Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
With so many key fantasy players already injured or on bye weeks, you may find yourself digging deeper into the waiver wire than you ever expected heading into the sixth week of the season. Here are five players to consider adding to the waiver wire heading into Week 8 if you’re in a pinch due to injury.
QB Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold scored 27.6 and 20 fantasy points in Weeks 5 and 6 before struggling against the Houston Texans’ elite pass defense in Week 7 (Seahawks had a bye in Week 8). Overall, Darnold has had a safe fantasy floor, scoring at least 15 fantasy points in five of his last six games played. He has a high ceiling this weekend against the Washington Commanders, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. Six of the eight quarterbacks the Commanders have faced this season scored at least 18 fantasy points against them: Geno Smith (26.1 points), Dak Prescott (23.3), Patrick Mahomes (23), Jordan Love (20.9), Caleb Williams (19.9) and Michael Penix Jr. (18.7).
Available in 62.2% of ESPN leagues and 66% of Yahoo! Leagues.
RB Kyle Monangai, Chicago bears
D’Andre Swift has been ruled out for Week 9 against the Cincinnati Bengals, who are allowing the most fantasy points per game to running backs this season. by far. Rookie seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai will get the chance to lead the team’s backfield for the first time and should thrive in this matchup. In the only game this season where Monangai saw double-digit carries, he put up 81 rushing yards and a touchdown on 13 carries and scored 17.4 fantasy points in the game. If Swift has to miss an extended period, Monangai could also start against the New York Giants’ poor defense in Week 10.
Available in 68.5% of ESPN leagues and 58% of Yahoo! Leagues.
RB Isaiah Davis, Jets from New York
The New York Jets have a bye this week, but you should add Isaiah Davis to your bench before Sunday. With the Jets sitting at a 1-7 record, they are primed to be sellers ahead of the trade deadline on Tuesday, November 4. Breece Hall is a top candidate to be traded by the Jets as he is in the final year of his rookie contract and will likely leave the team in free agency this season if they don’t trade him now for compensation. If Hall is indeed traded, Isaiah Davis would be the next man to lead the Jets’ backfield, as Braelon Allen is currently out with an MCL sprain suffered in Week 4, for which an injury recovery time of 8-12 weeks was given.
Davis has already become more involved in the offense, recording a career-high 109 scrimmage yards on 12 touches in Week 8. He is averaging 6.4 yards per carry on the season (on 17 carries), and in his career he has averaged 6.0 yards per carry. Get Davis now before you have to fight for him off waivers next week.
Available in 91% of ESPN leagues and 96% of Yahoo! Leagues.
WR Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks
After a solid start to his rookie season with 11+ fantasy points in three of his first five games, Tory Horton has zero receptions over his last two games played. However, there could be a possibility that Horton will have a bigger workload in Week 9 if Cooper Kupp is inactive. Kupp is currently questionable to play this weekend due to a heel/hamstring injury he suffered in practice this week. This would be a fantastic week for Horton to see more playing time and targets, as the Washington Commanders have allowed the 10th most fantasy points per game to the wide receiver position in 2025.
Digging deeper into where the Commanders are struggling on defense, they have allowed the third-most receiving yards and most yards per reception to receivers aligned in the slot this season. Kupp leads the Seahawks on routes that aren’t possible this season, and Horton could take over that role if he misses the game.
Available in 61% of ESPN leagues and 66% of Yahoo! Leagues.
WR Chimeric Dike, Tennessee titans
Fourth-round rookie wide receiver Chimere Dike had led the Tennessee Titans in receiving yards over the past two weeks, finishing with 11 receptions and 163 receiving yards over that span. He has scored 16 fantasy points in each of the previous two games and should be considered a viable flex play in Week 9.
Dike’s playing time has increased each week since Week 4, and he played a career-high 89% of the Titans’ offensive snaps in Week 8. The Titans’ leading receiver in yards on the season, Calvin Ridley, has been out since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 6, which has opened up more opportunities for Dike. With Ridley once again ruled out for Week 9, Dike has another favorable matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, who have had at least one wide receiver score more than 14 points against them in each of their last four games.
Available in 81% of ESPN leagues and 80% of Yahoo! Leagues.
#Fantasy #Football #LastMinute #Waiver #Wire #Goals #Week