Week 8 delivered one of the wildest slates of the season, as several offenses exploded while others completely fell apart. From Jonathan Taylor's MVP-level dominance to Breece Hall's breakout and Saquon Barkley's long-awaited return to form, this was a Sunday packed with big fantasy swings and crucial injury updates. As you sort through this NFL recap and plan for Week 9, make sure to check the latest RotoWire Depth Charts and RotoWire Weekly Projections to see which risers and replacements are best positioned for another big week.
Dolphins 34 Falcons 10
After looking like a player who might be benched last week, Tua Tagovailoa delivered a brilliant performance against an Atlanta defense that had been strong all season. The quarterback threw four touchdown passes and looked in complete control. Tagovailoa remains an inconsistent fantasy option best used in two-quarterback leagues. De'Von Achane continued to shine, producing 91 total yards and a touchdown on 23 touches. His dual-threat role makes him a weekly RB1. Jaylen Waddle bounced back with 99 yards and a score, solidifying his WR2 status. Malik Washington score, but he's not a reliable option outside deep leagues.
The Falcons looked completely unprepared for a game in which they should have competed. Kirk Cousins replaced the injured Michael Penix and showed little left in the tank. With Drake London sidelined by a hip injury, Cousins leaned heavily on Kyle Pitts, who caught nine passes for 59 yards and remains a borderline fantasy starter. Bijan Robinson lost a fumble and was held to less than three yards per carry, salvaging little in a brutal effort. Tyler Allgeier found the end zone late, but Robinson remains the clear weekly play despite this letdown.
Jets 39 Bengals 38
Breece Hall reminded everyone of his ceiling with 133 rushing yards, two touchdown and even a short touchdown pass to seal a dramatic win. His volatility makes him hard to trust, but his upside is undeniable. Isaiah Davis contributed 109 total yards and looks like an RB2 if Hall is moved before the trade deadline. Mason Taylor caught the game-winning pass but remains a matchup-based streamer. With Garrett Wilson expected back after the bye, Jets wideouts should stay off most fantasy radars.
The Bengals controlled most of the game before collapsing late. Joe Flacco threw for two scores and added a rushing touchdown, keeping himself on the QB1 streaming radar. Ja'Marr Chase saw a wild 18 targets, catching 12 for 91 yards, and continues to be a locked-in WR1. Tee Higgins salvaged his day with a 44-yard touchdown and remains a top-24 fantasy option. Chase Brown produced 105 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns but continues to share work with Samaje Perine, who also scored and remains a viable flex.
Patriots 32 Browns 13
Drake Maye continued his excellent play with 282 passing yards, three touchdowns and 50 rushing yards despite heavy pressure. He's clearly a top-8 fantasy quarterback. TreVeyon Henderson finally saw double-digit carries, posting 75 rushing yards, though his lack of receiving work keeps him in low-end flex territory. Rhamondre Stevenson remains volatile after another inefficient day on the ground. In the passing game, both Hunter Henry and Stefon Diggs scored but had limited yardage, keeping New England's target distribution unpredictable. Kayshon Boutte continues to maximize limited targets, turning three catches into 75 yards and a touchdown, making him an intriguing deep-league flex.
Myles Garrett stole the show with five sacks, but the rest of Cleveland's roster struggled. Quinshon Judkins left with a shoulder injury but should benefit from the upcoming bye. He remains a weekly RB2 when healthy. Tight ends Harold Fannin and David Njoku each found the end zone, with Njoku maintaining low-end TE1 status in this tight end–focused offense. Jerry Jeudy's goose egg continues to make him one of the most disappointing fantasy player this season.
Eagles 38 Giants 20
Saquon Barkley finally exploded with 174 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns, reminding fantasy managers why he was drafted as a top talent. Barkley suffered a groin injury late, but said he's confident he'll be available following Philadelphia's Week 9 bye. Tank Bigsby served as the No. 2 and looked great, making him a player to add in case Barkley is unavailable. Jalen Hurts continued to do his damage through the air, throwing four touchdowns on just 179 yards. Playing without A.J. Brown (hamstring), DeVonta Smith produced 84 yards on nine targets, while Dallas Goedert caught two touchdown passes to remain a must-start tight end. Jahan Dotson added a long touchdown and can be used as a dart-throw flex while Brown is out.
The Giants suffered a major loss when Cam Skattebo injured his ankle, opening the door for Tyrone Tracy to handle lead duties as an RB2 in the short term. Devin Singletary could mix in but profiles as a desperation play. Wan'Dale Robinson was limited to 48 yards but remains a PPR flex. Jaxson Dart continued his strong run with another 20-plus-point fantasy performance, though the loss of Skattebo could make the offense more predictable and lower Dart's ceiling.
Bills 40 Panthers 9
James Cook dominated, rushing for 216 yards and two touchdowns on just 19 carries. With Cook leading the blowout, Josh Allen attempted only 19 passes but still added two rushing scores, proving his elite floor. Khalil Shakir's 54-yard catch highlighted a quiet passing day, and he remains a WR3 with spike-week potential. Cook's volume and explosiveness make him a locked-in RB1 every week.
The Panthers were overwhelmed early and never recovered. Andy Dalton was sacked six times and struggled to sustain drives, though Tetairoa McMillan provided a bright spot with seven receptions for 99 yards. He remains a WR3 due to offensive limitations. Chuba Hubbard and Rico Dowdle continued splitting backfield work, with Hubbard scoring late while Dowdle was more efficient. Both remain low-end RB2 options given the ongoing timeshare. Each player has weekly upside potential.
Ravens 30 Bears 16
Baltimore easily handled Chicago despite Lamar Jackson sitting out. Derrick Henry scored twice on 21 carries for 71 yards, giving fantasy managers exactly what they needed. Tyler Huntley managed the offense effectively, while Zay Flowers led the team with seven receptions for 63 yards, maintaining WR3 status. Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews were quiet, but both should rebound when Jackson returns, making this a buy-low window.
Chicago's four-game winning streak ended with a thud. Caleb Williams failed to find the end zone and struggled under constant pressure. Rome Odunze led with 114 yards and remains a weekly WR2, though his ceiling depends on Williams' efficiency. DJ Moore managed 73 yards but missed a touchdown on the final play when Williams missed the receiver while wide open. D'Andre Swift stayed productive with 71 total yards and a score, while Kyle Monangai was limited to 24 rushing yards and remains a fringe option outside blowout matchups. Swift has become a set-and-forget lineup option.
Texans 26 49ers 15
Houston took advantage of an injury-depleted 49ers defense as C.J. Stroud shredded San Francisco for 318 yards and two touchdowns while adding 30 rushing yards. With Nico Collins and Christian Kirk sidelined, the Texans spread the ball around. Jayden Higgins led the team with 69 yards and a score, while Xavier Hutchinson also found the end zone. Woody Marks totaled 111 scrimmage yards and is a solid upside PPR flex, with Nick Chubb mixing in as a touchdown-dependent flier.
San Francisco's offense never found rhythm, running just 42 plays. Christian McCaffrey had his first quiet game of the season but still managed 68 scrimmage yards and three catches to avoid a total dud. George Kittle led with 43 yards and a touchdown, looking like he's back to every-week TE1 form. The wideouts remain inconsistent, and quarterback Mac Jones was under siege all day but still threw two scores. He remains a low-end streaming option while Brock Purdy heals.
Buccaneers 23 Saints 3
The Buccaneers struggled to generate any offensive rhythm but were carried by their defense, which scored early and set the tone. Tampa Bay's only offensive touchdown came from Sean Tucker, who led the team with 42 rushing yards. No other Buccaneer reached double-digit PPR points, as the unit played conservatively with the lead. With a bye coming, the team hopes to get Bucky Irving and Chris Godwin back healthy to jump-start a stagnant attack that's been sluggish for consecutive weeks.
The Saints never reached the red zone until the final drive, long after the game was decided. Spencer Rattler lost a fumble and threw an interception before being benched for Tyler Shough, and it's unclear if that change will stick. Alvin Kamara continues to be limited by negative game scripts, managing just 45 scrimmage yards and offering only flex-level value. The receiving trio of Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson and Rashid Shaheed remains dependent on volume, providing steady PPR floors but limited upside outside occasional spike weeks.
Broncos 44 Cowboys 24
Denver dominated from start to finish, torching a flat Dallas defense. Bo Nix was in complete command, throwing four touchdown passes and finding open receivers at will. His production has been volatile this season, keeping him in the matchup-based QB1/2 tier. J.K. Dobbins saw enough volume, rushing for 111 yards, though he couldn't find the end zone and remains a touchdown-dependent RB2. The surprise stars were RJ Harvey, who scored three touchdowns on just eight touches, and Troy Franklin, who added 89 yards and two scores. Both have flashed big-play potential but remain risky fantasy options until they show consistency.
After an extended stretch of strong play, Dak Prescott came crashing back to earth. He managed just 188 passing yards with two interceptions and couldn't take advantage of a Denver secondary missing Patrick Surtain for much of the game. Despite the dud, there's no reason to panic on Prescott long term. Javonte Williams was limited on the ground but salvaged his day with two short touchdowns, keeping him locked in as a weekly RB1. Even in a rough offensive outing, George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb both managed 14 PPR points, showing reliable floors. The biggest disappointment was Jake Ferguson, who did not have a target after weeks of top-tier tight end production. He'll be fine.
Colts 38 Titans 14
The Colts took full advantage of a soft matchup and dominated throughout, pulling their starters in the fourth quarter. Jonathan Taylor was unstoppable, piling up 153 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. He continues to play at an Offensive Player of the Year level and is flirting with MVP-caliber production. Daniel Jones had one of his best games of the season, throwing for 272 yards and three scores. He remains a borderline QB1. Michael Pittman led the way with eight receptions for 95 yards and a touchdown, maintaining his status as a steady WR2. Alec Pierce and Josh Downs each contributed splash plays but remain volatile flex options, while tight end Tyler Warren caught four passes for 53 yards and is a reliable weekly starter.
The Titans were thoroughly outmatched and never mounted a serious challenge. The backfield split between Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears continued to frustrate fantasy managers, though Spears found success late in garbage time with 59 rushing yards, a touchdown, and three catches. Pollard failed to reach eight PPR points for the third consecutive week and has fallen to flex-level status. With Calvin Ridley sidelined, Chimere Dike impressed again by catching seven passes for 93 yards. The Titans should keep featuring him as they look toward the future, and he's trending toward flex consideration in deeper leagues assuming he retains his current role.
Injuries
- Saquon Barkley suffered a groin injury late, but said he's confident he'll be available following Philadelphia's Week 9 bye.
- Cam Skattebo was carted off with a severe ankle injury. Tyrone Tracy took over as the lead RB.
- Quinshon Judkins sustained an injured shoulder.
- Luther Burden suffered a concussion.
- Daniel Bellinger injured his neck.
Conclusion
With several stars banged up and bye weeks hitting full force, fantasy managers will need to stay sharp heading into November. Week 8 showed how quickly roles can shift and new opportunities can emerge across the league, from backfield timeshares to unexpected receiver breakouts. Stay updated on player availability and injury developments through the RotoWire Injury Report, and keep tuning into our NFL weekly recap coverage for the latest reactions, depth chart moves, and fantasy insights as the playoff push begins.
