Top 17 waiver wire targets for Week 8 of fantasy football: Gus Edwards is the man to get this week

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 13.1%

Week 7 stats: 66 rushing yards, 2 touchdowns — 18.6 fantasy points

One thing to know: Kenyan Drake was the breakout player in the Ravens backfield last weekend, but this week he was usurped by Gus Edwards in his first game back this season. With Drake held to just five rushing yards on 11 carries, it looks like Edwards is the man you want moving forward.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 24.7%

Week 7 stats: 63 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 10 receiving yards, 1 touchdown — 15.3 fantasy points

One thing to know: The Carolina Panthers traded away starting running back Christian McCaffrey last week, opening up the top job in the backfield to two contenders — D'Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard. Hubbard appeared to be the top man in the backfield to start the game, but an ankle injury cut his night short.

The Carolina offense is in flux right now, and will be taking offense wherever they can get it. It's possible they move forward without a lead back, instead choosing to ride the hot hand week-to-week. Also, worth noting that between Foreman and Hubbard, it was Hubbard that found the end zone.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 34.4%

Week 7 stats: 118 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 27 receiving yards — 16.5 fantasy points

One thing to know: Foreman made the most of his role in the Panthers offense, and quickly eclipsed 100 yards, thanks to a 60-yard scamper in the third quarter. If you're in need of some depth at running back, either Hubbard or Foreman will do.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 68.9%

Week 7 stats: 92 rushing yards, 4 receptions, 21 receiving yards, 1 touchdown — 23.3 fantasy points

One thing to know: Eno Benjamin is already pretty widely owned, but given the numbers he put up this week, it's worth double-checking to see if your league is one of the 31.1% where he's available.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 30.3%

Week 7 stats: 50 rushing yards, 1 touchdown — 11 fantasy points

One thing to know: Tyler Allgeier is splitting duty in the Falcons backfield with Caleb Huntley after Cordarrelle Patterson was sent to the IR. This week, Allgeier had the edge with 16 carries to Huntley's six.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 66.3%

Week 7 stats: 73 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 13 receiving yards — 10.6 fantasy points

One thing to know: Brian Robinson has hit double-digit fantasy points two weeks straight since taking over the starting job in Washington. If you're about to lose a running back to a bye week, Robinson feels like safe, high-floor play.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 68.7%

Week 7 stats: 29 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 45 receiving yards — 9.4 fantasy points

One thing to know: Rookie Breece Hall left Sunday's game with what could be a season-ending injury. Michael Carter was already getting enough opportunity in the Jets offense to be a weak flex play, but with him elevated to the starting role, he could be in for some big games in the near future.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 2.7%

Week 7 stats: 10 receptions, 70 receiving yards, 1 touchdown — 23 fantasy points

One thing to know: Parris Campbell has 17 receptions on 23 targets over the past two weeks, scoring in both games. He's been a top-10 wide receiver in fantasy in back-to-back weeks, and he's available in nearly all leagues.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 13.5%

Week 7 stats: 6 receptions, 50 receiving yards — 11 fantasy points

One thing to know: While he didn't find the end zone like teammate Darius Slayton, Wan'Dale Robinson led the Giants in targets and receptions on Sunday against the Jaguars. Right now picking a Giants receiver to rise above the rest is a bit of a game of whack-a-mole, but if I had to choose one, I'd choose Robinson.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 21.2%

Week 7 stats: 4 receptions, 32 receiving yards, 3 touchdowns — 28 fantasy points

One thing to know: Well, the bad news is, you already missed having Mecole Hardman on your roster for his best game of the year. The good news is he can still be a valuable addition to your roster moving forward. Hardman has hit double-digit fantasy points in three straight games now, and he has a few favorable matchups coming up after next week's bye. If you don't want to grab him now because Kansas City is off next week, set yourself a reminder to pick him up heading into Week 9.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 6.6%

Week 7 stats: 2 receptions, 44 receiving yards, 1 touchdown — 12.4 fantasy points

One thing to know: Depending on the depth of your fantasy league, sometimes a boom-or-bust player is the best you can find to fill in for one of your starters on a bye week. If that's the case, Mack Hollins is a fun lottery ticket to have in your pocket.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 9.3%

Week 7 stats: 6 receptions, 71 receiving yards — 11.1 fantasy points

One thing to know: Donovan Peoples-Jones has now had at least four receptions and 70 receiving yards in three of his past four games. While he's not likely to light up the box score with a monster game, he is involved enough in the Browns offense to get some reliable fantasy points.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 3.2%

Week 7 stats: 5 receptions, 32 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns — 20.2 fantasy points

One thing to know: Juwan Johnson won't be scoring two touchdowns a game many more times this season, but he is clearly a threat in the red zone for the Saints, and with the New Orleans receiving corps dealing with a number of injuries, Johnson has a bit more upside than you might think.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 7.2%

Week 7 stats: 6 receptions, 51 receiving yards — 11.1 fantasy points

One thing to know: Greg Dulcich made his first start of his NFL career in Week 6 against the Chargers, where he got a look in the red zone to score a touchdown. This week against the Jets, he had nine targets, trailing only Jerry Jeudy among Broncos pass-catchers. It's clear that the Broncos believe in Dulcich, so if you've been dissatisfied so far with your tight end play, he could be worth a shot.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 12.8%

Week 7 stats: 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, 3 sacks, 10 points against — 20 fantasy points

One thing to know: The Tennessee Titans defense were the top-scoring defense in fantasy this week, and next week get to play a home game against the Houston Texans.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 41.6%

Week 7 stats: 1 sack, 23 points against — -2 fantasy points

One thing to know: The Jaguars have actually netted negative fantasy points in each of the past two weeks, but a favorable matchup against a Denver Broncos team that managed just nine points this week against the New York Jets could be just the thing to get Jacksonville back on track.

ESPN fantasy % rostered: 28.7%

Week 7 stats: 202 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 107 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown — 28.8 fantasy points

One thing to know: Joe Burrow is the only quarterback in fantasy to put up more points than Daniel Jones this week, and next week, the Giants head to Seattle to take on what has been a somewhat suspect defense.