Week 8 Fantasy WR Rankings: Must-starts, sleepers, potential busts at wide receiver

Matt Lutovsky

Week 8 Fantasy WR Rankings: Must-starts, sleepers, potential busts at wide receiver image

Week 8 was by far the toughest week yet to put together our fantasy WR rankings. The byes aren't terrible (Washington, Jaguars, Cardinals, Texans), though they still take away some some legit studs (DeAndre Hopkins, Terry McClaurin) and solid depth options (DJ Chark, Will Fuller, Christian Kirk, Keelan Cole, Brandin Cooks), but the injuries are starting to mount again (Michael Thomas, Odell Beckham Jr., Jamison Crowder, Emmanuel Sanders, Deebo Samuel, Chris Godwin, Diontae Johnson). Just as bad, the matchups are terrible for a lot of big-name and mid-tier wide receivers, which will cause all sorts headaches when making start 'em, sit 'em decisions. 

Some receivers are matchup-proof, so we're not too worried about Calvin Ridley and Julio Jones against the Panthers, Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson against the Packers, or Stefon Diggs against the Patriots, but they're still a little lower than where they usually are. DeVante Parker (vs. Rams) is also moving down, and it's fair to wonder if he should be started at all given the matchup against Jalen Ramsey, the groin injury he suffered before Miami's bye, and the fact he'll be playing with a new quarterback. We still have him in our starter's tier, but he's far from a sure thing. The same is true for Darius Slayton (vs. Buccaneers), who's now dealing with increased competition for targets from Sterling Shepard. 

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

The Steelers talented trio of Diontae Johnson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Chase Claypool are in tough spots against the Ravens, especially since you never know who's going to get the majority of targets, but Johnson is certainly worth starting if he's healthy and Claypool always has boom-or-bust appeal in standard leagues. Smith-Schuster is the toughest one to evaluate and might be left on some benches this week, but his 14 targets last week are obviously a good sign. Whoever starts for the Saints this week, be it Thomas, Sanders, Tre'Quan Smith, or Marquez Callaway, will also be tough to trust against the Bears.  

WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS: 
Quarterback | Running back | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Of course, when some players move down, others move up. The Panthers duo of Robby Anderson and D.J. Moore are must-starts against the Falcons, while fringe-starters like Travis Fulgham (vs. Cowboys), Brandon Aiyuk (@ Seahawks), Tee Higgins (vs. Titans), T.Y. Hilton (@ Lions), Jarvis Landry (vs. Raiders), and Nelson Agholor (@ Browns) look good in their respective matchups. 

WEEK 8 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel

Going a little deeper, guys like Marquez Valdes-Scantling (vs. Vikings), Kendrick Bourne (@ Seahawks), Zach Pascal (@ Lions), Henry Ruggs III and Hunter Renfrow (@ Browns), Curtis Samuel (vs. Falcons), Greg Ward Jr. (vs. Cowboys), Rashard Higgins (vs. Raiders), A.J. Green (vs. Titans), and Darnell Mooney (vs. Saints) are all in play as boom-or-bust sleepers. 

WEEK 8 DFS CASH LINEUPS: DraftKingsFanDuel

Ultimately, there are a lot of interesting options at WR this week. Many owners will feel obligated to use their "normal starters" even if they're in tough matchups. That's fine for the top receivers, but don't be nervous about looking elsewhere and playing the matchups with your WR3.

MORE WEEK 8 DFS: Best stacks | Best valuesLineup Builder

Note: Check back all week leading up to kickoff, as we'll continue to update our WR rankings based on the latest news and injuries. 

Week 8 Fantasy WR Rankings (Standard)

These rankings are for non-PPR leagues.

WEEK 8 FANTASY: SleepersBustsStart 'em, sit 'em

Rank Player
1 Davante Adams, GB vs. MIN
2 Tyreek Hill, KC vs. NYJ
3 Allen Robinson, CHI vs. NO
4 Robby Anderson, CAR vs. ATL
5 Keenan Allen, LAC @ DEN
6 Amari Cooper, DAL @ PHI
7 Tyler Boyd, CIN vs. TEN
8 DK Metcalf, SEA vs. SF
9 A.J. Brown, TEN @ CIN
10 Adam Thielen, MIN @ GB
11 D.J. Moore, CAR vs. ATL
12 Julio Jones, ATL @ CAR
13 Calvin Ridley, ATL @ CAR
14 Kenny Golladay, DET vs. IND
15 Tyler Lockett, SEA vs. SF
16 Mike Evans, TB @ NYG
17 Marquise Brown, BAL vs. PIT
18 Stefon Diggs, BUF vs. NE
19 Diontae Johnson, PIT @ BAL
20 Travis Fulgham, PHI vs. DAL
21 Brandon Aiyuk, SF @ SEA
22 Cooper Kupp, LAR @ MIA
23 Tee Higgins, CIN vs. TEN
24 Robert Woods, LAR @ MIA
25 CeeDee Lamb, DAL @ PHI
26 Justin Jefferson, MIN @ GB
27 T.Y. Hilton, IND @ DET
28 Tim Patrick, DEN vs. LAC
29 Cole Beasley, BUF vs. NE
30 Jarvis Landry, CLE vs. LV
31 Tre'Quan Smith, NO @ CHI
32 Nelson Agholor, LV @ CLE
33 DeVante Parker, MIA vs. LAR
34 JuJu Smith-Schuster, PIT @ BAL
35 Mike Williams, LAC @ DEN
36 Darius Slayton, NYG vs. TB
37 Henry Ruggs III, LV @ CLE
38 Greg Ward Jr., PHI vs. DAL
39 Rashard Higgins, CLE vs. LV
40 Kendrick Bourne, SF @ SEA
41 A.J. Green, CIN vs. TEN
42 Chase Claypool, PIT @ BAL
43 Sterling Shepard, NYG vs. TB
44 Darnell Mooney, CHI vs. NO
45 Damiere Byrd, NE @ BUF
46 Deonte Harris, NO @ CHI
47 Jerry Jeudy, DEN vs. LAC
48 Denzel Mims, NYJ @ KC
49 Michael Gallup, DAL @ PHI
50 Preston Williams, MIA vs. LAR
51 Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB vs. MIN
52 Mecole Hardman, KC vs. NYJ
53 Corey Davis, TEN @ CIN
54 Scotty Miller, TB @ NYG
55 Demarcus Robinson, KC vs. NYJ
56 John Brown, BUF @ NE
57 Jakobi Meyers, NE @ BUF
58 Zach Pascal, IND @ DET
59 Hunter Renfrow, LV @ CLE
60 Marvin Jones, DET vs. IND
61 Josh Reynolds, LAR @ MIA
62 Curtis Samuel, CAR vs. ATL
63 Anthony Miller, CHI vs. NO
64 Braxton Berrios, NYJ @ KC
65 Russell Gage, ATL @ CAR
66 Golden Tate, NYG vs. TB
67 Jeff Smith, NYJ @ KC
68 Tyler Johnson, TB @ NYG
69 Jalen Guyton, LAC @ DEN
70 Adam Humphries, TEN @ CIN
71 David Moore, SEA vs. SF
72 James Washington, PIT @ BAL
73 Danny Amendola, DET vs. IND
74 Isaiah Ford, MIA vs. LAR
75 Gabriel Davis, BUF vs. NE
76 Miles Boykin, BAL vs. PIT

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.