With eight weeks in the books, fantasy football managers are entering the pivotal middle stretch of the season — where one smart waiver claim can turn a fringe playoff team into a championship contender.
Week 8 brought breakout performances, injuries that opened doors, and a few sneaky role shifts you don’t want to miss. Below are this week’s top 10 waiver wire pickups, prioritized for 12-team formats using current usage, snap share, and rest-of-season outlook.
1. Tyrone Tracy Jr. – RB, Giants
Rostered: 48% | Suggested FAAB: 15–20%
Recommendation: Should be added in all leagues
We can’t have nice things. Cam Skattebo, the bulldozing rookie who became one of fantasy’s most fun midseason stories, suffered a devastating dislocated ankle that ends his season. His loss leaves a massive void in the Giants’ offense — but opportunity, as always, follows injury.
Enter Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Tracy took over as the clear lead back after Skattebo’s exit, logging 10 carries for 39 yards and adding 2 receptions on 3 targets for 14 yards. He out-touched Devin Singletary 12-to-2 and played on 68% of the team’s offensive snaps, immediately stepping into a workhorse role. While the Giants’ offensive line is far from dominant, Tracy’s combination of quick-cut acceleration and pass-catching ability gives him weekly RB2/FLEX appeal — especially in PPR formats.
He’s already shown flashes of explosiveness earlier in the year, forcing missed tackles on 25% of his touches and averaging 4.6 yards after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). That kind of efficiency paired with near-monopoly volume is fantasy gold down the stretch.
The upcoming schedule (vs 49ers, @ Bears, vs Packers) isn’t easy, but the touch floor makes Tracy a high-priority waiver target who could hold steady RB2 value rest-of-season.
If you’re sitting mid-pack and need a late-season stabilizer, Tracy is your must-add this week.
2. Dylan Sampson – RB, Browns
Rostered: 13% | Suggested FAAB: 1–2%
Recommendation: Stash in 12-team leagues
The Browns’ backfield has been a revolving door this season, but Dylan Sampson might be the next man up — at least temporarily. Rookie standout Quinshon Judkins exited Week 8 with a shoulder injury and did not return. Early reports suggest a possible AC joint sprain, and with Cleveland heading into a Week 9 bye, his availability for Week 10 remains uncertain.
If Judkins misses any time, Sampson will step into an expanded role in one of the league’s most run-heavy offenses. Earlier this season, before Judkins was signed, Sampson filled in admirably — catching 8 passes for 68 yards in the opener and flashing solid burst as a receiver. He’s an efficient change-of-pace option who fits well in a pass-catching role alongside Jerome Ford, should the Browns opt for a committee approach.
The workload is purely speculative for now, but Sampson’s ability to contribute on passing downs gives him sneaky PPR value if Judkins is sidelined. He’s the exact type of low-cost, high-upside stash you want to make before the news breaks.
Monitor Cleveland’s injury reports out of the bye — if Judkins is limited or inactive in Week 10, Sampson will be in the FLEX discussion.
3. Tank Bigsby – RB, Eagles
Rostered: 17% | Suggested FAAB: 1–2%
Recommendation: Should be stashed in 14-team leagues
The “Tank Bigsby breakout” may have taken the scenic route — a trade from Jacksonville, a couple months buried behind Saquon Barkley, and a lot of patience from fantasy managers — but it finally showed signs of life in Week 8.
With Barkley briefly sidelined by a groin injury, Bigsby took full advantage of his touches, rushing 9 times for 104 yards (11.6 yards per carry) and ripping off multiple chunk gains that reminded everyone why he was so hyped coming out of Auburn. He also out-touched presumed No. 2 back Will Shipley 9–3 and looked far more decisive between the tackles.
Even better news for fantasy players: Barkley’s injury isn’t expected to linger, and the Eagles enter their bye in Week 9 — meaning he’ll have extra time to recover. But that also means Bigsby will remain one of the most valuable handcuffs in football. If Barkley were to miss any time, Bigsby would instantly vault into RB2 territory in one of the league’s most efficient offenses behind a dominant offensive line.
For now, he’s a classic “just-in-case” stash. If you have the bench space, Bigsby deserves a roster spot in every 12+ team league — especially for Barkley managers looking to protect their investment.
4. Malik Washington – WR, Dolphins
Rostered: 18% | Suggested FAAB: 2–3%
Recommendation: Add in 12-team PPR leagues
Many expected Miami’s offense to sputter in Week 8 against one of the league’s stingiest defenses in Atlanta — instead, the Dolphins torched them through the air. Rookie wideout Malik Washington was right in the middle of it, producing his best fantasy performance of the season.
Washington caught 4 of 5 targets for 36 yards and a touchdown, finishing with 13.6 PPR points — a new season high. He ranked third on the team in targets (behind De’Von Achane and Jaylen Waddle) and has quietly earned the trust of Tua Tagovailoa as a reliable chain-mover and short-area option. Over the last two weeks, Washington has logged a 22.4% target share, averaging 4.5 receptions for 33 yards per game — solid numbers for a player available in over 80% of leagues.
With tight end Darren Waller landing on injured reserve (pectoral), Washington’s role as a middle-field safety valve should remain secure. His next three matchups (vs BAL, vs BUF, at WSH) set up well — both Baltimore and Washington rank in the top half of the league in fantasy points allowed to opposing wideouts, and Washington’s usage profile makes him especially viable in PPR formats.
He’s not a high-ceiling splash play, but Washington is emerging as a dependable low-end WR2 / FLEX who can stabilize lineups during bye-week chaos.
5. Isaiah Davis – RB, Jets
Rostered: 9% | Suggested FAAB: 3–4%
Recommendation: Should be added in 12-team leagues
The Jets’ offense finally came to life in Week 8, and it wasn’t just the Breece Hall Show. While Hall erupted for 133 total yards and three touchdowns, rookie Isaiah Davis quietly delivered a breakout performance of his own — one that deserves serious attention heading into the bye.
Davis logged 7 carries for 65 yards (9.3 YPC) and added 5 receptions for 44 yards on six targets, setting career highs across the board and finishing with 17.9 PPR fantasy points. He looked decisive, powerful, and comfortable in the passing game — a critical development for a Jets offense that has struggled all season to find complementary playmakers.
For now, Davis remains Hall’s clear backup. However, with Hall’s name swirling in trade-deadline rumors and New York’s backfield showing new life under a more balanced offensive script, Davis is a must-stash in 12-team formats. Even without a trade, his versatility as both a runner and receiver could earn him a steady weekly role down the stretch.
If Hall is moved, Davis instantly becomes one of the top waiver adds of the year — a potential three-down back in an offense that’s trending upward. Don’t wait for that domino to fall before taking your shot.
6. Xavier Hutchinson & Jaylin Noel – WRs, Texans
Rostered: Hutchinson 1% | Noel 9% | Suggested FAAB: 2–3%
Recommendation: Should be added in 14-team leagues
If you’re scraping the bottom of the wide receiver barrel this week, the Texans’ depth chart might actually have something to offer. With both Nico Collins and Christian Kirk battling lower-body injuries, Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel took advantage of expanded opportunities in Houston’s 24–20 win over San Francisco — and both looked the part.
Hutchinson ran a team-high 30 routes, catching 5 of 6 targets for 69 yards and a touchdown, while Noel caught 5 of 6 for 63 yards on a smaller 38.8% snap share. Hutchinson’s route dominance gives him a leg up as the more reliable option if Collins and Kirk miss time again, but Noel’s efficiency (10.5 yards per target) and explosiveness make him an equally intriguing stash for the long term.
Both receivers have quietly flashed upside before this week. Noel earned a 46.3% route share and 77 yards back in Week 7, while Hutchinson led all Texans wideouts in snaps and scored in Week 8. The problem, as always, is consistency — head coach DeMeco Ryans continues to shuffle rotations based on health and game script.
Still, the production can’t be ignored. If Collins or Kirk sit again, Hutchinson would be a fringe WR3/FLEX streamer in Week 9 against the Bengals, while Noel makes sense as a high-upside bench stash in deeper leagues. Both should be on your radar as part of Houston’s increasingly productive passing attack led by C.J. Stroud.
7. Cedric Tillman – WR, Browns
Rostered: 8% | Suggested FAAB: 1–2%
Recommendation: Monitor as a stash in deep leagues
Cedric Tillman’s fantasy season has been a roller coaster — and not the fun kind. After bursting onto the scene in Week 1 with eight targets and a touchdown, Tillman looked poised to emerge as a steady contributor in Cleveland’s offense. But since then, it’s been a string of missed opportunities and bad breaks. Even his Week 2 score came on a fluky deflection that masked what’s been a rough stretch for the second-year wideout.
The bad news continued when Tillman suffered a hamstring injury against Detroit, landing him on injured reserve and knocking him out until at least Week 9. The Browns expect him back soon — potentially week 10 against the Jets — but his role upon return remains murky with rookie QB Dillon Gabriel taking over under center. Cleveland’s passing volume has plummeted since Joe Flacco’s departure, and Gabriel is likely to lean on targets like David Njoku and Harold Fannin while he settles in.
Still, Tillman is worth keeping on the radar in deep formats. He showed chemistry early in the season and has the size-speed profile (6’3”, 215 lbs) to be a red-zone threat once he’s back to full strength. If Cleveland’s new offense starts to open up with Gabriel’s arm talent, Tillman could be a sneaky buy-low stash for the stretch run — just don’t expect immediate production.
8. Jalen McMillan – WR, Buccaneers
Rostered: 5% | Suggested FAAB: 0–2%
Recommendation: Should be stashed in deep leagues or IR spots
Rookie wideout Jalen McMillan has yet to see an NFL snap after suffering a neck sprain during the preseason — a brutal setback that landed him on injured reserve before Week 1. The Buccaneers initially hoped he might return around midseason, but updates have been limited, and head coach Todd Bowles has declined to offer a specific timetable.
Still, there’s reason for fantasy managers in deeper leagues (or those with IR slots) to keep McMillan on their radar. Tampa Bay’s receiving corps has been absolutely gutted — Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (leg) are both battling injuries, while Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) has seen a lack of production the last few weeks. That combination could open the door for McMillan to see immediate involvement if he’s activated later this month.
When healthy, McMillan profiles as a polished route runner with strong ball skills and positional versatility — the type of receiver Baker Mayfield can rely on underneath. His skill set fits nicely with what the Buccaneers need right now: a consistent target who can keep the chains moving and fill the void left by the injured vets.
If you have an available IR slot or deep bench flexibility, stashing McMillan could pay off down the stretch. Just don’t expect him back before Week 12–14 at the earliest.
9. Chimere Dike – WR, Titans
Rostered: 8% | Suggested FAAB: 5–7%
Recommendation: Should be added in 12-team leagues
It’s hard to find much to get excited about in the Titans’ offense right now, but rookie Chimere Dike is making a strong case to change that. The fourth-round pick has emerged as one of the few consistent bright spots for Cam Ward’s struggling passing game — and back-to-back productive outings have officially put him on the fantasy radar.
Dike followed up his Week 7 breakout (4 catches, 70 yards, and a touchdown) with an even better performance in Week 8, hauling in 7 receptions for 93 yards on 8 targets. He led Tennessee in both catches and receiving yards while logging a 90.6% route share and commanding a 21% target share, per Fantasy Points Data. That’s legitimate WR2-level usage, even if the efficiency of this offense caps his ceiling.
What makes Dike particularly interesting heading into Week 9 is his alignment. He’s run over 75% of his routes from the slot, and the Titans face a Chargers defense that’s been extremely vulnerable to slot receivers, allowing the 10th-most PPR points per target to inside routes. That positional matchup — combined with Tennessee’s likely need to throw while playing from behind — could make Dike a sneaky FLEX or WR3 play.
Calvin Ridley’s ongoing injury issues and Elic Ayomanor’s inconsistent connection with Ward only solidify Dike’s role as the most reliable wideout on this roster. If you’re hurting for wide receiver depth (and who isn’t in Week 9), Dike should be near the top of your priority list.
10. Lions, Rams & Jaguars – Team Defenses
Rostered: Lions 51% | Rams 37% | Jaguars 6%
Suggested FAAB: 1–3%
Recommendation: Stream any of the three depending on availability
If you’re streaming defenses — and at this point in the season, most fantasy managers are — Week 9 offers three strong options worth targeting. Each has a favorable matchup, and all have shown flashes of high-end fantasy upside this year.
Detroit Lions (vs MIN): The Lions have been a fantasy powerhouse on defense, notching multiple sacks in six straight games and forcing at least one turnover in all but one outing. With J.J. McCarthy expected to return from injury, Detroit should be able to pressure the rookie into mistakes. This unit has been borderline elite outside of their matchups against Kansas City and Green Bay, and they’re a top-five streaming option this week.
Los Angeles Rams (vs NO): Fresh off a bye, the Rams defense draws a Saints offense that can’t seem to find a rhythm — and may be cycling between Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough under center. That quarterback carousel alone makes Los Angeles an intriguing Week 9 streamer. They’ve been quietly solid at home, averaging 8.5 fantasy points per game in L.A., and should capitalize on short fields if their offense continues to move the ball well.
Jacksonville Jaguars (at LV): The Jags D/ST hasn’t been lights-out lately, but they’ve also faced two of the league’s better offenses in the Seahawks and Rams. Before that, they were a top-10 fantasy defense through four weeks — and now they get Geno Smith and a Raiders offense that ranks bottom-five in both points and yards per game. Jacksonville is the best under-the-radar streaming play of the week for those who miss out on Detroit or L.A.
No matter which one is available in your league, each defense checks the boxes you want for streaming: favorable opponent, turnover potential, and a strong front seven capable of generating sacks.
Final Word
The fantasy stretch run begins now. Prioritize backfields with clear openings (Tracy, Sampson, Davis) and pass-catchers stepping into sustained volume (Washington, Tillman, McMillan). Smart FAAB management and one well-timed claim could set you up for the playoffs.
