs falcons
Lions d schedule
– vs titans
– @ packers
– @ Texans
– vs jags
– @ Indy
– va bears
– week 14 vs packers
Or hold Kincaid to trade him to get one of andrews, Laporta (already had bye & Jameson Williams suspended)
Thanks man!
6-1 is nothing to be mad at! Keep pushing.
Of the QBs listed, I prefer Goff (bye not an issue), followed by Cousins, then Tua. Tua could be a steal if you get him on the cheap. Just ensure you are prepared for another injury.
With Evans hurt and Godwin done for the year, Otton is a solid add. Kincaid looked good last week, but I want Otton today.
You have the Defenses in the order I prefer them. I think you can get the Lions cheaper than the Chiefs if FAAB is a concern.
If you can get Andrews or LaPorta for Kincaid, make that trade quick.
I can have either TE via trade ; which one would you prefer; Otton (waiver), Kincaid (hold) , Andrews (trade), Laporta (trade).
Actually this changes things:
Evans is officially out & looks to be out until after the week 11 bye
I put evans in my 1 of 2 IR slots now i can add Otton for free & still keep Kincaid
Knowing this would you add Otton for free & old Kincaid or add one of these WRs instead but I want Otton I think he’s going to be peppered with targets
Available WRs Jeudy, McMillan, Keon Coleman, Bateman, wicks , Sterling shepherd
+ my WR core is: Justin Jefferson, AJ brown, MHJ, mclaurin, Brian Thomas Jr, + tyreek hill who I just acquired
– side note is it bad I acquired tyreek a few days ago? It was between Adams & tyreek . Gave up Hubbard & got Conner + tyreek
LaPorta, then Andrews
Sure, add Otton for free. Bateman should be your first WR target followed by McMillan (or Tillman).
Hey Matt! Seeking your wisdom here .. 6-1 on the year (blessings) team is as follows
QB: Mayfield, Kyler
RBs: Kyren, Kamara, Tracy, Charb, Allgeier
WRs: Deebo, AJ Brown, Dionte, Brian Thomas, Demario Doug
TE: Kincaid
Not in any dire need of waivers this week but I am looking to capitalize on the injuries this week. I’ve got my eye on the likes of Tillman, McMillan, and Pearsall this week. Bateman and Keon Coleman are also available on waivers. Who are you taking? Saw you recommended trading away Kincaid for Laporta or Andrews as well. Is that the move here? Thank you in advanced!
Chris
Stiles ! Love your opinions my dude… 14 teamer / .5 PPR….. I’m 4-3 but 2nd highest scorer in the league …. Lost Godwin and DK this weekend…. Thank God I have Kupp coming back …. I haven’t spent a penny of my waiver budget so far…. Going after Jennings (35/100) and Tillman (10/100)…. Either for Godwin drop….. or do you prefer McMillan over Tillman ?? Thank You in advance !!
I prefer McMillan over Tillman and would bid $25 for him.
Bateman, and I am not a huge fan, appears to be the top WR available. I like Tillman especially with Jameis. McMillan should be in the mix with Evans ruled out through Week 11.
I like LaPorta over Kincaid though the latter looked better on Sunday.
Need a short term replacement for Daniels at QB. Who do you think has the highest floor, the safest pick among 1) Prescott 2) Purdue, 3) Cousins and 4) Darnold. Thank you.
I know better than to ask if this is Whitey Bulger….wink.
You have them in the order I would rank them. Prescott cannot continue to be as bad as he was into the bye week, so he is top of the list for me. Cousins and Purdy are close, but second in my opinion.
Matt,
I am cruising in a dynasty IDP league, then , injuries: Aidan Hutchinson, Christian Wilkins, and now Godwin.
Unfortunately I just shipped Amari Cooper off in order to get some replacement defensive ends, anyway, it leaves me with: Romeo Doubs/Dk Metcalf/Christian Kirk/Chris Olave/ JuJu smith-schuster.
I feel like I need a WR. I’ve been offered Rashad Bateman for my injured Aidan Hutchinson (a top 5 IDP player) by the last place team who is trying to get keepers for next year. I don’t want Bateman. They have Davante Adams, would you give them a $1 Tank Bigsby and $14 Aidan Hutchinson for $11 Davante Adams? Or, would you take their $3 Rashad Bateman for the $14 Aidan Hutchinson.
Thanks!
Thanks!!
In an IDP format, I would not trade Hutchinson for either Adams or Bateman. I hold Hutchinson and rely on the WR on your roster or look for McMillan, Tillman, Jennings from the waiver wire. Sterling Shepard is another, deeper name that could bring value.
Thanks Matt, I’ll hold.
Sterling Shepard better than Elijah Moore?
Oof, I am not sure I love either WR. My gut play is Shepard only bc he and Baker have a bond.
Hey Matt, if you had to pick three of the following for W8 (half PPR):
McConk, Sutton, K. Allen, Tutu, Jennings, Ridley.
Allen
Jennings
Sutton (McConkey close behind Sutton)
Thank you! One more question, if I may :)
Would you replace any of them with Moss in Flex?
Possibly Sutton only bc Moss’s touches have been decreasing.
Marty Stiles the man!!
Hey PPR lost Aiyuk, would you rather spend 85% or more FAAB on Jennings or do like 25% on McMillan?
Also Tillman but……?
I spend 25-30% of budget on McMillan and 20-25% on Jennings.
Current Roster sitting at 3-4 right now:
QB-Kyler
RB- Hunt/Kamara
WR- Kupp/Lamb
TE- Kittle
Flex-Chubb
D/St- Jets
K- Tucker
BN-J. Brooks, Ekler, Herbert, Kraft, Pacheco, Deebo, J. Williams, Hockenson
Which backup QB?
Nix, Russ Wilson or Herbert?
Which 2 RB’s for depth,?
J. Brooks (stash), Ekler, Mattison or Bigsby?
Which WR if you had to pick 1, full PPR?
Jameson Williams, Doubs, Jennings, Shakir or Addison?
Thank you in advance for your insight!
QB – Herbert, Russ, Nix
RB – Bigsby, Brooks (stash)
WR – Shakir, Addison, Doubs, Jennings, Williams (in that order)
Better WR ROS: Puka Nacua or DeAndre Hopkins now that he is @ KC? I was thinking Puka. Also, should I drop Anthony Richardson for one from the following: Sam Darnold, Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa or Russell Wilson? Thanks for your help Matt!
Key with Puka is when does he actually take the field? We need healthy bodies to win. Remember, you cannot win in the playoffs if you do not make the playoffs. For that reason, I prefer Hopkins in his new uni over Puka.
I am not a fan of Richardson (TEMU Justin Fields) as an NFL passing QB, but he is tough to drop bc of his elite rushing upside. I prefer all of the QBs you have listed over Richardson.
Would you trade away Kupp for Achane given my roster and current 6th place status? We play 2 RBs, 2 WRs , 1 flex, 1 TE
Burrow
Hall, Mason, Chuba, Warren, Dowdle
Kupp, Amon, DJ Moore, Jakobi
Engram, Kraft
Add Deebo to the roster please.
I think I hold Kupp as you have so far. Who would Achane start over? Certainly not Breece, Mason, or Chuba at this point.
Chuba and Mason’s time as #1 back coming to an end soon I fear.
Do you like DJ Moore less than Kupp or Deebo!
In this order (for me)
DJM, Deebo (when fully healthy in that offense with fewer and fewer weapons), then Kupp who has not proven the ability to stay healthy.
Who is the better WR ROS, Puka Nacua, or DeAndre Hopkins now that he is in KC? Would you drop Anthony Richardson for one from these: Darnold, Herbert, Tua or Russell Wilson? Appreciate the help Matt!
Answered above.
Got Winston just with an honest bid of $25 and McMillan for $7 dropping JuJu, Downs.
Wicks, Ray Davis , Corum, E Wilson etc are in wiavers.
QBs are J Allen, J Love, J Daniels, J Winston
RBs are Walker, Chuba, Bigsby, Singletary
Offer Love or Daniels for Breece Hall?
OR Offer Winston for Hunt or Brian Robinson?
Hold Love. Absolutely no reason to trade him now.
If you can find a buyer for Winston that nets you one of those RBs, then do it.
Thanks Matt ! Worst case I will just keep the QBs and have fun!
Who do you prefer… Hunt or Robinson?
B. Robinson
Thanks. Also, what are we doing with Singletary? Hold for another week or grab someone like Ray Davis ,Tyjae Spears, R Johnson!?
Hold for sure. Even if he loses time to Tracy, he is still better than any of the names you mentioned unless James Cook misses more time at which point Ray Davis is a must add.
Can you rank these WR going forward please sir?
Jennings
Shakir
McMillian
Hopkins
Wan’Dale Robinson
Shakir
Wan’Dale
McMillan (unless Kupp is dealt to TB)
Jennings
Hopkins
QB: J Allen, J Love, J Winston, J Daniels
WR: Nico, Marvin, Diontae, McMillan, Waddle
RB: Walker, Chuba, Bigsby, Singletary
Still trying to trade QB and get an RB. But they are not working out as expected. Should I trade J Allen (or J Love) to get Lamb or ARSB or Nabers? Thanks .
Sure, deal from a position of strength to add to a position of weakness. It is simple fantasy football math.
Hey Matt. In my yahoo standard league my WR 2
Has been a wasteland. Have Bateman worthy and Ladd. Chase is my top guy. Love is the QB. I am strong at rb with Kyren, Mixon and Montgomery. I’m 6-1 I am looking to maybe move Mixon as his playoff matchups are very tough week 16-17. I plan to have a bye week 15. Are Reed and Kupp enough for him? Other possibility is Tracey for Reed. I think he takes over for singletary he has just been better. What do you think?
Joed,
Welcome back. It has been a minute since I have heard from you. Good to see you here again.
Tough call. I assume you are starting all three RBs, one as your FLEX play. If that is the case, ask yourself if Reed, Kupp, or Tracy will get you the floor that Mixon brings to your squad. I do not think they do, at least not right now they do not. RBs are gold in fantasy football over WR this year based solely on the horrific injuries at the WR position. You can add WR from the wire each week and get replacement level value. You cannot do that at the RB position. If you feel you truly need to upgrade at WR, and Mixon is the guy to get that deal done, remember, you will need to fill that FLEX position, too. That may be harder than it looks.
-Stiles-
Hey Matt I’ve been reading just haven’t had a question for you. I have to #2 waiver I have been saving all year. Ive been streaming the Wr2 or starting Ladd or Worthy. Have my byes set or or passed except for Mixon. Picked up Rodgers for week 10 and possibly 11 to replace Love. I do play the guy I am talking trade with. In a couple weeks. I still think I can beat him. I’ve had Kelce all year and he has been pretty bad. He has Laporta maybe I could add him to the deal. I’m big on playing matchups and want to line up best I can for the playoffs. Only need few more wins to definitely make it.
Good to know you have been lurking around…hahaha.
Kelce should bring big value based on his name alone. I was sure he was going to take off with the Rice injury but he has just been meh most of the season.
I like a Kelce/Mixon/Low End Player for LaPorta/WR2/FLEX for you. Think you can swing it if you throw in one more player?
He also has Kraft. I snagged otten off waivers to give me another option at TE. Kraft would be preferred to Laporte or no? Oh yeah the guy is 2-5 he has to do something.
I think Kraft is as good as, if not better than LaPorta right now. I think you need to hold Mixon and maybe find a trade partner for Kelce to land a WR2.
Would Mooney do it? Or kelce is too much?
Based on name alone, Kelce is worth more than Mooney. I love Mooney and drafted him all over the place, so I guess he fits your WR2 description. Just not sure if he is “enough”.