Fantasy Football Week 8 Matchup Winners

I dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to this series, and I take pride in my ability to pinpoint players who are likely to perform well each week. This article is designed to assist you with your Fantasy Football lineups and DFS plays, providing you with an advantage in your competitions.

Every week, I conduct a comprehensive analysis of every NFL matchup. This entails examining Fantasy PPG (points per game) allowed, yards allowed, and player performances. I then pinpoint which players can leverage these statistics in their matchups. I hold myself accountable for both my successful picks and the ones that don’t pan out.

Some of the misses from last week’s article include: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Tony Pollard, Jameson Williams, Jordan Addison, Diontae Johnson, Zay Flowers, and Ladd McConkey. To be fair, the last three guys were banged up heading into Week 7. Some of the hits from last week’s article included:

• Javonte Williams – 26.1 Fantasy Points
• Tank Bigsby – 23.8 Fantasy Points
• Drake Maye – 20.8 Fantasy Points
• Kyle Pitts – 13.5 Fantasy Points
• Tee Higgins – 18.2 Fantasy Points
• David Njoku – 23.6 Fantasy Points
• Jonnu Smith – 22.6 Fantasy Points
• Saquon Barkley – 26.7 Fantasy Points
• Brock Bowers – 19.3 Fantasy Points
• George Kittle – 15.2 Fantasy Points
• Kareem Hunt – 22.3 Fantasy Points

The intention has always been to help you “Play 2 Win”. I am confident this series will do just that with your Fantasy Football lineups and DFS plays. Week 8 – let’s get it.

Check out all of our Week 8 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex

Fantasy Football Week 8 Matchup Winners

Vikings vs. Rams (Thursday Night Football)

• Aaron Jones has been limited at practice so far this week but played through his injuries last week. Jones rushed 14 times for 93 yards and a touchdown and caught three passes for 23 yards in Week 7. Jones has finished with four games over 90 rushing yards, two games with over 45 receiving yards, and four weeks with 17+ Fantasy Points through six games played. The Rams allow the ninth most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the third most rushing yards per game this season.
• Cooper Kupp was a full practice participant on Tuesday, which is encouraging for the veteran after missing the last four games for the Rams. In Kupp’s lone full game of the season, he caught 14 of his 21 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown for 32 Fantasy Points. Massive volume and massive production. Should Kupp play on Thursday, he is set up for a great matchup against a Vikings defense allowing the most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the third most passing yards per game this year.

Ravens vs. Browns

• The Browns allow the fifth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season, which could mean another FLEX-worthy week for Rashod Bateman. Bateman has scored 15.8, 11.1, and then 22.1 Fantasy Points across the last three games. 71 and 121 receiving yards in the last two weeks show a positive trend up and upside. The former first-round selection has three touchdowns so far this season, and with Lamar Jackson on fire this year with 15 through seven games there will be more to come.
• Deshaun Winston suffered a season-ending Achilles injury and Jameis Winston has been announced as the Week 8 starting quarterback for Cleveland. David Njoku made this article series last week and exploded for Fantasy catching 10 of 14 targets for 76 yards and a touchdown. That touchdown came from Winston. With Amari Cooper now a Buffalo Bill, I expect Njokju to continue to see heavy targets on a weekly basis which should translate well to Fantasy Football. The Ravens allow the seventh most Fantasy PPG to tight ends and the most passing yards per game this season.

Titans vs. Lions

• Calvin Ridley has been targeted 17 times across the last two weeks but has only caught three of those passes. Ridley has voiced his frustrations which align to the quality of the quarterback’s play. Slightly encouraging is 42 receiving yards in Week 7. No DeAndre Hopkins now will only further emphasize Ridley as the premiere target of this offense. The Lions allow the third most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the sixth most passing yards per game which paired with recent volume creates the possibility for Ridley to have a FLEX-worthy week.
• Jared Goff has tossed nine touchdowns across his last four games and has 280+ passing yards in three straight. Goff has also scored over 25 Fantasy Points in two of his last three games with 18+ in three straight. Tons of passing upside is evident through Goff, so even in a matchup that is not the best on paper he is still worth plugging into your lineups weekly at this point.

Colts vs. Texans

• Week 1 against the Texans, Anthony Richardson threw 9/19 for 212 yards, two passing touchdowns, an interception, and rushed for 56 yards with a rushing touchdown paired. This was the only game Richardson scored 10+ Fantasy Points with a solid 26.08. The hope is that with the familiarity to this matchup, Richardson can get back on track for Fantasy purposes against this Texans defense allowing the eighth-most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks..
• In three career games against the Colts, CJ Stroud is averaging 35 passing attempts, 24.7 completions, 70.5% completion percentage, 294 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 114.9 rating. Stroud scored 18.66 Fantasy Points against Indy to kick the season off this year. The Colts allow the 10th most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and the 10th most passing yards per game this season.

Packers vs. Jaguars

• Jordan Love has scored 25+ Fantasy Points in two of his four last games since returning from injury. Through five weeks Love has thrown 15 touchdowns, with seven of those coming from the last two games played. Love is averaging 270.2 passing yards per game which is a leap forward from the 244.6 he averaged last year. The Jaguars allow the most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks and second-most passing yards per game this season. Smash matchup for Love to have a huge week.
• Since returning from injury, Evan Engram has been targeted 15 times across the last two weeks. In Week 6 Engram caught all 10 targets for 102 yards which meant 18.2 Fantasy Points. The connection with Trevor Lawrence was very evident in 2023 with Engram’s 143 targets. Now that he is healthy, he should see steady volume for the rest of the season. The Packers allow the 10th most Fantasy PPG to tight ends this season.

Cardinals vs. Dolphins

• After a down Week 6, James Conner got right back on track in Week 7 rushing 19 times for 101 yards and catching two passes for another 51 yards. 17.2 Fantasy Points in Week 7 marks the fourth time Conner has scored 17+ Fantasy Points. Conner has rushed for over 100 yards three times this season as well. The Dolphins allow the sixth most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season.
• Tua Tagovailoa returned to practice on Wednesday, which should make the likes of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle beyond excited who have struggled in his absence with poor quarterback play. The Cardinals allow the fourth most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks, the seventh most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers, and the seventh most passing yards per game this season. This trio can certainly be at play this week.

Jets vs. Patriots

• In Week 3, Breece Hall combined with Braelon Allen for 109 rushing yards, a rushing touchdown, and seven receptions against the Patriots. Hall has been on fire the last two weeks with Fantasy scores of 21.9 and 26.1 points. Hall rushed for 113 yards in Week 6 with five receptions for 56 yards and then rushed for a touchdown in Week 7 with six receptions for 103 yards. His 11 receptions in the last two weeks have been a great PPR boost. The Patriots allow the third most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season which is a matchup Hall can stay hot in.

Falcons vs. Buccaneers

• Drake London has been hot the last three weeks in a row with scores of 33.4, 19.4, and then 18.3. London has scored a touchdown in each of these three weeks, with five total on the season. London has finished with 63+ receiving yards for five straight weeks with a high of 154 in Week 5. The volume outside of Week 1 has been great, with him averaging 9.83 through the six games after that with three of those weeks being with 10+ targets. We are seeing the breakout season for Fantasy Football that we have all desperately wanted. The Buccaneers allow the sixth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the fourth most passing yards per game this season.
• The Falcons are not necessarily a great tight end matchup for Fantasy Football, but I still want to plug Cade Otton after his massive Week 7. After scoring a touchdown in Week 6, Otton caught eight of 10 targets for 100 receiving yards in Week 7 for 18 Fantasy Points. With no Chris Godwin and Mike Evans due to injury, I would expect Otton to continue to be fed targets, especially seeing as though he already has had three weeks with eight or more targets this season.

Eagles vs. Bengals

• Jalen Hurts has scored over 21 Fantasy Points for two weeks in a row now following the Week 5 BYE. Hurts threw for 264 yards and two passing touchdowns in Week 6 then threw a touchdown and rushed for two touchdowns in Week 7. AJ Brown has been a consistent producer upon his return which lifts Hurts, along with Saquon Barkley complimenting the passing game greatly. The Bengals allow the fifth most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks this season.
• It feels like a huge Ja’Marr Chase week. I am talking 25+ Fantasy Points, which we know is light work compared to that 41.3-point outing he dropped in Week 5. Chase finished with 118 yards in Week 3, 193 yards in Week 5, and has scored six touchdowns so far this season. Chase is currently the WR1 this season and I expect that sort of production against an Eagles defense allowing the ninth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season.

Saints vs. Chargers

• JK Dobbins has had three weeks under 10 Fantasy Points but also three weeks over 18 Fantasy Points. This Week 8 matchup against a Saints defense that allows the fifth most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the fourth most rushing yards per game this season should mean another spike week. Dobbins rushed for 135/131 yards in Weeks 1/2 with a touchdown in each game. Dobbins also rushed for 96 yards and a touchdown in Week 6. The game script against this banged-up Saints core should mean plenty of volume for a guy who just rushed 25 times in Week 6 and is due for another explosive week.

Bills vs. Seahawks

• Dalton Kincaid has not had the big season many of us have hoped for, but he has had a consistent role in this Bills offense. Kincaid has been targeted six or seven times in alteration for the last four weeks and has finished with over 50 receiving yards the last two games in a row. The Seahawks allow the eighth most Fantasy PPG to tight ends this season, which is the most friendly they are to any other position. The recent trend up in receiving yards paired with consistent volume and this matchup could mean a double-digit week for Kincaid.
• Kenneth Walker III’s 22.3 Fantasy PPG ranks second for the position so far through five games played. KWIII has had a ton of upside in scoring with six touchdowns in five games, along with hints of rushing (103 rushing yards Week 1) and receiving (15 receptions across Weeks 5-6) upside that have boosted his Fantasy Football value. The Buffalo Bills allow the second-most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season which sets up KWIII to stay hot in Week 8.

Bears vs. Commanders

• DJ Moore had is worst Fantasy week of the season in Week 6 right before the BYE with six Fantasy Points after having his best game of the season in Week 5 with 27.5 Fantasy Points. Back in Week 5 DJM caught five passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets. DJM has been targeted eight or more times four times this season and has had two weeks of 10 targets. The Commanders allow the eighth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season which should mean a “get right” game for DJM.
• Brian Robinson Jr. has been fairly consistent this season, scoring double-digit Fantasy Points in all six games played. BRob has finished weeks with 133 (Week 2), 101 (Week 4), and 71 (Week 7) rushing yards along with six rushing touchdowns this season. If Marcus Mariota and the Commanders can keep the game fairly close with the Bears, it could allow Robinson to find plenty of touches against a Bears defense that is tougher through the air than on the ground.

Panthers vs. Broncos

• The Broncos rank 30th to quarterbacks, 22nd to running backs, and 31st to wide receivers in Fantasy PPG allowed. Denver allows the 14th most Fantasy PPG to tight ends as the only semi-friendly matchup note. I wanted to plug rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders as a deep sleeper to keep an eye on. He is currently dealing with groin/wrist injuries and Tommy Tremble could return sometime soon, but Sanders’ role has been increasing in the last few games. Sanders has earned five, seven, and six targets the last three games with receiving yard totals of 49 then 61 the last two weeks. 12.1 Fantasy Points last week could be a sign of better days to come.
• One of my best hits last week was Javonte Williams in this article series, who ended up rushing 14 times for 88 yards and two touchdowns for 26.1 Fantasy Points. A massive performance. Williams also scored 16.1 Fantasy Points in Week 5 due to rushing for 61 yards and catching five passes for 50 yards. The Panthers allow the most Fantasy PPG to running backs and also the most rushing yards per game this season which allows Javonte to stay hot for Fantasy Football. I would not be surprised if Denver gives Williams his highest touch total to date due to earning that last week and the matchup at hand.

Chiefs vs. Raiders

• The Raiders allow the eighth most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the 10th most rushing yards per game this season, which bodes well for Kareem Hunt. In Week 5 Hunt rushed 27 times for 102 yards and a touchdown, then followed up that performance after the BYE in Week 7 by rushing 22 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns. 18.7 then 22.3 Fantasy Points makes Hunt one of the hottest running backs for Fantasy Football right now. Hunt is dealing with a hip issue right now so be sure to monitor this, but if all is good to go he is a great play this week.
• Brock Bowers is on track to have potentially the best rookie tight end season of all-time. Bowers for the position ranks #1 in targets (60), #2 in deep targets (four), #1 in receptions (47), #1 in receiving yards (477), #1 in yards after the catch (251), #5 in yards per route run (2.61), and #2 in Fantasy PPG (14.6). Dominant season. Bowers has been on a hot streak the last three weeks with 23.7, 16.1, and 19.3 Fantasy Point scores and enters a Chiefs matchup against a defense allowing the most Fantasy PPG to tight ends.

Cowboys vs. 49ers (Sunday Night Football)

• The big question for the 49ers this week is who will step up in the absence of Brandon Aiyuk, who is out for the season. Jauan Jennings had some spike weeks when given the opportunity, first-rounder Ricky Pearsall returned last week and immediately had a role, and rookie Jacob Cowing showed some receiving upside last week. Who steps up? That player likely will have FLEX value moving forward unless Brock Purdy spreads the ball out.
• Jordan Mason is due for a “get right” week, and with the Cowboys allowing the fourth-most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the sixth-most rushing yards per game it looks like the right time to do so. Mason has scored under 10 Fantasy Points for three straight weeks but has had weeks of 22.2 (Week 1), 17.4 (Week 2), and 24 (Week 4) Fantasy Points earlier on. Mason averaged 111.75 rushing yards in his first four games this year, so we know he has that upside. Monitor the ankle injury he is currently dealing with.

Giants vs. Steelers (Monday Night Football)

• In Russell Wilson’s first game as a Steeler last week, he threw 16/29 for 264 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and also rushed for a touchdown. 24.86 Fantasy Points was a top-three performance for the week instantly. With the Giants allowing the ninth-most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks, that leads me to believe Russ could be a solid streamer in Week 8.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!