Fantasy Football: Week 8 Streamers to Consider
Working through the onslaught of bye weeks through the middle of the fantasy season can be tough for a fantasy roster, but finding the right players to slide into a lineup from week to week can really be the difference in making it through with another “W” or further putting fantasy managers out of the playoff race.
Let’s work through streamers that fantasy managers may be worth a start in Week 8!
Quarterbacks
Geno Smith
QB • NYJ
The start to the season for Geno Smith has not been a reliable one for fantasy purposes, but that is why he is the real definition of a streaming QB. Smith has been unreliable for fantasy lineups outside of two weeks this season, averaging just 11.14 fantasy points in those five games. However, when the matchup is right, Geno has been able to deliver with QB3 and QB6 finishes thanks to a trio of TDs in games against Detroit and Miami. Week 8 presents a perfect matchup for Geno to deliver again for fantasy managers against the Raiders. Las Vegas has allowed the second-most passing TDs on the season through seven weeks, so the opportunity should be there for Smith to slide back into starting lineups again this week.
Jacoby Brissett
QB • ARI
After being the ultimate streaming QB down the stretch of the season in 2025, Jacoby Brissett really hasn’t delivered for fantasy managers in the same way to start 2026. Through his first seven games, Brissett has only finished as a top-12 QB twice, despite averaging 40 passing attempts per game. Week 8 presents a strong chance for Brissett to get back on track for fantasy managers, with a matchup against the Cowboys. Through seven games, the Cowboys have allowed opposing fantasy QBs to score 20+ fantasy points in all but two games, and those two games the opposing QBs were Jalon Daniels and Tanner McKee. Brissett is available in 76% of leagues and could be a simple add-and-play for Week 8.
Jordan Love
QB • GB
One of the frequent names as a streamer already this season, Jordan Love sort of let fantasy managers down last week when he had a juicy matchup against the Lions defense and finished as the QB13. Love will have another strong opportunity to get back into fantasy managers’ good graces with a matchup against the Panthers in Week 8. Carolina’s defense has been better against fantasy QBs over their last two games, only allowing a combined 19 fantasy points since Week 6, but in three of their first four games the Panthers gave up an average of 20.9 fantasy points to opposing QBs, and that average includes a week where they allowed just 2.4 points. Love is rostered pretty much everywhere, but fantasy managers should keep him in their lineups again this week with confidence.
Tight Ends
T.J. Hockenson
TE • MIN
As a whole, the offense in Minnesota has been one that fantasy managers don’t want to rely on, but TJ Hockenson has maybe been one of the more consistent pieces from the Vikings that can be relied on in fantasy lineups. Hockenson has finished as a top-10 TE in three of his six games to start the season, despite only seeing 32 targets. A matchup against the Lions is what is really appealing about getting Hockenson in lineups this week. Detroit’s defense is known as a team to target with fantasy matchups, but TE is maybe the best spot to look for them at. Through their first six games, the Lions are allowing an average of 21.6 fantasy points to opposing teams’ TEs and have given up less than 10 points to the position in just one game this season. Hockenson is only rostered in about half of fantasy leagues, so the Vikings TE could be a plug-and-play guy this week.
Mason Taylor
TE • NYJ
Kind of a gross suggestion, but it is hard to ignore what Mason Taylor did in Week 7, finishing as the TE2 overall. Taylor recorded the first multi-TD game of his career against the Dolphins, adding his second and third career TDs along with five receptions and 62 yards. What’s more impressive is that rookie TE Kenyon Sadiq was active in this game, and Taylor still saw 63% of the snaps for the Jets offense. Taylor has another great matchup for fantasy TEs in Week 8 against the Raiders, who are allowing 16 fantasy points per game to opposing teams’ TEs this season. Taylor is sure to be one of the bigger waiver wire pickups this week, so fantasy managers who land him should be able to immediately play him with such a strong matchup.
Eli Raridon
TE • NE
It may be hard to remember all the way back to Thursday night, but Patriots rookie TE Eli Raridon is a player I made a mental note to go check on after his breakout performance against the Bears. Raridon has been working his way onto the field more in New England, and it paid off against Chicago, where he finished as the TE5 for the week. What is more encouraging is Raridon basically duplicated his statline from Week 7 back in Week 5 but just didn’t catch a TD to push him over the top. Raridon gets a matchup against the Dolphins in Week 8, who just gave up the TE2 overall finish to the aforementioned Mason Taylor, so there is a chance he could string together a pair of solid fantasy weeks. The Patriots rookie is available basically everywhere and might need to be a priority add for fantasy managers needing TE help.
Defenses
Cincinnati Bengals
D • CIN
Easily the most frequent flyer on the defensive streamers list this season has been the Bengals, and it is only because the masses haven’t caught up to what this unit is doing. Through seven weeks, Cincinnati’s defense is the DEF5 on the season and currently sits tied for the league lead in sacks with the likes of the Texans, Lions, Broncos, and Vikings. The Bengals defense is kind of a double-whammy this week because they are also the defense playing the Titans, who have been a consistently strong matchup for fantasy defenses. Cincinnati is still available in 81% of leagues, so snatch them up and stream them until something changes.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
D • TB
After a really rough start to the season, the Buccaneers defense has turned things around. Over their last two games, Tampa Bay has a combined 10 sacks and just finished as the DEF1 in Week 7. Sometimes getting the right DST for fantasy is about finding the hot team that’s rolling and less about matchups. Tampa Bay getting the Falcons in Week 8 isn’t the greatest matchup since Atlanta’s offense has seemed to figure themselves out as long as Michael Penix is playing QB, but in a week without many great matchups for fantasy defenses, I would be riding the hot hand with the Bucs at home.
Detroit Lions
D • DET
Hear me out here, but the Lions aren’t the worst play heading into Week 8 for fantasy. While the Lions have been a team to target with offensive players, we are really looking at what this defense does well and who they are playing. Over their last two games, the Lions have a combined six sacks and have been a top-12 defense for fantasy in each game. Where Detroit’s defense is its best is against the run, where they have allowed the fourth-fewest rushing yards on the season. What is appealing about the Lions heading into Week 8 is their matchup against a Vikings offense that not only struggles to score, but still has Kyler Murray at QB. I am aware I recommended a Viking player above, but both can still be solid plays for fantasy at the same time, though I wouldn’t recommend playing them in the same lineup. This isn’t a prescription for playing Detroit’s defense the rest of the season, but in a spot start situation, this is the right kind of matchup to use this defense.
Boom Boom Kicker
Tyler Bass
K • BUF
Finding a kicker is the worst part of any fantasy lineup decision, which is why I fully support ending that position in your fantasy leagues. If you are still forced to start a kicker, though, Tyler Bass is worth adding. Bass may have been dropped when the Bills went on Bye last week, and Buffalo is exactly the type of offense you want a fantasy kicker tied to. Bass is a perfect 13/13 and should get plenty of opportunity going forward, making him valuable at the end of your lineup.