It’s already Week 8 of the 2025 NFL regular season. That means the time is now to make a playoff push in fantasy football. Desperate managers should be pushing hard for an instant-impact trade. Fortunately, the waiver wire offers a potential difference-maker at a much lower price.
All it’ll take to snag a possible starter is a bit of FAAB (free agent acquisition budget). However, the key here is to outbid your league-mates without giving up too much. Which players are worth snagging off of the waiver wire? Are there any names that may not warrant a big buy-in?
Here’s how much you should be willing to spend on some of Week 8’s most popular waiver wire selections.
Week 8 Fantasy Football FAAB Values
RB Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears
5-6% of FAAB
Entering Week 7, D’Andre Swift’s status was uncertain due to a groin injury. Although he did play, the Bears opted for a near 50/50 split at running back vs. New Orleans. RB2 Kyle Monangai took the field for a season-high 45% of Chicago’s snaps. The rookie made the most of his playing time, recording 94 yards of offense and a touchdown. Through six games, he’s notched 223 yards from scrimmage.
Monangai’s workload has steadily risen all season, going back to his 13% Week 1 snap share. It’s also worth noting that the Bears are led by new head coach Ben Johnson. The former Lions offensive coordinator is no stranger to split backfields. In addition, Swift has proven to be somewhat injury-prone throughout his career. The 26-year old played all 17 games for the first time ever last season. In a fantasy landscape starved for decent running backs, Monangai is someone worth adding.
WR Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons
5% of FAAB
Health has been a major obstacle for Darnell Mooney this season. The 27-year-old has missed two contests due to a hamstring injury. When active, the veteran adds some depth to Atlanta’s mediocre passing game. With all eyes on Drake London and Kyle Pitts, Mooney is also a potential big play threat. That was the case on Sunday night, when he accumulated 68 yards on three catches vs. San Francisco.
Mooney isn’t always the most reliable option for fantasy managers. Still, we’re only one year removed from his 992-yard, five-touchdown 2024 campaign. Anything close to that level of production going forward would be ideal. The Falcons have games with several lackluster secondaries still to come. That includes Week 8’s matchup with the disastrous Dolphins. Mooney isn’t someone you should be starting in most leagues, but he’s certainly worth a bench stash.
QB Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders
2% of FAAB
Jayden Daniels (hamstring) left early during Sunday’s 44-22 drubbing vs. Dallas. It appears the worst has been avoided for the young signal caller. Still, the Commanders will want to play it safe with their franchise quarterback. That means there’s a very real possibility Marcus Mariota takes the field once again. Washington’s backup has already played in three games this season. During those outings, he’s thrown for 426 yards, ran for 94 more, and garnered four total touchdowns.
A scrambling quarterback on one of the league’s better offenses? That’s a recipe for fantasy football success. Quarterback-starved fantasy managers will need to give Mariota a serious look this weekend if Daniels is out. Monday night pits Washington against a dynamic Chiefs offense. The Commanders may need to score plenty of points just to keep up with Kansas City. In a week loaded with byes and injuries, Mariota has the potential for 20+ fantasy points.
Other names to consider
- Brashard Smith delivered a quality performance on Sunday for the Chiefs. The rookie ran the ball 14 times for 39 yards, while grabbing five passes for 42 yards. However, Kareem Hunt (ankle) left this game early. In addition, it’s difficult to draw conclusions from a 31-0 blowout. Regardless, a potential RB1 in a loaded offense warrants fantasy consideration. Smith makes sense as a speculative waiver wire pickup.
- 4-5% of FAAB
- Breece Hall left Week 7’s game briefly with a lower body injury. The running back did return, but a winless Jets squad might play it safe with their leading rusher. Isaiah Davis would be next in line if Hall sat out, going up against a terrible Bengals run defense. New York’s RB2 is worth a modest claim, but nothing more.
- 2% of FAAB
- Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins both have fantasy football value if Nico Collins (concussion) is out. Unfortunately for the Texans, they’ll have to take on a ferocious 49ers defense on Sunday. Neither rookie is worth paying much for right now, but they should both be rostered.
- 1-2% of FAAB
