Each week, I break down every NFL matchup to identify which players are set up to thrive in Fantasy Football. I analyze each player’s Fantasy scoring, opportunities, trends, and strengths, then compare them with the opposing defense’s Fantasy points and yardage allowed per game.
This is the series I look forward to most each week. There will always be hits and misses, but you can be sure I’ll have strong reasoning behind what I say either way. We “Play 2 Win” here, and that’s the goal of this series: to help you win your matchup each week.
More Fantasy Football Fun!: | Sneaky Starts | Fantasy Football Waiver Wire | Weekly Sleepers & Streamers | Starts & Sits | Skrip’s Week Winners | Players You Can Drop | NFL DFS | NFL Player Props | IDP Analysis | Bold Predictions | Re-Draft Trade Targets | Survivor Picks | NFL Injury Report | Dynasty Trade Targets | Dynasty Risers and Fallers | Weekly Rankings | Game Previews
Weekly Winners for Fantasy Football – Week 8
Data sources: FantasyPros PPG Allowed data and NFL.com statistics
Dak Prescott vs. ARI
After a pair of down weeks, Dak Prescott bounced back in Week 7 with 23.3 Fantasy Points via 212 passing yards and three passing touchdowns. This was the second time Dak finished with three or more passing touchdowns on the year. Prescott has finished two games with 335 (Week 4) and 316 (Week 5) passing yards, so we know that upside is there connected to CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. The three-touchdown week broke a four-game streak of only throwing one passing touchdown, so that can be a sign in itself for more multiple passing touchdown games to come.
Prescott will face a Cardinals defense in Week 8 that allows the third-most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and the 12th-most passing yards per game this season. The Cardinals have allowed the most passing touchdowns in the NFL this season, so for a guy coming off of a three-passing-touchdown week, that is very encouraging. Look for Dak to stay hot in Week 8.
Jayden Daniels vs. PHI
Since returning from injury in Week 5, Jayden Daniels has finished with 32.3 and then 21.0 Fantasy Points. In these two games, we have seen major dual-threat upside: 103 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns in Week 5, then 300 passing yards and two passing touchdowns in Week 6. Having the skill set to put up those numbers in each category is very appealing for Daniels in Fantasy Football. Yes, Terry McLaurin is out for the season, but we have to ask ourselves if he has been a massive factor this season to begin with.
Daniels will face an Eagles defense in Week 8 that allows the ninth-most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and the seventh-most passing yards per game this season. This group just allowed three passing touchdowns from Dak Prescott last week. With the hot streak Daniels has been on the last two games for Fantasy Football, he has a great chance to keep producing in a solid matchup.
Kyler Murray vs. DET
In Week 5, Kyler Murray finished with 18.3 Fantasy Points via 229 passing yards, one passing touchdown, and 51 rushing yards. This was the only week this season we have seen Murray’s historic dual-threat upside pop for Fantasy Football. Murray has finished with under 14 Fantasy Points in his other three full games this season, with some added context being the Vikings defense keeping opponents to 16 or fewer points in all four of Murray’s full games, which has meant not needing to do a ton.
Week 8 aligns for a big Fantasy Football week for Murray. The Vikings are 6-0, and the Lions are 4-2, so this will be an important NFC North battle. The Lions defense allows the most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks, the most passing yards per game, and has allowed (tied) the second most passing touchdowns. On the same note, the Lions offense has generated the second most total yards per game. This creates a great environment for Fantasy Football, where Kyler is lined up to have a season-high performance.
Josh Jacobs vs. CAR
Josh Jacobs returned from the NFL Commissioner’s Exempt List in Week 7, after missing the opening six games. Jacobs rushed 11 times for 36 yards and caught five of his seven targets for 55 yards and a receiving touchdown for 20.1 Fantasy Points. The involvement in the passing game was very encouraging for Jacobs, and the touchdown is typical of Jacobs in Green Bay, who has scored 30 total across 2024-2025.
Jacobs’ second game for 2026 will come against a Panthers defense that allows the second-most Fantasy PPG to running backs, the most rushing yards per game, the most yards per carry, and is tied for allowing the most rushing touchdowns. Jacobs finished with 16 touches in Week 7, and in this smash rushing matchup, I would expect him to up that total in Week 8. Get used to Jacobs being back in your Fantasy Football lineups.
Derrick Henry vs. BUF
I typically do not cover the most obvious Fantasy Football names, but Derrick Henry has been frustrating managers the last two weeks with 5.0, then 5.9 Fantasy Points on 18 touches in both games. Henry scored seven rushing touchdowns across the first four weeks of football, rushed for 144 yards in Week 1, and has scored 21+ Fantasy Points three times this season. So there is juice still there. Tyler Huntley at quarterback and rushing inefficiencies have paired together to not bode well for King Henry.
Week 8 presents a solid bounce-back opportunity for Henry against the Bills. Buffalo has allowed the third-most Fantasy PPG to running backs. Last season in Week 1 against the Bills, Henry rushed for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Lamar Jackson is expected to play this week, which should also boost Henry due to having an improved offense with him factoring in. Henry is due for a Henry game.
Bucky Irving vs. ATL
Bucky Irving rushed for 106 yards and two touchdowns last week for 24 Fantasy Points. In Week 5, Irving rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown, with a receiving touchdown on top of that, for 31.5 Fantasy Points. Across the last three weeks, Irving has earned 23, 21, and then 25 total touches. We are seeing great volume, and some huge production from Bucky as of late. The Buccaneers have fed the beast, with two different starting quarterbacks during this stretch.
Bucky has a solid chance to stay hot in Week 8 against a Falcons defense allowing the seventh-most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season. With the volume coming in and Irving showing off his ceiling recently, he is a continued must-start, especially in a favorable Fantasy Football matchup.
Rhamondre Stevenson vs. MIA
Rhamondre Stevenson has played 60%+ of the snaps in five of his seven appearances this season as the lead back in New England. We have not seen much rushing upside, but encouraging is the consistent involvement in the passing game, with three games of five or more targets. Just last week, Stevenson caught five balls for 93 yards and a receiving touchdown. Across the last four weeks, Stevenson has also quietly finished with 17+ Fantasy Points in three of those games.
Stevenson will face a Dolphins defense in Week 8 that allows the fourth-most Fantasy PPG to running backs. The last time Stevenson faced Miami was in Week 18 last season, when he rushed for 131 yards and two touchdowns and also scored a receiving touchdown, for 35.3 Fantasy Points. New England should stay in control of this game against Miami, which should create plenty of team rushing opportunities.
Michael Wilson vs. DAL
Despite Marvin Harrison Jr. being traded, Michael Wilson continues to disappoint for Fantasy Football. Week 7 was Wilson’s third week in a row with under 11 Fantasy Points, and he has finished under this mark in five of his seven appearances. We did see some upside across Weeks 3-4, when Wilson was targeted 30 total times across those games and finished with 89/95 yards, one touchdown, and 25.9/16.5 Fantasy Points. Despite disappointing numbers, Wilson ranks seventh for the position in targets and has never been targeted fewer than seven times.
Wilson will face a Cowboys defense in Week 8 that allows the sixth-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the eighth-most passing touchdowns this season. With the Dallas offense being solid and their defense being friendly, this creates a positive game script for opposing teams. We have seen some quality Fantasy weeks out of Wilson this season, and the volume is coming in steadily, so I expect Week 8 to be a “get right” week.
Stefon Diggs vs. PHI
Stefon Diggs caught six of his seven targets for 44 yards and a touchdown in Week 6 right before the Commanders’ BYE, for 16.4 Fantasy Points. Diggs is averaging 7.6 targets this season, and while his yardage has not been great, he has scored four touchdowns across his five appearances. Terry McLaurin being out for the season even further emphasizes Diggs as Jayden Daniels’ WR1 moving forward.
Diggs will face an Eagles defense allowing the second-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers, seventh-most passing yards per game, and only five teams have allowed more 20+ yard receiving plays. The proven touchdown upside for Washington, paired with the role emphasis and a smash matchup, makes Diggs a great FLEX play this week.
DJ Moore vs. BAL
DJ Moore has had a frustrating season, with four appearances and only two of them being full games due to injury, and he has also missed his last two games in full. The Bills’ Week 7 BYE provided some extra time to get healthy from DJM’s shoulder injury. In Week 1, Moore caught five of his eight targets for 100 yards and a touchdown for 21 Fantasy Points. Moore also caught six of his 10 targets for 67 yards in Week 3. When he is out there, Josh Allen is looking for him often, and the yardage has followed well.
Moore has returned to practice and has a great chance at bouncing back against a Ravens defense allowing the eighth-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. The Josh Allen vs. a returning Lamar Jackson should mean plenty of offense from both sides. If Moore is a full go this week, he needs to be in Fantasy lineups.
Makai Lemon vs. WAS
Makai Lemon had his breakout game in Week 7, catching seven of his eight targets for 67 yards and a touchdown for 19.7 Fantasy Points. Lemon operated as Tanner McKee’s WR1 with DeVonta Smith out, but Lemon has quietly earned six or more targets in the last four games in a row, with two of those being seven or more targets. The first-round rookie looked as though he was finally properly utilized in Week 7, which can foreshadow more FLEX-worthy weeks to come.
Lemon will face a Commanders defense in Week 8 that allows the seventh-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the fifth-most passing yards per game. We will need to monitor the injury status of DeVonta Smith, who could miss another week, but even if he does return, it could be him not at 100%. Lemon had a huge Week 7 and gets a great matchup in Week 8, so he can be FLEX’d again for Fantasy Football.
Tetairoa McMillan vs. GB
Tetairoa McMillan is coming off a down week with 8.0 Fantasy Points, but has scored 14+ Fantasy Points in three games and had a career-high 45.2 Fantasy Points back in Week 4. McMillan has finished two games with double-digit targets, weeks with 101 (Week 2) and 192 (Week 4) receiving yards, and scored a pair of touchdowns back in Week 4. Bryce Young has been having a career season, so that brings optimism for his WR1 for Fantasy Football. Last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.
McMillan will face a Packers defense in Week 8 that allows the 11th most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers. There should be plenty of offense on both sides in this matchup, so I would expect a heavy target total for McMillan. Via ESPN, Green Bay has allowed six receiving touchdowns to opposing wide receivers this season. McMillan aims to make it seven.
TJ Hockenson vs. DET
TJ Hockenson has finished three of his six appearances with 13+ Fantasy Points, with a high of 24.9 points in Week 4. Hockenson caught all 13 targets from Kyler Murray in Week 4 for 119 yards, which gave us all flashbacks of the Kyler to Trey McBride connection in Arizona. Hockenson has scored two touchdowns this season as well.
Up next for Hock is a Lions defense allowing the most Fantasy PPG to tight ends and the most passing yards per game this season. Kenyon Sadiq and Dalton Kincaid both have dropped over 90 yards and a touchdown vs. Detroit, five tight ends have produced 50+ yards vs. Detroit, and the Lions have allowed 10 touchdowns to tight ends this season. Smash matchup.
Check out all of our Week 8 Rankings: Flex Rankings | QB Rankings | RB Rankings | WR Rankings | TE Rankings | MOP Rankings
Kyle Pitts vs. TB
Kyle Pitts has scored four touchdowns across the last three weeks and finished with five receptions in each of those games. This has meant scores of 15.2, 23.0, and then 13.2 Fantasy Points. Michael Penix Jr. has finished back-to-back games with three passing touchdowns and has thrown the ball 32+ times for three straight weeks, so there is appeal to look beyond Drake London through the air in this offense. Pitts has finished as a top-12 tight end for three straight weeks, so ride the hot hand here.
Pitts will face a Buccaneers defense in Week 8 that allows the eighth-most Fantasy PPG to tight ends this season. Five different tight ends have scored touchdowns against the Bucs, and that is a category that has been tightly tied to Pitts as of late. Beyond the touchdowns, the consistency of catching five passes the last three weeks is another important note, and we have seen some big yardage days out of Pitts historically, so that can pop at any time.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!
Fantrax is one of the fastest-growing fantasy sites in the fantasy sports industry, and we’re not stopping anytime soon. We are the most customizable, easy-to-use, and feature-rich platform in the industry, offering the greatest fantasy experience for your dynasty, keeper, redraft, and best ball leagues. Fantasy sports doesn’t sleep, and neither does Fantrax, with seasons running 365 days a year. Take your fantasy leagues to the next level now at Fantrax.com!
