The Fantasy Football Checkdown: Week 8 Advice and Rankings

I dropped the ball by telling you to sit Jameis Winston and his 23.36 fantasy points in Week 7. Hopefully the 3.34 point-differential between Winston and the sleeper QB I recommended (Tyrod Taylor) wasn’t the difference between a win and a loss for you. If so, please allow me to make it up to you this week, with more fantasy football advice of course. As usual, the Fantasy Football Checkdown for Week 8 breaks down every (important*) position, giving you: (1) the best sleeper plays of the week, and (2) the big stars you need to put on your bench.

Since Week 8 sees a season-high six teams on bye, constructing your optimal roster will be a little more difficult than usual. Be sure to check out my full positional rankings (standard scoring) underneath the video to ensure you have the best options in your lineup.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qi9Qgb0NyE

Week 8 QB Rankings

TIER 1

1. Kirk Cousins, Washington (v DAL)
2. Carson Wentz, Eagles (v SF)
3. Tom Brady, Patriots (v LAC)

TIER 2

4. Cam Newton, Panthers (@TB)
5. Andy Dalton, Bengals (v IND)
6. Philip Rivers, Chargers (@NE)
7. Drew Brees, Saints (v CHI)
8. Dak Prescott, Cowboys (@WAS)
9. Derek Carr, Raiders (@BUF)
10. Russell Wilson, Seahawks (v HOU)
11. Matt Ryan, Falcons (@NYJ)

TIER 3

12. Case Keenum, Vikings (v CLE)
13. Tyrod Taylor, Bills (v OAK)
14. Jameis Winston, Buccaneers (v CAR)
15. Matthew Stafford, Lions (v PIT)
16. Alex Smith, Chiefs (v DEN)
17. Josh McCown, Jets (v ATL)
18. Trevor Siemian, Broncos (@KC)
19. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (@DET)
20. Deshaun Watson, Texans (@SEA)

TIER 4

21. CJ Beathard, 49ers (@PHI)
22. Mitchell Trubisky, Bears (@NO)
23. Joe Flacco, Ravens (v MIA)
24. Matt Moore, Dolphins (@BAL)

Week 8 RB Rankings

TIER 1

1. Le’Veon Bell, Steelers (@DET)
2. Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (@WAS)
3. LeSean McCoy, Bills (v OAK)

TIER 2

4. Joe Mixon, Bengals (v IND)
5. Kareem Hunt, Chiefs (v DEN)
6. Devonta Freeman, Falcons (@NYJ)
7. Melvin Gordon, Chargers (@NE)
8. Jay Ajayi, Dolphins (@BAL)
9. Chris Thompson, Washington (v DAL)
10. Jordan Howard, Bears (@NO)
11. Ameer Abdullah, Lions (v PIT)

TIER 3

13. Alvin Kamara, Saints (v CHI)
14. Christian McCaffrey, Panthers (@TB)
15. Mark Ingram, Saints (v CHI)
16. Wendell Smallwood, Eagles (v SF)
17. Bilal Powell, Jets (v ATL)
18. Jerick McKinnon, Vikings (v CLE)
19. CJ Anderson, Broncos (@KC)
20. Carlos Hyde, 49ers (@PHI)
21. Jalen Richard, Raiders (@BUF)

TIER 4

22. Dion Lewis, Patriots (v LAC)
23. LeGarrette Blount, Eagles (v SF)
24. Doug Martin, Buccaneers (v CAR)
25. Lamar Miller, Texans (@SEA)
26. Javorius Allen, Ravens (v MIA)
27. Tevin Coleman, Falcons (@NYJ)
28. Duke Johnson Jr, Browns (v MIN)
29. Marlon Mack, Colts (@CIN)
30. Jonathan Stewart, Panthers (@TB)

Week 8 WR Rankings

TIER 1

1. AJ Green, Bengals (v IND)
2. Antonio Brown, Steelers (@DET)
3. Mike Evans, Buccaneers (v CAR)
4. Julio Jones, Falcons (@NYJ)

TIER 2

5. Kelvin Benjamin, Panthers (@TB)
6. Keenan Allen, Chargers (@NE)
7. Michael Thomas, Saints (v CHI)
8. Brandin Cooks, Patriots (v LAC)
9. Dez Bryant, Cowboys (@WAS)
10. Doug Baldwin, Seahawks (v HOU)
11. Demaryius Thomas, Broncos (@KC)
12. Tyreek Hill, Chiefs (v DEN)
13. Adam Thielen, Vikings (v CLE)
14. Michael Crabtree, Raiders (@BUF)
15. DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (@SEA)
16. Nelson Agholar, Eagles (v SF)
17. Jamison Crowder, Washington (v DAL)

TIER 3

18. Chris Hogan, Patriots (v LAC)
19. Josh Doctson, Washington (v DAL)
20. Devin Funchess, Panthers (@TB)
21. Marvin Jones Jr, Lions (v PIT)
22. Amari Cooper, Raiders (@BUF)
23. Pierre Garcon, 49ers (@PHI)
24. Alshon Jeffery, Eagles (v SF)
25. Jermaine Kearse, Jets (v ATL)
26. Tyrell Williams, Chargers (@NE)
27. Jarvis Landry, Dolphins (@BAL)
28. Ted Ginn Jr, Saints (v CHI)
29. Mohamed Sanu, Falcons (@NYJ)

TIER 4

30. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers (@DET)
31. DeSean Jackson, Buccaneers (v CAR)
32. Stefon Diggs, Vikings (v CLE)
33. Jordan Matthews, Bills (v OAK)
34. Paul Richardson, Seahawks (v HOU)
35. Bennie Fowler, Broncos (@KC)
36. Robby Anderson, Jets (v ATL)
37. Terrelle Pryor Sr, Washington (v DAL)
38. Dontrelle Inman, Bears (@NO)
39. Will Fuller V, Texans (@SEA)
40. TY Hilton, Colts (@CIN)

Week 8 TE Rankings

TIER 1

1. Jordan Reed, Washington (v DAL)
2. Travis Kelce, Chiefs (v DEN)
3. Rob Gronkowski, Patriots (v LAC)
4. Zach Ertz, Eagles (v SF)

TIER 2

5. Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (v CLE)
6. Hunter Henry, Chargers (@NE)
7. Jason Witten, Cowboys (@WAS)
8. Jared Cook, Raiders (@BUF)
9. Jimmy Graham, Seahawks (v HOU)
10. Tyler Kroft, Bengals (v IND)
11. Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Jets (v ATL)

TIER 3

12. Cameron Brate, Buccaneers (v CAR)
13. George Kittle, 49ers (@PHI)
14. Austin Hooper, Falcons (@NYJ)