Thomason: Top Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 8
By Jack Thomason--
(CBS) Timing is everything in fantasy football, and last week we discussed identifying trends before the competition does and acting on them. This week, I want to touch on players who could've been dropped or on waivers due to injuries who shouldn't be. These are injury stashes who could be back soon and may pay huge dividends above and beyond some of the guys listed below. Be on the look out for these names and find a way to get them on your roster before the competition does, and don't wait until they are healthy. It'll be too late by then. Keep in mind Thomas Rawls, Adrian Peterson, Dion Lewis, Sammy Watkins, Donte Moncrief, Corey Coleman and Ladarius Green. If you have the space or can place players on injured reserve, do so.
Here are my top 10 waiver adds for 10- and 12-member leagues:
1. Devontae Booker (RB, Denver Broncos) – It's clear after Monday night's performance that the Broncos want to re-establish the run and play great defense. They'd like to get Trevor Siemian easier completions off play-action passing, and they did just that. Part of re-establishing the running game includes getting Booker more involved, as coach Gary Kubiak said he wanted to do. Booker rushed for 83 yards and a score on 17 carries. Though C.J. Anderson piled up 107 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, Booker looks quick, explosive and sticks one foot in the ground to explode up field. He needs to be owned in all formats, and if anything happens to Anderson, look out.
2. Ty Montgomery (RB/WR, Green Bay Packers) – I've seen ESPN grant Montgomery running back status already, and that's huge to have that type of flexibility. Not to mention, the Packers offense looked the best it has throwing the ball and using the short passing game as an extension of the running game in a win against the Bears last Thursday. I'd expect the Packers to get newly acquired running back Knile Davis more involved, but Montgomery seems to have carved out a role. He posted 126 total yards on 19 touches and over the last two weeks has seen an incredible 25 targets and 20 carries.
3. Matt Asiata (RB, Minnesota Vikings) – Jerick McKinnon suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's game, and his status is uncertain. Asiata is the next man up if McKinnon can't go, and he was seeing upward of 40 percent of the snaps before last week's 75 percent. He has totaled 35 touches in the last two games and tallied 181 yards and a score. Bottom line is, whether McKinnon is active or not, Asiata has a solid role, sees goal-line work and is a rock-solid RB2 if McKinnon is out.
4. Davante Adams (WR,Green Bay Packers) – Adams put on a show last Thursday, blowing up for 13 catches, 132 yards and two touchdowns, while Jordy Nelson doesn't look like the same player from his spectacular 2014 season. After disappointing last year, Adams quietly has five touchdowns in five-and-a-half games (he left one with concussion) and saw a whopping 16 targets with no running game to lean on last week. Until Nelson gets back on track, look for Adams to pick up the slack.
5. Mike Gillislee (RB, Buffalo Bills) – Who knows what Buffalo is doing? I don't. With LeSean McCoy being the Bills' entire offense, they had him play after injuring his hamstring in practice last week. Well, that wasn't the brightest move, because he reaggravated the injury and left the game in the third quarter. Gillislee didn't do a ton, but that has more to do with how Buffalo was playing and how Miami was dominating time of possession. Gillislee is the prime beneficiary if McCoy doesn't suit up, and there's potential for this situation to linger through the Bills' bye in Week 10.
6. Jack Doyle (TE, Indianapolis Colts) – Doyle is the new No. 2 receiver for Andrew Luck, and that was on display Sunday. He saw 10 targets, second-best on the team, and racked up nine receptions for 78 yards and a score. No one has stepped up at the receiver position, so Doyle becomes an intriguing pick-up at the tight end position that's been so bad this year. As long as Dwayne Allen andMoncrief are out, Doyle is someone you want locked into your lineup as a TE1.
7. Chris Thompson/Rob Kelley (RB, Washington Redskins) – Matt Jones has been struggling and outside of two games -- against Philadelphia and Cleveland -- he has done little. Jones and Chris Thompson are both playing 47 percent of the offensive snaps for the season, but Thompson has out-snapped Jones the last two weeks. While Thompson gives you the rushing and receiving stat line, he isn't someone Washington is going to pound over and over, given his smaller stature. That's where Kelley comes in. Thompson is the add here, but if you have room, Kelley is worth a stash too because he'd likely take over the short-yardage and goal-line work if Jones gets benched.
8. Jamison Crowder (WR, Washington Redskins) – It's not clear when Jordan Reed will be back. He's likely out in Week 8, and Crowder has been a steady producer in his absence. While Vernon Davis has had his fair share of production too, Crowder has grabbed 10 balls for 160 yards and a touchdown in the last two weeks. Crowder is worth an addition in PPR leagues as a WR3.
9. Kenneth Dixon (RB, Baltimore Ravens) – I've been writing about Dixon for weeks as a nice stash, and then Terrance West emerged. Dixon still should've been on your radar, but you may luck out given his slow start and bye weeks. It's possible an owner got impatient and dropped him. If so, now's the time to pick him up. West struggled last week, and coach John Harbaugh is already calling for Dixon to get more involved. This might be your last chance, as the Ravens are entering their bye week.
10. Knile Davis (RB, Green bay Packers) – Green Bay has to use a conventional running back to some degree, right? Davis was acquired right before their game last Thursday and now will have had extra time to learn the playbook in preparation for Week 8. Davis has all the physical tools and explosive speed, but he fell out of favor in Kansas City for fumbles, poor pass protection and better running backs on the roster (see Spencer Ware and Jamaal Charles.) That being said, in his three games as the Chiefs' primary back, he racked up 300-plus yards and three touchdowns. He's worth a speculative pick-up, as there are no healthy running backs left in Green Bay. Just temper expectations.
Just missed: Paul Perkins, Kadeem Carey, Alfred Blue, Marqise Lee, Dorial Green-Beckham, Cordarrelle Patterson, Russell Shepard, J.J. Nelson, Anquan Boldin, Brandon LaFell and Vernon Davis.
Jack Thomason is 670 The Score's fantasy football expert and co-host of "Chicago's Fantasy Football Today," which can be heard every Sunday during football season from 8-9 a.m. CT on WSCR-670 and 670thescore.com/listen. Follow him on Twitter @jthomason77 and feel free to ask fantasy questions.
