We've put a bow on Week 6 of the 2022 NFL season and as head coach Bill Belichick would say, we are on to Week 7. Now it's time to gaze into the crystal ball and see which players we should target on the waiver wire now for a big payoff later.
Reminder: Just two teams (Chiefs and Chargers) are on bye in Week 8, though both are chock-full of fantasy relevant players. You will need to find one-week replacements for Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, Austin Ekeler and Gerald Everett.
Week 8 Early Waiver Wire Targets
QB Daniel Jones, Giants (37% rostered)
Jones was solid in the Giants’ 24-20 upset victory over the Ravens to help New York improve to 5-1. He completed 19-of-27 attempts for 173 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions and rushed six times for six yards.
The QB15 on the season, Jones should be considered a high-end QB2 or streaming option this week against the Jaguars. He has an even juicier Week 8 matchup on the road against the Seahawks, whose defense ranks bottom seven in pass DVOA and has allowed the 11th most fantasy points to quarterbacks this year.
For Mahomes or Herbert managers looking ahead, Jones is likely the best widely available option with relatively high upside in a plush matchup.
WR Elijah Moore, Jets (47%)
In spite of injuries and poor quarterback play, Moore had a good rookie season in 2021. He showed flashes of greatness over 11 games and caught 43-of-77 targets for 538 yards and five receiving touchdowns (WR44 in half PPR).
This season has not gone quite as well.
Moore, who was viewed as a Year 2 breakout candidate, was mediocre when Joe Flacco was under center, surprising given how often the team was throwing the ball at the time. His stats, along with those of all the other Jets' pass-catchers, have only worsened since Zach Wilson took over.
In Week 6, Moore laid a goose egg as he was not targeted once and saw a season-low 58% of snaps, all of which contributed toward his public frustrations with the team.
It was announced on Thursday that Moore had requested a trade due to lack of targets. The Jets remain steadfast that Moore will not be traded, but will not play this week against the Broncos either.
This is a developing situation, and regardless of what head coach Robert Saleh says, it's not out of the question that Moore could be on the move with the trade deadline nearing. Most teams would be an upgrade, at least in terms of quarterback, which makes him interesting for fantasy once again. He could be a nice stash if he ends up in the right spot (see: Kansas City, Baltimore).
WR Tyquan Thornton, Patriots (10%)
Thornton turned heads in the second game of his NFL career. The rookie hauled in 4-of-5 targets for 37 yards and a touchdown and tacked on three carries for 16 yards and a rushing touchdown.
Thornton missed the first four games of the year due to a fractured clavicle he suffered in the preseason. The Baylor product, who stands at 6-foot-2 and 182 pounds, was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He is freakishly fast and nearly set a combine record with an unofficial 4.21-second 40-yard dash, which was later officially ruled 4.28 seconds.
The speed demon could absolutely be worth stashing on benches for now, especially as New England's quarterback situation plays out. He would be a very attractive add in keeper formats, as the Patriots currently lack a true alpha wide receiver.
WR Ben Skowronek, Rams (2%)
The Rams are on bye for Week 7, but if you have the roster space, Skowronek could be worth an add. He had a nice fantasy day in Week 6 against the Panthers, hauling in all five of his targets for 40 yards. He also tacked on a 17-yard rushing touchdown and was the WR15 in half-PPR scoring.
The 2021 seventh rounder from Notre Dame is participating in 84% of snaps and has seen a 13% target share (tied with Allen Robinson) over six games. He could easily vie for L.A.'s WR2 position given Robinson's erratic usage and production.
RB Latavius Murray, Broncos (38%)
Murray was a popular waiver add following Monday night's game against the Chargers. His rostership jumped from 15% to 38% day-over-day as a result of his heavy utilization — specifically in the second half — with Melvin Gordon III ostensibly benched (though head coach Nathaniel Hackett denies it).
Murray logged 27 snaps and 15 carries for 66 yards in his debut for the Broncos while Gordon logged nine snaps, three carries and eight yards.
The Broncos' running back depth chart has been murky since Javonte Williams suffered a season-ending torn ACL in Week 4. Denver traded for Murray ahead of Week 5, though he did not dress on the short week with the team playing on Thursday. During that game, Gordon appeared to be the alpha and saw 15 carries for 54 yards and caught three passes for 49 yards. Mike Boone was also in the mix; he saw seven carries for 38 yards and caught three passes for 47 yards.
Ahead of Week 5, Broncos insiders predicted that it would be Gordon and Murray, not Boone, who would end up sharing the backfield. There is a possibility that Murray ends up with even more work, especially if Gordon, who expressed frustration with his usage, is traded before the deadline (something he would probably welcome at this point).
At any rate, Murray is going to be involved and could offer RB3/flex numbers in the right matchups. He is worth an add in almost every league.
RB Kyren Williams, Rams (29%)
Williams was the Rams' fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He has missed the first six games of the season due to an ankle injury that required surgery, but he is expected to return from injured reserve soon.
The rookie could be in line for a hefty workload right out of the gate, which seems to be the plan according to The Athletic.
Cam Akers, who was expected to be the starter this year, is sidelined amid friction with the coaching staff. He seems likely to be traded, and now that Christian McCaffrey is officially off the table, the Rams may have to make do with what they have already.
With Akers sidelined, Darrell Henderson Jr. led the Rams' backfield in Week 6. He saw 12 carries for 43 yards and scored a touchdown and caught two passes for nine yards. His health has waned throughout his career, however, which forced him to miss seven games in 2021.
This could be a split between Henderson and Williams (once activated), or Williams could be the No. 1 if Henderson were to ever be sidelined. He is worth an add in a backfield very much up for grabs.
TE Greg Dulcich, Broncos (11%)
Who is the Broncos' best tight end and why is it Greg Dulcich?
I seriously spent more time than I would like to admit learning how to pronounce Albert Okwuegbunam's name ahead of the season. That ended up being a complete waste, as Okwuegbunam has just 50 yards in four games (and no touchdowns) and was a healthy scratch last week against the Chargers.
Levity aside, Dulcich could be everything we hoped Albert O would be.
He shined in his rookie debut and caught 2-of-3 passes for 44 yards and a touchdown. He was the TE9 in half-PPR scoring and could be the team's new TE1. While that isn't the most attractive prospect given how poorly the Broncos have played, Dulcich warrants attention, especially in deeper leagues, as this situation develops.
TE Cade Otton, Buccaneers (9%)
Otton is another rookie tight end who is trending toward becoming his team's TE1, though for slightly different reasons.
Veteran Cameron Brate suffered a neck injury in the game against the Steelers and could miss time. Otton, meanwhile, has seen a bump in his usage since Week 4 and has 11 receptions (on 14 targets) for 95 yards over that span. He is currently listed second on the Buccaneers' TE depth chart ahead of Ko Kieft and Kyle Rudolph.
Otton is a deep league speculative add who could end up offering some upside, especially as TE1 in a Tom Brady-led offense.
