Waiver Wire Week 8 for Fantasy Football: Claim Omar Cooper Jr., Jonah Coleman

Similar to last week’s waiver wire, rookies are at the forefront ahead of NFL Week 8, featuring the likes of Jets WR Omar Cooper Jr., Broncos RB Jonah Coleman, and Commanders WR Antonio Williams, all carrying fantasy football upside.

The Saints, Giants, 49ers, and Texans have bye weeks ahead, potentially putting your fantasy team in a pinch for Week 8. But we’ve got you covered with several streaming options, like Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett facing a vulnerable Cowboys secondary. 

Without further ado, let’s look at who should be on your Week 8 waiver wire radar, including QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, and D/ST streaming candidates for fantasy football.

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Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8: Rookies Seeing Increased Roles

Similar to last week, the Week 8 waiver wire is all about rookies. We’ve got one must-add in Jets WR Omar Cooper Jr., while another rookie WR and two rookie RBs are seeing increases to their snaps and usage of late.

For each waiver wire target, we’ll highlight their Week 8 matchup and projections on PrizePicks, followed by a fantasy football roster percentage via FantasyPros. Keep in mind each weekly positional ranking provided for Week 7 does not account for Monday Night Football between the Cowboys and Eagles.

Top Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8

Long-term options are lacking at QB for Week 8, as Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield and Giants QB J.J. McCarthy could be the only signal-callers who may become more than a streaming option.

But McCarthy is one bye, and Mayfield had only 6.7 fantasy points on Sunday (QB24). We’ll focus on Seahawks QB Sam Darnold and Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett for this week’s waiver wire.

Seahawks QB Sam Darnold

Week 8 Matchup: vs. Bears

Roster Percentage: 38.5%

Turnovers have plagued Darnold’s fantasy stock for weeks, including 7 INTs from Week 3 to Week 6. Against a quality defense in the Chiefs, Darnold had 257 passing yards, 17 rushing yards, 1 passing TD, and 15.0 fantasy points (QB16).

He still had a pick, taking his INT total up to 8 over six games. However, Darnold’s 9.2 yards per passing attempt on Sunday Night Football was a season-high, and he accomplished that vs. a Chiefs defense yielding only 6.5 yards per passing attempt (ninth). 

According to RBSDM, Darnold’s 0.551 adjusted EPA per play (third) and 56.7% success rate (seventh) were both firmly in the top 10 of QBs in Week 7. Most importantly, his 1 turnover-worthy play was his lowest for a full game this season, via Pro Football Focus.

Seattle made a clear effort to push the ball downfield on Sunday night. If that continues, with Darnold taking better care of the ball, there’s true fantasy upside. That applies to Week 8 vs. the Bears, who allow 8.7 yards per passing attempt (32nd) and 19.9 fantasy points per game (FPPG) to QBs (ninth-most), per Pro Football Reference.

Make Sam Darnold picks on PrizePicks for NFL Week 8.

Cardinals QB Jacoby Brissett

Week 8 Matchup: vs. Cowboys

Roster Percentage: 21.0%

Since Week 3, Jacoby Brissett has posted 25.6 (QB4), 13.4 (QB21), 26.3 (QB6), 7.9 (QB27), and 16.5 fantasy points (QB14). That’s good for a total of 17.9 FPPG.

His volume is especially worth highlighting — 43.4 passing attempts per game since Week 3, and that’s mostly due to negative game scripts. Before Week 7’s edition of Monday Night Football, the Cardinals are 6.5-point underdogs for Week 8 vs. the Cowboys, via PrizePicks.

Assuming Brissett sees another high-volume week, he could feast against a Dallas secondary that gives up 21.5 FPPG to QBs (fifth-most). Further, the Cowboys cede 7.9 yards per passing attempt (28th) and a 54.2% dropback success rate (32nd), which are rankings before MNF vs. the Eagles. 

Predict More or Less for Jacoby Brissett’s pass yards on PrizePicks.

Other Week 8 QB Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

• Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield (vs. Falcons): 39.4% roster percentage
• Jets QB Geno Smith (vs. Raiders): 19.4% roster percentage
• Giants QB J.J. McCarthy (Bye): 16.7% roster percentage
• Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. (vs. Buccaneers): 18.4% roster percentage

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Top Running Back Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8  

We do not have RB targets coming off big-time outings in Week 7, but we do have shifts in snaps for the Broncos and Colts. Both targets for the waiver wire are rookies, adding to breakout potential for fantasy football.

Broncos RB Jonah Coleman

Week 8 Matchup: vs. Chiefs

Roster Percentage: 34.9% 

Jonah Coleman was becoming a clear waiver wire target early in the season, supported by a 40.3% snap rate in Week 2. Even when healthy, RB J.K. Dobbins and RB RJ Harvey have not been very fruitful for a Broncos team averaging 3.8 yards per carry (23rd).

Coleman missed four games on injured reserve due to an ankle injury, and he returned in Week 7 to a season-high 49.2% snap share. He tallied 9 carries, 54 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 15 receiving yards, and 8.9 fantasy points (RB32).

The rookie has yet to provide a truly jaw-dropping performance, but we can’t ignore his increase in snaps. In fact, he posted 15 rush snaps compared to Dobbins’ 8 and Harvey’s 4 on Sunday. Plus, Coleman still managed to receive 2 targets in the passing game.

Coleman’s 6.0 yards per carry from Week 7 could only earn more snaps and rushing attempts going forward. 

Lock in Jonah Coleman picks on PrizePicks for NFL Week 8.

Colts RB Seth McGowan

Week 8 Matchup: vs. Jaguars

Roster Percentage: 4.8% 

The NFL’s trade deadline is Tuesday, November 10, and inevitably, some moves will impact roles for fantasy football. The Colts’ backfield is one to keep in mind. RB Jonathan Taylor just inked a two-year, $44 million extension in the summer, but signs of a rebuild are present. 

Indianapolis is now 2-5, and it fired general manager Chris Ballard following Week 6. QB Daniel Jones continues to struggle with a 44.6% success rate (24th) and -0.055 adjusted EPA per play (31st). In short, a firesale may be in the picture for Indy. 

Alongside Taylor trade rumors, rookie RB Seth McGowan has a 27.4% snap share since Week 4. McGowan just had his largest workload by a mile on Sunday, posting 11 carries for 46 rushing yards (4.2 YPC), with his previous season-high as 6 attempts in Week 4. 

In Week 7, Taylor had 20 rush snaps compared to McGowan’s 14. This wasn’t a blowout loss either, with the Colts narrowly losing in a 16-10 final vs. the Vikings. 

There’s a clear RB2 in Indy, and if Taylor is moved ahead of the trade deadline, McGowan’s fantasy stock will skyrocket.

Add Seth McGowan to your PrizePicks lineup for NFL Week 8.

Other Week 8 RB Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

• Raiders RB Mike Washington Jr. (vs. Jets): 36.3% roster percentage
• Benglas RB Samaje Perine (vs. Titans): 9.5% roster percentage
• 49ers RB Kaelon Black (Bye): 23.4% roster percentage
• Cardinals RB Bam Knight (vs. Cowboys): 14.4% roster percentage
• Giants RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (Bye): 28.4% roster percentage
• Giants RB Devin Singletary (Bye): 2.4% roster percentage

Top Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8

Our focus remains on rookies for the top WR priorities for the Week 8 waiver wire. Jets WR Omar Cooper Jr. was drawing attention last week, and now he’s a must-add. Meanwhile, Commanders WR Antonio Williams could emerge following WR Terry McLaurin’s season-ending injury.

Jets WR Omar Cooper Jr.

Week 8 Matchup: vs. Raiders

Roster Percentage: 38.9% 

Last week, Omar Cooper Jr. played in his first full game and racked up 7 targets, 6 receptions, 103 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD, and 22.3 fantasy points (WR6). However, there were concerns about how viable that was, with Jets WR Adonai Mitchell expected to return from an injury.

Mitchell played in Week 7, posting a 44.1% snap share with only 3 targets. Cooper didn’t miss a beat, recording 5 targets, 5 catches, 115 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD, and 22.5 fantasy points (WR8). Over two full starts, the rookie is averaging an absurd 19.8 yards per catch.

Since Week 6, Cooper has 12 targets, tied with TE Mason Taylor. Jets WR Garrett Wilson had only 9 targets in the split, averaging 35.0 receiving yards per game in his last two. 

While unlikely, there are whispers of Wilson in trade rumors. If that occurred, Cooper immediately becomes WR1 of this offense. 

Make Omar Cooper Jr. picks on PrizePicks for NFL Week 8.

Commanders WR Antonio Williams

Week 8 Matchup: Eagles

Roster Percentage: 9.7% 

Since logging 4 catches, 64 receiving yards, 1 TD, and 16.4 fantasy points (WR15) in Week 1, rookie WR Antonio Williams has yet to reach double-digit fantasy points over his last five appearances.

However, Williams has featured in an increasing role on the offense. He began the year with a 37.1% snap share in Week 1, and Williams recorded 68.8%, 67.7%, and 67.2% shares in the past three contests.

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 6. After Washington was on bye in Week 7, we’ve yet to see how this room shifts, but Williams is firmly starting alongside WR Stefon Diggs and WR Treylon Burks.

Lock in Antonio Williams picks on PrizePicks for NFL Week 8.

Other Week 8 WR Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

• Jaguars WR Travis Hunter (vs. Colts): 17.2% roster percentage
• Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. (vs. Colts): 46.2% roster percentage
• Ravens WR Ja’Kobi Lane (vs. Bills): 25.8% roster percentage 
• Dolphins WR Caleb Douglas (vs. Patriots): 13.0% roster percentage 
• Saints WR Jordyn Tyson (Bye): 54.6% roster percentage

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Top Tight End Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8

Ahead of NFL Week 8, Rams TE Terrance Ferguson is still on injured reserve and likely won’t appear in Week 8, but he should have a large role awaiting when he’s back. 

As Ferguson continues to miss time, that turns our attention to Jaguars TE Brenton Strange for this week’s waiver wire.

Jaguars TE Brenton Strange

Week 8 Matchup: vs. Colts

Roster Percentage: 45.9% 

Since Week 4, Brenton Strange tallied 16.5 (TE6), 13.8 (TE9), and 9.4 fantasy points (TE17). In that three-game split, Strange has 7.7 targets per game and a 22.3% target share that’s tied with WR Parker Washington for the team-high, per FTN.

Even Strange’s 22.1% air yards share is third on the team over the previous three games. Plus, he’s backed by an efficient 2.52 yards per route run (highest on team) since Week 4.

According to PlayerProfiler, Strange sports a low 8.8% red zone target share (34th). His high volume is making up for a lack of scoring chances, and Week 8 brings a battle vs. the Colts, who allow 7.5 yards per passing attempt (21st) and 25.7 PPG (23rd).

Predict Brenton Strange stats on PrizePicks for NFL Week 8.

Other Week 8 TE Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

• Rams TE Terrance Ferguson (vs. Chargers): 15.7% roster percentage
• Commanders TE Chig Okonkwo (vs. Eagles): 19.3% roster percentage
• Dolphins TE Greg Dulcich (vs. Patriots): 5.7% roster percentage
• Jets TE Mason Taylor (vs. Raiders): 1.7% roster percentage

Top Defense (D/ST) Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 8

Targeting some of the league’s worst offenses is usually the way to go for streaming D/STs in fantasy football. We targeted the Titans’ offense last week, and the Browns finished as D/ST10 for Week 7.

This week, Tennessee takes on another AFC North squad, the Cincinnati Bengals.

Bengals Defense

Week 8 Matchup: vs. Titans

Roster Percentage: 15.6% roster percentage 

The Bengals’ defense is improved across the board, allowing only 20.3 PPG (eighth), with a 9.42% sack rate (second) while forcing 1.5 turnovers per game (ninth). 

Cincinnati’s D/ST comes off back-to-back top 10 weekly finishes, including 10.0 fantasy points with 4 sacks and 1 INT in Sunday’s 35-13 win over the Ravens. The Bengals have an angle to keep up the success vs. a struggling Titans offense.

Tennessee scores only 15.4 PPG (31st) with a pitiful 4.6 yards per play (30th). Plus, drives are often cut short thanks to 1.4 turnovers per game (20th). The Titans allow only a 5.02% sack rate (ninth), but that could be headed for regression considering the team’s 44% pass block win rate (28th), per ESPN. 

Third-year RT JC Latham, the #7 pick of the 2024 NFL Draft, has been terrific by allowing only 1 sack and 5 pressures over seven games. However, Titans LT Dan Moore Jr. is a clear weakness due to 16 pressures allowed, including 13 over his last four outings. 

Make your Titans vs. Bengals picks on PrizePicks!

Other Week 8 D/ST Waiver Wire Pickups to Target

• Chiefs D/ST (vs. Broncos): 45.2% roster percentage

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Make NFL Week 8 Picks on PrizePicks

Rookies are the storyline of Week 8’s waiver wire. Omar Cooper Jr. is a must-add, while Jonah Coleman, Seth McGowan, and Antonio Williams could be headed for increased roles for fantasy football.

Don’t wait until kickoff — make your NFL Week 8 picks on PrizePIcks now! You can make picks on the winner, spread, and over/under on PrizePicks Team Picks, now available in 36 states. With PrizePicks, just pick players and predict More or Less on their stats!

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