Fantasy Football Buy Low Wide Receivers: WR Breakout Candidates for Week 8

Fantasy Football Buy-Low WRs in Summary

• Garrett Wilson, Jets
• Nico Collins, Texans
• DK Metcalf, Steelers
• Michael Wilson, Cardinals

We're far enough into the fantasy football season that it's easy to assume we know exactly what each player is.

That's not always the case.

Recent box scores can dramatically influence a player's trade value, but targets, routes, and overall opportunity can sometimes tell a much different story. Buying before the production catches up can be one of the best ways to improve your roster ahead of the fantasy playoffs.

With that in mind, let's look at some wide receivers to target in buy-low trades entering NFL Week 8.

All fantasy football projections via our numbers at FanDuel Research, and NFL odds references are to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Wide Receivers to Buy Low in Fantasy Football

Garrett Wilson, New York Jets

The last two weeks have been brutal for Garrett Wilson, which could create a buying opportunity.

Wilson followed a 4-catch, 44-yard performance in Week 6 with only 2 receptions for 26 yards on three targets against Miami. That's just 70 receiving yards across his last two appearances.

The emergence of Omar Cooper Jr. is worth monitoring, but I'm not ready to abandon Wilson's season-long role. He still owns a 25.9% target share through seven weeks, ranking among the better marks at the position.

We also saw Wilson turn heavy volume into big fantasy performances earlier in the year. He recorded 10 receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown on 13 targets in Week 3 before posting 7 catches for 104 yards and a score on 11 looks in Week 5.

The New York Jets have a favorable Week 8 matchup with the Raiders, giving Wilson an immediate opportunity to bounce back.

There is more target competition than there was earlier in the season, but that line of thinking is part of what makes Wilson a buy-low candidate. If Wilson's manager is frustrated after consecutive disappointing games, I'd pounce.

Nico Collins, Houston Texans

This might be the ideal week to send an offer for Nico Collins.

Collins just produced easily his worst game of the season, catching 2 of 5 targets for only 6 yards against the Giants. He has now gone three straight games without a touchdown and has failed to reach 80 receiving yards in each of them.

On top of that, the Houston Texans are on bye in Week 8. Fantasy managers dealing with injuries and bye-week problems could be especially motivated to trade away a player who can't help them this week.

Collins had recorded at least 55 receiving yards in every appearance this season before Week 7, including a 7-catch, 118-yard, 2-touchdown explosion against Dallas. He's still Houston's top wideout despite the offense recently spreading its targets around more.

The Texans' receiving room has become crowded, but one six-yard performance shouldn't drastically change how we value a receiver with Collins’ combination of role, talent, and big-play ability.

You will have to wait a week before putting Collins back into your lineup, but that bye could lower his trade cost. For managers with enough depth to survive Week 8, this is an appealing time to make an offer.

DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers

The touchdown column is the biggest reason I'm interested in DK Metcalf.

Metcalf has 58 targets, 32 receptions, and 374 receiving yards through seven games for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he's scored only one touchdown.

For a player with Metcalf's size and downfield ability, I'm willing to bet on that touchdown rate improving.

His weekly volume has been inconsistent, but there have been encouraging flashes. Metcalf drew 15 targets in Week 6, converting them into 11 receptions for 93 yards. He also posted 115 receiving yards on 9 targets against Cleveland in Week 4.

Metcalf gets Cleveland again in Week 8. That alone makes this a potentially good time to trade for him, but the bigger appeal is the rest-of-season outlook.

He's Pittsburgh's top downfield receiving option and rarely comes off the field. Metcalf played at least 92% of the offensive snaps in each of his first six games, and that kind of playing time should continue creating opportunities.

With just one touchdown through seven games, Collins’ fantasy production hasn't matched the role. I'd be willing to bet that changes over the second half of the season.

Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals

Michael Wilson hasn't produced a huge fantasy performance since Week 4, but the volume is still there. He's seen at least seven targets in every game this season and has amassed 66 targets through seven weeks.

That has resulted in 37 receptions for 375 yards and only one touchdown.

The lack of trips to the end zone has suppressed Wilson's fantasy value, and his efficiency hasn't been anything special, either. But there aren't many receivers available at a modest trade cost who can offer this kind of consistent target volume.

Wilson also played 90.1% of the Arizona Cardinals' offensive snaps in Week 7 and saw eight targets, catching four for 55 yards while adding 11 rushing yards.

Now he gets an appealing Week 8 matchup with Dallas. The Cowboys have been a favorable opponent for opposing wide receivers, and the game environment could force Arizona to throw frequently.

Wilson is an excellent buy-low option right now.

Check out our fantasy football buy low running backs article for Week 8.

Fantasy Football Buy-Low Wide Receivers FAQ

What does buy low mean in fantasy football?

Buying low means trading for a player whose current perceived value is lower than what you expect his value to be going forward. A slow start, tough matchup, injury, or lack of touchdowns can sometimes create a buying opportunity.

What should you look for in a buy-low wide receiver?

Target volume, route participation, air yards, red-zone usage, and snap rate are all important. A receiver can be underperforming in fantasy while still seeing the type of usage that suggests better production is coming.

When is the best time to trade for a buy-low wide receiver?

The best opportunities often come after one or two disappointing games, especially if the player's role has remained strong. Fantasy managers can sometimes overreact to short-term results even when the underlying usage is encouraging.

Should you buy low on an injured wide receiver?

It can make sense if the injury is considered short-term and the player's price has dropped significantly. Before making a trade, consider the expected return timeline and whether you have enough depth to wait for him to get healthy.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.