Game Info
Kickoff: Thursday, October 29, 2026, 8:15 PM ET
Location: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI
Network: AMZN
Carolina Panthers
Quarterback
Bryce Young: SIT, QB2 (Startable in Superflex)
Just last week I said that Bryce Young is a near-weekly start in all formats. Thank goodness I added that caveat, because I would much prefer to avoid Young in Week 8. Heading to Lambeau to face the Packers, who lead the league with nine interceptions and allow the fifth-fewest points to the position, is not the ideal setup. Young is fresh off an abysmal performance against the division rival Bucs. Throwing for less than 200 yards and turning the ball over multiple times (two interceptions, one fumble lost) were both firsts for this season. In Superflex, you likely have no other choice, but if you have to start Young, your Week 8 will likely start off restless.
Running Back
Chuba Hubbard: START, RB1
Trevor Etienne: SIT
Chuba Hubbard is also coming off his lowest output of the season, but I’m much more bullish on a bounce-back for the former OK State Cowboy on Thursday night. Hubbard rushed for 33 yards on seven carries for 10 fantasy points (all season lows), but things should swing the other way against the Pack. Hubbard takes his fifth-ranked 2.73 yards after contact per attempt and fourth-ranked 76% of running back snaps to Lambeau against a Green Bay defense allowing the fifth-most points to the position. A good portion of that is due to the fact that the Pack have allowed 10 touchdowns to running backs, the fourth-most this season. Hubbard has the workload and the matchup to finish as a top 12 option in Week 8. Trevor Etienne is currently the healthiest Etienne in the league, and that’s about where his appeal ends, fantasy or otherwise.
Wide Receiver
Tetairoa McMillan: START, WR2
Jalen Coker: START, WR2
Brycen Tremayne: SIT
The thing holding back Tetairoa McMillan and Jalen Coker from climbing the fantasy WR ranks even further? Each other. Tet currently sits as WR13 and Coker WR24 on a points-per-game basis, but both have the ability to finish as a week-winning WR1 in any given week. They have a nearly identical aDOT, air-yards share, and yards per route run, but the difference is that Tet averages twice as many yards after contact per reception, 2.4 to 1.2. Green Bay plays an overwhelmingly zone-heavy defense, which both receivers perform well against, and I expect both to exploit that matchup on Thursday night. Their volume and positional matchup give them safe floors, but Green Bay’s success against opposing quarterbacks keeps their ceilings in check.
Tight End
Tommy Tremble: SIT
Darren Waller: SIT
Tommy Tremble followed up his two-touchdown game with one catch for eight yards. Green Bay allows the fewest receiving yards per game to tight ends, so don’t go chasing it. Darren Waller was able to get into the end zone for the third time this season, which unironically is the third time he’s scored double-digit fantasy points. Waller is averaging about four targets, two catches, and 33 yards per game. You do the math.
Defense/Special Teams
Carolina Panthers: SIT
Carolina is tied for the fifth-most points allowed, in part due to allowing the most rushing yards per game. Now it gets a full game of Josh Jacobs.
Green Bay Packers
Quarterback
Jordan Love: START, QB1
We were hoping for a whole lot more out of Jordan Love against the Lions, but you can’t complain about 274 yards and two touchdowns. That total is right about his average per game, but he could have a hard time getting there on Thursday. Carolina is a middle-of-the-road fantasy matchup for quarterbacks, but allows the sixth-fewest pass yards per game (just under 200). He could be without one of his top weapons as well, with Matthew Golden banged up. On a week without Brock Purdy, Tyler Shough, and CJ Stroud, Love still sits inside the top 12. But he’s more of a floor play.
Running Back
Josh Jacobs: START, RB1
MarShawn Lloyd: SIT
Pierre Strong Jr.: SIT
Before I discuss Josh Jacobs and his fantasy value, I want to acknowledge that my take on Jacobs for this week and the rest of the season will be from a strictly on-the-field standpoint and nothing more. Regardless of whatever outcome the off-field situation for Jacobs comes to, we at QB List are vehemently against any sort of domestic violence and don’t take this situation lightly.
Jacobs came back with a strong performance in Week 7, scoring 20.1 fantasy points with most of his production coming through the air. He should continue to put up numbers, and I have him ranked inside the top 12 backs this week. Carolina allows the second-most points to the position and the most rushing yards per game at 153.2. Start him with confidence in all formats.
Wide Receiver
Christian Watson: START, WR1
Matthew Golden: START, WR2 (if active)
Savion Williams: SIT
Christian Watson and Matthew Golden are both must-starts more often than not, despite the fact that Watson has fewer than 11 points in three of his last four games. The matchup with Carolina has softened up recently, as the Panthers have given up the seventh-fewest points to the position on the year, but are tied for 13th most to WRs over their last three. Nothing to write home about, but a significant bump from where things were. Golden had yet to practice at the time of writing, dealing with shoulder and foot issues, so his status for Thursday is unclear. If he’s active, he’s still a start.
Tight End
Tucker Kraft: START, TE1
Tucker Kraft is technically a certified gLoB, averaging 8.4 PPG without a touchdown and 10.1 ppg with a score. But I suspect that will change as the season goes along with what we’ve seen in the past from Kraft and a healthy 6.5 targets per game. Kraft ranks fifth at the position with five deep targets and has a matchup against a Carolina defense that’s allowed four touchdowns to the position this season (and that includes a bye week). Kraft is an easy start at TE and if Golden does indeed miss this game, has a decent shot at finding himself in the endzone.
Defense/Special Teams
Green Bay Packers: STREAMER
Green Bay leads the league in takeaways per game and Carolina has given up the eighth-most sacks.