With no teams on bye, 32 signal-callers return to our Week 8 fantasy QB rankings. While that may seem like a positive thing in theory, more options can complicate our start-sit decisions. Fear not, as we’re here to help you decipher which quarterbacks stand the best chance of leading consistent scoring drives, boosting your fantasy football team’s chances of catching a dub this upcoming week.
Outside of Gardner Minshew’s 305-yard, four-TD effort against a Browns defense that entered Week 7 as the most efficient stop unit, Week 7 played true to form. The typical juggernauts (Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen) lived up to the hype, while several bottom-tier QBs (Russell Wilson, Tyson Bagent, Brian Hoyer) had rather underwhelming fantasy days. How will it all shake out in Week 8?
We’ll dissect our rankings, pinpoint the best QB plays, and find viable streaming candidates for those in need of a replacement option.
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Which QBs are on bye in Week 8?
Thankfully, fantasy football owners don’t need to worry about byes in Week 8, as we’re given a rare midseason reprieve from missing players.
WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS:
RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
That said, we still have several banged-up QBs to monitor throughout the week, so several fantasy owners will still be looking for viable replacement options.
WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS:
RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who are the best fantasy QBs in Week 8?
Patrick Mahomes (@ Broncos in Week 8) aims to maintain his perfect 12-0 record against Denver, looking to build off his 300-yard, one-TD effort in the Chiefs’ Week 6 victory over the Broncos. Justin Herbert (vs. Bears) is licking his chops this week, facing a Bears defense that entered Week 7 allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to QBs. Despite slowing down the Brian Hoyer-led Raiders, look for Herbert and company to thrive against the Bears on Sunday night.
Lamar Jackson (@ Cardinals) sees a slight boost in his Week 8 rankings, drawing a Cardinals defense that entered Week 7 as the least efficient defense on a down-to-down basis, sporting a league-worse 50.6-percent success rate. Expect Jackson to maintain his strong play with another reliable fantasy day.
Jalen Hurts (@ Commanders), Josh Allen (vs. Buccaneers), and Tua Tagovailoa (vs. Patriots) remain set-it-and-forget-it starts despite Allen and Tagovailoa facing respectable stop units.
Jared Goff (vs. Raiders) and C.J. Stroud (@ Panthers) also sit as top-10 plays in Week 8. Fantasy owners might look to bench Goff after Detroit’s 38-6 blowout loss, but the Raiders defense is exactly who Goff needs to see to regain his confidence. Stroud’s getting better every week, and since he’s a rookie, we still don’t quite know his fantasy ceiling.
Who are the best fantasy QB sleepers, waiver pickups in Week 8?
Jordan Love (vs. Vikings), Derek Carr (@ Colts), and Kenny Pickett (vs. Jaguars) profile as this week’s crop of sleeper and waiver-wire pickups in QB-friendly matchups. Although the Packers offense hasn’t functioned as smoothly as they’d like, Love’s crushing it from a fantasy perspective.
Green Bay’s QB1 entered Week 7 ranking as the fantasy QB8 on a points-per-game basis (19.2 ppg), and he turned in another two-TD day against the Broncos. An inviting matchup opposite a Vikings defense that ranks below the league average in dropback EPA gives Love plenty of sleeper appeal.
The Saints hope their second-half offensive surge against the Jaguars is a sign of things to come, and if there’s ever a week to roll Carr out, Week 8 is the time. The Colts entered Week 7 allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to QBs, so there’s reason to believe New Orleans’ offense will operate at an efficient clip and have over 300 yards through the air for the third-straight game.
Pickett draws a Jaguars defense that entered Week 7 allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to QBs, and with Diontae Johnson back healthy, there’s a chance we see his best fantasy output of the season.
In deep/superflex leagues, consider picking up Desmond Ridder (@ Titans), Gardner Minshew (vs. Saints) and Baker Mayfield (@ Bills). Ridder and the Falcons’ aerial attack could exploit a susceptible Titans pass defense that’s been one of the least efficient units against the pass relative to its dropback EPA.
We don’t expect Minshew to replicate his elite Week 7 fantasy showing, but he’s done a laudable job filling in for the injured Anthony Richardson.
Despite a tough matchup for Mayfield against an elite Bills defensive line, a potential negative game script gives him a chance to post a respectable fantasy day thanks to some garbage time points.
Who are the biggest potential QB busts in Week 8?
Joe Burrow (@ 49ers), Geno Smith (vs. Browns), and Matthew Stafford (@ Cowboys) all see substantial drops in their Week 8 rankings, as they’re forced to manufacture drives against some of the league’s most complete defenses.
Burrow’s undoubtedly looked like a different QB, with his calf getting better by the week, but we’d advise leaving him on your bench when matched up against the 49ers. Smith didn’t do anything special in a favorable matchup against the Cardinals in Week 7, and we expect an even rougher fantasy day against the Browns this week.
We’d also relegate Stafford to bench duties in Week 8, as we have no interest in starting him versus a well-rounded Cowboys’ stop unit on the road.
What are the biggest QB injuries in Week 8?
Ahead of Week 7, Justin Fields (thumb), Jimmy Garoppolo (back), and Daniel Jones (neck) weren’t healthy enough to suit up with injuries that could potentially sideline them in Week 8. While Fields is progressing from thumb dislocation, backup Tyson Bagent (@ Chargers) likely makes his second straight start in Week 8.
However, Garoppolo (@ Lions) is trending toward returning on Monday night in Detroit. We’ll see if Jones can log at least a limited session in practice this week, potentially leading to his return against the Jets. We also expect Tannehill (ankle) to miss Week 8, putting Will Levis in line to make his first career start.
Regarding in-game injuries, Deshaun Watson exited the first half after suffering a head injury. Watson didn’t suffer a concussion and was cleared to return to game action, but head coach Kevin Stefanski opted to play P.J. Walker in his place. That said, we’ve left Watson in our initial Week 8 rankings as we think he’ll return under center this week.
We’ll be updating these QB rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.
Fantasy QB Rankings Week 8: Who to start, sit at quarterback
These rankings are based on four-point passing TD scoring
Rank Player
1 Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs @ Broncos
2 Lamar Jackson, Ravens @ Cardinals
3 Jalen Hurts, Eagles @ Commanders
4 Josh Allen, Bills vs. Buccaneers
5 Justin Herbert, Chargers vs. Bears
6 Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins vs. Patriots
7 Jared Goff, Lions vs. Raiders
8 C.J. Stroud, Texans @ Panthers
9 Kirk Cousins, Vikings @ Packers
10 Dak Prescott, Cowboys vs. Rams
11 Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars @ Steelers
12 Jordan Love, Packers vs. Vikings
13 Derek Carr, Saints @ Colts
14 Joe Burrow, Bengals @ 49ers
15 Brock Purdy, 49ers vs. Bengals
16 Kenny Pickett, Steelers vs. Jaguars
17 Matthew Stafford, Rams @ Cowboys
18 Geno Smith, Seahawks vs. Browns
19 Desmond Ridder, Falcons @ Titans
20 Sam Howell, Commanders vs. Eagles
21 Russell Wilson, Broncos vs. Chiefs
22 Gardner Minshew, Colts vs. Saints
23 Deshaun Watson, Browns @ Seahawks
24 Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers @ Bills
25 Josh Dobbs, Cardinals vs. Ravens
26 Mac Jones, Patriots @ Dolphins
27 Bryce Young, Panthers vs. Texans
28 Tyson Bagent, Bears @ Chargers
29 Daniel Jones, Giants vs. Jets
30 Jimmy Garoppolo Raiders @ Lions
31 Zach Wilson, Jets @ Giants
32 Will Levis, Titans vs. Falcons
Week 8 QB fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks
Draft Sharks projections for the new week will update every Tuesday and be constantly adjusted throughout the week
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