The Primer: Week 8 Edition (2024 Fantasy Football)

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bengals

• CIN -2.5, O/U 48
• Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cincinnati Bengals Player Prop Bets via BettingPros

Pace and playcalling notes

• Since Week 4, Cincy has ranked 13th in neutral pace and fifth in neutral passing rate.
• Across their last four games, Philly has been 15th in neutral pace and second in neutral rushing rate.

Eagles Players & Weekly Rankings

Bengals Players & Weekly Rankings

Must-Start

These are no-brainer MUST starts.

• Joe Burrow
• Jalen Hurts
• Saquon Barkley
• A.J. Brown
• Ja’Marr Chase
• Tee Higgins

Strong Starts

Here are players that should be in starting consideration for most fantasy teams.

Chase Brown (RB)

It looks like Brown has taken over as Cincy’s leadback over the last two weeks. In Week 7, he played 58% of the snaps with 17 touches and 63 total yards. He had an 80% snap rate on rushing plays and 100% of the red zone snaps while giving way to Zack Moss on passing downs (39% snap rate). Over the last two weeks, he has averaged 60% of the snaps, 14.5 touches, and 58.5 total yards with 100% of the red zone snaps. Among 66 qualifying backs, he ranks 13th in explosive run rate, fifth in missed tackles forced per attempt, and 19th in yards after contact per attempt. Brown could pop off with a huge game this week. Philly has allowed the fourth-highest yards before contact per attempt, the second-highest yards per carry to zone runs, and the third-highest zone rushing success rate (Brown 62.1% zone).

DeVonta Smith (WR)

Smith is the WR23 in fantasy points per game, coming off a two-target performance, where he finished with 0.8 fantasy points. Smith has only five deep targets and three red zone looks this season. He hasn’t drawn a red zone target since Week 2. This isn’t a reflection of his talent. Among 89 qualifying wide receivers, he is 39th in route win rate and 25th in YPRR. The Philly offense has been struggling overall, which has hurt everyone’s stock, not name Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown. Cincy is ninth in single high rate (58%). Overall, Smith has had a 23.2% target share, a 34.1% air-yard share, 2.10 YPRR, and a 31% first-read share. Against single high, his target share has increased to 26.8%, his YPRR has jumped to 2.59, and his first-read share has trickled up to 32.1%. This could be a nice bounce-back spot in a high-scoring game against a Cincy secondary that has allowed the tenth-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers.

Fantasy Football Week 8 Flex Plays & Fades

Tread lightly with these players who are questionable starts or players I’m fading this week.

Zack Moss (RB)

Moss is a must-sit until his role changes in this backfield. This might be due to his health, but it could also be that Chase Brown has outplayed him this season. Over the last two games, Moss has averaged 47% of the snaps, eight touches, and only 27.5 total yards. He hasn’t seen a single snap in the red zone during this span. Moss is an inefficient volume rusher who has now morphed into the team’s passing down back without any touchdown equity. Leave him parked on your bench this week.

Andrei Iosivas (WR)

With Tee Higgins back and fully reintegrated into the offense, Iosivas hasn’t seen more than three targets or surpassed 39 receiving yards in any game. Since Week 4, he has had only a 5.7% target share, 1.07 YPRR, and a 5.3% first-read share. Over the last two games, Cooper DeJean has taken over as Philly’s slot corner, allowing only 13 receiving yards and a 70.1 passer rating to slot receivers in his coverage. Iosivas is droppable.

Dallas Goedert (TE)

Goedert could be out again this week (hamstring). He didn’t practice on Wednesday. I’ll update his outlook on Friday.

No CIN tight end is worth considering in fantasy right now. Over the last two games, no Cincy tight end has surpassed a 42% route share or seen more than a 5.7% target share.

MIN vs. LAR | BAL vs. CLE | GB vs. JAC | IND vs. HOU | TEN vs. DET | ARI vs. MIA | CHI vs. WAS | NYJ vs. NE | ATL vs. TB | NO vs. LAC | BUF vs. SEA | CAR vs. DEN | PHI vs. CIN | KC vs. LV | DAL vs. SF | NYG vs. PIT

Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders

• KC -10, O/U 42
• Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders Player Prop Bets via BettingPros

Pace and playcalling notes

• Kansas City is tenth in neutral pace and 15th in neutral rushing rate.
• The Raiders have the eighth-slowest neutral pace while ranking sixth-best in neutral passing rate.

Chiefs Players & Weekly Rankings

Raiders Players & Weekly Rankings

Must-Start

These are no-brainer MUST starts.

• Travis Kelce
• Brock Bowers

Strong Starts

Here are players that should be in starting consideration for most fantasy teams.

Kareem Hunt (RB)

Since taking over as Kansas City’s clear starting tailback over the last two games, Hunt has played at least 63% of the snaps weekly with weekly fantasy finishes as RB5 and RB11. He has averaged 26 touches and 100 total yards per game. He hasn’t broken off an explosive run yet while posting a 16% missed tackle rate and 2.35 yards after contact per attempt. Nothing in that tackle-breaking profile is great or impressive, but Hunt is getting all the work and will remain a strong fantasy option until that changes (if it does). Las Vegas has allowed the seventh-highest explosive run rate and yards after contact per attempt and the tenth-most rushing yards per game. Hunt should crush again this week.

Fantasy Football Week 8 Flex Plays & Fades

Tread lightly with these players who are questionable starts or players I’m fading this week.

Patrick Mahomes II (QB)

Mahomes remains a disappointing fantasy quarterback as the QB29 in fantasy points per game. He has surpassed 17 fantasy points in only one game this season and finished QB14 or lower in weekly scoring in six of seven games. Mahomes actually has more interceptions (eight) than passing touchdowns (six) this season. Yes, and thus concludes our pain fact of the week. Among 39 qualifying quarterbacks, Mahomes is 15th in passing yards per game, 21st in passing touchdowns, 24th in passer rating, and 19th in fantasy points per dropback. Mahomes looks to be headed for another depressing QB2 week for fantasy. The Raiders are 17th in passing touchdowns and 16th in success rate per dropback allowed while also giving up the 13th-highest passer rating and the seventh-highest CPOE.

Gardner Minshew II (QB)

Ok, let’s keep this short and sweet. While I love all things mustache mania on social media and Minshew’s quirky personality, I don’t have any interest in playing him this week against an elite Kansas City pass defense. The Chiefs have crushed opposing quarterbacks, allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to passing. Kansas City has also given up the 11th-lowest yards per attempt, the eighth-fewest passing touchdowns, the tenth-lowest passer rating, and the sixth-lowest CPOE.

Alexander Mattison (RB)

Last week, Mattison fully took over the Raiders’ backfield with a 70% snapshare, 26 touches, and 123 total yards. Across the last two games, he has played at least 68% of the snaps weekly while averaging 22.5 touches and 94 total yards. Mattison has a story similar to Kareem Hunt‘s. He’s getting workhorse treatment, but his tackle-breaking isn’t anything to write home about. Mattison has a 13% missed tackle rate and 2.28 yards after contact per attempt. Both of these values are snooze-worthy and have backup-level quality. Mattison should retain his heavy workload this week but don’t expect results similar to those in Week 7. Kansas City has one of the best run defenses in the NFL, allowing the fourth-lowest explosive run rate, the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game, and the fifth-lowest yards after contact per attempt.

Xavier Worthy (WR)

In the two games Worthy has played without Rashee Rice, he has soaked up a 21.2% target share, a 44.2% air-yard share, and a 30.8% first-read share, but he has done little to nothing with volume. He has had only 0.80 YPRR and 22 receiving yards per game. It has been about as bad as you could draw it up for the talented rookie. I don’t expect any better results this week against the Raiders’ surprisingly awesome secondary, allowing the third-fewest PPR points per target and the eighth-fewest receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers.

Jakobi Meyers (WR)

Meyers opened this week with a limited practice (ankle). I’ll update his outlook on Friday. Hopefully, he can return to the starting lineup after missing two games due to the injury.

DeAndre Hopkins (WR)

Hopkins arriving in Kansas City is an awesome development for the outlook of this entire offense. Once up to speed, he should be the clear WR1 of this offense, competing with Travis Kelce for the weekly lead in targets. I’m not sure if he will be active this week with the short timeframe in which he needs to get acclimated to everything. Even if he is, his snap count will be limited. Sit Hopkins this week, but rejoice in his new home and his outlook for fantasy for the rest of the season.

MIN vs. LAR | BAL vs. CLE | GB vs. JAC | IND vs. HOU | TEN vs. DET | ARI vs. MIA | CHI vs. WAS | NYJ vs. NE | ATL vs. TB | NO vs. LAC | BUF vs. SEA | CAR vs. DEN | PHI vs. CIN | KC vs. LV | DAL vs. SF | NYG vs. PIT

Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers

• Watch Live on Fubo (Try for Free)
• SF -4, O/U 46
• Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers Player Prop Bets via BettingPros

Pace and playcalling notes

• Dallas and San Francisco are perfect opposites from a pace and passing rate perspective. Dallas is fifth in neutral pace and seventh in neutral passing rate. The 49ers have the fourth-slowest neutral pace and the seventh-highest neutral rushing rate.

Cowboys Players & Weekly Rankings

49ers Players & Weekly Rankings

Must-Start

These are no-brainer MUST starts.

• Jordan Mason
• CeeDee Lamb
• Jake Ferguson
• George Kittle
• Deebo Samuel Sr.

George Kittle (foot) and Deebo Samuel (pneumonia) didn’t practice on Wednesday. Each player has to be monitored closely all week with practice reports. They both could sit in Week 8. If reports suggest they will play their normal roles, they are both must-starts.

Strong Starts

Here are players that should be in starting consideration for most fantasy teams.

Brock Purdy (QB)

Purdy could be in for a long day in Week 8. It depends on how many of his weapons are healthy this week. Saying the 49ers are banged up doesn’t really begin to cover it. Purdy is the QB13 in fantasy points per game, ranking 14th in fantasy points per dropback, fourth in hero throw rate and CPOE, and third in yards per attempt. If some of his weapons are active this week, he could carve up this Dallas pass defense. Dallas has allowed the fifth-highest yards per attempt, the eighth-highest passer rating, and the tenth-highest CPOE.

Rico Dowdle (RB)

In the two games prior to Detroit throttling Dallas, Dowdle played 45-50% of the snaps, averaging 17 touches and 87.5 total yards. He was the RB22 and the RB3 in weekly scoring. Yes, I’m throwing out that Dallas blowout because his usage wasn’t typical at all, considering what we have seen the rest of the season and the recent trend line. His tackle-breaking metrics remain a terrible picture to stare at. He hasn’t managed an explosive run yet while managing a nauseating 7% missed tackle rate and only 2.25 yards after contact per attempt. These tackle-breaking numbers look like a discount version of Kareem Hunt‘s numbers. Despite that fact, Dowdle could post another solid day if Dallas feeds him the rock. The 49ers have the 12th-highest missed tackle rate, the eighth-highest yards after contact per attempt permitted, and the 11th-highest zone success rate allowed (Dowdle 52.5% zone).

Ricky Pearsall (WR)

Pearsall’s will depend upon who is healthy for the 49ers this week. I’ll update his outlook on Friday. In his first NFL action last week, he had an 81% route share, a 16.1% target share, 0.70 YPRR, and a 20% first-read share. If Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Jauan Jennings all miss Week 8, Pearsall could operate as Purdy’s WR1. If they all play, he’s bumped to the fourth option in the pecking order. It’s a wide range of outcomes.

Fantasy Football Week 8 Flex Plays & Fades

Tread lightly with these players who are questionable starts or players I’m fading this week.

Dak Prescott (QB)

Prescott’s passing volume has helped him this season. He ranks fourth in passing yards per game and eighth in passing attempts. This volume has helped cover up some warts, but Prescott has lost his fantasy luster in recent weeks as he has dipped to QB16 in fantasy points per game. Among 39 qualifying quarterbacks, he ranks 22nd in passer rating, 35th in CPOE, and 24th in fantasy points per dropback. Prescott remains a QB2 this week in a tough spot. San Francisco has allowed the 14th-fewest yards per attempt, the fourth-lowest CPOE, and the fifth-lowest passer rating.

Jauan Jennings (WR)

Jennings didn’t practice on Wednesday (hip). He might miss Week 8 after missing last week’s game against the Chiefs. I’ll update his outlook on Friday.

Jalen Tolbert (WR)

Tolbert is the WR40 in fantasy points per game with the WR3 or better weeks (WR24, WR12, WR34) this season. He has five red zone targets across his last five games. Tolbert has a 13.9% target share, a 23.4% air-yard share, 1.39 YPRR, and a 16.3% first-read share. The 49ers have utilized two high at the eighth-highest rate (49.6%). Against two high, Tolbert has seen his target share increase to 18.2%, his YPRR bump to 1.82, and his first-read share explodes to 27.1%. He should see a volume bump this week, but it’s fair to wonder how much he’ll do with it. The 49ers have been a horrible matchup for perimeter wide receivers, allowing the fewest PPR points per target and the fourth-fewest receiving yards per game.

MIN vs. LAR | BAL vs. CLE | GB vs. JAC | IND vs. HOU | TEN vs. DET | ARI vs. MIA | CHI vs. WAS | NYJ vs. NE | ATL vs. TB | NO vs. LAC | BUF vs. SEA | CAR vs. DEN | PHI vs. CIN | KC vs. LV | DAL vs. SF | NYG vs. PIT

New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

• Watch Live on Fubo (Try for Free)
• PIT -6.5, O/U 36.5
• New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Steelers Player Prop Bets via BettingPros

Pace and playcalling notes

• New York has the ninth-slowest neutral pace while ranking 12th in neutral passing rate.
• In Russell Wilson‘s first start, Pittsburgh ranked 12th in neutral pace and rushing rate.

Giants Players & Weekly Rankings

Steelers Players & Weekly Rankings

Must-Start

These are no-brainer MUST starts.

• Malik Nabers

Strong Starts

Here are players that should be in starting consideration for most fantasy teams.

Russell Wilson (QB)

Wilson had a wonderful first start for fantasy purposes last week as the QB3 in fantasy. Among 31 qualifying quarterbacks last week, he ranked sixth in yards per attempt, ninth in passer rating, and third in fantasy points per dropback, but that’s where the good times end. He was also 26th in CPOE, 22nd in highly accurate throw rate, and had the sixth-highest off-target rate. The deeper metrics scream that Wilson didn’t have the wonderful game that the boxscore would imply. With a softer matchup this week, his deeper passing numbers could more closely reflect the box score. The Giants have allowed the 11th-highest yards per attempt, the fourth-highest passer rating, and the second-highest CPOE.

Najee Harris (RB)

Harris is the RB25 in fantasy points per game, ranking 21st in opportunity share, fourth in red zone touches, and fourth in total carries. Since Jaylen Warren‘s return in Week 6, Harris has played 46-49% of the snaps overall while averaging 18.5 touches and 112 total yards. He has played 60% of the rushing play snaps and only 38% of the passing play snaps, but he has still dominated the red zone work with a 61% snap rate inside the 20-yard line. Among 66 qualifying backs, Harris is 18th in explosive run rate and 22nd in missed tackles forced per attempt. He gets a dream matchup on the ground this week. New York has allowed the eighth-most rushing yards per game, the fourth-highest explosive run rate, and the second-highest missed tackle rate.

Jaylen Warren (RB)

Last week, Warren played 51% of the snaps and finished with 14 touches and 59 total yards. While he didn’t have any explosive runs and only generated 1.92 yards after contact per attempt, he did have a 17% missed tackle rate, which is encouraging. He hasn’t looked like the same player in 2024 that captivated us in previous seasons. That’s to be expected with all of the injuries he has dealt with this season, but we could finally be getting closer to seeing the “real Jaylen Warren” soon. Warren is a strong flex play this week. New York has allowed the eighth-most rushing yards per game, the fourth-highest explosive run rate, and the second-highest missed tackle rate.

George Pickens (WR)

Pickens is the WR34 in fantasy points per game while ranking fourth in deep targets and red zone targets among wide receivers. Pickens has been a volume hog with a 27.4% target share, a 50.6% air-yard share, 2.66 YPRR, and a 35.3% first-read share. The Giants have the sixth-highest single high rate in the NFL (60.3%). Against single-high, Pickens has seen his target share increase to 32.7%, his YPRR increase to 2.92, and his first-read share fly through the roof to 43.1%. Pickens should feast this week against a secondary that has allowed the fourth-highest PPR points per target and the 11th-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers.

Fantasy Football Week 8 Flex Plays & Fades

Tread lightly with these players who are questionable starts or players I’m fading this week.

Daniel Jones (QB)

Jones is an uninspiring QB2 that should be benched this week. Among 39 qualifying passers, he ranks 30th in yards per attempt, highly accurate throw rate, and fantasy points per dropback. His rushing equity will have to save his fantasy day. He is fifth in carries per game, eighth in red zone carries per game, and 12th in rushing yards per game amongst quarterbacks. Pittsburgh has allowed the 11th-fewest passing touchdowns and the seventh-lowest passer rating and CPOE.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. (RB)

Last week, Tracy Jr. still retained the lead back role despite Devin Singletary returning to the huddle. Now, the Giants got blown out in this game, so maybe that also had something to do with it. It could also be related to Singletary’s health. There are plenty of unknowns in this situation, which makes Tracy Jr. difficult to trust in fantasy in Week 8. Last week, he played 67% of the snaps with nine touches and 32 total yards. He did also have 100% of the red zone snaps, but again, the team only had two snaps inside the 20-yard line, so we’re dealing with an incredibly small sample size here. Let this situation work itself out on your bench. The Steelers have allowed the lowest explosive run rate, the third-fewest rushing yards per game, and the ninth-lowest yards after contact per attempt.

Devin Singletary (RB)

Last week, Singletary returned to the lineup, but he only played 21% of the snaps with six touches and 21 total yards. He may have lost his starting job to Tyrone Tracy Jr., but this could also be related to their blowout loss or his health. Singletary is a must-sit this week regardless of however you want to look at his Week 7 performance. The Steelers have allowed the lowest explosive run rate, the third-fewest rushing yards per game, and the ninth-lowest yards after contact per attempt. Even if Singletary were the known starter for the Giants this week, he’d still be a player to sit.

Wan’Dale Robinson (WR)

Robinson is the WR27 in fantasy points per game who has finished as a WR3 or better in weekly scoring in five of his seven games. He ranks fourth in red zone targets among wide receivers. He is the WR11 in expected fantasy points per game. Robinson has soaked up a 24.9% target share and a 27.7% first-read share while producing 43.3 receiving yards per game and 1.38 YPRR. Pittsburgh is 16th in fantasy points per game allowed to slot receivers, which makes Robinson a decent but not amazing flex play this week.

Pat Freiermuth (TE)

Freiermuth is the TE16 in fantasy points per game, and he hasn’t seen a deep target this season, but he has four red zone looks in his last four games. He has a 14.2% target share with 1.49 YPRR and a 16.8% first-read share. He will remain a TE2 this week against a Giants team that has kept tight ends in check, giving up the eighth-fewest receiving yards and the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game.

MIN vs. LAR | BAL vs. CLE | GB vs. JAC | IND vs. HOU | TEN vs. DET | ARI vs. MIA | CHI vs. WAS | NYJ vs. NE | ATL vs. TB | NO vs. LAC | BUF vs. SEA | CAR vs. DEN | PHI vs. CIN | KC vs. LV | DAL vs. SF | NYG vs. PIT

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*All data utilized in this article is courtesy of Fantasy Points Data, PFF, FTN, rbsdm.com, and Playerprofiler.com unless otherwise specified.*