Players to Pick Up Now – Week 8

We had bye week hell last week, so I know it was tough to pick up players to stash, but we still had some good ones that hit.

First, let’s look at the players that we suggested to pick up last week. The biggest player that hit was Allen Lazard, who ended up being a decent add in Week 8. Although he was a big add, he ended up being placed on the COVID list and did not play in his Thursday night game:

Allen Lazard: Week 7 Results – 6 Targets, 5 Receptions, 60 Rec Yards, 1 TD (14.50 Fantasy Points)

Trey Sermon: Week 7 Results – Not one touch, drop him for good now.

Will Fuller V: Week 7 Results – DNP, on IR. More of a stash for when he comes back.

Russell Gage: Week 7 Results – 6 Targets, 4 Receptions, 67 Rec Yards, 1 TD (14.70 Fantasy Points)

Now let’s get to the other players out there that could have a big week and who you should grab before it is too late. Now I am not saying these guys will for sure break out this week, and if you pick them up you should keep them at the end of your bench, and if they don’t do anything, just drop them at the end of the day. But these guys could hit big and then next week you aren’t scrapping for them with FAAB bids against multiple other league managers.

DeVante Parker – 34% Owned

Parker has missed the last 3 weeks with a hamstring injury, but all signs point to him suiting up in Week 8 against the Bills. Right off the bat, he has a tough matchup for his first week back as the Bills secondary is one of the best in the league. In his first 4 games he had double digit fantasy points twice and even the bad weeks, he still gave you 6 (blame that on Jacoby Brissett). Parker may not play his full snap count like he is used to, and I do expect them to ease him in, but if he shows no setbacks during the game, I like him going forward. We are all thinking it, so I will say it. IF Watson is dealt to Miami, Parker’s value goes though the roof

Evan Engram – 31% Owned

Now this is not a player I want to go grab and start this week, even though he has a nice matchup against the Chiefs, but Engram has been in trade talks heading towards the November 2nd deadline. If Engram gets moved, he could finally go to a team who is able to use his skill set. He is a freak athlete, but he just does not fit in to the Giants offensive plans going forward. Now it all depends where he ends up, but there are TE needy teams in the NFL. A good spot would be the Panthers as they have not had that legit TE since Greg Olsen. If the Panthers end up landing Watson AND Engram, look out!

David Johnson (48% Owned) & Phillip Lindsay (16% Owned)

Mark Ingram has been dealt to the Saints, leaving the door open for Johnson or Lindsay. With Johnson already being a part of the offense for the last 2 seasons, I would lean on him out of the two to pick up first, but both could end up being 1A and 1B in the backfield. No RB has done much of anything when Ingram was there, but maybe they end up just using 2 RBs instead of the 3 RBs they used all season so far. This is a wait and see and if you are desperate I would start DJ this week, but I would rather keep them on the bench to see how the backfield shakes up.

Boston Scott (17% Owned) & Jordan Howard (1% Owned)

Miles Sanders has now been placed on the IR, which means he will miss a minimum of 3 weeks for the Eagles. Kenneth Gainwell is the one that should take on a larger role in the backfield, but Scott and Howard should also take on some more work, it just depends who will be a better pick up. I would lean Scott first as a stash and if Scott is not available, stash Howard for one week to see what he does. Scott and Gainwell are not in between the tackle runners, so Howard could take on the early down and goal line role. If that is the case, Howard may have some relevance until Sanders comes back.

THE WRAP UP

Those are the few players I wanted to talk about this week and again, if none of them pan out, just cut them for other waiver wire adds next week. The two teams on byes this week are the Ravens and Raiders. Some players may have been dropped on both sides, or may still be available to stash for when they come off the bye. If Rashod Bateman is still out there, he is worth a stash as I see a promising second half out of the rookie WR. Other players to note are Hunter Renfrow, Bryan Edwards, Latavius Murray, and Devonta Freeman.