Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 8

As crazy as it sounds, we are closing in on the halfway point of the NFL season. That means we are nearing the home stretch of the fantasy football season, and the waiver wire is getting thinner and thinner. Those players you can get that will become staples of your fantasy lines have pretty much been grabbed. But talent remains on the waiver wire. Players who can provide depth or fill in if one of your starters is on a bye or banged up. Here are five players you should consider grabbing off the waiver wire before games start on Sunday.

Malachi Fields, WR, New York Giants

It feels like every couple of weeks we talk about Malachi Fields’ breakout performance. Whether it was when he found the endzone against the Cardinals or set new receiving highs, we were always quick to say Fields had arrived. But one thing held him back: his volume. No matter how many targets he got, he seemed stuck at two catches per game. Sure, the consistency was great, but if you wanted him to be a constant starter in your lineup, you wanted to see him catch a few more passes.

But it’s fair to say that this past week against the Texans was his true breakout. He caught four passes on five targets for 83 yards, a career high in both categories. With JJ McCarthy willing to push the ball downfield, Fields will likely get more opportunities. Averaging 15.5 yards per catch, he is establishing himself as a big-play threat for the Giants. Among the waiver-wire options, he is a high-ceiling guy. If he can average around three catches for 15 yards each and find the endzone, he can be a good piece to your lineup.

Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons

Over the past couple of weeks, Michael Penix Jr. has been playing some of the best football of his career. He has thrown for over 200 yards and three touchdowns against the Bears and 49ers. As a result, he has scored over 20 fantasy points in each matchup. It is a pleasant surprise for Falcons fans and fantasy managers in need of a quarterback. Penix could be someone a quarterback-needy team can grab off the waiver wire and feel comfortable that they will be in a position to win the game.

Now, sure, his matchup this week is not the best. He’s going up against the Buccaneers, which has been a tough matchup for fantasy quarterbacks. They are allowing 15.7 fantasy points per game, which is the sixth fewest in the NFL. It will be a tough matchup, but the schedule gets easier after that. He will face only one top-five defense against fantasy quarterbacks for the rest of the season. He is the perfect quarterback to have on your bench for depth, or to start for a short period of time.

Dylan Sampson, RB, Cleveland Browns

One of the biggest surprises this season has been the Browns’ play. They are currently 5-2 and sit at the top of the AFC North. The offense has done exactly what it needs to. It may not look the prettiest, but it’s enough to put the team in a position to win. That is far better than people expected. It should also get a jolt with Dylan Sampson back from a knee injury. He returned to the lineup with a solid performance, rushing for 45 yards on six carries and catching three passes for 32 yards. It was enough to register 10.7 fantasy points.

With running backs thin on the waiver wire, managers who need a running back should take a flyer on Sampson. Beyond Sampson, the waiver wire is full of question marks and injured players. Despite the question marks, Sampson should be able to put up solid fantasy numbers, even as the running back two behind Quinshon Judkins. He should get a solid workload in both the run and pass game, making him a solid depth piece. He won’t be explosive, but good enough to help your lineup tread water.

Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets

There haven’t been many positives for the Jets this season. They are coming off a week where they gave the Dolphins their first win of the season. It seems like yet another loss year for Gang Green. But one of the few positives from last week’s game was Mason Taylor’s play. He caught five passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns. This follows the trend of Taylor becoming a bigger part of the Jets’ passing game. Grab him off the waiver wire now before he has another big week.

Now, there is some concern surrounding Taylor. The Jets do not have the most explosive passing attack, and Kenyon Shdiq could always steal targets. But this week’s matchup against the Raiders gives Taylor a golden opportunity to prove everyone wrong. They’ve allowed the fourth-most points to tight ends this season and eight touchdowns to tight ends. If Taylor has another strong performance, he could be a steal off the waiver wire and be good depth for your team.

Caleb Douglas, WR, Miami Dolphins

Caleb Douglas is another player returning from injury who is flying a bit under the radar. After missing three games due to a right ankle injury, he made a big impact against the Jets. He may have only caught two passes on three targets, but he went for 70 yards and two touchdowns. In this game, Douglas was the Dolphins’ primary threat. With the Dolphins likely playing from behind, Douglas should get plenty of looks downfield. This alone is enough to pick him up off the waiver wire.

But before Douglas went down, he was carving out a nice role for himself in Miami’s offense. He had seven targets in week one and three before getting hurt in the second half of week two. Now that he has returned and has a game under his belt, he should see more targets go his way. He could be much more than just a deep threat for the Dolphins. If you have the spot on your bench, grabbing Douglas off the waiver wire is a gamble worth taking. He could quickly become the most consistent piece of the Dolphins offense.