Fantasy Football Week 8 Rankings: Flex and PPR Outlook for Each Position

At this point of the season, you know who your studs and reliable players are, and you know to start them every game. So the lineup questions you are asking yourself are probably far more nuanced.

Which players can make an impact during bye weeks? What player presents the most upside in my flex spot? Which player has additional value in PPR formats?

Those last two questions will be a primary focus below, as we break down my fantasy rankings for Sunday and Monday's games.

Rank	Player	Team	Matchup
1	Aaron Rodgers	GB	ATL
2	Tom Brady	NE	BUF
3	Andrew Luck	IND	KC
4	Matt Ryan	ATL	GB
5	Matt Stafford	DET	HOU
6	Derek Carr	OAK	TB
7	Drew Brees	NO	SEA
8	Cam Newton	CAR	ARI
9	Andy Dalton	CIN	WAS
10	Russell Wilson	SEA	NO

Philip Rivers has been the No. 8 quarterback in standard-scoring leagues this season, but you probably want to avoid him this week. It's not just enough that Rivers has combined to score only 25 points over the past two weeks; now, he has to face the Denver Broncos defense.

The stout Broncos are giving up 11.1 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks per week, third-best in the NFL. When they faced Rivers in Week 6, they allowed him to notch just 11 points. And that was in San Diego. In Denver's last three home games, the Broncos held Andrew Luck to nine points, Matt Ryan to 14 and Brock Osweiler to a minuscule four fantasy points.  

Avoid Rivers.

But maybe, just maybe, this is the week Russell Wilson will finally start producing elite numbers. The New Orleans Saints have given up less than 16 points to an opposing quarterback just once this season and are giving up 18.7 points per week to the position (27th in the NFL).

The Saints have actually given up more fantasy points in three home games to opposing quarterbacks (66) than they have on the road (46 points in three games). Granted, they've faced Derek Carr, Ryan and Cam Newton at home, but Wilson should have a productive Week 8 in the Big Easy.

Rank	Player	Team	Matchup
1	David Johnson	ARI	CAR
2	Ezekiel Elliott	DAL	PHI
3	LeGarrette Blount	NE	BUF
4	Melvin Gordon	SD	DEN
5	Devonta Freeman	ATL	GB
6	LeSean McCoy	BUF	NE
7	Matt Forte	NYJ	CLE
8	Christine Michael	SEA	NO
9	Spencer Ware	KC	IND
10	Devontae Booker	DEN	SD
11	Jacquizz Rodgers	TB	OAK
12	Lamar Miller	HOU	DET
13	Mark Ingram	NO	SEA
14	Latavius Murray	OAK	TB
15	Frank Gore	IND	KC
16	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	ARI
17	Giovani Bernard	CIN	WAS
18	Isaiah Crowell	CLE	NYJ
19	Theo Riddick	DET	HOU
20	Jerick McKinnon	MIN	CHI
21	Ty Montgomery	GB	ATL
22	Jeremy Hill	CIN	WAS
23	James White	NE	BUF
24	Matt Jones	WAS	CIN
25	Ryan Mathews	PHI	DAL
26	Jamaal Charles	KC	IND
27	Matt Asiata	MIN	CHI
28	Jordan Howard	CHI	MIN
29	Darren Sproles	PHI	DAL
30	Ka'Deem Carey	CHI	MIN

Christine Michael should absolutely feast this week. The Saints are allowing an NFL-worst 25.2 fantasy points to opposing running backs per week. They have given up 150 rushing yards or more to the position twice this season and two or more touchdowns to running backs four times.

Michael, meanwhile, has been inconsistent, but the porous Saints defense should help in that regard. 

Matt Forte is probably licking his chops as well. The Cleveland Browns just gave up 271 rushing yards and two scores to Cincinnati's running backs last week, while Forte silenced his critics with a 30-carry, 100-yard, one-touchdown performance in Week 7.

After a long dry spell, it appears Forte's value has reemerged. Perhaps the Jets finally realized leaning on him, rather than Ryan Fitzpatrick's inconsistent arm, is the best recipe for success. 

RB Flex Advice

Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Ty Montgomery is absolutely worth your flex spot this week.

In ESPN leagues, he now has a RB/WR designation, though that's irrelevant if you are flexing him. What is relevant is the fact that Montgomery not only caught 10 passes for 66 yards last week, but he also rushed nine times for 60 yards. 

Clearly, the Green Bay Packers trust him to handle a heavy dose of touches, which is good news against an Atlanta defense giving up 21.1 points per week to opposing running backs (27th in the NFL). Montgomery's upside isn't huge, but on a week with six teams off, how picky can you afford to be?

RB PPR Advice

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Montgomery is a fantastic PPR option, seeing as he's caught 20 passes the past two weeks. As usual, New England's James White is another strong option for owners.

With LeGarrette Blount running roughshod over defenses, White continues to have fantasy value solely as a receiver out of the backfield. Since the return of Tom Brady, he's averaging 11.3 fantasy points per game. 

Other players to keep an eye on in PPR formats:

• Giovanni Bernard: Not only does he have 30 receptions on the season, he also has notched 32 carries the past two weeks. At the moment, he's the more productive player in Cincy's backfield, surpassing Jeremy Hill.
• Duke Johnson: The Cleveland running back is a mediocre choice in standard leagues, but his 28 receptions and 39 targets are each third on the Browns. He continues to be a nice value play in PPR formats.
• Theo Riddick: He's Detroit's best running back, period, but he's certainly its most dangerous in the passing game. Expect nice numbers in his return to action.

Rank	Player	Team	Matchup
1	Julio Jones	ATL	GB
2	Mike Evans	TB	OAK
3	A.J. Green	CIN	WAS
4	T.Y. Hilton	IND	KC
5	Brandon Marshall	NYJ	CLE
6	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	CAR
7	Michael Crabtree	OAK	TB
8	Marvin Jones	DET	HOU
9	Amari Cooper	OAK	TB
10	Jordy Nelson	GB	ATL
11	Demaryius Thomas	DEN	SD
12	Terrelle Pryor	CLE	NYJ
13	Randall Cobb	GB	ATL
14	Emmanuel Sanders	DEN	SD
15	Brandin Cooks	NO	SEA
16	Dez Bryant	DAL	PHI
17	DeAndre Hopkins	HOU	DET
18	Kelvin Benjamin	CAR	ARI
19	Alshon Jeffery	CHI	MIN
20	Stefon Diggs	MIN	CHI
21	Doug Baldwin	SEA	NO
22	Jordan Matthews	PHI	DAL
23	Michael Thomas	NO	SEA
24	Jamison Crowder	WAS	CIN
25	Tyrell Williams	SD	DEN
26	Davante Adams	GB	ATL
27	DeSean Jackson	WAS	CIN
28	Brandon LaFell	CIN	WAS
29	Cole Beasley	DAL	PHI
30	Quincy Enunwa	NYJ	CLE

The New York Jets have given up 20 or more fantasy points to opposing wide receivers in six of seven games this season and at least 34 points three times. Terrelle Pryor should have a huge game against New York's surprisingly mediocre secondary.

Meanwhile, now might (finally) be the time for DeAndre Hopkins to break out of his season-long slump. The Detroit Lions have given up 24.3 fantasy points to opposing wideouts this season, good for 25th in the NFL. Both Osweiler and Hopkins could be in line for a nice evening, though Hopkins seems like the far safer bet. 

WR Flex Advice

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Stefon Diggs went from fantasy darling to bust this season, though issues with his groin played a factor there. Nonetheless, he's been a non-factor since Week 2. That should change against a Chicago defense giving up an NFL-worst 27.3 fantasy points to opposing wideouts per game.

At the very least, Diggs is worth flex consideration. He should bust out in a big way this week.

Quincy Enunwa is another player to watch against a Cleveland defense that has allowed opposing wideouts to score a total of 68 fantasy points over the past two weeks. Brandon Marshall will be the headliner, but Enunwa should be in line for a very solid showing as well.

WR PPR Advice

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There aren't many wide receivers who offer significantly more PPR value than they do standard-league value. The closest we may get, however, is Julian Edelman.

This isn't because Edelman has been particularly good in PPR, but rather because he's been a complete bust in standard formats. However, despite his inability to accumulate an impressive amount of yardage or a single touchdown this season, he does have 18 receptions since the return of Brady and 37 receptions on 54 targets in total.

Like White, Edelman should be more valuable, generally, with Brady slinging passes. In standard formats, that change in value hasn't manifested. In PPR leagues, however, he's at least a decent option.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Rob Gronkowski	NE	BUF
2	Greg Olsen	CAR	ARI
3	Jordan Reed	WAS	CIN
4	Jimmy Graham	SEA	NO
5	Jack Doyle	IND	KC
6	Travis Kelce	KC	IND
7	Hunter Henry	SD	DEN
8	Kyle Rudolph	MIN	CHI
9	Zach Miller	CHI	MIN
10	Coby Fleener	NO	SEA

If you've played waivers right over the past couple of weeks, you probably ended up with Jack Doyle. As long as Dwayne Allen remains sidelined, Doyle is a legitimate TE1 and one of Andrew Luck's most reliable targets in Indianapolis.

Keep Doyle in those starting lineups, folks.

TE Flex Advice

Unless you are in dire straits—or you have, like, Rob Gronkowski and Greg Olsen on your team—don't flex a tight end. The position will simply never have the upside that a running back or wide receiver possesses. 

TE PPR Advice

Mitchell Layton/Getty Images

Jordan Reed hasn't been consistent for standard-league owners who drafted him to be a game-changer, but his 6.6 receptions for game make him a major producer in PPR leagues. Assuming he plays on Sunday, he should post huge numbers for PPR owners against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Rank	Team	Opponent
1	MIN	CHI
2	DEN	SD
3	ARI	CAR
4	SEA	NO
5	NYJ	CLE
6	NE	BUF
7	KC	IND
8	PHI	DAL
9	HOU	DET
10	CAR	ARI

Good luck, folks. With a number of teams on bye and a slew of solid fantasy defenses playing really good offenses, this is a brutal week for your D/ST slot. If you have a team like the Minnesota Vikings, you'll be at a serious advantage.

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Adam Vinatieri	IND	KC
2	Josh Lambo	SD	DEN
3	Matt Bryant	ATL	GB
4	Dustin Hopkins	WAS	CIN
5	Sebastian Janikowski	OAK	TB
6	Nick Novak	HOU	DET
7	Caleb Sturgis	PHI	DAL
8	Brandon McManus	DEN	SD
9	Mike Nugent	CIN	WAS
10	Matt Prater	DET	DEN

As always, stick with consistent, high-scoring kickers. Never get cute at this position. 

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter. All points-against and fantasy stats via ESPN.com.