Waiver Favors: 2017 Week 8 Fantasy Football Pickups

By Ha Kung Wong  Fantasy Football Pickups

Twitter: @FBGarbageTime

As I mentioned last week, I like nothing more than helping all of you make solid waiver pickups in your Fantasy Football league and have some part in your championship run.  That’s just the type of guy I am.  You’re welcome.  Again.

So let’s get on with it with fantasy football pickups for Week 8!

As usual, all pickups are available in at least 50% of Yahoo standard fantasy football leagues (with some minor exceptions) as of Sunday evening.

Mohamed Sanu

WR – Atlanta Falcons – 64% Owned

I know he’s more than 50% owned, but I feel like Mohamed Sanu is being overlooked because of the generally subpar performance of Matt Ryan this year.  If you tuned into our podcast last week, you know we had some serious concerns with Ryan and the Falcons.  It’s almost as if all of 2016 was just a figment of our imagination.  That being said, there will be better days for Ryan and friends, like this past weekend against the New York Jets.  And in that game, of course, we always value Julio Jones, but it was Sanu that hauled in 6 of 7 targets for 74 yards and a TD in the win.  Maybe he’s just putting on a show for his hometown friends and family, but I suspect it’s more than that.

He’s only had 2 TDs this season, but he’s seen a whopping 17 targets over the last two games, and at least 6 in every game but one.  If he’s available, you should pick him up in all 12-team leagues and deeper, and all 10-team PPR leagues.

JuJu Smith-Schuster

WR – Pittsburgh Steelers – 46% Owned

I ALREADY recommended picking up JuJu Smith-Schuster WAY back in Week 5, but I’m going to do it AGAIN for those of you who haven’t done it yet.

I guess the writing was on the wall when Martavis Bryant made one too many quips on Instagram and ended up inactive for Week 8.  Again, if you listened to our podcast last week, you know that I don’t think that was the right move.  How are you going to trade a player for any value if you don’t showcase him?  It’s not like Bryant doesn’t have talent.  But regardless, the actual fantasy impact of this was JuJu Smith-Schuster getting featured opposite Antonio Brown.  Which is nice, considering Smith-Schuster was not only trashed by Bryant on social media, but also had his bike stolen.  Anyway, Smith-Schuster took advantage of the opportunity catching 7 of 10 targets for 193 yards and a TD.  The highlight, of course, was the 97-yard TD in the third quarter for the LONGEST pass play in Steelers history.

He’s a terrific pickup now in all 12-team and deeper leagues, but will be a 10-team league pickup if Bryant is traded before Tuesday’s deadline.  Plus, he clearly loves fantasy football…

Tyler Lockett

WR – Seattle Seahawks – 38% Owned

One week from getting 7 targets and getting a TD called back on a PI penalty, Lockett really locked in on 6 of 8 targets for 121 yards in high scoring affair against the Texans.  He had multiple big plays in this one, grabbing one for a 27-yard gain which helped set up the offense’s first TD and then getting open for a 54-yarder in the fourth quarter to help set up another one.

His usage will be up and down, so don’t expect consistency.  But Russell Wilson is playing lights out right now, and Lockett is literally locked in.  Pick him up in all 12-team and deeper leagues.

Paul Richardson

WR – Seattle Seahawsk – 30% Owned

Tyler Lockett wasn’t the only Seahawks WR to impress this week.  Paul Richardson also managed to grab 6 of 7 targets for 105 yards and two TDs.

Richardson’s biggest play was a a ridiculous 48-yard leaping catch to help set up the game-winning TD.  He’s getting plenty of TDs, and like I said for Lockett, if Wilson is playing this well, you need to roll the dice with his WRs.  Grab him in all 12-team leagues or deeper (with a slight preference for Lockett).

Dede Westbrook

WR – Jacksonville Jaguars – 8% Owned

You probably haven’t been following Dede Westbrook, for for you deep leaguers (and Jaguars fans), perhaps you should.  Jaguars coach Doug Marrone said Westbrook is “on track” to return in Week 9 after having core muscle surgery.  Westbrook was a 4th Round draft pick that essentially was the highlight of the Jaguars preseason.  And you might not remember, but Westbrook was also a Heismann Trophy candidate last year putting up 1,524 yards and 17 TDs at Oklahoma.  He was cleared to catch passes last week and has been running on the side at practice.  He has the ability to take the top off defenses, which is something that the Jaguars could really use.  And heck, Dede wants you to believe in him, so who are we to say no?

Pick him up as a speculative stash in all 14-team leagues or deeper.

UPDATE – There’s been a number of trades, and general happenings, so here’s your updated pick ups:

Kenyan Drake and Damien Williams

RB – Miami Dolphins – 5% Owned and 3% Owned

The Dolphins just couldn’t wait to ship Jay Ajayi off to the Eagles, as head coach Adam Gase clearly was not a fan.  So who’s stepping up in the backfield? Well, Drake was the “No. 2” back in Miami, but Williams is used on passing downs.  So that essentially means that this will likely start as a committee.  Plus, keep in mind that if Ajayi couldn’t do anything in Miami, there’s little chance that Drake and Williams will.  But, a starting RB is a starting RB, so go ahead and stash both in 14-team leagues or deeper.  I’ll favor Drake in standard and Williams in PPR.

Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden

RB – Dallas Cowboys – 40% Owned and 37% Owned

And ANOTHER reminder to pick up Alfred Morris and Darren McFadden, since Ezekiel Elliott’s request for a preliminary injunction was denied, AND his request for an emergency injection was denied.  He has one more shot at the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, but I’m not counting on him playing over the next 6 weeks.  Jerry Jones actually said that Morris will be the lead back, so I’m going with Morris first, then McFadden.

Jimmy Garoppolo 

QB – San Francisco 49ers – 3% Owned

Wow.  Another 2016 New England Patriots QB starting on a different team in the NFL.  It won’t happen right away, as Jimmy G won’t know the offense and the 49ers have no reason to rush, but they didn’t trade a 2nd Round Draft pick away to have him ride the pine.  He should be starting in about 2 or 3 weeks, so if you’re really hurting in a deep 2 QB league, and need to try and catch lightening in a bottle to hold on to your tenuous playoff prospects, or if you’re in a Dynasty or Keeper league of some kind, feel free to pick him up.

And here are previous pickups I’ve mentioned that are still worthy of your consideration:

10-Team Leagues or Deeper

Will Fuller, Alex Smith, Deshaun Watson

12-Team Leagues or Deeper

Nelson Agholor, Orleans Darkwa, Devin Funchess, Allen Hurns, Aaron Jones, Alvin Kamara, Marqise Lee, Dion Lewis, Jerick McKinnon, Latavius Murray, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Kenny Stills, Chris Thompson

14-Team Leagues or Deeper

Javorius “Buck” Allen, Jacoby Brissett, Alex Collins, Tarik Cohen, Jared Cook, Ed Dickson, Josh Doctson, Jared Goff, Brett Hundley, Duke Johnson Jr., Jermaine Kearse, George Kittle, Tyler Kroft, Cooper Kupp, Marlon Mack, Josh McCown, Adrian Peterson, JuJu Smith-Schuster

16-Team Leagues or Deeper

C.J. Beathard, Bennie Fowler, Jesse James, Eddie Lacy, Ricardo Louis, Wayne Gallman, Ryan Griffin, Marquise Goodwin, Jordan Matthews, Elijah McGuire, Nick O’Leary, Samaje Perine, Thomas Rawls, Trevor Siemian, Ben Watson

Check back every week for more Waiver Favors! 

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