Fantasy football live rankings Week 8: Latest injury news, updates impacting start-sit decisions today

By | October 28, 2023

The Bills and Buccaneers mostly spread the scoring around on Thursday, but with most key fantasy football contributors having good games, there are more than a few teams staring at some noticeable deficits heading into Week 8’s Sunday action.

Fortunately, there are no byes this week. Unfortunately, there are a lot of big injuries affecting start ’em, sit ’em decisions. Justin Fields, Daniel Jones, Deshaun Watson, Ryan Tannehill, David Montgomery, Deebo Samuel, Robert Woods, and Zay Jones have already been ruled OUT, and Trevor Lawrence, Brock Purdy, Zack Moss, Raheem Mostert, Jerome Ford, Tyler Lockett, Michael Thomas, Curtis Samuel, Joshua Palmer, Darren Waller, Taysom Hill, Luke Musgrave, and Gerald Everett are all “questionable.”

We’ll be here to help all morning, reacting to injury news, monitoring the active/inactive lists for any surprises, watching the weather, and providing start ’em, sit ’em advice based on all the latest developments. 

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Fantasy football live news for NFL Week 8

Live updates will begin at 9 a.m. ET.

Injury updates for NFL Week 8

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported late Saturday night that Indianapolis’ Zack Moss (heel) will test out his foot in pre-game warmups to determine if he can play against the Saints.

WEEK 8 INJURY UPDATES:
QBs | RBs | WRs/TEs | Josh Palmer

Weather updates for NFL Week 8

For a full breakdown of all of the Week 8 weather worries, click here

We’re going to have some cold, rain, wind, and maybe even a little snow this week, but the bottom line is weather shouldn’t affect many of your start ’em, sit ’em decisions. The windiest game will likely be Patriots-Dolphins, where gusts will be up to 25 mph. The wettest game will likely be in New York for Jets-Giants, where there’s a 90-percent chance of rain but low winds. Jaguars-Steelers and Falcons-Titans will also likely see some showers. It will be somewhat rainy and cold for the Vikings-Packers, but there won’t be much wind, and there’s a low chance of snow and temps below 30 degrees for Chiefs-Broncos. You shouldn’t force any kickers or secondary receiving options for the rainy and windy games, but unless the forecasts worsen closer to kickoff, most normal starters should remain in your lineups.

Who should I start in fantasy football today?

Advice based on 12-team, half-point PPR leagues

The recommendations below are from Vinnie Iyer’s Week 8 start ’em, sit ’em column.

Must-starts

QB: Lamar Jackson, Ravens (at ARI), Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (at DEN), Jalen Hurts, Eagles (at WAS), Justin Herbert, Chargers (vs. CHI), Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins (vs. NE), Josh Allen, Bills (vs. TB), Joe Burrow, Bengals (at SF)

RB: Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (vs. CIN), Travis Etienne, Jaguars (vs. PIT), Austin Ekeler, Chargers (vs. CHI), Alvin Kamara, Saints (at IND), Tony Pollard, Cowboys (vs. LAR), Raheem Mostert, Dolphins (vs. NE), Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (at BAL), Breece Hall, Jets (at NYG), D’Andre Swift, Eagles (at WAS), Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs (vs. LAC), Saquon Barkley, Giants (vs. NYJ), Bijan Robinson, Falcons (at TEN), Jonathan Taylor, Colts (vs. NO), Derrick Henry, Titans (vs. ATL), Aaron Jones, Packers (vs. MIN), Kenneth Walker, Seahawks (vs. CLE), Josh Jacobs, Raiders (at DET), Alexander Mattison, Vikings (at GB)

WR: Tyreek Hill, Dolphins (vs. NE), A.J. Brown, Eagles (vs. WAS), Stefon Diggs, Bills (vs. TB), Keenan Allen, Chargers (vs. CHI), Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals (at SF), Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (vs. LV), Cooper Kupp, Rams (at DAL), CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (vs. LAR), Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers (vs. CIN), Davante Adams, Raiders (at DET), Puka Nacua, Rams (at DAL), Adam Thielen, Panthers (vs. HOU), Chris Olave, Saints (at IND), Zay Flowers, Ravens (at ARI), Christian Kirk, Jaguars (vs. PIT), DeVonta Smith, Eagles (at WAS), DJ Moore, Bears (at LAC), Mike Evans, Buccaneers (at BUF), Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (vs. NE), Garrett Wilson, Jets (at NYG), Nico Collins, Texans (at CAR), Jakobi Meyers, Raiders (at DET), Terry McLaurin, Commanders (vs. PHI), Calvin Ridley, Jaguars (at PIT), DK Metcalf, Seahawks (vs. CLE), Jordan Addison, Vikings (vs. GB), Josh Downs, Colts (vs. NO), Courtland Sutton, Broncos (vs. KC)

TE: Travis Kelce, Chiefs (at DEN), Mark Andrews, Ravens (at ARI), T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (at GB), George Kittle, 49ers (vs. CIN), Sam LaPorta, Lions (vs. LV), Darren Waller, Giants (vs. NYJ), Dallas Goedert, Eagles (at WAS), Kyle Pitts, Falcons (at TEN), Evan Engram, Jaguars (at NO)

D/ST: Eagles (at WAS), Ravens (at ARI), Jets (at NYG), Bills (vs. TB), Cowboys (vs. LAR), Chiefs (at. DEN), Jaguars (at PIT), Browns (at SEA)

Smart sits

QB: Sam Howell (vs. PHI), Matthew Stafford (@ DAL), Gardner Minshew (vs. NO), Russell Wilson (vs. KC), Geno Smith (vs. CLE)

RB: Brian Robinson Jr. (vs. PHI), Kareem Hunt (@ SEA), Darrell Henderson Jr. (@ DAL), Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren (vs. JAX), Zack Moss (vs. NO), Emari Demercado (vs. BAL)

WR: Tyler Lockett (vs. CLE), Tank Dell (@ CAR), Rashee Rice (@ DEN), Jerry Jeudy (vs. KC), Michael Thomas (@ IND), DeAndre Hopkins (vs. ATL), Kendrick Bourne (@ MIA)

TE: Jonnu Smith (@ TEN), David Njoku (@ SEA), Tyler Higbee (@ DAL), Cole Kmet (vs. MIN), Hunter Henry (@ MIA)

D/ST: Giants (vs. NYJ), Texans (@ CAR), Steelers (vs. JAX), Packers (vs. MIN)

Read more coverage from Sporting News’ team of fantasy football experts, including Week 8 rankings for PPR and standard formats, sleepers, busts, DFS picks, and other projections below.

WEEK 8 FANTASY ADVICE: Sleepers | Busts

WEEK 8 DFS: DK lineup | FD lineup | Best values | Best stacks

WEEK 8 TOOLS: RotoBaller “Who To Start?” tool | Draft Sharks’ Week 8 projections

Fantasy football rankings Week 8

Below are Sporting News’ updated fantasy football rankings for Week 8. Rankings based on full-point PPR scoring.

Quarterback

Rank    Player
1    Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs @ Broncos
2    Lamar Jackson, Ravens @ Cardinals
3    Jalen Hurts, Eagles @ Commanders
4    Josh Allen, Bills vs. Buccaneers
5    Justin Herbert, Chargers vs. Bears
6    Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins vs. Patriots
7    Jared Goff, Lions vs. Raiders
8    C.J. Stroud, Texans @ Panthers
9    Kirk Cousins, Vikings @ Packers
10    Dak Prescott, Cowboys vs. Rams

Click here for more QBs

Running back

Rank    Player
1    Christian McCaffrey, 49ers vs. Bengals
2    Austin Ekeler, Chargers vs. Bears
3    Raheem Mostert, Dolphins vs. Patriots
4    Travis Etienne, Jaguars @ Steelers
5    Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs @ Broncos
6    Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks vs. Browns
7    Tony Pollard, Cowboys vs. Rams
8    Breece Hall, Jets @ Giants
9    D’Andre Swift, Eagles @ Commanders
10    Aaron Jones, Packers vs. Vikings
11    Alvin Kamara, Saints @ Colts
12    Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions vs. Raiders
13    Josh Jacobs, Raiders @ Lions
14    Saquon Barkley, Giants vs. Jets
15    Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots @ Dolphins
16    Derrick Henry, Titans vs. Falcons
17    Gus Edwards, Ravens @ Cardinals
18    D’Onta Foreman, Bears @ Chargers
19    Dameon Pierce, Texans @ Panthers
20    James Cook, Bills vs. Buccaneers

Click here for more RBs

Wide receiver

Rank    Player
1    Tyreek Hill, Dolphins vs. Patriots
2    Stefon Diggs, Bills vs. Buccaneers
3    A.J. Brown, Eagles @ Commanders
4    Cooper Kupp, Rams @ Cowboys
5    Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals @ 49ers
6    Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions vs. Raiders
7    Keenan Allen, Chargers vs. Bears
8    Davante Adams, Raiders @ Lions
9    Adam Thielen, Panthers vs. Texans
10    CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys vs. Rams
11    Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers vs. Bengals
12    DJ Moore, Bears @ Chargers
13    Puka Nacua, Rams @ Cowboys
14    Garrett Wilson, Jets @ Giants
15    Chris Olave, Saints @ Colts
16    Mike Evans, Buccaneers @ Bills
17    Michael Pittman Jr., Colts vs. Saints
18    Jakobi Meyers, Raiders @ Lions
19    Zay Flowers, Ravens @ Cardinals
20    Christian Kirk, Jaguars @ Steelers
21    George Pickens, Steelers vs. Jaguars
22    DK Metcalf, Seahawks vs. Browns
23    Jordan Addison, Vikings @ Packers
24    Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins vs. Patriots
25    Marquise Brown, Cardinals vs. Ravens

Click here for more WRs

Tight end

Rank    Player
1    Travis Kelce, Chiefs @ Broncos
2    Sam LaPorta, Lions vs. Raiders
3    T.J. Hockenson, Vikings @ Packers
4    Darren Waller, Giants vs. Jets
5    Mark Andrews, Ravens @ Cardinals
6    Evan Engram, Jaguars @ Steelers
7    George Kittle, 49ers vs. Bengals
8    Dallas Goedert, Eagles @ Commanders
9    Jake Ferguson, Cowboys vs. Rams
10    Logan Thomas, Commanders vs. Eagles

Click here for more TEs

Defense/Special teams

Rank    Player
1    New York Jets @ Giants
2    Detroit Lions vs. Raiders
3    Buffalo Bills vs. Buccaneers 
4    San Francisco 49ers vs. Bengals
5    Baltimore Ravens @ Cardinals
6    New Orleans Saints @ Colts
7    Seattle Seahawks vs. Browns
8    Cleveland Browns @ Seahawks
9    Philadelphia Eagles @ Commanders
10    Dallas Cowboys vs. Rams

Click here for more D/STs

WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS:
RBs | WRs | TEs | Kickers

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