Matt Ryan had a relatively quiet fantasy day in Week 7. He passed for only 273 yards and one touchdown. Many were expecting a much higher total in both categories but were left disappointed. He should bounce back against Green Bay in Week 8. The matchup sets up very nicely, since the Packers will be missing key pieces from their secondary because of injury. It should turn out to be a very high scoring affair in Atlanta.
Cody Kessler suffered a concussion in Week 7 and is questionable leading into Week 8. Josh McCown may also be cleared to play after missing the last five games, but Cleveland’s quarterback situation is very cloudy heading into Week 8. I’m thinking Kessler will start this week with McCown serving as his backup, but Kevin Hogan remains a possibility. Jay Cutler should return from his thumb injury this week after he has missed the last five games with the injury. The Bears lost Brian Hoyer last week for the season, so Cutler’s return is urgent. Cutler will face a stout Minnesota defense and shouldn’t be relied upon in Week 8.
Six teams have their bye week: Baltimore, Los Angeles, Miami, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, and the New York Giants. Weeks 8 and 9 will be the worst weeks with six teams off in each week. It’s not too bad this week for fantasy quarterback starters with only Joe Flacco and Eli Manning missing. Alex Smith or Kirk Cousins could adequately replace their fantasy points in a streaming start this week.
My sleeper for Week 8 is Jameis Winston. He seems to have come out refreshed after his bye in Week 6. He threw for 269 yards and three touchdowns in Week 7 against San Francisco on the road. This week he faces Oakland at home and the Raiders have been generous to fantasy quarterbacks this season. I’m looking for Winston to continue his roll with 280 passing yards and three touchdowns.
Quarterbacks, Week 8
(ZS: Zach Senvisky, JM: Jason Marcum, SK: Scott Kaliska, JG: Jeff Goldberg, KB: Kyle Bennett, DG: Derek Gordon)
| Rk | Consensus | Tm | Opp. | ZS | JM | SK | JG | KB | DG |
| 1 | Tom Brady | NE | @ BUF | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Aaron Rodgers | GB | @ ATL | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 3 | Matt Ryan | ATL | vs. GB | 3 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 4 | Andrew Luck | IND | vs. KC | 4 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| 5 | Cam Newton | CAR | vs. ARI | 6 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| 6 | Russell Wilson | SEA | @ NO | 5 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 7 | Derek Carr | OAK | @ TB | 7 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 6 | 8 |
| 8 | Andy Dalton | CIN | vs. WAS | 8 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 |
| 9 | Drew Brees | NO | vs. SEA | 12 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 9 | 9 |
| 10 | Matthew Stafford | DET | @ HOU | 10 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 13 |
| 11 | Carson Palmer | ARI | @ CAR | 9 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 10 |
| 12 | Marcus Mariota | TEN | vs. JAC | 14 | 11 | 14 | 11 | 11 | 11 |
| 13 | Alex Smith | KC | @ IND | 11 | 12 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 12 |
| 14 | Kirk Cousins | WAS | @ CIN | 16 | 14 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| 15 | Dak Prescott | DAL | vs. PHI | 15 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 15 | 17 |
| 16 | Philip Rivers | SD | @ DEN | 13 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 15 |
| 17 | Jameis Winston | TB | vs. OAK | 17 | 21 | 9 | 15 | 16 | 19 |
| 18 | Tyrod Taylor | BUF | vs. NE | 20 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 20 |
| 19 | Trevor Siemian | DEN | vs. SD | 19 | 18 | 25 | 20 | 19 | 18 |
| 20 | Blake Bortles | JAC | @ TEN | 22 | 20 | 22 | 19 | 21 | 16 |
| 21 | Brock Osweiler | HOU | vs. DET | 21 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | Carson Wentz | PHI | @ DAL | 18 | 23 | 21 | 23 | 23 | 23 |
| 23 | Sam Bradford | MIN | @ CHI | 23 | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| 24 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | NYJ | @ CLE | 24 | -- | 18 | 25 | 25 | -- |
| 25 | Jay Cutler | CHI | vs. MIN | -- | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
| -- | Cody Kessler | CLE | vs. NYJ | -- | -- | -- | -- | -- | 24 |
| -- | Kevin Hogan | CLE | vs. NYJ | -- | 25 | -- | -- | -- | -- |