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 | WRs | D/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
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