Week 8 Fantasy Football Matchup Winners

Every week, I do the dirty work for you and dig into every Sunday matchup to determine who is the player from each team to spotlight. This involves looking at Fantasy Points Per Game (PPG) and yardage allowed by defenses, along with looking at player usage and performances. I will always have hits and misses, but I will also always have detailed reasoning behind the points I am making.

Week 7 Hits and Misses

Here are some of the hits in points per reception (PPR) leagues from last week’s article:

• AJ Brown – 29.7 Fantasy Points
• Puka Nacua – 23.4 Fantasy Points
• Mark Andrews – 22.3 Fantasy Points
• Jonathan Taylor – 21 Fantasy Points
• Joshua Palmer – 18.3 Fantasy Points
• Rashee Rice – 17 Fantasy Points
• Terry McLaurin – 15 Fantasy Points
• Rhamondre Stevenson – 14.5 Fantasy Points
• Javonte Williams – 12.6 Fantasy Points

Definitely had some misses last week as well, but I feel great through five weeks of football with my hit-to-miss ratio. Below are players I feel will have a solid Fantasy Football performance, and are considerations to add to your DFS lineups for Week 8. Let’s get it!

These Players Will Help You Win Your Week 8 Matchups

Jets vs. Giants

• Breece Hall: The Giants allow the eighth-most Fantasy PPG to running backs and seventh-most rushing yards per game this season. Week 5 began the turning point for Breece Hall’s usage, production, and most importantly his Fantasy scoring. Hall rushed the ball 22 times for a season-high 177 yards and a touchdown, caught three passes, and scored 28.4 Fantasy Points as the RB3 for the week. In Week 6, Hall continued to produce by rushing 12 times for 39 yards and a touchdown and also had a season-high receiving stat line with five receptions for 54 yards. Hall scored 20.3 Fantasy Points in Week 6 as the RB4 for the week. Hall played 52% and 66% of the snaps in the last two games which was a solid turning point after playing under 50% of the snaps in the four games prior. Look for Hall to continue rolling in a solid matchup following a BYE week’s rest.
• Darren Waller: The Jets allow the most Fantasy PPG to tight ends this season. Darren Waller has had his usage and production trend up the last three weeks, earning 11-7-8 targets and finishing with 86-43-98 receiving yards during this span. Across this three-game stretch, Waller has scored the third-most Fantasy Points, earned the third-most targets, caught the third-most passes, and produced the third-most receiving yards. Waller is tagged as questionable with a hamstring issue, so monitor that, but if he is a full go this can certainly be yet another big week.

Jaguars vs. Steelers

• Calvin Ridley: The Steelers allow the second-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the eighth-most passing yards per game this season. It’s been back-to-back poor Fantasy Football weeks for Calvin Ridley, scoring under seven Fantasy Points in both games. Week 7 was a frustrating sign of usage, with a season-low four targets. Ridley has had two big games, scoring 24.1 Fantasy Points and 20.6 Fantasy Points in Week 1 and Week 6, where he finished with 101 and 122 receiving yards in those games. Ridley has earned eight or more targets in four games this season and has consistently been on the field playing 8%+ of the snaps in six games. If there is a “get right” pick for this week, the positive Steelers matchup and previous big performances combo for Ridley makes him my pick.
• George Pickens: The Jaguars allow the 10th-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and second most passing yards per game this season. Great matchup, so this is a case of “ride the hot hand” when it comes to George Pickens who has been on absolute fire. Six receptions on 10 targets for 130 receiving yards and a touchdown for 26.6 Fantasy Points in Week 6. Then in Week 7, with teammate Diontae Johnson back in action, Pickens caught five passes on eight targets for 107 receiving yards for 15.7 Fantasy Points. WR5 and WR9 the last two games played with three games over 100 receiving yards this season, Pickens is a great upside play in Week 8.

Texans vs. Panthers

• Devin Singletary: HOT TAKE ALERT. The Panthers allow the second-most Fantasy PPG to running backs and the second-most rushing yards per game this season. In Week 6, Dameon Pierce rushed for under 40 yards for the fourth time through six appearances. Pierce also played a season-low 33% of the snaps and touched the ball the same amount of times Devin Singletary did (13). Singletary on the other hand, played a season-high 54% of the snaps and produced 62 total scrimmage yards to Pierce’s 34. Is there a changing of the guard here in Houston for the running back position following a BYE week? Keep in mind that Singletary touched the ball 216 and 228 times in Buffalo the last two seasons. If you are desperate for a running back to plug and play – give Singletary a shot.

Rams vs. Cowboys

• Dak Prescott: The Rams allow the 15th most Fantasy PPG to quarterbacks this season. After finishing QB17 or worse through five weeks, Dak Prescott finished as the QB1 in Week 6 for Fantasy. Dak threw 21/30 for 272 passing yards and a touchdown and also rushed for a season-high 40 yards with a rushing touchdown. Dak threw a pair of touchdowns in Week 2, and for 255+ yards in three games this season. After missing time in 2022, Dak finished as a Top 10 quarterback in five of his 11 games. With a positive performance in Week 6 before the Cowboy’s BYE week, Week 8 can be a second game trending in the right direction.

Vikings vs. Packers

• Cam Akers: HOT TAKE #2. The Packers allow both the third most Fantasy PPG to running backs, and third most rushing yards per game this season. Week 7 was the first time Cam Akers stepped into a more prominent role as a Viking, playing a season-high 39% of the snaps and totaling 12 touches vs. Alexander Mattison’s 10 touches. Mattison still played 53% of the snaps, but this marked a season-low for him. Akers out-produced Mattison 61 to 42 in scrimmage yards last week. Mattison has been inefficient with volume this season, and Week 7 could be a sign for Akers to either step into a more split role or even take over as the 1A in this backfield. If you are struggling for a running back to plug and play – Akers could be a good dart throw. Akers rushed for over 100 yards in his final three games for the Rams back in 2022.
• Christian Watson: The Vikings allow the seventh most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. Christian Watson returned to action in Week 4, and has scored double-digit Fantasy Points in two of his three games played but has yet to have his splash week. Encouraging signs are the 91 receiving yards on just three catches in Week 5, 12 targets across his last two games, and playing 84% and 88% of the snaps the last two games. As a rookie last season, Watson finished with over 100 receiving yards three times and scored seven touchdowns during the span of Weeks 10-13. Watson has the upside, and there are positive signs, so Week 8 feels like his first big game with Jordan Love in a divisional plus matchup.

Saints vs. Colts

• Alvin Kamara: The Colts allow the sixth-most Fantasy PPG to running backs and 12th-most rushing yards per game. Since Alvin Kamara’s return from suspension, in Weeks 4-7 he ranks for running backs: #3 in Fantasy Points (21.7 point average), #7 in rushing yards, #1 in targets, #1 in receptions and #1 in receiving yards. The fact that Kamara is tied for the most running back targets says a ton after missing three weeks. He has had two games of 14 targets so far. The volume is there for Kamara, the production has followed and this matchup is great for Fantasy Football.

Patriots vs. Dolphins

• Kendrick Bourne: The Dolphins allow the ninth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. Kendrick Bourne opened up the season catching six of his 11 targets for 64 receiving yards and two touchdowns which resulted in 24.4 Fantasy Points. Bourne then went on to score under nine Fantasy Points for four straight games. Week 6 Bourne came back to life, catching 10 of his 11 targets for 89 receiving yards and 19.3 Fantasy Points. Bourne followed that performance, scoring 16.3 Fantasy Points last week due to catching six of his seven targets for 63 yards and a touchdown. Bourne has produced back-to-back solid Fantasy performances, playing 93% of the snaps in both of his last two games. Bourne is a FLEX play for Week 8 in a positive matchup.

Falcons vs. Titans

• Drake London: The Titans allow the eighth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and the 11th most passing yards per game this season. Drake London opened up the season with concerning volume earning just one target, but in Weeks 2-7 he is tied for 15th in targets during that span. London earned nine and 12 targets in Week 5 and Week 6, finishing with 78 and 125 receiving yards which meant WR19 and WR6 Fantasy finishes. Desmond Ridder has attempted 37+ passes in three games this year, and thrown for over 300 yards in two of his last three games. Positive signs in Week 8 for a good day, as long as the Titans can keep up with their quarterback situation.

Eagles vs. Commanders

• Jalen Hurts: The Commanders are the second-best Fantasy matchup for quarterbacks this season. Obviously, Jalen Hurts is in your Fantasy Football lineups, but this matchup could mean it is a week to pay up for him in DFS. Across the last three weeks, Hurts has finished as the QB3, QB2, and QB5 for Fantasy Football and has been a Top nine Fantasy quarterback for six straight weeks. Two weeks of over 300 yards passing, two weeks of multiple passing touchdowns, 72 rushing yards in Week 5, and six rushing touchdowns this season are all different signs of outcomes. Jalen Hurts trails Josh Allen in total Fantasy Points for the top spot by 3.2 Fantasy Points through seven weeks.
• Terry McLaurin: The Eagles allow the third most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. Terry McLaurin has earned quality targets from Sam Howell across the last four weeks, with games of 10-11-9 targets within this span. McLaurin has also finished with 86-81-90 receiving yards across the last four weeks of football, with WR8, WR25, and WR20 finishes for Fantasy. The Commanders will look to keep up with the Eagles dominant offense, which could mean double-digit targets and over 80 receiving yards again for Scary Terry right before Halloween.

Browns vs. Seahawks

• Amari Cooper: The Seahawks allow the fourth-most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and 12th most passing yards per game this season. Down Week 7 for Amari Cooper, but he had a decent outing in Week 6 while playing with PJ Walker who will start at quarterback this week again for an injured Deshaun Watson. Cooper has earned eight targets in back-to-back weeks and has hit this mark or better four times this season. Cooper finished with 108 receiving yards in Week 6 with Walker and will be leaned on in this matchup as well. PJ Walker has thrown for a low completion percentage with zero touchdowns and three interceptions the last two weeks so his play will be an indicator of Cooper’s Week 8 ceiling.

Ravens vs. Cardinals

• Zay Flowers: The Cardinals allow the sixth most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and 10th most passing yards per game this season. Zay Flowers paces the Ravens in targets with 54 this season, with Mark Andrews trailing by 14 with one less game played. Three weeks of double-digit targets, three weeks over 70 receiving yards, four weeks of 14+ yards per catch, and two weeks of 17-ish Fantasy Points are all positive signs for the Raven’s 2023 first-round selection. Week 8 could be another solid day for Flowers, the Baltimore WR1.
• Marquise Brown: The Ravens are not necessarily a plus matchup for wide receivers, but how can I not plug a “revenge game” narrative? Marquise “Hollywood” Brown faces the Baltimore Ravens, who selected him 25th overall back in 2019. Hollywood spent three seasons with the Ravens, before being shipped to Arizona prior to last season. Hollywood has scored under eight Fantasy Points in back-to-back games but scored 16+ Fantasy Points in all of Weeks 2-5. Hollywood has earned 10+ targets in four games, finished with 60+ receiving yards three times, and has three touchdowns this season. Manifesting Joshua Dobbs hyper-targeting his WR1 against his old team.

Chiefs vs. Broncos

• Isiah Pacheco: The Broncos allow the most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season and also the most rushing yards per game. In Week 6 against the Broncos, Isiah Pacheco rushed 16 times for 62 yards and caught a season-high six passes for 36 yards. Pacheco has scored 15+ Fantasy Points in four of his last five weeks as the lead Kansas City running back. Safe floor in one of the best offenses, it could be a big week if Pacheco finds the end zone against the Chiefs.
• Javonte Williams: The Chiefs are not necessarily a plus matchup for running backs, but I do want to note that Javonte Williams is trending up. Williams rushed efficiently against the Chiefs in Week 6, rushing 10 times for 52 yards. Last week, Williams played a season-high 53% of the snaps and finished with season-highs in both rushing attempts (15) and rushing yards (82). If the Broncos can keep this game from being a blowout, there is a shot that Williams can continue his positive trend.

Bengals vs. 49ers

• Tee Higgins: The 49ers allow the 13th most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers this season. Tee Higgins has played just 51% and 54% of the snaps in Week 4 and Week 5, and missed Week 6 all due to rib injuries. Back in Week 2, Higgins caught eight of his 12 targets for 89 receiving yards and two touchdowns which resulted in 28.9 Fantasy Points. Joe Burrow is going to need to use more than just Ja’Marr Chase against the 49ers who are 5-1, so getting Higgins going will be important. Higgins has scored under five Fantasy Points in his last two weeks, and I believe this will be a bounce-back game.
• George Kittle: The Bengals allow the sixth most Fantasy PPG to tight ends this season. Deebo Samuel will miss another week, which should mean George Kittle will continue to see a bump in targets. Kittle earned seven targets last week and caught five of them for 78 receiving yards. Kittle has finished three games with receiving yards of 90-67-78 this season, scored three touchdowns in Week 5, and has finished as a top-eight tight end for Fantasy three times this year. Good chance Sam Darnold is the starter with Brock Purdy in concussion protocol, which is not as bad as a downgrade as you might think.

Bears vs. Chargers

• DJ Moore: The Chargers allow the most Fantasy PPG to wide receivers and also the most passing yards per game this season. Tyson Bagent, who threw 21/29 with a touchdown last week against the Raiders, will be the Chicago starter once again for an injured Justin Fields. DJ Moore caught eight of his nine targets from Bagent for 54 yards, scoring 13.4 Fantasy Points last week. This Chargers matchup is a plus for both quarterbacks and wide receivers, so trust DJ Moore to be in your lineups for Week 8.
• Austin Ekeler: The Bears allow the seventh-most Fantasy PPG to running backs this season. Since his return from injury, Austin Ekeler has been poor for Fantasy Football vs. his expectation, scoring 10.2 and 5.6 Fantasy Points. Ekeler opened up the season scoring 26.4 Fantasy Points before missing the next three games and was the highest-scoring Fantasy running back last season. Week 8 presents the perfect bounce-back opportunity for Ekeler.

Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty