NFL Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups: How to Survive Injury Chaos

Josh Larky -

A few talented rookies headline this week’s waiver wire column, as injuries and general chaos struck once again in Week 7. There’s also a slew of tight ends starting to enter the weekly top-12 fantasy conversation.

As always, you’ll find several top waiver options in this weekly feature, followed by a few players to monitor in deeper formats. Generally, players listed here will be available in at least 50% of Sleeper leagues.

Top Waiver Wire Additions After Week 7

WR Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

WR Ricky Pearsall, San Francisco 49ers

The injuries are stacking up for the 49ers, as the team lost Brandon Aiyuk for the season (ACL, MCL), Deebo Samuel has pneumonia and George Kittle has a foot sprain. Pearsall, the team’s first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, was shot in the chest before the season began, but his debut in Week 7 was encouraging, as Brock Purdy looked his way five times. He’s a versatile receiver who is best suited to take over Aiyuk’s role in this offense.

Jennings (37% rostered on Sleeper) is a higher-floor veteran who probably returns in Week 8 after missing Week 7 (hip). He burst onto the fantasy scene earlier this year with his 40-point effort in Week 3, but he has a long track record of being little more than a solid role player. Pearsall (25% rostered on Sleeper) is the one with top-24 upside, and he’s worth using No. 1 waiver priority if you’re a WR-needy team.

  • Sleeper Suggested FAAB Bid Range for Jennings: $20-33
  • Sleeper Suggested FAAB Bid Range for Pearsall: $11-22

QB Drake Maye, New England Patriots

TE Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

Maye, the third overall pick in the draft, has been a fantasy revelation at QB, topping 20 points in both of his NFL starts. He appeared in the top waiver adds section last week, but fantasy managers only increased Maye’s Sleeper rostership from 15% to 25% over the past week. He threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns and added 18 rushing yards in Week 7 against the Jaguars. Maye is looking more and more like rookie year Justin Herbert. Drop No. 1 waiver priority on Maye if you need a quarterback.

Henry (29% rostered) was Maye’s favorite target Sunday, as Demario Douglas was dealing with an illness. Henry has at least 13 fantasy points in both of Maye’s starts and looks like a low-end fantasy TE1 for the rest of the season. 

  • Sleeper Suggested FAAB Bid Range for Henry: $5-11
  • Sleeper Suggested FAAB Bid Range for Maye: $3-10

TE Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Otton erupted for eight catches and 100 yards against the Ravens, and Chris Godwin’s dislocated ankle opens the door for sustained strong usage. Otton could have a similar rest-of-season outlook to David Njoku, especially with Mike Evans dealing with hamstring issues and Baker Mayfield suddenly seeking a new top option. Otton has top-six potential at the position moving forward.

  • Sleeper Suggested FAAB Bid Range: $8-16

RB Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills

Davis (28% rostered) played too well in Week 6 to disappear in Week 7. The rookie cut into James Cook’s workload, carrying five times for 41 yards and a score, along with a six-yard grab. Cook handled just 12 carries, and he wasn’t targeted in the passing game. Aside from being a top-flight handcuff, Davis may have weekly fantasy RB3 appeal now. 

  • Sleeper Suggested FAAB Bid Range: $5-10

WR Jalen Tolbert, Dallas Cowboys

Tolbert’s Week 7 bye kept his Sleeper rostership (33%) in check, but he’s still slated to be the WR2 in a pass-heavy offense with a competent QB. After his Week 5 breakout (7-87-1), Tolbert “only” caught four of five targets for 43 yards in Week 6. He still has fantasy WR3 potential the rest of the season.

  • Sleeper Suggested FAAB Bid Range: $2-6

WR Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens

Bateman now has at least 58 yards in three straight games, and his 121 yards and TD on Monday night kept the momentum going. Zay Flowers appeared to injure his ankle, and the Ravens are currently the NFL’s best offense. Bateman (24% rostered) could serve as its de facto WR1, even for a short time.

  • Sleeper Suggested FAAB Bid Range: $8-15

WR Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers

Wicks (34% rostered) was a priority waiver add three weeks ago after catching five passes for 78 yards and two scores in Week 4. He then proceeded to total three catches (10 targets) for 29 scoreless yards over his next two games, and fantasy managers dropped him everywhere. In Week 7, he caught three of six targets for 48 yards and a score, putting himself back on the map. 

This Packers offense may be frustrating week-to-week with such a deep receiver room, but Wicks still has a shot to emerge as the No. 2 behind Jayden Reed. 

  • Sleeper Suggested FAAB Bid Range: $5-10

Sneak Peek: Deeper and Potential Future Additions

RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons

For some reason, Allgeier’s Sleeper rostership has been tame all season and is currently at 50%. As we’ve been saying basically every week, he’d be a fantasy RB1 if anything were to happen to Bijan Robinson.

QB Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

If you need a QB, Wilson was quietly the fantasy QB12 last season in Denver. His first start as a Steeler came in Week 7, and he threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns, while running in a third score (24.9 fantasy points, overall QB3). Next up is a middling Giants secondary on Monday night.

RB Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers

After a string of injuries to start the season, Warren is finally healthy, and he handled 14 total touches in Week 7. He’s a desperation flex play each week, though a Najee Harris injury would thrust him into high-end fantasy RB2 status – at least.

TE Noah Fant, Seattle Seahawks

Fant has at least 60 yards in three of six games, and DK Metcalf’s knee injury should help him enter the top-12 fantasy conversation for the next few weeks.

TE Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins

Smith has at least seven targets in half his games this year, and Tua Tagovailoa could return in Week 8.

TE Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders

Ertz has been sneakily consistent this year, and he's averaging nearly four receptions for 40 yards per game. If Jayden Daniels misses time, Ertz could receive an extra target or two from a more conservative passer in Marcus Mariota.

WR Jalen McMillan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

WR Sterling Shepard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

With Godwin likely out for the season and Evans nursing a hamstring strain, the Buccaneers are in need of starting receivers. McMillan is the upside rookie, while Shepard could soak up short-area targets and be a PPR option.

WR Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos

Teammates with Bo Nix at Oregon, Franklin scored in Week 6, before becoming the team’s top target in Week 7. Denver is not a very appealing pass attack for fantasy purposes, but the rookie is worth monitoring in deeper PPR formats.

WR Elijah Moore, Cleveland Browns

With Deshaun Watson (Achilles) done for the year, the Browns may receive a QB upgrade in Jameis Winston. Moore looks like a desperation flex play if Winston is under center, and he’s available in 94% of Sleeper leagues.

Line Up Your Targets

Make sure to act quickly to secure your waiver wire targets, with most leagues running waivers on Tuesday nights. For more in-depth stats and to view all the trending players in real time, check out the Sleeper app.

Working the waiver wire to your favor is a critical part of fantasy football success, and we’ll be with you every week to help you chase down those playoff berths and fantasy championships.

Get more breakdowns like this sent directly to your inbox with the Sleeper Newsletter. Sign up below for timely updates, fantasy insights and exclusive analysis using Sleeper proprietary data.