B/R's Week 8 PPR Fantasy Football 2025 Player Rankings
In most fantasy leagues, the regular season is halfway over. And during this "halftime" of sorts, fantasy managers are preparing for the second half in very different ways.
For teams with five or more wins, it's all about maintaining momentum by continuing to stack wins and avoiding injuries. But there's at least some margin for error.
For teams with five or more losses, that margin is long gone. It's still possible to salvage the season, but the next loss could be the final straw.
And then there's the large pack of 3-4 and 4-3 teams for whom nothing is certain. If they get hot in the second half, they can cruise into the playoffs; but if they get mired in a losing streak, it will be time to panic.
No matter which situation you find yourself in, the goal in Week 8 is the same: start the regular season's second half with a win. The goal of this column is to help fantasy managers do just that with position-by-position PPR rankings, breakout and bust candidates, sleeper picks, and top overall flex options.
Quarterbacks
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It has been a brutal season for injuries at the quarterback position in fantasy football—and the hits kept coming in Week 7.
Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders had already missed time with a knee injury this season, and now the second-year scrambler has a hamstring injury. That injury reportedly isn't believed to be serious, but his status for Week 8 is uncertain at best.
Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens has a bad hamstring of his own, but there was optimism that the two-time MVP would be back this week after the team's bye. However, he has yet to practice this week, so fantasy managers will need to monitor him as the week progresses.
Week 8 Quarterback Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 8
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (at PIT) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]
The storylines about this week's matchup between the Steelers and Packers will be all about Aaron Rodgers, but Love has a good chance to have the better game against a Pittsburgh team allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (vs. DAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]
In Week 7, Nix became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for two scores and run for two scores in the same quarter. Now the second-year signal-caller draws a date with a Dallas defense that has been all but non-existent this season.
Players to Avoid in Week 8
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. MIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,300]
Everything bad that has happened to the Los Angeles Chargers over the past month can be blamed on the abomination of a uniform the team wore in Week 7, including a slow game from Herbert in a bad fantasy matchup for quarterbacks against the Vikings Thursday night.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (at DEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,500]
Prescott has been a top-five fantasy QB this season, and he got CeeDee Lamb back last week. But the Denver Broncos are sixth in the league in pass defense and have given up the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Week 8 Sleeper
Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons (vs. MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,400]
It has been 10 months since Cousins started an NFL game, but he's expected to draw the start Sunday with Michael Penix Jr. nursing a sore knee. The one-win Dolphins haven't played well defensively--among AFC teams, only the Baltimore Ravens have given up more fantasy points per game to quarterbacks than Miami this year.
Running Backs
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It's becoming a three-player race to be the No. 1 fantasy running back in 2025, and all three are wreaking havoc this season.
Christian McCaffrey of the San Francisco 49ers posted his first 200-yard effort as a Niner in Week 7, scoring twice against Atlanta and flirting with 40 PPR points.
Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts piled up 132 total yards last week and found the end zone three more times against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Atlanta's Bijan Robinson had 92 total yards and a score against San Francisco on his way to a third straight game with 20-plus PPR points.
Fantasy managers who used an early pick on one of those backs won't be complaining at the season's midway point.
Week 8 Running Back Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 8
Breece Hall, New York Jets (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,100]
It's difficult to get excited about any Jets player right now. But seven weeks into the season, the Bengals are 27th in run defense and are the only team in the league allowing over 30 PPR points per game to running backs this year.
Cam Skattebo, New York Giants (at PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,600]
Skattebo has rapidly become a favorite of both Giants fans and fantasy managers, and the hard-charging rookie should have another good game against an Eagles team giving up the eighth-most PPR points per game to running backs in 2025.
Players to Avoid in Week 8
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Washington Commanders (at KC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]
Croskey-Merritt has been solid more often than not as a rookie. But he managed just 2.5 yards per carry last week against the Dallas Cowboys, and the game script this week against the red-hot Chiefs could be even worse.
Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns (at NE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,500]
Judkins essentially was Cleveland's offense last week, scoring three times in the rain against the Miami Dolphins. The sledding will be tougher in a Week 8 matchup with a Patriots team that ranks third in the NFL against the run.
Week 8 Sleeper
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (vs. MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,800]
There's no question Bijan Robinson is the lead back in Atlanta. But Allgeier has 10-plus carries and a score in two of the last three games, and the Falcons have surrendered the fourth-most PPR points per game to running backs this year.
Wide Receivers
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Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was the first overall pick in many fantasy drafts over the summer. But with Joe Burrow on the shelf most of the season with an injured toe, Chase was a massive disappointment early in the year.
Propelled by a ludicrous 23 targets against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Chase exploded to the tune of 16 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown. It was his third straight game with at least 25 PPR points, and he has risen to second in PPR points among wide receivers for the season.
Order has been restored to the universe.
Week 8 Wide Receiver Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 8
Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears (at BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,300]
Odunze has tailed off lately with just four catches for 63 yards over the last two games combined. He'll bounce back Sunday against a bad Ravens defense that is allowing the fourth-most PPR points per game to wideouts this season.
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (vs. DAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,200]
Sutton caught six passes for 87 yards last week against the New York Giants in Week 7, but he hasn't scored since Week 4. The eight-year veteran will get back into the end zone this week against the Cowboys' 32nd-ranked pass defense.
Players to Avoid in Week 8
Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. MIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,700]
The emergence of Quentin Johnston and the return of Keenan Allen have thrown a major wrench into McConkey's fantasy value this season. Now he faces a stingy Minnesota secondary giving up the fourth-fewest PPR points per game to wide receivers this year.
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins (at ATL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,700]
In technical terms, the Dolphins are trash now. Head coach Mike McDaniel is coaching like he wants to be fired, Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa looks lost. And now they have to take on Atlanta's top-ranked pass defense.
Week 8 Sleeper
Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans (at IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,900]
Cam Ward and the Tennessee offense have been pretty awful this season, but no team has surrendered more PPR points per game to wide receivers this year than the Colts.
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Tight Ends
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The tight end position is often one of the more unpredictable in fantasy football, and the 2025 campaign has been no different. Of the top-five tight ends in PPR points per game, only one was drafted that highly.
Jake Ferguson continues to be a big part of the Dallas passing game, even with CeeDee Lamb back. Tyler Warren of the Colts is trying to be the third straight tight end to lead the position in fantasy points. Buffalo's Dalton Kincaid and Philadelphia's Dallas Goedert have both exceeded expectations in a big way.
Apparently, the large second tier of TEs was where the value was in drafts over the summer.
Week 8 Tight End Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 8
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers (at PIT) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,400]
There's no clear "alpha" in the Green Bay passing attack, but when the Packers get into the red zone, Jordan Love tends to look for Kraft. For the season, the Steelers have given up the third-most PPR points per game to tight ends.
Mason Taylor, New York Jets (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,500]
If Jets owner Woody Johnson's comments about the team's quarterback situation are any indication, Tyrod Taylor will be starting this week against a Cincinnati Bengals team that leads the NFL in fantasy points per game given up to tight ends.
Players to Avoid in Week 8
Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders (at KC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,600]
With all of their injuries at wide receiver, Ertz might appear a strong start against the Chiefs at first glance. But Kansas City will focus quite a bit of coverage on the veteran tight end, and the team doesn't allow many fantasy points to the position.
George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers (at HOU) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,500]
Kittle's first game back from injury last week wasn't great—he didn't catch either of his targets against the Atlanta Falcons. Now he faces a Houston Texans team that has surrendered the fifth-fewest PPR points per game to tight ends.
Week 8 Sleeper
Jonnu Smith, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. GB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,200]
Smith hasn't had even 30 receiving yards in a game this season, but he found the end zone last week for the second time and faces a Green Bay Packers team Sunday night that leads the NFC in PPR points per game allowed to tight ends.
Team Defenses and Kickers
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For years during the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era in New England, the Patriots were among the highest-scoring defenses in fantasy football.
In the first year under Mike Vrabel, the Pats are back on top of Mount DST.
After five sacks, two takeaways, 13 points allowed and a defensive score last week against the Tennessee Titans, the Patriots defense has posted double-digit fantasy points five times in seven games.
That level of consistency at a position where it can be hard to come by is a warm blanket for fantasy managers.
Week 8 Team Defense Rankings
Week 8 Kicker Rankings
Players to Watch in Week 8
Indianapolis Colts Defense (vs. TEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,800]
That big game from the Patriots defense came against the hapless Titans, who have led the league in fantasy points per game allowed to the position for most of the season. Whoever is playing Tennessee can be considered a top-five fantasy defense that week.
Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. NYJ)
The Cincinnati offense finally got back on track last week against Pittsburgh Steelers, and McPherson and the Bengals now face a New York Jets team that leads the league in fantasy points given up to kickers.
Players to Avoid in Week 8
Denver Broncos Defense (vs. DAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,100]
The Broncos were the first defense off the board in most fantasy drafts this summer, and the team is a respectable sixth in fantasy points. But the Cowboys are playing as well offensively as any team in the league, dropping 44 on the Washington Commanders in Week 7.
Eddy Pineiro, San Francisco 49ers (at HOU)
Pineiro is third among kickers in both fantasy points and fantasy points per game this season. But for whatever reason, the Texans just don't give up points to his position—less than four per game.
Week 8 Sleeper
Cincinnati Bengals Defense (vs. NYJ) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,100]
Are the Bengals a good defensive football team? No, especially with edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson on the shelf. But the Jets are atrocious on offense, and a switch to Tyrod Taylor at quarterback isn't going to fix that.
Overall Rankings
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This set of overall rankings for Week 7 in PPR leagues can assist fantasy managers in making flex lineup decisions. However, it does not include quarterbacks—if your league uses a superflex spot and you have a viable second signal-caller, roll him out.
Of course, the list of teams with a viable QB2 is seemingly shrinking by the week. Quite a few fantasy squads are having trouble finding one decent starter under center.
Week 8 is the first bye-apocalypse of 2025. Six teams are off: the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks.
That's not going to make setting lineups any easier this week, and there will be some less-than-ideal decisions to be made.
Just do the best you can—and keep on keeping on.
Week 8 Overall Rankings
Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.
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