Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups & FAAB Advice: Quarterbacks (Week 8)

Check out our top waiver wire targets for Week 8 of the 2022 fantasy football season.

• Week 8 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice
• Erickson’s Week 7 Rapid Reactions & Top Performers
• Fantasy Football Heat Index
• Fantasy Football Week 7 Takeaways: Surprises & Disappointments

If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets: Week 8

Daniel Jones (QB – NYG): 40% rostered

• Next opponents: @SEA, BYE, HOU
• True value: $6
• Desperate need: $13
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: All jokes aside, Daniel Jones was dealing in Week 7. The former early Round One pick by the Giants rushed for over 100 yards vs. the Jaguars and scored the game-winning touchdown on a QB sneak. Jones’ rushing upside keeps him as a worthy streamer with an argument as a weekly starter in 1QB leagues. The Giants have banked six wins, and their upcoming schedule is quite favorable.

Justin Fields (QB – CHI): 34% rostered

• Next opponents: @DAL, MIA, DET
• True value: $5
• Desperate need: $11
• Budget-minded: $3

Analysis: Fields continues to improve each week, simultaneously gaining a bit more leash when it comes to the number of pass plays called by OC Luke Getsy. The Bears are currently allowing the highest percentage of pass plays with a QB pressure, but they also rank highly in yards per attempt. Fields is always a big-play threat, whether with his arm or his mobility. The upcoming schedule is somewhat favorable, with the Dolphins and Lions coming after a clash with the mighty Cowboys defense in Week 8.

Jameis Winston (QB – NO): 20% rostered

• Next opponents: LV, BAL, @PIT
• True value: $4
• Desperate need: $8
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Unbelievably, Andy Dalton has been kind of … exciting? The Red Rifle has filled in for the injured Winston the past three games and has been a dead ringer for Tampa Bay Jameis, scoring touchdowns nearly as frequently as committing costly turnovers. Most of us believe that Winston will assume his starting position very soon, as the Saints have dropped two games in a row under Dalton. Amazingly, the 2-5 Saints are only one game back in the train-wreck NFC South, and Winston’s return could help them stay in the race.

Marcus Mariota (QB – ATL): 29% rostered

• Next opponents: CAR, LAC, @CAR
• True value: $3
• Desperate need: $8
• Budget-minded: $1

Analysis: Mariota has been viewed as a liability in the nearly nonexistent Falcons passing attack. He is still a fringe candidate as a streaming fantasy QB, but the refusal of Arthur Smith to embrace the legality of the forward pass is concerning. Many are calling for Desmond Ridder to replace Mariota, but that will likely only happen if the Falcons tumble in the standings. They are currently still tied for first place at 3-4 despite getting downright exposed in Cincinnati on Sunday. Atlanta has two dates with the Panthers sandwiched around the Chargers game over the next three weeks. Mariota is a reluctant waiver add in my book.

Stash Candidates: Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder, Deshaun Watson

Willis briefly saw the field again in Week 7, when Ryan Tannehill appeared to tweak his ankle. Since Tannehill returned to the game and helped the Titans prevail over the Colts, it might still be a while before Willis is given some run in Tennessee. If Tannehill’s ankle needs a week off, Willis would be an interesting superflex streaming option.

Marcus Mariota‘s performance in Week 7 was uninspiring, but it was also in the midst of an abysmal, embarrassing coaching performance by Arthur Smith. The Falcons only attempted 13 passes versus the Bengals despite trailing by multiple touchdowns most of the game. Ridder is ready and waiting for the call once this fraudulent Falcons team falls out of a divisional race they had no business being involved in.

Suspended and disgraced QB Deshaun Watson can’t return until at least Week 13, but it might be time to stash him in leagues with deeper benches. Watson is a massive talent when on the field, and a QB-needy fantasy team that finds itself on a playoff trajectory would likely benefit from the timing of Watson’s return to the playing field.