Fantasy Football Week 8 RB and WR FAAB Bids: Kyle Monangai, Xavier Legette, and More

We've reached the point in the season where many players who break out do so because of injury. Guys who are good enough to get into the lineup generally have by now, so those who get expanded opportunities often do so because someone in front of them went down.

Injuries are often impossible to predict, so it's a reactive game or than a proactive one. With the players below, we are often looking at guys who are either benefitting from an injury or waiting for one so they can get that expanded look.

Let's look at some of the hottest running back and wide receiver names on the waiver wire this week and reasonable FAAB bid ranges for each. Your numbers may vary based on your remaining budget and roster needs, but this is a good baseline to start from. All bids are based on a $100 budget.

Check out FantasySP's waiver wire tool to see which players are being added to fantasy rosters most often each week!

Running Back

Bam Knight, Arizona Cardinals

Knight was the hot name in his backfield heading into Week 7 over Michael Carter, and Knight indeed led the way, carrying the ball 14 times and catching three passes to just seven and two, respectively, for Carter.

Trey Benson can return in Week 10, though there's no certainty of that. When he is back on the field, that will likely mean the end of the fantasy value for both Knight and Carter. The team has a bye this week, so Week 9 is the last time we are guaranteed to have Knight as the team's quasi-RB1.

Knight has been a little underwhelming, scoring two touchdowns the past three weeks but averaging 34 rushing yards per game on just 3.5 per attempt. He has added a little PPR boost, catching five passes for 40 yards.

It's not enough to make him an exciting player when he's starting, and it will drop him off the radar completely when he returns to the bench. Don't spend too much on Knight as a short-term contributor.

Conservative Bid: $0-2

Need Bid: $3-4

Desperation Bid: $5-6

Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears

Could there be a split backfield coming in Chicago? Monangai has been firmly behind D'Andre Swift, drawing a little fantasy intrigue because he was getting on the field. He had by far his best game of the season on Sunday, carrying the ball 13 times for 81 yards and a touchdown.

That will lead to Monangai being added in many fantasy leagues. Swift had a big game of his own, turning 19 carries into 124 yards and a touchdown, as the Bears dominated the Saints on the ground on the way to a 26-14 victory. That leaves doubt in Monangai's status.

First, Chicago was up by multiple scores for most of the game, so they were keeping the ball on the ground, giving more chances to both backs. With the Bears holding a comfortable lead, they were able to give their backup more work and lessen the load on the starter Swift.

He will keep a role in the offense, but Monangai is likely to stay as the clear backup and get fewer chances in close games. There is value in a player who gets on the field, and he might get more work if he finds more success, but there is also a clear ceiling here that makes him a low-level fantasy player.

Conservative Bid: $0-1

Need Bid: $2

Desperation Bid: $3

Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

The rookie Smith was a seventh-round pick out of SMU. He played wide receiver in college before switching to running back in the pros, so there was instant intrigue in a player who could be deployed multiple ways in an Andy Reid offense with Patrick Mahomes.

He hadn't been involved much before Week 7, topping out at four carries, three receptions, and 36 total yards in any game. That was despite Kansas City's running game looking moribund at times, with Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt averaging right around 4.0 yards per carry.

Smith finally got his chance to shine in Sunday's blowout win over the Raiders, carrying the ball 14 times for 39 yards and catching five passes for 42 yards. He was inefficient running the ball, but Smith only carried it one less time than Pacheco (who gained 57 yards and scored a TD).

Fantasy owners can dream of a multi-faceted back who makes an extra impact in PPR, but Smith is unlikely to see this much volume moving forward. The Chiefs dominated the Raiders all day, eventually winning 31-0. Like the Bears, Kansas City likely saw this as a chance to give some work to their backup while saving the hits on their starters.

Smith is a name to watch in future seasons, as he could become a big part of this offense. It might not happen this year, but we saw a few flashes; there's more here. He's only a deep-league bench option right now, though.

Conservative Bid: $0

Need Bid: $1

Desperation Bid: $2

Wide Receiver

Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans

Dike had the best day of his rookie season, catching four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown. He previously had nine receptions and 26 yards and had run the ball six times for 17 yards, so it was a surprise day driven by a 38-yard touchdown catch.

Ayomanor had just two catches for 29 yards, but he has been the better player all season, catching 19 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Both guys got a little boost in this game because Calvin Ridley was out after suffering a hamstring injury last week.

The problem in Tennessee is that the passing game is at such a low level that it makes it impossible to trust anyone in fantasy. Cameron Ward is completing just 57.6% of his passes for 5.7 yards per attempt with four touchdowns, five interceptions, and five lost fumbles.

That last number leads the league, as do his 30 sacks, and no one is particularly close. There's more to fix than just the rookie quarterback, but Ward often looks inept as a rookie. I won't count on any Titans player as more than a weekly streamer in the right situations.

Dike isn't involved enough in the offense, working more as a gadget player and kick returner. Ayomanor might get there, but the passing game isn't good enough to trust anyone.

Conservative Bid: $0

Need Bid: $1

Desperation Bid: $2

Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers

Legette had a career day on Sunday, catching nine passes for 92 yards and a touchdown. He had never topped six catches or 66 yards prior to Week 7, so it was a bit of a surprise to see the second-year receiver break out in a game in which Tetairoa McMillan was in the lineup.

McMillan is the team's top receiver, leading them by far in targets, receptions, and yards. He was held to just three catches and 33 yards against the Jets despite playing nearly 90% of the snaps.

Legette picked up the slack on a quiet offensive day in which the Panthers won 13-6, with Legette's touchdown the only one in the game. With a former first-round pick, it's enticing to believe that this could turn into something more, but that's probably not the case.

Legette has been a low-level player in his short time as a pro, averaging around three catches and 30 yards in 21 career games. He also plays in a poor passing game, where Bryce Young continues to struggle and looks closer to being on his way out of Carolina every week. Young has a high ankle sprain, so Andy Dalton will likely get a few starts.

That could actually raise the level of the pass catchers when Dalton is in the lineup, but Legette is unlikely to become a consistent fantasy player. Keep an eye on him because of the pedigree, but don't count on Legette to fill a lineup spot.

Conservative Bid: $0

Need Bid: $1

Desperation Bid: $2

Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts

With Indianapolis continuing as THE surprise team of 2025, it opens the door to more potential fantasy players. Entering the season, Jonathan Taylor was the only sure-fire fantasy guy, with Michael Pittman Jr. more of a bench option and Tyler Warren an intriguing rookie.

Now, Taylor might be the best fantasy back in the league, Warren and Daniel Jones have both been weekly fantasy starters, and Pittman is right around WR10 in both standard and PPR scoring. It's impossible not to take note of this team.

Pierce missed Weeks 4 and 5, but he has otherwise been working as a starter opposite Pittman. Pierce relies more on explosive plays, averaging nearly 20 yards per reception, which he topped last year. He is averaging 3.2 receptions and 63.4 yards per game in 2025.

Pierce is a bit of a boom-or-bust player. He boomed on Sunday, catching five passes for 98 yards, both season highs. He has been above 35 yards in all five games that he played and over 65 yards in three of them.

I prefer a guy who touches the ball more often, but Pierce does have value in deeper leagues and as a bench guy. He is part of that big group of players who can be considered in the WR3/4/flex range depending on the matchup and your roster each week.

Conservative Bid: $0-1

Need Bid: $2

Desperation Bid: $3