Week 8 Fantasy Football Projections: Stat Predictions for Top 100 Players

For many fantasy owners, we're beginning to enter do-or-die territory. 

There are just five weeks remaining in most leagues' regular season. That's plenty of time to make up a one- or two-game deficit, but if you're sitting at or below .500 right now, there's a good chance you can't afford any more losses.

While trading can help, lineup decisions are ultimately what will be most important during the stretch run to the playoffs.

With that in mind, let's take an early look at projections for the top 100 individual players in Week 8.

Thursday, Oct. 23	Time (ET)
Sunday, Oct. 26	Time (ET)
Monday, Oct. 27	Time (ET)
San Diego at Denver	8:25 p.m.
Detroit at Atlanta	9:30 a.m.
St. Louis at Kansas City	1 p.m.
Houston at Tennessee	1 p.m.
Minnesota at Tampa Bay	1 p.m.
Seattle at Carolina	1 p.m.
Baltimore at Cincinnati	1 p.m.
Miami at Jacksonville	1 p.m.
Chicago at New England	1 p.m.
Buffalo at NY Jets	1 p.m.
Philadelphia at Arizona	4:05 p.m.
Oakland at Cleveland	4:25 p.m.
Indianapolis at Pittsburgh	4:25 p.m.
Green Bay at New Orleans	8:30 p.m.
Washington at Dallas	8:30 p.m.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Projections
1	Peyton Manning, DEN	320 PAS, 3 TD, 1 INT
2	Aaron Rodgers, GB	330 PAS, 3 TD
3	Andrew Luck, IND	370 PAS, 2 TD, 1 INT
4	Drew Brees, NO	315 PAS, 2 TD, 1 INT
5	Russell Wilson, SEA	210 PAS, 45 RUS, 2 TD
6	Tom Brady, NE	300 PAS, 4 TD
7	Philip Rivers, SD	280 PAS, 2 TD
8	Nick Foles, PHI	220 PAS, 1 TD, 2 INT
9	Tony Romo, DAL	255 PAS, 3 TD
10	Cam Newton, CAR	230 PAS, 65 RUS, 1 TD, 1 INT
11	Matthew Stafford, DET	240 PAS, 1 TD, 1 INT
12	Carson Palmer, ARI	315 PAS, 2 TD, 1 INT
13	Ryan Tannehill, MIA	265 PAS, 55 RUS, 2 TD
14	Matt Ryan, ATL	205 PAS, 1 TD, 1 INT
15	Jay Cutler, CHI	275 PAS, 2 TD, 2 INT
16	Andy Dalton, CIN	210 PAS, 1 TD, 1 INT
17	Joe Flacco, BAL	255 PAS, 2 TD, 1 INT
18	Kyle Orton, BUF	285 PAS, 2 TD
19	Alex Smith, KC	215 PAS, 1 TD, 1 INT
20	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	245 PAS, 2 TD

Sleeper: Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

In Ryan Tannehill's first two seasons under center in Miami, he averaged 14.03 rushing yards per game. Through the first six contests of 2014 under Chip Kelly disciple Bill Lazor, he has nearly doubled that output to 25.0.

Moreover, it's a number that continues to grow (44.0 in the last three) as the Dolphins come to a pretty simple realization, via the Miami Herald's Adam Beasley:

People forget the 6'4", 220-pound Texas A&M product was a wide receiver in college. He is one of the most athletic players in the league at his position, and his fantasy value will be a direct correlation of how often he gets to tuck it and run.

Of course, as NFL.com's Jeff Darlington noted, Tannehill has been quite efficient throwing the ball, as well:

Lazor has helped create a poor man's Philadelphia Eagles in Miami. He's doing a tremendous job using misdirection, getting Tannehill outside of the pocket and creating easy throws for the third-year QB with screens and short-to-intermediate routes.

Tannehill's longest completion this season is 35 yards (an amazing 43rd-lowest in the NFL behind guys like Jimmy Garoppolo, T.J. Yates and Mohamed Sanu), yet he's well on his way to a career-year statistically.

Facing a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that has given up the fifth-most fantasy points to QBs despite facing Charlie Whitehurst and Brian Hoyer in the last two weeks (and is now without steady middle linebacker Paul Posluszny), Tannehill is a legit QB1.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Projections
1	DeMarco Murray, DAL	135 RUS, 25 REC
2	Jamaal Charles, KC	85 RUS, 20 REC, 1 TD
3	Arian Foster, HOU	110 RUS, 30 REC, 1 TD
4	Marshawn Lynch, SEA	105 RUS, 2 TD
5	Matt Forte, CHI	65 RUS, 70 REC
6	Andre Ellington, ARI	55 RUS, 85 REC, 1 TD
7	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	95 RUS, 40 REC, 1 TD
8	LeSean McCoy, PHI	80 RUS, 35 REC
9	Lamar Miller, MIA	85 RUS, 40 REC, 1 TD
10	Ben Tate, CLE	95 RUS, 1 TD
11	Eddie Lacy, GB	55 RUS, 1 TD
12	Ronnie Hillman, DEN	75 RUS, 25 REC
13	Ahmad Bradshaw, IND	50 RUS, 35 REC, 1 TD
14	Giovani Bernard, CIN	50 RUS, 50 REC, 1 TD
15	Justin Forsett, BAL	80 RUS, 35 REC
16	Jerick McKinnon, MIN	115 RUS, 25 REC, 1 TD
17	Shane Vereen, NE	45 RUS, 65 REC
18	Joique Bell, DET	95 RUS, 20 REC, 1 TD
19	Branden Oliver, SD	50 RUS, 40 REC
20	Chris Ivory, NYJ	55 RUS, 15 REC
21	Alfred Morris, WAS	60 RUS
22	Anthony Dixon, BUF	35 RUS
23	Bishop Sankey, TEN	80 RUS
24	Mark Ingram, NO	75 RUS, 1 TD
25	Denard Robinson, JAX	55 RUS, 45 REC
26	Tre Mason, STL	90 RUS, 1 TD
27	Trent Richardson, IND	60 RUS, 25 REC
28	Doug Martin, TB	50 RUS, 20 REC
29	Darren McFadden, OAK	85 RUS
30	Bernard Pierce, BAL	30 RUS

Sleeper: Jerick McKinnon, Minnesota Vikings

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Coming into the week, there was reason to be pessimistic about Jerick McKinnon's Week 7 outlook. Head coach Mike Zimmer talked about getting Matt Asiata more touches, and the Buffalo Bills were yielding a league-best 2.8 yards per carry.

And still, the rookie who has been hyped to no end over the last month (I believe the words "physical freak" have been uttered a few billion times) somehow found a way to defy expectations: 19 carries for 103 yards, becoming the first 100-yard rusher against a defense that has faced Matt Forte, Lamar Miller and Arian Foster.

Fantasy production is one part opportunity and one part talent. McKinnon has both. He out-snapped and out-touched Asiata in a big way for the second straight week, and he continues to impress on the field, via Sports on Earth's Andrew Garda and ESPN's Christopher Harris:

The Vikings O-line, which lost John Sullivan and Vlad Ducasse to injuries, is a worry. But McKinnon, who breaks tackles (he gained 57 yards after contact Sunday) and explodes through tight spaces, is the kind of rare talent capable of transcending that problem.

He's set for a top-eight day against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have given up 4.1 yards per carry and six touchdowns to opposing running backs.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Projections
1	Jordy Nelson, GB	95 REC, 1 TD
2	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	100 REC, 2 TD
3	Antonio Brown, PIT	80 REC
4	Dez Bryant, DAL	120 REC, 1 TD
5	Jeremy Maclin, PHI	85 REC
6	Julio Jones, ATL	75 REC, 1 TD
7	Golden Tate, DET	110 REC
8	Randall Cobb, GB	55 REC, 1 TD
9	T.Y. Hilton, IND	105 REC, 1 TD
10	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	65 REC
11	Sammy Watkins, BUF	85 REC
12	Steve Smith, BAL	70 REC
13	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	90 REC, 1 TD
14	Vincent Jackson, TB	70 REC
15	Mike Wallace, MIA	75 REC, 1 TD
16	Brandon Marshall, CHI	55 REC
17	Doug Baldwin, SEA	65 REC
18	Andre Johnson, HOU	75 REC
19	Reggie Wayne, IND	60 REC, 1TD
20	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	40 REC
21	Mohamed Sanu, CIN	95 REC
22	Roddy White, ATL	55 REC
23	Julian Edelman, NE	85 REC, 1 TD
24	Marques Colston, NO	60 REC
25	Pierre Garcon, WAS	85 REC
26	Wes Welker, DEN	40 REC
27	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	65 REC, 1 TD
28	Michael Floyd, ARI	105 REC, 1 TD
29	Greg Jennings, MIN	80 REC
30	Andrew Hawkins, CLE	95 REC
31	DeSean Jackson, WAS	45 REC
32	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	55 REC
33	James Jones, OAK	60 REC, 1 TD
34	Cecil Shorts, JAX	80 REC
35	Keenan Allen, SD	35 REC, 1 TD

Sleeper: Denard Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars

Stephen B. Morton/Associated Press

In what will be reminiscent of Joe Webb at wide receiver or Marques Colston at tight end, you've got an opportunity to play the system in Yahoo! leagues, as Denard Robinson—the Jacksonville Jaguars' new starting running back—can be slotted as a wide receiver.

That's not such a bad proposition, considering Robinson, aka Shoelace, aka Denard Dog, is fresh off demolishing the Cleveland Browns for 127 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Quarterback Blake Bortles, via Jaguars.com's John Oehser, praised the former Michigan QB/RB/WR/offensive weapon/everything ever:

"

He’s always been very impressive to watch running the ball. He’s getting better. He hasn’t been doing it for very long. He’s getting better week-by-week and the offensive line is doing a really good job. I thought they played their tails off and they really did a good job of controlling the line of scrimmage.

"

Miami presents a stiff challenge in Week 8, but if you're in a Yahoo! league, you can't pass on the chance to start a player who is going to receive 15-20 touches in your WR3 spot.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Projection
1	Julius Thomas, DEN	60 REC, 1 TD
2	Rob Gronkowski, NE	85 REC, 2 TD
3	Jimmy Graham, NO	75 REC
4	Greg Olsen, CAR	100 REC, 1 TD
5	Martellus Bennett, CHI	50 REC
6	Antonio Gates, SD	60 REC, 1 TD
7	Delanie Walker, TEN	50 REC
8	Dwayne Allen, IND	70 REC
9	Jordan Reed, WAS	110 REC, 1 TD
10	Jared Cook, STL	55 REC
11	Travis Kelce, KC	60 REC, 1 TD
12	Heath Miller, PIT	50 REC
13	Jordan Cameron, CLE	75 REC
14	Jason Witten, DAL	30 REC
15	Jermaine Gresham, CIN	40 REC

Sleeper: Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins

USA TODAY Sports

After a break against the Houston Texans and Seattle Seahawks, who don't really have any dangerous options at tight end, the Dallas Cowboys got back to hemorrhaging fantasy points against the position, allowing Larry Donnell to catch seven passes for a season-high 90 yards. 

Donnell fumbled twice to ruin his day, but it's still more evidence to the 'Boys' lack of coverage against tight ends. Take a look at how they've fared this season:

Week	Player	Tar	Rec	Yds	TD	Fan Pts
1	Vernon Davis	6	4	44	2	16.4
2	Delanie Walker	14	10	142	1	20.2
3	Lance Kendricks	7	6	29	1	8.9
3	Jared Cook	9	7	75	0	7.5
4	Jimmy Graham	11	8	86	1	14.6
4	Josh Hill	1	1	12	1	7.2
5	Ryan Griffin	1	1	8	0	0.8
6	Luke Willson	6	2	11	0	1.1
7	Larry Donnell	7	7	90	0	5.0

Since returning from his hamstring injury, Jordan Reed has recorded 17 targets, 13 receptions and 146 yards, reminding the world of his immense talent when healthy.

The quarterback situation in Washington is murky at best, but the combination of talent and matchup makes Reed a top-five option in Week 8.