We’re now halfway through the fantasy football regular season. It’s time to start stacking wins and make a playoff push. These Week 8 bold predictions may help swing your decision on who to start with players on every team available to you this week.
Week 8 Bold Predictions for the 2024 Fantasy Football Season
Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos
Bold Prediction: 250 passing yards, 3 touchdowns; 40 rushing yards
26.0 fantasy points
The Carolina Panthers are just awful. They’re allowing 385.7 offensive yards per game and have a league-worst -133 point differential. The next closest team is the New England Patriots who have a -76 point differential. This, too, is after giving up 40 points (33 from the offense) to the Washington Commanders led primarily by Marcus Mariota after Jayden Daniels exited the game with a rib injury sustained on their first drive. The Carolina Panthers are AWFUL!
So, let’s take advantage of how awful they are with a Week 8 bold prediction. Bo Nix has 21.0 or more fantasy points in two of his last three games. The Carolina Panthers present an opportunity to add another such game and this bold prediction reflects that.
Nix currently ranks 34th in total rushing yards (255) amongst all players so far this season. He has 136 total rushing yards in his last two games. That raises both his floor and ceiling in fantasy football immensely. The Panthers have allowed 164 rushing yards (4.31 yards per carry) to opposing quarterbacks so far this season.
While I do expect Javonte Williams to feast in this matchup, Nix should add some rushing production of his own. I expect most of Nix’s production to come through the air, but if he does punch in a rushing score, that makes this bold prediction and starting him a huge win for Week 8. My bold prediction suggests Nix having his best fantasy performance yet in his best matchup opportunity yet.
James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Bold Prediction: 85 rushing yards, 20 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns
22.5 fantasy points
James Conner is handling approximately 70% of the Arizona Cardinals’ backfield opportunities. That includes 71% of the backfield rush share. In Week 8, James Conner is set up to put his opportunities to good use. The Cardinals travel to Miami to take on a Dolphins team that’s a fantasy-friendly matchup for running backs.
From Weeks 2 through 5, four different running backs rushed for at least 70 yards and a touchdown. That’s James Cook, Zach Charbonnet, Tony Pollard and Rhamondre Stevenson. These parameters I’ve set exclude Tank Bigsby’s 73 rushing yards (6.1 yards per carry), Antonio Gibson’s 52 rushing yards (8.7 yards per carry), and even Tyler Goodson’s 51 yards and a score in Week 7.
The Cardinals’ offense is by no means elite, but it’s more of a threat than most of the teams the Dolphins have faced this season. With James Conner as the focal point in the run game, my bold prediction is that he tops 100 all-purpose yards and finds the end zone twice. Conner ranks 10th in red zone rush attempts (18) this season. If in position to handle more in Week 8, he should find the end zone at least once against a vulnerable Dolphins run defense.
Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns
Bold Prediction: 6 receptions, 80 receiving yards, 1 touchdown
20.0 fantasy points
In Jameis Winston’s first start with the Cleveland Browns, he faces a Baltimore Ravens defense allowing the most passing yards to quarterbacks this season. The Ravens also rank inside the top-three in passing touchdowns allowed, as well. As far as production specifically to wide receivers goes, the Ravens have allowed the most receiving touchdowns (11) and rank inside the top-five in receptions and yards to the position.
Following the Amari Cooper trade, Cedric Tillman took over the Amari Cooper role in the Cleveland Browns’ offense. He drew a career-high 12 targets in Week 7, logging a career-high 81 yards, and was the first read on nearly one-third of the Browns’ pass plays. The second year receiver is 6’3″ an 215 pounds; a capable red zone target if the Browns can actually get themselves there on Sunday. Given the matchup, and the perceived upgrade at quarterback, my bold prediction for Tillman is that he swings a few deeper league matchups with his Week 8 performance. Especially if you lost Brandon Aiyuk, Chris Godwin, or both this past week, consider starting Tillman.
Make sure to check out all of our Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!