Fantasy Waiver Wire Pickups: Kenneth Gainwell, Michael Gallup, Rashaad Penny, Jared Cook, Russell Gage, More
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images. Pictured: Eagles RB Kenneth Gainwell
- Does your league have a late waiver wire deadline? Or in search of value now that claims have processed?
- Our analyst runs through the top fantasy waiver wire pickups across every position heading into NFL Week 8.
- Find out why Kenneth Gainwell, Michael Gallup, Rashaad Penny, Jared Cook and Russell Gage are among the top targets.
Bye-maggedon is over and hopefully you survived having six teams out in Week 7.
The good news is just two teams — the Ravens and Raiders — are on bye this week, though that still means you will need to find replacements for quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Derek Carr, running back Josh Jacobs, Kenyan Drake, Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman, receivers Marquise Brown, Henry Ruggs, Hunter Renfrow and Bryan Edwards and tight ends Mark Andrews and Darren Waller.
Managers may also be scrambling for potential longer-term replacements for players like Miles Sanders, who suffered an ankle injury against the Raiders.
Whether you need Ravens or Raiders replacements, or a Week 8 streamer, make sure to check out The Action Network's top targets at each position — all of which are available in at least 50% of Yahoo! leagues — that you should prioritize come Tuesday night.
Note: Yahoo! roster percentages are reflected in parenthesis and as of Monday.
Fantasy Waiver Wire Pickups
Fantasy Waiver QBs to Target
Daniel Jones, Giants (28% rostered)
Jones put together a passable fantasy performance in what should have been a tough matchup on paper against the Panthers. He completed 23 of 33 attempts for 203 yards, one touchdown, zero interceptions and rushed eight times for 28 yards. He will finish somewhere in the high-end QB2 range this week and has a cupcake matchup against the Chiefs next week. Kansas City's defense is allowing the fifth-most total points per game and even made Jalen Hurts look like a decent passer in Week 4. Jones should be a top streamer next week.
Priority: Medium to high if streaming quarterbacks.
Tyrod Taylor, Texans (4%)
Taylor is on track to return to practice this week after missing five weeks with a hamstring injury and head coach David Culley said he will be the starter once healthy over Davis Mills. Taylor completed 21 of 33 attempts for 291 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions and rushed four time for 40 yards in his lone complete game of the season. He faces the Rams, which isn't the best matchup, but should still offer solid streaming potential.
Priority: Medium if streaming quarterbacks or two-quarterback/superflex leagues.
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins (48%)
Tagovailoa has strung together two solid fantasy performances in a row since returning from a three-week injury absence. He completed 32 of 40 attempts for 291 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions; he also rushed four times for 29 yards and will finish at least top three this week at the position. In fairness, the last two games have been against less than stellar opponents — the Jaguars and Falcons. Tagovailoa is a risky streamer against Buffalo, but should be a good start as a second quarterback or superflex.
Priority: Medium if streaming quarterbacks or two-quarterback/superflex leagues.
Taylor Heinicke, Washington (14%)
After posting two lackluster weeks against the Saints and Chiefs, Heinicke performed well in Week 7 against the Packers. He completed 25 of 37 attempts for 268 yards, one touchdown, one interception and tacked on a whopping 10 carries for 95 yards. His passing game leaves a bit to be desired, but his rushing provides a safe floor and he will finish inside the top 12 quarterbacks for the week. He should be a high-end QB2 in Week 8 against the Broncos.
Priority: Low to medium if streaming quarterbacks or two-quarterback/superflex leagues.
Fantasy Waiver RBs to Target
Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott, Eagles (21%, 2% rostered)
Gainwell saw the most running back touches of the Eagles' trio on Sunday against the Raiders. He rushed five times for 20 yards and caught four of eight targets (second-most on the team behind DeVonta Smith) for 41 yards and a touchdown. Scott rushed seven times for 24 yards and a touchdown and caught a pass for five yards.
Much of their production came after lead running back Miles Sanders was assisted off the field after suffering an ankle injury. X-rays were negative, and it appears he may have escaped any major injury, though there is a good chance he misses time. This will likely benefit Gainwell the most, with Scott being a deeper league add.
Priority: Highest for Gainwell; low to medium in deeper leagues for Scott.
Brandon Bolden and J.J. Taylor, Patriots (6%)
Bolden tied Jakobi Meyers for the most targets in Week 7 against the Jets. He caught six of seven targets for 70 yards and a touchdown and rushed twice for zero yards. It appears he has taken over the role James White occupied previously. With White out for the year, Bolden should have decent PPR value.
Taylor rushed nine times for 21 yards and caught a pass for five yards. He did find the end zone twice, though his workload and subsequent value are capped with Damien Harris as the top dog in that backfield.
Priority: Medium to high in PPR formats for Bolden; medium for Taylor.
Rashaad Penny, Seahawks (34%)
Penny was designated to return from injured reserve this week and is expected to play on Monday night, though there is a chance he isn't activated in time for the game. Regardless, he should be a decent Week 8 add with Chris Carson on injured reserve with a neck injury and Alex Collins dealing with a hip injury. The Seahawks face Jacksonville in Week 8, which should be a positive matchup for Penny and the Seahawks' run game.
Priority: Medium.
Samaje Perine, Bengals (7%)
Perine returned from the COVID-19 reserve list and tied Joe Mixon for touches. He rushed 11 times for 52 yards and a touchdown and caught his lone target for 23 yards. It looks like he'll remain involved regardless of Mixon's health — he will certainly be an interesting play against the Jets and Browns before the team's Week 10 bye.
Priority: Medium.
Salvon Ahmed, Dolphins (1%)
Myles Gaskin handled most of the work out of the Dolphins' backfield with 15 carries for 67 yards and four catches on four targets for 10 yards and a touchdown. He was backed up by Ahmed and Malcolm Brown, who was placed on injured reserve on Monday after suffering a quad injury in Week 7. This should mostly benefit Gaskin, though Ahmed may see an increased workload as well while Brown is sidelined.
Priority: Low to medium in deeper leagues.
Fantasy Waiver WRs to Target
Michael Gallup, Cowboys (40% rostered)
Gallup suffered a calf strain in the NFL season opener against Tampa Bay and has been on injured reserve since then. Head coach Mike McCarthy told the media he is "hopeful" he can resume working out in Week 8 ahead of their game against the Vikings. He will be, at best, the fourth pass-catching option behind CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper and Ezekiel Elliott — and possibly even behind Dalton Schultz. That said, exposure in this 5-1 Cowboys offense is never a bad thing and Gallup is just one season removed from a 1,107-receiving yard campaign in 2019. He is worth adding/stashing in most formats.
Priority: Medium to high.
Randall Cobb, Packers (9%)
Allen Lazard being out and Davante Adams’ status being in question makes Cobb the top add this week. He has been the third-most targeted receiver on the team behind Adams and Lazard. Read my complete fantasy advice regarding the Packers' pass-catcher situation here.
Priority: Medium; highest if Adams is out.
Allen Lazard, Packers (4%)
Editor's Note: This blurb was written before news broke that Lazard would miss Thursday's game due to a close COVID-19 exposure. He is no longer a recommend waiver wire target this week.
Lazard caught five of six targets for 60 yards and a touchdown in his best game of the year against Washington. Trusting any receiver on the Packers not named Davante Adams can be tough, but Lazard now has at least five targets and a touchdown in consecutive games. He could be flex-worthy in Week 8 against the Cardinals for teams looking lean at receiver, especially with Adams landing on the COVID-19/reserve list on Monday.
Priority: N/A
Russell Gage, Falcons (10%)
Gage is healthy and had a spectacular game against the Dolphins. He caught four of six targets for 67 yards and a touchdown, second only to Kyle Pitts in receiving. Ridley, also returning from injury, saw a whopping 10 targets and Pitts saw eight, which could be somewhat problematic for Gage's fantasy viability. That said, I believe the Falcons defense will keep them in a number of negative game scripts that will favor passing. He is worth an add as a bye week fill-in or deep league flex.
Priority: Medium.
Kalif Raymond, Lions (3%)
Raymond had a monster game in Week 7, catching six of eight targets for 115 yards. He was targeted third-most behind D'Andre Swift and T.J. Hockenson and led the team in receiving. He also has at least six targets in four of the last five games, which I think will continue as the Lions will likely find themselves in a lot of negative, pass-heavy game scripts. It's not the most exciting offense, but it appears he is the WR1 for now with Quintez Cephus out for the year.
Priority: Medium in deeper leagues.
Kendrick Bourne, Patriots (6%)
Bourne saw just four targets in the Patriots' decisive 54-13 win over the Jets. He caught all four for 68 yards and threw a 25-yard touchdown to Nelson Agholor. While I don't think we can expect that kind of trickery on a week-to-week basis, Bourne should be added in deeper leagues. The Patriots face the Chargers, Panthers, Browns, Falcons and Titans over the next five weeks — a relatively soft schedule.
Priority: Low to medium in deeper leagues.
K.J. Osborn, Vikings (7%)
Osborn sealed the Vikings' overtime victory over the Panthers in Week 6 with a game-winning touchdown. He caught six of seven targets for 78 yards and a score in the game. The Vikings' run-heavy offense, coupled with the presence of Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen, will limit his potential. The team faces Dallas off the bye in Week 8, which should be a positive matchup. The Cowboys — namely Trevon Diggs — have been great at guarding No. 1 wideouts, but have allowed a decent number of points overall. Osborn could be an interesting dart throw flex play next week and beyond.
Priority: Low to medium in deeper leagues.
Dante Pettis and Darius Slayton, Giants (1%, 15%)
Pettis caught five of five targets for 39 yards and a touchdown and Slayton caught five of nine targets for 63 yards in the Giants' huge win over the Panthers in Week 7. Their increased involvement was due in large part to the absence of Kenny Golladay, Kadarius Toney and Sterling Shepard, who was a late scratch. They'll be less attractive plays once the Giants' receiving corps gets a bit healthier.
Priority: Low.
Fantasy Waiver TEs to Target
Jared Cook, Chargers (44% rostered)
Cook will be well-rested coming off of the team's Week 7 bye this week and should flirt with top-12 status. He scored in his last game and has seven targets and a touchdown in two of the last three weeks prior to the bye.
Priority: High if streaming tight ends.
C.J. Uzomah, Bengals (19%)
Ja'Marr Chase stole the show on Sunday but Uzomah shined once again as well. He caught all three of his targets for 91 yards and two touchdowns and now has five touchdowns in the last four weeks. The Bengals face the Jets and Browns next — both matchups should present ample scoring opportunities, especially with Joe Burrow playing as well as he has been. Uzomah is a strong bye-week or injury fill-in with potential rest-of-season value, too.
Priority: Medium if streaming tight ends.
Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (5%)
Freiermuth certainly didn't get the hype of Kyle Pitts coming out of the 2021 NFL Draft, but he's definitely turning heads with his body size and athleticism. Standing at 6-foot-5, 258 pounds, the Penn State product caught all seven targets in his last game for a career-high 58 yards. He faces an injury-riddled Browns' secondary this week and should continue to see increased targets with JuJu Smith-Schuster out for the year.
Priority: Low to medium if streaming tight ends; higher in keeper/dynasty formats.
Tyler Conklin, Vikings (9%)
Conklin is also coming off of a Week 7 bye to face Dallas. Prior to the Vikings' bye, he caught three of five targets for a season-high 71 yards. He is a deeper league bye-week or injury fill-in.
Priority: Low to medium if streaming tight ends.
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