Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 8 Hidden Gems to Target

Week 8 arrives with several under-the-radar additions that could provide immediate fantasy value, particularly for managers dealing with bye weeks and injuries. This week's waiver wire focuses on a rookie running back gaining steam in Chicago and a veteran quarterback revitalizing his career in Cincinnati.

Kyle Monangai (RB - Chicago Bears)

Monangai is flying under the radar but quietly putting up production when given opportunities in Chicago's backfield. The seventh-round rookie out of Rutgers posted his best NFL performance in Week 7, recording 94 scrimmage yards and his first professional touchdown on just 15 touches against New Orleans. He's averaging an efficient 4.6 yards per carry and has shown flashes of the physical running style that made him attractive to the Bears' coaching staff. The workload has been trending upward since Ben Johnson took over play-calling duties, with Monangai seeing his snap share increase to 46.3% in Week 7. This is a solid pickup for managers looking for help at running back depth, especially considering Johnson's track record of successfully deploying two-back systems in Detroit.

Joe Flacco (QB - Cincinnati Bengals)

If you need quarterback help with six teams on bye in Week 8, Flacco should be on your radar after his midseason trade to Cincinnati. The 40-year-old veteran has been producing quality numbers since joining the Bengals, totaling 561 yards, five touchdowns, and zero interceptions across his first two starts with his new team. Fantasy teams looking for upside should grab Flacco before the news spreads further - he's thrown for over 300 yards in his last start against Pittsburgh and has the weapons around him to maintain fantasy-relevant production. Based on current PPR rankings, he's positioned as a streaming option with legitimate weekly starter potential given Cincinnati's receiving talent.

Kayshon Boutte (WR - New England Patriots)

Boutte has been producing when given opportunities, posting 90 or more yards in each game where he's received five or more targets this season. The Patriots receiver caught five passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns in Week 6, taking advantage of a Saints defense that struggles against perimeter receivers. He's primarily operated as Drake Maye's deep threat option and has found success on just seven targets over his last two productive games. Keep an eye on Boutte's target distribution going forward - the young quarterback has shown excellent deep ball accuracy, adding value to each opportunity Boutte receives in New England's developing passing attack.

Filed under: Free Articles