Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
Kate Magdziuk shares her Week 8 wide receiver rankings for standard scoring leagues and highlights several streaming options.
Welp… Week 7 was kind of a bust at the wide receiver position; can we get a re-do? There were several season-ending injuries suffered in Week 7, unfortunately, including those Tampa Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin, out for the year with an ankle injury, and San Francisco 49ers Brandon Aiyuk, out for the year with a knee injury. That’s not even taking into account DK Metcalf, who’s dealing with an MCL injury and could be week-to-week, as well as Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, whose fantasy value is contingent on the hopeful return of QB Tua Tagovailoa.
That will make it as tricky as ever to set your lineups this week, even without any teams on bye this week, you may need to delve as deep as ever into some of the most critical weeks of your seasons.
To help you make some of those critical decisions in a moment of controversy, here’s a look at several Week 8 sleepers and my top-75 WR rankings for standard-scoring leagues.
Week 8 WR sleepers
Rostership percentages in Yahoo! Fantasy leagues are indicated in parentheses.
Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers (vs. Jaguars, 45%)
The Green Bay Packers have had a bit of a rotating door at wide receiver this year (and last), but the latest development has been the emergence of Romeo Doubs following a one-game suspension due to … something that had been reported as an issue with his role in the offense, though he’s denied that. Since returning from his suspension, he’s totaled 11 catches for 143 receiving yards and two scores as a key part in the offense.
In Week 6, his role in the offense felt a bit flukey, scoring two touchdowns on just four targets, but this past week, his role became something that seemed a bit more sustainable. Doubs ran the second-most routes on the team in Week 7 and led the team with 10 total targets, totaling 95 receiving yards (no scores). This week, the Packers will face the Jaguars, who are allowing 177 receiving yards and 1.3 TD per game to opposing wideouts.
Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns (vs. Ravens, 1%)
The Cleveland Browns are in a bit of a pickle on offense right now … kind of. After a season-ending Achilles injury to QB Deshaun Watson, they’re likely turning to Jameis Winston at quarterback, per a report from Fox NFL insider Jordan Schultz, which could mean that gun-slinger mentality is back and here for the fantasy taking.
Sure, Mr. 30-for-30 may be just as prone to turnovers as he was in his full season as a starter (2019). However, there’s no doubt that he’s good for the receivers, and WR Cedric Tillman has been the primary beneficiary of Amari Cooper’s trade, having averaged just under 21 snaps per game through the first six weeks before totaling 69 naps (82% of offensive snaps) in Week 7.
Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers (vs. Cowboys, 32%)
This sleeper recommendation is, of course, contingent on him actually being active and available to play in Week 8. Jennings missed Week 7 with a hip injury, but it’s not considered serious, and if he is ready to return, he should get all the work he can handle. As noted previously, Aiyuk is out with the season with a knee injury, and Deebo Samuel appears likely to miss the week dealing with a bout of pneumonia that limited him to just four snaps in Week 7.
Jennings shined in his lone game as a full-time receiver in Week 3 with an 11-175-3 stat line that earned him a finish as the overall WR1 on the week. Add in the fact that TE George Kittle is dealing with a foot sprain, and you have yourself a bonafide WR1 in Week 8 who could see unprecedented volume against a struggling Dallas defense.
Fantasy football: Week 8 WR rankings
Kate Magdziuk is an editor and contributor for Yahoo Fantasy and co-host of the Locked On Dynasty Football podcast. She is also the managing editor for Behind The Steel Curtain, SB Nation’s exclusive Pittsburgh Steelers blog. Her previous bylines include Pro Football Focus, NBC Sports Rotoworld and 4for4 Football, among others.
