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Analytically backed play calling changes have raised the play of both Aaron Rodgers and Kirk Cousins. As long as it holds, the QB1 realm is theirs to keep. Rodgers set the Raiders defense ablaze last week and Deshaun Watson’s been chopping firewood ever since. Jacoby Brissett’s upcoming schedule (DEN, at PIT, MIA, JAX) will keep him producing at a QB1 level for the foreseeable future. Things should only get worse for Baker Mayfield as he travels to Foxborough for a date with the Patriots.
Week 8 Byes: The Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys.
Week 8 Quarterback Rankings
| Rank | Quarterback | Team | Opponent | High Floor/High Ceiling QB1s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Quarterback | Team | Opponent | High Floor/High Ceiling QB1s |
| 1 | Deshaun Watson | HOU | OAK | Watson's up and down season continues. Fortunately he's scheduled for an upswing in Week 8, facing a Raiders defense that Aaron Rodgers just set on fire. |
| 2 | Aaron Rodgers | GB | at KC | Per Sharp Football Stats (link below), Rodgers attempted more passes on 1st down than he did on 2nd and 3rd combined. That's a recipe for success. If that keeps up, we'll be looking at vintage Aaron Rodgers in this cake walk of a matchup. |
| 3 | Tom Brady | NE | CLE | Greedy Williams and Denzel Ward should be back this week but it likely won't matter. Brady can carve this defense up, no matter the personnel, given how many opportunities the Browns' offense will give them. |
| 4 | Josh Allen | BUF | PHI | The offense is firing on all cylinders, heading into the matchup with Philly's ever-giving secondary. |
| 5 | Matthew Stafford | DET | NYG | Stafford's had a similar boom/bust season to Deshaun Watson -- this week's matchup sets him up for serious boom. |
| 6 | Russell Wilson | SEA | at ATL | Every week, Wilson plays against the opposing defense and Pete Carroll offensive system. A date with Atlanta's unbelievably bad defense can cure anything though. |
| 7 | Jared Goff | LAR | CIN | Cincy's defense is the quickest way to a Top 12 finish. |
| 8 | Jacoby Brissett | IND | DEN | Brissett's on fire and he's got another solid matchup on tap. |
| 9 | Kirk Cousins | MIN | WAS | A change in play calling has paid dividends over the last two weeks, resulting in triumphant wins over NFC foes, Philadelphia and Detroit. Even if Adam Thielen can't go, Cousins should have a solid outing against the hapless Washington Football Team. |
| 10 | Kyler Murray | ARI | at NO | Murray faltered last week and New Orleans' defense is the real deal. However, Superdome games are oftentimes high scoring affairs. He should be forced to throw to keep pace with the Saints' offense. |
| 11 | Carson Wentz | PHI | at BUF | Very tough matchup but he should remain on the QB1/2 fringe. |
| Volatile QB1 | ||||
| 12 | Drew Brees | NO | ARI | It's tough to say what Brees will bring against the Cards. It's a great matchup but he's risky. |
| High Floor/Capped Ceiling QB2s | ||||
| 13 | Sam Darnold | NYJ | at JAX | Huge boom spot for Darnold here. |
| 14 | Gardner Minshew II | JAX | NYJ | A solid matchup for Mr. Consistent. |
| 15 | Ryan Tannehill | TEN | TB | Tannehill looks like a much more effective game manager than Marcus Mariota. Expect the fantasy results of the pass catchers to somewhat stabilize. |
| 16 | Jameis Winston | TB | at TEN | Tough spot for Winston but his supporting cast keeps him in the mid-to-high QB2 conversation. |
| 17 | Philip Rivers | LAC | at CHI | The talent on this team buoys the win-total from plummeting to the level of the play calling. The analytics-less Chargers are stuck in the Stone Age. |
| 18 | Jimmy Garoppolo | SF | CAR | A mid-tier matchup for Jimmy G. |
| 19 | Mason Rudolph | PIT | MIA | A date with Miami is Rudolph's best chance to shine. |
| 20 | Baker Mayfield | CLE | at NE | This week's trip to Foxborough may spell the end of Freddie Kitchens' play calling duties. |
| 21 | Kyle Allen | CAR | at SF | The Niners defensive front is a stiff test for Allen. |
| 22 | Matt Moore | KC | GB | Despite a plethora of playmakers, we can't expect much. The GB pass defense has been staunch. |
| 23 | Mitchell Trubisky | CHI | LAC | The Chargers' pass defense was just had by Ryan Tannehill. |
| 24 | Matt Schaub | ATL | SEA | Schaub is buoyed by the talent around him but he's not a desirable play. |
| Low Floor/Capped Ceiling QB3s | ||||
| 25 | Andy Dalton | CIN | at LAR | This offense just can't keep it together. |
| 26 | Derek Carr | OAK | at HOU | With Tyrell Williams' dealing with plantar fascia, Carr is limited to peppering Darren Waller. Josh Jacobs need more passing game looks. |
| 27 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | MIA | at PIT | Fitzmagic is likely to be harrassed by TJ Watt all night long. How the schedule makers decided to put this game on MNF is beyond comprehension. |
| 28 | Daniel Jones | NYG | at DET | Jones could work his way into the QB2 range, given Detroit's injury-riddled defense. He's been playing downright poorly though so he remains a QB3 for now. |
| 29 | Joe Flacco | DEN | at IND | The Indy defense should keep Flacco near the bottom of the QB3 realm. |
| 30 | Case Keenum | WAS | at MIN | A brutal matchup for a very bad offense. |