Week 8 of the 2022 fantasy football kicks off in the coming days, meaning it’s time to hit the waiver wire to address any roster needs you may have. One of the potential considerations for fantasy managers is Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond. We’re breaking down whether you should add the playmaker against the Miami Dolphins in Week 8.
Should You Add Kalif Raymond From the Waiver Wire for Week 8?
Despite being available in every Yahoo and ESPN league, Raymond isn’t quite the diamond-in-the-rough waiver wire candidate you might think he is. He’s in line to step into the perfect opportunity to produce. Raymond did the same in 2021 when called upon.
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Raymond caught 48 passes for 576 yards and four touchdowns in 2021 but was relegated to a depth role for 2022 after Detroit added DJ Chark to the offense and Josh Reynolds stepped into a bigger role. But injuries have left Amon-Ra St. Brown and Chark out, and Reynolds failed to produce last week. Instead, it was Raymond who stepped up.
With five receptions on six targets for 75 yards in Week 7, Raymond has continued to make the most of his chances this season. His catch rate has consistently sat around the 67% mark over the last two years with Jared Goff. I love that we’re getting a player comfortable in a role who is explosive enough to produce after the catch.
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The speedster is especially intriguing when considering he has room to be more than a short-yardage target, but we haven’t seen this functionally play out often over two seasons. Raymond’s speed was better utilized in his two seasons with Tennessee from 2019-2020. With the Lions, he’s used more as a possession and intermediate threat.
Already sitting third amongst the Lions’ receivers in targets, Raymond is in for a consistent PPR situation until St. Brown or Jameson Williams returns to the field. This gives Raymond a nice floor that we can rely upon. His ceiling is more concerning today than it would’ve been a few weeks ago, though.
There’s no question Raymond has fantasy value for your roster, but let’s dive into why it’s harder to project him as a starter into lineups for Week 8 against Miami.
Is Kalif Raymond a Good Play Against Miami?
Miami’s defense is a good reprieve for an offense that has hit a sudden cold spell against the Patriots and Cowboys in their last two games. The Dolphins have limited offenses to the second-fewest first downs in the NFL but have struggled to limit receivers from scoring fantasy points. On average, receivers are catching almost 13 passes a game for 167 yards and a touchdown.
The Lions need to prove they can reach their status as a top-10 passing attack once again for Raymond to be playable, though. Their recent crash has been massive, though. Two down performances and a bye week have dropped them from the No. 1 passing attack to ninth overall, and it’s likely they continue to slide.
Raymond is a risky play against Miami. The Dolphins haven’t struggled against his archetype of a receiver as much as they have against bigger bodies or true stars. Expect Raymond to see a solid volume of targets but not be extremely impactful for fantasy managers needing a Hail Mary play.