Having a good fantasy draft sets a team up really well, but most of the time to win a fantasy football league, acquisitions need to be made during the season. Each week there are several players worth exploring on the waiver wire. Here are fantasy football players to add week 8.
(Note: These are best used for standard scoring leagues. All players are owned in less than 50 percent of ESPN leagues)
1. Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles haven’t given too many opportunities to running backs and they haven’t produced. Starting running back Miles Sanders was carted off the field with an injury in the Eagles’ game against the Raiders. That means the next man up is rookie running back Kenneth Gainwell.
So far this season, Gainwell has 120 rushing yards, 164 receiving yards and three total touchdowns on the year. In relief of Sanders, Gainwell had 20 rushing yards, 41 receiving yards and one touchdown catch. Even if the Eagles don’t use their running backs well, Gainwell should be rostered. He is currently rostered in just 26.3 percent of ESPN leagues.
2. Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens have needed receivers to step up and were aided when Rashod Batemen returned from injury. He has already started to produce and with the Ravens heading into a bye, should continue to heal and improve. If he can keep getting more comfortable at the NFL level, he can really help fantasy rosters down the stretch.
Bateman has had seven catches for 109 yards in just two games played. He is averaging six targets per game. The touchdowns and more targets are bound to start coming his way. With 80 receiving yards against Cincinnati, Bateman will look to build on that after the bye week. He is available in over 80 percent of ESPN leagues.
3. T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts
After returning for one game, T.Y. Hilton missed the Colts’ game against the 49ers. It would have been hard for him to produce anyways given the rain. Hilton is likely going to return in the coming weeks and can be a huge add for rosters who are looking to make that playoff push.
In his only game of the season, he recorded four receptions for 80 yards against the Houston Texans. The Colts will play some pretty vulnerable defenses coming up and Hilton could shine with his ability to stretch the field vertically. He is currently rostered in just 30 percent of ESPN leagues.
4. Brandon Bolden, RB, New England Patriots
The Patriots routinely like using multiple running backs and this year is no different. With some injuries to the backfield, Damien Harris is the back to play if the team is running the ball, but they also use a pass-catching back. Right now, Brandon Bolden is that running back and is producing.
Against the Jets, Bolden had six catches for 79 yards and a touchdown. Moving forward, he could keep producing as the pass-catching back, as he outplayed both Rahmondre Stevenson and J.J. Taylor. Bolden should be rostered, but starting him should only be done if a manager is desperate or if more injuries happen. He is currently rostered in 5.5 percent of ESPN leagues.
5. C.J. Uzomah, TE, Cincinnati Bengals
A lot of hype has been given to Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, but they also have a tight end producing. C.J. Uzomah is carving out a nice, albeit inconsistent role in the offense and has risen to the occasion. With many fantasy managers struggling with the tight end position, Uzomah could be a solution.
In week 7 against the Ravens, Uzomah had three catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Like a lot of tight ends, he has some big weeks and some weeks where he is unproductive. Uzomah has two great performances, one average performance and the rest aren’t great. It is worth taking a flier on Uzomah, but starting the right tight ends, outside of the elite ones, is always tough. Uzomah is available in almost 90 percent of ESPN leagues.
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