Fantasy football Week 8 cheat sheet: PPR rankings, sleepers

steve gardner, usa today

Sun, Oct 27, 2024, 11:54 a.m.·10 min read

Fantasy football managers get a brief respite from the bye-week blues this week with all 32 teams in action.

Fantasy football rankings for Week 8 are based on the point-per-reception (PPR) scoring used in most seasonal and daily fantasy football formats. One point is awarded for every 10 rushing and receiving yards and one point for every 20 passing yards. Six points are awarded for touchdowns scored, four points for passing TDs and one point for receptions.

Rankings are compiled by Daniel Dobish, TheHuddle.com. If the charts do not come up clearly on mobile, you may need to switch to a browser to see the rankings properly.

(*-check status before kickoff)

Fantasy football Week 8 quarterback rankings

Despite missing almost all of last week's game with a rib injury, Washington Commanders rookie Jayden Daniels still ranks third among quarterbacks this season in fantasy points per game. He faces fellow rookie QB Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears this week.

Jayden Daniels (ribs) practiced on a limited basis on Friday and is apparently going to try to play against the Bears. If Daniels can't go, veteran Marcus Mariota would take over.
Tua Tagovailoa has been activated from injured reserve and is in line start for the first time since suffering a concussion in Week 2.
The Browns have named Jameis Winston as the starter in place of the injured Deshaun Watson (Achilles).

Rank	Player	Team	Opp
1	Lamar Jackson	Bal.	at Cle.
2	Josh Allen	Buf.	at Sea.
3	Joe Burrow	Cin.	vs. Phi.
4	C.J. Stroud	Hou.	vs. Ind.
5	Jordan Love	G.B.	at Jac.
6	Baker Mayfield	T.B.	vs. Atl.
7	Patrick Mahomes	K.C.	at L.V.
8	Caleb Williams	Chi.	at Was.
9	Dak Prescott	Dal.	at S.F.
10	*Jayden Daniels	Was.	vs. Chi.
11	Geno Smith	Sea.	vs. Buf.
12	Jalen Hurts	Phi.	at Cin.
13	Jared Goff	Det.	vs. Ten.
14	Sam Darnold	Min.	at L.A.-R
15	Justin Herbert	L.A.-C	vs. N.O.
16	Kirk Cousins	Atl.	at T.B.
17	Russell Wilson	Pit.	vs. N.Y.-G
18	Aaron Rodgers	N.Y.-J	at N.E.
19	Trevor Lawrence	Jac.	vs. G.B.
20	Kyler Murray	Ari.	at Mia.
21	Matthew Stafford	L.A.-R	vs. Min.
22	Daniel Jones	N.Y.-G	at Pit.
23	Tua Tagovailoa	Mia.	vs. Ari.
24	Bo Nix	Den.	vs. Car.
25	Brock Purdy	S.F.	vs. Dal.
26	Mason Rudolph	Ten.	at Det.
27	Anthony Richardson	Ind.	at Hou.
28	Drake Maye	N.E.	vs. N.Y.-J
29	Jameis Winston	Cle.	vs. Bal.
30	Gardner Minshew	L.V.	vs. K.C.
31	*Spencer Rattler	N.O.	at L.A.-C
32	Bryce Young	Car.	at Den.

Fantasy football Week 8 running back rankings

Fresh off signing a new two-year contract extension, Alvin Kamara will be asked to carry even more of the offensive load for the Saints with so many key players on offense injured.

Travis Etienne (hamstring) is inactive. Tank Bigsby gets another start.
Jonathan Taylor (ankle) no longer has an injury designation and will return this week after sitting out the Colts' last three games.
Bucky Irving (toe) returned to practice on Friday and is expected to play.

Rank	Player	Team	Opp
1	Derrick Henry	Bal.	at Cle.
2	Saquon Barkley	Phi.	at Cin.
3	Kyren Williams	L.A.-R	vs. Min.
4	Bijan Robinson	Atl.	at T.B.
5	Kenneth Walker III	Sea.	vs. Buf.
6	David Montgomery	Det.	vs. Ten.
7	Alvin Kamara	N.O.	at L.A.-C
8	Jordan Mason	S.F.	vs. Dal.
9	Breece Hall	N.Y.-J	at N.E.
10	D'Andre Swift	Chi.	at Was.
11	Jahmyr Gibbs	Det.	vs. Ten.
12	Chuba Hubbard	Car.	at Den.
13	James Cook	Buf.	at Sea.
14	J.K. Dobbins	L.A.-C	vs. N.O.
15	James Conner	Ari.	at Mia.
16	Brian Robinson Jr.	Was.	vs. Chi.
17	Joe Mixon	Hou.	vs. Ind.
18	Jonathan Taylor	Ind.	at Hou.
19	Tank Bigsby	Jac.	vs. G.B.
20	Aaron Jones	Min.	at L.A.-R
21	Tony Pollard	Ten.	at Det.
22	Najee Harris	Pit.	vs. N.Y.-G
23	Chase Brown	Cin.	vs. Phi.
24	Rhamondre Stevenson	N.E.	vs. N.Y.-J
25	Javonte Williams	Den.	vs. Car.
26	De'Von Achane	Mia.	vs. Ari.
27	*Bucky Irving	T.B.	vs. Atl.
28	Josh Jacobs	G.B.	at Jac.
29	Nick Chubb	Cle.	vs. Bal.
30	Kareem Hunt	K.C.	at L.V.
31	Alexander Mattison	L.V.	vs. K.C.
32	Raheem Mostert	Mia.	vs. Ari.
33	Rico Dowdle	Dal.	at S.F.
34	Tyler Allgeier	Atl.	at T.B.
35	Jaylen Warren	Pit.	vs. N.Y.-G
36	Zack Moss	Cin.	vs. Phi.
37	*Travis Etienne	Jac.	vs. G.B.
38	Tyler Goodson	Ind.	at Hou.
39	Justice Hill	Bal.	at Cle.
40	Rachaad White	T.B.	vs. Atl.
41	Devin Singletary	N.Y.-G	at Pit.
42	Jaleel McLaughlin	Den.	vs. Car.
43	Zach Charbonnet	Sea.	vs. Buf.
44	Braelon Allen	N.Y.-J	at N.E.
45	Tyrone Tracy Jr.	N.Y.-G	at Pit.
46	Ray Davis	Buf.	at Sea.
47	Emanuel Wilson	G.B.	at Jac.
48	Antonio Gibson	N.E.	vs. N.Y.-J
49	Sean Tucker	T.B.	vs. Atl.
50	Ty Chandler	Min.	at L.A.-R
51	Miles Sanders	Car.	at Den.
52	*Tyjae Spears	Ten.	at Det.
53	Roschon Johnson	Chi.	at Was.
54	Dalvin Cook	Dal.	at S.F.
55	Kenneth Gainwell	Phi.	at Cin.

Fantasy football Week 8 wide receiver rankings

Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf took some big hits in Week 7 and also suffered a sprained MCL.

DK Metcalf (knee) is listed as doubtful with an MCL sprain.
Diontae Johnson (ribs) and Tee Higgins (quadriceps) have been ruled out.
Zay Flowers (ankle) is likely to be a game-time decision.
Jameson Williams' two-game suspension will free up more targets for other Lions receivers, though it's uncertain how much anyone will benefit. Tim Patrick is the leading candidate.
Deebo Samuel (illness) was released from the hospital Tuesday after being treated for pneumonia. He's questionable to play, but expected to suit up on Sunday night. Teammate Jauan Jennings (hip) is out. so Ricky Pearsall, Chris Conley and Ronnie Bell may see increased snaps.
Cooper Kupp (ankle) will make his return to the Rams lineup on Thursday. He's been out since leaving early in Week 2.

Rank	Player	Team	Opp
1	Ja'Marr Chase	Cin.	vs. Phi.
2	Justin Jefferson	Min.	at L.A.-R
3	Malik Nabers	N.Y.-G	at Pit.
4	CeeDee Lamb	Dal.	at S.F.
5	Jayden Reed	G.B.	at Jac.
6	Drake London	Atl.	at T.B.
7	Garrett Wilson	N.Y.-J	at N.E.
8	Amon-Ra St. Brown	Det.	vs. Ten.
9	Stefon Diggs	Hou.	vs. Ind.
10	Terry McLaurin	Was.	vs. Chi.
11	*DK Metcalf	Sea.	vs. Buf.
12	*Zay Flowers	Bal.	at Cle.
13	Tyreek Hill	Mia.	vs. Ari.
14	DJ Moore	Chi.	at Was.
15	Brian Thomas Jr.	Jac.	vs. G.B.
16	*Deebo Samuel	S.F.	vs. Dal.
17	Marvin Harrison Jr.	Ari.	at Mia.
18	Cooper Kupp	L.A.-R	vs. Min.
19	*Tee Higgins	Cin.	vs. Phi.
20	Davante Adams	N.Y.-J	at N.E.
21	A.J. Brown	Phi.	at Cin.
22	Wan'Dale Robinson	N.Y.-G	at Pit.
23	Amari Cooper	Buf.	at Sea.
24	Xavier Worthy	K.C	at L.V.
25	DJ Moore	Chi.	at Was.
26	Darnell Mooney	Atl.	at T.B.
27	Jaxon Smith-Njigba	Sea.	vs. Buf.
28	DeVonta Smith	Phi.	at Cin.
29	George Pickens	Pit.	vs. N.Y.-G
30	Jaylen Waddle	Mia.	vs. Ari.
31	DeAndre Hopkins	K.C.	at L.V.
32	Michael Pittman Jr.	Ind.	at Hou.
33	Jalen McMillan	T.B.	vs. Atl.
34	Christian Kirk	Jac.	vs. G.B.
35	Calvin Ridley	Ten.	at Det.
36	Courtland Sutton	Den.	vs. Car.
37	Jakobi Meyers	L.V.	vs. K.C.
38	*Chris Olave	N.O.	at L.A.-C
39	Tim Patrick	Det.	vs. Ten.
40	Keon Coleman	Buf.	at Sea.
41	Cedric Tillman	Cle.	vs. Bal.
42	Ricky Pearsall	S.F.	vs. Dal.
43	Michael Wilson	Ari.	at Mia.
44	Rome Odunze	Chi.	at Was.
45	Tank Dell	Hou.	vs. Ind.
46	Tre Tucker	L.V.	vs. K.C.
47	Khalil Shakir	Buf.	at Sea.
48	Sterling Shepard	T.B.	vs. Atl.
49	Elijah Moore	Cle.	vs. Bal.
50	Josh Downs	Ind.	at Hou.
51	*Ladd McConkey	L.A.-C	vs. N.O.
52	Jalen Tolbert	Dal.	at S.F.
53	Tyler Lockett	Sea.	vs. Buf.
54	Jerry Jeudy	Cle.	vs. Bal.
55	DeMario Douglas	N.E.	vs. N.Y.-J

Fantasy football Week 8 tight end rankings

The Cardinals' Trey McBride ranks second among tight ends in targets (45) and fourth in PPR fantasy points per game (11.9).

Dallas Goedert (hamstring) has been ruled out.

Rank	Player	Team	Opp
1	George Kittle	S.F.	vs. Dal.
2	Brock Bowers	L.V.	vs K.C.
3	Sam LaPorta	Det.	vs. Ten.
4	Travis Kelce	K.C.	at L.V.
5	Cole Kmet	Chi.	at Was.
6	Kyle Pitts	Atl.	at T.B.
7	Evan Engram	Jac.	vs. G.B.
8	Trey McBride	Ari.	at Mia.
9	Tucker Kraft	G.B.	at Jac.
10	Jake Ferguson	Dal.	at S.F.
11	Pat Freiermuth	Pit.	vs. N.Y.-G
12	David Njoku	Cle.	vs. Bal.
13	Mark Andrews	Bal.	at Cle.
14	Cade Otton	T.B.	vs. Atl.
15	Jonnu Smith	Mia.	vs. Ari.
16	Dalton Kincaid	Buf.	at Sea.
17	Zach Ertz	Was.	vs. Chi.
18	Hunter Henry	N.E.	vs. N.Y.-J
19	Grant Calcaterra	Phi.	at Cin.
20	Dalton Schultz	Hou.	vs. Ind.
21	Isaiah Likely	Bal.	at Cle.
22	Noah Fant	Sea.	vs. Buf.
23	Juwan Johnson	N.O.	at L.A.-C
24	Tyler Conklin	N.Y.-J	at N.E.
25	Colby Parkinson	L.A.-R	vs. Min.
26	Ja'Tavion Sanders	Car.	at Den.
27	Foster Moreau	N.O.	at L.A.-C
28	Will Dissly	L.A.-C	vs. N.O.
29	Noah Gray	K.C.	at L.V.
30	Chigoziem Okonkwo	Ten.	at Det.

Fantasy football Week 8 kicker rankings

Coming off his bye week, the Cowboys' Brandon Aubrey ranks second among kickers with an average of 12.7 fantasy points per game.

Rank	Player	Team	Opp
1	Brandon Aubrey	Dal.	at S.F.
2	Ka'imi Fairbairn	Hou.	vs. Ind.
3	Younghoe Koo	Atl.	at T.B.
4	Chase McLaughlin	T.B.	vs. Atl.
5	Justin Tucker	Bal.	at Cle.
6	Chris Boswell	Pit.	vs. N.Y.-G
7	Austin Seibert	Was.	vs. Chi.
8	Wil Lutz	Den.	vs. Car.
9	Blake Grupe	N.O.	at L.A.-C
10	Brandon McManus	G.B.	at Jac.
11	Harrison Butker	K.C.	at L.V.
12	Will Reichard	Min.	at L.A.-R
13	Evan McPherson	Cin.	vs. Phi.
14	Tyler Bass	Buf.	at Sea.
15	Cameron Dicker	L.A.-C	vs. N.O.
16	Jason Myers	Sea.	vs. Buf.
17	Jake Elliott	Phi.	at Cin.
18	Cam Little	Jac.	vs. G.B.
19	Jason Sanders	Mia.	vs. Ari.
20	Matt Gay	Ind.	at Hou.
21	Jake Bates	Det.	vs. Ten.
22	Cairo Santos	Chi.	at Was.
23	Joshua Karty	L.A.-R	vs. Min.
24	Chad Ryland	Ari.	at Mia.
25	Anders Carlson	S.F.	vs. Dal.
26	Nick Folk	Ten.	at Det.
27	Dustin Hopkins	Cle.	vs. Bal.
28	Greg Zuerlein	N.Y.-J	at N.E.
29	Daniel Carlson	L.V.	vs. K.C.
30	*Graham Gano	N.Y.-G	at Pit.
31	Joey Slye	N.E.	vs. N.Y.-J
32	Eddy Pineiro	Car.	at Den.

Fantasy football Week 8 defense/special teams rankings

Bears defensive tackle Andrew Billings celebrates a Week 6 sack of Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton.

Rank	Team	Opp
1	Denver Broncos	vs. Car.
2	Chicago Bears	at Was.
3	Minnesota Vikings	at L.A.-R
4	Green Bay Packers	at Jac.
5	San Francisco 49ers	vs. Dal.
6	Pittsburgh Steelers	vs. N.Y.-G
7	New York Jets	at N.E.
8	New Orleans Saints	at L.A.-C
9	Seattle Seahawks	vs. Buf.
10	Cleveland Browns	vs. Bal.
11	New York Giants	at Pit.
12	Detroit Lions	vs. Ten.
13	Buffalo Bills	at Sea.
14	Los Angeles Chargers	vs. N.O.
15	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	vs. Atl.
16	Arizona Cardinals	at Mia.
17	Houston Texans	vs. Ind.
18	Baltimore Ravens	at Cle.
19	Atlanta Falcons	at T.B.
20	Dallas Cowboys	at S.F.
21	Cincinnati Bengals	vs. Phi.
22	Washington Commanders	vs. Chi.
23	Miami Dolphins	vs. Ari.
24	New England Patriots	vs. N.Y.-J
25	Indianapolis Colts	at Hou.
26	Tennessee Titans	at Det.
27	Jacksonville Jaguars	vs. G.B.
28	Kansas City Chiefs	at L.V.
29	Philadelphia Eagles	at Cin.
30	Los Angeles Rams	vs. Min.
31	Las Vegas Raiders	vs. K.C.
32	Carolina Panthers	at Den.

(This post has been updated with new information, new photos and a new video.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Week 8 rankings: Top plays at QB, RB, WR, TE, K, DST