It happens every season — that one week when fantasy football managers who have been holding on by a thread suddenly find the move that flips their entire season. Week 8 might just be that moment, and two names stand out among the chaos: Kyle Monangai and Brashard Smith. For those who watched them explode over the weekend, the performance felt less like luck and more like destiny taking shape.

A nearly 42-year-old Rodgers still has some juice left. He made my list of quarterbacks to start in for Week 7 and delivered 22.56 fantasy points on Thursday night vs. the Bengals. Rodgers posted season-highs in completions (23), passing yards (249) and matched his season-best with four touchdowns. The veteran has averaged 16.9 fantasy points per contest and plays the Packers and Colts at home the next two weeks. Both teams rank middle-of-the-pack in fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks.

Legette has had a major sophomore slump to begin his 2025 campaign, although injuries haven’t helped. However, out of nowhere, he set career highs in catches (9), targets (11) and receiving yards (92). He also scored a touchdown, giving him 24.2 fantasy points. Legette quietly has two touchdowns in his last three games and could see a slight upgrade with Andy Dalton potentially starting in Week 8. Bryce Young left the game vs. the Jets with an ankle injury, which makes his availability next week cloudy. Despite everyone being fixated on rookie Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker, who returned to the Panthers’ lineup this week, Legette was the one who led the Panthers in receiving this week and could be in for a bounce-back second half of the season.

After entering Thursday night with just eight catches and 76 yards, Freiermuth logged a monster five-catch, 111-yard performance with two scores vs. the Bengals. The majority of his production came on a 68-yard TD late in the game, but Freiermuth tied fellow tight end Jonnu Smith with a team-high six targets. Rodgers has targeted tight ends at a high rate this season, as nearly 35% of his targets have gone to tight ends. With Freiermuth seeing an uptick in usage, he can provide value to fantasy managers. The Steelers play the Packers, who surrender the fourth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends, at home next week.

The rookie out of Rutgers was another running back who had a career day. Monangai nearly doubled his previous high in carries, commanding 13 totes for 81 rushing yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for 13 yards. Monangai totaled 17.4 fantasy points and benefitted from a ground-and-pound Bears game plan. Overall, Chicago rushed for a season-high 222 yards and averaged 5.6 yards per carry. Monangai is one of the best handcuffs in fantasy at the running back position, but may have some value over the next couple of weeks. The Bears play the Ravens and Bengals. They rank No. 2 and No. 1, respectively, in fantasy points allowed to running backs per game in 2025.

Kareem Hunt left the Chiefs’ game vs. the Raiders with an ankle injury, opening the door for the rookie running back out of SMU. Smith’s usage has increased as the season went on, but it finally led to a breakout game. He rushed 14 times for 39 yards and caught 5-of-5 targets for 42 yards. The former wide receiver boasts a skillset that meshes perfectly with Kansas City’s offense. The severity of Hunt’s injury is still unclear, but it can open the door for Smith to establish a more prominent role. The Chiefs face the Commanders and the Bills the next two weeks. Washington ranks No. 14 in fantasy points per game allowed to running backs, while Buffalo ranks No. 7.

Monangai’s breakout wasn’t just another stat-padding Sunday. It was the kind of statement game that makes you question why he was ever overlooked. Running with purpose and precision, he shredded defenses with a mix of vision and brute force, looking every bit like a feature back. What made it special wasn’t just his numbers — it was his timing. When his team needed consistency, Monangai delivered with the calm confidence of a player who knows he belongs.

Fantasy managers watching from their couches could almost feel it — that electric rush of discovery when an unknown suddenly becomes the talk of every group chat. Overnight, waiver boards across the country lit up with his name. “He’s the kind of guy that wins you leagues,” one fan tweeted, echoing a sentiment that spread like wildfire through the fantasy community.

Meanwhile, Brashard Smith delivered a different kind of surprise — one built on resilience and opportunity. Known for his speed but not his consistency, Smith finally put it all together in a breakout performance that turned heads. His connection with the quarterback looked effortless, his route running sharper than ever, and his yards-after-catch ability undeniable. For a player who had long lingered in the shadows of bigger names, Week 8 felt like redemption.

Behind the stats lies a deeper story. Both Monangai and Smith represent what makes fantasy football so addictive — the dream that at any moment, a single decision could rewrite your season’s script. Monangai’s bruising runs and Smith’s fluid agility embody two sides of that fantasy thrill: power and finesse, both capable of carrying a roster when it matters most.

Coaches and analysts weren’t blind to it either. “He’s earned more touches — you can’t deny what he’s done,” one coach said postgame about Monangai. For Smith, praise came just as loud, if not louder. “He’s growing into a complete receiver,” his position coach said. “We’ve always known the talent was there — now the confidence is catching up.”

The Week 8 waiver wire frenzy feels different because it’s not built on desperation — it’s built on momentum. Both players fit the perfect midseason mold: hungry, undervalued, and ready to seize the spotlight when teams are scrambling for answers. Injuries have opened doors across the league, and these two are sprinting through them.

Fantasy experts are already calling this one of the most impactful waiver weeks of the season. ESPN analysts described Monangai as a “volume magnet,” while PFF’s breakdown highlighted Smith’s efficiency — a staggering 3.2 yards per route run over the past two games. The numbers tell a story, but the eye test tells the truth: these aren’t one-week wonders. They’re emerging stars.

As the fantasy playoffs draw closer, the window to act is closing fast. Every season, we remember the pickups that became legends — the undrafted names who carried teams to glory. Week 8 might be the moment when Monangai and Smith join that list.

In a game defined by chaos, this might be the calm before the storm — or the spark that ignites a comeback.