5 Stats to Know Before Setting Your Week 8 Lineup (2024 Fantasy Football)

Ready to unlock your third eye in fantasy football? Welcome to the Week 8 essential stats guide, where we’re diving deeper than the surface-level numbers everyone’s obsessing over. Everyone’s checking rushing yards, touchdowns and targets, but those are just the tip of the fantasy iceberg. This week, we’re bringing you the hidden gems that will transform your lineup into a powerhouse.

Think of these stats as the fantasy football equivalent of X-ray vision. They reveal the secret sauce behind those “how did they score 40 points?” performances. Once you see them, you can’t unsee them. We’re talking about things like snap shares, air yards and red-zone opportunities. These sneaky indicators separate the average Joe from the fantasy football Jedi.

If you’re tired of just scraping by with the basics, it’s time to get mystical with your research. These stats are your gateway to uncovering the hidden potential in your roster and spotting the breakout performances before they happen. Let’s plunge into the stats that genuinely matter and set you up for domination in Week 8. After this, you’ll never look at your lineup the same way again.

Week 8 Stats to Know

Tight End is Impossible

The tight end position has returned to the abyss that has ruined fantasy dreams in years past. However, we can identify usage and opportunities to give us the best chances to have a productive fantasy day from this position.

Who has given us a chance to provide us with better points than fantasy projection? We have players such as Will Dissly, who has seen a 30% first-read share within the Chargers’ offense. Dissly is also the fantasy TE12 in route participation this season.

We also saw an uptick for David Njoku to above 80% route participation, the highest this season. Without Amari Cooper, the Cleveland Browns need to lean on him. We finally have hope that gun-slinging Jameis Winston under center will help develop more fantasy points in the passing game.

Also, Kyle Pitts has increased his route participation within the Falcons’ offense, as his routes have jumped from 69% to 87%. Pitts may still drive us up the wall weekly, but he is trending in the right direction so that our fantasy team can see more opportunities.

Bo Nix: Konami Code?

At first glance, Bo Nix seems to be a pocket passer. However, when you pay attention to his play this season, you notice Nix loves to read the defense and then run the ball himself. Nix has 10 scrambles when not pressured, the most in the NFL. This week, we don’t expect as much running as the Carolina Panthers defense should allow him more than enough time to feel comfortable to pass the ball. Deep down, Nix is a sneaky Konami Code player who can provide yards with his legs. Something to consider if you need to add a new quarterback off the waiver wire due to injuries or upcoming byes.

It’s A Me, DeMario

DeMario Douglas has an insane 40.5% target share when sharing the field with Drake Maye. The rookie quarterback has come onto the scene quickly and shown us he can elevate the New England Patriots offense. Douglas can become a PPR scam-level wide receiver for our lineups with the wide receiver corps full of untalented players in New England. Douglas should become matchup-proof and provide a safe floor for your fantasy team in Week 8 and beyond.

**B-Robinson — But Not That One**

BRob makes you think of Bijan Robinson, but we are discussing Brian Robinson Jr. instead. The funny thing is that Brian Robinson is becoming the bell-cow back we want Bijan Robinson to be. Brian Robinson has seen an uptick in his usage, even in negative game scripts.

In his three healthy games for him and Austin Ekeler, Brian Robinson has seen a 60%+ snap share in trailing moments. Even when the Commanders are trailing by more than a touchdown, Brian Robinson sees the field at a near 60% snap share. Robinson is not just a cog, but he is the backfield as Ekeler has become the spell-back in Washington.

A San Fran JJetta?

Jauan Jennings has quietly emerged as a vital piece of the 49ers’ offensive puzzle. Especially now that the 49ers offense is without Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey. Jennings ranks third at the wide receiver position in average route win rates. He’s winning matchups at an impressive rate, but he’s not necessarily creating a ton of space while doing it. With the offense void of weapons in Week 8, Jennings will have another chance to earn his new contract and produce for the struggling San Francisco 49ers.

Thanks for sticking with us through this deep dive into Week 8’s key stats. We hope these insights have cracked open a new level of fantasy football research for you and made your fantasy start sit decisions less stressful. By digging into the stats that go beyond the obvious, you’re setting yourself up to be one step ahead of your competition — and that’s where fantasy championships are won.

Whether recognizing a player’s under-the-radar involvement or predicting a breakout based on advanced metrics, these deeper stats give you the needed edge. Hopefully, you’ve got a few names circled now and are ready to make some savvy moves for your team.

If this guide has helped, check out all the other fantastic work at FantasyPros. We aim to arm you with the best tools, data and advice to help you crush your fantasy leagues. There’s always more to learn and we’re constantly pumping out fresh content to keep you informed and ready for whatever the season throws your way. If you have any questions or want to talk fantasy football, please contact me on Twitter at @jpep20. Good luck this week. Here’s to another step closer to the championship.

Articles NFL Weekly Advice Will Dissly David Njoku Amari Cooper Jameis Winston Kyle Pitts Bo Nix DeMario Douglas Drake Maye Bijan Robinson Brian Robinson Jr. Austin Ekeler Jauan Jennings Brandon Aiyuk Christian McCaffrey