MIAMI, Oct. 23 (UPI) — Darrell Henderson Jr., Joshua Palmer and Rashee Rice lead my fantasy football waiver wire priority list for Week 8 of the 2023 season.
Derek Carr, Baker Mayfield, Josh Downs and Taysom Hill are among my other targets to add off the waiver wire.
This week’s free agency pool isn’t very deep, as not as many players were injured in Week 7 as in past weeks. You can still target backup running backs to add to your bench, in preparation for future expected injuries.
Scan your waiver wire for players from the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers, who could have been dropped because of Week 7 byes.
No teams are on bye this week, which means most teams in your league should be at full strength, unless they are dealing with injuries.
My waiver wire priorities each carry an ownership percentage of 60% or less. Here are my top players to add and top players to drop for Week 8:
ALL-ADD TEAM
QB | Derek Carr; RB | Darrell Henderson Jr., Tyjae Spears, Ezekiel Elliott; WR | Joshua Palmer, Josh Downs, Rashee Rice; TE | Dalton Schultz; D/ST | New York Jets; K | Evan McPherson
HONORABLE MENTIONS
QB | Baker Mayfield; RB | Roschon Johnson, Joshua Kelley ; WR | Brandin Cooks, Kendrick Bourne; TE | Taysom Hill; D/ST | Miami Dolphins; K | Cameron Dicker
TOP DROPS
QB | Deshaun Watson; RB | Jeff Wilson Jr., Zach Evans; TE | Luke Musgrave; D/ST | Washington Commanders; K | Joey Slye
Quarterback
Derek Carr was among my fantasy football waiver wire targets for Week 7 and remains a priority for Week 8. The New Orleans Saints offense doesn’t look pretty, but continues to lead to fantasy football production.
Carr threw for more than 300 yards from the second-consecutive game and third time this season in Week 7. He also was very close to a two-touchdown performance, with tight end Foster Moreau dropping what would have been a late score against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
This week, the Saints will face the Indianapolis Colts. Carr should total at least 45 pass attempts again. That workload should lead to more than 250 passing yards and at least two touchdown passes.
Running back
Darrell Henderson Jr. is my top waive-wire priority this week. The Los Angeles Rams running back recorded a team-high 19 touches on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He used those touches to log 66 yards from scrimmage and a score.
The Rams placed starting running back Kyren Williams on injured reserve last week, which means he will miss at least three more games. Henderson will likely continue to share touches with fellow Rams running back Royce Freeman, but he appears in line to get the majority of the workload in the immediate future.
He will be an RB2 going forward, when he gets good matchups. The Rams will face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Arlington, Texas. The Cowboys have been strong against opposing running backs, but did surrender touchdowns to the position in two of their past four games.
Henderson should be owned in most fantasy leagues.
Wide receiver
Joshua Palmer and Rashee Rice are my top wide receiver targets. Palmer continues to see a lot of looks within the Los Angeles Chargers offense, with at least seven targets in each of his last four games. He also just secured five catches for a season-high 133 yards in Week 7.
This week, the Chargers will face the Chicago Bears. I expect the Chargers to win this matchup by a large margin, using their passing game to earn an early edge. Look for Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert to keep targeting Palmer, resulting in WR3 status for the pass catcher.
Rice is another player with WR3 upside going forward, but he is likely a touchdown-or-bust play. The Kansas City Chiefs rookie scored in two of his last three games. He also earned at least five targets in five of seven games this season.
The Chiefs will get a great matchup against the Denver Broncos in Week 8. I expect Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes to provide another stellar offensive performance Sunday in Denver, with Rice drawing at least five more targets. He can be added to your bench or used as a starter, but I would only expect low-end WR3 production this week.
Tight end
Dalton Schultz is a must-start tight end at this point based on his ability to reach the end zone and recent increase in usage and production.
The Houston Texans playmaker was on bye in Week 7, but scored in each of his last three appearances. Shultz totaled 17 targets over his last two appearances. He caught at least three passes in four of his last five games. He also totaled at least 40 receiving yards in each of his last three appearances.
Schultz will be a low-end TE1 in my Week 8 rankings.
