At different times during the fantasy football season, injuries, bye weeks, and breaking news may leave you needing reinforcements for your fantasy team. Every Friday throughout the 2025 NFL season, Matt Bowen will offer weekend pickup options to help fill these holes, with an emphasis on deeper leagues.
For this reason, this column will focus primarily on players registered in less than 50% of ESPN leagues, with a few exceptions.
With six teams bye this week, the options are pretty slim, but there are enough quality players available to fit into deep league rosters. We’ll start at the quarterback position, with two long-time veterans coming off important games. I’m also looking at a few tight ends who are providing double-digit fantasy production, and we’ll also be hitting several running backs and wide receivers. As always, I’m going to give you a defense to stream this week, and this one can put pressure on the quarterback.
Quarterbacks
Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals (26.3% of strength; vs. Jets)
Flacco has attempted at least 45 passes in each of his two starts, with 18 or more fantasy points in both. Even though a negative game script played a role, we know this is a serious passing offense in Cincy. Additionally, Flacco plays with an aggressive throwing mentality and he has next-level pass catchers in Ja’Marr Chase (23 targets in Week 7) and Tee Higgins. Of course, Flacco has a tendency to come off the ball sometimes; decision-making may also decline. But with a Sunday game against a winless Jets team, you’re betting on Flacco to stay hot in Week 8.
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (34.1% vs. Packers)
From a player’s point of view, facing your old team is important. And it goes up a notch if that team leaves you. Just something to think about here as Rodgers hosts the Packers on Sunday night. But let’s not forget that Rodgers was driving the ball — with speed and location — in the Week 7 game against the Bengals. Rodgers finished with four touchdown passes in that one, posting a total of 22.56 points. He now has multiple touchdowns in three of his last four games, and I think he’s trending upward based on the tape. He slots in here as a deeper league option for Week 8.
Tight ends
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (23.5% vs. 49ers)
Schultz was limited in practice earlier this week (back/shoulder), so let’s monitor the reports. However, with the injury situation in the Texans wide receiver room, Schultz is a smart choice for Sunday’s game against the 49ers – if he can go. In Monday night’s loss to the Seahawks, with Nico Collins (concussion) out early and Christian Kirk (hamstring) down for the game, Schultz had season highs in receptions (nine), targets (10), receiving yards (98) and points (18.8). This has given Schultz back-to-back games with double-digit points, plus he has at least five receptions in four in a row. Schultz has the ability to stretch the seams to work the 49ers’ zone coverage, and we know he can find open turf underneath as a target for CJ Stroud.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (39.6% registered; with the Saints)
I’m surprised Otto’s percentage isn’t higher after three straight games with 10 or more points. And just like the Texans, there are several injuries at the wide receiver position in Tampa. Otton caught seven of nine targets for 65 yards (13.3 points) in Monday night’s loss to Detroit, and he has at least four receptions and 50 yards in his last three games. He’s a reliable target for quarterback Baker Mayfield, with a solid matchup against a Saints defense that ranks middle of the road against opposing tight ends.
Running backs
Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears (31.5% on roster; at Ravens)
Monangai has the characteristics that complement D’Andre Swift’s running style in Chicago, and its use is climbing. In the Week 7 win over the Saints, Monangai had season highs in touches (15), total yards (94) and points (17.4), and he scored his first touchdown as a professional. He’s a hot-tempered runner, with the contact balance and foot quickness to operate in tight spaces between tackles. And the Bears – since coming out of the bye in Week 6 – have been running the football much more effectively. The Rutgers rookie has an advantage this Sunday against a Ravens defense that has allowed 29.1 PPG to opposing running backs, second-highest in the league.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (32.8% of roster; at Colts)
In deeper formats, managers can take a look at Spears in this week’s meeting with the Colts because of his receiving numbers. He’s caught at least three passes in consecutive games, with four targets each, and he can function underneath as an outlet for quarterback Cam Ward. Yes, I’d like to see Spears get more carries (five in each of his last two games), but you can plan on 8-10 hits in the lineup. And with six teams bye this week, you might have to throw him a flyer.
Wide receivers
Tez Johnson (30.8% registered) And Sterling Shepard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (16.4% on roster; with Saints)
Mike Evans (clavicle) is likely done for the season and Chris Godwin Jr. (fibula) is doubtful for Sunday’s game. So we have two options for potential replacements in Tampa, depending on your needs. Johnson gives managers a higher ceiling. He has big play juice and is slippery after the catch. Johnson caught 4 of 9 targets for 58 yards and a touchdown (15.8 points) in the Week 7 game against Detroit, his second straight game with a field goal. Shepard, on the other hand, has an upper floor. He only had 25 receiving yards against Detroit, but he caught all seven of his targets, and he has two games with double-digit points this season. Me? I still take the higher cap option (Johnson), but Shepard also has PPR value this Sunday.
Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers (31.9% vs. Bills)
Legette had career highs in last week’s win over the Jets, catching 9 of 11 targets for 92 yards and a touchdown (24.2 points). And while quarterback Andy Dalton will start this week replacing the injured Bryce Young (ankle), Legette still has an advantage as the Panthers’ No. 2 against a zone-heavy Bills defense. Plan the windows to open and the script of the plan played for Dalton.
Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans (2.2% on roster; at Colts)
With Calvin Ridley dealing with a hamstring injury, receiver Elic Ayomanor (22.3 percent of players) may also be drafted this week due to the positive game against the Colts. But I’ll pick Dike first because of the big-play ability he brings to the field. He’s a burner, with 4.34 speed, and we saw that on his 38-yard touchdown run last week against the Patriots. He can leak the cover on deep overs and crossers. Dike caught all four of his targets for 70 yards, finishing with a career-high 16.9 points. Get the upper hand here with Dike – if Ridley is out.
D/ST
Buffalo Bills (41.9% of the workforce; among the Panthers)
The Bills defense hasn’t gotten the ball at a high rate this season (eight forced turnovers total). I would like to see a higher number there. But this unit has a pressure rate of 38.9% (second highest in the league), and it has at least two sacks in 5 of 6 games played. With the number of teams bye this week, taking a defense against a backup quarterback (Dalton) is better than expected.
