Fantasy Football Redraft

Print

IDP Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 8

Injury Return, Losses Drive Week 8 Picks

This list of IDP waiver wire pickups is sorted by position, and then by priorty.

Of course, IDP leagues vary widely by depth, scoring rules, and lineup settings. So to get the best measure of who to pick up in your league, check your Free Agent Finder.

It's the best fantasy football waiver wire assistant you'll find.

DeForest Buckner, DT, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are “optimistic” Buckner will return for this week’s game at Houston. We’ll see how big a role he’ll have in his first game back from a high-ankle sprain.

But the Texans happen to be the only team Buckner has faced for a healthy game so far this year. He delivered 6 tackles (5 solo) and 1.5 sacks in that meeting. Buckner also sacked C.J. Stroud in each of last year’s two meetings.

You’d be picking up the veteran DT for the season more than for Week 8 use. But if you wait a week, you run the risk of Buckner announcing his return with another Stroud takedown.

Week 9 opponent – Sam Darnold – ranks 11th among QBs so far in highest pressure rate, according to Pro Football Focus.

Sam Hubbard, Edge, Cincinnati Bengals

If you grabbed Hubbard after his big Week 5 against the Ravens – and subsequent callout in IDP Hits – then you had to endure a disappointing Week 6 before another good fantasy line against the Browns this past Sunday.

His down game against the Giants wasn’t one of those “hidden production” games. Hubbard logged 0 pressures for the second time in the past four games. And doing so against the Giants and Panthers shows the downside risk that he brings with the upside.

This week, though, pits Hubbard and the Bengals against Jalen Hurts, who is taking pressure at the highest rate in the league. Hurts took 4 sacks despite a season-low 21 dropbacks in Sunday’s win over the Giants.

That doesn’t make Hubbard a lock to deliver in Week 8. But it sure helps his chances.

Nakobe Dean, LB, Philadelphia Eagles

Dean delivered a strong performance in Sunday’s win over the Giants: 11 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 QB hits. That followed 12 tackles in the Week 6 win over the Browns.

Fellow LB starter Zack Baun injured a shoulder in the Giants game. If he misses this Sunday’s visit to Cincinnati, then Dean could see even more tackle opportunities.

Ivan Pace Jr., LB, Minnesota Vikings

LB Blake Cashman missed Sunday’s loss to the Lions and didn’t practice all week. That means he’s no lock to return for Week 8, especially with the Vikings visiting the Rams on Thursday night. 

If Cashman doesn’t play, you can bet on full playing time again for Pace. The second-year LB tallied a team-high 10 tackles, 1 sack, and a forced fumble against the Lions. 

Baylon Spector, LB, Buffalo Bills

The Bills watched LBs Terrel Bernard (ankle) and Dorian Williams (knee) each leave in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over the Titans.

HC Sean McDermott offered no details Monday, saying only, “We’ll see how they do.”

Bernard’s situation seems the more iffy between them, given that Williams was deemed “probable” to return to a game Buffalo had well in hand.

Spector filled in for Bernard when the latter missed 2+ games with a pectoral injury earlier this year, including wearing the green helmet dot.

If Bernard can’t go against the Seahawks in Week 8, then Spector would be an LB3 option with upside.

Eric Wilson, LB, Green Bay Packers

Green Bay lost Quay Walker to a concussion in Sunday’s win over the Texans. That doesn’t guarantee he’ll miss Week 8, of course. But it sure challenges his chances of playing against the Jaguars.

Wilson led LB playing time in the victory over Houston, staying on the field for 89% of snaps – ahead of Isaiah McDuffie (69%) and Edgerrin Cooper (64%).

Wilson maximized that opportunity, delivering 2 sacks among 4 tackles for loss as well as a pass breakup. His 5 solo tackles tied for second on the team.

Malik Mustapha, S, San Francisco 49ers

Mustapha racked up 12 tackles (6 solo) in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs, nearly doubling his season total (now 25).

That marked his fourth straight game as a prominent defensive piece. It was the second straight start for the fourth-round rookie, but Mustapha left Week 6 early with an ankle injury.

He progressed to a full Friday practice, entered the game with no injury designation and played every snap. That marked three games of 81+% playing time among the past four – including two at 100%. The 49ers also notably took him off special teams the past two weeks after Mustapha played on them through five games.

With Talanoa Hufanga on IR for at least two more games, Mustapha looks like an upside starting option vs. Dallas in Week 8. The Cowboys have supplied the fifth-most points per game to DBs so far.

Alontae Taylor, CB, New Orleans Saints

The Saints lost CB Paulson Adebo for the season in Thursday night’s loss to the Broncos. That at least boosts Taylor’s playing-time upside the rest of the way and might push him into the team’s top two at the position going forward. 

Week 8 holds a negative matchup with the Chargers, who have supplied the fewest fantasy points to opposing DBs of any offense. After that, though, comes the Panthers (third-most DB points allowed) and Falcons (fourth-most).

Christian Izien, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Lead slot corner Tykee Smith suffered a concussion in Monday night’s loss to the Ravens. We’ll see whether he can make it back for Sunday’s home date with the Falcons, but we should open the week expecting Smith to miss the game.

That presents opportunity for Izien – as his likely fill-in – because the Falcons have presented absurd scoring opportunities for the position.

Check out these stats for primary slot CBs from the past five opponents … (and think about how many of them you’ve actually heard of before):

• Week 7 -- Coby Bryant: 11 tackles, INT
• Week 6 -- Troy Hill: 9 tackles
• Week 5 -- Tykee Smith: 11 tackles, PD, FF
• Week 4 -- Alontae Taylor: 4 solos, 2 PDs
• Week 3 -- Chamarri Conner: 10 tackles, 2 PDs, INT

If Izien’s in line to start for Smith in Week 8, he’ll carry attractive fantasy upside.

Find Out Who Makes Sense for YOUR Team

The Free Agent Finder syncs with your league to highlight the best pickup for your specific situation.

Matt Schauf, Editor

Matt has earned two Fantasy Pros accuracy awards for IDP rankings and won thousands of dollars as a player across best ball, dynasty, and high-stakes fantasy formats. He has been creating fantasy football content for more than 20 years, with work featured by Sporting News, Rotoworld, Athlon, Sirius XM, and others. He's been with Draft Sharks since 2011.