Week 8 Fantasy Football Projections: Flex, PPR Stat Predictions for Top 100

We've already blown through seven weeks of the 2016 NFL season, and Week 8 is nearly upon us.

If you're one of the millions of fantasy football enthusiasts out there, you're probably preparing to enter the home stretch of your fantasy season. Of course, this can often be the toughest time of year for which to prepare.

Thanks primarily to injuries and surprise situations, the fantasy landscape probably looks a lot different than it did when you sat down on draft day. It's becoming difficult to maximize fantasy rosters, especially now that we're in bye-week season.

This week, the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers are all on bye.

So where should you turn in Week 8? That's what we're going to try to determine here. We'll break down the top 100 fantasy players—on a position-by-position basis—and provide our point projections for each. We'll also take an in-depth look at some of the top positional storylines heading into Week 8.

Our choices are based on factors such as past performances, player health, projected roles and matchups. All projections are based on a point-per-reception format.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Opponent	Proj. Points
1	Russell Wilson, SEA	@ NO	26.5
2	Matt Ryan, ATL	GB	25.5
3	Tom Brady, NE	@ BUF	25
4	Aaron Rodgers, GB	@ ATL	24.5
5	Jameis Winston, TB	OAK	24
6	Carson Palmer, ARI	@ CAR	22
7	Andrew Luck, IND	KC	21.5
8	Dak Prescott, DAL	PHI	20.7
9	Alex Smith, KC	@ IND	20.5
10	Drew Brees, NO	SEA	20.5

Norm Hall/Getty Images

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson didn't have a strong fantasy outing in Week 7—225 yards with no touchdowns and two fumbles—but he was facing the Arizona Cardinals defense on the road.

This week, Wilson draws a much more favorable matchup. He'll go up against the New Orleans Saints, who are rated just 30th in pass coverage.

Another quarterback with a good matchup is Atlanta Falcons signal-caller Matt Ryan, who has become a true fantasy star this season. He draws the Green Bay Packers, who are ranked 29th in pass coverage.

With Ryan and the Falcons likely to rack up the yardage and the points on Sunday, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers could find himself in a shootout. Considering the Packers are thin at the running back position, he'll probably be doing a lot of passing anyway.

Last week against the Chicago Bears, Rodgers attempted 56 passes. Expect him to again be the driving force behind Green Bay's offense and to have a strong fantasy day because of it.

Also, expect Saints quarterback Drew Brees to be the piston behind the New Orleans offense because, well, that's just how New Orleans operates. He does not have a great matchup—the Seahawks are rated third in pass coverage. However, Brees has attempted at least 40 passes in every game this season except for one.

He should be a viable fantasy start based on volume alone.

If you're looking for a sneaky play at quarterback, consider the Kansas City Chiefs' Alex Smith. The Chiefs don't lean on the passing game, but Smith will face an Indianapolis Colts defense that is allowing an average of 281.1 passing yards per game (25th in the NFL).

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Opponent	Proj. Points
1	DeMarco Murray, TEN	JAX	22
2	David Johnson, ARI	@ CAR	21.2
3	Ezekiel Elliott, DAL	PHI	21
4	Spencer Ware, KC	@ IND	20.9
5	C.J. Anderson, DEN	SD	20.5
6	Lamar Miller, HOU	DET	20
7	Christine Michael, SEA	@ NO	19.5
8	Frank Gore, IND	KC	19
9	Jacquizz Rodgers, TB	OAK	18
10	Melvin Gordon, SD	@ DEN	17
11	Matt Forte, NYJ	@ CLE	16.5
12	LeSean McCoy, BUF	NE	15
13	Devonta Freeman, ATL	GB	14
14	Giovani Bernard, CIN	WAS	13.5
15	James White, NE	@ BUF	13
16	Mark Ingram, NO	SEA	12.5
17	Isaiah Crowell, CLE	NYJ	12.1
18	Ty Montgomery, GB	@ ATL	12
19	Bilal Powell, NYJ	@ CLE	11.7
20	Tevin Coleman, ATL	GB	11.5
21	Duke Johnson, CLE	NYJ	11
22	Latavius Murray	@ TB	11
23	LeGarrette Blount, NE	@ BUF	10.7
24	Matt Jones, WAS	@ CIN	10.5
25	Jeremy Hill, CIN	WAS	10.3
26	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	ARI	10.1
27	T.J. Yeldon, JAX	@ TEN	10
28	Darren Sproles, PHI	@ DAL	10
29	Ryan Mathews, PHI	@ DAL	10
30	Matt Asiata, MIN	@ CHI	9

We mentioned that the Packers are light on running backs right now, but that doesn't mean one of them doesn't deserve a spot on your roster. Converted wide receiver Ty Montgomery does.

Montgomery is still also a receiver, of course, and this is why he holds a lot of value, especially in PPR leagues. Last week against the Chicago Bears, he had 60 yards rushing, 66 yards receiving and 10 receptions.

As Matthew Berry of ESPN.com pointed out, though, Montgomery is now considered a running back—at least in ESPN.com leagues:

He is a sneaky play this week with a lot of upside.

One man who isn't new to the running back world is DeMarco Murray of the Tennessee Titans. The former league rushing leader has 633 yards rushing, 192 yards receiving and seven total touchdowns already this season. He's facing a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that is allowing an average of 109.8 yards rushing per game.

Chiefs back Spencer Ware is also becoming a budding fantasy star. With Jamaal Charles still on the mend from a torn ACL, Ware has become the workhorse in Kansas City.

"He's a good mix (of skills), and I think you see it physically," Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith said of Ware, per Terez A. Paylor of the Kansas City Star. "He has great vision and is hard to tackle."

Ware has become a must-start running back and gets to go up against the Colts this week. Indianapolis is rated last in run defense.

If you're playing in a standard league, Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is probably the back for you. While he does have value in the passing game, he does most of his damage on the ground. He already has 703 yards rushing and five touchdowns in just six games.

This week, the Cowboys could well lean on Elliott and the running game (as if they normally don't) in order to counter the Philadelphia Eagles' pass rush. Pro Football Focus rates the Eagles third overall in pass rush for the season so far.

Be sure to keep an eye on Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy, who aggravated his hamstring injury during last week's loss to the Miami Dolphins, according to ESPN.com's Adam Schefter:

McCoy should be the centerpiece of Buffalo's offense if he's healthy, but he could run into problems if he isn't 100 percent. The New England Patriots are allowing just 92.3 yards rushing per game.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Opponent	Proj. Points
1	Mike Evans, TB	OAK	21.5
2	Julio Jones, ATL	GB	21
3	T.Y. Hilton, IND	KC	20.5
4	A.J. Green, CIN	WAS	19.5
5	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	@ CAR	19
6	Jordy Nelson, GB	@ ATL	18.5
7	Amari Cooper, OAK	@ TB	18
8	Allen Robinson, JAX	@ TEN	17
9	Emanuel Sanders, DEN	SD	16
10	Doug Baldwin, SEA	@ NO	16
11	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	DET	15.9
12	Brandon Marshall, NYJ	@ CLE	15.6
13	Brandin Cooks, NO	SEA	15.2
14	Julian Edelman, NE	@ BUF	15.1
15	Randall Cobb, GB	@ ATL	15
16	Terrelle Pryor, CLE	NYJ	15
17	Dez Bryant, DAL	PHI	14.7
18	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	MIN	14.6
19	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	SD	14.6
20	Michael Crabtree, OAK	@ TB	14.4
21	Stefon Diggs, MIN	@ CHI	14
22	Jordan Matthews, PHI	@ DAL	13.5
23	Marvin Jones, DET	@ HOU	13.3
24	Jeremy Maclin, KC	@ IND	13
25	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	ARI	12.6
26	DeSean Jackson, WAS	@ CIN	12.5
27	Will Fuller, HOU	DET	12.3
28	Michael Thomas, NO	SEA	11.5
29	Quincy Enunwa, NYJ	@ CLE	10.5
30	Davante Adams, GB	@ ATL	10.3

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans has become a consistent fantasy producer in PPR leagues. He has at least five receptions in every single game this season and has a touchdown in every game but one.

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Evans and the Buccaneers host the Oakland Raiders this week, which could set the stage for another big performance. Oakland is allowing an average of 302.1 yards per game through the air, which is the most in the league.

Though he hasn't been quite as consistent as Evans, Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones has been an even bigger overall producer. He has 830 yards and four touchdowns already this season. As we mentioned earlier, the Falcons are facing a suspect Packers pass defense.

Also facing a suspect defense is Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin. He's a must-start against the Saints, just as Chiefs wideout Jeremy Maclin is a must-start against the Colts.

We're not so sure about Chicago Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery. Not only is he facing a Minnesota Vikings defense that is rated seventh in pass coverage, but he'll also be doing so with a presumably rusty quarterback.

Brian Hoyer is out with a broken arm, and former Bears starter Jay Cutler appears to be back in the starting lineup, according to Schefter:

One good thing for Jeffery owners is that, for better or worse, Cutler has no problem throwing the jump-ball pass in tight coverage.

Keep an eye on Cleveland Browns receiver Terrelle Pryor, who played through a hamstring injury last week against the Cincinnati Bengals. If Pryor can get back to 100 percent, he could be in for a big fantasy day.

Not only does Pryor bring added value as a change-of-pace runner and quarterback when healthy, but he'll also face a New York Jets defense that is rated 28th in pass coverage.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Opponent	Proj. Points
1	Rob Gronkowski, NE	@ BUF	16
2	Jimmy Graham, SEA	@ NO	15
3	Greg Olsen, CAR	ARI	14.5
4	Vernon Davis, WAS	@ CIN	14
5	Gary Barnidge, CLE	NYJ	13.5
6	Zach Miller, CHI	MIN	12
7	Delanie Walker, TEN	JAX	12
8	Kyle Rudolph, MIN	@ CHI	12
9	Travis Kelce, KC	@ IND	11.5
10	Antonio Gates, SD	@ DEN	10.5

There aren't a lot of tricks when it comes to the tight end position. There are guys who consistently produce—Rob Gronkowski, Greg Olsen, Martellus Bennett and Jimmy Graham—and those who don't.

A couple of guys are worth keeping an eye on this week, though, for injury reasons.

San Diego Chargers tight end Hunter Henry is beginning to establish himself as a true fantasy standout. He has 20 receptions, 326 yards and three touchdowns so far this season. Unfortunately, per Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Henry is also in the concussion protocol and is in limbo for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos:

Also keep an eye on Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert, who established himself as a fantasy stud last season. He underwent ankle surgery in the offseason and made his debut last week against the Browns.

Eifert finished that game with only one reception for nine yards, but he also saw just 15 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. If it looks like Eifert is in for a bigger role as we approach game day, he should be a safe start against the Washington Redskins in London.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Opponent	Proj. Points
1	Adam Vinatieri, IND	KC	11
2	Matt Bryant, ATL	GB	10
3	Steven Hauschka, SEA	@ NO	9.5
4	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	@ BUF	9.5
5	Dan Bailey, DAL	PHI	9.2
6	Blair Walsh, MIN	@ CHI	9
7	Brandon McManus, DEN	SD	9
8	Cairo Santos, KC	@ IND	9
9	Nick Novak, HOU	DET	9
10	Dustin Hopkins, WAS	@ CIN	8.5

There are two basic strategies when it comes to selecting a kicker: Grab a guy playing for a team with a potent offense, and grab a guy with consistency.

Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri gives you the best of both worlds, and when it comes to fantasy kickers, he's in a class all his own. If you won't listen to me, take Hall of Famer Tony Dungy's word for it:

If you don't own Vinatieri, grab a guy with a productive offense behind him such as Stephen Gostkowski of the Patriots or Matt Bryant of the Falcons.

Defense/Special Teams

Rank	Team	Opponent	Proj. Points
1	Minnesota Vikings	@ CHI	13
2	Tennessee Titans	JAX	9
3	New England Patriots	@ BUF	9
4	Arizona Cardinals	@ CAR	8.5
5	Cincinnati Bengals	WAS	8
6	New York Jets	@ CLE	8
7	Denver Broncos	SD	7.5
8	Kansas City Chiefs	@ IND	7.5
9	Carolina Panthers	ARI	7.4
10	Detroit Lions	@ HOU	7.3

Generally, we're looking to stick with top-end defenses throughout the season. The Vikings, Broncos and Seahawks are defenses that shouldn't be pulled unless they're on a bye week. If a team happens to get lucky and gash them, well, things happen.

The only time you want to play matchups with your defense/special teams unit is when you're stuck with one you thought would be good but isn't. In this scenario, it can be beneficial to swap units on and off the waiver wire based on the teams they are facing.

This week, for example, you can probably get away with playing a defense such as the Detroit Lions or the Jets because their opponents—the Houston Texans and Browns, respectively—reside at the bottom end of scoring offenses.

Cleveland is averaging just 18.6 points per game. Houston is averaging 16.7.

Rankings courtesy of Pro Football Focus.