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
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
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
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
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