Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings: Check out the latest updates from our experts Sunday morning
With six teams on bye, the rankings continue to get shaken up. Chris Towers takes a look at the starting options for each position.
By
Chris Towers
•
11 min read
More Week 8: Waiver Wire — Trade Values — Streaming Options — Rankings — Start 'Em and Sit 'Em — Cheat Sheet
Editor's Note: All rankings updated as of Sunday at 9 a.m. EST to reflect the latest news and changes our experts have made.
Teams on bye in Week 8: Arizona, Green Bay, Jacksonville, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, Tennessee
PPR Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | K | DST
Note: All rankings for Standard scoring.
Quarterback Rankings
tr class="row1">
| Week 8 QB Rank |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drew Brees NO (vs CHI) | Cam Newton CAR (at TB) | Tom Brady NE (vs LAC) |
| 2 | Tom Brady NE (vs LAC) | Russell Wilson SEA (vs HOU) | Drew Brees NO (vs CHI) |
| 3 | Russell Wilson SEA (vs HOU) | Carson Wentz PHI (vs SF) | Russell Wilson SEA (vs HOU) |
| 4 | Cam Newton CAR (at TB) | Kirk Cousins WAS (vs DAL) | Carson Wentz PHI (vs SF) |
| 5 | Dak Prescott DAL (at WAS) | Dak Prescott DAL (at WAS) | Dak Prescott DAL (at WAS) |
| 6 | Carson Wentz PHI (vs SF) | Drew Brees NO (vs CHI) | Cam Newton CAR (at TB) |
| 7 | Andy Dalton CIN (vs IND) | Jameis Winston TB (vs CAR) | Kirk Cousins WAS (vs DAL) |
| 8 | Philip Rivers LAC (at NE) | Tom Brady NE (vs LAC) | Matt Ryan ATL (at NYJ) |
| 9 | Jameis Winston TB (vs CAR) | Andy Dalton CIN (vs IND) | Philip Rivers LAC (at NE) |
| 10 | Tyrod Taylor BUF (vs OAK) | Deshaun Watson HOU (at SEA) | Jameis Winston TB (vs CAR) |
| 11 | Kirk Cousins WAS (vs DAL) | Tyrod Taylor BUF (vs OAK) | Tyrod Taylor BUF (vs OAK) |
| 12 | Matt Ryan ATL (at NYJ) | Philip Rivers LAC (at NE) | Andy Dalton CIN (vs IND) |
- Injury Update: There aren't many injuries to worry about at QB, but Jameis Winston was able to practice Friday after not throwing Wednesday and Thursday. He'll play as expected, in what could turn into a shootout.
- First three out... Jamey: Derek Carr, Deshaun Watson, Alex Smith; Dave: Derek Carr, Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger; Heath: Ben Roethlisberger, Derek Carr, Deshaun Watson
- Who is No. 1? Dave is very excited about Cam Newton this week, moving him all the way up to No. 1 at the position. It's been an up-and-down season for the former MVP, but with Brent Grimes and Robert McClain out for Week 8, he should feast against this matchup.
- Fade the matchup? Dave is going to look like a genius if Deshaun Watson manages to keep rolling despite the tough matchup against the Seahawks. Heath and Jamey are avoiding him against the Seahawks.
- Trust the stream... Andy Dalton is Heath's top streaming option for the week, and sneaks his way into the top-12 for all three of our experts, thanks to a prime matchup against the hapless Colts.
Running Back Rankings
| Week 8 RB Rank | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Le'Veon Bell PIT (at DET) | Le'Veon Bell PIT (at DET) | Le'Veon Bell PIT (at DET) |
| 2 | Ezekiel Elliott DAL (at WAS) | Ezekiel Elliott DAL (at WAS) | Ezekiel Elliott DAL (at WAS) |
| 3 | LeSean McCoy BUF (vs OAK) | LeSean McCoy BUF (vs OAK) | Melvin Gordon LAC (at NE) |
| 4 | Mark Ingram NO (vs CHI) | Devonta Freeman ATL (at NYJ) | LeSean McCoy BUF (vs OAK) |
| 5 | Devonta Freeman ATL (at NYJ) | Kareem Hunt KC (vs DEN) | Mark Ingram NO (vs CHI) |
| 6 | Melvin Gordon LAC (at NE) | Mark Ingram NO (vs CHI) | Devonta Freeman ATL (at NYJ) |
| 7 | Kareem Hunt KC (vs DEN) | Melvin Gordon LAC (at NE) | Jordan Howard CHI (at NO) |
| 8 | LeGarrette Blount PHI (vs SF) | Joe Mixon CIN (vs IND) | Kareem Hunt KC (vs DEN) |
| 9 | Jay Ajayi MIA (at BAL) | Jordan Howard CHI (at NO) | Jay Ajayi MIA (at BAL) |
| 10 | Jordan Howard CHI (at NO) | LeGarrette Blount PHI (vs SF) | Carlos Hyde SF (at PHI) |
| 11 | Joe Mixon CIN (vs IND) | Jay Ajayi MIA (at BAL) | C.J. Anderson DEN (at KC) |
| 12 | Carlos Hyde SF (at PHI) | Christian McCaffrey CAR (at TB) | Joe Mixon CIN (vs IND) |
| 13 | Alvin Kamara NO (vs CHI) | Alvin Kamara NO (vs CHI) | Alvin Kamara NO (vs CHI) |
| 14 | Christian McCaffrey CAR (at TB) | Jerick McKinnon MIN (at CLE) | Lamar Miller HOU (at SEA) |
| 15 | Chris Thompson WAS (vs DAL) | Chris Thompson WAS (vs DAL) | Doug Martin TB (vs CAR) |
| 16 | Jerick McKinnon MIN (at CLE) | Carlos Hyde SF (at PHI) | Matt Forte NYJ (vs ATL) |
| 17 | Doug Martin TB (vs CAR) | Dion Lewis NE (vs LAC) | LeGarrette Blount PHI (vs SF) |
| 18 | Matt Forte NYJ (vs ATL) | Doug Martin TB (vs CAR) | Jerick McKinnon MIN (at CLE) |
| 19 | Dion Lewis NE (vs LAC) | Latavius Murray MIN (at CLE) | Chris Thompson WAS (vs DAL) |
| 20 | Lamar Miller HOU (at SEA) | C.J. Anderson DEN (at KC) | Tevin Coleman ATL (at NYJ) |
| 21 | Wendell Smallwood PHI (vs SF) | Lamar Miller HOU (at SEA) | Christian McCaffrey CAR (at TB) |
| 22 | Ameer Abdullah DET (vs PIT) | Matt Forte NYJ (vs ATL) | Rob Kelley WAS (vs DAL) |
| 23 | C.J. Anderson DEN (at KC) | Javorius Allen BAL (vs MIA) | Dion Lewis NE (vs LAC) |
| 24 | Tevin Coleman ATL (at NYJ) | Tevin Coleman ATL (at NYJ) | Duke Johnson CLE (vs MIN) |
- Injury Update: Melvin Gordon (foot) was limited all week at practice, and is officially questionable for Sunday. At this point, there doesn't seem to be much risk of him sitting out, but you'll obviously need to keep an eye on reports Saturday... C.J. Prosise (ankle) is not expected to play...
- First three out... Jamey: Rob Kelley, Marlon Mack, Latavius Murray; Dave: Jalen Richard, Marlon Mack, Wendell Smallwood; Heath: Dion Lewis, Jalen Richard, Alex Collins
- Beastmode Replacements: With Marshawn Lynch's suspension upheld on review Monday, Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington enter the Fantasy conversation this week. Dave has Washington as a starting-caliber player, and Jamey has him as the guy to go with in Standard as well, at No. 28. Heath has Richard as the top option at 26 — and I happen to agree. Point for Heath!
- Buying the breakout? Because Jerick McKinnon had been so good, it was easy to miss that Latavius Murray was still seeing a healthy role in the Vikings' offense. It was impossible to miss him Sunday, however, as he rushed for 113 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries. Dave buys him as a starting-caliber option even in a tough matchup against the Browns. But he likes McKinnon even more.
- Trust the matchup? One interesting thing to note about this week is how few of the fringe-y running back options have good matchups. One exception is in Philadelphia, where Wendell Smallwood and LeGarrette Blount get to take on a 49ers defense that was thrashed by Ezekiel Elliott last week. Smallwood's role in the passing game makes him the man to trust in PPR, while Blount could find the end zone in a game the Eagles should easily win.
- Trust Belichick? Dion Lewis has led the Patriots in carries each of the last two weeks, which is a lifetime in Bill Belichick Time. That, of course, doesn't mean he's going to be the guy forever. But, it does mean you can trust him in Week 8 against the Chargers. Until it means you can't.
Wide Receiver Rankings
| Week 8 WR Rank | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | A.J. Green CIN (vs IND) | A.J. Green CIN (vs IND) | Julio Jones ATL (at NYJ) |
| 2 | Antonio Brown PIT (at DET) | Mike Evans TB (vs CAR) | A.J. Green CIN (vs IND) |
| 3 | Julio Jones ATL (at NYJ) | Julio Jones ATL (at NYJ) | Antonio Brown PIT (at DET) |
| 4 | Mike Evans TB (vs CAR) | Antonio Brown PIT (at DET) | Mike Evans TB (vs CAR) |
| 5 | Kelvin Benjamin CAR (at TB) | Michael Thomas NO (vs CHI) | Dez Bryant DAL (at WAS) |
| 6 | Dez Bryant DAL (at WAS) | Doug Baldwin SEA (vs HOU) | Keenan Allen LAC (at NE) |
| 7 | Michael Thomas NO (vs CHI) | Kelvin Benjamin CAR (at TB) | Brandin Cooks NE (vs LAC) |
| 8 | Doug Baldwin SEA (vs HOU) | Michael Crabtree OAK (at BUF) | Michael Thomas NO (vs CHI) |
| 9 | Keenan Allen LAC (at NE) | Dez Bryant DAL (at WAS) | Demaryius Thomas DEN (at KC) |
| 10 | Demaryius Thomas DEN (at KC) | Keenan Allen LAC (at NE) | Doug Baldwin SEA (vs HOU) |
| 11 | Brandin Cooks NE (vs LAC) | Demaryius Thomas DEN (at KC) | Kelvin Benjamin CAR (at TB) |
| 12 | Chris Hogan NE (vs LAC) | Chris Hogan NE (vs LAC) | Chris Hogan NE (vs LAC) |
| 13 | Devin Funchess CAR (at TB) | Brandin Cooks NE (vs LAC) | Stefon Diggs MIN (at CLE) |
| 14 | Stefon Diggs MIN (at CLE) | Stefon Diggs MIN (at CLE) | Adam Thielen MIN (at CLE) |
| 15 | Adam Thielen MIN (at CLE) | Amari Cooper OAK (at BUF) | Michael Crabtree OAK (at BUF) |
| 16 | DeAndre Hopkins HOU (at SEA) | DeAndre Hopkins HOU (at SEA) | Amari Cooper OAK (at BUF) |
| 17 | Jarvis Landry MIA (at BAL) | Jarvis Landry MIA (at BAL) | Alshon Jeffery PHI (vs SF) |
| 18 | Michael Crabtree OAK (at BUF) | Nelson Agholor PHI (vs SF) | Devin Funchess CAR (at TB) |
| 19 | Amari Cooper OAK (at BUF) | Adam Thielen MIN (at CLE) | Pierre Garcon SF (at PHI) |
| 20 | Alshon Jeffery PHI (vs SF) | Tyreek Hill KC (vs DEN) | Jarvis Landry MIA (at BAL) |
| 21 | Nelson Agholor PHI (vs SF) | Devin Funchess CAR (at TB) | DeAndre Hopkins HOU (at SEA) |
| 22 | Golden Tate DET (vs PIT) | Alshon Jeffery PHI (vs SF) | Tyreek Hill KC (vs DEN) |
| 23 | Tyreek Hill KC (vs DEN) | Kenny Stills MIA (at BAL) | Nelson Agholor PHI (vs SF) |
| 24 | JuJu Smith-Schuster PIT (at DET) | DeSean Jackson TB (vs CAR) | JuJu Smith-Schuster PIT (at DET) |
- Injury Update: Stefon Diggs (groin) is officially questionable, but he's looking likely to play after traveling to London and practicing in full Thursday and Friday… There was some concern earlier in the week Michael Thomas (knee) showed up on the injury report, but it looks like a non-issue. He isn't even on the final injury report of the week… Golden Tate (shoulder) is, shockingly questionable for Sunday's game, after putting in limited practices. He'll be a true game-time decision, it seems. Kenny Golladay (hamstring) looked like he might make his return this week, but he has already been ruled out… Danny Amendola (knee) expressed some optimism about his chances of playing, but it's hard to trust given his injury history. I wouldn't plan on using him this week… Devin Funchess (hamstring) was limited earlier in the week, but practiced in full Thursday and Friday and should be ready for this great matchup…
- First three out... Jamey: Ted Ginn, Marvin Jones, Josh Doctston; Dave: Josh Doctston, Will Fuller, DeSean Jackson; Heath: DeSean Jackson, Jermaine Kearse, JuJu Smith-Schuster
- Buying the breakout? Amari Cooper finally — finally — broke out last week, hauling in 11 targets for 210 yards and a pair of scores. 50 yards would have counted as a breakout based on how Cooper has been playing, but we'll take all of the extra too. Whether he can keep it up moving forward obviously remains to be seen, but after such a stark reminder of his explosive he can be, I would have a hard time sitting Cooper. Our experts agree.
- Buying the breakout, pt. 2? JuJu Smith-Schuster
- Time to step up... JuJu Smith-Schuster is starting to show signs of developing into a contributor for the Steelers, with two touchdowns in the last four weeks. He hasn't done quite enough otherwise to have fully broken out, but Dave is ready to trust him in what could be a good matchup against the Lions, ranking him just inside the top-24 for the week.
Tight End Rankings
| Week 8 TE Rank | | | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rob Gronkowski NE (vs LAC) | Travis Kelce KC (vs DEN) | Rob Gronkowski NE (vs LAC) |
| 2 | Zach Ertz PHI (vs SF) | Rob Gronkowski NE (vs LAC) | Zach Ertz PHI (vs SF) |
| 3 | Travis Kelce KC (vs DEN) | Zach Ertz PHI (vs SF) | Travis Kelce KC (vs DEN) |
| 4 | Hunter Henry LAC (at NE) | Hunter Henry LAC (at NE) | Jimmy Graham SEA (vs HOU) |
| 5 | Jimmy Graham SEA (vs HOU) | Jimmy Graham SEA (vs HOU) | Jordan Reed WAS (vs DAL) |
| 6 | Jordan Reed WAS (vs DAL) | Jordan Reed WAS (vs DAL) | Hunter Henry LAC (at NE) |
| 7 | Jason Witten DAL (at WAS) | Austin Seferian-Jenkins NYJ (vs ATL) | Kyle Rudolph MIN (at CLE) |
| 8 | Kyle Rudolph MIN (at CLE) | Tyler Kroft CIN (vs IND) | Cameron Brate TB (vs CAR) |
| 9 | Austin Seferian-Jenkins NYJ (vs ATL) | Cameron Brate TB (vs CAR) | Austin Seferian-Jenkins NYJ (vs ATL) |
| 10 | Cameron Brate TB (vs CAR) | Kyle Rudolph MIN (at CLE) | Jason Witten DAL (at WAS) |
| 11 | Tyler Kroft CIN (vs IND) | Ed Dickson CAR (at TB) | Nick O'Leary BUF (vs OAK) |
| 12 | Nick O'Leary BUF (vs OAK) | Benjamin Watson BAL (vs MIA) | A.J. Derby DEN (at KC) |
- Injury Update: Charles Clay (knee) has been ruled out for Week 8. Nick O'Leary will continue to play significant snaps in his absence… Ed Dickson (ankle) is officially questionable, and is a solid start if he's able to play. He is certainly trending that way after two days of full practice… Vance McDonald (knee) has been ruled out for Week 8…
- First three out... Jamey: Benjamin Watson, Jared Cook, Zach Miller; Dave: O.J. Howard, Jason Witten, Darren Fells; Heath: A.J. Derby, Tyler Croft, Jared Cook
- Trust the matchup... The Browns have been the second-worst defense in the NFL against tight ends, and Kyle Rudolph gets them this week. He hasn't topped 50 yards in any game, but is a solid bet to get into the end zone this week, especially if the Browns continue to focus resources in the middle of the field on slowing down the running game.
- Buying the breakout? Jordan Reed finally – finally – broke out in Week 7. Now he gets the Cowboys, a team he has averaged 58.7 yards per game against in his career. He scored two touchdowns in his last matchup with the Cowboys, and had 15 catches for 165 yards in two games. He's a must-start player.
