There are four positions in fantasy football where managers can manage without a weekly starter on their regular roster. QB, TE, Kicker, and Defense all lend themselves to streaming. Here are our top streaming options for Week 8.
All streamers are rostered in fewer than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants (at PHI)
Jaxson Dart is now much more than a streaming option and will likely be rostered throughout the rest of the season. That would make this week the last chance to pick up the New York Giants rookie, and you absolutely should.
The former Ole Miss standout has been the QB3 in fantasy over the past couple of weeks. That’s despite facing the Philadelphia Eagles and the Denver Broncos, without his top receiver, Malik Nabers.
Dart’s poise and confidence have allowed him to step up in the most significant moments and deliver for his team. His grit, aggressive passing style, and mobility should make him a weekly QB1 moving forward.
If you’ve been streaming quarterbacks, Dart should step straight into your lineup and stay there for the foreseeable future. If you already have an elite quarterback, the rookie would still be a valuable trade asset to improve other areas.
Joe Flacco, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. NYJ)
After struggling badly with the Cleveland Browns, Joe Flacco has been a revelation since joining the Cincinnati Bengals. The veteran has been the QB9 in fantasy over his two games on his new team, averaging 22.4 fantasy points per game.
Cincinnati’s Week 7 matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers always carried shootout potential, but that’s more to do with the Bengals’ elite offensive weapons. Flacco’s primary targets, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, are good enough to push up the score in any game, and Cincinnati’s defensive frailties might force them to.
The New York Jets are less likely to keep up with the Bengals this week, but that shouldn’t stop Flacco and co. from amassing significant points. Flacco is a weekly fantasy option at quarterback as long as Joe Burrow is injured, which will be for some time yet.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. GB)
After falling short against Flacco in a shootout last Thursday night, Aaron Rodgers now welcomes his former team, the Green Bay Packers, to Pittsburgh. The Packers don’t offer the same explosive potential the Bengals do, but there should be plenty of reason to throw the ball this Sunday night.
The Packers boast the fourth-best run defense in the NFL (rushing yards allowed per attempt), and the Steelers may be forced to lean on their veteran quarterback again. Rodgers is also known to carry a chip on his shoulder at all times (just ask the Jets), and he’ll be extra prepared to face the quarterback who replaced him in 2023.
All three quarterbacks on this list were top-10 quarterbacks in Week 7, according to PFSN’s QB Impact metric, with Rodgers ranking third overall with a score of 82.2. Dart and Flacco are preferable options in fantasy this week, but Rodgers has a solid floor and a top-10 ceiling, with six teams on bye.
Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at NOR)
Cade Otton was a popular waiver add last week, with both Mike Evans and Emeka Egbuka questionable, and Chris Godwin ruled out. Evans and Egbuka started against the Detroit Lions on Monday night, threatening to nuke Otton’s fantasy ceiling.
However, Evans left the game early after landing heavily on a phenomenal would-be catch, and left the field with hamstring and concussion concerns. It’s since been revealed that Evans broke his collarbone in the fall and will miss significant time once more.
That’s awful news for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and fantasy managers, but it leaves Otton with another chance to shine. The tight end caught seven of nine targets for 65 yards against Detroit and should be in for another starring role this weekend and for the foreseeable future.
Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. MIN)
Oronde Gadsden II has exploded onto the fantasy football radar after two stellar weeks, in which he has ranked as the TE2 overall. The rookie has caught 14 of 17 targets for 232 yards and a touchdown over his last two games, and looks to be a legitimate star in the making.
Size, speed, and big-play ability make Gadsden an intriguing season-long fantasy prospect who will be a priority waiver target this week. You’ll have to pay up to get him, and he might not reproduce his outlandish numbers from Week 7 again, but players on waivers rarely carry this much potential.
The Chargers were chasing a huge deficit against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7, and are unlikely to be that far behind again for a while. That should put him behind Otton in Week 8 rankings, but his long-term potential will likely see him go for much more.
Both Otton and Gadsden are great waiver adds this week, and both could be top fantasy tight ends for the rest of the season.
Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets (at CIN)
Mason Taylor has been a regular tight end streamer in recent weeks and gets a second wind with an expected quarterback change in New York this week. The Jets benched Justin Fields at halftime of their Week 7 loss to the Carolina Panthers, with veteran Tyrod Taylor taking his place.
Mason had five targets against Carolina, all of which came in the second half when playing with his namesake at quarterback. The tight end should see plenty of action against the Bengals this weekend, as the Jets attempt to keep up with Flacco and the Bengals.
Garrett Wilson remains questionable after missing Week 7 with a knee injury, but Taylor should serve as one of the team’s primary playmakers, with or without Wilson.
Tyler Loop, K, Baltimore Ravens (vs. CHI)
Rookie kicker Tyler Loop has become one of the more exciting kickers in the NFL this year, but is now available on waivers after his Week 7 bye. Loop was the eighth-best kicker in fantasy from Weeks 1-4, but that production dipped when Lamar Jackson got injured.
From Weeks 5-7, with the Baltimore Ravens floundering on offense, Loop ranked 31st among kickers in fantasy points per game. Jackson is expected to be available this weekend, and the Ravens should be a fantasy force once more.
The Chicago Bears have been a great fantasy defense, with their aggressive nature creating the most turnovers in the NFL. They have also allowed the eighth-most points per game this season, and Loop should have plenty of opportunities to put points on the board.
Will Reichard, K, Minnesota Vikings (at LAC)
Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard ranks ninth at the position in fantasy points per game this season (10). This Thursday, he should have an excellent opportunity to continue that fine form against the Chargers, who just gave up 38 points to the Colts in Week 7.
Carson Wentz will start again for Minnesota, with J.J. McCarthy nearing a return from injury. That’s good news for the Vikings’ chances of winning and their players’ fantasy value.
Reichard has scored 2.3 more fantasy points per game since Wentz took over from McCarthy in Week 3, improving from an average of 8.5 (18th) to 10.8 (sixth). The Minnesota kicker led the position with 18 fantasy points in Week 7, and is a solid weekly option until McCarthy gets his job back.
Evan McPherson, K, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. NYJ)
Right behind Reichard in the second-to-last week was Evan McPherson, who made all four of his field goal attempts against the Steelers. Like Reichard, McPherson has seen his average fantasy production improve significantly following his team’s latest quarterback change.
In Weeks 3-5, with Jake Browning starting, McPherson averaged 5.3 fantasy points per game, which ranked 27th at the position. Over the last two weeks, with Flacco running the offense, McPherson has averaged 11 fantasy points per game, which ranks eighth in that time.
The Bengals face the 0-7 Jets this weekend and should be able to run up the score, benefiting their kicker. The Jets have allowed the seventh-most points in the NFL this season, and will have a hard time stopping Cincinnati’s explosive offensive weapons.
Houston Texans DEF (vs. SFO)
The Houston Texans have the best scoring defense in the NFL, having allowed just 14.67 points per game to start the year. That has translated to fantasy, where the Texans also lead all defenses, averaging 10.2 fantasy points per game, 0.8 more than the Seattle Seahawks in second.
The Seahawks’ outstanding offense won out against the Texans in Week 7, but Houston still managed to create four turnovers, including a strip-sack for a touchdown. This week, Houston faces the San Francisco 49ers, who have turned the ball over on 15.3% of offensive drives this season, the fifth-highest rate in the league.
The Texans have had their bye already, and are a top weekly defense that you can start for the rest of the year, and they’re sitting on waivers in most leagues this week.
Chicago Bears DEF (at BAL)
While not quite as impressive as Houston’s, the Bears’ defense is also one you can start for the rest of the season. Chicago had their bye in Week 5 and is the seventh-best defense (tied) in fantasy points per game (8.3) this season.
The Bears lead the NFL in turnovers (16), despite having played a game less than most teams. They have been a top-12 fantasy defense in five of their six games so far this season, which is remarkable consistency for a team that gives up plenty of points.
The Ravens should get their quarterback back this week, but their 16.1% offensive turnover rate is the second-highest in the NFL. Whoever gets the win in Baltimore, the Bears’ defense will make it scrappy, just as they always do.
Atlanta Falcons DEF (vs. MIA)
Unlike the Ravens’ and the Bears’, the Atlanta Falcons’ defense will not end your streaming needs for the rest of the year. Atlanta’s defense is 13th (tied) in fantasy points per game (seven) this year, and has tallied just two top-15 weekly finishes on the year.
However, the Falcons face a miserable Miami Dolphins team this weekend, and should have plenty of opportunities to make a splash on both sides of the ball. The Cleveland Browns beat Miami 31-6 in Week 7 and had the second-best fantasy week of any defense this year (25 points).
Miami’s 16.9% offensive turnover rate is the highest in the NFL, and the Falcons should be able to feast on a hapless Dolphins offense on Sunday. Houston and Chicago are more desirable options, due to their long-term value, but Atlanta has as high a ceiling as any defense this week.