NFL fantasy football waiver wire: 5 adds and 2 drops for Week 8

Even as we’re hitting the midpoint of the fantasy football season, new names continue to pop up and breakout around the NFL.

On the other side, aging vets continue to look like they’re far past their prime and no longer need to be one your fantasy team. Let’s reassess your fantasy football team and take a look at some of the top adds and drops to make following Week 7 of NFL football.

ADDS

Ty Montgomery

The Packers have been decimated in the backfield with Eddie Lacy now on Injured Reserve and James Starks recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. That’s forced backup wide receiver Ty Montgomery to move to running back, a role he’s had for two straight games vs the Bears and Cowboys.

But it was against Chicago when Montgomery looked like a fantasy star. He finished with 66 rushing yards on just 10 carries to go with nine catches for 60 yards. That came a week after he ran for 98 yards on 10 carries with three catches for six yards vs Dallas.

That’s 227 total yards in just two games of work, making Montgomery a must-add in all fantasy leagues going forward.

Michael Thomas

The Saints seem to have too many receivers for any of them to be a real viable fantasy option, but Michael Thomas is showing he can do that and then some. He finished Week 7 with a career-high 130 yards on 10 grabs vs the Chiefs.

That came one week after Thomas grabbed five passes for 78 yards and a score against the Panthers. The rookie out of Ohio State looks like a stud in New Orleans’ offense, so try and snag him off waivers this week.

Jamison Crowder

Washington’s offense continues to feature Jamison Crowder more and more, almost enough that he’s becoming the No. 1 receiver option in Jay Gruden pass-heavy offense. Against the Lions in Week 7, Crowder finished with seven grabs for 108 yards on nine targets.

With Josh Doctson now on I.R. while DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon look likes shells of themselves, Crowder is becoming a viable fantasy option in this offense. Look to add him in PPR leagues.

Jack Doyle

You probably first heard of Jack Doyle early this season when he got off to a nice start in Indy, but eventually stopped doing much in the Colts’ offense with Dwayne Allen getting most of the reps at tight end.

However, Allen now has a high ankle sprain that could sideline him several more games, leaving Doyle as the No. 1 tight end in an offense lacking pass-catchers with Phillip Dorsett and Donte Moncrief also injured.

In a Week 7 win over the Titans, Doyle caught nine passes on 10 targets for 78 yards and one score. The targets show how much the Colts need him to step up, making him a viable fantasy tight end for you.

James White

The Patriots are still waiting on Dion Lewis to return, but with no clear date for his debut in sight, James White has become a solid pass-catching back now that Tom Brady is back.

Over the past two games, White has caught 10 passes on 15 targets for 79 yards for three scores. He only has 19 yards on seven rushes in the process, but his pass-catching production makes him a viable PPR back going forward.

DROPS

DeSean Jackson

As mentioned above, some aging veterans are starting to look like they’re long past their prime, enough that it’s time to part ways with. That’s unfortunately the case with DeSean Jackson, who continues to put up dud after dud, despite playing in a pass-happy Jay Gruden offense.

Jackson entered Week 7 as questionable to face the Lions while dealing with a lingering shoulder injury that has yet to cost him any games this season. However, the shoulder issue and/or Jackson’s age (turns 30 in Nov.) is making him look like an old man out on the field.

Against a Lions defense that’s been among the league’s worst vs the pass and Kirk Cousins airing it out 39 times, Jackson could only muster up five catches for 35 yards.

In seven games this season, Jackson has caught 27 passes for 368 yards and one score. That just isn’t going to cut it any longer, so cut Jackson from your fantasy team.

Sterling Shepard

The Giant’s passing game just can’’t find any rhythm, and Sterling Shepard has suffered because of it. The rookie receiver out of Oklahoma has the talent and ability to be a fantasy performer, but he’s fallen behind veterans Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz in the Giants’ enigmatic passing game.

That’s led to Shepard catching just 15 passes for 121 yards and no scores over his last four games. He’s also hitting a bye week, so it’s an easy call to cut him this week. He may emerge later this season, but he’s doing far too little to warrant a roster spot right now.