Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Ricky Pearsall, Cedric Tillman, Jameis Winston (Week 8)

The week is nearly wrapped up, and of course there were another round of injuries and surprising performances. As a result, fantasy football managers will be on the lookout for wavier wire additions and replacement options for those injured over the weekend or just to bolster their lineup moving forward. Here are a few players to consider adding via the fantasy football waiver wire this week. And also be sure to check out our full fantasy football waiver wire advice article for Week 8.

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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

Jameis Winston (CLE): 1% rostered

• Next Opponents: BAL, LAC, BYE
• True value: $4
• Desperate Need: $7
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Jameis Winston was mysteriously relegated to emergency duty behind Dorian Thompson-Robinson on Sunday but was thrust into action after Deshaun Watson tore his Achilles and DTR went down too. Cleveland’s offensive woes transcended Watson, but Winston provides a volatility we crave for fantasy football. Unfortunately, the Browns face an absolute gauntlet on the schedule through the fantasy playoffs. Adding Jameis would likely be a ceremonial transaction at best.

Ricky Pearsall (SF): 13% rostered

• Next Opponents: DAL, BYE, @TB
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $5
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: In his first NFL regular-season action, Pearsall was pressed into action. Deebo Samuel was dealing with an unannounced illness and left the game after the first quarter. Brandon Aiyuk was lost for the season with a horrific knee injury. Pearsall led the San Francisco wide receivers in snaps while drawing a 16.1% target share and finishing with 21 receiving yards. Brighter days are ahead for Pearsall. The team will need him and Jauan Jennings to step up for the rest of the season without Aiyuk. Investing in a first-round NFL Draft pick tied to one of the league’s best playcallers, who now has a need for pass game weapons? OK, sign me up.

Cedric Tillman (CLE): 0% rostered

• Next Opponents: BAL, LAC, BYE
• True value: $3
• Desperate Need: $5
• Budget-minded: $2

Analysis: Tillman exploded onto the fantasy scene this past week with a 23% target share, eight receptions and a team-leading 81 receiving yards. Someone has to step up consistently opposite David Njoku in this passing attack moving forward, right? That’s the hope with adding Tillman. The Cleveland passing game has been putrid for most of the season, with Jerry Jeudy and Amari Cooper leading the way. With a changing of the guard under center with Deshaun Watson out with an Achilles injury, Tillman could lead the charge if Cleveland also decides to flip the hierarchy of targets behind TE David Njoku. Tillman could build upon his Week 7 success with a Week 8 matchup against a Baltimore secondary that has allowed the 12th-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Successful In-Season Fantasy Football Management

Once your fantasy football team is drafted, the work is not over. Successful in-season management is crucial to a winning fantasy football season. Here are some tips to help you manage your team effectively throughout the season:

Stay up to date on player news
Keep track of player injuries, suspensions, and other news that may impact their performance. This will help you make informed decisions about which players to start each week.

Monitor the waiver wire
Keep an eye on the waiver wire and be ready to pick up players who may be undervalued or overlooked by other teams. This can provide valuable depth to your roster. Use our waiver wire assistant to view optimal lineups, waiver and trade suggestions, and league analysis.

Analyze matchups
Analyze the upcoming matchups for your players and opponents to determine which players to start in your lineup each week. Look for favorable matchups and take into account the strength of the opposing team’s defense.

Stay active in trades
Be open to trading players with other teams if it will benefit your team. Analyze the potential impact of a trade before making a decision and negotiate with other teams to find a mutually beneficial agreement.

Be prepared for bye weeks
Plan ahead for bye weeks by having backup players ready to fill in for your starters. Avoid having too many players with the same bye week, which can leave your team short-handed.

Don’t overreact to one bad week
Avoid overreacting to one bad week of performance by a player. Take a long-term view of their performance and evaluate their potential moving forward.

Continuously evaluate your roster
Continuously evaluate your roster throughout the season and make adjustments as needed. Be willing to drop underperforming players or make changes to your lineup if necessary.