Week 8 Fantasy Sleepers: Injuries to Alvin Kamara, Kerryon Johnson open door for Latavius Murray, Ty Johnson

Billy Heyen

Week 8 Fantasy Sleepers: Injuries to Alvin Kamara, Kerryon Johnson open door for Latavius Murray, Ty Johnson image

If you've visited our site this week, you've probably seen or read about Ty Johnson, and that doesn't change here in our Week 8 fantasy sleepers article. Kerryon Johnson has gone on IR, so Detroit will turn to the speedy rookie from Maryland, no relation, to head up its backfield. He's not the only rookie running back tout we have this week, either. Benny Snell Jr. could be on the "start 'em" side of start-or-sit decisions, too, depending on the status of James Conner. Even if Conner is active, a matchup with Miami could have enough fantasy points to go around for both backs. The same goes for Latavius Murray even if Alvin Kamara plays. 

The Dolphins theme continues further down the sleepers list. At quarterback, Mason Rudolph returns from concussion to play Miami in what could be his friendliest matchup of the season. He's joined as a QB sleeper by longtime Dolphins' quarterback Ryan Tannehill, who might be looking at a career revival in Tennessee. Former Dolphins' wideout Kenny Stills is also on our list, as he'll start in Houston with Will Fuller V out.

WEEK 8 NON-PPR RANKINGS
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

We evidently like the Titans' passing attack this week, because A.J. Brown joins Tannehill as a sleeper. Tight end is less exciting -- isn't it always? And any time you can stream a defense against a rookie QB (or Joe Flacco), you've got to do it.

Two of our major sleeper picks for Week 7, Tevin Coleman and Jimmy Garoppolo, were dealt an unfair hand by being forced to play in monsoon-like conditions. There was no fantasy goodness to be had in that game. We also whiffed on Daniel Jones, who is now continuing to look like a not-ready rookie QB. And Duke Williams let us down in a dream matchup against the Dolphins.

It wasn't all bad. Jamaal Williams came through with a score. Josh Allen had a solid game against the Dolphins. Marquez Valdes-Scantling caught a 75-yard touchdown to save his day. And both the Saints and Cardinals' D/STs had big days.

To see our Week 8 busts, click here.

Week 8 DFS Lineups: 
Y! Cash | Y! GPP | FD Cash | FD GPP | DK Cash | DK GPP

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Week 8 Fantasy Sleepers: Running backs

Benny Snell Jr., Steelers vs. Dolphins (Billy Heyen). I actually like Snell as a FLEX play even if James Conner (quad) plays because the winless Dolphins have proven to be susceptible to big games from starting RBs and their backups. If Conner is out, Snell should be starting in almost every fantasy league. (Update: Jaylen Samuels is expected to be active on Monday night, thus limiting Snell's value.)

David Montgomery, Bears vs. Chargers (Vinnie Iyer). They should want to run more this week in an overcorrection we’ve seen before, and the matchup is great.

Ty Johnson, Lions vs. Giants (Matt Lutovsky). With Kerryon Johnson (knee) on IR, Johnson will step up and see a bigger role as both a runner and receiver. The versatile rookie out of Maryland will share touches with J.D. McKissic, but given the fact he doubled him in carries (10 to five) and also saw one more target (four to three) in Week 7, expect Johnson to get around two-thirds of the touches. Against the Giants, who allow the fifth-most standard-league fantasy points per game (FPPG) to RBs, that should mean big things. 

Bonus: Latavius Murray, Saints vs. Cardinals (Lutovsky). Alvin Kamara (ankle, knee) might return this week (though with a Week 9 bye on deck, that would seem unnecessary). Even if he does, Murray is still a solid option against a Cardinals defense allowing 4.7 yards per carry. Murray was getting around 10 touches per contest in the two games prior to his Week 7 breakout, and he would likely be in line for a dozen or more even with an active Kamara. He can do damage in your FLEX spot with that much work. 

WEEK 8: Waiver wire | FAAB planner | Trade valuesSnap counts

Week 8  Fantasy Football Sleepers: Quarterbacks

Mason Rudolph, Steelers vs. Dolphins (Heyen). Nothing like a game against the Dolphins to return from injury to play. Rudolph lines up for his best game of the season in this one, and with Lamar Jackson and Dak Prescott on bye (and Matt Ryan hobbled), he can function as a good bye-week fill-in.

Josh Allen, Bills vs. Eagles (Iyer). Look for him to come through at home again like he did in Week 7 with more gritty running and tough passing vs. a vulnerable secondary.

Ryan Tannehill, Titans vs. Buccaneers (Lutovsky). Tannehill was solid in his 2019 starting debut, throwing for 312 yards and two TDs. It was only the third time this year a QB has thrown for over 200 yards against L.A. (Matthew Stafford and Deshaun Watson were the other two). The Bucs allow a league-high 304.5 passing yards per game, so Tannehill can produce big stats even if it comes with a few turnovers. 

WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end

Week 8 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Wide receivers

Kenny Stills, Texans vs. Raiders (Heyen). The Raiders just allowed five passing touchdowns to Green Bay, and Stills will step into Will Fuller V's role with the Texans' normal No. 2 WR out. Count on Stills to get in behind the defense once for a long touchdown.

DK Metcalf, Seahawks @ Falcons (Iyer). Atlanta gives up a ton of big pass plays to receivers of his ilk.

A.J. Brown, Titans vs. Buccaneers (Lutovsky). Corey Davis had the bigger game last week, posting 16 more yards and a touchdown, but Brown had one more target (8) and the same amount of catches (6). The big-play rookie is just as likely to go off as Davis against a Tampa defense allowing the third-most standard FPPG to WRs. 

MORE WEEK 8 DFS: Stacks | Values | Lineup Builder

Week 8 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Tight ends

Jared Cook/Josh Hill, Saints vs. Cardinals (Heyen). The Cardinals are vulnerable against tight ends, and you know that by now. Cook is the preferred option if he's healthy, but if he's not, Hill can replicate his 43 yards and a touchdown from Week 7.

Gerald Everett, Rams vs. Bengals in London (Iyer). He should stay hot as he gets more viable targets working off a strong running game.

Darren Fells, Texans vs. Raiders (Lutovsky). I mean, what are the odds Fells lets us down two weeks in a row? Oh, they’re high? Well, that sucks, but at this position, we’ll take our chances. Fells continues to be regularly involved in the Texans offense, and the Raiders allow even more standard FPPG per game (10.2) than the Colts did heading into last week.  

Week 8 Fantasy Sleepers: Defenses

Indianapolis Colts vs. Broncos (Heyen). If you didn't watch Denver's Thursday Night Football game against the Chiefs, trust me: The Broncos' offense was horrendous. An opening drive touchdown was followed by total ineptitude. Darius Leonard's return has energized Indy, and they should absolutely dominate this game.

New Orleans Saints (vs. Cardinals). They’re playing really well and can force some Kyler Murray turnovers at home.

Detroit Lions vs. Giants (Lutovsky).  In Daniel Jones’s five starts, the Giants have turned it over 16 times, including seven INTs. Detroit has 11 takeaways this year and should be able to force Jones into some mistakes in his third career road start. 

Billy Heyen