There really is a significant amount of unpredictability at the wide receiver position on a week-to-week basis. Keep in mind that last week Josh Downs and Puka Nacua emerged as the top scorers in PPR format. This unpredictability makes it challenging to predict how the upcoming week will unfold. However, it's important to recognize that consistency tends to prevail over the course of the fantasy football season. This is why the usual top performers are leading our Week 8 fantasy WR PPR rankings.
Therefore, there's no reason for Davante Adams' owners to be alarmed. His fantasy performance in Week 7 could have been much better had he not dropped an easy touchdown reception. However, the element of unpredictability tends to strike at the most inconvenient moments. In fantasy football, opportunity is crucial. As long as your wide receivers consistently run a high number of routes and receive a respectable number of targets, they will soon start producing.
No Byes This Week
No teams have bye weeks in Week 8. This means fantasy owners have a plethora of wide receivers to choose from for their starting lineups.
In this article, we will take a look at our NFL Fantasy Football wide receiver rankings for Week 8 of the 2023 regular season.
Top Picks
Leading the way is Tyreek Hill. That's not a surprise as he is the league's top receiver. Hill will face the New England Patriots in Week 8. Despite the challenge of facing a solid New England secondary, Hill sits atop the fantasy WR rankings for the week. Right behind him is Stefon Diggs. He continues to perform well despite recent struggles in the Bills' offense.
Meanwhile, AJ Brown will play against the Commanders. He should try to replicate his outstanding Week 4 performance with nine catches, 175 yards, and two touchdowns. He is a must-start WR1 with the potential for a big game. Ja'Marr Chase, facing the 49ers, will be the primary focus of their defensive strategy but should still receive plenty of opportunities as Joe Burrow's reliable target.
Cooper Kupp is also looking to bounce back after his worst fantasy performance of the season. There is much optimism that he will do well in a potentially unfavorable game situation against the Cowboys. Amon-Ra St. Brown, who excelled in garbage time last week, should help the Lions secure a win on Monday night.
Sleepers
Among the sleepers, Josh Downs was fortunate to score a 59-yard touchdown on a play that the Browns initially thought was dead. However, he led the Colts in targets with six and should see increased opportunities each week. Kendrick Bourne has become the Patriots' top wide receiver. Despite their inefficient offense, he should no longer be available in the free-agent pool.
Jalen Reed may see increased usage if fellow wide receiver Christian Watson is sidelined with a knee injury. That could make him a viable flex play against the vulnerable Vikings pass defense. Brandon Hyatt, another rising rookie, and Brandin Cooks finding his rhythm in the Cowboys' offense, also have tough matchups this week on paper. Having said that, their big-play potential can make a difference with just one long catch.
Potential Busts
On the other hand, we would be cautious about starting Curtis Samuel, Michael Wilson, and DJ Chark this week. Sure, these wide receivers are suitable for flex plays in 12-team formats. Still, they lack the consistent usage to justify taking a risk.
In shallower leagues, we would advise against starting Jerry Jeudy, Tyler Boyd, and Robert Woods. They will face strong coverage units that rank in the top half of the league in terms of fewest fantasy points allowed to wide receivers.
Injury Updates
Notable inactives include DK Metcalf, Deebo Samuel, Zay Jones, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. For Week 8, Deebo Samuel won't play. However, we can expect Metcalf, Jones, and Smith-Schuster to return to action.
Fortunately, only two wideouts, Christian Watson and Jaylen Waddle, sustained injuries during game action. We will closely monitor their status throughout the week.
The position is expected to get even healthier as Tank Dell should return from a concussion. This would make him a solid option as a WR3.
Now, let's dive into our NFL Fantasy Football wide receiver rankings for Week 8 of the 2023 regular season. Standard rankings are indicated in parentheses.
NFL Fantasy Week 8 WR Rankings
1. Tyreek Hill, MIA vs. NE (1)
2. Ja'Marr Chase, CIN @ SF (2)
3. A.J. Brown, PHI @ WAS (3)
4. Stefon Diggs, BUF vs. TB (4)
5. Cooper Kupp, LAR @ DAL (5)
6. Keenan Allen, LAC vs. CHI (6)
7. Amon-Ra St. Brown, DET vs. LV (9)
8. Davante Adams, LV @ DET (7)
9. Adam Thielen, CAR vs. HOU (12)
10. Puka Nacua, LAR @ DAL (11)
11. DJ Moore, CHI @ LAC (8)
12. Brandon Aiyuk, SF vs. CIN (10)
13. CeeDee Lamb, DAL vs. LAR (14)
14. Mike Evans, TB @ BUF (15)
15. Jakobi Meyers, LV @ DET (19)
16. Jaylen Waddle, MIA vs. NE (13)
17. Chris Olave, NO @ IND (16)
18. Zay Flowers, BAL @ ARI (18)
19. Terry McLaurin, WAS vs. PHI (22)
20. Garrett Wilson, NYJ @ NYG (17)
21. Jordan Addison, MIN @ GB (21)
22. Chris Godwin, TB @ BUF (29)
23. Michael Pittman Jr., INF vs. NO (24)
24. Marquise Brown, ARI vs. BAL (26)
25. Nico Collins, HOU @ CAR (20)
26. Christian Kirk, JAC @ PIT (34)
27. George Pickens, PIT vs. JAC (25)
28. DK Metcalf, SEA vs. CLE (23)
29. Tee Higgins, CIN @ SF (28)
30. DeVonta Smith, PHI @ WAS (27)
31. DeAndre Hopkins, TEN vs. ATL (30)
32. Diontae Johnson, PIT vs. JAC (35)
33. Joshua Palmer, LAC vs. CHI (32)
34. Calvin Ridley, JAC @ PIT (31)
35. Courtland Sutton, DEN vs. KC (38)
36. Drake London, ATL @ TEN (36)
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