Week 8 Waiver Wire Pickups: Jonah Coleman Might Have Just Taken Over

With the 2026 season nearing its midpoint and four more teams on bye, you're likely facing another round of lineup challenges.

The Week 8 waiver wire brings opportunities to address your short-term needs and stash players with rest-of-season upside. There are also streaming kickers and a defense to consider adding, plus underperforming players that you can consider dropping. 

(These guys are generally available in at least 70% of ESPN leagues. Your bid should vary by format and situation. Need help at RB? Prioritize that position. All set there? Then you probably don’t need to chase the top guys.)

• Priority Targets
• Immediate Help
• QB Streamers
• Deep-League Plays
• Upside Stashes
• Injuries to Note
• Top RB Handcuffs
• Top Streaming Defense
• Top Streaming Kicker
• Drop Candidates

Priority Targets

Jonah Coleman, RB, Denver Broncos

Blind Bid Recommendation: 25-30%

What Changed?

Coleman returned from an ankle sprain to outcarry J.K. Dobbins 9-6 and outgain him 54-23. 

The rookie also led the backfield with a 34% route rate and tied RJ Harvey for the team-high among RBs in target share (8%).

What’s the Outlook?

HC Sean Payton said Coleman added “juice” to the ground game and indicated that more touches may be coming the rookie’s way.

“He looked really good (against the Cardinals),’’ Payton said via The Denver Gazette. “Have to get him more touches definitely.”

RJ Harvey is locked into a pass-catching role, with his 25 catches ranking sixth among RBs. But there’s room for Coleman to eat into J.K. Dobbins’ workload, especially after the veteran remained inefficient Sunday with 3.8 yards per carry.

Among 39 RBs with 50+ carries, Dobbins now ranks:

• 25th in yards after contact per attempt
• 33rd in YPC
• 34th in missed tackles forced per attempt
• 36th in rushing success rate

The Broncos have a negative matchup this week vs. Kansas City, and a Week 10 bye follows not long after. Zoom out, though, and Denver has the fourth-most favorable RB strength of schedule. Coleman could push for RB2 value if his role trends up.

Kaelon Black, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Blind Bid Recommendation: 10-15%

What Changed?

Christian McCaffrey missed part of Sunday’s loss to Atlanta with a leg injury. That helped Black lead the backfield with 12 carries, 63 yards, and a score.

His only blemish was a lost fumble, which came right after third-string RB Jordan James also coughed up the ball. Black wasn’t benched.

What’s the Outlook?

McCaffrey downplayed the injury, and we fully expect him to suit up after a Week 8 bye. Still, Black ripped off a 30-yard TD run and outcarried James 12-1.

If McCaffrey misses more time, Black would become a must-play. Keep the rookie rostered through the bye if you can.

Immediate Help

DeMario Douglas, WR, New England Patriots

Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%

What Changed?

Demario Douglas caught 3 of 4 targets for 23 yards in Week 7, totaling 5.3 PPR points and snapping a two-week streak of WR1 finishes.

It was the first game since WR Romeo Doubs landed on IR with a shoulder injury, but his underwhelming week should make it easier to obtain the WR18 over the past three weeks.

What’s the Outlook?

Douglas has only reached 20% target shares twice this season: in the Week 1 game A.J. Brown left early and the Week 6 contest that preceded Brown’s return. But his 16.2% target share for the season trails only Brown and Mack Hollins among Patriots pass catchers.

Hollins remains on IR, and Doubs joining him further frees up targets. Those looks went primarily to TEs (11) and RBs (7) in the loss to Chicago, but New England sits slightly above league average in WR target share for the season (58.9%, 14th).

Douglas might not be much of a fantasy option for this week’s visit to Miami, which has been the third-largest drag on WR scoring so far. But we could see elevated passing volume in matchups with the Packers and Lions beyond that.

Douglas could carry some PPR flex appeal into those weeks.

Chig Okonkwo, TE, Washington Commanders

Blind Bid Recommendation: 5-8%

What Changed?

Chig Okonkwo is coming off a season-high 13.9 PPR points to rank as a TE1 for the first time this season. He accumulated 7 targets, tying WR Stefon Diggs for the team lead, and caught all of them for 69 yards.

The Commanders lost their top WR Terry McLaurin to a season-ending torn patellar tendon in that game.

What’s the Outlook?

Okonkwo has seen his route share increase each week, even prior to losing McLaurin. His route share climbed from 55.7% in Week 1 to 57.8% upon returning from a hamstring injury in Week 4, then to 69.2% in Week 5 and a season-high 84.3% in Week 6.

Okonkwo’s 16.9% target share ranks 15th among TEs for the season. That climbed to 11th among TEs for Week 6, before the team’s bye.

Okonkwo carries fringe-TE1 potential the rest of the way. He comes off that bye to face a Philly defense that’s been a neutral matchup for TE scoring.

QB Streamers

Jacoby Brissett, QB, Arizona Cardinals

Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%

What Changed?

Brissett was serviceable last week vs. Denver, finishing as the QB14 on a huge 48 pass attempts. The veteran now ranks first league-wide in pass attempts per game (40.2).

What’s the Outlook?

That volume shouldn’t disappear this week with Brissett traveling to Dallas as a 6.5-point underdog. Of course, the matchup looks strong, with the Cowboys ranking 27th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs.

There’s also a recent sample of Brissett paying off on his high volume. The veteran finished QB5 in Week 3; QB7 in Week 5.

Geno Smith, QB, New York Jets

Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%

What Changed?

Smith went off for 287 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT in Sunday’s loss to Miami. He delivered a QB5 fantasy finish on the week despite top WR Garrett Wilson contributing only 2 catches for 26 yards.

What’s the Outlook?

The Jets offense is getting healthier around Smith. Omar Cooper Jr. returned in Week 6 and has hit 100 yards in back to back games. Adonai Mitchell returned against the Dolphins, while Breece Hall will have a chance to return this week vs. Vegas.

The Raiders hit the week slotted 25th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. Only the Cardinals have surrendered more total TDs to the position.

Deep-League Options

Malik Willis, QB, Miami Dolphins

Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%

What Changed?

Malik Willis has now accounted for 5 TDs over his past two games after totaling just two over his first four games. Only five QBs have amassed more TDs since Week 5.

Those were his two highest outputs of the season: QB14 in Week 5 and a season-high QB4 in Week 7.

What’s the Outlook?

Willis has delivered high-ranking weeks as both a productive rusher and passer. In Week 5, he rushed for 74 yards and a TD to lead all QBs in rushing points. In Week 7, he averaged 9.9 yards per attempt, second in the league.

He has struggled as a passer on the season, ranking 29th in yards and 30th in TDs. Part of his struggle can be chalked up to the Dolphins' top targeted pass catchers consisting of a third-year WR with 6.5 PPR points per game, a third-round rookie WR, and a fifth-year TE who’s already played for two other franchises.

Even so, Willis has reached QB1 status on the strength of his rushing ability. His 6.7 rushing points per game trail only Josh Allen and Jayden Daniels at the position.

His Week 8 opponent is a Patriots defense that’s faced only one QB ranked in the top 10 in rushing points per game.

Chris Rodriguez, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%

What Changed?

Chris Rodriguez posted a season-high 42.3% carry share, his biggest challenge to Bhayshul Tuten’s lead so far.

Rodriguez turned 11 rushes into 55 yards to beat Tuten’s 39 yards on 12 attempts. He also accumulated three red-zone carries to Tuten’s four.

What’s the Outlook?

Rodriguez’s 4.31 yards per carry on the season leads the Jaguars’ backfield, topping Tuten’s 4.1 mark. That includes producing more yards per carry than Tuten in four of the first six games.

Tuten carried no injury designation into a game that produced his season-low 46.2% carry share in Week 6, indicating that Jaguars HC Liam Coen is willing to feed the more efficient rusher.

It was the first time this season Rodriguez had carried more than eight times in a game, though, and just his second game of more than 6 carries. Rodriguez also has just 1 catch through six games.

He remains a handcuff type.

Zonovan Knight, RB, Arizona Cardinals

Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%

What Changed?

Bam Knight has been the Cardinals’ highest-scoring RB with top RB Jeremiyah Love sidelined (ankle). Knight has produced 10.6 PPR points over the past two weeks, topping fellow RB Tyler Allgeier’s 6.8 mark.

He compiled 128 rushing yards to Allgeier’s 57 over that time despite handling fewer rushes (26-22).

What’s the Outlook?

Knight’s 64.0 rushing yards per game rank 14th over that span, while his 37.3% carry share ranks 36th among RBs and second on his own offense.

He turned it into RB33 production without accounting for a TD, despite tallying five carries inside the 10-yard line over just the past two games.

Love could return as soon as Week 8, but Knight has made his case for RB2 even when that occurs, as indicated by Allgeier’s carry share falling from 51.4% in Week 6 to 33.3% in Week 7.

If Love were to miss another week, Knight is set up for a matchup with a Cowboys defense boosting RB points more than any other defense.

Antonio Williams, WR, Washington Commanders

Blind Bid Recommendation: 5-10%

What Changed?

Antonio Williams' involvement in the passing game has already been trending upward. He’s maintained a 73.9% route share over the past three games, up from his 40.0% route share through the first three weeks.

Given Terry McLaurin’s season-ending patellar tendon tear, Williams is set up to be even more involved.

What’s the Outlook?

Williams is producing a 13.9% target share on the season, but since his route share eclipsed 70.0% for the first time in Week 4, he’s accounting for a 16.0% target share that only trails WR Stefon Diggs among Commanders WRs.

He’s commanding a target on 17.6% of his routes, and with his route share continuing to increase, his target share should follow.

Williams immediately gets a favorable matchup against an Eagles defense that’s allowed the fourth-most points to WRs.

Michael Mayer, TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Blind Bid Recommendation: 5-10%

What Changed?

Michael Mayer’s two highest scoring performances this season have come alongside fellow TE Brock Bowers. He finished as a TE1 in both Weeks 4 and 6, posting 16.2 and 16.5 PPR points, respectively.

Even after a TE24 finish with just 6.2 PPR points, Mayer’s 14th-ranked 72.2% route share in Week 7 points to continued opportunity whether Bowers is in front of him or not.

What’s the Outlook?

Mayer owns a 69.3% route share since Bowers returned in Week 3, ranking 18th among TEs. The Raiders also sit fourth in passing yards and TDs, boosting the available numbers.

Mayer sits 17th among TEs in PPR points per game and should continue to hover in that range. He’ll carry top-12 upside if Bowers misses any more time.

AJ Barner, TE, Seattle Seahawks

Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%

What Changed?

AJ Barner has been on the field for an 80.0% route share or higher in three consecutive weeks after surpassing 80.0% for the first time this season in Week 5.

His 84.5% route participation over that span ranks fifth among TEs. Expect that to continue with TE Elijah Arroyo out for the season and WR Rashid Shaheed nursing a knee injury.

What’s the Outlook?

Barner is commanding a 13.5% target share, 24th among TEs.

But since QB Sam Darnold returned from his glute injury in Week 3, Barner has accounted for a 15.8% target share and is one of eight TEs with four games of at least a 15% target share over that span.

Barner’s lack of TDs has contributed to his underwhelming TE34 rank this season. He’s accounted for just 1 TD, 41st at the position.

But his 1.4 red-zone targets per game since Week 3 ranks sixth among TEs, signaling more TDs are expected.

Week 8 holds a Bears defense that ranks third-worst for TE scoring among Week 8 defenses. But the Seahawks hold the 12th-most favorable schedule for TEs the rest of the way.

Upside Stashes

Dylan Sampson, RB, Cleveland Browns

Blind Bid Recommendation: 5-10%

What Changed?

Sampson returned from a five-week knee injury to handle 6 carries for 45 yards and 3 catches for 32 yards. That marked a 20.7% carry share, predictably behind Quinshon Judkins' mark of 58.6%. 

But Sampson nearly matched Judkins in snaps (45.7% to 52.9%) and led in route rate (39.0% to 26.8%) and target share (8.6% to 2.9%). It was also encouraging to see two of his three targets designed to go to Sampson.

What’s the Outlook?

Sampson’s usage came in a game that stayed competitive after Cleveland overcame Tennessee's early 14-point lead.

Judkins escaped Sunday without another injury, but his Week 6 ankle issue reminds us why Sampson deserves a roster spot. If Judkins misses time, Sampson could immediately deliver starter-level fantasy value. Cleveland’s offense ranks a better-than-expected 23rd in yards per play and 24th in yards per game.

The Pittsburgh matchup adds some deep-league appeal if you’re in need. The Steelers allow 5.4 catches per game to RBs, fifth-most in the NFL.

Still, Sampson looks more like a handcuff-level stash.

Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers

Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%

What Changed?

Not too much. Brooks remains on IR after undergoing core muscle surgery after Week 2. 

HC Dave Canales at least said last week that Brooks is trending in the right direction. Canales’ original injury timeline has Brooks returning as soon as Week 8 or Week 9.

What’s the Outlook?

Brooks figures to reclaim a rotational role behind Hubbard once healthy. 

In Week 1, his only full game, he managed an 18.2% carry share and 10.9% route rate. Hubbard dominated both categories at 45.5% and 58.7%. Brooks earned slightly more work in Week 2, reaching a 23.8% carry share and 27.5% route rate before exiting in the fourth quarter. 

Hubbard’s strong play in Brooks’ absence should further solidify his backfield lead, but Brooks at least merits handcuff-level consideration. He could also siphon some receiving work from Hubbard once healthy.

Seth McGowan, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%

What Changed?

McGowan saw 11 carries for 46 yards in a 6-point loss to the Vikings. The Colts trailed by just 3 for most of the fourth quarter.

Jonathan Taylor handled 18 carries for 95 yards and a score, but there’s a chance he’s traded ahead of the Nov. 10 deadline.

What’s the Outlook?

McGowan's appeal starts with his spot behind Taylor. No other Colts RB has recorded a touch this season, which would position the rookie for significant work if Taylor goes down or leaves via trade. 

McGowan deserves a stash in deeper formats.

Devin Singletary, RB, New York Giants

Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-5%

What Changed?

The Giants released Najee Harris after Week 6.

Then in Week 7, Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. suffered hamstring injuries. 

Before Tracy’s injury knocked him out late in the second quarter, he beat Singletary in touches, 7-1.

Skattebo’s injury didn’t happen until the second-to-last play of the game. But he bounced back in a huge way, rushing 17 times for 124 yards and a score.

Singletary sealed the game with a 30-yard TD run in overtime. He saw only 4 other carries but added 3 catches for 14 yards in QB J.J. McCarthy’s first start of 2026.

What’s the Outlook?

The Giants clearly favored Skattebo and Tracy over Singletary in Sunday’s win. But they might be forced to use Singletary more if either back is unable to play following a Week 8 bye. As of Monday, Skattebo appears to have dodged a serious injury.

For now, though, stash Singletary if you can’t land a better option and wait to see how healthy his mates are for a Week 9 clash with the Eagles.

UPDATE: Tracy was placed on IR on Tuesday. Singletary might remain stuck behind Skattebo for now, but another injury setback could quickly turn the veteran into a fantasy starter.

Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Blind Bid Recommendation: 5-10%

What Changed?

Even with Rashod Bateman back from his Week 6 shoulder injury, Lane maintained a meaningful role. 

The rookie managed only 3 catches for 25 yards, but he topped Bateman in route rate (75.6% to 73.2%) and target share (14.7% to 11.8%).

What’s the Outlook?

It’s improving.

Lane has cleared the first hurdle toward becoming a viable fantasy option: getting on the field consistently. Now, he could get a boost from Lamar Jackson, who will “likely” return for Week 8, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Flowers remains the centerpiece of Baltimore’s passing game with a dominant 31.1% target share. But the lack of established WR options behind him, combined with TE Mark Andrews’ struggles, gives Lane an opportunity to carve out a consistent secondary role.

Stash him now and see whether Jackson’s return unlocks more fantasy value.

Caleb Douglas, WR, Miami Dolphins

Blind Bid Recommendation: 3-8%

What Changed?

Douglas returned from a Week 2 ankle injury to post 2 catches, 70 yards, and 2 TDs. One TD surfaced when he created a ton of separation on an end-zone ball. On the other, Douglas did most of the work on a smooth 63-yard catch-and-run.

His 14.2% target share wasn’t great, but he ran just behind Malik Washington as the No. 2 WR with an 81% route rate.

What’s the Outlook?

Douglas saw an 86% route rate in the opener and finished at 82% when he left in the fourth quarter of Week 2. So we have a growing sample of the rookie playing close to full time.

Malik Willis ranks last in the league in pass attempts per game, and this unit figures to remain run-heavy going forward. But Douglas should be central to the passing game and contend for weekly starter duty in deeper leagues.

Injuries to Watch

• Lamar Jackson, ankle
• Jeremiyah Love, ankle
• Breece Hall, quad
• Kyle Monangai toe
• Tyjae Spears, knee
• Aaron Jones, knee
• Zach Charbonnet, knee
• Amon-Ra St. Brown, ankle
• Jaylen Waddle, chest
• Rashee Rice, hamstring
• DeVonta Smith, hamstring
• Emeka Egbuka, foot/concussion
• Ladd McConkey, concussion
• Matthew Golden, foot/shoulder
• D.J. Moore, shoulder
• Jalen Coker, shoulder
• Tyler Warren, groin
• Terrance Ferguson, ankle

Top RB Handcuffs 

1. Kaelon Black, 49ers
2. Emmett Johnson, Chiefs
3. Braelon Allen, Jets
4. Brian Robinson Jr., Falcons
5. Dylan Sampson, Browns
6. Chris Rodriguez, Jaguars
7. Sione Vaki, Lions
8. Ray Davis, Bills
9. Samaje Perine, Bengals
10. Seth McGowan, Colts

Top Streaming Defense

Jaguars (vs. Colts)

27% Rostered

Fresh off a bye, the Jaguars DST draws a favorable matchup against a Colts offense that's averaged just 17.3 points over its past three games. Daniel Jones has thrown an INT in six of seven starts and ranks 10th in sacks taken per game (2.71).

That's a promising setup for Jacksonville, which ranks third in DST scoring and second in INTs per game (1.17). The Jaguars also enter as 7.5-point favorites, potentially forcing Jones into more passing situations.

Scoop up Jacksonville wherever available.

Top Streaming Kickers

1. Brandon McManus, Rams
2. Tyler Bass, Bills
3. Andres Borregales, Patriots

Drops

Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals

Allgeier has managed only 2.9 yards per carry for the season. And he’s only narrowly out-carried Zonovan Knight, 26-22, over the past two weeks. Jeremiyah Love’s expected return for Week 8 only makes Allgeier more expendable.

Wan’Dale Robinson, Tennessee Titans

Robinson’s 2026 outlook depended on strong target volume and Cam Ward improving. He has gotten neither of those. Robinson’s on pace for only 104 targets and has fallen short of 25 receiving yards in three of his past four outings. Ward’s struggles remain a major obstacle, with averages of just 5.7 yards per attempt and 168.4 passing yards per game.

Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

Ferguson failed to catch his only target in Monday’s win over Philly. Since Week 3, the veteran TE has now posted yardage totals of 23, 11, 19, 13, and 0.