- Jaylin Noel will have the opportunity to be the Houston Texans’ top target: Noel found success in the Christian Kirk slot role in Week 7, recording career-highs in targets, receptions and receiving yards. He faces the San Francisco 49ers this weekend, and they have struggled to cover slot receivers in 2025.
- Colston Loveland has a chance to break out with Cole Kmet sidelined: Loveland notched career-highs in playing time, targets and receptions in Week 7 after Cole Kmet went down due to a back injury that is also expected to keep him out in Week 8.
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Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
With already so many key fantasy players injured or on bye weeks, you may find yourself digging deeper on the waiver wire than you ever expected heading into the sixth week of the season. Here are five players to consider adding from the waiver wire heading into Week 8 if you’re in a pinch due to injury.
QB Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons will play at home this weekend against the very weak Miami Dolphins defense. Michael Penix Jr. has performed much better at home than on the road in his sophomore year — he has five touchdowns in three home games, with just one touchdown in three road games in 2025. Penix has averaged 19.1 fantasy points per game at home this season, and he has another great shot to perform well in front of Falcons’ fans this weekend against the Miami Dolphins, who have allowed the fourth most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season.
Bryce Young and Dillon Gabriel were the only quarterbacks who didn’t put up 19 fantasy points in their matchup against the Dolphins this year. With six teams on bye, plus a few more quarterback injuries on top of that, Penix is a solid option off waivers to start in Week 8 if you are in a pinch.
Available in 82% of ESPN leagues and 66% of Yahoo! Leagues.
RB Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears
Seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai played on a career-high 46% of the Chicago Bears‘ offensive snaps in Week 7. He took full advantage of the opportunity, gaining 81 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries in the game. D’Andre Swift and Monangai made a great one-two punch in the Bears' win against the New Orleans Saints and Ben Johnson should continue to feature both of them in the backfield moving forward. Johnson was very successful in Detroit, utilizing a split backfield, and could be looking to do the same thing in Chicago.
If Monangai sees similar work in Week 8 against the Baltimore Ravens, he should be able to put together another good game. The Ravens have allowed the fourth-most yards per game and second-most fantasy points per game to the running back position in 2025.
Available in 64% of ESPN leagues and 58% of Yahoo! Leagues.
WR Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans
In Week 7, with Christian Kirk sidelined, rookie Jaylin Noel saw career-highs with seven targets, four receptions and 77 receiving yards — he was the only Texans wide receiver with 15-plus receiving yards in the game. Each of Noel’s four receptions last week came out of the slot, while no other wide receiver came down with a single reception from the slot in the game. Both Nico Collins (concussion protocol) and Kirk (hamstring) have been ruled out for Week 8.
The Texans will need to throw the ball frequently to keep up with the San Francisco 49ers‘ offense this Sunday. Noel could lead the team in targets in this matchup as the 49ers have struggled to cover slot receivers. The 49ers have allowed the second-most yards per target, third-most receiving yards and third-most receiving touchdowns to slot receivers this season.
Available in 95% of ESPN leagues and 96% of Yahoo! Leagues.
WR Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos
Troy Franklin had a career-high 10 targets and scored his second touchdown of the season in Week 7. He has now seen at least eight targets in each of the last two home games for the Denver Broncos. Unfortunately, Franklin was not efficient on his 10 targets last week, catching just three balls for 19 targets, but if he gets a similar workload in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys, he should have a big day. The Cowboys have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game (40.1) and most receiving touchdowns (12) to the wide receiver position this season. Seven different wide receivers have scored 15-plus fantasy points against the Cowboys in 2025.
Available in 61% of ESPN leagues and 66% of Yahoo! Leagues.
TE Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
Bears starting tight end Cole Kmet is expected to miss Week 8 after leaving last week’s game early with a back injury. Kmet’s absence should finally give the 2025 10th overall pick, Colston Loveland, a chance to see the field more and earn a higher volume of targets. Colston ended up playing 67.6% of the Bears' offensive snaps, getting targeted four times and leading the team with three receptions in Week 7, all of which were career-highs. Loveland ran a route on 17 of Caleb Williams’ 27 dropbacks last Sunday.
The Bears play the Baltimore Ravens this weekend, who have been the worst defense in the NFL in 2025, allowing a league-high 32.3 points per game. There should be lots of scoring to go around for the Bears in this matchup, and Loveland has a good shot to be a focal point of the passing offense in the game.
Available in 76% of ESPN leagues and 80% of Yahoo! Leagues.
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