Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season runs Oct 27 – Nov 2. Rankings below are matchup-adjusted PPR projections: every player's own weekly baseline moved by the defense he faces and the offense he plays in. The injury section is a contingency board — what each start is worth per week, and who absorbs the touches if he cannot go.
Week 8 takeaways
- Saquon Barkley is the week's top-ranked running back at 20 projected points, drawing @ WAS.
- Ja'Marr Chase heads the receiver board at 22.5 projected points.
- Biggest matchup swing: Ja'Marr Chase gains about 3 points on a normal week vs TEN.
- Hardest spot on the slate: De'Von Achane loses roughly 2 points vs NE.
- On bye: HOU, NO, NYG, SF — plan two weeks ahead before you burn FAAB.
Week 8 player rankings by position
Matchup-adjusted PPR projections. Swing is the difference from that player's own normal week.
Quarterback rankings — Week 8
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jalen Hurts (PHI) | @ WAS | 24.5 | +2.5 |
| 2 | Joe Burrow (CIN) | vs TEN | 24.5 | +3.3 |
| 3 | Josh Allen (BUF) | vs BAL | 23.8 | +0.5 |
| 4 | Kyler Murray (ARI) | @ DAL | 22.9 | +3.3 |
| 5 | Lamar Jackson (BAL) | @ BUF | 22.8 | -0.2 |
| 6 | Baker Mayfield (TB) | vs ATL | 20.8 | +0.3 |
| 7 | Jayden Daniels (WAS) | vs PHI | 20.7 | -1.8 |
| 8 | Jordan Love (GB) | vs CAR | 19.7 | -0.3 |
| 9 | Justin Fields (NYJ) | vs LV | 19.6 | +0.7 |
| 10 | Patrick Mahomes (KC) | @ DEN | 19.5 | -2 |
| 11 | Drake Maye (NE) | @ MIA | 17.7 | +0.3 |
| 12 | Trevor Lawrence (JAX) | vs IND | 17.5 | +0.4 |
Running back rankings — Week 8
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saquon Barkley (PHI) | @ WAS | 20 | +2.1 |
| 2 | Bijan Robinson (ATL) | @ TB | 18.9 | +0.2 |
| 3 | Ashton Jeanty (LV) | @ NYJ | 17.2 | +2 |
| 4 | Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) | vs MIN | 16.7 | -0.7 |
| 5 | Chase Brown (CIN) | vs TEN | 15.5 | +2.1 |
| 6 | Bucky Irving (TB) | vs ATL | 14.4 | +0.2 |
| 7 | De'Von Achane (MIA) | vs NE | 14 | -2 |
| 8 | Jonathan Taylor (IND) | @ JAX | 12.9 | -1.6 |
| 9 | Josh Jacobs (GB) | vs CAR | 12.8 | -0.3 |
| 10 | Derrick Henry (BAL) | @ BUF | 12.6 | -0.2 |
| 11 | James Cook (BUF) | vs BAL | 12.4 | +0.2 |
| 12 | Kyren Williams (LAR) | vs LAC | 12.3 | -0.9 |
Wide receiver rankings — Week 8
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) | vs TEN | 22.5 | +3 |
| 2 | CeeDee Lamb (DAL) | vs ARI | 19.4 | +1.8 |
| 3 | Justin Jefferson (MIN) | @ DET | 18.6 | +0.4 |
| 4 | A.J. Brown (PHI) | @ WAS | 16.3 | +1.7 |
| 5 | Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) | vs MIN | 15.8 | -0.7 |
| 6 | Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX) | vs IND | 15.8 | +0.4 |
| 7 | Tee Higgins (CIN) | vs TEN | 15.8 | +2.2 |
| 8 | Puka Nacua (LAR) | vs LAC | 15.6 | -1.1 |
| 9 | Drake London (ATL) | @ TB | 14.9 | +0.1 |
| 10 | Marvin Harrison Jr. (ARI) | @ DAL | 14.7 | +2.1 |
| 11 | Garrett Wilson (NYJ) | vs LV | 13.8 | +0.5 |
| 12 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA) | vs CHI | 13 | +0.1 |
Tight end rankings — Week 8
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brock Bowers (LV) | @ NYJ | 15.7 | +1.8 |
| 2 | Trey McBride (ARI) | @ DAL | 15.4 | +2.2 |
| 3 | Sam LaPorta (DET) | vs MIN | 11 | -0.5 |
| 4 | Mark Andrews (BAL) | @ BUF | 10.4 | -0.1 |
| 5 | T.J. Hockenson (MIN) | @ DET | 10.2 | +0.2 |
| 6 | Dallas Goedert (PHI) | @ WAS | 9.9 | +1 |
| 7 | Travis Kelce (KC) | @ DEN | 9.8 | -1.1 |
| 8 | Evan Engram (DEN) | vs KC | 8.8 | -0.7 |
| 9 | Tucker Kraft (GB) | vs CAR | 8.4 | -0.2 |
| 10 | Jake Ferguson (DAL) | vs ARI | 8.4 | +0.8 |
| 11 | Colston Loveland (CHI) | @ SEA | 7 | -1.1 |
| 12 | David Njoku (CLE) | @ PIT | 7 | -0.3 |
Week 8 risers
- Ja'Marr Chase (WR) vs TEN grades smash spot — worth about 3 points above a normal week.
- Tee Higgins (WR) vs TEN grades smash spot — worth about 2.2 points above a normal week.
- Trey McBride (TE) @ DAL grades smash spot — worth about 2.2 points above a normal week.
- Saquon Barkley (RB) @ WAS grades good matchup — worth about 2.1 points above a normal week.
- Chase Brown (RB) vs TEN grades smash spot — worth about 2.1 points above a normal week.
- Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR) @ DAL grades smash spot — worth about 2.1 points above a normal week.
Week 8 fallers
- De'Von Achane (RB) vs NE grades nightmare — about 2 points below a normal week.
- Jonathan Taylor (RB) @ JAX grades nightmare — about 1.6 points below a normal week.
- Rome Odunze (WR) @ SEA grades nightmare — about 1.5 points below a normal week.
- Tyreek Hill (WR) vs NE grades nightmare — about 1.3 points below a normal week.
- Puka Nacua (WR) vs LAC grades nightmare — about 1.1 points below a normal week.
- Travis Kelce (TE) @ DEN grades nightmare — about 1.1 points below a normal week.
Week 8 injury report and contingency plans
What each start is worth per week, and who absorbs the work if he cannot go.
George Kittle · TE · SF12.1 pts/week at stake
With George Kittle out you lose about 12.1 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Sam LaPorta · TE · DET11.5 pts/week at stake
With Sam LaPorta out you lose about 11.5 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Travis Kelce · TE · KC10.9 pts/week at stake
With Travis Kelce out you lose about 10.9 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Mark Andrews · TE · BAL10.5 pts/week at stake
With Mark Andrews out you lose about 10.5 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
T.J. Hockenson · TE · MIN10 pts/week at stake
With T.J. Hockenson out you lose about 10 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Ja'Marr Chase · WR · CIN19.5 pts/week at stake
With Ja'Marr Chase out you lose about 19.5 points of weekly production. Tee Higgins is the likeliest beneficiary and projects near 21.8 points in that role.
Evan Engram · TE · DEN9.5 pts/week at stake
With Evan Engram out you lose about 9.5 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Jahmyr Gibbs · RB · DET17.4 pts/week at stake
With Jahmyr Gibbs out you lose about 17.4 points of weekly production. David Montgomery is the likeliest beneficiary and projects near 22.4 points in that role.
Week 8 bye weeks
HOU · NO · NYG · SF