Teams on BYE: NONE
Here are some early targets that are of interest. For the purposes of this article, I will assume your league uses $1000 FAAB. The newer names for each position are on the bottom of each positional listing. Please note that these names are not in order of preference, so look over the list carefully.
Bo Nix, Broncos
He’s not going to throw for a ton of yards or passing TDs, but there is a significant rushing upside, and the team is playing better each week. FAAB: $15-20
Drake Maye, Patriots
Maye will have plenty of ups and downs, but the garbage time production will be enjoyable. FAAB: $10-15
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
There’s a good chance he is starting in Week 8. He is always at risk of injury, but he has some of the best skill weapons in the league. FAAB: $30-35
Russell Wilson, Steelers
Mike Tomlin decided to let Russ cook—and he did. After looking atrocious in the first quarter, Wilson settled down and started to perform surgery on the Jets’ secondary. Wilson is not a starter in a 12-team league, but he certainly is in Superflex formats. FAAB: $15-20
Jameis Winston, Browns
The only way Deshaun Watson was going to be replaced was if he got injured—and sadly, this occurred against the Bengals. Watson is out for the season, and Winston will likely be named starter. There could be some rumblings about Dorian Thompson-Robinson getting the start, but it feels like the team wants Winston. I do, too, for fantasy purposes. FAAB: $20-25
Drew Lock, Giants
Will Brian Daboll be willing to replace Jones, who looked horrible against the Eagles? If so, will Lock be appreciably better? I doubt it. FAAB: $1-2
Gardner Minshew, Raiders
Aidan O’Connell has been placed on the IR with a thumb injury, leaving the QB1 job to Minshew, who had it to begin the season. Minshew is erratic and throws into traffic a ton. He might have more INTs than TDs each week. FAAB: $2-3
Mason Rudolph, Titans
Will Levis is week-to-week with a shoulder injury, but my guess is that he will miss at least 1-2 more games. Rudolph is useable only in 16-team leagues. FAAB:$1-2
Braelon Allen, Jets
Allen is Hall’s backup, and if he’s available in leagues, you need to pick him up RIGHT NOW! He’s difficult to stop when he gets a head of steam going. FAAB: $100-125
Ray Davis, Bills
He is the perfect complement for James Cook and would easily be productive if needed to start. FAAB: $100-125
Justice Hill, Ravens
He will be relied upon when the Ravens are in the two-minute drill or obvious passing situations. FAAB: $45-50
Emanuel Wilson, Packers
With Marshawn Lloyd on the IR, he is the handcuff to Josh Jacobs. LaFleur likes to rotate backs more than most coaches. FAAB: $15-20 (an extra $5 if you have Jacobs)
Tyrone Tracy, Giants
He looked way more explosive than Singletary has all season. Daboll has a history with Singletary, but Tracy has obviously earned touches. FAAB: $150-160
Kendre Miller, Saints
He’s buried deep on the depth chart, and Dennis Allen is frustrated with his inability to stay healthy, but he has talent, and Jamaal Williams is washed. If Kamara gets traded, Miller’s value will skyrocket. FAAB: $25-30
Audric Estime, Broncos
Denver activated him off the IR, and Sean Payton always rotates his running backs. FAAB: $20-25
Kimani Vidal, Chargers
If JK Dobbins gets injured, they won’t get Vidal out of the lineup. FAAB: $80-100
Dameon Pierce, Texans
Mixon is still the man, but Houston wants to get Pierce the football a few times each. FAAB: $5-10
Tyler Goodson, Colts
There’s no guarantee that Jonathan Taylor will be ready to play in Week 8, so it might be smart to add Goodson, who has looked better than Sermon, especially by the goal line. FAAB:$50-55
Blake Corum, Rams
He is likely rostered in 99% of leagues, but if he is miraculously available in your league, he is a must-add. He is the RB2 to Kyren Williams, who regularly sees 20+ touches each week. Corum might be a top 15 play if he happens to start. FAAB: $100-125
Zamir White, Raiders
Alexander Mattison has been solid over the past three games, but something tells me that Antonio Pierce is going to give White another shot to be the starter. It might be worth a few dollars in case that happens. FAAB:$15-20
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Chiefs
Kareem Hunt looks good, but we know that Andy Reid has a soft spot for CEH, so he might be worth a stash. FAAB:$5-10
Ray Ray McCloud, Falcons
Ray Ray is a shifty slot WR, and he could see some looks every game Atlanta is in hurry-up offense mode. FAAB: $20-25
KaVontae Turpin, Cowboys
He’s terrific in leagues that give points for return yardage, plus he’s often out there when Dallas is in garbage time. FAAB: $15-20
Tim Patrick, Lions
Recently signed by the Lions to be their WR3. He’s always had talent but can’t seem to stay healthy. It is worth an extra buck if you have St. Brown or Jameson Williams. Williams will miss two games with suspension, so Patrick could have extra value over the next couple of weeks. FAAB: $15-20
Troy Franklin, Broncos
He was Nix’s main target in college, and it seems like with Josh Reynolds on IR they are trying to get him in the mix. FAAB: $15-20
Devaughn Vele, Broncos
He’s a big receiver who could be a nice red-zone target for Nix. FAAB: $10-15
Noah Brown, Commanders
There are a lot of bodies in Washington, but Brown is good against man coverage, and it appears like Daniels likes throwing to him. FAAB: $5-10
DJ Turner, Raiders
Turner becomes the WR3 with Adams now in New York. FAAB: $5-10
Bub Means, Saints
He was a talented receiver in college, and the Saints just lost Shaheed to a season-ending injury. He will be inconsistent, but I like his upside. FAAB: $40-50
Mason Tipton, Saints
Means might be more talented, but Tipton will get about 50-60% of snaps. FAAB: $10-15
Jalen McMillan, Bucs
He’s healthy again, and Mike Evans is dealing with a hamstring injury, and Chris Godwin was injured in the final minute of the game. He was a beast at the University of Washington last season, and Tampa is going to need him now. FAAB: $250-300
Trey Palmer/Sterling Shepard, Bucs
With Evans and Godwin likely out for a while, the Bucs are going to rely on McMillan, Palmer, and Shepard to be their primary receivers. Palmer has experience with Mayfield and has some upside. Shepard, the former Giants star, is back in the league and should see a handful of targets each week. He gets injured a lot but is a great route runner. FAAB: Palmer $50-75, Shepard $45-65
Cedric Tillman, Browns
Tillman is an exciting outside receiver who should see at least 6 to 8 targets per game with Winston as the quarterback. FAAB: $40-45
Ricky Pearsall, 49ers
Pearsall is a fantastic young receiver with terrific speed and excellent hands. I expect a lot of playing time for him, especially with Aiyuk out for the season. FAAB: $60-65
Jacob Cowing, 49ers
Keep your eyes on Cowing, who is a young rookie receiver from the University of Arizona. He’s very fast, and I think there is some Zay flowers in his game. FAAB: $5-10
Mecole Hardman, Chiefs
The Chiefs are desperate for another receiver, and it was a little surprising to see how often Hardman touched the ball against San Francisco. Mahomes knows him well after all these years, so it wouldn’t shock me to see him get three to five touches per week. FAAB:$5-10
Jalen Coker, Panthers
He is the new WR3 for a team that throws a lot in garbage time. FAAB: $5-10
Kayshon Boutte, Patriots
Douglas and Polk left the game last week with injuries, so there’s a chance that Boutte might be the new starter. He excels in man coverage. FAAB:$5-10
Jake Bobo, Seahawks
Only worth a pickup if DK Metcalf were to miss this week due to his knee injury. FAAB:$5-10
Van Jefferson, Steelers
Had zero value with Justin Fields starting but now has some minor value with Russell Wilson as QB1. FAAB:$1-3
Cedrick Wilson, Saints
Someone is going to need to emerge for the Saints to replace Shaheed, and Wilson has the most experience out of all the other guys who are not named Olave. FAAB: $5-10
Odell Beckham, Jr., Dolphins
He’s back, he’s healthy, and Tua is expected to return in Week 8. FAAB: $3-5
Noah Gray, Chiefs
Gray is a solid pass catcher and runs good routes. If Kelce were to ever get hurt, he would easily be a top-ten player at the position. FAAB: $25-35
Erick All, Jr., Bengals
He’s only a rookie, but I love what I am seeing as a blocker and occasional receiver. The Bengals are splitting snaps with him and Mike Gesicki. FAAB: $5-10
Austin Hooper, Patriots
We all know tight ends are great security blankets for young QBs. FAAB: $1-3
Lucas Krull, Broncos
Greg Dulcich was inactive against the Chargers, and there was talk that Sean Payton wanted Krull to be the starter before a preseason injury. FAAB: $5-10
Grant Calceterra, Eagles
Dallas Goedert strained his hamstring against Cleveland, and Calceterra came in and performed well. FAAB: $25-30
Ja’Tavion Sanders, Panthers
So long as Andy Dalton remains the starter and so long as Tommy Tremble is out, Sanders will have 8-10 points per week value. FAAB: $10-15
Will Dissly, Chargers
Hayden Hurst’s injury should give Dissly a chance to have 3-5 targets per game. FAAB:$3-5
Taysom Hill, Saints
The Saints are in shambles, so Hill will be used often when he returns. I’m listing him here in case he was dropped after missing the last few weeks. FAAB: $50-60
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
With Mike Evans and Chris Godwin getting injured on Monday night, Otton is going to have a much bigger role in the offense. He caught 8 passes on 10 targets for 100 yards in the week 7 loss.
Noah Fant, Seahawks
No team has a higher PROE than the Seahawks. Fant is on the field for tons of snaps, and Geno looks his way a decent amount. FAAB: $5-10
Denver (vs. Carolina)
I love any defense against Carolina, but especially Denver, who has been terrific recently. FAAB: $10-15
Detroit (vs. Tennessee)
Use anyone against the Titans horrible QB. FAAB: $10-15
Chicago (vs. Washington IF Mariota starts)
The Bears have been stingy this season, and Mariota is streaky and could make multiple mistakes. FAAB: $5-10
