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

Matt Lutovsky

Fantasy TE PPR Rankings Week 8: Who to start, sit at tight end in fantasy football image

If you're a Travis Kelce owner, welcome to our Week 8 fantasy TE PPR rankings. This is probably the first time you've bothered to look at weekly tight end rankings because, let's face it, you haven't needed to. Sleepers and waiver-wire streamers are a foreign concept to you. You simply slot Kelce into your lineup, collect your 15-plus PPR points, and move on with your life every week. Must be nice. 

Well, with Kelce (and Gerald Everett) on bye this week, you're going to have to get into the mud with (most) of the rest of us. Fortunately, this is a good week to be without Kelce, as there are several top-flight, widely available streamers with great matchups who can fill in admirably for your superstar. 

Daniel Bellinger (@ Seahawks), if active after his eye injury, and Irv Smith Jr. (vs. Cardinals) are facing two of the three worst TE defenses in the NFL and should be in line for nice games. Smith Jr. gets a few more targets per game, so he has a slightly higher floor in PPR leagues, but Bellinger's matchup is slightly better. Either way, both could put up TE1-caliber numbers. Juwan Johnson (vs. Raiders), who scored twice in a matchup against the Cardinals last week, has a top-three matchup and is once again a top streaming option, too.

WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | D/STs | Kickers

While those are the best Kelce or Everett fill-ins, there are several other decent streaming options if you just don't like your regular starter. Will Dissly (vs. Giants), Tyler Conklin (vs. Patriots), Logan Thomas (@ Colts), if he returns from his calf injury, and Cade Otton (vs. Ravens) also have favorable matchups. Otton is the safest bet for targets and has the highest floor in PPR leagues, but all of these TEs are in good spots this week.

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

Some of the tight ends to be wary of this week are Pat Freiermuth (@ Eagles), Dawson Knox (vs. Packers), Robert Tonyan (@ Bills), Evan Engram (vs. Broncos), and Dalton Schultz (vs. Bears). Freiermuth, Knox, and Tonyan have especially brutal matchups, and while they've proven they can post decent numbers against anyone, they're far from consistent, even in PPR leagues. Tyler Higbee (vs. 49ers) and Kyle Pitts (vs. Panthers) also have tough matchups against defenses in the bottom 10 in fantasy points per game allowed to TEs, but they usually have decent PPR floors because of their steady targets. Pitts has dropped quite a bit in our rankings, so consider him a risk either way.

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

Similarly, Hayden Hurst (@ Browns) has a solid PPR floor despite a mediocre matchup. Mike Gesicki (@ Lions) and Hunter Henry (@ Jets) are the types of inconsistent, lower-target TEs we're leerier of, but they do have decent touchdown potential. 

WEEK 8 DFS LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel

You could also try Foster Moreau (@ Saints) if Darren Waller (hamstring) is out again, as he should once again get a decent amount of targets. However, the tough matchup will keep his ceiling low. Waller is still a must-start if active, but he'll carry more risk than usual. The same is true for Harrison Bryant (vs. Bengals) and David Njoku (ankle). Njoku has become a must-start this year, but if he can't go, Bryant should fill in admirably.

WEEK 8 DFS: Best values | Best stacks

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

Week 8 fantasy TE PPR rankings

Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring

Rank    Player
1    Mark Andrews, Ravens @ Buccaneers
2    Zach Ertz, Cardinals @ Vikings
3    Dallas Goedert, Eagles vs. Steelers
4    George Kittle, 49ers @ Rams
5    Darren Waller, Raiders @ Saints
6    Tyler Higbee, Rams vs. 49ers
7    T.J. Hockenson, Lions vs. Dolphins
8    Irv Smith Jr., Vikings vs. Cardinals
9    Juwan Johnson, Saints vs. Raiders
10    Taysom Hill, Saints vs. Raiders
11    Hayden Hurst, Bengals @ Browns
12    Kyle Pitts, Falcons vs. Panthers
13    Greg Dulcich, Broncos vs. Jaguars
14    Cade Otton, Buccaneers vs. Ravens
15    Mike Gesicki, Dolphins @ Lions
16    Harrison Bryant, Browns vs. Bengals
17    Pat Freiermuth, Steelers @ Eagles
18    Hunter Henry, Patriots @ Jets
19    Logan Thomas, Commanders @ Colts
20    Dawson Knox, Bills vs. Packers
21    Dalton Schultz, Cowboys vs. Bears
22    Tyler Conklin, Jets vs. Patriots
23    Evan Engram, Jaguars vs. Broncos
24    Will Dissly, Seahawks vs. Giants
25    Robert Tonyan, Packers @ Bills
26    Noah Fant, Seahawks vs. Giants
27    Tanner Hudson, Giants @ Seahawks
28    Kylen Granson, Colts vs. Commanders
29    Cole Kmet, Bears @ Cowboys

Week 8 TE PPR fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks

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!

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

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.