Week 8 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Carson Wentz & Darius Slayton

The good news is that only two teams will be on bye in Week 8. The bad news is that, between six teams being on bye in Week 7 and a ton of injuries, there are not many appealing options left on the waiver wire. However, if you need some reinforcements, here are some players to consider who are still available in the majority of leagues. You can also use our Waiver Wire Pickups tool and fantasy football rankings to help find viable options and determine how much of your FAAB you might need to use for each player.

Fantasy Football: Week 8 NFL Waiver Wire Pickups

Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles (74% available)

One of the bigger story lines to monitor following Week 7 is the status of Miles Sanders, who suffered an ankle injury against the Raiders. He did not return to the game, finishing with just six carries. Gainwell did not exactly explode, with five carries for 20 yards, but he was busy in the passing game, catching four of eight targets for 41 yards and a touchdown. If Sanders were to miss a favorable matchup against the lowly Lions, Gainwell could be worth starting, especially in PPR leagues.

Week 8 Waiver Wire Priority: 1 (5% of FAAB budget)

Darius Slayton, New York Giants (89% available)

It was not pretty, but the Giants earned their second win of the season by knocking off the Panthers on Sunday. They were missing several key contributors on offense, but at least Slayton was able to make his return from a hamstring injury. He was certainly busy, catching five of nine targets for 63 yards. It is likely that at least one out of Kenny Golladay (knee), Kadarius Toney (ankle) and Sterling Shepard (hamstring) will be sidelined again in Week 8, which means Slayton could again receive added targets. That could lead to a productive performance against the Chiefs, who have allowed the seventh-most yards passing per game in the league.

Week 8 Waiver Wire Priority: 2 (1%-3% of FAAB budget)

Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts (78% available)

The pouring rain had a big impact during the Colts win over the 49ers on Sunday night. Wentz only attempted 26 passes that turned into 150 yards, but he did throw for two touchdowns. He also chipped in a score on the ground, leaving him with a valuable overall line despite the conditions. He finally looks to be healthy and could be asked to throw more in a matchup against the Titans, a team that he attempted 37 passes against in Week 3. Wentz only had 194 yards passing and no touchdowns in that game, but he looks to be more comfortable as the season has moved along, completing at least 65.4% of his passes in three of the last four games.

Week 8 Waiver Wire Priority: 3 (1%-3% of FAAB budget)

C.J. Uzomah, Cincinnati Bengals (90% available)

Only two teams are on a bye in Week 8, but they are the Ravens and Raiders. That means that two of the top tight ends in Darren Waller and Mark Andrews will not be available. Those who need a fill in for either one of them could take a chance on Uzomah against the struggling Jets. Despite receiving more than three targets in only one of seven games, he has five touchdowns over the last four games.

Week 8 Waiver Wire Priority: 4 (1%-3% of FAAB budget)

Daniel Jones, New York Giants (72% available)

The Giants asked Jones to do it all Sunday with their offense depleted, and he rose to the occasion, even making a one-handed catch on a trick play. The downside with Jones is that he only has five touchdown passes this season. He can help offset that with his legs, though, since he has 229 yards and two touchdowns rushing. With the Chiefs allowing an average of 29 points per game, Jones could be in line for one of his better performances of the season.

Week 8 Waiver Wire Priority: 5 (1% of FAAB budget)

Brandon Bolden, New England Patriots (94% available)

The Patriots steamrolled the Jets on Sunday, winning 54-13. With a score that lopsided, it is difficult to read too much into individual performances. With that being said, Bolden catching six of seven targets for 79 yards and a touchdown is noteworthy. After not seeing the field much when James White (hip) was healthy, Bolden has received at least four targets in four of the last five games. During that stretch, he has 20 receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown. In what could be a high-scoring affair against the Chargers, Bolden is someone to consider in PPR leagues.

Week 8 Waiver Wire Priority: 6 (1% of FAAB budget)

Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens (81% available)

Since the Ravens do not play in Week 8, only those with the luxury of an open roster spot should roster Bateman. If planning for the long haul, though, adding him now could pay off. He has exactly six targets in both of his first two games since returning from injury, and he had three receptions for 80 yards Sunday against the Bengals. After their bye, the Ravens play the Vikings, Dolphins, Bears and Browns the following four weeks. The Dolphins, Bears and Browns have all allowed at least 14 touchdowns passing, ranking each of them inside the bottom 10 in the league in touchdowns passing allowed.

Week 8 Waiver Wire Priority: 7 (1% of FAAB budget)

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