Players to Pick Up Now – Week 8

I started this article last year and I think it was a success. Long story short, I am going to point out a few players each week to pick up now before you have to spend FAAB or a high waiver claim going into the following week. These are players who are owned in less than 50% of leagues that you can pick up before Sunday kickoff who have the chance to become a high waiver wire player.

Alec Pierce (IND-WR) – 41% Owned

Alec Pierce has been a waiver wire add for a few weeks, but he still is under 50% owned. Sure, he had a down week last week with only 5.20 points (Half PPR), but before that, he scored in double digit points three weeks in a row. There will be a change at QB with Matt Ryan benched and Sam Ehlinger becoming the new starter. We are not sure how the offense will look with the new starter, but I am not chasing the Parris Campbell points from Week 7 and I do believe Pierce is still the WR2 on the season going forward.

Jeff Wilson Jr. (SF-RB) – 36% Owned

Jeff Wilson did a fine job filling in for the Niners since Week 2 after Elijah Mitchell went down, but with CMC now with the team, Wilson was likely dropped in several leagues. There have been talks that teams have reached out to the Niners about trading for Jeff Wilson, so I want to hold him until the NFL trade deadline which is next week. If he does end up on a RB needy team, he could have success. Even if he stays with the Niners, he will be a solid handcuff to CMC until Mitchell gets back.

Joshua Palmer (LAC-WR) – 23% Owned

Palmer has 3 games this season with double digit points, but he did miss Week 7 with a concussion. The biggest reason why I am grabbing him where I can is because Mike Williams is going to miss at least 4 weeks with a high ankle sprain. Palmer slides right in to the WR2 role behind Keenan Allen for the Chargers and should see plenty of opportunity until Mike Williams gets back. They are also on a bye week, so it could be even easier to grab and stash him in your leagues.

Van Jefferson (LAR-WR) – 17% Owned

Van Jefferson is making his season debut this week for the Rams and we have seen some poor play out of Allen Robinson this season. If Robinson continues to struggle, Jefferson could step in to the WR2 role with the Rams. You need to grab him now and keep him on your bench this week. If he does do well and it looks like he has a big role going forward, you got this guy for free because he could be a top waiver guy heading in to Week 9 that you will have to spend FAAB on.

THE WRAP UP

Those are the few players I like this week for pickups before they hit the waiver wire. These are players that are worth a spot on your bench and if they don’t hit, then they are easy drops going into Week 5. But you might as well take a shot on these guys in case they actually do hit. I will be doing this article every week before the Sunday games so make sure you keep up with it throughout the season!