Fantasy football 2018: top 10 waiver wire Week 8 pickups

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 21: Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) during the first half of an NFL game between the Cleveland Browns and the Tampa Bay Bucs on October 21, 2018, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 16: Jalen Richard (30) of the Oakland Raiders stands before the game against the Denver Broncos. The Denver Broncos hosted the Oakland Raiders at Broncos Stadium at Mile High in Denver, Colorado on Sunday, September 16, 2018. (Photo by Joe Amon/The Denver Post via Getty Images) /

RB: Jalen Richard, Oakland Raiders

For now, Doug Martin is penciled in as the Oakland Raiders feature back with Marshawn Lynch injured, but that may not last. Martin hasn’t proven to be an effective weapon in years, which means that the younger Jalen Richard could eventually establish himself as the Raiders top player in the backfield over the next couple of weeks.

Richard already made an impression on fantasy owners in Week 6, racking up 7 receptions on 8 targets as a check-down option against the Seattle Seahawks. With Amari Cooper shipped off to the Dallas Cowboys, there are theoretically more targets available for everyone, including Richard, though it’s worth noting that Carr and Gruden didn’t exactly make Cooper a priority in the offense anyway.

Carr loves his check-downs, and Richard could keep being a big part of the offense as a receiver. He’s caught at least 6 passes in 4 different games this season, and his role should only continue to grow with Lynch injured.

WR: Danny Amendola, Miami Dolphins

Over the past several years, Danny Amendola has been one of the most underrated wide receivers in the NFL from a non-fantasy perspective. He blocks, moves the chains, frees others with picks underneath, can get YAC, makes tough catches, and comes up clutch in high-leverage situations.

Amendola has become a bigger part of the Miami Dolphins in the last two weeks, and that should continue with the even more underrated Albert Wilson seriously injured.

The former New England Patriots standout caught 6 passes for 84 yards and a touchdown last week against the Detroit Lions, so Amendola is coming off of his best performance of the season. He’s someone to monitor as the most reliable component of the Dolphins passing attack.

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