Fantasy Football TE PPR Rankings Week 8: Who to start, best sleepers at tight end

Matt Lutovsky

Fantasy Football TE PPR Rankings Week 8: Who to start, best sleepers at tight end image

The tight end position has mostly avoided the injury bug that's bitten every other position in a big way in 2023, and with a bye-free week ahead of us, our Week 8 fantasy TE PPR rankings are as loaded as they've been all year.

With every lineup decision feeling more important than ever, having a wide array of potential sleepers and streamers at fantasy's thinnest position is a welcome sight. With most of the top TE matchups going to lower-owned or lower-tier players this week, things could get hectic on the waiver wire. 

Let's break down who you should target and who you avoid at tight end in Week 8.

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Who are the TEs on bye in Week 8?

None. How about that, huh? The NFL has decided to give fantasy owners a break with zero byes in the middle of the season.

WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRsD/STs | Kickers

Jake Ferguson and Dalton Schultz are making their way back from byes, so there should be more widely available streamers than usual available on your waiver wire.

WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Who are the best fantasy TEs in Week 8?

Once again, Travis Kelce (@ Broncos in Week 8) tops our weekly rankings. He's the top TE in all formats, and he's facing a Broncos' defense that entered Week 7 allowing the most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to TEs. It's almost too easy sometimes.

Sam LaPorta (vs. Raiders), T.J. Hockenson (@ Packers), Darren Waller (vs. Jets), and Mark Andrews (@ Cardinals) round out our top five, but George Kittle (vs. Bengals) and Evan Engram (@ Steelers) also remain must-starts in PPR leagues. Only Kittle and Waller have plus matchups among that group, but all should see their usual complement of steady targets.

WEEK 8 FANTASY ADVICE:
Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start 'em, sit 'em

Who are the best fantasy TE sleepers, pickups, & streamers in Week 8?

We mentioned both Jake Ferguson (vs. Rams) and Dalton Schultz (@ Panthers) are coming off byes, and both have top-15 TE matchups this week. Along with Logan Thomas (vs. Eagles), all make for especially solid streaming options in shallow PPR leagues. 

If you're in a deeper league, Michael Mayer (@ Lions), Taysom Hill (@ Colts), Hunter Henry (@ Dolphins), Tyler Higbee (@ Cowboys), Gerald Everett (vs. Bears), Chig Okonkwo (vs. Falcons), and Hayden Hurst (vs. Texans) all have matchups against defenses that entered Week 7 in the top 12 in most FPPG allowed to TEs. 

Hill is usually much riskier in PPR leagues, but he's had 11 catches (in addition to six carries) in the past two games, giving him a decent floor in addition to his week-winning ceiling. Mayer has also developed a decent floor, at least with Jimmy Garoppolo under center, and all the rest are usually TD threats in any given week regardless of matchups.

WEEK 8 DFS: DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks

Who are the biggest potential fantasy TE busts in Week 8?

Andrews (@ Cardinals), Engram (@ Steelers), and Dallas Goedert (@ Commanders) all have bottom-10 TE matchups this week, but we still consider them must-starts. You can consider other options in shallow leagues, but chances are, you're not going to find a better option in terms of floor or ceiling. 

Cole Kmet (@ Chargers) and Kyle Pitts (vs. Titans) are also facing defenses that entered last week as top-10 TE defenses. Pitts is getting tough to sit, but we know consistency has never been his forte. We wouldn't touch Tyler Conklin (@ Giants), Trey McBride (vs. Ravens), or Dalton Kincaid (vs. Buccaneers) this week either, though the latter definitely has a higher floor in PPR formats, as he showed in Week 7 with eight catches. (UPDATE: With Dawson Knox out because of a wrist injury, we've moved Kincaid up in our rankings and no longer recommend sitting him.)

What are the biggest TE injuries in Week 8?

Fantasy owners can say good bye to Pat Freiermuth (hamstring) until at least Week 11 and Greg Dulcich (hamstring) until at least Week 12. Both TEs are on IR after aggravating their sore hamstrings ahead of Week 7.

Juwan Johnson (calf) has missed the past four games, but considering he was never placed on IR, the Saints must feel he can return soon. Johnson's return could slow down Hill's emergence as a legit TE, so keep track of that situation if you were planning on starting Hill.

Luke Musgrave (ankle) and Gerald Everett (quad) both left early in Week 7 and didn't return. Musgrave seems less likely to return for Week 8 than Everett, but we're monitoring both situations closely. Donald Parham Jr. (vs. Bears) would have some deep-league upside if he starts for the Chargers.

We'll be updating these TE PPR rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.

Fantasy TE PPR Rankings Week 8: Who to start, sit at tight end

Rankings based on full-point PPR formats

Rank    Player
1    Travis Kelce, Chiefs @ Broncos
2    Sam LaPorta, Lions vs. Raiders
3    T.J. Hockenson, Vikings @ Packers
4    Darren Waller, Giants vs. Jets
5    Mark Andrews, Ravens @ Cardinals
6    Evan Engram, Jaguars @ Steelers
7    George Kittle, 49ers vs. Bengals
8    Dallas Goedert, Eagles @ Commanders
9    Jake Ferguson, Cowboys vs. Rams
10    Logan Thomas, Commanders vs. Eagles
11    Dalton Kincaid, Bills vs. Buccaneers
12    Dalton Schultz, Texans @ Panthers
13    Luke Musgrave, Packers vs. Vikings
14    Taysom Hill, Saints @ Colts
15    Kyle Pitts, Falcons @ Titans
16    Michael Mayer, Raiders @ Lions
17    Hunter Henry, Patriots @ Dolphins
18    Trey McBride, Cardinals vs. Ravens
19    Tyler Higbee, Rams @ Cowboys
20    Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans vs. Falcons
21    David Njoku, Browns @ Seahawks
22    Gerald Everett, Chargers vs. Bears
23    Cole Kmet, Bears @ Chargers
24    Hayden Hurst, Panthers vs. Texans
25    Tyler Conklin, Jets @ Giants
26    Jonnu Smith, Falcons @ Titans
27    Cade Otton, Buccaneers @ Bills
28    Mike Gesicki, Patriots @ Dolphins
29    Juwan Johnson, Saints @ Colts
30    Noah Fant, Seahawks vs. Browns
31    Durham Smythe, Dolphins vs. Patriots
32    Mo Alie-Cox, Colts vs. Saints
33    Adam Trautman, Broncos vs. Chiefs

Week 8 TE PPR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks

Draft Sharks projections for the new week will update every Tuesday and be constantly adjusted throughout the week

We're proud to offer SN Fantasy readers an exclusive look at Draft Sharks’ award-winning projections and rankings every week. To see Draft Sharks' Week 8 3D floor-to-ceiling projections for tight ends -- plus get access to all of Draft Sharks' industry-leading tools -- become a Draft Sharks' member today at the link below!

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Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky Photo

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.