Week 8 of the 2024 fantasy football season featured big surprises. Who were the big winners and losers? Which players received “A” and “F” grades?

Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their analysis, and Seth Walder provides his grades. We also asked NFL Nation reporters to answer questions about what happened in the Thursday, Saturday and Sunday games.

Jump to a topic:
Ranking winners | Ranking losers
Who got an A | Who got an F
Biggest injuries and what’s next
Top questions from Week 8

Ranking fantasy winners of Week 8

1. Jalen Hurts, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

His 35.14 fantasy points led all players from Sunday’s 1 p.m. ET games, and remarkably, they represented only the second time in his career that he scored 35-plus (37.82, Week 15 of 2020, which was his second career start). Hurts feasted upon a Cincinnati Bengals defense that has struggled mightily against quarterbacks in 2024, but he also matched a personal best with three rushing touchdowns. If we categorize his tush push touchdowns as only those from a yard out, then he had two today, marking the seventh time in his career he has scored that many. Hurts is likely entering a seasonal peak-value period, considering his soft upcoming schedule (@DAL, WSH, @LAR, @BAL, CAR). — Cockcroft

2. Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Available in over 40% of ESPN leagues, Otton logged a season-high 29.1 points in the loss to the Falcons, catching 9 of 10 targets for 81 yards and two touchdowns. Otton has now seen 20 targets over his past two games, with at least 18 points in each. And the injuries to wide receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans have opened the door for Otton to see more usage in the red zone, as he caught both of his touchdowns on throws inside the 10-yard line. Otton should be viewed as a priority waiver pickup, and a TE1, for the Week 9 matchup at Kansas City. — Bowen

3. De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins

Achane’s 26.7 points in the Week 9 loss to the Cardinals led all running backs in the early window. Achane did pace the Miami rushing attack with 97 yards (on 10 carries), but it was his receiving usage that needs to be discussed here. With Tua Tagovailoa back under center for Miami, Achane caught 6 of 8 targets for 50 yards and a score. Remember, Achane caught seven passes in both Weeks 1 and 2 with Tagovailoa on the field, and I expect him to see more schemed targets as part of Mike McDaniel’s game plan. Achane will be in the RB1 mix in Week 9 for the matchup versus the Bills. — Bowen

4. Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, WRs, Los Angeles Rams

Fantasy managers got not one, but both, star wide receivers back on “Thursday Night Football,” with Kupp turning eight targets into 16.1 PPR fantasy points and Nacua converting nine targets into 18.1 points. It’s the third time that both exceeded 15 points in a game among 14 in which both played, but don’t let that discount either’s impact, as the Rams have gotten 15-plus points from at least one in 14 of 20 games in which either was active, winning 9 of 14. Frustrating as it might be to feel like you’re guessing on which receiver will have the bigger statistical day, each boosts the other’s fantasy potential, and both vastly heighten the offense’s overall appeal — so long as Kupp is not traded. It means quarterback Matthew Stafford is again a strong streaming candidate, and running back Kyren Williams again has an RB1 floor. — Cockcroft

5. Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns

One of my top streaming options for Week 8, Tillman dropped 28.9 points on the Ravens’ defense. With Jameis Winston starting at quarterback for the Browns and bringing some juice to this Cleveland pass game, Tillman caught 7 of 9 targets for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Tillman has now scored 18 or more points in back-to-back games, and he has the physical tools to work the middle of the field for Winston. Tillman (16.0% rostered) should be a waiver add this week in all scoring formats ahead of the matchup versus the Chargers. — Bowen

6. Kirk Cousins, Darnell Mooney and Kyle Pitts of the Atlanta Falcons

Cousins has certainly had the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ number this season, scoring 34.36 fantasy points against them in Week 5 and now 28.64 in the rematch. It took him half as many pass attempts to do it this time (29, compared to 58 three weeks ago), as he dominated deep, completing 7 of 8 pass attempts of 10-plus air yards for 170 yards and three scores. Mooney continues to get frequent looks from Cousins, scoring 20.2 PPR fantasy points on Sunday while averaging nine targets the past four weeks. Pitts scored 25.1 points, the second most of his career, giving him four straight games in double digits for the first time. Though this offense has had some up-and-down performances in 2024, Cousins shapes up as a matchups-oriented, upper-QB2 option, Mooney a weekly WR3/flex and Pitts a solid-but-streaky, back-end TE1. Expect more of the same against the similarly streaky Dallas Cowboys defense in Week 9. — Cockcroft

7. Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers

Jacobs posted a season-high 25.5 points in the Week 8 win over the Jaguars, logging 127 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 27 carries. Jacobs has now scored at least one touchdown in three of his past four games, with 20 or more points in two straight. And with quarterback Jordan Love (groin) leaving the game, Malik Willis could be in line to start next week, which could create another heavy volume day for Jacobs versus the Lions. — Bowen

8. Bo Nix, QB, Denver Broncos

In the midst of one of the hotter streaks among quarterbacks, Nix delivered his best NFL performance yet in Week 8, scoring 29.76 fantasy points behind three passing scores and a 1-yard rushing touchdown. He completed 75.7% of his passes and picked apart a bad Carolina Panthers secondary. That’s good news considering he has a similarly favorable matchup against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9, which should again have him a borderline top-10 positional option. — Cockcroft

9. Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

McConkey scored a season-high 29.1 points in the Week 9 win over the Saints. The rookie caught all six of his targets for 111 yards and two touchdowns, one that went for 60 yards. McConkey has now seen at least six targets in four straight games as he continues to develop as the No.1 option for quarterback Justin Herbert. He’ll remain a WR3 for the Week 9 game at Cleveland. — Bowen

Ranking fantasy losers of Week 8

1. Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

As the Jets go, Hall’s fantasy production goes. His 9.9 PPR fantasy points represented the third time this season that he has been held beneath 10, all of those coming in the past five weeks despite the fact that 13.8% of his total rushing attempts in that time have gone for 10-plus yards (the league typically averages 12%) and he has significantly outperformed backup Braelon Allen. The Jets are in need of a serious offensive turnaround if Hall is to recapture anything close to his first-round preseason draft stock. — Cockcroft

2. Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons

In the first meeting of the season against the Bucs, back in Week 5, London had a season-high 33.4 points, so this felt like a lock for the rematch on Sunday in Tampa. However, with quarterback Kirk Cousins distributing the ball to Kyle Pitts, Darnell Mooney and Bijan Robinson, London saw just six targets, catching four for 34 yards (7.4 points). He’ll look to rebound versus the Cowboys in the Week 9 road matchup. — Bowen

3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions

Fantasy managers are endlessly frustrated when they see their player’s team won by a 52-14 margin, only to open the box score and find that their star wide receiver, in this example, scored 8.7 PPR fantasy points on two targets. In St. Brown’s defense, no offensive player for the Lions was a true statistical superstar, as their defense gave them numerous short fields, with four of their touchdowns coming on drives that began within the Tennessee Titans‘ 26-yard line. That probably won’t be true most weeks, meaning St. Brown should spring back to fantasy WR1 status for Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers. — Cockcroft

4. Davante Adams, WR, New York Jets

On a day when Garrett Wilson led the Jets receivers in the loss to the Patriots (5 of 8 targets for 113 yards), Adams caught 4 of 6 for 54 yards (9.7 points). In his two games with the Jets, Adams has yet to make a strong impact, catching just 7 of 15 targets for 84 yards. He’ll look to improve on those numbers in the Week 9 Thursday night game versus the Texans. — Bowen

5. Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers

Though the Packers ultimately won in the end, their passing game ranked as one of the week’s biggest disappointments. Yes, Jordan Love’s groin injury — more on that below — contributed to the lackluster numbers, but he played nearly 33 minutes and couldn’t muster much of anything against one of the worst pass defenses in football. Reed now has seven targets for 10.5 PPR fantasy points the past two weeks, as Romeo Doubs seems to have surpassed him in the pecking order. Consider Reed more of a fantasy WR3 for Week 9 against the Lions. — Cockcroft

6. Chicago Bears‘ pass game

Caleb Williams made the plays late to put the Bears in a position to win it — before Jayden Daniels‘ Hail Mary throw — but this Chicago pass game had a rough day in Washington. Williams did rush for 41 yards (on 10 carries), but he completed only 10 of 24 passes for 131 yards (9.34 points). That limited DJ Moore to just two receptions for 27 yards (5.4 points), while Keenan Allen had 39 yards on two grabs (5.9 points). The Bears will look to get back on track in Week 9 at Arizona. — Bowen

7. Javonte Williams, RB, Denver Broncos

It wasn’t all smiles for the Broncos, as Williams, handed one of the most favorable individual matchups, managed only 9.2 PPR fantasy points on 21 touches. It’s a big drop-off from the 26.1 he scored in Week 7, and it trailed fellow backfield mate Jaleel McLaughlin‘s 12.6 points on nine touches. Williams was stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage five times, meaning that he has now been stuffed on 20% of his rushing attempts in 2024. Williams is a flex play facing a tough matchup against the Ravens in Week 9. — Cockcroft

Injury impact

Stefon Diggs, WR, Houston Texans

What we know: Diggs left the game in the second half with a noncontact knee injury, and he did not return. Diggs caught 5 of 9 targets for 81 yards before suffering the injury.

What’s next: With Nico Collins still in IR (hamstring), managers can look to other options on the Houston roster if Diggs is down for an extended period of time. John Metchie III, Xavier Hutchinson and Robert Woods are available in over 95% of ESPN leagues. — Bowen

Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers

What we know: Love left the game in Jacksonville with a groin injury during the third quarter, and he did not return. Love finished with 196 yards passing and an interception (5.74 points) before exiting.

What’s next?: If Love is out for the Packers’ Week 9 game versus the Lions, Malik Willis would get the start. Expect a more run-focused game plan with Willis under center, which should boost the volume for running back Josh Jacobs. — Bowen

Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots

What we know: Maye left the game versus the Jets in the second quarter with a concussion, and he did not return. Before exiting, Maye was 3-of-6 passing for 23 yards, while he added 46 yards rushing and a touchdown on three carries.

What’s next?: Jacoby Brissett replaced Maye in the lineup and would be in line to start for the Week 9 matchup at Tennessee. In relief of Maye on Sunday, Brissett threw for 132 yards and rushed for 11 yards on three carries. — Bowen

Sterling Shepard, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

What we know: Shepard suffered a hamstring injury in the second quarter versus the Falcons, and he did not return. Shepard caught 2 of 3 targets for 13 yards on the day.

What’s next?: The Bucs entered Week 8 without both Chris Godwin (season-ending ankle injury) and Mike Evans (hamstring), so the news on Shepard makes this wide receiver room even thinner. Managers can look to Trey Palmer (7.0% rostered) and Jalen McMillan (41.7% rostered) as potential streaming options if Shepard is down for the Week 9 game at Kansas City. — Bowen

Christian Kirk and Brian Thomas Jr., WRs, Jacksonville Jaguars

What we know: Thomas left Sunday’s game with a chest injury he suffered while catching a touchdown pass in the third quarter, and Kirk departed early in the fourth quarter after landing hard on his shoulder while attempting to catch a deep pass. Kirk was ruled out only three plays later, while Thomas remained available on the sideline with some hope of returning (which he did not).

What’s next: Gabe Davis (shoulder) also missed time due to injury in the contest. Kirk’s departure has the potential to be a multiweek absence, while Thomas’ prognosis is unknown. Parker Washington saw the largest increase in workload as a result of the numerous injuries, with Tim Jones next on that list. Thomas would have a clear path to a massive target total if he is able to play and Kirk is sidelined for Week 9. — Cockcroft

Who earned an A this weekend?

Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals

Harrison recorded six receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown, but that impressive box score actually sells his performance short. The rookie wideout recorded 51 receiving yards over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats, most in Week 8 through the early Sunday window. And if you watched the game, you know why: Harrison made two diving receptions, including one incredible catch for a touchdown.

Jessie Bates III, S, Atlanta Falcons

Bates made his impact felt right away, forcing and recovering a Rachaad White fumble on the second play of the game. It wasn’t his only turnover of the game: In the third quarter, Bates made a leaping interception over Bucs WR Ryan Miller. Bates did surrender a short touchdown to Cade Otton in this one, but his coverage seemed fine on the play.

Who earned an F this weekend?

Indianapolis Colts‘ pass protection

Yes, it was a tough assignment against Will Anderson Jr., Danielle Hunter and the Houston pass rush. But the Colts recorded a 39% pass block win rate — worst of any team in Week 8 through the early Sunday window — and allowed Anthony Richardson to be sacked five times. Left tackle Bernhard Raimann was of particular concern — he posted a 73% pass block win rate and allowed two sacks.

Rashod Bateman, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Bateman had just one reception for 28 yards and ended the day with negative-34 receiving yards over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats. And most of those came on the play that earned him this spot: In the fourth quarter of what ended up being a shocking loss to the Browns, a wide-open Bateman lost the ball in the sun on a deep pass from Lamar Jackson on a critical third-and-14. It was one of two drops for Bateman on the day.

Greg Zuerlein, K, New York Jets

In what ended up being a three-point upset loss to the Patriots, Zuerlein stood out as a problem. The Jets kicker missed a 44-yard field goal and an extra point. Over the past three weeks, Zuerlein has made negative-3.3 field goals over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats.

Lingering questions from Week 8’s games

How did Jameis Winston change Cleveland’s offense compared to how things were running with Deshaun Watson? Whom did it help most?

With Winston in the lineup, the Browns pushed the ball downfield in a way they never did with Watson under center. Winston had eight completions and two touchdowns on passes that traveled 15 or more yards. Watson had just nine such completions and one touchdown in seven games. Frankly, every Cleveland receiver was the beneficiary of catching passes from a quarterback willing to throw the ball downfield. Wide receivers Jerry Jeudy, Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman all recorded season-high marks for receiving yards. — Daniel Oyefusi