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Fantasy Football Rankings: Hayden Winks’ QB, TE, D/ST, kicker Blueprint for Week 8

October 31, 2026

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The Blueprint is my weekly column and basically everything that I use to build out the most accurate rankings I can. There will be an RB column, a WR column and this combination column on the onesie positions. You will find film notes and endless charts. Maybe enough charts to stress test the Yahoo website. I kid.

It’s impossible to get every ranking thoroughly early in the week, so be sure to keep checking in on these columns through Sunday morning. As always, my full rankings at every position are available.

Week 8 Projected Points

Week 8 FLEX Considerations

Week 8 QB Rankings

1. Josh Allen (vs. BAL) – 25.6 proj. points

Allen continues to lead all quarterbacks with 28.1 half PPR points per game as the clear-cut QB1. A combination of being the QB6 in EPA per dropback while also averaging 40.0 rushing yards per game (QB2) makes him a Round 2 value in fantasy. Keep in mind that DJ Moore has barely played this year, too. He should be back for this game.

Week 8 brings a home tilt against a Ravens defense allowing the 19th-most half PPR points per game to QBs. Baltimore just surrendered 28.9 fantasy points and four passing touchdowns to Joe Burrow in Week 7, and that game included downfield shots and some out-of-structure moments. Those are Allen’s specialties. Buffalo enters as 3.5-point home favorites with an implied team total of 28.5 points (second). Lamar Jackson is also expected to play.

2. Joe Burrow (vs. TEN) – 22.2 proj. points

Burrow has operated as the per-game QB2 (23.0 PPG) through six games, posting +0.21 EPA per dropback (QB8). He leads the league with 2.5 passing touchdowns per game, throwing multiple touchdowns in four consecutive starts. Cincinnati has leaned into the pass heavily, ranking first in neutral pass rate at 65% on early downs. That volume meets a Titans defense that ranks 22nd in half PPR points allowed to quarterbacks. Tennessee has given up at least 20 fantasy points to opposing signal callers in three of their past four games. The Bengals are 10-point home favorites with an implied team total of 28.25 points (third).

Burrow’s downfield shots have been in a league of their own:

Then there are the Titans. It’s been a struggle in the secondary all year long with one of their main free agents being healthy-scratched at CB. Deshaun Watson (QB10), Daniel Jones (QB12), CJ Stroud (QB14) and part-time Lamar Jackson (QB11) have all had nice outings against them this month. And they just traded Jeffery Simmons. A large 28.25-point team total (third) for the Bengals is unsurprising.

4. Dak Prescott (vs. ARI) – 22.3 proj. points

Prescott stalled out from Weeks 3-6 but rebounded last week against the Eagles with a three-score outing. He’s the QB15 across the season. That should be his worst stretch, however. The schedule loosens up, and his entire OL is healthy and playing extremely well. They’ve also doubled down on just throwing to their superstar duo of WRs. It’s an awesome environment.

The Cowboys have the highest team total of the week (30.75 points), and that’ll be one of the highest of any team all year. Bo Nix (QB3), Jared Goff (QB4) and Jameis Winston (QB6) all had huge outings most recently versus the Cardinals. Arizona’s DT1 Walter Nolen has been sidelined, too. It’s go time at home.

4. Lamar Jackson (at BUF) – 19.9 proj. points

We’ll get more confirmation on his status later, but healthy Lamar Jackson was pacing to be the MVP before this ankle sprain. His +0.40 EPA per dropback is the best in the NFL. He isn’t rushing the ball like in his prime (36 YPG), but new OC Declan Doyle is adding more explosiveness in the air by unlocking Zay Flowers and sprinkling in Ja’Kobi Lane’s catch radius underneath and along the sideline. It’s a fun offense when everyone is out there together.

The Bills defense has some nice players but lacks the depth or the experience in this new scheme to be a great unit. They’ve allowed the third-most fantasy points to QBs (23.5) and the second-most passing yards per game (299), which would be the most in the NFL if it were a QB itself. Lamar Jackson had a 29.4-point game against them in Week 1 of last year and cleared 22.1 points in each of his 2024 contests. Most recently, it was Kirk Cousins (QB8), Matthew Stafford (QB6) and Drake Maye (QB1) popping off.

5. Drake Maye (at MIA) – 19.9 proj. points

Update: A.J. Brown and TreVeyon Henderson were ruled out. Neither were playing well to be fair.

Maye enters Week 8 as the QB3 (22.4 PPG) on the season while generating +0.12 EPA per dropback (QB15). Over his last four starts, his efficiency has jumped to +0.41 EPA per dropback (QB1) and 30.2 fantasy points per game. He continues to offer a functional rushing baseline, contributing 30.1 rushing yards per game (sixth). I’m not sure if A.J. Brown is good enough to take Maye over the top to the next tier, but the role players are making enough plays to make him an A-tier QB1 again.

The Patriots now draw a Dolphins defense allowing the seventh-most half PPR points per game to QBs. Miami recently surrendered 24.6 points to Joe Burrow (QB8) and 23.5 points to Geno Smith (QB5) in its last two games. New England is listed as 7.5-point road favorites with an implied team total of 26.0 points (fifth).

6. Trevor Lawrence (vs. IND) – 19.9 proj. points

Fresh off the bye, Lawrence is currently the per-game QB11 (20.4 PPG) on the year while generating +0.30 EPA per dropback (QB4). He has thrown 14 touchdown passes across six starts, alongside 11.7 rushing yards per game (20th). He’ll be without one of his tackles for the rest of the year, but they at least have one of the most experienced swing tackles behind him. In general, Lawrence has a great coaching staff and skill talent around him, while being behind an iffy OL. That was true last year when he was a fantasy QB1.

Jacksonville now hosts a tanking Indianapolis defense that ranks 12th in half PPR points allowed to QBs. They just traded DT1 DeForest Buckner and the best LG in the NFL in Quenton Nelson this week. Sauce Gardner has also missed time recently. It’s arguably the worst defense on paper right now. The Jaguars enter as 7.5-point home favorites with an implied team total of 28.25 points (third).

7. Jayden Daniels (vs. PHI) – 18.6 proj. points

Daniels is the per-game QB7 this year, even including the halftime exit in Week 2. He’s rebounded with QB3 and QB7 performances, respectively, since returning from his dislocated elbow, and that brace or the threat of another injury hasn’t dissuaded him from rushing like normal. He’s the QB1 in rushing yards per game (53.3). His issue is no Terry McLaurin. They did get Chig Okonkwo back and will have explosive third-rounder Antonio Williams to fill the gap, but it’s a pretty mediocre skill group for a first-time play caller. Daniels’ rushing floor is still far too valuable to have any worry, though.

The upcoming date with Philadelphia presents a test against a defense yielding the eighth-most half PPR points to the position (20.4 per game). Recent opposing QBs have posted solid numbers against the Eagles, including Dak Prescott (23.3 points), Bryce Young (19.8), and Trevor Lawrence (23.7 points). Philadelphia also sits seventh in half PPR points allowed to QB rushing, and its LB/S/CB2 play has been very underwhelming. Last Monday night’s loss included poor effort by its superstar DT duo, too. Washington enters this home clash as 4.5-point home favorites with a 23.25-point implied team total (14th). I don’t view Philly as a great unit right now.

8. Jordan Love (vs. CAR) – 18.9 proj. points

Love has delivered steady per-game scoring as the QB14 (19.6 half PPR points), averaging 280 passing yards per contest (fourth) with +0.13 EPA per dropback (QB12). He has generated multiple passing scores in six of seven starts, operating comfortably within Green Bay’s pass-friendly approach. This team is easily leading in air yards, and even with RB Josh Jacobs back last week, they had an above-average neutral pass rate. That’s because their OL is terrible (and on their third-string C now), and they trust Love to figure out the most. Things could change if Matthew Golden (shoulder/foot) can’t suit up on Thursday Night Football.

The Panthers can be absolutely gashed on the ground, allowing the most rushing yards per game (153.2). They are also missing their top-two corners and EDGE1 Jaelan Phillips, so it’s more than their entire defense stinks than they are a strict run funnel. Jared Goff dropped 412 total yards on them in Week 4 when the Panthers offense was alive. Green Bay carries a 25.5-point implied team total (seventh) as 3.5-point home favorites.

9. Matthew Stafford (vs. LAC) – 18.6 proj. points

The Rams used 3-TE sets at a league-high rate last game without Davante Adams, and that’ll continue to be their plan. It likely means a far lower average depth of target with narrower margins, but they’ve had tons of success in these heavier looks and are still third in neutral pass rate (63%). Puka Nacua looks like he isn’t at 100% either on tape, but that didn’t stop Stafford from being the QB11 last week in a blowout win. He’s the QB13 in fantasy points per game on QB2 yards, QB6 touchdowns and QB34 rushing.

Now he draws a Chargers defense that is 25th in half PPR points allowed to QBs, surrendering just 13.0 fantasy points per game to QB passing (27th). Some of that is schedule and scheme, but there isn’t a talent advantage to me, especially with LB/S Derwin James sidelined. If the Chargers offense can threaten an injured Rams defense at all, it’s a good spot for Stafford. Los Angeles enters as 6.5-point home favorites with a 26.0-point team total (fifth).

10. Jacoby Brissett (at DAL) – 18.8 proj. points

Brissett is not creating, nor is he pushing the ball enough to be trusted week to week. That said, Brissett is functional enough to soak up garbage time stats when the opposing defense is leaky. He has been the QB5 against the 49ers and QB7 against the Lions this season, while predictably stinking it up against SEA, LAC, LAR and DEN. The hope is that Jeremiyah Love is back so they can start phasing out the Tyler Allgeier runs, and eventually these 50/50 balls to Michael Wilson will result in big plays instead of incompletions.

This week’s matchup against the Cowboys falls into the leaking bucket. And it’s overflowing. They’ve allowed 20.3 fantasy points per game to QBs (ninth) with countless coverage busts in an inexperienced defense that is featuring rookies and a first-time play caller. Offenses have thrown on just 44% of their neutral situations against Dallas (32nd), but the Cardinals likely won’t have that luxury here. Jordan Love (QB5) and C.J. Stroud (QB4) lit it up through the air and Jalon Daniels pulled off the upset in Week 5 against them. Arizona heads on the road as 6.5-point road underdogs with an implied total of 24 points (12th).

11. Kyler Murray (at DET) – 16.9 proj. points

Murray has to play better. He looks extremely fast (QB9 in rush YPG), but his accuracy on these timing routes has been lacking and he’s turned down other intermediate throws. He has made enough splash plays to keep the Vikings undefeated, but it hasn’t been a sustainable offense so far. That could change at any point.