NFL Waiver Wire: Week 8 Pickups

I apologize for the hiatus last week but unfortunately a small health issue popped up. Apparently a resting heart beat isn't supposed to be at 150 beats per minute and my cardiologist sent me to the ER. Fortunately, everything is cleared up and I now get to carry around a dose of Flecainide everywhere I go. Thanks to RotoWire colleague Jim Coventry for pinch hitting. Anyway, let's get back to some waiver-wire pickups for this week. There's finally a running back I'm in love with. His name rhymes with "My Ronson."

QUARTERBACK

SECONDARY OPTIONS

Matt Moore, KC - It sounds like we won't see Patrick Mahomes at least for the next three weeks, leaving Moore to take over under center for the Chiefs. Of all the "replacement" quarterbacks we could see this week, Moore is my favorite. Andy Reid has had success with merely average quarterbacks who have a fantasy advantage being in his system. Moore will get an important week of practice in with the first stringers and has a lot of talent at both running back and the receiving positions. FAAB: $4-$8

Ryan Tannehill, TEN - Tannehill narrowly got the win Sunday, needing some late-game heroics from the Titans defense to hang on for the victory. He'll keep the starting job this week and gets a juicy matchup against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and its main strength is stopping the run. Tannehill threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns against the Chargers, so he has some upside if you need a one-week streamer. FAAB: $3-$6

Hail Mary

Matt Schaub, ATL - It's unclear how bad Matt Ryan's ankle injury is and whether he left Sunday's game as a precautionary measure with the Falcons getting blown out so badly. If Ryan misses time it'll be Schaub who steps in on a team that needs to put up points to stay in games. Austin Hooper is easily a top-5 tight end, Julio Jones is easily a top-5 wide receiver and wideout Calvin Ridley is capable of putting up big games any week.  Mohamed Sanu was traded Tuesday, but Justin Hardy, who has been extremely efficient in limited opportunities, should step into the slot-receiver role. Watch to see how long Ryan will be out or if he even misses any time. FAAB: $1-$2

RUNNING BACK

PRIMARY TARGETS

Ty Johnson, DET - Johnson was listed earlier this season as one of the players to stash on your bench in case of an injury. Kerryon Johnson went down with a knee injury Sunday and Johnson picked up the slack with 14 touches for 57 yards against a stout Vikings defense. Some background on Johnson: at his Pro Day at Maryland he ran a 4.26 40 and averaged 7.6 yards per carry as a Terrapin. He can handle the passing work out of the backfield, and while J.D. McKissic (throw a buck or two at him in PPR formats) will get some touches, the bulk of the workload should go to Johnson. The immediate schedule looks good as well with the Giants and the Raiders coming up the next two weeks. FAAB: $30-$60 (Yes, be this aggressive, you can bet Kerryon's owner will be)

Chase Edmonds, ARI - I was a little surprised he was only at 48 percent ownership given he scored in each of his previous two games while gaining at least 67 yards from scrimmage in each of those contests as well. He had a career day Sunday and finished as the top scoring running back with 126 rushing yards, 24 receiving yards and three touchdowns. The only reason to pump the brakes is the next four games are difficult with San Francisco (twice), New Orleans and Tampa Bay on the schedule. All three of those teams rank in the top 5 in fewest fantasy points allowed to  running backs. Still, the Cardinals auditioned running backs Monday, suggesting David Johnson could miss multiple weeks with his ankle injury. FAAB: $20-$40

SECONDARY TARGETS

Benny Snell, PIT - Watch to see how this week goes with the running back usage in practice. Jaylen Samuels just had surgery, so he'll be out, and James Conner's status remains to be seen. He couldn't finish the last game, so the rookie out of Kentucky could get the starting nod and be in for a big workload against the hapless Dolphins. If that happens, consider him a top-15 back this week — and that might be a conservative estimate. FAAB: $4-$8

Kareem Hunt, CLE - Now is the last time to get Hunt at a reasonable price as he's still two weeks away from returning. He's resumed practicing with the team and logic would indicate while Nick Chubb is an elite back, the Browns didn't take the PR hit signing Hunt and waiting eight weeks to let him sit the bench. Expecting him to take the backup role immediately is reasonable, which likely will earn him 5-7 touches once he returns. He's one of the better players to have stashed in case anything happens to Chubb. He's owned in 52 percent of Yahoo leagues, so don't be surprised if he's already gone. FAAB: $4-$8

Brian Hill, ATL - I'll never understand a player punching another player in the head when that person is wearing a helmet. Seems like a good way to break your hand. That's exactly what Devonta Freeman did to Aaron Donald Sunday to get ejected early in the game. Backup Ito Smith then got hurt, putting Hill in a spot to get his most touches of the season (seven). There's a chance Freeman could be suspended for this week's game and Smith has already been ruled out. Without those two running backs available, Hill could take on a workhorse role in the offense as the main ball carrier. Just keep in mind he's likely a one-week rental. FAAB: $3-$6

WIDE RECEIVER

SECONDARY TARGETS

Corey Davis, A.J. Brown, TEN - The switch to Ryan Tannehill seemed to work for both of these players, each of whom had decent games Sunday. Davis had a season-high seven targets against the Chargers and  parlayed those targets into a 6-80-1 line. Brown finished with a team-high eight targets, turning those into 6-64. This week, both are interesting plays against Tampa Bay, a team that gives up the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers. The key for both is consistency, something that might happen as long as Tannehill is calling the plays. FAAB: Davis $4-$8; Brown $3-$6

Phillip Dorsett, NE - He found the end zone Monday night on a perfect throw from Tom Brady and it appears Josh Gordon could miss some time. The Patriots traded for Mohamed Sanu on Tuesday, indicating the Gordon injury could cause a multi-week absence. Dorsett clearly has the trust of Brady more than any receiver not named Edelman. While the schedule will get tougher, that could help the passing game with Brady needing to throw more in the second half of tighter games. FAAB: $4-$8

Zach Pascal, IND - I'm not sure what was more unbelievable this week: Chase Edmonds finishing as the top-scoring running back or Pascal finishing as the second-highest scoring wide receiver. Pascal found the end zone twice Sunday en route to a 6-106-2 line and might be the second-best receiving option for the Colts after T.Y. Hilton. Don't go too crazy on bids; see if the chemistry between Pascal and Jacoby Brissett continues. FAAB: $3-$6

DEFENSE

SECONDARY TARGETS

Pittsburgh D/ST - The Steelers are coming off a bye, looked great against the Chargers and face the Miami Dolphins at home this week. In other words, here's the best team to stream for fantasy purposes. However, more owners are savvy when it comes to streaming these days as Pittsburgh is owned in 47 percent of Yahoo leagues. FAAB: $2-$4