Top streaming options in fantasy football for Week 8

As we near the halfway point of the 2021 season, fantasy football managers will be relieved to find only two teams on a bye in Week 8 following what felt like a chaotic bye-pocalypse.

So while there may not be as much of a necessity to stream the waiver wire in Week 8, there are still managers who will be looking for replacements in their starting lineup due to injuries, bye weeks and simply poor production.

Only two teams are on a bye in Week 8: the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders.

When it comes to streaming, we are looking for serviceable production. Upside is always great, but sometimes we just need our quarterback to finish as a top-15 option. In order to qualify as a streamer, a player cannot be rostered in more than 60% of ESPN leagues. For each position, I’ll give a “stream of the week” indicating the priority streamer along with an additional two options.

Before jumping into this week’s new batch of streamers, we’ll also take a look at the previous week’s performances. I’m never afraid to admit when I’m wrong so I like to show accountability when I can.

So after the waiver wire has run, it’s time to take a look at the top streaming options in fantasy football for Week 8:

Week 7 Recap

Very quickly, we’ll go through the week that was in fantasy football when it came to my streamers. If you simply want this week’s picks, I won’t hold it against you. Just don’t be surprised if you don’t receive an invite to my birthday party.

Quarterback

Matt Ryan at MIA: 17.4 fantasy points (QB14) – Stream of the Week
Jameis Winston at SEA: 16.9 fantasy points (QB16)
Sam Darnold at NYG: 2.4 fantasy points (QB28)

A solid week here. Ryan and Winston both gave strong streaming outings even if the games were painful to watch. Darnold is the obvious miss here and it was egregious. The process was decent given the matchup, but I think I underestimated just how poorly Darnold has been playing.

Tight End

Ricky Seals-Jones at GB: 8.1 fantasy points (TE12) – Stream of the Week
Cole Kmet at TB: 6.8 fantasy points (TE16)
Zach Ertz at HOU: 14.5 fantasy points (TE5)

All solid plays here with Ertz being the big winner. Kmet could have had an even better day if he secured an egregious drop. As long as your streaming tight end doesn’t decimate your lineup, it’s fair to call it a win.

Defense/Special Teams

Packers D/ST vs. WAS: 12.0 fantasy points (D/ST4) – Stream of the Week
Raiders D/ST vs. PHI: 6.0 fantasy points (D/ST12)
Browns D/ST vs. DEN: 5.0 fantasy points (D/ST14)

Getting the Stream of the Week right is vital to me. That’s a win here with the Packers. I would have liked to see better outings from the Raiders and Browns but as long as a defense doesn’t approach the negatives, it’s a solid week.

Stream of the Week: QB Daniel Jones, New York Giants

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Rostered: 36.8%
Week 8: at Kansas City Chiefs

Despite being without the offense’s top-four playmakers, dealing with a poor offensive line and facing a tough Panthers defense, Jones delivered a solid fantasy day in Week 7. It’s always risky to trust the Giants offense, but Jones has been the lone bright spot in 2021. He’s provided two finishes inside the top-10 and four inside the top-15 so we know he can do it. The Chiefs have allowed the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks over the last six weeks and five QB1 (top-12) finishes in that span. Hopefully, Jones gets some of his weapons back this week. Even without them, he can provide a strong streaming outing in Week 8.

QB Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts

AP Photo/AJ Mast

Rostered: 26%
Week 8: vs. Tennessee Titans

We get a divisional rematch as the Titans visit the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. The first time these two teams met, Wentz could barely walk due to a pair of ankle sprains. Now, he gets to play the Titans on the back of a true hot streak. Over the last three weeks, Wentz has been the QB12 in fantasy football and is coming off of a finish as the QB10 in Week 7. Over the last three weeks, the Titans have allowed two finishes inside the top-10 and have allowed four QB1 (top-12) finishes on the season as a whole. With T.Y. Hilton expected back this week, Wentz is a safe option with decent upside.

QB Teddy Bridgewater, Denver Broncos

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Rostered: 23.6%
Week 8: vs. Washington Football Team

I’m not in love with Teddy Two Gloves as an option this week because I think his upside is capped. However, he should be a safe option thanks to the juicy matchup he draws at home against Washington, the worst defense against fantasy quarterbacks this season. The Football Team has allowed six consecutive finishes inside the top-eight to fantasy quarterbacks while allowing 29.3 fantasy points per game in that span. Bridgewater is still holding onto the job for now and with Jerry Jeudy expected to come back, this is the perfect get-right matchup.

Stream of the Week: TE C.J. Uzomah, Cincinnati Bengals

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Rostered: 19.6%
Week 8: at New York Jets

I’m wary of the sustainability of Uzomah’s production, especially coming off of a week in which he finished as the TE1 with 22.6 fantasy points on just three targets. However, the cupboard is bare when it comes to streaming options at tight end so we are going with Uzomah as the stream of the week. Despite the fact that he hasn’t posted a target share above 10% in the last three weeks, Uzomah showed he can win you a week in the right matchup. Twice now he’s finished as the TE1 on a week and now he gets the Jets, who have allowed the most fantasy points to the positions over the last three weeks—despite only playing two games in that span. Uzomah could very well come back down to earth, but his upside warrants strong consideration as a streamer.

TE Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts

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Rostered: 14.3%
Week 8: vs. Tennessee Titans

Sometimes all we need is a touchdown from our streaming tight ends. If there’s one who can do it, it’s Alie-Cox. Finally taking over the reins as the top pass-catching option in the tight end for the Colts, Alie-Cox is a supreme red-zone weapon. He’s also an explosive weapon for Carson Wentz. According to Pro Football Focus’ yards-per-route-run metic, Alie-Cox is 11th among tight ends with at least 19 targets on the season. It’s more of a desperation play against a Titans defense that has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to tight ends over the last three weeks. But with four touchdown receptions over the last four games, Alie-Cox is a good bet to find the end zone.

TE Gerald Everett, Seattle Seahawks

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Rostered: 5.6%
Week 8: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

This is a deep play. Like really deep. We’re not banking on the recent usage or production of Everett here. We’re hoping that the plus matchup against the Jaguars, mixed with Everett’s ability to explode for a big play will combine in a serviceable week. The Jaguars have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends over the last four weeks despite only playing in three games during that span. With Geno Smith at quarterback, the passing pie is small and Everett is barely getting the crumbs of the target shares. But he’s a desperation play as a good athlete in a plus matchup.

Stream of the Week: Cincinnati Bengals D/ST

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Rostered: 62.9%
Week 8: at New York Jets

As I alluded to in the waiver-wire piece, the Bengals are the top defense to play in Week 8. Not only has the unit been better than expected, but they get to take on the Jets. Right there is reason enough to play the Bengals. But now with Zach Wilson missing time due to a knee sprain, it’s likely going to be Mike White under center for an offense that’s already terrible. Or it might be Joe Flacco, who was just traded to New York this week. Either way, the Bengals are expected to dog walk the Jets in a game that could get out of hand quickly.

Atlanta Falcons D/ST

Syndication: Palm Beach Post

Rostered: 20.1%
Week 8: vs. Carolina Panthers

Trusting a bad defense to give you a solid fantasy outing is like taking that chance on that last bit of milk that might be expired but you have to go with it anyway because there’s nothing to eat in this house and you’ve just decided to go with cereal. The Falcons are on this list because of a matchup against the Panthers offense. Over the last four weeks, the Sam Darnold-led offense has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. All four of those weeks saw the opposing defense finish inside the top-seven for fantasy purposes. It might not be pretty, but the Falcons are in play for those needing a streamer.

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