Fantasy QB Rankings Week 8: Who to start, sit at quarterback in fantasy football

The season is flying along, and Week 8 sets up as one without a ton of byes and injury worries at the quarterback. We welcome numerous fantasy studs back after their time off and have a bunch of potential sleepers with favorable matchups at our disposal. Our Week 8 fantasy QB rankings are about as stacked as you’re going to find this time of year.

Derek Carr and Lamar Jackson are off the table this week due to byes, but we welcome back Josh Allen (vs. Dolphins), Dak Prescott (@ Vikings) — assuming his calf injury is healed — and Justin Herbert (vs. Patriots), among others. You can now move those guys back into your lineups to never be touched again. Tom Brady (@ Saints) and Herbert (vs. Patriots) are the only top-tier studs with matchup concerns, but as always, they should still be started.

WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS:
Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

There are a ton of guys on the start-or-sit bubble who do have appeal this week. Teddy Bridgewater (vs. Washington), Daniel Jones (@ Chiefs), Jameis Winston (vs. Buccaneers), Carson Wentz (vs. Titans), Sam Darnold (@ Falcons), and Ryan Tannehill (@ Colts) are the top guys on the list. If you don’t already own Tannehill, this means nothing to you because he’s not available in most leagues. However, all the other guys mentioned are at least somewhat attainable on most waiver wires. Chances are, you can scoop one of these guys if you’re looking for a streamer. All of them square off with bottom-10 defenses against QBs. (Quarterbacks listed in order from the worst defense to best defense). We understand if you’re itching to play Trevor Lawrence (@ Seahawks), but we like some of the other options with safer floors more.

WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Matt Ryan (vs. Panthers), Joe Burrow (@ Jets), and Tua Tagovailoa (@ Bills) are among QBs with matchup concerns who actually make us hesitate. Ryan has been a boom-or-bust candidate throughout his career — with zero rushing upside — and although Carolina’s defense has struggled in recent weeks, its front seven should outmatch Atlanta’s offensive line and make Ryan’s life miserable. Tua has shown he can put up big numbers in good matchups, but we don’t trust him in Buffalo.

Burrow is a slightly tougher call. The Jets’ pass defense has impressed most weeks. In fact, heading into Week 7, New York had allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks prior to allowing Mac Jones’ solid day. If the Jets defense plays as well as it can, that’s obviously bad news for Burrow. However, given what we’ve seen from Burrow and the Bengals’ offense this year, we can’t recommend benching him. It’s more likely he’s closer to the elite, “must-start” class.

It is worth noting Bridgewater looked hobbled on Thursday Night Football against Cleveland, so his injury status should be monitored. Additionally, Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) has a chance to return to practice this week, so he might be in play soon, though we wouldn’t touch him against the Rams. The same goes for Baker Mayfield (left shoulder) if he returns against the Steelers.

Many of you have survived the brutal bye week at QB and will have a “must-start” guy slotted in the lineup for the rest of the season. Injuries, COVID complications, and future bye weeks will continue to shake things up. We’ll make sense of it all every week, so continue to check back for our weekly fantasy QB rankings.

Note: We’ll be updating these QB rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.

Fantasy QB Rankings Week 8: Who to start at quarterback

Rankings are based on standard, four-point passing TD formats.