Here are my top recommended waiver wire and streaming targets ahead of the coming week. Waiver Wire targets are designed to be multi-week roster-worthy options while streaming options are designed to be one-week lineup options based on matchup, injuries, and/or situation. To be eligible as a waiver wire target, streaming option, or stash, the player must be available in over 60% of Yahoo leagues.
See If They're Available:
There are always a few players that don't technically make the cut here as a waiver wire option as they're available in under 60% of leagues, but these players should be on a roster. If they're not on a roster yet, they should be a higher priority than those listed as waiver wire targets below.
Jauan Jennings (WR - San Francisco 49ers)
He was inactive yet again in Week 8 with a lingering hip injury, so there's an off-chance he was dropped in desparation this week, only being rostered in 59% of leagues right now, but you need to make sure if he's available, you're putting in a claim for him.
I said it last week and I'll say it again - Jennings was the WR6 through the first month of the season and had 11+ points in three of the first four games of the season. He needs to be rostered as the team's WR2 going forward beyond the Week 10 bye.
Jalen McMillan (WR - Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
It's a coin flip if he's still sitting on waivers in your leagues (rostered in just 49% of leagues), but it was made pretty clear who Baker Mayfield's preferred weapon (beyond Cade Otton) was in the absence of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin/
McMillan led the Bucs' WR corps in targets (7), opportunities (8), and catches (4), and despite a somewhat underwhelming 9.2-point performance on that volume, he projects very favorably at least for the near future with Mike Evans potentially out through the team's Week 11 bye.
Josh Downs (WR - Indianapolis Colts)
Downs returned to his prior illustrious fantasy production, hitting 22+ points on 4 catches, 122 total yards, and a long TD catch.
After three consecutive games of 9+ targets and 15+ points alongside Joe Flacco, the return of Anthony Richardson last week left a sour taste in fantasy managers' mouths with a measly 1 catch (on 3 targets) for 3 yards from Downs.
While he did only record 4 catches and had all of his production come on a 69-yard TD, the 10 targets with Richardson at QB is a positive. He's distanced himself as the definitive WR1 in the Colts' offense, which means either Richardson will become more accurate, increasing a hit rate on Downs' targets, or the team will turn back to Flacco.
Make sure he didn't find his way onto waivers after his bust performance last week.
Top Waiver Wire Targets of the Week:
These are your players to target on waivers this week - these aren't typically supposed to be a one-week solution but rather a longer-term answer for your team.
Cedric Tillman (WR - Cleveland Browns)
Well, it looks like last week (8 catches, 12 targets) wasn't a fluke for Tillman and he truly is going to be a go-to target of Jameis Winston, tallying 7 catches for 99 yards and 2 TDs on 9 targets this week (28.9 points).
He and Winston have an apparent rapport, making Tillman a borderline FLEX option for the foreseeable future, especially with the offense likely to gain some more traction as Winston gets more comfortable as the starter going forward.
Elijah Moore (WR - Cleveland Browns)
Moore was the other side of a highly-productive WR duo in Cleveland this week, leading the Browns' offense in targets (12) and catches (8) this week, posting a comfortable 8-85-0 (16.5-point) stat line against the Ravens.
It's still TBD whether Moore will be the primary target of Winston (having led the team in targets this week) or if he may be the WR2/3 in the pecking order alongside Tillman and Jerry Jeudy, but regardless, it appears that Winston's history of highly-productive and high-volume receiving weapons for fantasy has continued in Cleveland.
Moore's worth the gamble on waivers as a best-case scenario of a WR2/WR3 option in PPR formats and a worst-case scenario of a comfortable WR4/WR5 option on benches.
Ricky Pearsall (WR - San Francisco 49ers)
He was already going to be the WR3 on the 49ers for the foreseeable future with Brandon Aiyuk sidelined, but now there's the possibility that he's the team's short-term WR2 if Deebo Samuel, who has been injured repeatedly this season and exited Week 8 with a rib injury, were to miss any time.
Even if Deebo doesn't miss any time following the 49ers' Week 9 bye, Pearsall should still be a relatively solid WR4 and borderline-FLEX option in matchup-based situations.
The 2024 1st Round pick has steadily been integrated more into the offense, posting 7 catches for 59 yards on 9 targets through his first two NFL games (plus a big 39-yard run this past week).
Zach Ertz (TE - Washington Commanders)
Ertz just continues to be a safe, secure, and consistent fantasy option at TE, having posted another strong game with 7 catches for 77 yards (on 11 targets), even in a game that wasn't necessarily pass-friendly in game script.
That now makes 3+ catches and 4+ targets in all but one game this season and a top-12 finish in five of eight games. Unless you have a Brock Bowers/Travis Kelce-type TE, I'd strongly recommend putting Ertz on your bench (or even into your lineup). Very few TEs offer his weekly floor, and that's something that can't be emphasized enough as the TE position remains extremely inconsistent.
Michael Wilson (WR - Arizona Cardinals)
Wilson has very quietly emerged as a featured weapon in the Cardinals' offense, registering his fourth game in the last six weeks of 6+ targets and 10+ points with a 5-31-1 (on 6 targets) stat line in Week 8.
He's not a 'home run' type of player, either in reality or in fantasy, but he is establishing himself as a borderline matchup-based FLEX option in PPR formats as the 4th weapon in this Cardinals' offense. That's all you can really ask for at this point in the season off of waivers at the WR position beyond the top options.
Xavier Legette (WR - Carolina Panthers)
We got a look at Legette in the WR1 role in Carolina with Diontae Johnson sidelined this week and Adam Thielen still on IR, posting a modest 4 for 34 and a TD (on 7 targets) in his debut as the lead WR.
It wasn't anything crazy, but it was his third game in a month where he posted a TD and 11+ points. That's a sign of confidence going forward with the realistic possibility that Diontae Johnson doesn't make it through the trade deadline as a Panther and the potential for Carolina to go back to Andy Dalton at QB (who was out this week due to a car accident).
He's a low-risk, high-upside investment to stash as a WR4/5 on your bench.
Matthew Stafford (QB - Los Angeles Rams)
It was ugly for Stafford for the first 7 weeks of the season, failing to hit 15+ points in any game in that stretch in large part due to Puka Nacua being sidelined in the opening half of the season and Cooper Kupp being forced out in Week 2.
Week 8 spelled the return of not one but both of his elite WRs, and Stafford looked like he was supposed to, throwing for 279 yards and 4 TDs en route to a 25-point performance and a top-5 finish on the week.
His remaining schedule isn't great from an SOS perspective, but it looks like it will force him into a pass-heavy game script more often than not, drawing Seattle, Miami, Philly, Buffalo, and San Francisco in 5 of his next 7 games.
There's no reason to believe he won't be a top-15 (and potentially even a top-12) fantasy QB for the remainder of the season should both of his WRs remain healthy.
Hunter Henry (TE - New England Patriots)
Since Drake Maye took over 3 weeks ago, Hunter Henry has posted 16 catches on 20 targets for 178 yards and 1 TD, hitting 13+ points in two of those three games and a 9.5-point performance this past week. Maye did exit in Week 8, but it shouldn't be a long-term thing as it is a concussion that should only keep him sidelined for a week at most.
Like Ertz (see above), TE consistency, especially in target volume, is a rarity beyond the top guys. If you have even a slight need at TE, Henry should be a potential add.
Bo Nix (QB - Denver Broncos)
Don't look now but Bo Nix has very quietly been the QB7 over the last six weeks, hitting 19+ points in four of those six games and 20+ points in three of his last four.
It hasn't even been purely through the air. He's tallied 6+ fantasy points via the ground in six of eight games this season. No other quarterback has done that this season, not even Lamar Jackson.
It might get ugly in the short term with road matchups at Baltimore and Kansas City in the next two weeks, but the long-term outlook looks very promising for Nix as a QB2 option.
Parker Washington (WR - Jacksonville Jaguars)
We saw flashes of Washington's potential last year when Christian Kirk was forced out, throwing up a 6-61-1 stat line last year when Kirk exited the game. Kirk suffered a season-ending collarbone injury this past week and Washington was immediately plugged into that spot, drawing 4 targets and converting for 3 catches and 46 yards.
He's not going to be a startable option (at least not in traditional-sized leagues) down the stretch, but he could very easily emerge as a PPR-friendly option in the short term purely off of the fact that there aren't any other weapons in the Jaguars' offense... Christian Kirk is out for the season. Brian Thomas Jr. is expected out for at least a week or two. Gabe Davis exited with a shoulder injury.
Jacksonville draws a favorable matchup against Philly next week, so Washington could be a desperation start, but at the very least, Washington could be a viable stash.
Top Streaming Options of the Week:
These aren't the same as waiver wire targets. Yes, you are still getting these players off waivers, but these are purely the best options for this week and this week only. Players can be a streaming option and a waiver wire target, which means they're a solid option to play this upcoming week and potentially beyond.
Quarterbacks:
Matthew Stafford (at SEA)
Bo Nix (at BAL)
Derek Carr (at CAR)
Runningbacks:
Tyler Allgeier (vs DAL)
Braelon Allen (vs HOU)
Jaleel McLaughlin (at BAL)
Wide Receivers:
Cedric Tillman (vs LAC)
Michael Wilson (vs CHI)
Elijah Moore (vs LAC)
Tight Ends:
Zach Ertz (at NYG)
Hunter Henry (at TEN)
Taysom Hill (at CAR)
Defense/Special Teams:
New Orleans Saints (at CAR)
Cincinnati Bengals (vs LV)
Tennessee Titans (vs NE)
Top Stashes Ahead of Next Week:
These aren't players that you should be playing this week, but rather ones that have greater potential to be a solid option and likely end up being a waiver wire target sometime down the line. You won't see immediate value but these are the guys that possibly could go under the radar and see a notable role shortly.
DJ Turner (WR - Las Vegas Raiders)
Brandin Cooks (WR - Dallas Cowboys)
Taysom Hill (TE - New Orleans Saints)
Blake Corum (RB - Los Angeles Rams)