1 of 5 | Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (L) is the No. 1 player in my Week 8 rankings. File Photo by Mark Black/UPI |
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MIAMI, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Justin Jefferson, Stefon Diggs, Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown and Mike Evans top my Week 8 fantasy football wide receiver rankings for 2021.
Mike Williams, Cooper Kupp, Diontae Johnson, Deebo Samuel and Calvin Ridley round out my Top 10 options for Week 8. Jerry Jeudy is among my other favorite wide receivers to start this week.
Target players who have a good chance to score a touchdown and get a lot of looks from their respective quarterbacks when considering who to start at wide receiver.
Marquise Brown, Rashod Bateman, Hunter Renfrow and Henry Ruggs are among the wide receivers who should be benched this week, as their teams are on byes.
Here are some of my favorite players in this week's rankings:
TOP SHELF
Justin Jefferson ranks No. 12 among wide receivers this season in fantasy points per game. He scored in three consecutive games from Week 2 through Week 4, but didn't find the end zone in his last two performances.
I expect the Minnesota Vikings star to go off this week, when he faces the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers through six games. Look for Jefferson to catch at least eight passes for more than 100 yards and find the end zone.
He is my top wide receiver for Week 8.
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs scored just twice in his first six games this season, but continues to see a lot of targets from quarterback Josh Allen.
Diggs pulled in nine of 11 looks for 89 yards and a score in Week 6. The Bills were off in Week 7 and face the Miami Dolphins in Week 8. The Dolphins allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers through seven games.
Diggs hauled in four catches for 60 yards and a score against the Dolphins in Week 2. Look for even better statistics Sunday in Orchard Park, N.Y. Diggs is my No. 2 wide receiver.
SNEAKY PLAYS
Mike Evans exploded in Week 7, with six catches for 76 yards and three touchdowns in a Tampa Bay Buccaneers blowout of the Chicago Bears. He pushed his touchdown total to seven on the season. Look for Evans to stay hot in Week 8, when the Buccaneers face the New Orleans Saints.
The Saints allowed the 12th-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers through six games and should struggle to keep up with the Buccaneers prolific offense.
I expect Evans to haul in a handful of catches for at least 80 yards and a score. He is my No. 5 wide receiver in Week 8.
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Dionate Johnson was on bye in Week 7. He returns to the field this week to face the Cleveland Browns. The Browns allowed the seventh-most receiving yards and 11th-most fantasy points per game to the position through seven games.
Johnson, who leads the Steelers with 10 targets per game, scored in three of five games so far this season. He should reach the end zone for a fourth time Sunday in Cleveland. He is the No. 8 player in my Week 8 wide receiver rankings.
LONGSHOTS
Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy will return from a six-game injury hiatus for a game against the Washington Football Team on Sunday in Denver.
He lands at No. 16 in my Week 8 rankings and can be used as a WR2. Washington allowed the second-most receiving yards, receiving touchdowns and fantasy points per game to wide receivers through seven weeks.
I expect Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to spread the ball around against this vulnerable secondary. Jeudy's speed and elusiveness should play a major factor. Look for the Broncos young playmaker to score his first touchdown of the season in a lopsided victory.
Week 8 fantasy football wide receiver rankings
1. Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings vs. DAL
2. Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills vs. MIA
3. Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs vs. NYG
4. A.J. Brown, Tennessee Titans at IND
5. Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NO
6. Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers vs. NE
7. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams at HOU
8. Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers at CLE
9. Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers at CHI
10. Calvin Ridley, Atlanta Falcons vs. CAR
11. CeeDee Lamb, Dallas Cowboys at MIN
12. Terry McLaurin, Washington Football Team at DEN
13. Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals at NYJ
14. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks vs. JAX
15. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings vs. DAL
16. Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos vs. WAS
17. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NO
18. Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams at HOU
19. Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys at MIN
20. D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks vs. JAX
21. Marvin Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars at SEA
22. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles at DET
23. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins at BUF
24. Emmanuel Sanders, Buffalo Bills vs. MIA
25. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals at NYJ
26. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos vs. WAS
27. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers vs. NE
28. D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers at ATL
29. Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers at CLE
30. Darius Slayton, New York Giants at KC
31. Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans at IND
32. Michael Pittman, Indianapolis Colts vs. TEN
33. Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans vs. LAR
34. Corey Davis, New York Jets vs. CIN
35. Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills vs. MIA
36. Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos vs. WAS
37. Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs vs. NYG
38. Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons vs. CAR
39. Marquez Callaway, New Orleans Saints vs. TB
40. Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears vs. SF
41. K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings vs. DAL
42. Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns vs. PIT
43. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers at CHI
44. DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins at BUF
45. Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys at MIN
46. Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears vs. SF
47. Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns vs. PIT
48. Sterling Shepard, New York Giants at KC
49. T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts vs. TEN
50. Kadarius Toney, New York Giants at KC
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady passes against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday. Photo by Steve Nesius/UPI |
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