Waiver Wire Workout: Week 8

Because league formats vary, one size doesn't fit all when it comes to your waiver wire. That's why I break possible free agent adds into three categories. Follow me on Twitter for the latest on possible additions to your fantasy roster.

Addable in All Leagues

Darren McFadden, RB, DAL (36% owned in Yahoo! leagues). Remember approximately seven days ago, when Christine Michael was set to be the Cowboys' starting running back? Yeah, not so much. Even after Joseph Randle aggravated an oblique problem that dogged him in training camp, Michael barely played in Week 7. Instead, DMC piled up 31 touches and 164 yards from scrimmage. He gets a much worse matchup Week 8 against Seattle, and we don't know for sure that Randle will miss more time, but McFadden is the obvious top waiver add this week.

Alfred Blue and Chris Polk, RBs, HOU (17% and 3% owned, respectively). Anyone who says they know the Texans' plans in the wake of Arian Foster's season-ending Achilles' injury is lying. My guess is that the Texans don't know. During Foster's three-week absence to begin the year, Houston mixed it up extensively. Blue submitted the best game of any non-Foster RB so far this season, with 139 yards on 31 carries back in Week 3. He missed Week 6 with a toe injury, however, and Polk was the first man off the bench behind Foster on Sunday. Unfortunately, I'd argue that neither player is particularly talented, and that there's probably a committee brewing. Forced to pick someone, I'd take Blue.

Ladarius Green, TE, SD (48% owned). Antonio Gates missed Week 7 and needs an MRI on his injured knee. The Chargers are preparing to be without him for more games, and if that happens Green slides easily into the top 10 tight ends. Every Gates owner should also add Green.

Eric Ebron, TE, DET (23% owned). Ebron returned from a knee injury Sunday, made a big play upon being left completely uncovered, and later scored a red-zone touchdown. That's three TDs and 20 receptions in five games. It doesn't make Ebron elite, but it does put him in the tight-end middle class, where it doesn't hurt to ride the hot hand.

Minnesota Vikings Defense (31% owned). It's a tough week for streaming defenses, as the weakest offenses are playing each other (Texans and Titans), are on bye (Washington and Jacksonville), or are playing a heavily owned defense (Cowboys and Browns). First off, check your league to see if the Jets Defense (57% owned) was dropped for their Week 7 tilt with the Patriots. If the Jets are gone, trying the Vikings isn't a terrible idea. Minnesota plays conservatively on offense and aggressively on defense, and will occasionally get you sacks. On the road against Jay Cutler and the Bears, I can envision a sloppy game.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still addable in all leagues: Matt Jones, RB, WAS (48%); Theo Riddick, RB, DET (29%); Christine Michael, RB, DAL (45%).

Speculative Adds

Danny Amendola, WR, NE (13% owned). After disappearing for the season's first month, Amendola has strung together back-to-back strong outings; he was the only Patriots receiver not dropping everything thrown his way Sunday. Brandon LaFell's return means there are even more mouths to feed in New England, and everything Amendola does, Julian Edelman does better, but it's never a terrible play to ride Tom Brady's hot receiver.

Robert Woods, WR, BUF (5% owned). The Bills are off in Week 8, but there's no guarantee Sammy Watkins or Percy Harvin will return from injury two weeks hence. If they don't and Tyrod Taylor does, Woods has the kind of upside he displayed in London on Sunday. That amounted to nine grabs for 84 yards and a touchdown.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, TB (26% owned). ASJ hurt his shoulder in Week 2 and still hasn't returned, but he was reportedly close Sunday. When he comes back, he's got top 10 TE upside, especially if Vincent Jackson's knee injury turns out to be more than minor.

David Johnson, RB, ARI (37% owned). Johnson didn't do much Monday night, but at the moment he appears to be Arizona's goal-line back and he's made a few big plays in the passing game this year. Chris Johnson hasn't run out of gas just yet, though I do suspect he'll fade, and the rookie David Johnson could benefit. He's a pure stash at this point, but perhaps a smart one.

Joique Bell, RB, DET (20% owned). The Lions just fired their offensive coordinator, and I don't know whether that means the team now plans to focus more on Ameer Abdullah or that they'll just spread it out more. Bell returned to action in Week 7. He only played 10 snaps, compared to 11 for Abdullah and 28 for Theo Riddick, but he did look OK and produced a few chunk plays. I don't mind holding on until we find out what Detroit's "new" offense looks like.

Heath Miller, TE, PIT (28% owned). Ben Roethlisberger was reportedly close to playing in Week 7's loss in Kansas City. If the Steelers want to maintain any hope of an AFC North title, he'd better play Sunday against Cincinnati. Miller has been a non-factor with the Steel City backups playing QB, but he's a long-time Big Ben fave.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still speculative adds: Jay Cutler, QB, CHI (30%); Khiry Robinson, RB, NO (4%); Charles Sims, RB, TB (33%); Knile Davis, RB, KC (26%); Buck Allen, RB, BAL (10%); David Cobb, RB, TEN (9%); Antonio Andrews, RB, TEN (14%); Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, IND (9%); Ted Ginn, WR, CAR (33%); Marvin Jones, WR, CIN (40%); Ty Montgomery, WR, GB (9%); Kamar Aiken, WR, BAL (24%); Marquess Wilson, WR, CHI (5%); Devin Funchess, WR, CAR (16%); Benjamin Watson, TE, NO (41%); Richard Rodgers, TE, GB (27%).

Deep-League Adds

Nate Washington, WR, HOU (4% owned). Washington got fed during garbage time Sunday, with two touchdowns and 127 yards receiving. Of course, once Cecil Shorts returns from his hamstring injury, the job alongside DeAndre Hopkins will probably be split.

Jonathan Grimes, RB, HOU (0% owned). Grimes figures to be third man in for the Texans' Foster-free backfield. He actually got an end-zone target Sunday and could be involved in the receiving and hurry-up game, but he'll need to bypass Blue and Polk on the depth chart to be of much use in fantasy.

Orleans Darkwa, RB, NYG (3% owned). Darkwa out-snapped Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams in Sunday's win over the Cowboys, while Shane Vereen led the Giants in backfield playing time. That sound you hear is New York's backfield becoming a four-headed monster.

Dexter McCluster, RB, TEN (3% owned). McCluster just keeps getting the first carry every game for the Titans, and Sunday he actually played pretty well when Tennessee went spread. Antonio Andrews is the more traditional thumper here, though, and David Cobb could return in a week or two.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still addable in deep leagues: Chris Thompson, RB, WAS (4%); Jeremy Langford, RB, CHI (1%); Jamison Crowder, WR, WAS (12%); Cecil Shorts, WR, HOU (7%); Albert Wilson, WR, KC (1%); Jeff Janis, WR, GB (0%); DeVante Parker, WR, MIA (7%); Derek Carrier, TE, WAS (1%).

Christopher Harris (@HarrisFootball) is a six-time Fantasy Sports Writing Association award winner. He hosts the Harris Football Podcast every weekday. Find it on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn and most other podcast apps, as well as at www.HarrisFootball.com.