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Fantasy Football: Top 10 Sleepers for Week 8

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 1:57 p.m. ET

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Oct 17, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall (15) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeated the Jets 28-3. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Heading into your Week 8 fantasy football action, keep an eye on these top 10 sleepers entering favorable matchups.

As the fantasy football world heads into the midway point of the season, things have been rather unpredictable these past few weeks. Starters that tend to really push the envelope with their fantasy contributions have turned into duds. Matchups everyone thought would go in their favor ended up being a nightmare and it’s not even Halloween yet.

The truth of the matter is, fantasy owners must work waiver wires and above all else, sit starters in favor of sleepers that will undoubtedly earn more points. It’s hard to sit a usually dominant player but sometimes it must be done. Especially if he’s about to face a top-five ranked defense, sometimes you’re better off making that executive decision with confidence rather than sulk about it later.

This week, one of the worst teams in the NFL boasts three potential sleepers as they head into what should hopefully be the biggest matchup of the week. Other stars are hopeful to get their first breakout game of the season. Meanwhile, one household favorite should be able to continue adding to their legacy.

It should be known that this is the perfect time in the season to start stacking up on sleepers based on their remaining games of the season. Time goes by incredibly fast between now and the holidays, fantasy owners would be wise to stash extra players now so they won’t have to worry about them being scooped up in a few weeks.

Without further ado, here are the top 10 sleepers to start this week in Week 8 fantasy football action. Make no mistake about it, they won’t let you down as you can build some nice momentum to end the week on a high note.

10. Jack Doyle, TE — Indianapolis Colts

Quarterback Andrew Luck has always had a knack for having his go-to receiving option be a tight end when in trouble under center. While Luck could use more protection from the offensive line of the Indianapolis Colts, he’s still getting the job done in the grand scheme of things.

This week, the Colts welcome the Kansas City Chiefs to Lucas Oil Stadium. With the uncertainty of tight end Dwayne Allen playing in this Week 8 matchup, fantasy owners should still stick with tight end Jack Doyle. Last week against the Tennessee Titans, Doyle put up his best game of the season so far.

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Against the Titans, Doyle totaled 78 receiving yards, nine receptions, and scored a touchdown. Most impressive is that Doyle now has a two-game streak of scoring at least one touchdown. The Chiefs secondary leaves much to the imagination as fantasy owners should highly consider starting Doyle yet again this week. He’ll undoubtedly want his touchdown streak to continue.

It’s hard to believe, but Doyle is still actually available in some fantasy leagues. Owners that still find him available via waiver-wire should immediately pick him up to be started. With how Luck has been playing as of late, Doyle could really heat up heading into November. For all we know, Doyle might be the top sleeper pick at tight end from here on out straight to your playoffs.

Just like last week against the Titans, all eyes were on wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and Luck exploited their defensive secondary regardless. Luck still had a field day with Hilton. But right now in fantasy football, Doyle continues to gain some serious momentum. Against the Chiefs, he could very well have another breakout game. It’s been since Week 1 of the regular season that Doyle had a two-touchdown performance at the expense of the Detroit Lions. Look for him to want to perform just as good this time around.

Oct 24, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) before the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

9. DeAndre Hopkins, WR — Houston Texans

To say that the Houston Texans have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL would be an understatement. At 4-3 and on top of the AFC South for now, at least, the Texans are incredibly inconsistent. Things are so bad, it has many wondering if they jumped the gun too soon offering quarterback Brock Osweiler franchise money based on hope rather than reality.

Regardless, what’s done is done but due to Osweiler not living up to his potential, it’s completely stunned the fantasy contributions of all the heavy hitters on the Texans. Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins hasn’t done much of anything so far this season.

To date, Hopkins has only totaled 390 receiving yards, 36 receptions, and only three touchdowns. It’s hard to believe that the Texans offense has been so bad as of late, their premier wide receiver is putting up numbers to make 2016 the worst season in his young career.

As the Texans welcome the Detroit Lions to NRG Stadium this week, their pass defense is so abysmal, this could finally be the game Hopkins breaks out in. He’s long overdue for one, especially going on two weeks since the last time he even scored a touchdown.

The Texans need to regroup and realize there is still plenty of football left to be played. Perhaps it’ll take some time for Osweiler to adjust to life as a permanent starter but hopefully playing at home in front of their fans will give him all the clarity he needs. Expect to see Hopkins thrive in this matchup and put the Texans back in a more consistent direction. If they can have a big bounce back game against the Lions, after such a terrible loss in Week 7 to the Denver Broncos, all should be well in Houston. Fantasy owners should use Hopkins as a WR2 option this week.

Oct 16, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills running back Mike Gillislee (35) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers defensive end DeForest Buckner (99) during the second half at New Era Field. Buffalo beat San Francisco 45-16. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

8. Mike Gillislee, RB — Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills have not only been a surprise so far this season in their own division of the AFC East but in the NFL as well. The Bills are a gritty team led by head coach Rex Ryan who believes in two things with his universal football philosophies. Pound the football right through opposing teams and have such an intricate defense, it leaves opponents completely clueless on the gridiron in how to succeed against it.

If running back LeSean McCoy was healthy this season, the Bills would easily be one of the scariest teams to face this season. Unfortunately for the Bills, McCoy is still dealing with injuries but as always, Ryan will use his “next man up” mentality. This week is incredibly important for him and his team as they prepare for the division rival New England Patriots at home.

The Bills shocked the football world by defeating the Patriots back in Week 4 to the final tune of 16-0. Of course, that was without future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady under center. Either way, if the Bills want to sweep their division rivals this week, it’ll all come down to how effective they are in their ground game. Running back Mike Gillislee didn’t shine last week against the 49ers but there is still hope for him this time around.

Gillislee has the skill-set to be a difference-maker in this matchup. He’s got the speed, power, and strength to surprise many this week. With the uncertainty around McCoy this week, fantasy owners should highly consider Gillislee as their RB2 this week. He’s worth the risk since owners better believe Ryan wants to sweep the Patriots more than anything. Expect to see the running game really take off against the Patriots this week as the Bills are getting their brooms ready for Brady and company.

Oct 20, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Ty Montgomery (88) runs from Chicago Bears linebacker Willie Young (97) after catching a pass in the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

7. Ty Montgomery, WR — Green Bay Packers

Despite the Green Bay Packers beating the Chicago Bears last week, things aren’t going as envisioned for them or their offense. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers isn’t the same quarterback we all remember and has seemingly lost a step. Regardless, winning fixes everything, the problem is it’s not like they beat a premier team last week as they beat the Bears, a team they were supposed to defeat. The Packers, against better competition, seem to be playing flat this season. Luckily for the Packers, they have quite the weapon on offense capable of putting their season back in the right direction.

The best part of wide receiver Ty Montgomery is his unique dual-threat skill set. He’s able to line up as an eligible receiving option or even in the backfield as a running back. He’s been quite the utility player for the Packers as so far this season, he hasn’t really had a breakout game at all. All that is about to change as the Packers hit the road to take on the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8 action.

The Falcons are usually known for being stout against the run but the Packers will incorporate Montgomery heavily this week. The defense of the Falcons against the pass isn’t effective as all since this gives the Packers a lot of different ways of utilizing Montgomery against them. This game has the potential to be a great one featuring some pretty big offensive plays by both Rodgers and quarterback Matt Ryan.

With running back Eddie Lacy out for the Packers due to injury, Montgomery could be the next big thing in fantasy football. Owners should absolutely start him this week and well, due to some controversy over whether he’s really a wide receiver or running back, is the perfect FLEX option. Montgomery will easily ball out this week as the Packers try to gather some momentum and make fans believe again.

6. Gary Barnidge, TE – Cleveland Browns

The Cleveland Browns have continued in their losing ways even after having a new head coach in Hue Jackson. To their credit, however, they do play with heart and passion and well, they might not have won a single game this season but their time should come sooner than later. This week, they welcome the struggling New York Jets to FirstEnergy Stadium.

If you’ve been following the Jets this season, you haven’t been missing much of anything really. Their offense is abysmal and their defense hasn’t delivered, to say the least. When it comes to either using a tight end on offense or defending against one, they have absolutely no idea what they’re doing. Tight ends all season long have been able to earn huge plays, touchdowns, and everything else in between.

The Browns haven’t had any luck when it comes to their quarterback situation but Josh McCown should be starting on Sunday. Needless to say, tight end Gary Barnidge is a must-start this week against a defense that won’t have any answers for him. Don’t let last week fool you, the Jets beat a banged up Baltimore Ravens team with quarterback Joe Flacco dealing with a shoulder injury.

Fantasy owners should consider starting Barnidge this week as a TE1 since he has yet to score a touchdown this season. He’s worth the big risk this week as, again, the Jets will continue having major problems on defense and Barnidge could easily be a one-man army against them. Barnidge is literally the only Brown worth starting this week in fantasy as there is no guarantee the Jets will leave Cleveland victorious. This Week 8 matchup has “trap game” written all over it for the Jets and if their offense doesn’t live up to its potential like last week, Gang Green will be in serious trouble if Barnidge puts up a monster game against their defense.

Oct 23, 2016; Atlanta, GA, USA; San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (85) runs past Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (59) in overtime at the Georgia Dome. The Chargers defeated the Falcons 33-30 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

5. Antonio Gates, TE — San Diego Chargers

Quarterback Philip Rivers continues to be a touchdown-producing machine for the San Diego Chargers. So far this season, Rivers has totaled 2,018 passing yards, 162 completions, 13 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. This week, the Chargers have a huge game on the road against the Denver Broncos.

This Week 8 matchup promises to be a good one as last week, the Chargers put up one of the best games so far of the season against the Atlanta Falcons. The Chargers beat the Falcons to the final tune of 33-30 in one of the most exciting games of the season. The only problem is, tight end Antonio Gates has rarely been utilized this season on offense.

So far in 2016, Gates has only totaled 119 receiving yards, 17 receptions, and two touchdowns. It seems like it was forever ago when Rivers-to-Gates was a common factor in football games but now it’s more of a week-to-week situation. It’s hard for fantasy owners to commit to Gates since age is getting up on him and he’s not as effective as he was a few years ago.

This week, however, Gates should see more opportunities against the speedy pass rush of the Broncos. Gates should find the end zone at least once in this matchup as Rivers will use him like he always has as a safety net once he has speedy defenders coming after him. Fantasy owners should consider Gates as a TE2 this week as he’s not going to produce enough to warrant a FLEX spot. With tight end Hunter Henry being developed to eventually be given the torch by Gates, it’s time for the savvy veteran to get some more opportunities to be an impact player again. Especially against one of the top defenses in the NFL.

Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts nose tackle David Parry (54) attempts to tackle Denver Broncos running back Devontae Booker (23) during the first half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

4. Devontae Booker, RB — Denver Broncos

As mentioned earlier, the Broncos will be facing the Chargers in Week 8 action. The reigning Super Bowl champion Broncos have the edge thanks to their top-notch defense. One of which is capable of stopping any offense dead in its tracks thanks to how efficient it is. They will get another top test against Rivers who continues to keep those chains moving with ease and precision.

If the Broncos plan to earn their sixth win of the season, it’ll come down to their defense and commitment to the run. With running back C.J. Anderson out for about the next 6-8 weeks, the Broncos will use the famous “next man up” mentality and put trust in Devontae Booker getting the job done. It won’t be easy but considering he’s coming off a decent game last week, he should be able to keep the offense of the Broncos not to miss a beat.

Last week against the Houston Texans, Booker put up the best game so far in his rookie season. Booker totaled 83 rushing yards, 17 rushes, and even scored his first NFL touchdown. Booker has solid potential to be a true workhorse on an offense that is catered to a ground-and-pound system. The Broncos love to run the football and with their game-managing quarterback in Trevor Siemian, they should enjoy everything Booker brings to the table.

Fantasy owners should put Booker in as an RB2 this week. He has the skill-set to really take off this season with the Broncos at a time where teams that get hot between now and November can ride such momentum straight to the postseason. Expect to see him ready to shine and step up for a team that is making some serious noise so far this season.

Oct 23, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick (14) looks to pass the ball during the second half at MetLife Stadium. The Jets defeated the Ravens 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

3. Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB — New York Jets

Before fantasy football owners start to lose their minds as to why quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick of the New York Jets is on this list, understand one thing: it’s not always about what a player has done in the past or who they play for. In the grand scheme of things, it’s always about the matchup they’re heading in and how fantasy owners can capitalize on a plethora of points due to how favorable they are succeeding.

Such is the case with Fitzpatrick and the Jets. While they’re just 2-5 on the season, anytime a team is playing the Browns, they get a huge yet temporary outlook when it comes to fantasy football. Fitzpatrick has chimed his thoughts about being demoted as a starter to the media and well, is apparently “pissed off” that nobody that runs the organization believes in him.

Such strong comments signal he now has to put up or shut up. Fantasy owners should expect Fitzpatrick to do what he does best and have a few great games during the regular season. This should hopefully be one of them as the defensive secondary of the Browns leave much to the imagination. Fitzpatrick and the rest of his offensive teammates are in a golden situation to not only build a two-game winning streak but bring some positivity to what seems like a lost season for the Jets.

Fantasy owners, although reluctant to do so, should start Fitzpatrick this week as their QB1. It’s beyond risky, but it’s always good to go with you gut in this case, especially against the worst statistical team in the NFL. The Jets aren’t a good team by any stretch, but for this week and probably the only time this season, fantasy owners should start Fitzpatrick and his Gang Green friends this week.

Oct 23, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets running back Matt Forte (22) rushes for a touchdown against Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Elvis Dumervil (58) during the second half at MetLife Stadium. The New York Jets defeated the Baltimore Ravens 24-16.
Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

2. Matt Forte, RB — New York Jets

You’ll notice that this is definitely the week to undoubtedly believe in Gang Green. It’s hard to fathom, but in a game against the Browns, this is the time for the Jets to actually dominate a game from start to finish. There is always that small chance this is a “trap game” for the Jets and they could very well lose but there is optimism that they can deliver a consecutive win for the first time this season.

Running back Matt Forte is coming off an incredible game last week against the Baltimore Ravens. In Week 7 action, Forte totaled 100 rushing yards, 30 attempts, and a touchdown. Forte even added 54 receiving yards on four receptions for another touchdown through the air. At the halfway mark of the regular season, this is the time where Forte literally turns on the jets and runs with purpose and determination from here on out.

Fantasy owners should consider putting Forte in as their RB1 this week as the run defense of the Browns is pretty inconsistent. This could possibly end up being the best game of 2016 for Forte as he should undoubtedly be an X-factor in this matchup. His ability to be a dual-threat goes well with Fitzpatrick, a quarterback that wants to prove he was worth that big $12 million contract with the Jets this offseason.

The locker room knows that this season has been a nightmare for the team and it’s time to finally deliver. It’s hard to believe the Jets can salvage their season but when it comes to their fantasy values this week, owners shouldn’t feel worried about starting them at least for now. Forte this week is an RB1 and would also do well as a FLEX option.

1. Brandon Marshall, WR — New York Jets

As you’ve seen so far, the key members on offense of the Jets are all starts to consider this week. Gang Green is producing some of the top sleepers in Week 8 fantasy football action since well, they’re entering the most favorable matchup without question. The Browns can’t seem to get anything right as injuries have piled up and are winless eight weeks into the regular season.

Things are pretty bad for the Browns as there is no guarantee they’ll even be able to keep up with an offense that looked much-improved last week. Sure, the Jets are back with Fitzpatrick under center after quarterback Geno Smith tore his ACL, but this week he and his partners in crime should shine against the Browns. It’s no secret that the relationship between Fitzpatrick and wide receiver Brandon Marshall is a great one as the two should connect early and often against the Browns.

Marshall is easily the best offensive weapon the Jets have as his hustle, determination, and ability to put the Jets on his back to succeed is remarkable. He’ll do whatever it takes to win and should have a multiple-touchdown day against the Browns. Without wide receiver Eric Decker alongside him, Marshall is the only premier receiving target on the Jets.

Expect to see Marshall lead the charge on a revitalized team looking to do the unthinkable and rebound after one of the worst starts of the season. Marshall’s enthusiasm, combined with a determined Fitzpatrick and relentless Forte all have the recipe for some major fantasy football success in Week 8.

Fantasy owners should easily start Marshall as their WR1 or FLEX option since he’ll be off to a huge day against the inefficient defensive secondary of the Browns. Yes, it’s hard to risk a starting spot on anyone wearing a Jets uniform but for the Halloween weekend, they’ll be more treats than tricks for Gang Green.

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