Week 8 Waiver Claims

Quarterback #1: Tua

Tua’s bye might just have given you a second chance at rostering him in 1QB leagues where you made the mistake of not doing so last week. We really don’t know what the ceiling is here, both as a passer & as a scrambler… but I’ll tell ya what, when we do find out, I want him already on my team.

Quarterback #2: Jimmy GQ

As long as Jimmy GQ remains rostered in less than 50% of leagues, I will continue to list him as THE QB-stash to add (while citing his Week 15 & 16 matchups against the Cardinals & Cowboys). Hopefully, you were listening last week, because everyone is going to be rushing out to add him as their “stream of the week” this week against Seattle. If he performs decently against Seattle (a likely outcome), & whoever is rostering him connects the dots regarding his fantasy playoff schedule, I’m not so sure they’re going to have much incentive to release Jimmy GQ back into the waiver-pool, at any point. This might be your last chance at solidifying a forward-thinking QB-streaming plan for the fantasy playoffs.

Quarterback #3: Derek Carr

Carr is 16^th in QB PPG, yet 21^st in QB roster percentage… This past week, against a buzz-saw Tampa Bay defense – which had just completely shut down Aaron Rodgers & the Packers the week before – Carr actually put up a respectable 24/36 (66% completion) for 284 yards, 2 TD’s (and one interception). He’s thrown multiple TD’s in 5 straight games & with matchups against the Browns (8^th most fantasy points allowed to QB’s), Chargers (3^rd most), & Broncos (11^th most) up next, Carr’s in a great position to continue overdelivering on the underwhelming expectations that have been set for him.

Running Back #1: JaMycal Hasty

When a starting RB in an elite offense goes down, you don’t just walk to go get the handcuff, you drop your bags, push the old ladies out of the way (kidding, sorta), and sprint as fast as you can to get that handcuff onto your squad. Hasty might not have the clear workhorse volume Carlos Hyde is due for, but he’s got a better chance at sticking long-term. For all the love I’ve thrown on Jerick McKinnon this year – his jets have clearly cooled… and it’s not a good sign for him that the coaching staff is already apparently worried about needing to “rest” him. I have zero faith in Tevin 1.4 yards after-contact per-carry Coleman & Raheem Mostert & Jeff Wilson are playing hide & seek with each other on the IR. That leaves Hasty with his chance at staking his claim for more opportunities going forward. He hasn’t disappointed so far, taking his 20 carries for 103 yards (5.1 YPC) & his 2 receptions for a total of 25 yards (12.5 YPR). He’s already efficient with his touches, what happens now that he’s due for a volume uptick? Good things happen, that’s what.

Running Back #2: Carlos Hyde

When a starting RB in an elite offense goes down, you don’t just… wait a second, didn’t I already pitch this bit? I had Hyde listed above Hasty until I was just moments ago made aware that Carlos Hyde is also apparently dealing with a hamstring injury. It’s something to monitor, but Hyde still needs to be scooped up regardless. Even if Chris Carson comes back quickly, Hyde probably just needs to stay on rosters no matter what for the rest of the year. There’s too much upside as the workhorse RB in this offense – and it seems Hyde will clearly be that if (when) Carson goes down – as evidenced by his 15/68/1 rushing & 3/8 receiving line this past week.

Running Back #3: La’Mical Perine

It hasn’t taken long for La’Mical Perine to take hold of the Jets backfield. In the Jets first game post-Lev Bell, Perine out-snapped Frank Gore 41-25 & saw 9 touches to Gore’s 15. Last week, he out-snapped Gore 40-16 & out-touched him 13-11. He’s seen 3 targets in each game. The Jets will probably continue to give Gore more touches than we’d like, but as long as Perine continues to see the lion’s share of the snaps, double-digit carries, & 3+ targets, he’s going to be a weekly flex play.

Wide Receiver #1: Corey Davis

Only 5 WR’s have 5+ targets & double-digit (PPR) fantasy points in 100% of their games played this year (minimum 4 games played): Stefon Diggs, Robby Anderson, Kenny Golladay, Jamison Crowder, & Corey Davis.

Wide Receiver #2: Sterling Shepard

Excluding Week 2 of this season (cut short by injury), Sterling Shepard hasn’t scored less than 7.5 (PPR) fantasy points in a game since Week 15, 2018. That’s a 14-game streak, with 8.5+ in 13/14 of those games, & double-digits in 10/14.

Wide Receiver #3: Brandon Aiyuk

This is Brandon Aiyuk’s timeline: Week 2 – first game, 2/21; Week 3 – 5/70 & a rushing TD; Week 4 – another rushing TD; Week 5 – 3/44; Week 6 – receiving TD; Week 7 – 100-yard game; Week 8 – Seattle…

Tight End #1: Trey Burton

I’m going to give you the exact same pitch I gave you last week since Trey Burton (& Irv Smith Jr.) are coming off a bye & nothing’s changed. Also, because I’m lazy & frankly I spent way too much time today analyzing Derek Carr’s schedule & JaMycal Hasty’s upside in SF’s scheme, so I’m now caught rushing through the TE’s at 7:30 p.m. before MNF comes on… so here it is, my recycled factoid: IND’s highest-scoring TE of the week hasn’t scored less than 7.9 points in any game: WK1 7.9 (Doyle); WK2 16.1 (MAC); WK3 14.0 (MAC); WK4 8.3 (MAC); WK5 8.3 (Burton); WK6 21.8 (Burton). If you assume Burton (who’s first game was Week 4) was the TE Indy wanted to feature all along, it gives him a good chance at capturing most of those weekly highs going forward in an offense that clearly wants to feature the TE position.

Tight End #2: Logan Thomas

Long live Logan Thomas! It’s been 7 games & he’s yet to have a game with less than 4 targets. He’s apt to disappear in tougher matchups, but I sure wouldn’t call coming out of a bye against the Giants, Lions, Bengals, and Cowboys “a tough matchup.”

Tight End #3: Irv Smith Jr.