All 32 Looking Forward Reasoning Backward After Week Eight

by Dennis Michelsen 

@DMICmedia

 https://www.scienceoffantasyfootball.com

Each week, I will bring a brief update on each team, including the latest injury concerns and performances over the past week. This will also include recommendations for potential waiver-wire pickups and suggested FAAB bids. FAAB bids and availability will be based on the FPPC $1000 bankroll. Week eight is in the books. Let’s reason backward to look forward for all 32 teams. Players mentioned as possible waiver wire additions are available in at least 6% of FPPC leagues at this time. At this time of the season, it always pays to double-check the free agents, because team managers often must cut to make room for a bye-week starter at another position. 

Arizona Cardinals

Cut Mike Carter coming out of Bye, but Benson isn’t available until week 10.  

No Waiver Targets This Week.

Atlanta Falcons

Now we know why teams weren’t willing to trade for Kirk Cousins  

No Waiver Targets This Week.

Baltimore Ravens

This team looked better with Snoop than Cooper, but they won’t face the Bears' defense every week.  

Possible Waiver Addition: RB Keaton Mitchell is worth a $1 holler this week, and he is available in 33% of FPPC leagues.

Buffalo Bills

Could you imagine how much of a beast he would be in Fantasy Football if the Bills utilized RB James Cook in the passing game?  

No Waiver Targets This Week.

Carolina Panthers

Now we know why Andy Dalton has specialized in holding the clipboard in recent years. 

No Waiver Targets This Week.

Chicago Bears

The new coach has fixed the offense, but they need to patch some big holes in that defense before next season.  

Possible Waiver Addition: RB Monangai is still worth a $25 bid this week and is available in 17% of FPPC leagues. He is now the clear backup to Swift and is getting some volume weekly, too, with Swift playing. 

Cincinnati Bengals

This defense is so bad that they lost to the winless Jets in a frantic 4th quarter comeback.  

Possible Waiver Addition: RB Samaje Perine is getting some work behind Chase Brown and is worth a $10 bid on FPPC, and he is available in 80% of leagues. 

Cleveland Browns

Rookie sensation RB Quinshon Judkins left the game with an injury, which could open the door for the other rookie again.  

Possible Waiver Addition: RB Dylan Sampson is worth a $25 bid but is only available in 9% of FPPC leagues. RB Jerome Ford is worth a $5 bid and is available in 14% of leagues. 

Dallas Cowboys

Small sample size, but a huge home/away bias for QB Dak Prescott this year, with an MVP of 167 at home and only 40 on the road.  

No Waiver Targets This Week.

Denver Broncos

They beat up on an awful Cowboys defense as expected, but still must be impressed with Bo Nix and his 4 TD game.  

No Waiver Targets This Week.

Detroit Lions

Fantasy Football Managers will get half of their lineup back this week with the Lions returning to action against the Vikings.   

No Waiver Targets This Week.

Green Bay Packers

Starting to wonder if Matthew Golden is the next Jameson Williams in Fantasy Football.  

Possible Waiver Addition: RB Emmanuel Wilson is the clear backup to Josh Jacobs, and you should still be able to get him cheaply for $10, and he is available in 60% of FPPC leagues. WR Christian Watson came back from injury ready to play and is worth a $10 bid if you need WR help. 

Houston Texans

The injuries to Nico Collins and Christian Kirk forced the Texans to lean on their two rookie WRs, and both looked solid. Meanwhile, the passing game work is already making Woody Marks a solid start. 

Possible Waiver Addition: If Woody Marks is still available in your league, you can get him for a $100 bid, but he is only available in 8% of FPPC leagues. Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are both worth $10 bids and are available in 7% and 25% of FPPC leagues.  

Indianapolis Colts

When you are one win away from hitting the OVER BET on wins for the season, and it’s only week 9 coming up, you know you are having a magical season.  

No Waiver Targets This Week.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Everyone on the offense has been part of a trade rumor, but none of the young players on this rebuilding club are being dealt. 

Possible Waiver Addition: While the answer to who's up next at RB might be Tuten as expected, I would put a $1 holler on LaQuint Allen, who is available in 93% of FPPC leagues if you just lost a player for the season.

Kansas City Chiefs

Coach Andy Reid, before MNF, “We plan to get Brashard Smith more involved every week.”  Stat line: 3 rushing attempts and zero targets. When will we stop listening to “Coach Speak” when it comes to our Fantasy Football decisions? 

Possible Waiver Addition: I gave up too fast on Kareem Hunt, and while TD dependent, he should get a few chances at short-yardage TD chances every game with this impressive offense. He is worth a $25 bid but is only available in 6% of FPPC leagues. 

Las Vegas Raiders

The Jakobi Meyers trade rumor might be the only skill player trade rumor that comes true.  

No Waiver Targets This Week.

Los Angeles Chargers

I hope you listened to me earlier and got TE Oronde Gadsden and RB Kimani Vidal for a reasonable waiver bid, and they are still available. 

Possible Waiver Addition: Kimani Vidal is still available in 47% of leagues, and you can get him cheaper this week after a bad game. A $100 bid is worth it. TE Oronde Gadsden had a huge game and will cost you a $250 bid this week, yet he is still somehow available in 37% of FPPC leagues. 

Los Angeles Rams

Their Bye week was perfectly timed to get them healthier for the stretch run to the Fantasy Football playoffs.  

Possible Waiver Addition: Will rookie TE Terrance Ferguson get more opportunities after the Bye week? He is worth a $1 holler and is available in 43% of FPPC leagues.   

Miami Dolphins

The good news is that Tua looked good despite an eye issue; the even better news is that the Falcons' defense is more formidable than their next few opponents.  

Possible Waiver Addition: While I would still not trust Tua as my starting QB every week in Fantasy Football, if you need a Bye week replacement in the next 3 weeks, he is worth a $10 bid and is available in 20% of FPPC leagues. Ollie Gordon is available in 23% of leagues and is worth a $20 bid. 

Minnesota Vikings

Was JJ McCarthy just not ready due to injury, or did they distrust him so much that they played a badly injured veteran instead?  

No Waiver Targets This Week.

New England Patriots

Don’t look now, but the Patriots have found their Franchise QB in Drake Maye.  

Possible Waiver Wire Addition: Kayshon Boutte is a big-play WR who is a boom/bust guy, but is worth a $75 bid and is available in 47% of FPPC leagues. 

New Orleans Saints

I’m not sure Spencer Rattler played badly enough to lose the job, but here we are, entering the Tyler Shough era. The split of volume and low output from this offense is making Alvin Kamara harder to start in most formats.  

Possible Waiver Wire Addition: RB Devin Neal is the clear backup to Kamara with Miller out, but not worth more than a $5 speculative bid on FPPC, where he is available in 30% of leagues.  

New York Giants

The severe injury to Skattebo’s ankle seemed to take the wind out of the Giants' sails last week. Tracy and Singletary will get the next chance at volume, but look for a dark horse to emerge for playing time. 

Possible Waiver Wire Addition: Devin Singletary is worth a $1 holler this week and is available in 94% of leagues. 

New York Jets  

When the media, coach, and owner all tell you the QB wasn’t good enough to measure the team’s performance and that QB is forced into a starting role and wins the game, it’s just another typical week for fans of the J-E-T-S; Jets, Jets, Jets!  

No Waiver Targets This Week.

Philadelphia Eagles 

When your star WR suddenly misses a game right before your Bye week, you know the trade rumors will get hot and heavy. Meanwhile, everyone holds their breath when your star RB leaves the game. 

Possible Waiver Wire Addition: It took Tank Bigsby a while to learn the playbook, but he is clearly the backup to Saquon Barkley going forward. Tank is worth a $15 bid and is available in 29% of FPPC leagues. 

Pittsburgh Steelers

After another bad week by the defense, I am contemplating trademarking the “Lace Curtain” slogan because it doesn’t appear it will be turning back into a “Steel Curtain” any time soon.  

No Waiver Targets This Week.

San Francisco 49ers

Stop the presses: a team finally figured out a way to shut down CMC, and I have no idea how they did it or why it worked. Expect a return to normal next week.  

No Waiver Targets This Week.

Seattle Seahawks

Look for a big offensive game from the Seahawks coming back to work after their Bye week, while their opponent gets a short week with a beat-up defense.  

No Waiver Targets This Week.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

That was the first time Baker Mayfield had not contributed either a passing or rushing TD since week six of the 2023 season. They should be much healthier and more productive after their Bye week.  

No Waiver Targets This Week.

Tennessee Titans

Starting to see why Cam Ward deserved to be the number one pick in the draft. If they rebuild that offensive line, this could turn into an excellent offense next season with two talented young WRs and a QB who knows how to play in the NFL. 

Possible Waiver Addition: WR Chimere Dike is turning into a solid long-range threat for a QB with a live arm. Dike is worth a $10 bid on FPPC and is available in 84% of leagues. 

Washington Commanders

Battled the Chiefs at home to a tie in the first half before all of the injuries caught up to them in the 3rd quarter.  

No Waiver Targets This Week.

Wrapping It All Up: Based on $1000 FPPC FAAB 

QB Tua Tagliavoa $10 

RB Woody Marks $100

RB Kimani Vidal $100 

RB Dylan Sampson $25

RB Kyle Monangai $25 

RB Kareem Hunt $25 

RB Ollie Gordon $20 

RB Tank Bigsby $15 

RB Emmanuel Wilson $10 

RB Samaje Perine $10 

RB Devin Neal $5 

RB Jerome Ford $5 

RB Devin Singletary $1 

RB LaQuint Allen $1 

RB Keaton Mitchell $1 

WR Kayshon Boutte $75 

WR Christian Watson $10 

WR Jayden Higgins $10

WR Jaylin Noel $10 

WR Chimere Dike $10 

TE Oronde Gadsden $250 

TE Terrance Ferguson $1 

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