Rashod Bateman is one of my favorite sleepers for Week 8. But he'll either be a starter in all leagues or just an option in three-receiver formats, depending on what happens with Zay Flowers (ankle) at Cleveland.
Flowers is listed as questionable after practicing Friday on a limited basis. If Flowers is out, Bateman could be a star. If Flowers is in, then I still like Bateman, just not as much.
He's hot right now, and hopefully, he continues to connect with Lamar Jackson with some more targets. Bateman just had a big game in Week 7 at Tampa Bay with four catches for 121 yards and a touchdown on four targets.
He's now scored at least 11.1 PPR points in three games in a row, with two touchdowns over that span. But he only has one game this season with more than five targets, and he's reliant on finding the end zone most weeks to help your Fantasy roster.
For this week, Bateman could be more involved, especially if Flowers is limited or out. And it's a good matchup against the Browns, who are No. 10 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers.
There have been 11 receivers who have scored at least 13.1 PPR points against Cleveland this season, including six in the past three games for Washington (Terry McLaurin and Dyami Brown), Philadelphia (A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith) and Cincinnati (Tee Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase).
I hope Bateman stays hot in Week 8. And he could go off if Flowers is unable to play.
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Week 8 Sleepers
Week 8 Preview
Sleepers
Sleeper QBs
The Dolphins and Fantasy managers are excited to have Tagovailoa (concussion) back for Week 8, and he has top-10 upside in his matchup with the Cardinals at home. Tagovailoa scored 20.6 Fantasy points in his lone full game this year against Jacksonville in Week 1, and we know he's capable of being a star when healthy. The Cardinals allow an average of 21.4 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, and Josh Allen, Jayden Daniels, and Jordan Love all scored at least 26 Fantasy points against Arizona this season. I don't expect Tagovailoa to do that well, but over 20 Fantasy points is likely. Start him if needed in this matchup.
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DK Metcalf (knee) is not expected to play in Week 8, but Smith is still worth using as a starter in deeper leagues. Smith leads the NFL in passing yards and has scored at least 21.8 Fantasy points in three of his past four games. He's also averaging 39.9 pass attempts a game for the season, so there should be a lot of volume here against the Bills in a potential shootout. I like him less with Metcalf out, but he can still be successful enough -- figure around 18 Fantasy points -- to be useful in deeper leagues.
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Nix is worth starting in deeper leagues in Week 8 against the Panthers, who are No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Nix has emerged as one of the better running quarterbacks this season, and he has at least 61 rushing yards in each of his past two games against the Chargers and Saints. He also scored at least 19.3 Fantasy points in three of his past five games. Only two quarterbacks this season have failed to score at least 20 Fantasy points against Carolina's defense.
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Let's see if Wilson can cook again in Week 8 against the Giants after he just scored 28.9 Fantasy points against the Jets in Week 7 in his Steelers debut. The Giants allow an average of 20.4 Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season, and five quarterbacks in a row have scored at least 19.8 Fantasy points against New York coming into Week 8. I like Wilson as a starting Fantasy option in deeper leagues, given this matchup.
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Sleeper RBs
Brown had a down game in Week 7 at Cleveland with just 7.3 PPR points, but prior to that, he scored at least 14.4 PPR points in three outings in a row. He played more snaps than Zack Moss the past two games, and that should continue against the Eagles. Philadelphia's run defense has looked better in the past three games against Tampa Bay, Cleveland, and the Giants, but four running backs this season have scored at least 12.5 PPR points. I like Brown as a high-end flex in Week 8.
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The Dolphins offense should improve dramatically with Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) expected to return in Week 8, and that should benefit all of the main skill players. Mostert ran well in his past two games against the Patriots, and Colts, with a combined 30 carries for 130 yards and two catches for 18 yards on two targets over that span, although he lost a fumble in Week 7 at Indianapolis. De'Von Achane is a must-start running back in all leagues against the Cardinals, who have allowed seven running backs to score at least 12 PPR points this season, and Mostert is worth using as a flex.
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Allen could be a flex in Week 8 against the Patriots if the Jets have the chance to play with a lead. In Week 3 against New England, Allen had a season-high 11 carries, and he finished with 55 yards and three catches for 13 yards on three targets. Allen only has nine total touches in his past two games against Minnesota and Buffalo since Breece Hall is dominating the workload, but I can see Allen doing more in this matchup. The Patriots are No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, and a pair of running backs have scored at least 10 PPR points in each of the past two games against the Texans (Joe Mixon and Dameon Pierce) and Jaguars (Tank Bigsby and D'Ernest Johnson).
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Najee Harris is establishing himself as a quality No. 2 running back in all leagues with his performance in the past two games against the Raiders and Jets, but Warren is worth using as a flex option against the Giants in Week 8. Warren had a solid outing in Week 7 against the Jets with 12 carries for 44 yards and two catches for 15 yards on three targets, and he appears finally over the knee injury that knocked him out for two games prior to Week 6. Harris also should benefit with Russell Wilson starting for the Steelers, and the Giants have allowed six running backs to score at least 13.1 PPR points this season.
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If Travis Etienne (hamstring) is out again in Week 8 against the Packers, then I like Johnson as a flex option in PPR. If the Packers are playing with a lead against Jacksonville, then Johnson should get more work in the passing game than Tank Bigsby, who only has two targets this season. Johnson has nine targets in his past three games, and he had seven catches over that span. He also had 10 PPR points in Week 7 against New England with nine carries for 38 yards and three catches for 32 yards on four targets.
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Sleeper WRs
Doubs has scored at least 17.4 PPR points in each of his past two games, and I like him as a borderline starter in all leagues against the Jaguars in Week 8. Jacksonville is No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and Doubs just had 10 targets in Week 7 against Houston for eight catches and 94 yards. Jayden Reed is a must-start receiver for the Packers in all leagues, but Doubs is right behind him. Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks are boom or bust receivers, but this is a great matchup to consider all of Green Bay's passing options in Week 8.
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I'm going back to Dell as a No. 3 receiver in all leagues in Week 8 against the Colts, and Dell should rebound from his disappointing performance in Week 7 at Green Bay when he had no catches on four targets. Prior to that, Dell had seven catches for 57 yards and a touchdown on nine targets at New England, and he should be heavily involved with Nico Collins (hamstring) still out. Stefon Diggs is a must-start Fantasy receiver in all leagues in Week 8, but Dell should be productive for C.J. Stroud as well.
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Sutton had no targets in Week 7 at New Orleans, but he should be involved in the game plan in Week 8 against Carolina. Prior to Week 7, Sutton had scored at least 13.8 PPR points in three of his previous four games. The Panthers have allowed eight receivers to score at least 15.8 PPR points this season, and Sutton is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in Week 8, given the matchup.
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With Chris Godwin (ankle) and Mike Evans (hamstring) out in Week 8 against Atlanta, someone has to step up and help Baker Mayfield, and McMillan is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver based on upside. Sterling Shepard and Trey Palmer will also be involved, but I like McMillan the best. He had eight targets against the Ravens in the game when Godwin and Evans were injured in Week 7, although McMillan finished with three catches for 15 yards. Still, he could be a go-to option for Mayfield, and Atlanta is No. 9 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers.
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The last time we saw Allen in Week 6 against Jacksonville in London, he scored a season-high 21.1 PPR points with five catches for 41 yards and two touchdowns on five targets. Hopefully, that's the start of a big finish for Allen coming off Chicago's bye in Week 7, and he has a great matchup in Week 8 at Washington. The Commanders are No. 7 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, so consider D.J. Moore a must-start receiver and Allen a No. 3 option in most leagues. And Rome Odunze can be a flier in deeper formats.
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I'm going back to Tolbert as a starter in three-receiver leagues coming off the Cowboys' bye in Week 7, and I hope he bounces back in Week 8 against the 49ers. Tolbert had a down game in Week 6 against Detroit with four catches for 43 yards on five targets, but prior to that, he had scored at least 13.2 PPR points in three of his previous four outings. He'll continue to benefit with Brandin Cooks (knee) out, and Tolbert should see a decent amount of targets, with Dallas likely throwing a lot at San Francisco.
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Douglas dealt with an illness in Week 7 at Jacksonville in London, which is why he was limited to two catches for 14 yards on three targets. Prior to that, he scored 21.2 PPR points in Week 6 against Houston with six catches for 92 yards and a touchdown on nine targets in Drake Maye's first start, and I like Douglas as a No. 3 PPR receiver against the Jets. Even though it's a tough matchup since the Jets are No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, Douglas had seven catches for 69 yards on nine targets against the Jets in Week 3. He did that with Jacoby Brissett under center, and Douglas has a higher ceiling with Maye. Hopefully, Douglas will score around 14.8 PPR points or more in the rematch with New York.
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Sleeper TEs
Otton should benefit the most out of all of Tampa Bay's pass catchers, with Chris Godwin (ankle) and Mike Evans (hamstring) getting hurt in Week 7 against Baltimore. In that game, Otton had eight catches for 100 yards on 10 targets, and he scored 18 PPR points. He scored at least 9.5 PPR points now in four of his past five games, but there's a huge opportunity for him to be the go-to guy for Baker Mayfield moving forward. I would start Otton in all leagues in Week 8 against Atlanta.
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Drake Maye has been great for Henry, who has become a low-end starting tight end in all leagues after his performance in the past two games with Maye under center. Henry has scored at least 13.1 PPR points in each start, with Maye with 11 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets in two outings against Houston and Jacksonville. He has a tough matchup in Week 8 against the Jets, but I would still trust Henry as a starter in the majority of leagues.
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I'm going to give Schultz one more chance to help Fantasy managers in Week 8 against the Colts, given the matchup. Indianapolis is No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, and hopefully, C.J. Stroud can connect with Schultz in this game. Schultz hasn't benefited with Nico Collins (hamstring) out the past two games, but it's worth giving Schultz another look in Week 8, given the matchup.
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Defense/Special Teams
Chargers (vs. NO)
Lions (vs. TEN)
Bears (at WAS)
Kickers
Cameron Dicker (vs. NO)
Jake Bates (vs. TEN)
Wil Lutz (vs. CAR)
