Which under-the-radar players might be able to give your fantasy team a lift? Which chalky players might not be as safe as they seem?
Our featured analysts name some potential sleepers and underachievers for Week 8.
Check out all of our Week 8 fantasy football content
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant – which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team, and by how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
Q. Which player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is a good sleeper start and why do you think he has upside this week?
Irv Smith Jr. (TE – MIN)
“Tight end Irv Smith Jr. is FLEX-worthy this week. He earned four targets the last time the Vikings played and has a dream matchup versus the Arizona Cardinals in Week 8 that bleed fantasy points to TEs. They have allowed the second-most points to the position this season. ”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
“Irv Smith Jr. and the Vikings are coming off a bye week and face the Cardinals at home in Week 8. Arizona is allowing almost nine catches and 72 yards per game to opposing tight ends, and Kirk Cousins was already targeting the 24-year-old five times a week before the bye. So far this season, Kevin O’Connell‘s game plans have been fluid, giving Cousins the space to work and take what the defense gives him. Considering their history, I think the Cardinals will give him a lot of Irv Smith Jr., and he will vastly outperform his No. 114 ranking with a TE1 upside.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)
Terrace Marshall (WR – CAR)
“Panthers WR Terrace Marshall has a chance to prove himself now that Carolina has traded away Robbie Anderson. Marshall played a season-high 43 snaps (an 86% snap share) in the Panthers’ upset of the Buccaneers last week, finishing with 2-31-0 on three targets. With the Panthers finding themselves in an unexpectedly friendly game script, QB P.J. Walker attempted only 22 passes in the win over the Bucs. Marshall’s target totals figure to rise in the weeks to come. This week he’ll face a Falcons pass defense that has given up more fantasy points to WRs than any other. Atlanta’s top three cornerbacks — A.J. Terrell, Casey Hayward and Dee Alford — are all hurt, so the Carolina passing game could be uncharacteristically fruitful this week, making Marshall an intriguing flex option.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR – CLE)
“The easy pick for me is Donovan Peoples-Jones going up against the Bengals. Quietly Peoples-Jones is tied for second on the Browns with 42 targets and sports an 18% target share. With the Bengals currently favored to win this game, the Browns could be in catchup mode for this matchup leading to more pass attempts and more possible targets for Peoples-Jones. Additionally, David Njoku is expected to miss this game which could open up a larger role for Peoples-Jones. ”
– Wyatt Bertolone (JWB Fantasy Football)
Parris Campbell (WR – IND)
“I am all-in on Parris Campbell. Over the last two games, Campbell has been targeted 23 times and turned that into 17 receptions for 127 yards and two touchdowns. He is the WR6 in fantasy over that span. This week, he gets Washington, who gives up the 8th-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Even with a new quarterback, I’m starting Campbell in my Flex spots this week.”
– Ryan Weisse (Club Fantasy FFL)
Q. Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?
Najee Harris (RB – PIT)
“Najee Harris’ usage has been solid — 84% opportunity share in Week 7 — but the production has not followed. He’s yet to crack a top-12 finish at any point this season and currently ranks 5th worst in yards per carry (3.3). There’s a major fear that Harris won’t be able to take advantage of an Eagles run defense that has allowed 4.8 yards per carry to RBs as the Steelers are 11-point road underdogs with an abysmal 16.5-point team total. He’s an RB2 floor option at best, with hopes that he falls into the end zone.”
– Andrew Erickson (FantasyPros)
Michael Pittman Jr. (WR – IND)
“I loved Michael Pittman Jr. coming into this season, but I am worried about starting him this week. On Monday, the Colts announced that Sam Ehlinger will be their starter rest of the season, and that scares me. Ehlinger has yet to throw a pass in a regular season NFL game, was a 6th-round NFL Draft pick and isn’t exactly known for his arm talent. It’s tough to bench Pittman, and you probably can’t just in case, but I’m really lowering my expectations.”
– Wyatt Bertolone (JWB Fantasy Football)
“It’s not as if the Colts’ passing attack was booming with Matt Ryan at the controls, but now the Indianapolis passing game could be even more anemic with Sam Ehlinger making his first NFL start, making WR Michael Pittman a dicey fantasy option for Week 8. Pittman has been held under 60 receiving yards in three of his last four games and hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1. It seems unlikely that his numbers will perk up in a game where Ehlinger is getting his first prolonged exposure to an NFL defense.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Aaron Jones (RB – GB)
“It has been a season of disappointment for the Green Bay running backs, and it won’t get better this week. Taking on the Buffalo Bills, it will be hard for Aaron Jones to repeat what he did in Week 7. The Bills give up the 4th-fewest fantasy points to running backs and have only allowed one RB to score a receiving touchdown this season. Jones was pretty bad in the running game last week, but receiving saved his day. If the Bills take that away, he won’t come close to the top 40.”
– Ryan Weisse (Club Fantasy FFL)
Christian McCaffrey (RB – SF)
“Christian McCaffrey was hard to predict from week to week as it was, and now he is on a new team that is about to head to Los Angeles to face the No. 2 run defense (by DVOA) in the NFL. CMC is a fantastic talent and always comes with an enticing ceiling, but the Niners’ offensive line has struggled with run blocking, and L.A.’s D also ranks fifth against pass-catching backs. I do not doubt that Kyle Shanahan will eventually be able to use CMC in a way that maximizes his potential. Still, I think having him ranked at No. 12 as the RB6 of the week is too high and will likely disappoint fantasy managers.”
– Kelly Kirby (FantasyPros)
Thanks to the experts for sharing their advice! For more of their insight, be sure to follow each pundit on Twitter (click their names above) and visit their respective sites.
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If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.