The seventh week of the 2016 regular season is just about coming to a close with only the Monday Night Football game remaining. Most fantasy football leagues will run their waiver wires late Tuesday or early Wednesday, but we are here to help you get a jump on the best options to consider.
We will be ranking the top five players likely to be available in your league at each of the four major positions. Some weeks there might not be five good options available, but we’ll scour for the best we can find. Additionally, throughout the week, we will update each of these articles as ownership percentages change (via Yahoo!) and news arrives.
Waiver wire wide receiver rankings, Week 8
1. Jamison Crowder, Washington (37 percent owned)
Crowder has been the primary beneficiary of Jordan Reed’s absence. He had three receptions for 52 yards and a touchdown in Week 6, and followed that up with seven receptions for 108 yards in Week 7. Reed is expected back soon, but Crowder should not be abandoned quite yet. He holds some flex and bye week/injury replacement potential for the time being.
2. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers (18 percent owned)
Adams led Packers pass catchers in targets, and finished Week 7 with 13 receptions for 132 yards and two touchdowns. He will not be the leading fantasy receiver most of the time, but Rodgers is finding him in the end zone. Adams has a touchdown in four of six games, and has had double-digit totals two of the past three weeks. He gets plus matchups the next two weeks at Atlanta and at home against Indianapolis.
3. Brandon LaFell, Cincinnati Bengals (12 percent owned)
LaFell was second on the team with five targets in Week 7, and he took advantage of them. He finished with four receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown. He is the clear No. 2 wide receiver, but the return of Tyler Eifert means he will lose targets to the tight end. He still holds some WR3/WR4 value heading into a Week 8 matchup with Washington.
4. Kenny Stills, Miami Dolphins (7 percent owned)
Stills finished Week 7 with 100 yards and a touchdown thanks primarily to a 66-yard touchdown reception. He is another boom-or-bust option, but after the team’s Week 8 bye, he faces some bad defenses, including the New York Jets and San Diego Chargers.
5. Marquise Goodwin, Buffalo Bills (4 percent owned)
Robert Woods missed Week 7 with a foot injury, and with no participation in practice all week, his status for Week 8 is in question. Goodwin became the de facto No. 1 receiver, and benefited with seven targets. He finished the game with four receptions for 93 yards and a touchdown. The bulk of his yards came on a 63-yard touchdown. He is the definition of a boom-or-bust option.