Fantasy Football QB Rankings Week 8: Who to start, best sleepers at quarterback

Nick Musial

Fantasy Football QB Rankings Week 8: Who to start, best sleepers at quarterback image

With no teams on bye, 32 signal-callers return to our Week 8 fantasy QB rankings. While that may seem like a positive thing in theory, more options can complicate our start-sit decisions. Fear not, as we're here to help you decipher which quarterbacks stand the best chance of leading consistent scoring drives, boosting your fantasy football team's chances of catching a dub this upcoming week.

Outside of Gardner Minshew's 305-yard, four-TD effort against a Browns defense that entered Week 7 as the most efficient stop unit, Week 7 played true to form. The typical juggernauts (Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen) lived up to the hype, while several bottom-tier QBs (Russell Wilson, Tyson Bagent, Brian Hoyer) had rather underwhelming fantasy days. How will it all shake out in Week 8?

We'll dissect our rankings, pinpoint the best QB plays, and find viable streaming candidates for those in need of a replacement option. 

MORE: Watch NFL RedZone live with Sling (50% off first month)

Which QBs are on bye in Week 8?

Thankfully, fantasy football owners don't need to worry about byes in Week 8, as we're given a rare midseason reprieve from missing players.

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

That said, we still have several banged-up QBs to monitor throughout the week, so several fantasy owners will still be looking for viable replacement options.

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

Who are the best fantasy QBs in Week 8?

Patrick Mahomes (@ Broncos in Week 8) aims to maintain his perfect 12-0 record against Denver, looking to build off his 300-yard, one-TD effort in the Chiefs' Week 6 victory over the Broncos. Justin Herbert (vs. Bears) is licking his chops this week, facing a Bears defense that entered Week 7 allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to QBs. Despite slowing down the Brian Hoyer-led Raiders, look for Herbert and company to thrive against the Bears on Sunday night. 

Lamar Jackson (@ Cardinals) sees a slight boost in his Week 8 rankings, drawing a Cardinals defense that entered Week 7 as the least efficient defense on a down-to-down basis, sporting a league-worse 50.6-percent success rate. Expect Jackson to maintain his strong play with another reliable fantasy day.

Jalen Hurts (@ Commanders), Josh Allen (vs. Buccaneers), and Tua Tagovailoa (vs. Patriots) remain set-it-and-forget-it starts despite Allen and Tagovailoa facing respectable stop units. 

Jared Goff (vs. Raiders) and C.J. Stroud (@ Panthers) also sit as top-10 plays in Week 8. Fantasy owners might look to bench Goff after Detroit's 38-6 blowout loss, but the Raiders defense is exactly who Goff needs to see to regain his confidence. Stroud's getting better every week, and since he's a rookie, we still don't quite know his fantasy ceiling.

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

Who are the best fantasy QB sleepers, waiver pickups in Week 8?

Jordan Love (vs. Vikings), Derek Carr (@ Colts), and Kenny Pickett (vs. Jaguars) profile as this week's crop of sleeper and waiver-wire pickups in QB-friendly matchups. Although the Packers offense hasn't functioned as smoothly as they'd like, Love's crushing it from a fantasy perspective.

Green Bay's QB1 entered Week 7 ranking as the fantasy QB8 on a points-per-game basis (19.2 ppg), and he turned in another two-TD day against the Broncos. An inviting matchup opposite a Vikings defense that ranks below the league average in dropback EPA gives Love plenty of sleeper appeal.

The Saints hope their second-half offensive surge against the Jaguars is a sign of things to come, and if there's ever a week to roll Carr out, Week 8 is the time. The Colts entered Week 7 allowing the eighth-most fantasy points per game to QBs, so there's reason to believe New Orleans' offense will operate at an efficient clip and have over 300 yards through the air for the third-straight game.

Pickett draws a Jaguars defense that entered Week 7 allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to QBs, and with Diontae Johnson back healthy, there's a chance we see his best fantasy output of the season.

In deep/superflex leagues, consider picking up Desmond Ridder (@ Titans), Gardner Minshew (vs. Saints) and Baker Mayfield (@ Bills). Ridder and the Falcons' aerial attack could exploit a susceptible Titans pass defense that's been one of the least efficient units against the pass relative to its dropback EPA.

We don't expect Minshew to replicate his elite Week 7 fantasy showing, but he's done a laudable job filling in for the injured Anthony Richardson.

Despite a tough matchup for Mayfield against an elite Bills defensive line, a potential negative game script gives him a chance to post a respectable fantasy day thanks to some garbage time points.

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

Who are the biggest potential QB busts in Week 8?

Joe Burrow (@ 49ers), Geno Smith (vs. Browns), and Matthew Stafford (@ Cowboys) all see substantial drops in their Week 8 rankings, as they're forced to manufacture drives against some of the league's most complete defenses.

Burrow's undoubtedly looked like a different QB, with his calf getting better by the week, but we'd advise leaving him on your bench when matched up against the 49ers. Smith didn't do anything special in a favorable matchup against the Cardinals in Week 7, and we expect an even rougher fantasy day against the Browns this week.

We'd also relegate Stafford to bench duties in Week 8, as we have no interest in starting him versus a well-rounded Cowboys' stop unit on the road.

What are the biggest QB injuries in Week 8?

Ahead of Week 7, Justin Fields (thumb), Jimmy Garoppolo (back), and Daniel Jones (neck) weren't healthy enough to suit up with injuries that could potentially sideline them in Week 8. While Fields is progressing from thumb dislocation, backup Tyson Bagent (@ Chargers) likely makes his second straight start in Week 8. 

However, Garoppolo (@ Lions) is trending toward returning on Monday night in Detroit. We'll see if Jones can log at least a limited session in practice this week, potentially leading to his return against the Jets. We also expect Tannehill (ankle) to miss Week 8, putting Will Levis in line to make his first career start.

Regarding in-game injuries, Deshaun Watson exited the first half after suffering a head injury and re-aggravating his shoulder. Watson didn't suffer a concussion and was cleared to return to game action, but head coach Kevin Stefanski opted to play P.J. Walker in his place. Watson's been ruled out of Sunday's road tilt in Seattle, with Walker set to start for the second time in three weeks.

Brock Purdy (head) did clear the league's concussion protocol ahead of Sunday afternoon's home tilt against the Bengals, as he's full go for Week 8

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

Fantasy QB Rankings Week 8: Who to start, sit at quarterback

These rankings are based on four-point passing TD scoring

Rank    Player
1    Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs @ Broncos
2    Lamar Jackson, Ravens @ Cardinals
3    Jalen Hurts, Eagles @ Commanders
4    Josh Allen, Bills vs. Buccaneers
5    Justin Herbert, Chargers vs. Bears
6    Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins vs. Patriots
7    Jared Goff, Lions vs. Raiders
8    C.J. Stroud, Texans @ Panthers
9    Kirk Cousins, Vikings @ Packers
10    Dak Prescott, Cowboys vs. Rams
11    Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars @ Steelers
12    Jordan Love, Packers vs. Vikings
13    Derek Carr, Saints @ Colts
14    Joe Burrow, Bengals @ 49ers
15    Kenny Pickett, Steelers vs. Jaguars
16    Matthew Stafford, Rams @ Cowboys
17    Geno Smith, Seahawks vs. Browns
18    Desmond Ridder, Falcons @ Titans
19    Sam Howell, Commanders vs. Eagles
20    Brock Purdy, 49ers vs. Bengals
21    Russell Wilson, Broncos vs. Chiefs
22    Gardner Minshew, Colts vs. Saints
23    Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers @ Bills
24    Josh Dobbs, Cardinals vs. Ravens
25    Mac Jones, Patriots @ Dolphins
26    Bryce Young, Panthers vs. Texans
27    Jimmy Garoppolo Raiders @ Lions
28    Zach Wilson, Jets @ Giants
29    Tyrod Taylor, Giants vs. Jets
30    Tyson Bagent, Bears @ Chargers
31    P.J. Walker, Browns @ Seahawks
32    Will Levis, Titans vs. Falcons
33    Malik Willis, Titans vs. Falcons

Week 8 QB 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 quarterbacks -- plus get access to all of Draft Sharks' industry-leading tools -- become a Draft Sharks' member today at the link below!

TRY DRAFT SHARKS FREE: Dominate with exclusive tools, including Free-Agent Finder & Trade Navigator!

Nick Musial

Nick Musial Photo

Nick Musial is a Content Producer at The Sporting News. He recently joined the team after studying sport management and journalism at the University of Kansas. Nick’s an avid sports bettor who’s always looking for value.