Fantasy Football Week 8: Biggest Sleepers at Every Position

Have you ever had that moment when the light bulb flickers on in your head, and something starts to click? That's what we're starting to see with coaching staffs that have tapped into the skill sets of young players. Fantasy managers should be excited for the new names on our Week 8 sleeper list.

As you stare at roster spots that normally belong to Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert ron their bye week, a young quarterback has heightened his fantasy floor of production with back-to-back 80-plus-yard rushing performances. He's your guy until the star quarterbacks return to action in Week 9.

A rookie running back has at least another week to make a strong impression on his coaching staff, and he has a favorable matchup this weekend.

Even though we may find it hard to watch the Denver Broncos' 32nd-ranked scoring offense, they have a rookie who's made contributions fresh off injured reserve. Whether Russell Wilson or Brett Rypien starts under center, managers should take a look at one of the Broncos' young pass-catchers.

Now, let's check out the best sleeper options at each position for point-per-reception scoring formats. All Week 8 selections are available in at least 40 percent of Yahoo leagues as of Wednesday at 10 p.m. ET.

DraftKings DFS Price: $5,200

Over the past couple of weeks, Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy has leaned into Justin Fields' capability as a ball-carrier. The second-year quarterback has burned defenses on more designed runs, racking up at least 82 rushing yards in Weeks 6 and 7. He's second on the team in rushing with 364 yards and two touchdowns.

While NFL coaching staffs would usually prefer to see young quarterbacks make strides in the passing game, fantasy managers salivate over dual-threat signal-callers who can provide more points with rushing production.

Like New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones, who's rostered in 65 percent of Yahoo leagues, Fields has found his way into the QB2 discussion for the season because of a high floor with rushing-yard totals and touchdowns.

Despite a tough matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, who are ranked 29th in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks, Fields just needs about 200 passing yards, 50-plus rushing yards and a couple of touchdowns (throwing or rushing) to stay within the top 10 in scoring at his position. Without much pass-catching talent around him in a run-heavy offense (Chicago has the second-most rush attempts), he has great upside against the Cowboys in Week 8.

DraftKings DFS Price: $5,500

Here's a cheat code for fantasy managers who need to stream quarterbacks this season. If possible, pick up the signal-caller who plays the Las Vegas Raiders.

As we highlighted last week, every quarterback who faced the Raiders defense in the first six weeks scored at least 19.8 fantasy points. Houston Texans signal-caller Davis Mills came close in Week 7, registering 19.1 fantasy points, which is still good enough to warrant a spot start.

On Wednesday, the New Orleans Saints named Andy Dalton the starting quarterback over Jameis Winston.

In Week 7, Dalton threw three interceptions, but he also racked up 361 yards through the air and tossed four touchdown passes without Michael Thomas (foot) and Jarvis Landry (ankle) on the field. Though the 12th-year veteran made costly mistakes with a couple of pick-sixes and another turnover in the red zone, he's still capable of racking up yards and scores against a vulnerable pass defense.

In a matchup with the Raiders, who allow the most fantasy points to quarterbacks, Dalton will be a serviceable starter who can post QB1 numbers. If you have Patrick Mahomes or Justin Herbert on a bye week, take a shot with the Saints passer.

DraftKings DFS Price: $5,400

Tyler Allgeier makes another appearance on our sleepers list, because he has at least one more week to lead the Atlanta Falcons backfield before Cordarrelle Patterson is eligible to return from injured reserve.

Since Allgeier and Caleb Huntley took over the backfield in Patterson’s absence in Week 5, the former has started in all three games and registered 44 carries for 146 yards and a touchdown compared to the latter's 30 rush attempts for 115 yards.

Based on those numbers, Allgeier is the better option out of the Falcons backfield with an upcoming matchup against the Carolina Panthers' 21st-ranked run defense.

Though quarterback Marcus Mariota has a role in the Falcons' fourth-ranked ground attack, the Panthers give up enough fantasy points to running backs (12th-most leaguewide) for managers to take a look at their opponent's starter in the backfield.

Allgeier only has two catches for 25 yards this season, but he scored his first NFL touchdown last week, and he could find paydirt once more against a defense that's allowed an average of a rushing touchdown per game through the first seven weeks.

DraftKings DFS Price: $5,200

One week after Deon Jackson caught 10 passes for 79 yards, Nyheim Hines reclaimed his role as the primary pass-catching running back in the Indianapolis Colts backfield.

In Week 7, against the Tennessee Titans, Hines hauled in all five of his targets for 41 yards while on the field for 24 offensive snaps. Meanwhile, Jackson became an afterthought, playing just five offensive snaps without a target.

This week, Hines may see a bigger target share as second-year quarterback Sam Ehlinger takes over for Matt Ryan, whom the Colts benched on Monday.

Ehlinger hasn't attempt a throw in the regular season, so expect to see him rely on the short passing game as he becomes accustomed to the speed of the pro level. With a ton of short passes likely in the Colts' game plan, Hines becomes a more valuable fantasy commodity in PPR leagues.

The Washington Commanders are tied for 10th in fantasy points allowed to running backs, which means Hines could have a productive day if he's the primary target on high-percentage throws to the short and intermediate areas of the field.

DraftKings DFS Price: $4,400

Marquise Goodwin had an added opportunity to contribute to the Seattle Seahawks' aerial attack when wide receiver DK Metcalf exited last week's game with a knee injury, and he hauled in four out of five targets for 67 yards and two touchdowns.

If you're a believer in Geno Smith's rise with the Seahawks, make sure you pick up Goodwin, who will likely play a significant role in Seattle's passing attack on Sunday.

Though head coach Pete Carroll hasn't ruled out Metcalf for the upcoming game, the star wide receiver would suit up at well less than 100 percent if he does play, which makes Goodwin a priority pickup for Week 8.

Moreover, wide receiver Tyler Lockett has battled a hamstring injury over the past couple of weeks. As a big-play receiver averaging 16.4 yards per reception throughout his nine-year career, Goodwin can put up gaudy fantasy numbers as a prominent and healthy target among Seahawks pass-catchers.

Goodwin will match up against the New York Giants' middling pass defense that ranks 15th in yards allowed and gave up 310 yards to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence last week.

DraftKings DFS Price: $4,000

We would like to say congratulations to fantasy managers who added Robbie Anderson after the Carolina Panthers traded him to the Arizona Cardinals. You have a sleeper wide receiver who possesses great boom potential in Week 8.

On a short turnaround, with a few days between the Panthers-Cardinals trade and his Week 7 matchup with the New Orleans Saints, Anderson didn't have a big role in Arizona's offense. He played just 18 offensive snaps and saw one target.

With a full week of practice in Arizona, Anderson should see an increase in his workload and more opportunities to contribute against the Minnesota Vikings, who have a tendency to give up big plays in the passing game.

The Vikings are tied with the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions for most net yards allowed per pass attempt (7.3). They also allow the fifth-highest completion rate (68.6) to quarterbacks this season.

As a speedy deep-threat receiver, Anderson deserves a look in this matchup against the Vikings. He could easily post a 100-yard receiving game and take one reception to the end zone for six points on Sunday.

DraftKings DFS Price: $3,500

Coming off a bye week, Irv Smith Jr. may be on your waiver wire. Pick him up immediately.

Even though Smith hasn’t eclipsed 42 receiving yards in any of the Minnesota Vikings' six contests, he has a steady role in the team's aerial attack. The fourth-year tight end has seen at least four targets in five out six outings and scored two touchdowns.

In Week 8, Smith has one of the most favorable matchups for tight ends. He's facing the Arizona Cardinals, who allow the second-most fantasy points to players at the position.

Last week against the Cardinals, New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson hauled in all five of his targets for 32 yards and two touchdowns. In a matchup with Arizona, Smith could post decent numbers as part of an offense that ranks seventh in pass attempts. On Sunday, he may score a touchdown and eclipse 50 receiving yards for the first time in 2022.

DraftKings DFS Price: $2,800

The Denver Broncos haven't wasted any time with rookie third-rounder Greg Dulcich. Since the team activated him from injured reserve before Week 6, he's played 64 percent of the offensive snaps.

Last week against the New York Jets, Dulcich took a higher percentage of the snaps (59 percent) than fellow tight ends Eric Tomlinson (44 percent), Andrew Beck (25 percent) and Eric Saubert (19 percent), while Albert Okwuegbunam missed consecutive games as a healthy scratch.

Even more encouraging for fantasy managers, Dulcich has hauled in eight out of 12 targets for 95 yards and a touchdown. Clearly the most prominent pass-catcher in the Broncos' tight end group, he's a keeper for the remainder of the season. Right now, you can pick him as a sleeper who's available in more than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Though this matchup goes in the books as a Jacksonville Jaguars home game, they’ll play the Broncos in London. With this contest on a neutral field, roll the dice on Dulcich, who can rack up numbers against the league's 20th-ranked pass defense.

Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com for details.

Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.