Week 8 Fantasy Football QB Waivers: Malik Willis, J.J. McCarthy, and More

Streaming quarterbacks is a yearly activity for me. I prefer skipping the early players in the draft and loading up on running backs and wide receivers, believing that I can find streamers at QB every week or maybe even luck into a weekly starter.

That's why quarterback start/sit is one of my favorite columns each week, as it gives me the chance to dig deeper and find those players who are likely to excel even when we don't expect much. That process starts right away with waivers.

Let's look at four of the top quarterback names on the waiver wire heading into Week 8 of the NFL season. Most stats are from NFL.com, and fantasy points and rankings are from FantasyPros.

Use FantasySP's waiver wire tool to find the players who are being added to fantasy teams most often!

J.J. McCarthy, New York Giants

It seemed like only a matter of time before McCarthy took over for the Giants, and it happened right away after he had a huge fourth quarter against the Saints in Week 6. In his first start for the team against the Texans, McCarthy threw for 252 yards on nine per attempt, as New York took down Houston in overtime.

Running was part of McCarthy's fantasy intrigue, but a disturbing trend emerged, as Jameis Winston came in for QB sneak situations, including scoring a touchdown in the second quarter. QB sneaks don't gain much in terms of fantasy points, but it matters a lot when it's right near the end zone. Losing those opportunities matters.

Fantasy owners might have a week to reflect. The Giants have their bye this week before coming back for a mixed slate, seeing strong matchups against the Commanders and Colts but also tougher ones against the Eagles, 49ers, and Seahawks through mid-December.

I'm not keen on counting on McCarthy often, but when the matchup is right, he will have fantasy value. The first instance of that seems to be November 12 (Week 10) against Washington. If you have a bench spot to spare, it's not the worst idea to grab McCarthy (especially in a deep league), but I recommend waiting for now and grabbing him later as a streamer if he's still available.

Geno Smith, New York Jets

I mentioned Smith as a good streamer for Week 7 against the Dolphins, and the New York quarterback came through, throwing for 287 yards (on 9.6 per attempt) with three touchdowns. He won't always be a fantasy option, but in the right matchups, Smith is more than capable of putting up fantasy points.

Week 8 against the Raiders is one of those weeks. Las Vegas has allowed the sixth-most yards per pass attempt and the fourth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, setting up Smith for another strong performance.

Things will quickly turn, as Smith has a rough matchup against the Chiefs the following week. He'll never be anything more than a streamer, but that's fine. Smith can be your QB this week, then present a player to drop for another needed streamer or bench player. There will be more good matchups after (the Bills and Dolphins again are on the schedule through the end of November), but don't pick up Smith thinking that you found a weekly fantasy starter.

Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns

I had given up on Watson as being a good real-life quarterback. I still held out hope that he could have good fantasy weeks, mostly due to his running, but Watson hadn't played well since 2020, dealing with injuries and suspension in the meantime. Against all odds, he has bounced back this season.

Watson is gaining a very average 7.1 yards per pass attempt, a number he hasn't reached since 2020. He's not reaching the heights of his previous fantasy stardom, but Watson is averaging 211.7 passing yards and 30.7 rushing yards, placing him at QB16 in fantasy.

Like any player who will be available on the waiver wire at this point, Watson is best deployed when the matchup is right. The upcoming schedule is a bit scattered, as good matchups against the Saints and Raiders are interspersed with rougher outlooks against the Steelers and Falcons (and middling matchups against the Texans and Bengals).

Watson can be part of your QB rotation if you're playing matchups and waiting for the right weeks. He won't always come through, but Watson has strong performances in his past, an intriguing set of playmakers, and running ability that will work in your favor when things go right.

Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins

Willis had a good Week 7 in a tough matchup against the Jets, throwing for 208 yards on 9.9 per attempt with two touchdowns, 37 rushing yards, and a score on the ground. I'm intrigued by Willis as a fantasy player because of his running ability, but he tops out as middling as a passer, leaving a lower floor when the matchup isn't on his side.

Week 8 brings a tougher matchup against the Patriots, but there is a better outlook after that, with the Lions, Colts, and Bills on the docket before a rematch with the Jets (which I still see as a tougher opponent). If you're in a deeper league or are deploying a rotation of fantasy quarterbacks, Willis will be a good option often over the next month.

You might still sit him in Week 8, but there is a chance to play Willis as a high-upside option until Thanksgiving after that. Those floundering at the QB position will find at least a decent floor with Willis due to his running and matchups in the near future.