It is seven weeks into the fantasy football season and the waiver wire is heating up. Any good champion will need to go to the waiver wire to acquire players to make their team even better. Here are the best players to add for week 8. (All stats and rankings are for standard, non-decimal scoring)

1. Doug Martin, RB, Oakland Raiders

Marshawn Lynch has been placed on IR, which means that Martin takes over the lead running back role. Jalen Richard will battle him for carries, but Martin should get the early-down work, while Richard comes in on third downs.

The Raiders’ offense isn’t as good as expected and now they will also be without Amari Cooper, but Martin is still worth a pickup this week. He is averaging 3.7 yards per carry, which should go up as he gets into a rhythm. Lynch had the 22nd most fantasy points among running backs and has already had the bye. If Martin comes anywhere close to Lynch’s production, he could be a solid flex play or better.

Martin is owned in 18.9% of ESPN leagues, but should be the first pickup in every league available.

2. Tre’Quan Smith, WR, New Orleans Saints

With Tedd Ginn Jr. out for the year, some more opportunities have opened up for Smith. With Drew Brees still playing well and spreading the ball around, Smith’s production should increase exponentially.

He has 28 fantasy points on the season with 23 of them coming on the Monday Night Football game, where Brees set the record for most passing yards in a career. He is a big play threat, but will see more consistent work from here on out.

Smith is owned in just 8.7% of ESPN leagues.

3. Ronald Jones, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jones has gone from being a healthy scratch to start the season to being a viable waiver wire pickup. He was getting more consistent work in the last few weeks, but now Peyton Barber has an ankle injury. It is definitely worth keeping an eye on Barber’s health moving forward, but with Jones getting more work, he may be worth the pickup either way.

After getting no carries through the first three games of the season, Jones has 17 through the last three games. It has only amounted to 11 fantasy points so far, but he is starting to earn increased opportunities. Although his pass catching has been criticized, he has five receptions on six targets so far.

He is available in nearly 85% of ESPN leagues.

4. Jalen Richard, RB, Oakland Raiders

Richard is going to get some extra work with Lynch out as well. While he will mostly be used as a third down back to start, if Martin ends up not doing well, Richard will get most of the touches.

He has 24 fantasy points on the season already with Lynch getting most of the work. He adds value through the passing game with 32 catches so far. It may be worth watching the Raiders’ game against the Colts to see how the touches are divided up.

He is available in over in 80% of ESPN leagues.

5. Kenjon Barner, RB, New England Patriots

Sony Michel is doubtful for the Patriots’ game against Buffalo. For the time he is out, New England will use Barner while he is out. He got 10 carries against Chicago and should get some solid work for at least one week.

The Bills allowed the Colts to destroy them and the Patriots should do even better. Barner is available in virtually all leagues.

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