Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 8
Each week, theScore's fantasy editors will run down the top waiver-wire pickups with a focus on the coming week and the rest of the season.
Quarterback
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jets
Recommended FAAB allocation in 12-team leagues: 3 percent
Fitzpatrick has been a recommended add here several weeks running. His floor - Fitzpatrick has two touchdowns passes in five of six games this season - makes him an ideal bye-week replacement.
Running Back
Alfred Blue, Texans
FAAB: 15 percent
Arian Foster will miss the rest of the season, opening a big hole in what could quickly become one of the NFL's worst offenses. Blue is expected to get the first crack at replacing Foster's production, but fantasy owners should temper expectations. Since Week 1 of last season, Blue is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry with four total touchdowns. He's not a special talent and could soon cede the starting job to one of the Texans' other tailbacks.
Chris Polk, Texans
FAAB: 5 percent
There are rumors Polk is highly thought of by some in the Texans organization, but he's no more exciting a prospect than Blue. If Blue falters, and perhaps even if he doesn't, Polk's best-case scenario is probably the bigger piece of the pie in a timeshare.
Jonathan Grimes, Texans
FAAB: 5 percent
The third and final Texans running back potentially in line to inherit Foster's touches, Grimes is a tremendously average player. Grimes will likely need Blue and Polk to fall on their faces before he gets enough work to be a viable FLEX or RB3.
Darren McFadden, Cowboys
FAAB: 25 percent
So much for the idea that Christine Michael would be the Cowboys' new starting running back coming out of the bye. Even after Joseph Randle exited with an oblique injury, Michael barely saw the field. Meanwhile, McFadden handled 29 carries and took them for 152 yards and a touchdown, adding two catches for 10 yards. The Cowboys' beastly offensive line is a perfect match for McFadden's see-it-and-hit-it rushing approach. Randle is expected to miss some time, making McFadden this week's top waiver-wire add. If McFadden can stay healthy (a big if), he could have high-end RB2 value for a few weeks.
Theo Riddick, Lions
FAAB: 10 percent
Ameer Abdullah has been a flop and Joique Bell looks washed up. The result is Riddick becoming more than just a PPR option. Riddick won't ever be a goal-line force, but he's a decent FLEX option.
David Cobb, Titans
FAAB: 10 percent
Cobb is eligible to return to the lineup in Week 9. Considering how terrible the rest of the Titans' running backs have been, Cobb has the chance to become a true workhorse.
Wide Receiver
Stefon Diggs, Vikings
FAAB: 15 percent
The Vikings may have found themselves a future star in the fifth round of the draft. Diggs is proving not only to be an elusive route runner, but someone who can make big plays downfield. It may not be long before he's Teddy Bridgewater's No. 1 passing target.
Davante Adams, Packers
FAAB: 10 percent
The hope is Adams will be fully recovered from an ankle injury coming out of the Packers' bye. It's unfair to say the undefeated Packers need Adams, but his presence certainly wouldn't hurt a passing game that hasn't been quite as electric as expected this season. Adams is still disproportionately highly owned in fantasy leagues, but he's on the wire in some places. Scoop him up if you can.
Danny Amendola, Patriots
FAAB: 10 percent
It's hard to trust any Patriots wideout not named Julian Edelman, as Bill Belichick can be quite fickle in how he divides passing targets. Amendola has seemingly played his way into a significant role - Brandon LaFell's terrible game Sunday didn't hurt, either - and he should continue to carry solid fantasy value. Just don't be surprised when Amendola turns one or two duds in the next month.
Robert Woods, Bills
FAAB: 5 percent
Woods put up nine catches for 84 yards and a touchdown as the Bills' No. 1 wideout Sunday. Sammy Watkins will eventually return from injury, but it sounds like Percy Harvin may not. Woods should hold on to a significant role.
Tyler Lockett, Seahawks
FAAB: 3 percent
The explosive rookie is a high-ceiling, low-floor kind of player, but he seems to be earning a bigger role on offense. If Russell Wilson keeps looking his way, Lockett can become a WR3 with occasional WR2 upside.
Tight End
Eric Ebron, Lions
FAAB: 10 percent
After sitting out two games with a knee injury, Ebron returned in Week 7 and caught five passes for 89 yards and a touchdown. He's entrenched as one of Matthew Stafford's top targets.