Nothing messes up your fantasy football lineup like injuries and bye weeks. Seven weeks into the 2025 NFL season, several big-name fantasy heroes have been sidelined, including Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Malik Nabers, and CeeDee Lamb.
Many fantasy managers are already fielding backups in multiple positions, and Week 8 poses a further significant hurdle, with six teams on bye. With fantasy lineups in every league set to be depleted, here are several players, currently on waivers, who could help get you through the most challenging round of the 2025 season.
*All recommended players are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Week 8 Byes
Here is a list of the six NFL teams on bye this week, and the fantasy-relevant players that will need to be replaced.
Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray, Bam Knight, Michael Carter, Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Trey McBride
Detroit Lions: Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, David Montgomery, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta
Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne, Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Hunter
Las Vegas Raiders: Geno Smith, Ashton Jeanty, Jakobi Meyers, Tre Tucker, Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer
Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams
Seattle Seahawks: Sam Darnold, Kenneth Walker III, Zach Charbonnet, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Cooper Kupp, A.J. Barner
Replacement Options Include: Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants
Jaxson Dart has gone beyond a weekly streaming option and should now be considered a week-to-week QB1 in fantasy. Despite facing the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos over the last two weeks, Dart has been the QB3 (pending Monday Night Football) in that time.
Joe Flacco, QB, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Flacco has been a revelation since joining the Cincinnati Bengals. The former Brown has gone from famine to feast in fantasy, and averaged 22.4 fantasy points per game on his new team.
The New York Jets are unlikely to push the score up like the Pittsburgh Steelers did in Week 7, but Flacco can’t help but score points with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins healthy.
Tyler Allgeier, RB, Atlanta Falcons
If you’re plugging in a running back from waivers this week, you can expect a drop-off in fantasy production. That being said, Atlanta Falcons back Tyler Allgeier stands out as the best option in a perfect matchup against the Miami Dolphins.
Quinshon Judkins (26.4 fantasy points), Kimani Vidal (22.8), and Rico Dowdle (32.4) have all feasted on Miami’s hapless run defense in the last three weeks. Bijan Robinson will dominate touches, but there should be enough opportunities for Allgeier to contribute flex-worthy numbers.
Brashard Smith, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
Brashard Smith saw an uptick in rushing opportunities in Week 7, but that was almost entirely due to the blowout nature of the game. The Kansas City Chiefs face the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football this week, and Smith will likely be relegated to passing-down work.
However, even Smith’s receiving production would have made him the RB21 overall in Week 7 after Sunday’s games. The Commanders have given up the fifth-most receiving yards to running backs this year, and Smith should be playable in fantasy if needed.
Alec Pierce, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Despite not making any headlines, Alec Pierce ranks 12th among all qualifying receivers in PFSN’s WR Impact metric this season. Pierce was targeted 10 times against the Los Angeles Chargers, despite the Indianapolis Colts having a sizeable lead for most of the game.
He faces the head-coach-less Tennessee Titans this weekend, and would be a worthwhile flex play if this were a typical week. It’s not a normal week, though, and Pierce is an excellent rental for those in trouble at receiver.
Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers
Xavier Legette could be having one of the quieter second-year breakouts we’ve seen in recent years. The former first-round pick has had seven or more targets in three games this year, and finally turned that into a massive production in Week 7.
Legetter caught nine of 11 targets for 92 yards and a touchdown against the Jets and will be called upon again against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, New England Patriots
Kayshon Boutte is as efficiency-dependent as they come, and was listed as a sell-high in this week’s buy-low, sell-high article. However, if in need, Boutte offers as much touchdown upside as anyone you’ll find on waivers this week.
The New England Patriots receiver has caught all seven of his targets for 148 yards and three touchdowns over the last two weeks. The Patriots will need to throw against the Cleveland Browns, with their tepid rushing attack unlikely to cause Myles Garrett and company many problems.
Josh Reynolds, WR, New York Jets
This one is injury-dependent, but if Garrett Wilson misses a second straight game this weekend, Josh Reynolds should be in play. The journeyman receiver was targeted nine times as the Jets attempted a comeback against Carolina in Week 7.
As mentioned already, the Bengals can be expected to score big every week, and the Jets will likely need to be aggressive to keep up.
Oronde Gadsden, TE, Los Angeles Chargers
If you’re only in need of a flex this weekend, Oronde Gadsden might be the best option on this list. The Chargers’ rookie has been the second-best tight end in fantasy over the last two weeks, including an explosion against the Colts on Sunday.
Gadsden caught seven of his nine targets for 164 (yes, 164!) yards and a touchdown in Week 7, and will be one to watch against the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night. He will cost you some FAAB budget, as a priority waiver add, but could prove to be a year-long fantasy star.
Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cade Otton was a popular streaming option in Week 7, with question marks surrounding the health of both Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka. Both receivers started the game against the Detroit Lions, but Evans left early after landing heavily on a phenomenal would-be catch.
It has since been revealed that Evans suffered a broken collarbone and is set for another significant spell on the sidelines.
Otton caught seven of nine targets for 65 yards against the Lions and should be a top-10 tight end against New Orleans on Sunday. Such is his likely target share this week, he is also a viable flex option for those struggling at running back or receiver.
Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets
Mason Taylor is another Jets pass catcher who would benefit from Wilson missing more time, but he has emerged as a regular streaming option in his own right. Promisingly, all five of Taylor’s targets in Week 7 came from Tyrod Taylor, who only played the second half, and could be named the team’s starting quarterback this week.
