The Week 8 waiver wire isn’t overly exciting at the wide receiver position. It mostly consists of guys worth picking up to see what happens. But there is one guy that looks like a potential star for fantasy football managers. Here are a couple of WR targets on the wire this week.
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Top WR Waiver Wire Targets in Week 8
More Waiver Wire Targets: RBs | TEs | QBs
Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts (36% Rostered)
Week 7 was the Josh Downs breakout game. The rookie caught five passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. He has now scored at least 13 fantasy points in three straight games.
Downs is vastly more talented than Alec Pierce. Despite profiling primarily as a slot guy, Downs is the second option in this passing game behind Michael Pittman Jr. He is the clear top add this week.
FAAB Recommendation: 20-35%
Kendrick Bourne, New England Patriots (26% Rostered)
Every once in a while, Kendrick Bourne pops off for a big game. Then, he usually disappears. Not this time, though.
After going 10-89 last week, Bourne caught six of seven targets for 63 yards and a touchdown in the Patriots’ upset win over the Bills. Two strong weeks are enough for me to recommend adding him.
The Patriots’ next three games are against the Dolphins, Commanders, and Colts. Bourne could be a nice bye-week/injury filler.
FAAB Recommendation: 5-15%
Jalin Hyatt, New York Giants (5% Rostered)
This one is more for deep leagues, but it’s a rough waiver wire this week. The Giants do not have good wide receivers. They seem to refuse to feature Jalin Hyatt, but at least there’s potential with him.
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Hyatt displayed his downfield ability with 75 yards on just two receptions. He only saw five targets; maybe they will start using him more. Probably not, but if you have the spot on your bench, it can’t hurt to stash him and find out.
FAAB Recommendation: 0-5%
Which WRs Should You Roster in Fantasy Football?
Should You Add Jake Bobo or Mecole Hardman?
Fantasy managers were justifiably excited about Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s role with DK Metcalf out. While it proved to be warranted, it was actually Jake Bobo that replaced Metcalf on the outside.
Bobo led the Seahawks in snaps and routes run. But the only reason anyone is considering picking him up is because of his incredibly impressive touchdown grab. Had that call not been overturned, he would’ve finished with about three catches for 40 yards on just five targets.
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Mecole Hardman made his Chiefs debut just days after being traded back to the team that drafted him. Unsurprisingly, he only played 11 snaps. There’s nothing to glean from his performance just yet.
Adding Hardman is purely a speculative move, banking on the fact that outside of Rashee Rice, the Chiefs don’t roster a single other WR that deserves to start in the NFL. Hardman could emerge as the second option.
If choosing between these two, I would lean Hardman. However, neither is a priority add this week.
Should You Add Demario Douglas or Alec Pierce?
The Patriots have correctly thrown in the towel on JuJu Smith-Schuster. Unfortunately, injuries have sapped the former Steeler WR’s ability to really do anything on a football field.
The primary beneficiary has been rookie Demario Douglas, who appears to have also usurped DeVante Parker on the depth chart.
Douglas played the second most snaps and ran the second most routes behind Bourne last week. After failing to do anything of note for the first six weeks, Douglas caught four of six targets for 54 yards against the Bills.
While that’s not exactly exciting, it’s better than every game Alec Pierce has had this season.
Pierce is purely an outside burner. He’s a “run deep and hopefully make a long catch” guy. He’s the third option on a Gardner Minshew offense.
Pierce is never going to be fantasy-relevant. Douglas probably won’t be, but we don’t yet know for sure. Neither is a necessary pickup this week, but if you’re choosing one, go with Douglas.