Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings, Top Players, Sleepers and Positional Guide

Week 7 was another wild one in the NFL, with two of the league's last undefeated teams suffering their first losses. Week 8 figures to bring more of the same, and it should carry a fair bit of uncertainty for fantasy managers, too.

Injuries continue to impact the fantasy football landscape, and some legitimate fantasy stars will be on bye this week. The Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers will have the week off.

Here, you'll find early point-per-reception (PPR) rankings for the top plays of Week 8, along with some high-upside sleepers who may still be available on the waiver wire.

Quarterback

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Dolphins QB Malik Willis

Rankings

1. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills
2. Drake Maye, New England Patriots
3. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
4. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
5. Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
6. Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers
7. Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
8. Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears
9. Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
10. Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders

Sleeper: Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins got their first win of 2026 on Sunday, thanks to a strong dual-threat effort by quarterback Malik Willis.

Having rookie receiver Caleb Douglas in the lineup certainly helped, as he caught a pair of touchdown passes against the New York Jets. Willis, meanwhile, threw for 208 yards, rushed for 37 yards and a score, and finished with 26 fantasy points.

The New England Patriots will provide a stiffer test this week, as they've allowed an average of just 15.7 fantasy points to opposing QBs. However, Willis' scrambling ability should provide a reasonable floor, and he's rostered in only 20 percent of fantasy leagues.

Running Back

AP Photo/Caroline Brehman

Cardinals RB Zonovan Knight

Rankings

1. Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
2. Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions
3. Kenneth Walker III, Kansas City Chiefs
4. James Cook, Buffalo Bills
5. Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
6. Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys
7. Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams
8. Ashton Jeanty, Las Vegas Raiders
9. Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
10. Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
11. Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
12. Josh Jacobs, Green Bay Packers
13. D'Andre Swift, Chicago Bears
14. Buckey Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
15. Bhayshul Tuten, Jacksonville Jaguars

Sleeper: Zonovan Knight, Arizona Cardinals

To be fair, Zonovan Knight's sleeper hinges heavily on the availability of rookie running back Jeremiyah Love. However, Knight has emerged as the top back, over Tyler Allgeier, with Love out.

Knight rushed for 48 yards and 6.9 yards per carry against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, and he added 15 yards on three receptions. He'll have a much more favorable matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.

Dallas' defense has been a liability all season, especially against the run. The Cowboys entered Monday night surrendering an average of 18.3 fantasy points to opposing running backs.

Knight is rostered in only 14 percent of fantasy leagues.

Wide Receiver

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Jets WR Omar Cooper Jr.

Rankings

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
2. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
4. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals
5. Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens
6. Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars
7. Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers
8. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
9. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys
10. Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
11. Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers
12. Matthew Golden, Green Bay Packers
13. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
14. Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals
15. Stefon Diggs, Washington Commanders
16. Jalen Coker, Carolina Panthers
17. DK Metcalf, Pittsburgh Steelers
18. Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
19. Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears
20. George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys

Sleeper: Omar Cooper Jr., New York Jets

After topping 22 fantasy points in consecutive weeks, Jets rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. figures to be one of the top waiver-wire adds ahead of Week 8. The Indiana product has established himself as the clear-cut second option opposite Garrett Wilson, and he may have even taken over the No. 1 role.

Cooper has rapidly become one of Geno Smith's favorite options. He saw five targets in Week 7, while Wilson only saw three.

This week, Cooper will have a solid matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, who have surrendered an average of 26.6 fantasy points to opposing receiver groups. That's a middle-of-the-pack ranking, but Cooper's target share gives him tremendous upside.

Cooper is still only rostered in 39 percent of fantasy leagues.

Tight End

AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack

Jaguars TE Brenton Strange

Rankings

1. Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
2. Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
3. Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers
4. Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions
5. Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears
6. Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
7. T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings
8. Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills
9. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
10. Hunter Henry, New England Patriots

Sleeper: Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars are coming off their bye and will look to get back on track against the rival Indianapolis Colts. Tight end Brenton Strange should be a big part of their offensive game plan.

Strange has seen at least seven targets in each of his past three outings. He logged 9.4 fantasy points in Week 6 and reached double digits in both Week 4 and Week 5. He should approach double digits again with Indy coming to town.

The Colts have surrendered an average of 11.3 fantasy points to opposing tight ends. Strange is rostered in 46 percent of fantasy leagues.

Kicker and Defense/Special Teams

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

Vikings K Will Reichard

Kickers

1. Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings
2. Spencer Shrader, Indianapolis Colts
3. Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
4. Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals
5. Brandon Aubrey, Dallas Cowboys
6. Chad Ryland, Arizona Cardinals
7. Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills
8. Tyler Loop, Baltimore Ravens
9. Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles
10. Brandon McManus, Los Angeles Rams

Defense/Special Teams

1. New England Patriots
2. Los Angeles Rams
3. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Jacksonville Jaguars
5. Denver Broncos
6. Minnesota Vikings
7. Cincinnati Bengals
8. Kansas City Chiefs
9. Chicago Bears
10. Las Vegas Raiders

*Fantasy scoring and roster information from FantasyPros