Fantasy Football: Week 8 Streamers To Consider
As we reach the midpoint of the regular fantasy football season, the first byepocalypse of the year is upon us. This week, our rosters will be depleted of Cardinals, Lions, Jaguars, Raiders, Rams, and Seahawks. That’s a huge number of fantasy-relevant players.
Some view it as a disastrous week. Many even consider it a lost cause. But savvy fantasy managers know how to find opportunity in weeks like this. Your opponent is probably also dealing with the byepocalypse, and you can take advantage by streaming players with favorable matchups to patch those holes in your roster and grab an important win.
That’s the purpose of this weekly article: to help you find viable streaming options for the QB, K, DST, and TE positions to add some upside to your lineup, squeeze out as many points as possible, and come out with a W. As always, don’t forget to check Andy, Mike, and Jason’s weekly rankings and the Ultimate Dashboard, where you’ll find useful lineup suggestions and spot-start pickups tailored to your team.
Now, let’s see who we can stream in this byepocalypse week.
Quarterbacks
Bo Nix – Denver Broncos (87% rostered)
Yes, I know. He’s pretty heavily rostered. But as Andy, Mike, and Jason said on the podcast a couple of weeks ago, Bo Nix has shifted from being an every-week starter to a matchup-based streamer this season. And this is exactly the kind of week to start him, as he faces the Dallas Cowboys, who are allowing the most fantasy points per game to opposing QBs. It doesn’t matter if the Broncos’ offense has struggled at times. Bo Nix should be able to air it out in this one.
Michael Penix Jr.- Atlanta Falcons (26% rostered)
Penix hasn’t been a trustworthy fantasy QB this season, but he’s had some occasional bright moments. In the season opener against the Bucs, he threw for 298 yards and a TD, plus another score on the ground. Since then, it’s been a rollercoaster with some awful games and a few decent ones. This week, the Falcons face the Dolphins, who have given up over 22 fantasy points per game to QBs. This matchup is even better than that opener, making Penix a viable streamer during this tough bye week.
Spencer Rattler – New Orleans Saints (13% rostered)
In weeks like this, sometimes you have to turn to less obvious names. Nasty names you wouldn’t even want to mention around your roster. And Spencer Rattler fits the bill. He finally found the end zone again last week with two TDs against the Bears, and this week, he faces the Buccaneers, whose defense has allowed more than 250 passing yards and nearly 20 fantasy points per game to QBs. If you’re a bye week victim, Rattler could be a solid option against Tampa Bay.
Kickers
Wil Lutz – Denver Broncos (29% rostered)
The Broncos are a defensive-minded team. Their games tend to be low-scoring, even with some solid playmakers on offense. But there is a cure for that: the Dallas Cowboys. Most of their games have hit the over this season, and only three times in seven weeks have their opponents scored under 30 points. The Broncos should find themselves in scoring range frequently this week, and Will Lutz, who hasn’t missed a kick since Week 2, should get plenty of chances to put up fantasy points.
Michael Badgley – Indianapolis Colts (33% rostered)
The Colts are currently the No. 1 seed in the AFC and one of the best teams in the league. They’re scoring at a strong pace and now face one of the NFL’s worst teams: the Tennessee Titans, who have struggled to move the ball, especially against tough defenses like the Colts. That often leaves their opponents with great field position. Expect the Colts to dominate, and that means plenty of opportunities for Badgley to pile up fantasy points.
Evan McPherson – Cincinnati Bengals (24% rostered)
Joe Flacco’s arrival has completely revived the Bengals’ offense. They’re now scoring points consistently. And their defense is still a mess, which helps keep the game competitive. The Jets are desperate for their first win and should have Garrett Wilson back, which will help them stay in the game and push the Bengals to keep scoring points. Last week, that recipe led to a great fantasy outing from Evan McPherson.
Defense & Special Teams
Indianapolis Colts (56% rostered)
Many fantasy managers dropped the Colts’ DST last week fearing a shootout against the Chargers, but they’re actually one of the best defenses in the league. This week, they should definitely be started against the Tennessee Titans. Cam Ward has already been sacked 30 times this season, offering a solid floor and plenty of upside to any DST facing him. Last week, the Patriots were one of the top-scoring defenses. Now it’s the Colts’ turn. If they are available, grab them and start them.
Buffalo Bills (42% rostered)
There’s nothing like streaming a well-rested defense after a bye week, especially when the matchup is against one of the most anemic offenses in the league. The Bills haven’t been as dominant as in years past, particularly against the run, but they should have no problem slowing down Bryce Young and the Panthers as they try to climb back to the top of the AFC East.
Los Angeles Chargers (18% rostered)
The Chargers struggled to contain the Colts last week, but this week they get the Vikings, who will likely start Carson Wentz again. The Vikings have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to DSTs this season, thanks to a mix of low-scoring games, turnovers, and other mistakes. The Chargers have been streamable in the right matchups, and this could definitely be one of those.
BONUS: Tight Ends
Mason Taylor – New York Jets (44% rostered)
Last week, rookie TE Mason Taylor managed just 31 receiving yards in a game where Justin Fields played terribly and was eventually benched. But Taylor was the second-most targeted player and ran a route on every dropback. It’s unclear whether Tyrod Taylor will start this week against the Bengals, but regardless of who’s under center, Taylor should see a healthy target share. Cincinnati is the most permissive defense against TEs this season, allowing the most fantasy points per game to the position, so if you need a TE for this complicated week, Mason might be your guy.