Fantasy Football Week 8: Preview and Predictions

Week 8 of the 2015 fantasy football season is somehow already here. The week kicks off when the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins play on Thursday Night Football, and while there are some relevant fantasy players playing in that game, there are a handful of great matchups worth targeting over the weekend as well.

This article will preview some of the key matchups worth paying attention to this week and will make some bold predictions.

Matthew Stafford has had an up-and-down season (which is par for the course in his case), but he finds himself in the top 10 this week with his matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Find out why he’s the breakout quarterback of the week inside.

At running back, Devonta Freeman and Todd Gurley have established themselves as two of the best options in the league. They represent a changing of the guard—but the old guard is hot on their heels. Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Le'Veon Bell and Matt Forte are also among the top plays this week.

Keenan Allen has become a key target in San Diego, and he slips into the top five in the Week 8 rankings thanks to a favorable matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.

This is just a taste of the previews. This slideshow will check in on every position entering Week 8 and will also provide several bold predictions.

QBs: Matthew Stafford Primed for Big Week

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Matthew Stafford

Tom Brady is the No. 1 overall quarterback heading into Week 8 despite the fact that he’s playing on Thursday Night Football—a game that’s often sloppy given the short turnaround. He’s been that good this season.

Aaron Rodgers is ranked No. 2 despite going up against the Denver Broncos defense—one of the best units in the league this season. Like Brady, Rodgers transcends matchups and situations.

Week 8’s Top 10 QBs

1. Tom Brady (vs. MIA)
2. Aaron Rodgers (at DEN)
3. Philip Rivers (at BAL)
4. Carson Palmer (at CLE)
5. Cam Newton (vs. IND)
6. Andy Dalton (at PIT)
7. Matthew Stafford (at KC)
8. Andrew Luck (at CAR)
9. Ben Roethlisberger (vs. CIN)
10. Drew Brees (vs. NYG)

Breakout QB of the Week: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions

In Week 8, Matthew Stafford’s Detroit Lions will take on the Chiefs, who have been decent against the pass over the past four weeks. In that span, the Chiefs have given up only five passing touchdowns.

However, the Chiefs did give up 12 passing touchdowns in the first three games of the season and have given up an average of 279 passing yards per game. Additionally, the past three quarterbacks they faced were Jay Cutler, Teddy Bridgewater and Landry Jones—not exactly murderers' row.

Stafford, for his part, has strung together two solid games after starting the season on the wrong foot. Over the past two weeks, he has thrown for 661 yards and six touchdowns against just one interception.

Both the Chiefs defense and Stafford appear to be trending in the right direction—so something has to give. My money is on Stafford, as it’s hard to buy into the Kansas City defense's recent string of success given the opponents the Chiefs have played.

QB Bust of the Week: Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders

Derek Carr and the Oakland Raiders face the New York Jets, a team that has dominated quarterbacks from a fantasy perspective so far this season.

Brady had big stats against the Jets in Week 7, but you should keep in mind that the Jets held him without a passing touchdown until the final minutes (in which Brady threw for two touchdowns).

Carr is coming off one of his best games of the season—he threw for 289 yards and three touchdowns against the San Diego Chargers—but he should ride the fantasy bench in Week 8. Carr is no Brady, and he won’t find life quite as easy against the Jets, who figure to shut down his top option (Amari Cooper) with Darrelle Revis.

RBs: Marshawn Lynch Back Among the Elite

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Marshawn Lynch

Marshawn Lynch finds himself ranked in the top five in Week 8 after turning in his best performance of the season in Week 7. He carried the ball 27 times for 122 yards (4.5 YPC average) and scored once last week, and while he may not carry the ball 27 times again, 20-plus isn’t out of the question.

Doug Martin is also in the top 10 this week. He has rushed for over 100 yards in each of the past three games.

Week 8’s Top 10 RBs

1. Devonta Freeman (vs. TB)
2. Todd Gurley (vs. SF)
3. Adrian Peterson (at CHI)
4. Le’Veon Bell (vs. CIN)
5. Marshawn Lynch (at DAL)
6. Matt Forte (vs. MIN)
7. Justin Forsett (vs. SD)
8. Chris Ivory (at OAK)
9. Mark Ingram (Vs. NYG)
10. Doug Martin (at ATL)

Breakout RB of the Week: Chris Johnson, Arizona Cardinals

Chris Johnson has secured the starting job for the Arizona Cardinals, and he continues to perform like the “CJ2K” of old—although not quite as dominant as the 2009 version.

With the Cleveland Browns on tap, Johnson might look exactly like his 2009 self.

Johnson has been performing as an RB1 so far this season, and the Browns are one of the worst teams against the run in 2015. They were just annihilated by Gurley to the tune of 128 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson could put up similar stats.

RB Bust of the Week: Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers

Carlos Hyde’s big Week 1 seems like a long time ago.

Since that night—when he ran the ball 26 times for 168 yards and two touchdowns—Hyde has averaged just 50 yards per game and has scored only once.

In Week 8, he’ll be playing against the St. Louis Rams, a team that has been subpar against the rush overall but has performed well at times. The Rams held Lynch without a touchdown in Week 1, kept Bell in check in Week 3 and kept the Cardinals' and Green Bay Packers' running backs out of the end zone in Weeks 4 and 5.

WRs: Keenan Allen Set for Huge Week 8

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Keenan Allen

Through seven games this season, Chargers wideout Keenan Allen has 62 receptions for 690 yards and three touchdowns. That puts him on pace for 142 receptions—just shy of Marvin Harrison’s NFL record of 143.

On top of that, Allen squares off against the Ravens, one of the worst teams against the pass this season. Allen will keep on rolling in Week 8. Ten-plus receptions and 125-plus yards—with a touchdown—is a reasonable projection.

Week 8’s Top 10 WRs

1. Julio Jones (vs. TB)
2. DeAndre Hopkins (vs. TEN)
3. Calvin Johnson (at KC)
4. Keenan Allen (at BAL)
5. Antonio Brown (vs. CIN)
6. Odell Beckham (at NO)
7. Julian Edelman (vs. MIA)
8. Brandon Marshall (at OAK)
9. Demaryius Thomas (vs. GB)
10. A.J. Green (at PIT)

Breakout WR of the Week: Jeremy Maclin, Kansas City Chiefs

In Week 8, Jeremy Maclin and the Chiefs will play against the Lions, a team that has been generous to wide receivers over the past several weeks.

In addition to letting Stefon Diggs cut through their defense in Week 7, the Lions also gave up five touchdowns to wide receivers from Weeks 3-6.

The Chiefs are still struggling to find an identity post-Jamaal Charles, and they will likely look to the passing game in Week 8. Fire Maclin up as a tail-end WR1 this week.

WR Bust of the Week: T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts

T.Y. Hilton was the main beneficiary of the giant deficit the Colts found themselves in in Week 7. He was the highest-scoring receiver of the week thanks to his four receptions, 150 yards and two touchdowns.

But it’s hard to fully trust Hilton. How much of that damage was done because his team was trailing 27-0 at one point? That game flow forced the Colts to pass deep—which ended up working wonders for Hilton—but it’s not a strategy to lean on, and it’s not a safe bet to place in fantasy football.

Up next for Hilton and the Colts are the Carolina Panthers, one of the better teams at defending the pass this season.

In Week 8, look for Hilton to be covered by Josh Norman, a cornerback who is turning heads and has quickly become one of the best in the league. Hilton’s high ceiling makes him hard to bench, but this is one of the tougher matchups he’ll have all season.

TEs: Travis Kelce Set to Rebound

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Travis Kelce

There are no surprises at the top of the tight end rankings this week. There are, however, some noteworthy players on bye, including Charles Clay, Julius Thomas and Jordan Reed.

But the tight end position remains deep in Week 8, helmed once again by Rob Gronkowski.

Week 8’s Top 10 TEs

1. Rob Gronkowski (vs. MIA)
2. Tyler Eifert (at PIT)
3. Greg Olsen (vs. IND)
4. Travis Kelce (vs. DET)
5. Antonio Gates (at BAL)
6. Delanie Walker (at HOU)
7. Gary Barnidge (vs. ARI)
8. Martellus Bennett (vs. MIN)
9. Jimmy Graham (at DAL)
10. Jason Witten (vs. SEA)

Breakout TE of the Week: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

Travis Kelce started off the season with a bang, but he has yet to find the end zone again despite the fact that he has seen steady usage (he has at least five receptions in five of seven games this season) and has put up 70-plus yards in four games this season (including the past two).

Jeremy Maclin is projected as the breakout wide receiver of the week. It’s clear I’m bullish on the Chiefs passing game this week (which is something that’s rarely typed). Look for Kelce to assume a bigger role near the goal line in Week 8 against the Lions—finally ending his touchdown-less streak.

TE Bust of the Week: Jordan Cameron, Miami Dolphins

Jordan Cameron will play against New England on Thursday Night Football, and the Patriots have been above average at defending tight ends this season. Only one tight end (Clay Harbor in Week 3) has scored double-digit fantasy points against New England this season.

Additionally, the new-look Miami offense has been revolving around Lamar Miller, which means Cameron is far from the focal point of the offense. The Patriots will likely focus on stopping Miller, but Cameron isn't even the No. 2 option in the offense. Despite the Dolphins' first-half explosion in Week 7, Cameron finished the game with only two catches for 23 yards.

Kickers: Avoid Sebastian Janikowski This Week

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Sebastian Janikowski

The kicker rankings don’t change much from week to week, but it’s noteworthy that players such as Josh Lambo and Chandler Catanzaro have established themselves near the top. Lambo is a strong play again in Week 8, as the Chargers should have no problem moving the ball against the Ravens to get into scoring range.

Week 8’s Top 10 Ks

1. Stephen Gostkowski (vs. MIA)
2. Brandon McManus (vs. GB)
3. Steven Hauschka (at DAL)
4. Justin Tucker (vs. SD)
5. Matt Bryant (vs. TB)
6. Josh Lambo (at BAL)
7. Chandler Catanzaro (at CLE)
8. Adam Vinatieri (at CAR)
9. Dan Bailey (vs. SEA)
10. Josh Brown (at NO)

Breakout K of the Week: Steven Hauschka, Seattle Seahawks

Steven Hauschka is one of the highest-scoring kickers in fantasy this season, and his Week 8 matchup will be in a controlled environment (in Dallas) against a team that is among the worst at defending kickers this season, per ESPN.com.

K Bust of the Week: Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland Raiders

As noted in the quarterback slide, the Raiders could have trouble moving the ball against the Jets' elite defense. The Jets are one of the stingiest teams against kickers this season, per ESPN.com, and that’s directly related to their strong defense.

With the Raiders offense expected to stumble in Week 8, Janikowski might not be asked to do much.

Defense and Special Teams: Rams Top D/ST Rankings in Week 8

Billy Hurst/Associated Press

The Rams sit atop the D/ST rankings heading into Week 8 after dominating in Week 7. Their matchup against the San Francisco 49ers warrants the high ranking.

The Broncos remain in the top 10 despite their tough matchup against the Packers. However, Aaron Rodgers has been good—not great—over the past three games. With that said, if this game were in Green Bay, the Broncos would not be in the top 10.

There are a handful of D/ST units worth starting over the Broncos this week, but they have been impressive enough so far this season that they still belong in (most) starting lineups.

Week 8’s Top 10 D/STs

1. St. Louis Rams (vs. SF)
2. Seattle Seahawks (at DAL)
3. Arizona Cardinals (at CLE)
4. Atlanta Falcons (vs. TB)
5. New York Jets (at OAK)
6. Minnesota Vikings (at CHI)
7. Carolina Panthers (vs. IND)
8. New England Patriots (vs. MIA)
9. Denver Broncos (vs. GB)
10. Houston Texans (vs. TEN)

Breakout D/ST of the Week: Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings D/ST has quietly put up strong numbers all season. No team has scored more than 23 points against the Vikings this season, and they have recorded a turnover in all but one game.

In Week 8, the Vikings will play against the Chicago Bears, a team that has given up double-digit fantasy points to four of six D/ST units so far this season. Minnesota is the top streaming D/ST option this week.

D/ST Bust of the Week: Cincinnati Bengals

This “bust” label assumes Ben Roethlisberger is back on the field for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8. That will put the Steelers at full strength, and the prospect of stopping a Roethlisberger-led offense that features Le'Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant is daunting.

Bold Predictions: The Pittsburgh Steelers Offense Will Roll in Week 8

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Pittsburgh Steelers

Below are five bold predictions for Week 8 of the fantasy football season. 

• Four Steelers players finish as top-10 fantasy scorers at their respective positions. That would include Ben Roethlisberger, Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown and Martavis Bryant all putting up top-10 numbers at their respective positions. This Cincinnati-Pittsburgh game has all the makings of a shootout, which means there will be plenty of fantasy points to go around.

• Giovani Bernard finishes as an RB1. Speaking of lots of points being scored in the Cincinnati-Pittsburgh game, the Bengals will be lighting it up as well. That means good things for Giovani Bernard, who will get plenty of work both on the ground and through the air in Week 8. He has RB1 written all over him.

• Lamar Miller finishes outside the top 20 in terms of fantasy points. Miller’s revival in the new Dolphins offense is legitimate, but he’ll have a tough go of it in Week 8. Bill Belichick often game-plans specifically around taking out the opposing team’s best player, and in the case of Miami, that means Miller. Add the short week (Miller plays on Thursday Night Football), and you have a recipe for a down game.

• Mike Evans keeps on rolling, finishes as a WR1. The second-year wideout for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers got back to his usual ways in Week 7, catching eight passes for 164 yards and a touchdown. Look for his connection with rookie quarterback Jameis Winston to grow as the Buccaneers try to keep pace with the high-scoring Atlanta Falcons. Evans will rack up the points once again in Week 8.

• Gary Barnidge finally slips, doesn’t put up TE1 numbers. Barnidge is still ranked in the top 10—he’s earned a spot in that group—but rankings and predictions are not one and the same. In Week 8, Barnidge will play against the Cardinals—the toughest team for a tight end to go against from a fantasy perspective in 2015, per ESPN.com. His amazing streak ends here.