Waivering: Week 8

Tue Oct 21 8:06am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Monangai is getting more work

This is not the best week to be scouring the waiver wire. There aren’t a ton of great options out there for teams. It should not be a big surprise to see this happen from time to time, though, especially as the season progresses. It gets tougher and tougher to find quality options. Just something to keep in mind going forward. We never said it was easy being a fantasy owner, right?

QUARTERBACK

Joe Flacco, Bengals (27.8% owned). Flacco is settling in as the starter for the Bengals and looking better and better each week. He had a three-touchdown game last week, scoring 29.4 fantasy points. He has 20-plus fantasy points each of his first two games with Cincinnati. The Bengals are going to throw the ball a ton, so Flacco has some real fantasy potential going forward, especially if you consider the receivers he has to work with on a weekly basis.

RUNNING BACK

Kyle Monangai, Bears (40.9% owned). Monangai was a lot more involved in the offense last week, taking advantage of his chances. He ran 13 times for 81 yards and a touchdown. D’Andre Swift wasn’t quite 100 percent healthy, giving Monangai more chances. The Bears could be going with more of a timeshare going forward, though, if Monangai keeps playing well. He is definitely worth adding for teams looking for running back help.

Brashard Smith, Chiefs (36.1% owned). Smith is becoming a little more involved in the Chiefs offense. He has at least three receptions four straight games. He also had a season-high 14 carries for 39 yards last week. Kareem Hunt was banged up in the Week 7 game, which could open the door for Smith to get a little more work as well. Smith is becoming more and more of a factor in the Chiefs offense.

WIDE RECEIVER

Xavier Legette, Panthers (15.7% owned). Legette more than doubled his season stats last week, catching nine passes for 92 yards on 11 targets. He has scores two of three games and is becoming a bigger part of the Panthers passing game. He might be worth a speculative add for fantasy owners.

Parker Washington, Jaguars (5.1% owned). Washington hit double-digit fantasy points for the second time of the season last week. He had four receptions for 52 yards and ran three times for 10 yards. He gets his weekly looks, so he has a decent floor. Washington could be worth a spot start or two in the right matchup.

Chimere Dike, Titans (1.5% owned). Dike got the start last week because of injury and made the most of it. He had four receptions for 70 yards and a touchdown. If he keeps starting, Dike has some potential to help fantasy teams in an expanded role. He has multiple receptions three straight games.

Alec Pierce, Colts (19.8% owned). Pierce got the most work of the season last week, finishing with five receptions for 98 yards on 10 targets. He did not have more than five targets in a game before Week 7. Pierce has topped 65 yards three games. He is a big-play threat in this offense and gets his weekly chances to make that big play. He has spot start appeal.

Tez Johnson, Bucs (29.4% owned). Johnson has found the end zone two straight games. He is becoming a much bigger part of the offense because of injuries at receiver for the Bucs. And he is making plays with his chances, earning more opportunities going forward. He is an exciting young player for the Bucs.

TIGHT END

Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (8.4% owned). Freiermuth had a monster game his last time out, catching five passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns on six targets. He did not have more than 30 yards in a game since Week 2, so this performance was a bit of a surprise. But Freiermuth has a track record of success and plays in an offense that uses the tight end often. He could have a few more big games the rest of the way.

Jonnu Smith, Steelers (30.5% owned). Smith scored his second touchdown of the season last week. He has at least three receptions all but a game this year. The Steelers use a lot of multiple tight end sets, so Smith plays a lot despite not being first on the depth chart at tight end. His ceiling isn’t huge in this offense, but he has a decent floor and a knack for finding the end zone.

Noah Fant, Bengals (5.3% owned). Fant is the top tight end for the Bengals right now because of injury. He had four receptions for 44 yards and a touchdown last week. He has four receptions each of his last two games and has four games total with four or more catches. Fant has some sport start potential for fantasy teams as long as he is starting in this pass-first offense.

Oronde Gadsden, Chargers (11.7% owned). Gadsden had seven receptions for the second straight game last week. He has been targeted 17 times his last two games, catching 14 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown. Gadsden is quickly becoming a top target in the Chargers passing game. He is going to be a fantasy factor the rest of the way.

Theo Johnson, Giants (30.7% owned). Johnson scored a touchdown for the third time in four games last week. He had three receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown on seven targets. He has become a go-to target for new quarterback Jaxson Dart and his getting his weekly looks.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

Waivering: Week 8

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