Week 8 Quarterback Preview: Lamar Jackson Is Back ... Now What?
Top Fantasy QBs for Week 8
Let's break down the key usage notes and matchups that are driving our Week 8 QB Rankings.
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1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen comes off a bye following an early-season stretch that’s produced three top-three finishes. He’ll remain an elite option against a Ravens defense that’s 24th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs.
2. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Drake Maye draws a Miami defense slotted 23rd in pressure rate and 31st in sack rate. He may also benefit from the absence of starting CB JuJu Brents, who’s at risk of missing Week 8 in the concussion protocol. Of course, Maye hits this week on a hot streak, with four straight top-4 fantasy finishes.
3. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott is coming off a 3 TD performance, leading to his third QB1 finish of the season. He threw for a season-low 27 attempts, but that can be chalked up to gamescript, as the Cowboys are deploying a 60.4% neutral pass rate, the sixth-highest mark among offenses. Prescott projects as a high-end QB1 against a Cardinals defense allowing the second-most points to QBs.
4. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Tennessee shows as a negative matchup for QB scoring, but that’s more because opponents can run as much as they want rather than anything the defense is doing well. The Titans damaged their already meh pass rush by trading star DT Jeffery Simmons to the Bears. That only clears the path more for an efficient, high-ceiling Joe Burrow outing. Start him with confidence.
5. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson is expected to return after putting in full practices on Wednesday and Thursday. He’s unlikely to be 100% healthy, which may impact his rushing output. But he belongs in fantasy lineups against a Bills unit that sits 29th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs.
6. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
The biggest question for Trevor Lawrence this week will be how much volume he gets. Jacksonville already ranks just 21st in pass attempts per game. Now the team hits Week 8 as a 10-point favorite against a Colts squad that already traded away its best defensive lineman and best offensive lineman. An already-soft defense figures to get run over by Jaguars RBs. Lawrence should be well set up for efficient passing, though. Indy ranks 13th against QBs by our adjusted fantasy points allowed, making it a slightly positive matchup before the DeForest Buckner trade. So we’re not looking to bench Lawrence for a shakier option.
7. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Prior to the bye, Jayden Daniels posted back-to-back QB1 finishes after returning from his elbow injury. His Week 5 QB1 performance included 103 rushing yards and 2 TDs, and his Week 6 QB1 performance included 300 passing yards and 2 TDs. Daniels projects as a QB1 again against an Eagles defense allowing the ninth-most points to QBs.
8. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
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9. Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
(Played on Thursday)
10. Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals
Jacoby Brissett enters this week averaging more pass attempts than any other QB at 40.3 per game. That volume has him ranked as the QB21 on the season despite a 5.4 adjusted yards per attempt mark that ranks 30th among QBs. Fortunately, he faces a Cowboys defense allowing the sixth-most points to QBs, which leaves him projected as a fringe QB1 in Week 8.
11. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
The Chargers have actually presented the fifth-toughest scoring matchup for QBs by our adjusted fantasy points allowed. But they also rank a mere 20th in total defensive DVOA and 16th against the pass. So there’s nothing actually scary to the matchup for Matthew Stafford, and the other L.A. team will remain without its top DB, Derwin James.
12. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams has passed for at least 300 yards and a TD in both games since returning from his hamstring injury. It led to 9.8 adjusted yards per attempt over the past two weeks, ranking higher than any other QB. Unfortunately, he takes on a Seahawks defense that hasn’t allowed even a 200-yard passer this season. Williams projects as a fringe QB1 in Week 8.
13. Kyler Murray, Minnesota Vikings
Kyler Murray gets a favorable matchup against a Detroit defense that ranks 31st in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. The Week 7 return of S Brian Branch, who immediately recorded an INT, adds some difficulty. But Murray remains worth considering as a fringe QB1, especially when you mix in his 51 and 39 rushing yards over his past two.
14. Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks
Sam Darnold is coming off his most efficient outing this season, averaging 8.3 adjusted yards per attempt, the 10th-highest mark among QBs in Week 7. He now gets LG Quenton Nelson in a trade with the Colts, which should improve his 22nd-ranked 7.3% sack rate. Facing a Bears defense boosting QB points by the fifth-highest rate at 22.9%, Darnold projects as a fringe QB1 in Week 8.
15. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Jared Goff has delivered QB7, QB4, and QB10 finishes over his past three games. But he draws a much tougher test against a Vikings defense that's surrendered only 3 passing TDs through six games. That matchup pushes Goff down to QB2 territory.
16. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes finished QB25 at Seattle last week and draws another tough matchup Sunday against the Broncos’ 10th-ranked QB defense. He scratched out a QB9 finish vs. the Broncos in Week 1, thanks largely to a rushing score. He threw 2 TDs but managed just 186 passing yards on 6.8 yards per attempt. Mahomes might get WR Rashee Rice back this weekend, but Denver is also getting All-Pro CB Pat Surtain back. He's a fringe QB1 at best and is certainly benchable in this spot.
17. Geno Smith, New York Jets
Sunday’s game vs. the Raiders will be Geno Smith’s fourth against a bottom-10 QB defense this season. He finished QB3, QB31, and QB5 in the first 3, so there’s certainly upside here even if he’s not a safe play.
18. Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders
Kirk Cousins just keeps throwing TDs. He tossed another 2 last week, giving him multiple scores in 6 of 7 games and a league-high 16 total. Next up is a Jets defense that’s allowed multiple passing TDs in 4 of 7 games, including each of their last 2. The floor here is uncomfortably low, but you could do worse than Cousins as a low-end spot starter.
19. Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson finished as QB10 in Week 7, throwing for 308 yards and adding a rushing TD despite no passing TDs. His legs are the key to his value, as he averages 30.7 rushing yards per game (QB6). The Steelers have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to QBs, and the Browns are implied for just 18.0 points. Watson is a mid-range QB2 whose rushing gives him a stable floor.
20. Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins
Malik Willis delivered a surprising QB4 fantasy finish in last week’s win over the Jets. The matchup stiffens this week against a Pats unit that ranks sixth in adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs. They’re also likely to get starting CB Carlton Davis back from a neck injury. Even with four teams on a bye, Willis projects as more of a mid-tier QB2.
21. Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers finished as QB21 in Week 7, going 19/30 for 212 yards and a TD. The Steelers still pass at the second-highest rate in the league, and Rodgers averages 37.6 attempts per game (QB8). But he offers almost nothing on the ground (3.3 rushing yards per game), so he needs TDs to pay off. The Browns have allowed the eighth-fewest schedule-adjusted fantasy points to QBs, and this game has a low 39.5-point total. Rodgers is a low-end QB2.
22. Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield finished as QB27 in Week 7, going just 7/11 for 64 yards and a TD coming off his thumb injury. He ranks QB38 in points per game and has scored 4.3 fewer points per game than expected. His rushing (16.5 yards per game) offers some floor. The Falcons have allowed the 19th-most fantasy points to QBs, making this a neutral matchup. Emeka Egbuka returning could help, but Mayfield is a low-end QB2.
23. Bo Nix, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix finished QB3 last week thanks largely to an uncontested 62-yard rushing TD. He scored 14 fantasy points otherwise against a bad Cardinals defense. The matchup is much tougher this Sunday against the Chiefs’ eighth-ranked QB defense. Kansas City held Nix to 131 passing yards back in Week 1.
24. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert has yet to finish a week ranked higher than QB19 this season. He’ll need to prove he presents fantasy value before we’re considering him outside of low-QB2 range in multi-QB formats.
25. Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons
Michael Penix finished as QB8 in Week 7 with 213 yards and 3 TDs. He’s been efficient with 9 TDs to 1 INT, outperforming his expected points by 3.0 per game. The volume isn’t there, though. The Falcons have the sixth-lowest pass rate, and Penix averages just 28.8 attempts per game (QB28). The Buccaneers have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to QBs. Penix is a QB2 for superflex leagues only.
