The Week 8 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet is here, powered by the Dynasty Nerds CheatChart—your quick-read guide for identifying the best and worst positional matchups of the week. Whether you’re setting DFS lineups, locking in your start/sit decisions, or targeting player props before Thursday Night Football, this chart highlights the leverage points that define winning weeks. From Bo Nix’s top QB matchup to tough fades like Rhamondre Stevenson and Jaylen Waddle, the CheatChart delivers instant clarity on where the edges lie for Week 8.
Use the CheatChart to identify which players are set up for ceiling games, who to fade, and where Vegas lines intersect with fantasy opportunity.
Need lineup advice? See our Week 8 Trade Advice and Advanced Stats Start/Sit Preview!
Best and Worst Week 8 Fantasy Football Quarterback Matchups
Bo Nix has the top QB matchup of the week at 38%. He’s been up and down this season, but he’s a lock for Week 8.
Trevor Lawrence has a great matchup of 29%, but he’s hard to trust as anything more than a QB2 with upside.
Patrick Mahomes comes in third best with a 27% matchup. He’s the QB1 on the season, so this should be a big week from him.
Regardless of whether Brock Purdy returns or Mac Jones starts, the 49ers quarterback of choice gets the worst matchup of the week at -47%. Avoid at all costs.
Tua Tagovailoa gets the second-worst matchup of the week with -40%, and when combined with his throwing-hand injury, it’s a scary situation.
Marcus Mariota will be the Commanders starter in Week 8, and unfortunately for him, the matchup is the third worst at -26%. Mariota has been mobile enough to be fantasy-relevant but should only be started in deep 2QB leagues.
Highlight Matchups for Week 8 Fantasy Football Running Backs
Bijan Robinson is the top RB pick of the week thanks to his league-best matchup of 36%, on top of a game script that should have him seeing significant work.
Breece Hall is in a great spot for success with a 27% score this week. You can start him with confidence.
D’Andre Swift has the third-best matchup of the week with 26% in what is expected to be the highest-scoring game of the week. Kyle Monangai can also be considered in deeper leagues or as a budget DFS roster filler with touchdown upside.
Rhamondre Stevenson has the worst matchup of the week at -37%, and on top of that, has the worst over/under of the week to boot. Game script favors him, but his ceiling is likely low this week.
James Cook draws a tough -22% this week. He faces the Panthers, who have been a wildcard when it comes to game script, so you really can’t even trust him to get a bunch of clock-burning carries.
Jaylen Warren rounds out the last of the bottom-end running backs with a -19%. That kind of matchup is enough to make you wary, but you can trust in his volume.
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Wide Receiver Matchups for Week 8 Fantasy Football
Courtland Sutton is primed for a great game this week given his 38% matchup, which should be no surprise as Dallas has been gold to opposing receivers. Marvin Mims can also be started in most formats.
Calvin Ridley is dealing with a hamstring issue, so it’s questionable whether he’ll be able to benefit from the 34%matchup the Titans receivers get in Week 8. Elic Ayomanor may be the better choice even if Ridley plays, as game script has the Titans playing from very far behind.
Romeo Doubs has emerged as the top receiver in Green Bay, and this week he gets a healthy 25% matchup. He is likely to have a good game, as could Matthew Golden.
Jaylen Waddle is coming off a bad fantasy performance and could likely repeat due to his -30% matchup. His QB being injured doesn’t help either.
Both Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel are battling nagging injuries, so the fact that they get a dismal -29%matchup means you should be looking elsewhere for this week.
Neither Jauan Jennings nor Kendrick Bourne are ideal players even when the matchup is good, but they have a -28%matchup this week, meaning they should stay on your bench if you can avoid it.
Top Week 8 Tight End Matchups for Fantasy Football
Both Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith came through last week, and in Week 8, they get a matchup of 33%. It’s unlikely they both finish as well as they did last week, but chances of at least one finishing top 3 at TE are very good.
Dalton Schultz has been getting a good chunk of Houston’s volume, and this week he has a matchup of 32%. Despite the low over/under, he should be in your lineup.
Week 8 Fantasy Football IDP CheatChart | Top DL, LB, and DB Matchups
The Week 8 Defensive CheatChart brings the same matchup data-driven approach to the IDP side of the ball—highlighting the best and worst positional matchups for defensive linemen, linebackers, and defensive backs. Whether you’re streaming IDP starters or looking for high-upside sack and tackle plays, the chart makes it easy to spot weekly difference-makers.
If you need defensive backs to stream, look no further than the Falcons. They get the best matchup in the league, and they’ve had numerous DBs putting up fantasy points. Jessie Bates, Mike Hughes, and Xavier Watts are all startable.
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Week 8 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet FAQ | Dynasty Nerds CheatChart
Q: How does the Dynasty Nerds CheatChart work for Week 8 fantasy football and DFS lineups?
The Week 8 Fantasy Football CheatChart shows how every team’s positional units compare to their season averages, revealing positive or negative matchup percentages. Use it to spot upside plays for DFS, flex calls, and player props before Thursday Night Football. When a player’s team shows a strong green number, the matchup leans in their favor for ceiling outcomes.
Q: Which quarterbacks have the best and worst matchups in Week 8?
According to the CheatChart, Bo Nix, Trevor Lawrence, and Patrick Mahomes headline the most favorable QB matchups this week. On the flip side, Brock Purdy/Mac Jones, Tua Tagovailoa, and Marcus Mariota draw the toughest situations based on defensive efficiency and game environment.
Q: What are the biggest DFS and prop-bet opportunities from the Week 8 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet?
DFS managers should focus on positive-matchup skill players such as Bijan Robinson, Courtland Sutton, and Dalton Schultz, all of whom show top-tier advantage scores. For prop betting, align those green matchups with reception or yardage totals that look beatable given projected pace and over/under lines.
Q: Which fantasy players are the biggest fades for Week 8?
The CheatChart highlights several red-zone risk areas, including Rhamondre Stevenson, Jaylen Waddle, and Deebo Samuel, each facing heavy defensive pressure or injury limitations. In DFS and redraft formats alike, managers should lower exposure or pivot to players with stronger game scripts.
Q: How early should managers check the CheatChart before lineup lock?
Because news breaks fast on Thursdays and weekends, the CheatChart is most useful 24 hours before kickoff. Confirm late injury reports and weather updates, then reference the chart one final time before lineup lock to confirm high-value starters or DFS pivots.
