Biggest Sleepers at Every Position for Week 8 Fantasy Football 2026

It's a tough week for fantasy football managers without Christian McCaffrey and Mike Evans, both of whom are dealing with injuries and are on bye. Managers with Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo, Isaiah Likely, Chris Olave, C.J. Stroud or Nico Collins will also need replacements, as all six are on bye.

That said, our Week 8 sleepers highlight viable fill-ins for the fantasy stars missing in your lineups at a pivotal time in the season.

The quarterback selections are journeymen with top-eight matchups. Pickings are slim at running back, but a rookie has emerged in a sizeable role within a committee and has flex appeal.

As usual, injuries are shifting NFL depth charts, and two No. 2 wide receivers will see more targets as attrition takes its toll. Lastly, keep tabs on a couple of tight ends in pass-friendly games with decent over/under totals.

Here are our top sleepers at every position—all available in at least 50 percent of leagues, according to FantasyPros ' consensus percentages.

QB Jacoby Brissett at Dallas Cowboys (23 Percent Rostered)

Jacoby Brissett has finished within the top seven in fantasy scoring in two of seven weeks. Now, he has a favorable matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, who are tied for eighth in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks.

After throwing for at least two touchdowns in three straight games between Weeks 3 and 5, Brissett posted modest stat lines in tough matchups with the Los Angeles Rams, who allow the fourth-fewest passing yards per game, and the Denver Broncos, who allow the sixth-fewest touchdown passes per contest.

Brissett should be able to move the ball against the Cowboys' generous pass coverage. Dallas allowed only one touchdown pass apiece to Jalon Daniels, Jordan Love and Tanner McKee, but those numbers need context: Daniels was making his second career start, Love's receivers dropped multiple passes in the end zone, and McKee was making only his second start of the season.

As a more experienced starting signal-caller with All-Pro tight end Trey McBride at his disposal, Brissett should be able to put points on the board with his arm.

QB Geno Smith vs. Las Vegas Raiders (21 Percent Rostered)

Geno Smith may have this game circled on his calendar. He has a favorable matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, who traded him to the New York Jets this past offseason.

The 36-year-old had a rough 2025 campaign in Las Vegas, both on the field and with fans , amid a frustrating season.

Smith has already thrown three touchdown passes apiece against the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins, who have allowed the most and seventh-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, respectively. The Raiders have allowed the fifth-most.

With star wide receiver Garrett Wilson, emerging rookie first-round wideout Omar Cooper Jr., and budding second-year tight end Mason Taylor, Smith has the playmakers to post a strong stat line against the Raiders' 22nd-ranked pass defense.

Las Vegas has allowed an average of three touchdown passes over the last five weeks, giving up multiple touchdowns through the air in each game.

RB Jonah Coleman vs. Kansas City Chiefs (40 Percent Rostered)

It's rare for a team's No. 3 running back in a committee to have standalone fantasy value, but the Denver Broncos have roles for their trio of tailbacks. J.K. Dobbins is the primary early-down ball-carrier. RJ Harvey has the primary pass-catching role. Coleman can play on all three downs, and he's logged 11 and 13 touches in his last two outings.

Coleman has big-play ability, averaging 4.9 yards per carry, with five catches for 34 yards, including two first-down receptions. He missed four games with a high ankle sprain, but head coach Sean Payton believes the rookie fourth-rounder has earned his touches .

While it's practical to avoid a muddled backfield, Coleman's efficiency makes him a sleeper flex option. He has 24 touches for 127 yards and a touchdown.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport , wideout Jaylen Waddle's availability for this game is uncertain after he aggravated a chest injury last Sunday. Without him, the Broncos may rely on their running backs on the ground and in the short passing game, which means enough touches to go around for their backfield platoon.

Keep in mind that the Kansas City Chiefs allowed Seattle Seahawks running backs to rack up 146 scrimmage yards and a touchdown last week.

RB Chris Rodriguez Jr. vs. Indianapolis Colts (19 Percent Rostered)

The Indianapolis Colts have pivoted their focus toward the future, trading three-time first-team All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson to the Seattle Seahawks and three-time Pro Bowler DeForest Buckner to the San Francisco 49ers.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler , Colts wide receiver Josh Downs has requested a trade. So, Indianapolis may keep him inactive or limit his snaps while it weighs trade proposals from potential suitors.

The Colts' season is going off the rails, and that could impact their play on the field. If the Jacksonville Jaguars jump out to a significant early lead, they can hand off to their top two running backs and cruise for most of the game.

With the Jaguars' potentially run-heavy game script, Bhayshul Tuten and Chris Rodriguez Jr. could get enough work on the ground to produce fantasy-friendly stat lines.

Rodriguez won't offer much in the short passing game (one catch for six yards this season), but he's logged at least six carries in five of six outings and finished Week 6 with 11 touches.

The Jaguars also get a favorable matchup for their ground attack, facing a defense that's tied for 12th in fantasy points allowed to running backs and allows 4.8 yards per carry, 28th in the league. It's worth noting that Rodriguez has handled 10 of 26 red-zone carries , totaling 25 yards and a touchdown this season.

WR Antonio Williams vs. Philadelphia Eagles (12 Percent Rostered)

The Washington Commanders placed Terry McLaurin on season-ending injured reserve with a torn patellar tendon. As a result, rookie third-rounder Antonio Williams will likely see more targets.

Williams is ready for an expanded role. He has at least three receptions in five out of six games. The Commanders have split his snaps between the perimeter and the slot, so he's interchangeable with lead wideout Stefon Diggs, who's also versatile.

Last Monday, the Philadelphia Eagles gave up three passing touchdowns and allowed three Dallas Cowboys receivers to rack up at least 57 receiving yards. This isn't the same Eagles defense that allowed the eighth-fewest passing yards last year; the unit ranks 26th in that category through seven games.

As the No. 2 wide receiver, Williams could outshine fellow rookie wideout Makai Lemon in the Sunday Night Football showcase.

WR Kendrick Bourne at Dallas Cowboys (8 Percent Rostered)

The Arizona Cardinals are thin at wide receiver. Two weeks ago, they traded Marvin Harrison Jr. to the Houston Texans. Last week, fourth-year wideout Jalen Brooks suffered a season-ending wrist injury.

Michael Wilson is the Cardinals' No. 1 receiver, but he has finished with no more than four catches and 55 receiving yards in each of his last three games.

Kendrick Bourne has seen at least six targets in each of the previous three games. In Arizona's outing against the Detroit Lions' 32nd-ranked pass defense, he caught five passes for 70 yards.

This week, Bourne draws a plus matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, who allow the sixth-most fantasy points to wide receivers.

If the Cowboys' top cornerback, Joey Porter Jr., lines up against Wilson, Bourne could have a big day alongside All-Pro tight end Trey McBride in the passing game.

TE Cade Otton vs. Atlanta Falcons (8 Percent Rostered)

Yes, it's true: Cade Otton finished with a goose egg in his box score last week, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't need to throw the ball because they dominated the Carolina Panthers on the ground, rushing for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Baker Mayfield only threw 11 passes, completing seven for 64 yards and a touchdown.

The Buccaneers won't run through the Atlanta Falcons' fourth-ranked run defense. Mayfield will have to play a bigger role in his team's offensive success, and he could target Cade Otton several times.

The Falcons' 29th-ranked pass defense has been vulnerable to big-bodied pass-catchers, ranking 10th in fantasy points allowed to tight ends. In four straight weeks, Atlanta has allowed opposing tight end groups to accumulate at least 54 receiving yards.

Otton is the only tight end with notable production in the Buccaneers' aerial attack. He ranks third on the team in targets (30), receptions (19) and receiving yards (186). Otton isn't an athletic playmaker, but he's worth consideration with FanDuel's over/under total set at 44.5 for this game. With two top-four run defenses on the field, expect the passing attacks to rack up yards and points.

TE Mason Taylor vs. Las Vegas Raiders (3 Percent Rostered)

Rookie first-rounder Kenyon Sadiq generated buzz with his breakout performance against the Detroit Lions, hauling in seven of eight targets for 105 yards and a touchdown, but second-year tight end Mason Taylor has made his presence felt in the passing game, catching 14 passes for 117 yards and two touchdowns.

Taylor is coming off his first two-touchdown outing and could continue to play a bigger role than Sadiq in the Jets' offense.

The 22-year-old has played 57 percent of the offensive snaps and has seen six targets in back-to-back games, while Sadiq has seen four total targets in less than 38 percent of the snaps over the last two weeks.

Smith's developing rapport with Taylor puts him on the radar as a solid TE2 with a matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, who allow the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends.

Last week, the Raiders gave up two touchdowns to Davis Allen, the Los Angeles Rams' third-string tight end.

Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros .

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