Injuries have finally broken the 2025 fantasy football season. Honestly, if your roster hasn't been touched by a high-ankle sprain or a "week-to-week" hamstring issue yet, you're basically a statistical anomaly. Week 7 was a bloodbath. We lost Mike Evans to a broken collarbone, Jayden Daniels went down with a hamstring, and Nico Collins is stuck in concussion protocol.
It's chaos. But chaos is where you win.
The week 8 waiver wire fantasy football cycle isn't just about plugging holes this time around. It's about finding the rookies who are finally seeing the field and the veteran backups stepping into massive volume. With six teams on a bye—Arizona, Detroit, Jacksonville, Las Vegas, LA Rams, and Seattle—your bench is probably looking thinner than a bad offensive line. You need starters. You need them now.
The Quarterback Carousel: Is Joe Flacco Actually the Answer?
It sounds like a fever dream, but Joe Flacco is out here throwing for 342 yards and three touchdowns in a Bengals uniform. He’s 40. He looks it. But fantasy points don't care about birth certificates. With Joe Burrow dealing with a toe issue and the Bengals offense needing a spark, Flacco has proven he can still feed Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. If you’re a Jayden Daniels owner or dealing with a Matthew Stafford/Kyler Murray bye, Flacco against a struggling Jets defense is a legit play.
Then there’s Marcus Mariota. Jayden Daniels’ hamstring looked nasty on film, and Mariota stepped in and immediately ran for 60 yards and a score in his relief appearances this year. He’s a "konami code" quarterback. He runs. That gives you a floor that most pocket passers can’t touch.
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Check this out:
- Joe Flacco (CIN): 3% rostered. Great matchup vs. NYJ.
- Marcus Mariota (WAS): 5% rostered. High rushing upside if Daniels sits.
- Jaxson Dart (NYG): If he’s still there, grab him. He’s been a top-5 QB over the last month.
Running Backs: The "Next Man Up" Reality
Running back is a wasteland right now. Kendre Miller is done for the year with an ACL tear, and Bucky Irving is banged up. This makes Tyler Allgeier more than just a "handshake" backup. He’s getting 10+ carries in almost every Falcons win. They’re playing the Dolphins this week. Miami’s defense is currently a sieve. Allgeier is a locked-in flex play with RB2 upside if he falls into the end zone.
In Chicago, everyone is talking about D'Andre Swift, but Kyle Monangai is the name you’ll regret missing. He’s been trending up for four weeks and finally popped for 81 yards and a score against the Saints. He’s elusive. He catches passes. He’s the type of player who wins people leagues in November.
Kansas City is also doing that thing they do where they rotate three guys and make us all miserable. But Brashard Smith is the one to watch. He’s essentially taking over the Jerick McKinnon role. In PPR leagues, that’s gold. If Isiah Pacheco continues to be eased back and Kareem Hunt shows his age, Smith is the explosive element this offense needs.
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Wide Receivers: Who Fills the Mike Evans Void?
Losing Mike Evans is a season-altering blow for many. You can't replace 1,000 yards and double-digit touchdowns with one waiver claim, but Tez Johnson is the closest thing the Buccaneers have to a new favorite target. He’s only 15% rostered. He saw nine targets last week. Baker Mayfield has to throw the ball to someone, and with Chris Godwin and Evans both out or limited, Johnson is the primary beneficiary.
Don’t sleep on Troy Franklin in Denver either. Bo Nix is finally looking like an NFL quarterback, and Franklin is his favorite deep threat. He tied for the team lead in targets (10) last week. The Cowboys defense has been giving up massive plays to perimeter receivers all year. Franklin is a classic "boom" candidate for your flex spot.
Wide Receiver Priority List:
- Tez Johnson (TB): Volume king in the making.
- Troy Franklin (DEN): High-ceiling deep threat.
- Xavier Legette (CAR): Andy Dalton loves him. High-ankle sprain for Bryce Young means Dalton is back under center.
- Alec Pierce (IND): 98 yards last week. He’s the deep threat Daniel Jones actually likes.
Tight Ends: The Oronde Gadsden Breakout
Tight end has been a disaster all year. Most of us are just praying for four catches and 40 yards. Then Oronde Gadsden II happens. 164 yards. Seven catches. As a rookie. It’s the most receiving yards by a tight end in his first five games in the Super Bowl era.
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Look, the Chargers aren't exactly a high-volume passing offense, but Gadsden is being used like a WR1. He’s essentially a jumbo wideout. If he’s available in your league—and he’s only 3% rostered—you spend whatever FAAB you have left.
If you miss out on him, look at Mason Taylor for the Jets. The Bengals are historically bad against tight ends this year. They’ve given up the most fantasy points to the position in the entire league. It's a "streaming" dream.
Defensive Streamers and Kicker Notes
Stop holding onto a defense just because of the name on the jersey. The Indianapolis Colts are playing the Tennessee Titans. The Titans have given up 11 sacks in two games. It’s that simple. Pick up the Colts, start them, and move on.
If the Colts are gone, the Atlanta Falcons against the Dolphins is a sneaky play. Miami’s offense is broken. They can't move the ball, and they're turning it over at an alarming rate.
For kickers, look at Will Reichard (MIN). He’s been incredibly consistent, hitting multiple field goals in almost every game. He’s only 6% rostered. In a week where every point counts because of byes, a kicker who actually hits 50-yarders is a weapon.
Actionable Next Steps
- Audit your IR spots: With the "bye-pocalypse" here, you cannot afford to have healthy players taking up bench spots. Drop the "maybe" stashes like Michael Carter or Jerry Jeudy.
- Check the Bryce Young news: If Andy Dalton is confirmed as the starter for Week 8, Xavier Legette moves from a "maybe" to a "must-start" flex.
- FAAB Strategy: If you are 3-4 or 2-5, you need to be aggressive. 20-25% of your budget on Oronde Gadsden or Kyle Monangai is not an overpay—it's a survival tactic.
- Claim Backup QBs in Superflex: If Jayden Daniels is your QB1, you must secure Marcus Mariota. Do not let your opponent block you.