Fantasy Football Week 8 Quarterback Rankings: Must-Start QBs and Sleepers
Find out which quarterbacks to start, which ones to consider benching and where the top streaming options rank.
Let's start going over fantasy football rankings for Week 8 by looking at the quarterback position!
Check back later today and tomorrow for rankings for tight ends, running backs and wide receivers!
Week 8 fantasy football quarterback projections are live on FantasySP! Use the start/sit tool for all your lineup decisions!
1. Josh Allen
Allen is back after a bye in Week 7 and I immediately am putting him back in the No. 1 spot.
His matchup against the Ravens is slightly above average, but the top-end fantasy QB should be trusted to lead the way against most opponents, so that's exactly how I'm proceeding this week.
2. Drake Maye
Maye gets a pretty favorable matchup against the Dolphins, so I'm giving him the No. 2 slot this week.
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Maye has picked up his play after a slow start, and should be trusted in starting lineups for most matchups the rest of the season.
Daniels gets a pretty favorable matchup in Week 8 against the Eagles.
The dual-threat QB is healthy now and he should be a high-end fantasy option for as long as he can stay on the field.
4. Joe Burrow
Burrow lands the No. 4 spot for me despite going into a tougher test against the Titans.
Burrow and the Bengals' offense can deliver big against anyone, and I think they perform well this coming week.
Jackson is still working his way back from injury, but I see him starting in Week 8.
His matchup against the Bills is a really favorable one, so Jackson could shine in his return. Be watching his status and ready to pivot if he's inactive again, but definitely be starting him if he's active.
Lawrence gets an above-average matchup against the sputtering Colts in Week 8.
Lawrence has been pretty solid this season, and the matchup he has could lead to one of the QB's top performances of the season.
7. Dak Prescott
Prescott lands the No. 7 slot heading into a stellar matchup against the Cardinals.
Prescott and the Cowboys' offense are capable of big things, and this is one of those matchups they could shine in.
8. Jordan Love
Love has been really good for most of this season, and I see another top-10 showing coming in Week 8.
He and the Packers open Week 8 against the Panthers. That's a slightly below-average test for Love, but nothing too daunting, so I still believe he can deliver big.
Stafford has a below-average matchup coming against the Chargers in Week 8.
LA is down Davante Adams on offense, but Stafford and company showed they could still deliver big in Week 7, and I think they do again in Week 8 in another must-win game.
10. Geno Smith
Smith gets a surprising spot in the top 10 with a very favorable matchup against the Raiders coming.
Smith has been good enough this season to trust when the matchups turn in his favor, and this week is certainly a favorable one for him.
11. Kyler Murray
Murray gets the No. 11 spot heading into an awesome matchup against the Lions.
Detroit is the most favorable fantasy matchup for a quarterback. Murray would have ranked higher if he'd shown a bit more to this point of the season, but the dual-threat QB should still be starting in a lot of leagues.
12. Jacoby Brissett
Another stellar matchup here, as Brissett gets the Cowboys in Week 8.
Brissett is another veteran you can trust in favorable matchups, so if you are in need of a streamer this week, he's a pretty good option.
13. Baker Mayfield
Mayfield returned to the field in Week 7, but wasn't asked to do much. I like his outlook more in Week 8, when the Bucs take on the Falcons.
I expect big things from Mayfield, and think he could be a sneaky-good fantasy asset this week.
14. Kirk Cousins
Cousins' time as the Raiders' starter might be winding down, but I like him enough to rank him 14th for Week 8.
He has an average test against the Jets. It's a winnable game, and that also helps his fantasy outlook some.
15. Bryce Young
Young and the Panthers' offense struggled last week, but can wipe the slate clean on a short week against the Packers.
The Week 8 matchup for Young is very tough, so I have Young as a below-average option for the week.
16. Jared Goff
Goff has been a great fantasy QB this season, but he falls below average this week heading into a very tough matchup.
Minnesota is his test, and it's easily the worst matchup a QB could have. I believe in Goff enough to score some points, but he's actually a better deep-league option in Week 8.
17. Caleb Williams
Williams is another good fantasy QB who has a brutal matchup this week.
Williams faces the Seahawks, who are the second-toughest fantasy test for QBs. Williams is another to skip in standard leagues this week, if you can.
18. Michael Penix
Penix has a below-average test coming against the Buccaneers, who looked great last week.
Penix has delivered enough when healthy this season to rank him 18th this week. We'll see if he can deliver despite the tougher test.
19. Tanner McKee
McKee has a stellar matchup coming against the Commanders in Week 8.
I just don't trust him or the Eagles' offense right now, so this is the highest I feel comfortable trying McKee.
20. Malik Willis
Willis showed a little promise in Week 8, but now has a tougher test in Week 8.
He'll be taking on the Patriots. In a game the Dolphins are likely to be trailing in, maybe Willis can rack up some garbage-time fantasy points for the deep-league owners who start him.
21. Aaron Rodgers
Rodgers has been pretty good this season, but he has a tough test coming against the Browns.
This matchup already took place this season, and while Rodgers threw for 299 yards and three scores, he also was picked off twice. I'm down on Rodgers this week.
22. Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes struggled mightily in Week 7, and another tough test awaits him in Week 8.
He gets the Broncos, who are a below-average test for quarterbacks. It'd be smart to skip Mahomes in standard leagues this week if you can.
23. Bo Nix
Nix is the other half of the QB battle in that Chiefs-Broncos game.
Kansas City is a bottom-five matchup for a fantasy QB, and with lackluster numbers most of the season, I'm not high on Nix in Week 8.
24. Sam Darnold
Darnold has an above-average matchup coming against the Bears in Week 8, but underwhelming performances most of the season have me skeptical of trying him.
He's just a deep-league option until he proves otherwise, at least in my eyes.
25. Deshaun Watson
Watson has a below-average matchup coming against the Steelers.
He had 268 passing yards, a touchdown and a pick in the first matchup between the teams. Watson rushed for 22 yards as well, but also fumbled twice, losing one, so I don't like this matchup for the Browns' QB.
26. Justin Herbert
Herbert is another well-known QB who has struggled this week. He has a slightly above-average test against the Rams in Week 8.
Maybe the Chargers found something over the bye week, but I need them to show me before I can trust Herbert.
27. Cam Ward
Ward gets a below-average matchup against the Bengals in Week 8.
Ward hasn't done a ton this season, so it's hard to be too optimistic about Ward.
28. Daniel Jones
Jones falls to the final spot (with four teams on bye) for a second straight week.
His matchup against the Jaguars is below-average, but nothing too daunting. I just don't trust Jones right now, so I'm avoiding him at all costs.
Other Notes
The only quarterback who appears in any danger of not playing in Week 8 is Jackson.
Tyler Huntley has performed pretty well in Jackson's absence, and the matchup would be in his favor if he makes another start. I'd rank Huntley after Penix and before McKee if he fills in again in Week 8.
