:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/70058816/1349013346.0.jpg)
Last week, having six NFL teams on a bye was unfortunate for yours truly—I managed to win only one of my three “important” fantasy football leagues. Thankfully, this week we are reduced to only the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders on bye, so no Lamar Jackson or Derek Carr. Other than that, it’s just injuries to decipher. You can find more information in the notes to follow.
I’m going out on a little limb with the Jalen Hurts love this week. I don’t feel like it’s a huge one. This is a great matchup for Hurts, and unlike Kyler Murray, we don’t have to worry about Hurts taking off to run. I love the ceiling for Hurts in Week 8.
Who are you loving or hating a bit more than normal?
QB Rankings for Week 8
| Rank | Player Name | Team | Opponent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Player Name | Team | Opponent | Notes |
| 1 | Josh Allen | BUF | vs MIA | The Dolphins have the 7th worst NY/A (7.3) and have allowed 15 TDs via the air (tied for 4th most). |
| 2 | Jalen Hurts | PHI | @ DET | This is a PREMIERE matchup via the air, where we know Hurts needs help. Detroit's 8.4 NY/A (2nd worst) and 15 scores allowed (4th worst) are super enticing. |
| 3 | Kyler Murray | ARI | vs GB | The Pack allow 4.9 Y/A on the ground, but have also allowed 14 passing scores (tied for 7th most). Murray's recent lack of running is concerning, though. |
| 4 | Patrick Mahomes | KC | vs NYG | He's in the midst of a string of tough performances, but the GMen know how to allow touchdowns via the air--14 so far. |
| 5 | Matthew Stafford | LAR | @ HOU | If the Texans weren't so easy to run on (12 scores, 4.7 Y/A) this would be a slam dunk. But this should be a one-sided affair, one that could limit Stafford's ceiling if LA leans into their ground game. |
| 6 | Tom Brady | TB | @ NO | He shredded the Bears last week (4 scores) and I'd rather have him on turf in a tough matchup than any of the guys after him. |
| 7 | Dak Prescott | DAL | @ MIN | MIN has quietly tightened up on pass D (only 6.1 NY/A, 7 TDs) but can be had on the ground (4.8 Y/A). That's bad, bad news versus Zeke and Pollard. |
| 8 | Ryan Tannehill | TEN | @ IND | He looked really sharp against a cheese KC defense last week, and IND has allowed 16 passing scores, 2nd most in NFL. Also bottom 10 in NY/A (7.2). |
| 9 | Kirk Cousins | MIN | vs DAL | He should have to air it out to keep pace with DAL. Solid QB1 play as a home underdog. |
| 10 | Joe Burrow | CIN | @ NYJ | He has as much floor as nearly anyone, tossing for at least two scores in every game this year. The Jets rank 28th in pass DVOA. |
| 11 | Justin Herbert | LAC | vs NE | He struggled against a worse BAL secondary last week, but he's still too good to not be in the QB1 conversation. |
| 12 | Aaron Rodgers | GB | @ ARI | The Cardinals are undefeated and he'll probably be without Davante Adams. Makes sense for GB to feature the run, as ARI is allowing 5.0 Y/A on the ground (2nd worst in NFL). |
| 13 | Carson Wentz | IND | vs TEN | He's been surprisingly stable, and despite TEN's strong showing against KC last week, it's still a defense to target. |
| 14 | Daniel Jones | NYG | @ KC | Chasing the Chiefs is a place you want your streaming QB option to be. Jones' rushing totals keep him in the mid-range QB2 convo despite inconsistencies via the air and turnover issues. |
| 15 | Teddy Bridgewater | DEN | vs WAS | Jerry Jeudy's return is a boost, Teddy has already been serviceable, and the WFT has been shredded via the air (league-leading 19 pass TDs allowed). |
| 16 | Matt Ryan | ATL | vs CAR | Don't fear the season-long numbers for the CAR pass D. They aren't as good as we thought, and Ryan is flying high with Kyle Pitts and Calvin Ridley reunited after Ridley's absence. |
| 17 | Jameis Winston | NO | vs TB | If you hold to the NFL being matchup-driven, then he has more upside than normal against TB's pass funnel of a defense. |
| 18 | Trevor Lawrence | JAC | @ SEA | He looks to be turning a corner and Seattle is a bottom 10 pass defense with a 7.0 NY/A. Still, don't go crazy with a rookie on the road to Seattle if you don't have to... |
| 19 | Sam Darnold | CAR | @ ATL | You can't feel great after he was benched last week, but PJ Walker was somehow worse--so Darnold gets another crack against a crummy Falcons defense. |
| 20 | Geno Smith | SEA | vs JAC | The Jags are the very best matchup by NY/A (8.5) but have surprisingly only allowed 9 scores so far. |
| 21 | Taylor Heinicke | WAS | @ DEN | He's run cold after a hot start. |
| 22 | Tua Tagovailoa | MIA | @ BUF | This is NOT the time to play Tua. BUF has a 5.0 NY/A (best in NFL) and have allowed only 5 passing scores against 10 interceptions. Yikes. |
| 23 | Mac Jones | NE | @ LAC | The Chargers have allowed the second lowest passing yardage in the league after only BUF. |
| 24 | Jimmy Garoppolo | SF | @ CHI | Trey Lance is lurking. CHI has allowed 14 passing scores, tied for 7th most. |
| 25 | Jared Goff | DET | vs PHI | Like the Bears, Philly has allowed 14 passing scores. But how excited are you? |
| 26 | Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | @ CLE | He's as vanilla as they come. Almost no upside. |
| 27 | Justin Fields | CHI | vs SF | He's a desperation QB2 play until CHI can work out it's protection issues (league-high 26 sacks allowed). |
| 28 | Case Keenum/Baker Mayfield | CLE | vs PIT | Mayfield says him playing is a possibility. Not buying him or Keenum, though. |
| 29 | Tyrod Taylor | HOU | vs LAR | He's expected to start on Sunday, and would make for a decent QB2 option sans this rough matchup against the Rams. |
| 30 | Mike White | NYJ | vs CIN | Zach Wilson is out, and Joe Flacco was only just brought in. It's White's job for one more week at least. |