Fantasy Football Week 8 Quarterback Preview: Streaming options, DFS plays, matchups that matter, and more

My rankings do not always mirror my projections, and often, it's because the projections are telling me something I just don't want to hear. In Week 8, what they're telling me is that Bo Nix is the number one streamer and a top-12 quarterback this week. It sounds ridiculous, right? Well, let's at least entertain the why behind it. 

First, Nix has been much better than expected. Over the last month, he's QB18 at 18.7 Fantasy points per game. Two of the QBs ahead of him in that stretch (Joe Flacco and Justin Fields) are not starting this week. We're not expecting Jayden Daniels as of Tuesday afternoon, either. Two others (Baker Mayfield and Brock Purdy) may be playing without their top two pass catchers. It's not hard to get Nix into borderline Qb1 territory based on the last month. 

Second, he's playing the Carolina Panthers. They've given up the fourth-most Fantasy points per game to opposing QBs. Five of the seven QBs they've faced have scored at least 20 Fantasy points against them, and four of those quarterbacks have scored at least 24. it is an elite matchup, which is a big part of why the Broncos have an implied point total of 26.25, easily their highest of the season.

This brings us to the third reason: Nix has been a huge part of the Broncos offense, even for a quarterback. They've scored 11 touchdowns on the season, five of those are Nix passing touchdowns, and three are Nix rushing touchdowns. If they're going to score a bunch of points in Week 8, you would expect Nix to score multiple touchdowns.

Again, you won't see Nix as my top QB add below, but the projections would tell you he should be. At least now you know why.

Let's get to the rest of the preview:

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Week 8 QB Preview

• 10 -- Bo Nix has 10 red zone rush attempts, just one behind Javonte Williams. Jalen Hurts, Justin Fields and Jayden Daniels are the only QBs who have run more in the red zone.
• 3.33% -- Russell Wilson had a 3.33% sack rate in Week 8. Justin Fields has been sacked on 9.09% of his dropbacks this season. If Wilson can cut that in half, it will be a big boost for the offense.
• 338 -- Tua Tagovailoa threw for 338 yards way back in Week 1. His return makes a huge difference for the Dolphins.
• 45.9% -- Nearly half of Baker Mayfield's passes have gone to Mike Evans or Chris Godwin this season. He'll be tough to trust without them.
• 7 -- Daniel Jones was sacked a season-high seven times in his first game without Andrew Thomas.
• 10 -- Anthony Richardson has completed 10 or fewer passes in three of his four complete games this season. 
  

Matchups that Matter

Projections powered by Sportsline

Bo Nix QB DEN Denver • #10 Age: 24 • Experience: Rookie Weekly Breakdown MATCHUP vs CAR DEN -8.5 O/U 43.5 OPP VS QB 29th PROJ PTS 23.8 QB RNK 19th YTD Stats PAYDS 1246 RUYDS 255 TD 8 INT 5 FPTS/G 16.2

Sam Darnold QB MIN Minnesota • #14 Age: 27 • Experience: 7 yrs. Weekly Breakdown MATCHUP @ LAR MIN -3 O/U 48 OPP VS QB 17th PROJ PTS 21.3 QB RNK 6th YTD Stats PAYDS 1370 RUYDS 100 TD 12 INT 5 FPTS/G 20.4

Drake Maye QB NE New England • #10 Age: 22 • Experience: Rookie Weekly Breakdown MATCHUP vs NYJ NYJ -7 O/U 41.5 OPP VS QB 5th PROJ PTS 13.3 QB RNK 22nd YTD Stats PAYDS 541 RUYDS 68 TD 5 INT 2 FPTS/G 17.4

Jared Goff QB DET Detroit • #16 Age: 30 • Experience: 9 yrs. Weekly Breakdown MATCHUP vs TEN DET -11 O/U 45.5 OPP VS QB 15th PROJ PTS 21.9 QB RNK 9th YTD Stats PAYDS 1610 RUYDS 17 TD 11 INT 4 FPTS/G 21

C.J. Stroud QB HOU Houston • #7 Age: 23 • Experience: 2 yrs. Weekly Breakdown MATCHUP vs IND HOU -6 O/U 46 OPP VS QB 23rd PROJ PTS 23.7 QB RNK 8th YTD Stats PAYDS 1663 RUYDS 94 TD 10 INT 4 FPTS/G 18

Adds/Streamers (QB Preview)

Tua Tagovailoa QB MIA Miami • #1 Age: 26 • Experience: 5 yrs. Weekly Breakdown MATCHUP vs ARI MIA -3 O/U 46.5 OPP VS QB 25th QB RNK 15th ROSTERED 52% YTD Stats PAYDS 483 RUYDS 28 TD 2 INT 3 FPTS/G 14.1 Tagovailoa was a borderline top-12 QB for me coming into the season. If he can stay healthy, I would expect him to be a borderline top-12 QB the rest of the season. He has a very good matchup against Arizona this week, they have allowed the second-highest NY/A to opposing QBs.

Bo Nix QB DEN Denver • #10 Age: 24 • Experience: Rookie Weekly Breakdown MATCHUP vs CAR DEN -8.5 O/U 43.5 OPP VS QB 29th QB RNK 19th ROSTERED 33% YTD Stats PAYDS 1246 RUYDS 255 TD 8 INT 5 FPTS/G 16.2 The Panthers have seen the 21st most pass attempts from opposing QBs, and they've allowed the third most passing TDs. Nix has at least 25 rushing yards in five of seven games and 136 yards combined in his last two games. If you want to trust the projections, he's the top streamer and a top-12 QB this week.

One To Stash (QB Preview)

Russell Wilson QB PIT Pittsburgh • #3 Age: 35 • Experience: 13 yrs. Weekly Breakdown MATCHUP vs NYG PIT -6.5 O/U 36.5 OPP VS QB 24th QB RNK 18th ROSTERED 18% YTD Stats PAYDS 264 RUYDS 3 TD 3 INT 0 FPTS/G 28.8 Russell Wilson just scored 28.6 Fantasy points in his 2024 debut. I understand not trusting him as a starter immediately, but he needs to be rostered everywhere. He and George Pickens look like a match made in heaven.

Top DFS Play

Projections powered by Sportsline

Lamar Jackson QB BAL Baltimore • #8 Age: 27 • Experience: 7 yrs. Weekly Breakdown MATCHUP @ CLE BAL -9.5 O/U 44.5 OPP VS QB 14th PROJ PTS 26.1 QB RNK 1st YTD Stats PAYDS 1810 RUYDS 455 TD 17 INT 2 FPTS/G 29.7 Jackson is projected to score five more points than any other QB this week. Even if he was the highest-priced QB, he would be my top cash game option, but there are three other passers who are more expensive. He leads the NFL in passer rating, and he's averaging 65 rushing yards per game. Simply remarkable.

Contrarian DFS Play

Projections powered by Sportsline

Bo Nix QB DEN Denver • #10 Age: 24 • Experience: Rookie All those positive things I said about Nix at the top come in a QB that is priced as one of the worst starters in the league in the Week, and I don't imagine he'll be highly rostered. There is three-touchdown upside here in a bargain basement price.

My full set of Week 8 Fantasy football projections for every position are now available on SportsLine. You'll find them here. Find out which of my favorite plays are projected to score higher than consensus rankings and which don't live up to their draft hype, at least in Week 8. Projected stats for all starting running backs are available, so be sure to check out the full set of projections at SportsLine.