Fantasy Football: Week 8 rankings, beat the waiver wire

Apparently, Week 8t of the 2021 NFL season sets up to be a slate of blowout football games with four games having a spread of 9+ points, and two of those teams are double digit home dogs. The Jets are +11 against the Bengals at home, and the Texans are +16.5 at home against the Rams.

The Bills are favored by 14 at home against the Dolphins, and the Giants are +9 on the road against the Chiefs. Buffalo shut the Dolphins out 35-0 in week two while injuring quarterback Tua Tagovailoa; the former Crimson Tide signal caller has since returned and has thrown 6 touchdowns and 3 interceptions in his last two games.

A lot of these position groups are top heavy this week; that’s not always the case. I love the top 7 quarterbacks, and feel the top 17 are serviceable. However, I lose interest after Trevor Lawrence. The other position groups are a little different, but variance is always an issue.

For example, Zach Moss could smash this matchup as the primary goal line back on a team favored by 14 points at home. However, Devin Singletary is still playing well and Josh Allen is always a threat to vulture goal line touches. Moss has a wide range of outcomes, and as much as I want to start him, there are other options, who are equal in talent, that I prefer to entertain. Moss is just one player, but he’s one that I feel many fantasy managers (in shallower leagues) may have to make a decision on.

Beat the waiver wire

Another segment I believe could be of value is “beat the waiver wire.” Spending valuable FAB on a player or defense you could have added on Saturday is frustrating, so get ahead of your league mates by looking ahead to next week. See who is not going to be available (Lions, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Washington), and find quality replacements without having to bid, or spend a waiver claim, against your opponents.

Carson Wentz vs NYJ

Jonathan Taylor may run all over the Jets, but Wentz has at least two touchdown passes in the last four games, one being in a slippery matchup against San Francisco. If Brady is your fantasy quarterback, you could do worse than Wentz.

Tua Tagovailoa vs HOU

Tagovailoa has more than 20 fantasy points in each game since he made his return in week six. He has thrown for over 290 yards in both games, and is coming off a four touchdown game in week 7. Week 8 may be difficult for the Dolphins, as a whole. Head coach Brian Flores gave Tagovailoa the vote of confidence by deeming him the starting quarterback for the rest of the year amid rumors of DeShaun Watson. He should provide a lot of fantasy points on Watson’s current team in week 9.

Another player worth adding right now is Baltimore Ravens’ wide receiver Rashod Bateman who is currently on his BYE week. He has 7 catches for 109 yards in two games while being eased into the offense. I expect his role to grow as the season continues, especially if Sammy Watkins remains out.

Those are two quarterback streams, and here are a few defenses to pick up, if you’re streaming defenses:

Cowboys vs DEN

Dolphins @ HOU

Raiders @ NYG

A lot can happen in an NFL week, so all of this can change, but if you have an available roster spot - beat the waiver wire!!!

Quarterbacks

1. Josh Allen vs MIA
2. Patrick Mahomes vs NYG
3. Matt Stafford @ HOU
4. Jalen Hurts @ DET
5. Tom Brady @ NO
6. Kirk Cousins vs DAL
7. Dak Prescott @ MIN (if active)
8. Justin Herbert vs NE
9. Daniel Jones @ KC
10. Joe Burrow @ NYJ
11. Carson Wentz vs TEN
12. Ryan Tannehill @ IND
13. Jameis Winston vs TB
14. Matt Ryan vs CAR
15. Ben Roethlisberger @ CLE
16. Teddy Bridgewater vs WAS
17. Trevor Lawrence @ SEA
18. Sam Darnold @ ATL
19. Taylor Heineke @ DEN
20. Jimmy Garoppolo @ CHI
21. Jared Goff vs PHI
22. Baker Mayfield vs PIT
23. Geno Smith vs JAX
24. Mac Jones @ LAC
25. Tua Tagovailoa @ BUF
26. Justin Fields vs SF
27. Mike White vs CIN
28. Davis Mills vs LAR

Running backs

1. Dalvin Cook vs DAL
2. Derrick Henry @ IND
3. Ezekiel Elliott @ MIN
4. Joe Mixon @ NYJ
5. Jonathan Taylor vs TEN
6. Alvin Kamara vs TB
7. D’Andre Swift vs PHI
8. Najee Harris @ CLE
9. Darrell Henderson Jr. @ HOU
10. James Robinson @ SEA
11. Austin Ekeler vs NE (monitor hip issue)
12. Nick Chubb vs PIT
13. Cordarrelle Patterson vs CAR
14. Darrel Williams vs NYG
15. Damien Harris @ LAC
16. Leonard Fournette @ NO
17. Antonio Gibson @ DEN
18. Zack Moss vs MIA
19. Chuba Hubbard @ ATL
20. Devontae Booker @ KC
21. Elijah Mitchell @ CHI
22. Myles Gaskin @ BUF
23. Kenneth Gainwell @ DET
24. Alex Collins vs JAX
25. Javante Williams vs WAS
26. Michael Carter vs CIN
27. Samje Perine @ NYJ
28. Melvin Gordon vs WAS
29. Tony Pollard @ MIN
30. Devin Singletary vs MIA
31. Jamaal Williams vs PHI
32. David Johnson vs LAR
33. J.D. McKissic @ DEN
34. D’Ernest Johnson vs PIT
35. Boston Scott @ DET

Wide receiver

1. Cooper Kupp @ HOU
2. Tyreek Hill vs NYG
3. Stefon Diggs vs MIA
4. Justin Jefferson vs DAL
5. CeeDee Lamb @ MIN (if Prescott active)
6. A.J. Brown @ IND
7. Ja’Marr Chase @ NYJ
8. Deebo Samuel @ CHI
9. Chris Godwin @ NO
10. Diontae Johnson @ CLE
11. Adam Theilen vs DAL
12. D.J. Moore @ ATL
13. Keenan Allen vs NE
14. Calvin Ridley vs CAR
15. Terry McLaurin @ DEN
16. Mike Williams vs NE
17. Amari Cooper @ MIN (if Prescott active)
18. Mike Evans @ NO
19. D.K. Metcalf vs JAX
20. Chase Claypool @ CLE
21. Emmanual Sanders vs MIA
22. Michael Pittman Jr. vs TEN
23. Tee Higgins @ NYJ
24. Sterling Shepard @ KC (if active)
25. Devonta Smith @ DET
26. Courtland Sutton vs WAS
27. Marvin Jones Jr. @ SEA
28. Brandin Cooks vs LAR
29. Robert Woods @ HOU
30. Cole Beasley vs MIA
31. Jerry Jeudy vs WAS
32. Jaylen Waddle @ BUF
33. Tyler Lockett vs JAX
34. Darius Slayton @ KC
35. Julio Jones @ IND (if active)

Tight ends

1. Travis Kelce vs NYG
2. Dallas Goedert @ DET
3. Kyle Pitts vs CAR
4. T.J. Hockenson vs PHI
5. Tyler Higbee @ HOU
6. Hunter Henry @ LAC
7. Mike Gesicki @ BUF
8. Rob Gronkowski @ NO
9. Dalton Schultz @ MIN
10. Noah Fant vs WAS
11. Ricky Seals-Jones @ DEN
12. Evan Engram @ KC
13. Dan Arnold @ SEA
14. C.J. Uzomah @ NYJ
15. Tyler Conklin vs DAL
16. Mo Ali-Cox vs TEN
17. Jared Cook vs NE
18. Pat Friermuth @ CLE
19. Cole Kmet vs SF
20. David Njoku vs PIT

Low owned defenses to stream (Yahoo %)

1. Pittsburgh @ CLE (64%)
2. Atlanta vs CAR (13%)
3. Washington @ DEN (36%)

Low owned kickers to stream (Yahoo %)

1. Evan McPherson @ NYJ (45%)
2. Brandon McManus vs WAS (49%)
3. Greg Joseph vs DAL (45%)