Week 8 fantasy football rankings highlight key start-sit decisions as managers navigate matchups and emerging sleepers. While elite receivers like Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba and CeeDee Lamb anchor many lineups, others must target rookies such as Omar Cooper Jr., who has posted back-to-back 100-yard games since returning from injured reserve, KC Concepcion, coming off an eight-catch, 129-yard performance, and Caleb Douglas, who found the end zone twice last Sunday. Defensive context remains critical: the Buffalo Bills allow the most fantasy points to wide receivers, while the Seattle Seahawks allow the fewest. In Week 8, the Bills host the Baltimore Ravens with quarterback Lamar Jackson returning from an ankle injury, and the Seahawks host the Chicago Bears.
A proven computer model that simulates every NFL game 10,000 times has outperformed human experts over several seasons, particularly when rankings diverge significantly. The model has a track record of identifying breakout players including A.J. Brown, Jonathan Taylor, Derrick Henry, Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara and Jahmyr Gibbs. Its projections for the 2026 NFL season's Week 8 are now available.
One notable projection: the model is lower on running back Quinshon Judkins despite his average of 83.3 total yards and three touchdowns over his last three games. Judkins faces a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that surrenders the seventh-fewest rushing yards per game and has not allowed a touchdown to a running back in three weeks, holding Jonathan Taylor and Bucky Irving under 50 rushing yards each. Judkins has averaged just 44.5 rushing yards in two career games against the Steelers and falls outside the top 25 at his position this week.
Conversely, the model elevates Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange, currently ranked TE20 overall. Strange has averaged 6.3 catches for 69 yards over his last three games compared to 2.3 catches for 24 yards in his first three. The Jaguars face the Indianapolis Colts, a defense that has allowed five touchdowns to tight ends over the past six games — only four teams have allowed more. Strange is projected for 48 receiving yards and ranks as the TE7, ahead of Travis Kelce and Sam LaPorta.
The model also identifies a surprising wide receiver projected to finish in the top 20 despite being started in fewer than half of leagues last week, a potential difference-maker. Complete Week 8 rankings for both PPR and standard formats are available for reference.
