Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 8

Every Tuesday during the season, theScore's David P. Woods runs down his recommended waiver wire pickups.

Quarterback

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets

It's not a good week to go hunting for a quarterback on the waiver wire. If you need a temporary replacement with six NFL teams on bye, Fitzpatrick could be your best option following news that Geno Smith tore his ACL. The Browns' defense has allowed at least two passing touchdowns every week this season.

Alex Smith, Chiefs

Yep, that's Smith back in our waiver wire article as an option for desperate owners in deep leagues for what feels like the 10th time in the last eight weeks. This is his purgatory.

Running Back

Mike Gillislee, Bills

Has there ever been an NFL injury more predictable than LeSean McCoy aggravating his bum hamstring after trying to play despite looking unfit in warmups? McCoy expressed optimism about playing in Week 8 after the game, but the Bills should come to their senses and sit him down until he's fully healed. Gillislee will carry the load in the interim. Don't blow your budget on him, but he's worth a modest FAAB bid.

Matt Asiata, Vikings

Jerick McKinnon was in and out of Sunday's game with ankle issues, opening the door for Asiata to handle a larger workload than usual. The plodding veteran turned that work into 55 yards on the ground and an additional 25 yards on six catches. If McKinnon is out or limited against the Bears, Asiata will be an RB3/FLEX option.

Chris Thompson, Redskins

Starter Matt Jones found himself in the doghouse after fumbling Sunday. His misfortune was Thompson's opportunity, and the diminutive back took a team-high 12 carries for 73 yards and caught seven passes for 40 more yards. Thompson won't ever be a workhorse, but he could continue stealing touches from Jones and is worthy of RB3/FLEX consideration in PPR leagues.

Chris Ivory, Jaguars

Not much is working in the Jaguars' offense right now, but one thing that's clear is Ivory is a more dangerous runner than T.J. Yeldon. The even timeshare should eventually tilt toward the veteran's side and Ivory could score some touchdowns down the stretch if Blake Bortles and Allen Robinson ever remember how to move the ball through the air.

Ka'Deem Carey, Bears

Carey out-touched recent waiver wire darling Jordan Howard on Thursday and could do so again this week. Or maybe he'll ride the pine. It's impossible to get a read on the Bears coaches' approach to the running game this season. The return of Jeremy Langford in a few weeks should only complicate matters. Carey is nothing more than a deep stash.

James Starks, Packers

Starks is likely still a few weeks away from returning to the starting lineup after undergoing knee surgery a week ago, but he could immediately become the Packers' featured runner when he does come back. Stash him if you have room.

Knile Davis, Packers

Until James Starks returns, Davis will get work in the Packers' backfield alongside Ty Montgomery. It's unlikely Davis will emerge as a viable fantasy starter, but he's worth a speculative add in deep fantasy leagues.

Wide Receiver

Ty Montgomery, Packers

Montgomery played as the Packers' starting running back Thursday and finished with 60 yards rushing and 66 more on 10 catches. Whether he'll get RB eligibility in fantasy remains to be seen, but he's a viable starter as a WR3 regardless. Knile Davis should factor into the mix more in Week 8, and James Starks will eventually return to the lineup, but the Packers might have discovered something special with Montgomery.

Davante Adams, Packers

There's a chance Adams' 132 yards receiving and two touchdowns on Thursday were a fluke he won't come close to replicating this year - a very good chance - but there's also a chance the light has come on for him. Jordy Nelson's targets are shrinking, and there are some concerns he's finally showing his age and injury history. If Adams can keep the momentum from Thursday, he could be a valuable fantasy asset moving forward.

Donte Moncrief, Colts

It won't be long until Moncrief is back from a lengthy injury absence, and he'll return to a Colts team desperate for his skills. If he's on the wire in your league and you have a bench spot to spare, adding Moncrief should be a priority.

Jamison Crowder, Redskins

Crowder topped 100 yards on seven catches in Week 7, leading the Redskins in both categories. As long as Jordan Reed is hurt, he should continue seeing a heavy target share.

Brandon LaFell, Bengals

With four touchdowns in his last three games, LaFell is back on the fantasy map. Tyler Eifert's re-assimilation into the Bengals' offense should cut into LaFell's red-zone targets, however.

Corey Coleman, Browns

Coleman's injured hand should be fully healed soon. Don't forget how impressive the rookie was, albeit in a very small sample size, before getting hurt.

Tight End

Jack Doyle, Colts

In a featured role with Dwayne Allen and several Colts receivers hurting, Doyle dropped 78 yards and a touchdown on opponents Sunday. Allen could miss several more weeks, making Doyle the top tight end add wherever he's still available.

Vernon Davis, Redskins

Davis caught six passes for 76 yards Sunday and came up one yard short of scoring a touchdown. With Jordan Reed expected to miss at least one more game as he recovers for his latest concussion, Davis will again be a TE1 in Week 8.

Cameron Brate, Buccaneers

It feels like Brate is on this list every single week. As in weeks prior, he's only an option in deep leagues.