Fantasy Football Rankings & Tiers. Week 8
It is time to make those tough lineup decisions for Week 8, and Dwain has you covered with in-depth player tiers, rankings and analysis.
It is time to make those tough lineup decisions for Week 8 of the fantasy football season.
Below you’ll find positional rankings, player analysis, betting totals, and implied points for every game on the slate.
Find all of our positional rankings here.
Fantasy Football Rankings & Tiers – Week 8
Last updated: 11:30 am, Saturday, October 29th. Please refer to our Rankings page for updates!
Quarterback
| Tier 1 – Joe Burrow | Burrow is a top-three option in Week 8. | Tier 3 – Tua Tagovailoa | Tagovailoa moves into Tier 3 as the No. 6 QB for Week 8. | Smith has been a revelation this season, but his ranking falls outside of the top 12 this weekend. | Additional QB Notes & Movers: | Tier 4 – Jimmy Garoppolo | He is a low-end QB1 streaming option in Week 8. | Tier 5 – Justin Fields | Fields is a mid-range QB2 this week. | Running back | Tier 1 – Derrick Henry | Dontrell Hilliard | YTD | 66% | 78% | 37% | 12% | 26% | 76% | 83% | 5% | 17% | 18.3 |
|---|
The Titans are a run-heavy team, averaging the fifth-most attempts per game in non-overtime (28) and opponents average 30.5 attempts against Houston. This could be another 30-plus touch day for Tennessee’s lead RB.
Henry moves to No. 2 in the ranks for Week 8.
Tier 1 – Tony Pollard
The Cowboys expect Ezekiel Elliott (knee) to miss their Week 8 game against the Bears, opening up the door for an every-down workload for Pollard – who has the No. 3 PFF rushing grade (90.1) out of backs with at least 50 rushing attempts in 2022.
The Cowboys have the fifth-best team total on the slate and are the third-most favored team. Dallas runs the ball more than the NFL average in close (+4) and trailing game scripts (+6).
Teams run the ball 31.6 times per game in non-overtime play against the Bears – the most in the NFL. In regulation play, Chicago allows the third most yards (150) and TDs (1.4) on the ground.
Efficiency, utilization, game environment and matchup align for Pollard this weekend, making him a SMASH play as my RB4 overall.
Tier 2 – Joe Mixon
Mixon hasn’t been good in 2022. Out of backs with at least 50 attempts (42 qualifiers), he ranks among the league's worst in multiple efficiency measures, per PFF:
- Missed tackles forced per attempt: 0.09 (41st)
- Average yards after contact: 2.02 (42nd)
- Attempts of 10-plus yards: 6% (38th)
However, the utilization has been there. Mixon averages 73% of the snaps and 75% of the rushing attempts.
| YTD | 73% | 75% | 56% | 13% | 19% | 76% | 75% | 16% | 50% | 14.8 |
|---|
Despite his efficiency woes, this could be a week for Mixon to get right in a game where the Bengals offer a top-six team total. The veteran back has a great shot to score a rushing TD or two this weekend.
Mixon is a SMASH play as the RB11 this weekend.
Tier 3 – Raheem Mostert
Over the last four games, Mostert has taken control of the Dolphins backfield averaging 68% of snaps, 69% of rushing attempts and 59% route participation. In three out of four games, he has dominated the long-down-distance and two-minute opportunities.
| YTD | 61% | 58% | 52% | 7% | 12% | 59% | 17% | 46% | 64% | 10.3 |
|---|
The Dolphins have a great matchup against the Lions, who allow the most rushing yards (163) and TDs (2) per game in non-overtime play. This matchup offers the No. 1 game total on the slate, and Miami has the No. 2 team total.
Mostert is a great mid-range RB2 with upside and is a SMASH play in Week 8.
Tier 3 – D’Onta Foreman
Foreman worked behind Chuba Hubbard last weekend until an ankle injury opened the door in the fourth quarter. With Hubbard ruled out for Week 8, Foreman is in line for the lion's share of touches.
In a good offense, that would equate to a high-end RB2 or low-end RB1 rating, but in Carolina, all bets are off. However, volume is king at the RB position, and the Falcons are an average run defense.
If you don’t need Foreman, selling high remains a viable move, but his value should hold with Hubbard out if you need a spot start.
Foreman is a low-end RB2 for Week 8.
Tier 3 – Eno Benjamin
Benjamin has finishes of RB6, RB21 and RB23 without James Conner and Darrel Williams. Conner is out, and Williams (knee) is a game-time decision.
Benjamin has averaged 81% of snaps, 50% of rush attempts and 12% of targets over the three-game stretch, which is a solid RB-2 utilization profile.
The Vikings have the third-best PFF run defense grade (79.3), and the Cardinals won’t have their starting center, Rodney Hudson. If Williams is active, that also creates some uncertainty about Benjamin’s workload.
Benjamin is a low-end RB2 if Williams is active, but bumps up to mid-range RB2 status if Williams is out.
Tier 4 – Tyler Allgeier
Allgeier quietly expanded his workload in Week 7 with a season-high 62% of Atlanta’s rushing attempts. He also led the team in short-down-distance (SDD) work over the last three games, which correlates with touches near the goalline and TDs.
| Allgeier is a mid-range RB3 with RB2 upside. | Additional RB Notes & Movers: | Tier 3 – Travis Etienne | James Robinson | Etienne is a mid-range RB2. | Tier 3 – Devin Singletary | Singletary is a low-end RB2. | Tier 4 – Michael Carter | James Robinson | Wide Receiver | Tier 2 – DeAndre Hopkins | Marquise Brown | Hopkins is a low-end WR1. | Ja’Marr Chase | 68% | 20% | 17% | 11.0 | 24% | 10% | 15% | 23% | 12.6 |
|---|
he 2020 second-round pick is playing at a high level, ranking 11th in yards per route run (YPRR) and 13th in PFF receiving grade out of 51 WRs with 200 routes in 2022.
The Bengals could slightly alter their game plan with Chase out, but so far this season, they pass the ball more than any other team on plays when the score is within three points in non-overtime play.
Passing is this team's identity, and Joe Burrow is playing at an extremely high level, averaging 300 yards passing per game (second-most).
Higgins ranks as the No. 6 WR in Week 8 – five spots ahead of industry consensus.
Tier 2 – Chris Olave
Olave has a 26% target rate (TPRR) and has reached a 25%-plus target share in five out of six games – including one he didn’t finish. Of WRs with at least a 70% route participation, he ranks sixth in yards per route run (YPRR) at 2.46. The rookie’s early-career performance bodes well for his long-term prospects.
New Orleans plays a Las Vegas offense that scores at a high rate, converting the fifth-most drives into TDs (26%). Additionally, the Raiders allow the third-most points to pass catchers per game in non-overtime play (62.9). They rank 31st in passing EPA allowed (0.177) – only the Lions are worse.
All of these factors align to create the second-highest game total on the slate. The Saints carry a top-seven team total.
Olave is in one of those spots where everything is lining up in his favor, making him a SMASH play as a mid-range WR2.
Tier 3 – Brandon Aiyuk
Historically, Aiyuk has not been good against the Rams (or heavy zone teams), garnering only a 16% target rate (TPRR). However, the 49ers won’t have Deebo Samuel this weekend, and we could see an adjustment to Aiyuk’s route tree.
In games without Samuel over the last two years, Aiyuk has a 23% TPRR – which is a four-point percentage bump over his average.
Aiyuk is a mid-range WR2.
Tier 3 – Tyler Boyd
Boyd gets a bump with Ja’Marr Chase out for Week 8 against the Browns. From 2018 to 2020, the veteran WR was a 21% TPRR player averaging 14.3 fantasy points per game. He posted two top-18 finishes.
The Bengals pass the ball above the league average in close and trailing game scripts, and Joe Burrow is playing at a high level.
Those factors make Boyd a low-end WR2 option this weekend against Cleveland.
Tier 4 – Marquise Goodwin
Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf are both game-time decisions against the Giants in a late-kick game.
The 32-year-old WR isn’t a big target earner (16% TPRR), but he offers big-play upside and could see a slight bump in target share via schemed looks.
Goodwin is a high-end WR4.
Additional WR Notes & Movers:
- Tier 2 – Amon-Ra St. Brown matches up with the Dolphins in a game with the highest total on the week. Miami uses man coverage the third-most (43%), and ARSB has a 38% target rate (TPRR) against man looks. Miami allows the sixth-most yards through the air in non-overtime play, and the Sun God should lead the way for the Lions. He is a low-end WR1.
- Tier 2 – Tyler Lockett (hamstring/ribs) was limited in practice on Friday and is officially a game-time decision. Lockett still belongs in most starting lineups if active, but he falls nine spots in the ranks to WR22. Think of him as a boom-bust WR3 option and adjust accordingly.
- Tier 3 – DeVonta Smith is having a great second season with a 25% target share and four top-25 finishes in six games. The Eagles have the third-best team total and matchup against a Steelers defense, allowing the fifth-most receiving yards per game in non-overtime play (273). Smith is a low-end WR2 with WR1 upside.
- Tier 3 – Brandin Cooks is not playing as bad as his 10.4 points per game suggest. He has a 23% target share, averaging 7.5 targets per game. Those are WR3-worthy numbers, and the Texans get a JUICY matchup against a Titans defense, allowing the second-most points to pass catchers in non-overtime play at 68.3. Start Cooks with confidence this weekend as a high-end WR3.
- Tier 4 – Adam Thielen is a distant second (20% target share) option behind Justin Jefferson. Still, the Vikings and Cardinals have shootout potential with the third-best game total. Arizona has the third-worst pass coverage grade at PFF (49.7). Consider Thielen a mid-range WR3 with TD upside.
- Tier 4 – Wan’Dale Robinson expanded his route participation to 81% last weekend and has a 27% target rate (TPRR) on the season. The rookie is your undisputed leader in the Giants' passing game, and the Seahawks have the sixth-worst PFF pass coverage grade (57.0). Robinson is a low-end WR3 option in PPR formats.
Tight end
| Tier 1 – Mark Andrews | George Kittle | Zach Ertz. | Tier 1 – George Kittle | YTD | 67% | 19% | 15% | 7.0 | 13% | 50% | 11% | 29% | 11.8 |
|---|
- Kittle is showing signs of life over the last two games, with 16.3 and 21.8 fantasy points.
- Over the last 10 games without Samuel, Kittle has a 28% target rate. For reference, the average top-3 TE had a 23% target rate over the last 10 years.
- He has a 26% target rate against the Rams in their last five matchups. Los Angeles plays the most zone coverage in the NFL (85%), and Kittle's target rate is 28% against zone over the last four seasons vs. 22% against man.
Kittle is the No. 1 TE and is in a SMASH spot.
Tier 2 – Robert Tonyan
Tonyan hasn’t reached the 80% route participation we love to see from tight ends, but he is hovering just below that over the last two games.
| YTD | 60% | 22% | 15% | 4.8 | 11% | 25% | 17% | 19% | 8.7 |
|---|
The Packers are short on weapons, and the veteran’s 22% target rate (TPRR) is higher than Allen Lazard (20%) or Romeo Doubs (19%). Tonyan is in the mix to lead the Packers in targets on any given weekend – especially if his route participation takes another step forward.
The Bills' have a top-eight coverage unit according to PFF grades (71.5), but they run zone the sixth-most (74%). Heavy zone coverage can lead to more tight-end targets, which we have seen with Tonyan this season. Against zone coverage, Tonyan has the No. 1 target rate on the team at 30%.
The Packers have one of the worst team totals on the slate, which keeps Tonyan outside of the top 10. However, he is a viable option on this slate.
Tonyan is a sneaky low-end TE1 option.
Additional TE Notes & Movers:
- Tier 4 – Cade Otton will start for the Buccaneers on Thursday night, with Cameron Brate ruled out. The rookie has finishes of TE13 and TE10 in his two starts, so he is a viable streaming option as a high-end TE2 with upside.
- Tier 5 – Harrison Bryant will take over the starting tight end role with David Njoku sidelined. The Browns operate a TE-friendly offense with plenty of play-action looks. Bryant is a mid-range TE2 with upside.