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 and Marquez Valdes-Scantling are 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. 17 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.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling is one of my top streamers this week. Packers star wide receiver Davante Adams landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday and isn’t expected to play.
On Tuesday, fellow wide receiver Allen Lazard joined Adams on the list and is already ruled out this week.
Adams is tied for third in the NFL with 10.4 targets per game. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will need to look at other options this week, including Valdes-Scantling.
Valdes-Scantling, the No. 36 player in my rankings, can be plugged in as a WR3 streamer for this matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. This game should be a shootout. Look for Rodgers to spread the ball around for at least 300 yards and three scores.
Valdes-Scantling should come down with one of those touchdown passes.
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. DeAndre Hopkins, Arizona Cardinals vs. GB
16. Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings vs. DAL
17. Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos vs. WAS
18. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers at NO
19. Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams at HOU
20. Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys at MIN
21. D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers at ATL
22. Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos vs. WAS
23. D.K. Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks vs. JAX
24. A.J. Green, Arizona Cardinals vs. GB
25. Marvin Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars at SEA
26. DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles at DET
27. Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins at BUF
28. Emmanuel Sanders, Buffalo Bills vs. MIA
29. Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals at NYJ
30. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers vs. NE
31. Chase Claypool, Pittsburgh Steelers at CLE
32. Darius Slayton, New York Giants at KC
33. Julio Jones, Tennessee Titans at IND
34. Michael Pittman, Indianapolis Colts vs. TEN
35. Brandin Cooks, Houston Texans vs. LAR
36. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers at AZ
37. Corey Davis, New York Jets vs. CIN
38. Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills vs. MIA
39. Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos vs. WAS
40. Odell Beckham Jr., Cleveland Browns vs. PIT
41. Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs vs. NYG
42. Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons vs. CAR
43. Marquez Callaway, New Orleans Saints vs. TB
44. Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals vs. GB
45. Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears vs. SF
46. K.J. Osborn, Minnesota Vikings vs. DAL
47. Jarvis Landry, Cleveland Browns vs. PIT
48. Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers at CHI
49. DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins at BUF
50. Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys at MIN
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