NFL Week 8 picks include Chiefs and Colts
Lorenzo Reyes is back after going 3-0 last week, and explains why large spreads shouldn’t worry bettors in Week 8 of the NFL season.
It is finally here — the dreaded Week 8, with six teams on bye. It’s being coined this season’s “bye-mageddon.”
The combination of bye weeks and injuries across the league has many managers scrambling to fill their lineups. Even though most waiver wires are thin at this point in the season, players must be found.
To help you navigate, here are 10 players and one defense you can stream to win Week 8.
*Streamers are players who are rostered in 50% or less of Yahoo! leagues.
Fantasy Football Week 8 StreamersQuarterbacksJoe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals
At this point, it’s impossible to ignore how well Flacco has played in Cincinnati. Over the last two weeks, he ranks as QB9 in points per game. Remember, he had only been with the Bengals for five days before his first start.
His opponent this week, the Jets, is average against opposing quarterbacks, but Flacco has an advantage most quarterbacks don’t: Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Rodgers gets his second revenge game of the season, and this one might mean even more as he faces the Packers.
In his first revenge game back in Week 1 against the Jets, Rodgers scored 25 fantasy points.
The only hesitation with starting Rodgers is his reliance on touchdowns. He ranks 25th in passing yards but fourth in touchdown passes. Even so, he’s one of the better available streaming options this week.
Running BacksKyle Monangai, Chicago Bears
Last week, Monangai handled 13 carries and had two receptions, turning them into 94 total yards and a touchdown.
Coming out of the bye, the Bears have made a clear effort to get him more involved. His snap share and usage have both increased in each game.
Ben Johnson has had success using multiple running backs with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery in Detroit. D’Andre Swift and Monangai might not reach that level, but they could become a “Sonic and Knuckles lite” version of that duo.
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
In games the Falcons have won, Allgeier has averaged 14 carries and 11.9 half-PPR points per game.
That bodes well this week as the Falcons face the Dolphins. Atlanta is favored by 7.5, and Miami is allowing the most rushing yards per game this season.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
Spears’ usage dipped slightly under interim coach Mike McCoy, but not by much.
The encouraging sign is his role in key situations. Spears played most of the long-down-and-distance snaps and handled all the two-minute work. With the Titans offense struggling, that passing-down usage should keep him fantasy-relevant.
Wide ReceiversTez Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Johnson gained new life after Mike Evans suffered a broken collarbone in Week 7 and is now out for most, if not the rest, of the season.
Sterling Shepard offers a safer floor, but Johnson brings the playmaking upside. This week, he’ll line up as the No. 2 receiver and has a solid chance to score for the third straight game.
Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos
The roulette wheel of who the No. 2 wide receiver is in Denver landed on Marvin Mims last week, which means it could be Franklin’s turn in Week 8.
He draws a favorable matchup against the Cowboys, who are allowing the most points to opposing wide receivers this season and may again be without Trevon Diggs. You have to like Franklin’s odds, too, since he has consistently been the team’s second-leading target getter.
Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans
The Texans are expected to be without Christian Kirk and Nico Collins in Week 8.
Among the remaining wideouts, Noel has run the third-most routes behind Xavier Hutchinson and Jayden Higgins. However, he led that group in targets last week, when both Collins and Kirk were out.
Be warned, this is a pure boom-or-bust play. The matchup against the 49ers is difficult, and any production will likely need to come in garbage time.
Tight EndsHarold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns
Fannin disappointed fantasy managers last week with a 4-for-36 line, but his usage tells a more promising story. His snap rate and target share both increased without David Njoku in the lineup.
Cleveland’s low passing volume was the issue, as the team threw only 18 times after jumping ahead early. That’s unlikely to repeat against New England this week with the Browns being 7.5-point underdogs.
Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
Since the Bears’ Week 5 bye, Loveland’s workload has steadily increased. An injury to Cole Kmet that could sideline him for Week 8 should have Loveland see even more usage. This makes Loveland an intriguing streaming option against a Ravens defense allowing the ninth-most points to tight ends.
DefenseBuffalo Bills
The Bills draw a favorable matchup against the Panthers, who are giving up the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses.
Buffalo also gets the added benefit of facing Andy Dalton, instead of Bryce Young. In five starts last year, Dalton threw for 989 yards with a 7-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio and took seven sacks.