Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 8

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Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.

Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. FAAB bids are set off a $100 budget. Only players owned in less than 60 percent of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Kirk Cousins and Matthew Stafford are around the 60% ownership mark and should be the top streamers this week.

Sam Darnold, Jets

Darnold's tough Week 7 matchup with the Patriots on Monday Night Football precedes the best second-half schedule of any quarterback across the league. The Jets, who already had their bye, get the Dolphins, Giants, Redskins, Raiders, Bengals, and Dolphins again over a six-game stretch starting in Week 9. Not only can Darnold be started against the Jaguars' middle-of-the-pack pass defense next Sunday, but he should be viewed as a borderline QB1 in fantasy the rest of the season.

Mason Rudolph, Steelers

After sitting out Week 6 with a concussion, Rudolph returns to the starting role as the Steelers come off their bye week. He couldn't ask for a better matchup than a Miami defense allowing the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Rudolph had multiple passing touchdowns in three straight games before getting injured; he should be a lock to hit that mark versus the Dolphins, who've given up at least two passing scores in every game. Despite his low ownership, he's one of the week's best available streamers.

Other options: Teddy Bridgewater vs. ARI (16% owned), Gardner Minshew II vs. NYJ (52% owned), Jacoby Brissett vs. DEN (48% owned), Derek Carr at HOU (20% owned), Ryan Tannehill vs. TB (5% owned), Mitch Trubisky vs. LAC (25% owned), Daniel Jones at DET (35% owned)

Running backs

Adrian Peterson and Jamaal Williams are around the 60% ownership mark and should be owned in most leagues.

Ty Johnson, Lions

As Kerryon Johnson stood on the sidelines in a knee brace, it was Ty Johnson who handled the majority of the work in the Lions' backfield in Week 7. With Kerryon placed on injured reserve, Ty is set to take over as the starter in Detroit. His next opponent is the Giants, who were just eviscerated by another backup when Chase Edmonds put up 150 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns. Ty should be treated as an RB2 against New York with another favorable matchup in Week 9 against the Raiders.

Chase Edmonds, Cardinals

David Johnson was active for Arizona's game against the Giants, so it was surprising when he barely played. We could see more of the same unless the Cardinals are more forthcoming about Johnson's health. On Monday, the team worked out several veteran backs, including Jay Ajayi and Spencer Ware. Whether that's due to Johnson's status or a search for a potential replacement for third-stringer DJ Foster is currently unknown. Even when Johnson was handling his normal snaps, Edmonds carved out weekly flex value in fantasy, so it wasn't a total shock to see the sophomore go off with his starter out. Unfortunately, there's added risk with Edmonds: His upcoming schedule features four stout run defenses in a row - the Saints, 49ers, Bucs, and 49ers again - before the Cardinals' bye. He's more of a sell-high candidate than a player to rely on, but he needs to be owned in every format.

Malcolm Brown/Darrell Henderson, Rams

The hype around Henderson culminated in a disappointing 39 yards on 11 touches while he played second fiddle to Todd Gurley in Week 7. Brown was sidelined with an ankle injury and will likely resume his role as the immediate backup when healthy. But with Gurley already battling injury issues, both backs need to be rostered due to their immense upside if thrust into larger roles.

Mark Walton, Dolphins

The Dolphins' coaching staff promised to get Walton more involved after their bye, and that's been the case so far: Walton got 11 touches for 75 yards in Week 6 and 15 touches for 58 yards in Week 7. Investing in Miami's backfield is hard to advise, but Walton offers value if you're desperate for a plug-and-play option.

Other options: Ronald Jones at TEN (48% owned), Alexander Mattison vs. WAS (25% owned), Tony Pollard on Bye (16% owned), Gus Edwards on Bye (5% owned), Benny Snell Jr. vs. MIA (5% owned), Rashaad Penny at ATL (37% owned), Ryquell Armstead vs. NYJ (1% owned), Wayne Gallman at DET (18% owned), Reggie Bonnafon at SF (5% owned), Jordan Wilkins vs. DEN (1% owned), Kareem Hunt - returns from suspension Week 10 (53% owned), Ty Montgomery at JAX (3% owned), Giovani Bernard at LAR (7% owned), Darrel Williams vs. GB (11% owned), Brian Hill vs. SEA (0% owned), Jalen Richard at HOU (4% owned), DeAndre Washington at HOU (0% owned)

Wide receivers

DK Metcalf, Jamison Crowder, DeSean Jackson, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Mohamed Sanu are all around the 60% ownership mark and should be owned in most leagues.

Kenny Stills/Keke Coutee, Texans

Stills and Coutee both stand to benefit with Will Fuller expected to miss several weeks with a serious hamstring pull. Stills played 93% of the snaps Sunday, delivering four catches and 105 yards, and he now has 85 yards or a touchdown in three of the five games in which he's suited up for Houston. A perfect replacement for Fuller, Stills will be a WR3 with upside in the former's absence. Coutee also set a season-high for playing time in Week 7, seeing the field on 69% of Houston's snaps. He posted multiple 100-yard outings as a rookie and is capable of being a difference-maker if he gets more volume while Fuller's on the shelf.

Corey Davis/AJ Brown, Titans

Don't get too excited about Ryan Tannehill's performance, but in his first start for the Titans, he did help stabilize the passing attack - at least for one week. That allowed Davis and Brown to put up respective lines of 6-80-1 and 6-64-0 against the Chargers - a far more challenging opponent than the one they'll face in Week 8. The Buccaneers' pass-funnel defense has given up 70-yard days to 10 different receivers in 2019, setting up both Davis and Brown as worthy flex plays. The quarterback change also offers a spark of hope for their season-long values.

Preston Williams/DeVante Parker, Dolphins

Williams and Parker produced on the road against a stingy Bills pass defense that routinely shuts down opposing wideouts. Parker's touchdown gave him the better fantasy line with 5-55-1, but Williams led the team in receiving yards with 6-82-0. Even with last week's fumble, Williams is the preferred start between the two; the rookie's 23 receptions and 314 yards on the year outpace Parker's 18 grabs and 284 yards. Consider them WR4s with some weekly upside but very low floors.

Auden Tate, Bengals

Tate has played over 90% of the Bengals' snaps over their last five contests, posting stat lines of 6-88-0, 4-50-0, 3-26-1, 5-91-0, and 3-65-0. In other words, he has 50 yards or a touchdown in every game during that span. A.J. Green isn't expected to return for at least a couple of weeks and the possibility of a trade looms. As long as Green remains out, trust Tate as a fringe WR3.

Other options: DaeSean Hamilton at IND (6% owned), Phillip Dorsett vs. CLE (44% owned), Diontae Johnson vs. MIA (14% owned), Zach Pascal vs. DEN (1% owned), Anthony Miller vs. LAC (12% owned), Alex Erickson at LAR (2% owned), N'Keal Harry - can return from I.R. in Week 9 (12% owned), Demaryius Thomas at JAX (7% owned), Jaron Brown at ATL (1% owned), Keelan Doss at HOU (0% owned), Danny Amendola vs. NYG (5% owned), Olabisi Johnson vs. WAS (0% owned), Miles Boykin on Bye (1% owned), Chris Conley vs. NYJ (2% owned), Kendrick Bourne vs. CAR (0% owned)

Tight ends

Gerald Everett and Jared Cook are around the 60% ownership mark and should be owned in most leagues.

Chris Herndon, Jets

Herndon's 2019 debut was delayed by a suspension and then a hamstring injury. It's been incredibly frustrating, but don't lose sight of his value. His return coincides with the easiest part of the Jets' schedule, and he's one of the only tight ends still available in most leagues who offer weekly top-10 upside.

Vance McDonald, Steelers

Though tight ends haven't torched the Dolphins the way other positions have, Miami still represents an above-average matchup for McDonald. With time to regroup coming off their bye, it's possible the Steelers try to get McDonald more involved the rest of the way. Even if that's not the case, you could do worse than streaming a tight end against a Dolphins team allowing a league-worst 35 points per game.

Other options: Jonnu Smith vs. TB (0% owned), Eric Ebron vs. DEN (52% owned), Dallas Goedert at BUF (13% owned), Ben Watson vs. CLE (4% owned), O.J. Howard at TEN (54% owned), Darren Fells vs. OAK (29% owned), Jordan Akins vs. OAK (8% owned), Kyle Rudolph vs. WAS (28% owned), Irv Smith Jr. vs. WAS (28% owned), Ricky Seals-Jones at NE (3% owned), Foster Moreau at HOU (0% owned)