Fantasy Football: Week 8 Quarterback Rankings

MIAMI, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Ben Roethlisberger is the best of the six quarterbacks with a Week 8 bye.

Because of that, you likely have an adequate gunslinger rostered, or can find one on the waiver wire. To help you in your search for a productive quarterback and guide you to a Week 8 win, I have ranked my top 20 quarterbacks for the week. You can also view my add/drops for the week and more positional rankings in the links below.

TOP SHELF

Green Bay Packers superstar Aaron Rodgers is my top-ranked quarterback. Rodgers should benefit from taking part in a game with great shootout potential. The Packers travel to Atlanta and face a Falcons secondary allowing the fourth most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Rodgers is coming off of a big Week 8 performance where he passed for 326 yards and three scores. I expect big numbers again from Rodgers, whom is driving an offense without running back Eddie Lacy. Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer has definitely had a regression since last season, but I'm giving him the start against an unrecognizable Carolina Panthers secondary. Palmer passed for a season-high 342 yards last week against a Seattle Seahawks allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. I expect him to light up a Panthers unit allowing the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks.

SNEAKY PLAYS

Jameis Winston already has three games this season where he has passed for three or more touchdowns. I see another one here for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback against the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders are allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Winston should find Mike Evans early in often to compliment the emerging running back Jacquizz Rodgers. Andy Dalton gets a Washington Redskins defense with a very banged up secondary. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback just passed for 308 yards and two touchdowns against the Cleveland Browns. Dalton has passed for at least 200 yards in every game this season and I expect a similar performance Sunday.

LONGSHOTS

Ryan Fitzpatrick steps back under center after the New York Jets lost Geno Smith to a knee injury. He is rewarded with a matchup against a Browns secondary allowing the most touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks. I expect the Fitzpatrick-Brandon Marshall connection to reignite in a lopsided Jets victory. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith leads him team in a road battle against the Indianapolis Colts. He is a borderline QB1 for me in a matchup against a defense allowing the eighth most fantasy points to quarterbacks. After his Week 1 performance of 363 passing yards and three total touchdowns, Smith has passed for at least 214 yards in all but one of his five starts. Smith should excel alongside stud running back Spencer Ware.