Week 8 Waiver Wire Top Targets For This Week's Injured Fantasy Football Stars

The Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers kicked off Week 8 on Thursday night in a game that could have meaningful playoff implications. Many fantasy managers will be battling for playoff positioning this week as well.

Unfortunately, many of those same managers will be without some of their top stars. The Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers will all be on bye this week. As has been the case for most of the NFL season, injuries are also a significant factor.

Here, we'll dive into the Week 8 injury report , provide rankings for the top remaining point-per-reception (PPR) plays, and highlight sleepers who may still be available entering the weekend.

The big fantasy news at quarterback is that Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson (ankle) plans to make his return to face the Buffalo Bills this week.

Geno Smith looms as a viable streamer, and he's worth spot-start consideration this week. The former Las Vegas Raiders starter is coming off a 24.5-point outing and will face his former team in Week 8.

The Raiders have surrendered an average of 20.8 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.

Smith is rostered in only 24 percent of fantasy leagues. Michael Penix Jr., Baker Mayfield, Malik Willis and Jacoby Brissett are other quarterbacks to consider targeting on the wire.

Jets running back Breece Hall could make his return from injury this week and is officially questionable. So is Tampa Bay Buccaneers back Kenneth Gainwell. Atlanta Falcons No. 2 back Brian Robinson Jr. is out.

The Arizona Cardinals could have standout rookie Jeremiyah Love back this week as well.

However, Love may not be back to 100 percent yet. Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is definitely not, though he could still give it a go against the Washington Commanders on Sunday night.

Tyjae Spears and RJ Harvey are out, while TreVeyon Henderson is questionable.

With Love looking less than 100 percent, Cardinals backup Zonovan Knight is a waiver option worth considering. He appears to have overtaken Tyler Allgeier during Love's absence, and he has topped nine fantasy points in two straight games.

Knight will have a favorable matchup this week against the Dallas Cowboys, who have surrendered an average of 22.6 fantasy points to opposing backfields.

Cleveland Browns running back Dylan Sampson is another strong option in PPR leagues. He made his 2026 debut in Week 7 and finished with 10.7 fantasy points. He'll face a tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense, but he has a lot of upside as a pass-catcher, especially if Cleveland lands in another early hole.

Knight and Sampson are rostered in 13 percent and 15 percent of leagues, respectively. Mike Washington Jr., Samaje Perine, and Chris Rodriguez Jr. are other wire options who may still be available.

Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka has cleared the concussion protocol but will not return to face the Falcons on Sunday. He has already been ruled out, along with Bills wide recever Tyrell Shavers. Bills receiver D.J. Moore is officially questionable.

Rashee Rice appears on track to play for the Kansas City Chiefs. Ja'Marr Chase appears set to go for the Cincinnati Bengals. However, DeVonta Smith and Dontayvion Wicks will both be out for the Eagles again.

Tre' Harris and Ladd McConkey are expected to suit up for the Los Angeles Chargers.

Carnell Tate will be out for the Tennessee Titans, while Calvin Ridley is questionable. A.J. Brown, George Pickens, Jaylen Waddle, Jakobi Meyers, Olamide Zaccheaus, and Jack Bech are also among the list of receivers who are questionable this week.

It's worth checking to see if Jets rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. is available, as he's rostered in 54 percent of leagues. Cooper has topped 20 fantasy points in consecutive weeks and has another reasonable matchup against Las Vegas this week.

Colts receiver Keenan Allen might be a slightly more realistic target, as he's only rostered in 48 percent of leagues. He only had 6.1 fantasy points last week, but he topped 16 points two weeks ago and has another favorable matchup.

The Colts will battle the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers.

Washington Commanders rookie Antonio Williams hasn't reached double-digit fantasy points since Week 1. However, he's in line for an expanded role following Terry McLaurin's season-ending knee injury.

Williams will face an Eagles defense that has surrendered the second-most fantasy points to opposing receivers. He's only rostered in 15 percent of leagues.

Ja'Kobi Lane, Caleb Douglas, Keon Coleman, and Demario Douglas are other sleepers to consider targeting on the wire this week.

Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid is officially questionable with a chest injury.

If Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson is available in your league, grab him. He's rostered in 63 percent of leagues, and that number is too low, given Minnesota's Week 8 matchup.

Hockenson is coming off a 13.5-point performance and will face a Detroit defense that has surrendered an average of 24.7 fantasy points to opposing tight ends.

Commanders tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo has a less favorable matchup against Philadelphia (8.2 fantasy PPG allowed) but is also more readily available. He's rostered in 25 percent of leagues.

Okonkwo has had back-to-back games with double-digit fantasy points, and he could also see an expanded role with McLaurin done for the rest of the season. Mason Taylor, Tyler Higbee, and Mike Gesicki are other TEs to consider off the wire this week.

*Fantasy scoring and roster information from FantasyPros .