Week 8 will truly be one of the most challenging weeks for fantasy managers. The list of injured players continues to grow, and six different teams are on their bye weeks. The ability to navigate through these challenges could ultimately prove to be the difference between a fantasy championship and a consolation bracket trip.
Finding deep sleepers is more crucial than ever this week. Identifying players with increased opportunities who slid under the radar in the initial waiver runs could provide some necessary pop in your fantasy lineups this week.
This article will focus on players available in at least 50% of Yahoo leagues, as well as some deep sleepers rostered in less than 20% of leagues. Without further ado, here are the best Week 8 streaming options at every position.
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Quarterback Streaming Options Week 8
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins (29% rostered)
Michael Penix Jr. has struggled with consistency this season. The second-year quarterback has two top 12 positional finishes this season, but also three games of QB20 finishes or worse (including QB31 and QB32 finishes in Weeks 2 and 3).
Michael Penix Jr. Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Penix has generally struggled this year to deliver the ball downfield. Injuries to his offensive line and pass catchers certainly haven’t helped, but a lot of the problems come back to the quarterback.
Among 41 qualified quarterbacks, Penix is 28th in time to throw (2.56 seconds), 32nd in pressured completion percentage (44.4%), 31st in clean pocket completion percentage (64.8%), and 34th in deep ball completion percentage (17.4%).
He is also outside the top 32 quarterbacks in catchable pass rate when blitzed (58.3%), pressured (38.6%), from a clean pocket (69.3%), in the red zone (50.0%), and on deep passes (21.7%).
Week 8 presents an excellent chance for Penix and Atlanta’s passing attack to get back on track. Quarterbacks have the highest completion percentage against the Dolphins this season (74.6%) while throwing for 11 touchdowns and just one interception. The Dolphins are 32nd in expected points added to quarterbacks this season (47.4).
Penix is poised to have a big week against a defense that has struggled against quarterbacks all season. Be sure to keep an eye on his practice reports as he’s working through a knee injury suffered in Monday’s loss to the 49ers. But if he’s active this is a good spot for the sophomore QB.
Deep Sleeper: Andy Dalton, Carolina Panthers vs Buffalo Bills (4% rostered)
Andy Dalton is set to make his first start of the season with Bryce Young nursing a high-ankle sprain. Dalton had two top 12 finishes as Carolina’s starter in 2024, and that was when he didn’t have the benefit of throwing to Tetairoa McMillan.
Buffalo’s defense has been exploitable this season, allowing a 9.1% explosive pass rate and seven passing touchdowns with just two interceptions. The Panthers’ offense wants to run the football, but the Bills have more than enough offensive firepower to push them into a negative game script. It certainly helps that they are coming in fresh off the bye week as well.
At this stage in his career, Dalton is a quarterback who will take care of the football and let his playmakers do the work. That recipe could lead to a solid performance in fantasy.
Honorable Mention: Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers vs Green Bay Packers (37 % rostered)
The Aaron Rodgers REVENGE GAME narrative is too good to ignore with a primetime matchup against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.
Rodgers has two top 10 fantasy finishes this season, both of which came from games where he threw four touchdown passes. Green Bay’s defense has an amazing pass rush, but they have struggled against quarterbacks who throw the ball quickly to beat the rush.
The Packers are allowing quarterbacks to complete 79.6% of their passes for 601 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception on quick-release throws this season. Green Bay has allowed the 11th-highest EPA per play on these throws (.269).
Rodgers is the QB8 in EPA on quick-release throws this season (34.08) with a 77.5% completion rate, 738 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Running Back Streaming Options Week 8
Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens (35% rostered)
The Bears have been one of the most effective rushing teams since their Week 5 bye. Over the last two weeks, the Bears lead the NFL in rushing yards (367) and are second in yards per carry (5.5). Chicago is sixth in rushing success rate (50.7%) and tied for third (with Detroit and Indianapolis) in yards before contact (3.2). Their 20.9% explosive rush rate leads the NFL during that time.
That commitment to the run has allowed 2025 seventh-round pick Kyle Monangai to become fantasy-relevant. Over the last two weeks, Monangai has averaged a 39.8% snap share and totalled 18 carries for 100 yards and a touchdown, along with three receptions for 38 yards. The rookie is getting consistent work throughout the game (not just garbage time) and looks to have emerged as a complement to D’Andre Swift in Chicago’s backfield.
Kyle Monangai Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Baltimore’s defense has struggled against the run since Nnamdi Madubuike was injured in Week 2. In the games since Baltimore is 26th in EPA against the run (6.56), 24th in rushing success rate against (44.4%), and 22nd in yards before contact allowed (2.3).
Deep Sleeper: Devin Neal, New Orleans Saints vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3% rostered)
Kendre Miller suffered an ACL injury against the Bears in Week 7, leaving a void behind Alvin Kamara on the depth chart. The most likely player to fill that need is 2025 sixth-round pick Devin Neal.
Devin Neal Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Neal has been seldom used this season, but he was a high-volume rusher at Kansas. From 2022 to 2024, Neal averaged 200.7 carries, 1,212.0 rushing yards, and 13.7 touchdowns per season. He also averaged 23.3 receptions, 218.0 rushing yards, and three receiving touchdowns during those seasons. Neal averaged 6.0 yards per touch in his four-year career.
There is a risk that New Orleans decides to split Miller’s role three ways between Kamara, Neal, and Taysom Hill. But if the work just transfers to Neal, he will have upside in fantasy for the remainder of the season.
Honorable Mention: Brashard Smith, Kansas City Chiefs vs Washington Commanders (13% rostered)
A lot of Brashard Smith‘s work as a rusher in Week 7 occurred because of a blowout victory. However, Kansas City has tried to get the dynamic seventh-round pick involved in recent weeks as a pass catcher.
Brashard Smith Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Since Week 3, Smith has averaged 4.0 targets, 3.5 receptions, and 30.5 receiving yards per game. The Chiefs have also gotten him involved in the red zone. Seven of his 19 carries during that time have come inside the 20-yard line.
Kansas City could easily find itself in another blowout situation against a Marcus Mariota-led Commanders offense. Even if they don’t, Kareem Hunt is navigating through an injury, which could lead to Smith having a bigger role regardless of the game script.
At the very least, Smith should have his usual role in the passing attack, which has proven to provide a steady fantasy floor.
Wide Receiver Streaming Options Week 8
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans (23% rostered)
Alec Pierce has carved out a consistent role in the Colts’ passing attack. Since Week 2 (four games), Pierce has caught 15 of 24 targets for 281 yards. He has three games of 10+ fantasy points during that time, including a WR22 finish in Week 7 (14.8 points).
In the Colts’ first matchup against the Titans, he caught four of five targets for 67 yards. It was one of his two games this season with 101 air yards, thanks to a primary matchup against L’Jarius Sneed, who has since been placed on the injured reserve. Pierce played just 57% of the Colts’ snaps in that game because he suffered a concussion.
Pierce has at least four targets in his last four games. He has at least four receptions and 60 yards in three of his last four. His downfield style of play is very boom-or-bust, but his consistent target share this year helps to mitigate some of those issues, making him a viable streamer.
Deep Sleeper: Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans vs San Francisco 49ers (3% rostered)
Jaylin Noel, the Houston Texans’ 2025 third-round pick, saw his role expand in Week 7’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Noel earned a season-high 43.4% snap share, catching four of seven targets for 77 yards.
Jaylin Noel Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The Texans are expected to be without both Nico Collins and Christian Kirk in Week 8, which will open up opportunities for Noel to settle in as the slot man in three-receiver sets. The San Francisco 49ers have given up the fourth most yards (659) and touchdowns (six) to slot receivers this year.
Honorable Mention: Tez Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints (47% rostered)
Injuries at wide receiver have opened up a role for Tez Johnson in the Buccaneers’ passing attack. Johnson has three straight games with at least 10 fantasy points and 45+ receiving yards. He’s scored a touchdown in back-to-back weeks.
Johnson is coming off his second straight game with a 68% snap share. That is unlikely to change with Mike Evans on the injured reserve and Chris Godwin already ruled out in Week 8.
Tez Johnson Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The Saints have played the second-most Cover 3 defense in the NFL this season (42.2%), which should give Johnson opportunities to make big plays down the field in Week 8.
Tight End Streaming Options Week 8
Mason Taylor, New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals (33% rostered)
Mason Taylor has had highs and lows during his rookie season from a fantasy perspective. Taylor has the same number of games with six or more targets as he does games with two or fewer (three apiece). He has two games with 65 or more receiving yards and also two games with five or fewer yards.
Mason Taylor Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
Taylor had a fine game in Week 7 without Garrett Wilson, catching three of five targets for 31 yards. Wilson is set to miss Week 8 as well (based on early practice reports), which will give Taylor another expanded role in the offense.
His Week 8 opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals, has been the best fantasy matchup for tight ends this season. Tight ends are averaging 15.4 points per game against the Bengals’ defense this year. Nobody else is above 11.3. Cincinnati has allowed the most targets (71), receiving yards (536), and receiving touchdowns (nine) to tight ends this season.
Taylor did not practice on Thursday, so his status needs to be monitored closely. However, if he’s able to play on Sunday, he is in line to have his best fantasy week of the season.
Deep Sleeper: Noah Fant, Cincinnati Bengals vs New York Jets (3% rostered)
Noah Fant has had a consistent presence as the tertiary option in the Bengals’ passing attack. The veteran tight end has at least four targets, three receptions, and 25 yards in five of six games this season. He caught his second touchdown of the season against the Steelers in Week 7.
Fant’s snap share jumped to 68.4% in his first game with Mike Gesicki on the injured reserve. The Jets have allowed the seventh-most points per game to tight ends this season (9.4) and the second-most touchdowns to the position (six).
Honorable Mention: Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears at Baltimore Ravens (22% rostered)
Colston Loveland hasn’t necessarily seen the “post-bye rookie bump” that many hoped for, but he is still getting a consistent workload. In his last three games (he missed Week 4 with an injury), the rookie tight end has seen at least three targets per game. He had over 20 receiving yards in two of those games.
There is a chance that Loveland sees a significant workload increase in Week 8 if veteran Cole Kmet is unable to play due to a back injury. Loveland had his best game of the season (four targets, three receptions, and 24 receiving yards on a season-high 66.7% snap share) with Kmet missing time in Week 7.
Colston Loveland Advanced Stats & Metrics Profile
The Ravens have allowed the 10th most yards to tight ends this season (402) despite playing one fewer game than most teams, thanks to their bye week in Week 7. Loveland is in store for a big fantasy week, especially if Kmet is unable to suit up for the game in Week 8.
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