Week 8 Rankings

Updated 10/26 at 3:15 PM ET: Added Trent Richardson as No. 54 running back under the assumption he's unlikely to really play.

Updated 10/26 at 12:00 PM ET. Removed Darren Sproles, Storm Johnson and Bernard Pierce. Moved Lorenzo Taliaferro up.

Russell Wilson lost his No. 1 receiver last Friday. He responded by having the game of his life on Sunday, a literally historic effort where he became the first player in NFL history — that’s 94 years of NFL history — to pass for 300 yards and rush for 100 yards in the same game. Wilson’s 40.3 fantasy points were the most by any quarterback this season, and the second most of his career.

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But now, as always, there’s a question: Who will Wilson be going forward? A dual-threat dynamo, or a man hurting for targets? Bet on the former. For all Harvin’s talent, he’d yet to catch a touchdown pass or surpass 60 yards receiving this season. He drew defenders, but by his own admission, wasn’t being unleashed downfield.

Essentially, Harvin was being utilized as a gadget player and screen specialist. You could argue — as Harvin undoubtedly would — that he wasn’t being deployed properly. The point is, Harvin’s loss simply doesn’t change the Seahawks’ offense all that much. If anything, it relaxes it. There’s no longer a mouth that must be fed.

Wilson executed the Seahawks’ new formula to perfection against the Rams. High-percentage targets to Doug Baldwin, deep shots to Jermaine Kearse and Paul Richardson and quarterback runs when neither of the first two options are available.

For as dangerous as Wilson’s legs are, he’s never used them enough. Even before Harvin was dealt, that was finally beginning to change. Wilson has two 100-yard rushing efforts across his past three starts. His 327 yards on the ground lead all quarterbacks, and he’s on pace for 872 after averaging 514 his first two years in the league. The more opposing defenses have to respect Wilson’s legs, the more open his receivers will be. The more open his receivers are … you get the picture.

Already disciplined beyond his years, Wilson isn’t going to wilt in Harvin’s absence, but rise to the occasion. Wilson enters his second post-Harvin weekend as fantasy’s No. 3 quarterback by average points. After abusing the Rams’ soft defense in Week 7, he gets another plum matchup in the Panthers. Only five teams are allowing more fantasy points to opposing signal callers, while the Panthers have arguably the league’s worst cornerback corps. They’ll be breaking in a new slot corner on Sunday, just in time for Wilson and Baldwin’s arrival.

Wilson was already breaking out before Harvin was shipped out of town. The only difference is, now he appears ready to do so in style.

Week 8 Quarterbacks

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QB Notes: Peyton Manning has the most passing touchdowns in NFL history. He is the No. 1 fantasy quarterback for Week 8. … Aaron Rodgers has a 13:0 TD:INT ratio over his past four starts, and boasts an 18:1 mark on the season. His lone pick came in Week 1, and was more the fault of Jordy Nelson than Rodgers. Playing on the Superdome’s fast track, Rodgers is going to carve up a defense allowing 7.7 yards per attempt. The Saints’ three interceptions are tied for third fewest in the league. … The last — and only — time Andrew Luck threw for fewer than 300 yards? Week 2, where he still managed to rack up three touchdowns. On pace for 5,328 yards and 43 scores, the Chosen One has become hype delivered. … A few facts about Drew Brees’ slow start: First, he’s still fantasy’s No. 6 quarterback. Second, it’s Week 8, and the Saints are only just now gearing up for their third home game. Brees is averaging 319 weekly yards. He’s going to be fine.

Tom Brady since his Week 4 meltdown against the Chiefs: 70-of-109 (64.2 percent) for 914 yards (10.04 YPA), nine touchdowns and zero turnovers. Now he gets a Bears defense allowing the eighth most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and potentially missing impressive rookie corner Kyle Fuller (hand, hip). Brady is still tossing some Manning-like ducks, but he’s a no-brainer top-eight option for Week 8. … Philip Rivers is fantasy’s No. 4 quarterback, but his Thursday evening matchup is imposing. The Broncos have the league’s third most sacks (21), and are permitting the second lowest YPA (6.3) and completion percentage (58.5). Rivers isn’t benchable, but Week 8 should be one of his quieter performances. … Tony Romo is the league’s most scrutinized player. That’s why it’s so surprising that his 12:2 TD:INT ratio over his past five starts has gone largely unnoticed. On deck for Week 8 is the Redskins, a team already allowing the fourth most fantasy points to enemy signal callers, and now adjusting to life without top pass rusher Brian Orakpo. Romo should make it six straight multi-score games with ease.

Jay Cutler is fantasy’s No. 5 quarterback, but has just two scores over his past two games, and a 6:5 TD:INT ratio over his past four. The Patriots will be missing Chandler Jones on Sunday, but still have Darrelle Revis, and are allowing the third fewest fantasy points to rival QBs. Cutler and the Bears have inexplicably played better on the road this season, but that’s not a trend to count on. The Bears are 0-4 when Cutler throws an INT, and 3-0 when he doesn’t. … Carson Palmer has posted at least two scores and 250 yards in each of his first two starts since returning from his nerve injury, and now gets an Eagles defense that’s made stars of basically every quarterback it’s faced. Points are going to be raining down in the desert. Expect Palmer to do his part. … Palmer’s Week 8 counterpart, Nick Foles, headed into the Eagles’ Week 7 bye the owner of a 4:6 TD:turnover ratio over his three most recent starts. The Cardinals are quite vulnerable through the air, but have also created eight interceptions and three fumble recoveries. This is a huge road game for Foles, who must prove he used his off week to adjust to the league’s adjustments.

Despite last week’s rough outing in Green Bay, Cam Newton should continue to ascend along with his legs (148 rushing yards over his past two games). That is, when he’s not facing the Seahawks. Last year’s impenetrable pass defense has some sprung some major leaks, but the Legion of Boom is still allowing just 239 yards per game. Seattle has permitted a mere 17 yards to opposing QBs on the ground, the third fewest in the league (admittedly, the schedule has played a part in that). It all adds up to Newton remaining a QB1 for Week 8, but one of the lower-end variety. … Matthew Stafford has avoided going off the rails in Calvin Johnson’s absence, but is still just fantasy’s No. 25 quarterback over the past three weeks. The Falcons are a soft, soft defense, but get stung more by the run than pass. Barring a surprise return for Megatron, Stafford will spend one more week outside the top 10. … On the flipside of Stafford is Ryan Tannehill, who is fantasy’s No. 7 QB over the past three weeks. Increased reliance on his legs (14 rushes for 132 yards) over his past three starts has upped Tannehill’s floor. Much improved passing hasn’t hurt, of course. The Jaguars are a primo matchup.

The Bengals’ crumbling defense is coughing up the seventh most fantasy points to rival quarterbacks. Fantasy’s No. 9 signal caller over the past five weeks, Joe Flacco remains a nice, cheap streaming option in daily leagues. … Matt Ryan has three touchdowns over his past three starts. The Lions have allowed the fewest passing touchdowns (seven) in the NFL. … If you’re looking for a streamer, Alex Smith is appealing against a Rams defense allowing the most fantasy points to quarterbacks, though it’s worth noting that Smith has surpassed 18 points just twice in six starts. … A more-appealing option than Smith could be Kyle Orton, who should come out throwing against a Jets D allowing the second most fantasy points to enemy QBs. The Bills, as you may have heard, are down their top two running backs against a Rex Ryan unit holding its own against the run, but getting bludgeoned through the air. … It’s a bleak week outside the top 20. If you want to go full YOLO, it doesn’t get any YOLOer — or cheaper — than Colt McCoy against the Cowboys.

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Week 8 Running Backs

RB Notes: DeMarco Murray has 298 more yards rushing than anyone else in football, so it’s not surprising that he has 20 more first-down runs (48) than his next closest competitor. Murray’s 43 missed tackles by Pro Football Focus’ count are 14 more than No. 2 Arian Foster. Murray is dominating every which way, and is going to punish a Redskins front seven missing Brian Orakpo. … Jamaal Charles is averaging 4.85 yards per carry since returning from his ankle injury, and has four touchdowns in three games. That’s bad news for a Rams defense allowing 4.8 yards per tote, and 145 rushing yards per game. … Arian Foster continues to run as Murray’s closest competitor on the ground despite essentially missing two games. Foster is averaging 122 rushing yards across his five healthy contests. The Titans are not an imposing matchup. … Marshawn Lynch is managing just 4.03 yards per carry and 62 rushing yards per game since his big Week 1, but the Panthers’ league-worst run defense is just begging to jump-start his 2014.

Le'Veon Bell’s 938 yards from scrimmage are second only to Murray’s 1,072. The even better news is that he finally scored his second touchdown in Monday’s win over the Texans. The Colts struggle against the run, and could thrust Bell into the top three for Week 8. It’s just a crowded week at the top. … LeSean McCoy’s 22 rushes for 149 yards against the Giants had him looking “back” as the Eagles headed into their Week 7 bye, but he returns against a Cardinals defense allowing a league-low 3.15 yards per carry. Shady’s volume will be there, but a 100-yard afternoon may be hard to come by. … Andre Ellington is averaging 21.6 touches per game, and has turned them into a weekly 109 yards from scrimmage. He continues to frustrate in the touchdowns department, but good things happen when players with Ellington’s talent get the ball as much as he has. … Two players have seven rushes of 20-plus yards: DeMarco Murray and Justin Forsett. Heck, Forsett is fourth in rushing (503 yards). It’s time we start taking Baltimore’s former change-of-pace back more seriously as an RB1 candidate. Allowing 4.9 yards per carry, the Bengals represent a great Week 8 matchup.

Lamar Miller is averaging just 3.56 yards per carry over his past two games, but has more than compensated with four touchdowns. The Jaguars have allowed the ninth most fantasy points to rival running backs. … Ahmad Bradshaw is fantasy’s No. 6 back on the season, No. 9 over the past five weeks and No. 10 over the past three. Translation, he isn’t going away. With six touchdown receptions through his first seven games, Bradshaw is threatening to become the first running back in NFL history to notch 10 scores through the air. … Giovani Bernard has averaged 3.43 yards per carry or fewer in 4-of-6 games this season. Sunday he gets the Ravens, a team permitting 3.7 yards per tote, and the third fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs. It’s going to have to be a volume day for fantasy’s No. 7 back. … Ronnie Hillman in two games as the Broncos’ No. 1 back: 38 carries for 174 yards (4.58 YPC), seven receptions for 45 yards and two touchdowns. Coming off a draining loss on a short week, the Chargers are allowing 4.5 yards per tote in 2014.

Fantasy’s No. 4 back over the past three weeks, Branden Oliver has done so on the back of 23 average touches. The Chargers competed with the Broncos in 2013 by playing ball-control offense. They’ll almost certainly employ a similar formula on Thursday evening. … Joique Bell is averaging just 3.26 yards per carry this season. Not good, any way you slice it. But he’s an appealing Week 8 option against a Falcons defense allowing the most fantasy points to rival runners. That’s especially true with Reggie Bush (ankle) looking shaky. … Chris Ivory, unsurprisingly, leads the league in average yards after contact with 3.1 DeMarco Murray is second with 2.9. Tied with Murray? Jerick McKinnon, who erased any doubt as to his status as the Vikings’ new No. 1 runner in Week 7 by becoming the first back to rush for over 100 yards against the Bills this season. Matt Asiata will still get his touches, but they’ll be a pittance compared to his more talented rookie teammate’s. McKinnon has the talent to be a league winner down the stretch.

Shane Vereen, your mission — should you choose to accept it — is to string together back-to-back strong performances for the first time since last December. … Mark Ingram’s workload question mark got a whole lot smaller with the news that Pierre Thomas (ribs, shoulder) will miss Week 8. Travaris Cadet should pick up the majority of Thomas’ pass-catching slack, but don’t be surprised if Ingram earns himself more targets than usual, upping his touchdown-dependent floor. … I wrote about Denard Robinson at length on Monday, but the short of it? This is now his job to lose. He has a tough Week 8 opponent, however, pushing him more toward FLEX than RB2 status. … Jeff Fisher doesn’t want you get comfortable, but all signs point toward Tre Mason getting an opportunity to nail down No. 1 status. He has a chance to shine against a Chiefs D coughing up 4.7 yards per carry. … Not even Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown seem entirely sure on how things will unfold in the Bills’ Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller-less backfield, but the best guess is that Dixon gets the most touches, and Brown the most yards. The Jets have struggled with athletic backs of Brown’s ilk of late, while Dixon is a career plodder. Perhaps Dixon will win the Week 8 battle, but I’d count on Brown winning the 2014 war.

Week 8 Receivers

WR Notes: Fantasy’s No. 2 receiver, Jordy Nelson has 11 50-plus yard touchdown receptions since 2011. That’s the most in the NFL over that span. Nelson gets the nod over the white-hot Demaryius Thomas for Week 8 because of his plum matchup with a Saints defense allowing the second most fantasy points to receivers. … Speaking of Thomas, he has 521 yards receiving over his past three games, which would rank ninth on the season. Thomas’ 17.0 fantasy points per game are 1.7 more than any other receiver. … Quietly the No. 7 receiver, Dez Bryant gets a prime-time opportunity to feast on a Redskins defense allowing the 11th most fantasy points to wideouts. … Bryant gets the nod over Julio Jones because Jones is doing battle with the Lions’ imposing pass defense in London. As mentioned above, the Lions’ seven passing touchdowns allowed are the fewest in the league. … Randall Cobb’s eight touchdowns lead all wideouts. This, after Cobb entered 2014 with a modest 13 career scores. Coming off his best yardage effort of the season, Cobb is just as likely to rip the Saints as Nelson.

T.Y. Hilton is third in receiving yards (711), fifth in targets (68) and fifth in receptions (47). The only thing “holding him back” is his touchdown total of one. Hilton averaged six scores in 2012-13. He’s going to start finding the end zone. … Who will Darrelle Revis do battle with on Sunday? He seems to think it will be Brandon Marshall, but this is the Patriots. Anything is possible. Revis is just as likely to follow Alshon Jeffery as Revis, and could, of course, mix it up as the game goes on. Owners just have to trust the fact that both will get their looks. … Golden Tate in four games with Calvin Johnson limited or absent: 32/448/2. Now he gets a Falcons defense allowing a league-worst 8.8 yards per pass attempt. Tate will be a WR1 for what should be Megatron’s final inactive. … Mike Wallace is fantasy’s No. 9 receiver despite zero 100-yard efforts, and failing to eclipse 75 yards since Week 1. He’s scored in 5-of-6 games, however, and is averaging 8.6 targets. Wallace is more likely to progress than regress.

Jeremy Maclin has been quiet over his past three games (11/149/1), but still averaged 9.6 targets in the process. A Cardinals defense allowing the fifth most fantasy points to receivers should break his slump. … Coming off a two-touchdown game against the Vikings, Sammy Watkins is averaging a weekly 6/79 with Kyle Orton under center. He has a chance to really get going against the Jets’ woefully undermanned secondary. … Michael Floyd in Carson Palmer’s three games at quarterback: 12/213/2. The Eagles bleed big plays. Floyd and Palmer should connect on a few this weekend. … Steve Smith Sr. caught fewer than five passes for the first time all season in Week 7, but compensated with 67 yards. Although Sr.’s best stretch is probably already behind him, there’s a strong chance he finishes as a top-24 wideout. … Vincent Jackson was heating up in his final two games before the Bucs’ bye, catching 12 passes for 210 yards. Sunday, he’ll be squaring off with a Vikings defense that failed to contain Sammy Watkins in Week 7. A trade would be the best thing for V-Jax’s value, but he’s still a WR2 in Tampa.

Andre Johnson has cleared five catches 6-of-7 games this season, and 70 yards in 5-of-7. Hopefully he gets a score against a Titans defense that’s allowed 12 passing touchdowns. … Kelvin Benjamin has scored in 5-of-7 games. Surprisingly, the Seahawks have allowed 12 scores through the air, tied for the eighth most in football. … As colleague Mike Clay points out, Roddy White’s end-zone targets have dwindled in recent seasons. … As healthy as he’s been all season, Eric Decker is finally back in the WR2 conversation. The presence of Percy Harvin should help, not hurt, as defenses can no longer focus all their resources on Decker. The Bills have allowed the eighth most fantasy points to receivers. … As for Harvin, he’s not expected to play a full complement of snaps in his Gang Green debut. He can’t be trusted as a WR3 this week. … For all we know, the Seahawks have no plans to stop spreading the passing game wealth in Harvin’s absence, but Doug Baldwin was the target on 11 of Russell Wilson’s 36 pass attempts last Sunday. He’s in the WR2 conversation against the Panthers’ struggling defense.

Pierre Garcon is a better bet than DeSean Jackson with Colt McCoy under center. Ol’ Colt isn’t going to be looking deep. … Andre Holmes deserves a mulligan for his off Week 7, but is still likely to settle in as a boom-or-bust WR3. … Torrey Smith has been fantasy’s No. 16 receiver over the past five weeks, and No. 12 over the past three. He’s been touchdown-dependent, but that’s not a strike against his upside. … According to Pro Football Focus, Mohamed Sanu’s seven drops lead the NFL. He’s going to fade back to WR4/5 status once A.J. Green (toe) returns. … Keenan Allen’s breakout probably isn’t going to come against the Broncos’ dominant secondary. … Mike Evans is someone to keep rostered as the Vincent Jackson trade rumors heat up. … Brandon LaFell is a nice, cheap FanDuel play for your No. 3 receiver. … Davante Adams’ production has yet to come close to matching his hype. Despite Adams’ talent, life isn’t easy behind target hogs Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb.

Week 8 Tight Ends

TE Notes: As the bossman said, Peyton Manning likes to Feed the Hungry. Julius Thomas didn’t get to eat last week. … Coming off his highest snap percentage of the season (91.6), Rob Gronkowski enters Week 8 with 18 catches for 262 yards over his past three games. That’s positively Gronk-like. Few players are better bets to find the end zone this Sunday. … Through seven weeks, Greg Olsen is fantasy’s No. 2 tight end. The Seahawks are surprisingly weak down the seams. … Nervousness is high after Jimmy Graham failed to secure either of his two targets on just 30 snaps in Week 7, but he avoided setbacks with his troublesome shoulder. You need to fire Graham up without fear in what will almost certainly be a shootout with the Packers. Avoiding Graham in daily leagues is sensible, but you’d want to quit re-draft forever if he goes off on your bench.

Antonio Gates is averaging just three catches over his past five games, but can’t stop scoring touchdowns. That makes him a top-seven option in an extremely weak year for tight ends. … Martellus Bennett hasn’t scored since Week 3, but is averaging 5.3/65 over his past four games. With Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery poised to draw looks from Darrelle Revis, the Unicorn is a good bet to get the ball in the painted area. … Jordan Reed has 13 catches for 146 yards in two games since returning from his hamstring injury, and has a Monday night matchup with a Cowboys defense allowing the third most fantasy points to enemy tight ends. The only thing holding him back for Week 8 is the presence of Colt McCoy under center. … Jordan Cameron took a step back in Week 7, but the Raiders always offer opposing skill players the chance at two steps forward.

Travis Kelce’s upside remains through the roof, but Andy Reid doesn’t seem to understand he’s his most dangerous pass catcher not named Jamaal Charles. Kelce is a high-reward, but high-risk, TE1. … Dwayne Allen’s five touchdowns are tied for ninth amongst pass catchers. … Zach Ertz hasn’t cleared 50 yards since Week 2, but the Cardinals are always the right matchup for tight ends. … We don’t normally condone the use of Owen Daniels, but heck, no one is allowing more fantasy points to tight ends than the Bengals. Daniels is an excellent FanDuel option if you want to break the bank on running backs and receivers. … Arguably Austin Davis’ go-to receiver, Jared Cook has a nice matchup in the Chiefs. … Tennessee’s quarterback play is taking Delanie Walker’s TE1 value with it. … Jason Witten and Heath Miller have been more name than game to this point in the season. … Playing extremely heavy snaps, Austin Seferian-Jenkins remains a daily-league dart worth throwing.

Week 8 Kickers

Week 8 Defense/Special Teams