Welcome to Week 8 of The List! This season, our Rankings Team will provide a few thoughts on players they are particularly high or low on this week, offering some perspective on their FLEX and positional rankings. You can find these thoughts below, followed by our full Top 150 FLEX. Positional rankings are also available to help you make your toughest lineup decisions of the week!
I will not pass up an opportunity to crow about the 2025 version of the Colts offense with Daniel Jones at the helm. It has been absolutely electric to see what Shane Steichen can cook up with his play calling, and Jones has earned himself some MVP buzz as he flawlessly executes the offense. Jones is taking full advantage of the gravitational force that is Jonathan Taylor, running play action at a league-best 36.7% rate and posting the 5th-most passing yards in the league at 1790. More encouraging than the production itself is the circumstance by which it is coming. Jones has historically been known as a player who tends to implode under pressure, but this year, he’s maintaining his composure, completing 63% of his passes when under duress and 67% when being blitzed. These improvements as a passer are the icing on the cake for Jones, whose contribution as a runner has been the hallmark of his fantasy production throughout his career. I am the highest on Jones among the QBList rankers at 7 and might find a way to move him up the board before the dust settles this week. –Eric Romoff
Justin Herbert continues his ascent up the weekly rankings and this week lands in QB1 territory at the 12th spot. This is thanks, in large part, to a fairly significant upswing in passing volume as the Chargers can’t seem to keep any of their running backs healthy. Herbert tallied 55 pass attempts in Week 7, making him the league leader in attempts per game, en route to a 37/420/3 line that left him as the QB3. He also flashed his sneaky athleticism as a runner once again with 31 rushing yards, the 4th time this season, surpassing 30 yards on the ground. The combination of the Chargers’ nerfed running game and a defense that is allowing their opponents to post big numbers on offense is fertile ground for quarterback production, and I think Herbert can keep his momentum this week against Minnesota. –Eric Romoff
I’m not sure how this happened, but apparently I’m a Spencer Rattler guy now. At least relatively speaking. I’m the highest among QBList rankers on Rattler this week, where he sits as my QB16 and will likely ascend the board as some of the injury news gets settled. The timing of this position is particularly strange, coming off a catastrophic 4-turnover game against the Bears last week, which marked a change for Rattler, who previously boasted a 6/1 touchdown to interception rate. Rattler has shown some ability to move the ball downfield and is developing a nice rapport with Chris Olave, who is currently 3rd in the NFL in receptions. What moves him up the board for me is his involvement as a runner, where he is 8th in designed runs and generates the 6th-most yards per carry at 5.54. This week against the Buccaneers should present another golden game environment where the Saints will likely need to throw to keep pace, and Rattler can push for a top 12 finish, if he can protect the football. –Eric Romoff
Week 8 is a mega bye week with six teams off, and finding viable running backs might feel impossible. If you’re scrambling for upside at your RB2 or flex spot, here are a few sneaky options worth considering:
Tyler Allgeier has consistently been the thorn in Bijan Robinson’s side when it comes to weekly fantasy value, and Week 8 could be another example. The Falcons draw a soft matchup against the Miami Dolphins, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs. Over the last three weeks, Miami’s defense has been gashed for 400+ rushing yards and five touchdowns, making them one of the most exploitable units on the ground. While Robinson will still see the bulk of the touches, Allgeier quietly averages around 10 touches per game and continues to handle goal-line or short-yardage work. That combination of steady usage and touchdown potential gives him a real shot to finish as a top-25 running back in Week 8. –Steve Pintado
Rookie running back Brashard Smith has quietly seen his role expand over the past two weeks. He’s totaled 14 receptions in his last four games and just logged a season-high 14 carries in Week 7, emerging as a legitimate dual-threat weapon out of the backfield. Smith gets a favorable matchup against the Commanders, who could be without several key offensive starters. That scenario could lead to a slower, grind-it-out Monday Night Football game—one that favors Smith’s involvement. His growing role as a receiver gives him a solid floor, with 6–10 fantasy points in PPR formats well within reach during this brutal mega bye week. –Steve Pintado
Justice Hill profiles as a steady, safe-floor option for Week 8 lineups. The Ravens face the Bears in what could turn into a higher-scoring game with Lamar Jackson expected to return. The Bears’ defense has quietly struggled to contain running backs in the passing game, allowing at least three receptions to the position in all but one contest this season. With Derrick Henry still finding his footing on the ground, Hill’s role as a change-of-pace and passing-down back should remain steady. His ability to contribute through the air gives him solid PPR flex appeal, especially during this mega bye week when reliable volume is tough to find. –Steve Pintado
If you’re scraping for flex options this mega bye week, there are a few running backs you might feel forced to start but should avoid if possible. TreVeyon Henderson and Rhamondre Stevenson both draw brutal matchups against the Cleveland Browns, who rank third-best in fewest fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs this season. Henderson has been virtually a non-factor for fantasy managers and offers little upside against an elite Cleveland front. Stevenson, meanwhile, has been overly touchdown-dependent, averaging just 4.0 fantasy points per game in weeks he doesn’t find the end zone. Unless you’re desperate, it’s best to leave both on your bench in Week 8. –Steve Pintado
We could see a bounce-back performance from veteran running back Alvin Kamara in Week 8 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tampa’s defense has struggled recently to contain pass-catching backs, allowing an RB1 finish in back-to-back weeks to players who made their impact through the air. If the Saints lean back into using Kamara as a true dual-threat weapon—particularly in the short passing game—he could deliver a sneaky top-12 fantasy week. In a slate full of bye-week headaches, Kamara’s PPR upside makes him a strong bet to rebound and anchor lineups in Week 8. –Steve Pintado
Quietly having a WR1 season, Courtland Sutton has the perfect setup to do something he hasn’t done yet this year: go nuclear. Top 10 implied team total and game total? Check. Facing the finest matchup in fantasy for receivers? Yup. Nearly 20% target share? You bet’cha. I wouldn’t be shocked to see Sutton finish the week as the WR1. –Jay Felicio
The receiving group ate like it was a Thanksgiving buffet in Week 7. Rashee Rice exploded back into the lineup with 7 receptions on 7 targets for 42 yards and 2 touchdowns, showing zero rust. Marquise Brown snagged a score on just 2 catches for 14 yards, and Xavier Worthy chipped in 3 receptions for 35 yards plus a 13-yard carry. Rice is a locked-in WR1 and a top 10 start with a top 10 matchup against the Commanders. Worthy and Brown remain highly volatile, with Worthy being more of a WR2 and Brown more of a WR3. –Jay Felicio
Jaylen Waddle was collateral damage of Tua Tagovaloa‘s complete implosion. Waddle registered his worst game of the season with just 1 reception for 15 yards on four targets. He’s a top wideout tethered to a collapsing offense and a (probably) soon-to-be-bench quarterback. Waddle remains a low-end WR2 because he is the lone remaining pass-catching option on a team that will be playing from behind constantly. But heading down to Hotlanta to take on the flaming hot Falcons defense who’s allowing the second fewest fantasy points to the position? He’s bench-able. –Jay Felicio
Drake London has a FANTASTIC matchup on paper, but I have him a tad lower than the rest of my QB List ranking brethren for good reason. Believe it or not, Miami is giving up the sixth fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. What!? Why?! How!? Well, see, when you have an offense scoring less than 20 points per game, and a defense getting steamrolled by the run, and you ALSO happen to have arguably the best running back in the league, chances are you won’t have to throw the ball a whole lot. London is obviously still a must start, but the Dolphins won’t put up enough of a fight to force Michael Penix to air it out. In turn, it limits the Week 8 upside of London. –Jay Felicio