Seven weeks down, fantasy rosters are getting shaken. Injuries, breakout roles and shifting roles make this week’s wire especially action-packed. Whether you’re chasing playoff positioning or building depth for the stretch run — now’s the time to act. Below are 10 waiver targets worth consideration heading into Week 8. Some are immediate fantasy adds, others are high upside stashes.
1. Jaxon Dart – QB, Giants
Rostered: 42% | Suggested FAAB: 15–20% (1QB)
Recommendation: Should be added in all leagues
At this point, Jaxson Dart isn’t just a fun streaming option — he’s a full-fledged fantasy starter. The rookie quarterback turned in another monster outing in Week 7, torching Denver’s defense for 283 passing yards and three touchdowns while adding a rushing score for good measure. That marks his fourth straight game with 17+ fantasy points, and he’s now found the end zone 10 times (7 passing, 3 rushing) across his last four contests.
What makes Dart so impressive is how matchup-proof he’s become. The Broncos had held scrambling quarterbacks in check all year, but Dart still carved them up, showing both poise and improvisational flair. Even with a season-low 11 rushing yards, he compensated with his best aerial performance to date — spreading the ball efficiently to Theo Johnson, Wan’Dale Robinson, and Darius Slayton while maintaining a 114.3 passer rating.
Over the past month, Dart ranks QB5 overall in fantasy scoring (85.7 points), trailing only Dak Prescott, Patrick Mahomes, Bo Nix, and Matthew Stafford. He’s done this with minimal turnovers and consistent red-zone production — a sign of legitimate, sustainable fantasy value.
The upcoming schedule (Eagles, 49ers) looks intimidating on paper, but Dart’s rushing floor and touchdown efficiency make him a set-and-forget starter moving forward. If he’s somehow still on waivers, make this the week you fix that — because it’s probably your last chance.
2. Kyle Monangai – RB, Bears
Rostered: 7% | Suggested FAAB: 3–5%
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 12-team leagues
Ben Johnson may have finally found his “David Montgomery” in Chicago — and it looks a lot like Kyle Monangai. The seventh-round rookie had the most productive day of his young career in Week 7, rushing 13 times for 81 yards and a touchdown while adding two receptions for 13 yards. Even with D’Andre Swift playing well (20 touches for 138 yards and a score), Monangai logged 46.3% of snaps, his highest mark of the season, as the Bears led wire-to-wire.
Over the last two games, Chicago’s ground attack has looked like vintage Detroit — pounding defenses into submission with a balanced two-back approach. Swift is the lightning, but Monangai is clearly the thunder. He’s earning early-down and short-yardage work and has handled at least five carries in five straight games, showing the Bears’ commitment to keeping him involved.
Monangai’s efficiency (6.2 yards per touch over the past two weeks) and red-zone usage make him the kind of back who can slide into your lineup during the bye-week gauntlet. And if Swift misses time, Monangai instantly becomes a volume-driven RB2 in one of the league’s hottest rushing offenses.
In short, this looks like a committee worth investing in — and Monangai is the piece still sitting on most waiver wires.
3. Xavier Legette – WR, Panthers
Rostered: 6% | Suggested FAAB: 5–7%
Recommendation: Should be added in 12-team leagues
It’s been a wild ride for Xavier Legette, but Week 7 finally brought the breakout that both the Panthers and fantasy managers were waiting for. After an inconsistent start to the season — with just nine catches over his first five games — Legette erupted against the Saints, catching 9 of 11 targets for 92 yards and a touchdown, leading the team in every receiving category.
The usage was elite: 31 routes run (just one fewer than Tetairoa McMillan) and a team-high 11 targets, good for a 32% target share. This wasn’t a random spike — it was a legitimate feature role in an offense that’s been begging for a second option behind McMillan. The Panthers invested first-round draft capital in Legette last year, and they’re finally starting to use him like it.
While Carolina’s passing game remains volatile, Legette’s physicality and ability to win contested catches give him an immediate path to fantasy relevance. If he maintains even 7–8 targets per game, he can deliver weekly WR3/FLEX value — and the upside is higher if Bryce Young (or Andy Dalton) continues trending upward.
This might be your last week to grab Legette before he’s no longer available in over 90% of leagues.
4. Oronde Gadsden II – TE, Chargers
Rostered: 4% | Suggested FAAB: 8–10%
Recommendation: Should be added in 10-team leagues
If you’re tired of cycling through tight ends who give you 3-for-27 every week, Oronde Gadsden II might finally be your answer. After flashing promising usage in Week 6, the rookie erupted in Week 7, catching 7 of 9 targets for 164 yards and a touchdown in the Chargers’ comeback loss to the Colts. He led the team in receiving yards — yes, ahead of Keenan Allen and Ladd McConkey — and ripped off a 53-yard highlight play that showcased his athletic ceiling.
The underlying numbers are just as impressive. Gadsden ran a route on 77% of Herbert’s dropbacks, drew a 16.3% target share, and turned those looks into 2.8 yards per route run — elite efficiency for any position, let alone a tight end. He’s now seen 7+ targets in three of his first five games, and the Chargers clearly trust him as a reliable intermediate and red-zone weapon.
Yes, this might be the spike week of all spike weeks. But the usage suggests it isn’t a fluke. Gadsden’s role has steadily grown, and with the Chargers’ passing volume (Herbert has averaged 45.3 attempts over the past three games), there’s plenty of opportunity for sustained production.
At a position starving for consistent fantasy contributors, Gadsden has legitimate TE1 upside rest of season — and that makes him a must-add in all competitive leagues.
5. Kayshon Boutte – WR, Patriots
Rostered: 32% | Suggested FAAB: 2–3%
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 12-team leagues
Kayshon Boutte is quickly becoming the definition of a “boom-or-bust” flex option — but the booms are starting to outweigh the busts. After erupting for 93 yards and two touchdowns in Week 6, the second-year wideout kept the big plays rolling in Week 7, hauling in a 39-yard touchdown on one of his two catches.
The Patriots’ blowout win kept the passing volume low (Drake Maye attempted just 23 passes), but Boutte still ran 21 routes, second-most among New England receivers, and led the team with 22.5 yards per catch. His vertical speed continues to make him the primary downfield threat in a much-improved Patriots offense.
While the week-to-week targets remain volatile — he’s seen anywhere from 2 to 8 looks in games — Boutte’s chemistry with Maye and his usage on perimeter deep routes keep his ceiling enticing. Against a Cleveland secondary that has allowed the third-most PPR points per target to perimeter WRs, Boutte profiles as a sneaky FLEX with home-run potential.
If you can tolerate variance, Boutte’s upside makes him worth holding through the midseason stretch — especially in leagues where explosive plays can swing matchups.
6. Brashard Smith – RB, Chiefs
Rostered: 6% | Suggested FAAB: 2–4%
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 12-team leagues
Couple qualifiers out of the gate here. First, the Chiefs obliterated the Raiders 31–0 in Week 7 — a game so lopsided that both backup quarterbacks saw snaps in the second half. That kind of script always muddies the backfield data a bit. Still, rookie pass-catching back Brashard Smith was involved early and often enough to warrant attention.
Smith logged 14 carries for 39 yards (2.8 YPC) and caught all five of his targets for 42 yards, matching Rashee Rice for the second-most receiving yards on the team. While the rushing efficiency wasn’t stellar, the usage was notable: Smith handled nearly the same number of carries as Isiah Pacheco (15) and played 36.4% of snaps — more than double Kareem Hunt’s 17.6%.
That passing-game work gives Smith a distinct fantasy profile in Kansas City’s backfield. The Chiefs currently rank sixth in the NFL in pass attempts per game, and Patrick Mahomes has never been shy about feeding an athletic outlet back when blitzed. If Hunt’s ankle injury lingers into Week 8, Smith could see even more run behind Pacheco.
While he’s still primarily a stash, Smith’s combination of usage, versatility, and fit within an elite offense makes him an intriguing PPR FLEX play for desperate fantasy managers and a priority speculative add in deeper formats.
7. Darnell Mooney – WR, Falcons
Rostered: 9% | Suggested FAAB: 2–3%
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 12-team leagues
Welcome back, Darnell Mooney. After missing time with an ankle injury, Mooney made his return in Week 7 against the 49ers and quietly looked like Atlanta’s best receiver. While his 13.1% target share doesn’t jump off the page, he led the Falcons with 68 receiving yards and showed his trademark burst and separation skills.
Before going down earlier in the year, Mooney had been trending upward — logging a 21.3% target share and 26.2% first-read rate in Weeks 2–3, per Fantasy Points Data. Those underlying numbers indicate that Michael Penix trusts Mooney as a go-to perimeter option, particularly when defenses focus on Drake London and Kyle Pitts.
This week’s matchup against the Miami Dolphins is one to exploit. Miami has allowed the 10th-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers, and Atlanta’s passing game may need to open up if they want to keep pace with one of the league’s highest-scoring offenses.
Mooney isn’t a must-start yet, but he’s back on the fantasy radar as a sneaky Flex play in deeper leagues and a smart stash as Atlanta’s passing volume inevitably increases. If he continues to build chemistry in his return, Mooney could emerge as a valuable depth piece heading into the fantasy playoff stretch.
8. Joe Flacco – QB, Bengals
Rostered: 11% | Suggested FAAB: 3–4% (1QB)
Recommendation: Should be streamed in 10-team leagues
If you had “Joe Flacco, 2025 fantasy streamer” on your bingo card, congratulations — you’re officially clairvoyant. After signing with Cincinnati and immediately taking over the offense, the 39-year-old veteran has looked shockingly sharp, piling up 44.7 fantasy points in two starts and leading the Bengals to back-to-back wins.
Against Pittsburgh in Week 7, Flacco reminded everyone he can still sling it, completing 30 of 45 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns. Even more encouraging? He’s yet to throw an interception in a Bengals uniform, maintaining command of Zac Taylor’s offense and developing instant chemistry with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who’ve combined for 33 targets over the last two games.
Volume is the key here — Flacco has 92 pass attempts since joining the team, and Cincinnati’s leaky defense (allowing nearly 400 yards per game) all but guarantees he’ll keep throwing to stay competitive. That kind of passing volume, paired with elite weapons, makes him a viable short-term fantasy starter.
The upcoming schedule (Jets, Bears, bye, then Steelers again) is extremely manageable. The Jets’ pass defense isn’t what it used to be, and the Bears have been generous to opposing QBs all season. Flacco won’t win you weeks on athleticism or rushing upside, but his passing floor and offensive surroundings make him a great streaming or 2QB option through midseason.
9. Colston Loveland – TE, Bears
Rostered: 22% | Suggested FAAB: 1–3%
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 14-team leagues (pending Kmet injury news)
With Cole Kmet leaving Week 7’s matchup against the Saints due to a back injury, rookie Colston Loveland is suddenly on the radar as a potential next-man-up in Chicago’s passing game. While Loveland’s season-to-date usage hasn’t screamed breakout (just a 38.6% route share entering last week), his athleticism and red-zone potential make him a name to watch if Kmet’s injury lingers.
In relief duty on Sunday, Loveland logged a 62.9% route share, earning a 17.3% target share and catching multiple short-to-intermediate passes for 24 yards. That may not sound exciting, but his involvement marked a clear step forward, particularly with how often the Bears have used their tight ends in Ben Johnson’s system.
Chicago’s upcoming opponent — the Baltimore Ravens — ranks 12th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to tight ends, making this a decent spot for Loveland if he draws the start. And with defenses keying in on DJ Moore and Darnell Mooney, there’s an opportunity for Loveland to carve out meaningful volume underneath.
He’s not yet an automatic pickup, but in deeper leagues or tight-end-premium formats, Loveland is the right kind of speculative add — a talented rookie who could immediately step into a high-usage role if Kmet is sidelined. Keep a close eye on practice reports this week.
10. Indianapolis Colts – DEF
Rostered: 47% | Suggested FAAB: 3–5%
Recommendation: Should be streamed in all leagues
If you’ve been following the “pick-on-the-Titans” defensive strategy this season, you’ve likely done pretty well — and the Colts are your next (and best) opportunity to keep it rolling. Tennessee’s rookie quarterback Cam Ward continues to make costly mistakes, and opposing defenses are feasting as a result.
In Sunday’s 31–13 loss to the Patriots, Ward threw an interception, lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown, and took six more sacks, pushing his league-leading total to 30 on the season. Through seven games, he’s already committed 10 turnovers (five interceptions, five lost fumbles) — numbers that make him the ultimate fantasy matchup target.
Enter the Indianapolis Colts, who have quietly been one of the league’s more opportunistic defenses. Indy entered Week 7 ranked No. 2 in fantasy points among D/STs, with 19 sacks and 11 forced turnovers. They’ve scored double-digit fantasy points three times this year, including 15 points in their Week 3 matchup against Tennessee — the same offense they’ll face again this Sunday.
With the Titans’ offensive line in shambles and Ward’s decision-making spiraling, the Colts’ defense is in a smash spot for Week 8. If you stream defenses weekly, this is the one you circle, highlight, and bold in your waiver queue. They’re a must-add in every format and a top-three play for the upcoming slate.
