Here are some players to consider picking up this week, if available, to get ahead of the other managers in your league. Remember, your roster can always improve, and even if you don’t need a player, you still want to keep another manager from picking them up.
Bye Weeks
- Week 8: Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers
- Week 9: Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans
Beat the Waiver Wire: No-Brainers
In most leagues, these guys aren't available. But if you're fortunate enough to see them on the waiver wire, grab them.
Omar Cooper Jr., New York Jets ( 55.4% rostered on ESPN)
The Jets seem to have hit on their draft pick, as Cooper has logged back-to-back weeks with over 100 yards receiving and one touchdown to go with it. Managers ran to the waiver wire last week to grab Cooper, so the chance he is still there is low, but make sure you take a look just in case.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Quarterbacks
Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks (30.8% rostered on ESPN )
Darnold started the year off somewhat rough and hasn't exactly had the best start in fantasy this year, but hold your horses; the Seattle Seahawks get the Bears in Week 9 and the Cardinals in Week 10. Both teams are top-6 matchups for opposing quarterbacks. Chicago is giving up 3.42 more points above average, and Arizona is giving up 6.44 points above average. The rest of the year's schedule actually looks pretty good for Darnold too - you may be able to hold on to him and ride him for a few games.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Running Backs
Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers (23.6% rostered on ESPN)
Christian McCaffrey left the game briefly on Sunday with a leg injury, and Black immediately became the bell cow. He ended up as the RB23 on 63 yards and a TD. The team has a bye in Week 8, and they announced somewhat good news about the severity of CMC's injury (a hamstring issue), but be that as it may, Black should still be rostered as one of the most valuable handcuffs out there.
Tank Bigsby, Philadelphia Eagles (6% rostered on ESPN)
Bigsby is on IR, recovering from core muscle surgery, but my guess is the team is eyeing a Week 11 return for him, after their bye week. If you have a roster spot, preferably an IR one, throw him on it, especially with Dameon Pierce also dealing with an injury. This is a deeper hold.
Dylan Sampson, Cleveland Browns (9.8% rostered on ESPN)
Sampson returned on Sunday from IR to 77 all-purpose yards. Quinshon Judkins remains the RB1 for the 5-2 Browns, but Sampson is worth a look.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Wide Receivers
Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins (19.4% rostered on ESPN)
The rookie was out several weeks on IR, but flashed in the Dolphins' first win with 70 yards receiving and two touchdowns. This will not be an every-week occurrence as Douglas only had three targets, but his results are promising. Miami has a nice run of matchups coming up, including a Week 9 date with the Detroit Lions, whose defense is practically nonexistent.
Antonio Williams, Washington Commanders (7% rostered on ESPN)
Terry McLaurin is on IR, and although the team still has Stefon Diggs to lean on, Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn told us something important: Diggs' workload won't change much in McLaurin's absence. Rather, the team would look to others to step up, primarily Antonio Williams.
Beat the Waiver Wire: Tight Ends
Hunter Henry, New England Patriots (59.6% rostered on ESPN)
I have mentioned Henry before, so it may be too late, but he has been amazingly dependable for a position that can be anything but. He has closed at least 11 fantasy points in his last four games, and had a season-high seven targets in his Week 7 game against Chicago. Week 10 is a matchup against Detroit that could not get any better - they give up the most fantasy points to opposing tight ends.
Chig Okonkwo, Washington Commanders (9.1% rostered on ESPN)
Another option in Washington to consider with the loss of Terry McLaurin is Okonkwo, who was TE12 in Week 6, catching all seven of his targets for 69 yards. Week 11 and Week 12 are especially good matchups for Chig - he gets the Bengals, then the Cardinals.
Remember to check your waiver wire for: T.J. Hockenson (70.4%)
Beat the Waiver Wire: Defense/Special Teams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (23.6%rostered on ESPN)
The Bucs have greatly improved lately and were the number one DST in Week 7. They do have a Week 10 bye, but after that they have some great matchups on the horizon, including one against the Chargers in Week 13. The matchups might even be less of an issue with the improvement of the unit - they have five sacks in each of the last two weeks.
Detroit Lions (23.5% rostered on ESPN)
Look, the Lions defense is not great, but they have an incredible run of matchups through the fantasy playoffs. Every team they face through Week 17 has given up points over expectation to opposing defenses. Also, the team has already had their bye week, so you wouldn't have to worry about them taking a break.
Remember to check your waiver wire for: Make sure no one dropped Jacksonville (54.9%). They are returning from their bye week and have great matchups almost completely through the end of the season.
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