SportsLine's computer model has released its Week 8 fantasy football rankings for the 2026 NFL season, simulating every game 10,000 times to generate projections. The model has outperformed human experts over several past seasons, particularly when its rankings diverged significantly from consensus.
Wide Receiver Landscape
With four teams on bye weeks and injuries affecting players like Ja'Marr Chase (ankle), fantasy managers are evaluating options beyond elite receivers such as Puka Nacua, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and CeeDee Lamb. Rookies Omar Cooper Jr., KC Concepcion, and Caleb Douglas have drawn attention: Cooper has posted back-to-back 100-yard games since returning from injured reserve, Concepcion recorded eight catches for 129 yards in his last outing, and Douglas scored two touchdowns last Sunday. Matchup analysis shows the Buffalo Bills allow the most fantasy points to receivers while the Seattle Seahawks allow the fewest. Buffalo hosts Baltimore with Lamar Jackson (ankle) trending toward a return, while Seattle hosts Chicago.
Running Back and Tight End Projections
The model projects a downturn for Cleveland Browns 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 yields the seventh-fewest rushing yards per game, has not allowed a touchdown to a running back in three weeks, and held Jonathan Taylor and Bucky Irving under 50 rushing yards each during that span. Judkins has averaged 44.5 rushing yards in two career games against Pittsburgh and falls outside the model's top 25 at the position this week.
Conversely, the model elevates Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Brenton Strange to TE7 despite a season ranking of TE20. 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, who have allowed five touchdowns to tight ends over the past six games, the fourth-most in the league. Strange is projected for 48 receiving yards and ranks above Travis Kelce and Sam LaPorta in this week's projections.
The model also identifies a wide receiver started in fewer than half of leagues last week who is projected to finish inside the top 20 for Week 8.
