bo-nix-broncos-usatsi.jpg
usatsi

My rankings do not always mirror my projections, and often, it's because the projections are telling me something I just don't want to hear. In Week 8, what they're telling me is that Bo Nix is the number one streamer and a top-12 quarterback this week. It sounds ridiculous, right? Well, let's at least entertain the why behind it. 

First, Nix has been much better than expected. Over the last month, he's QB18 at 18.7 Fantasy points per game. Two of the QBs ahead of him in that stretch (Joe Flacco and Justin Fields) are not starting this week. We're not expecting Jayden Daniels as of Tuesday afternoon, either. Two others (Baker Mayfield and Brock Purdy) may be playing without their top two pass catchers. It's not hard to get Nix into borderline Qb1 territory based on the last month. 

Second, he's playing the Carolina Panthers. They've given up the fourth-most Fantasy points per game to opposing QBs. Five of the seven QBs they've faced have scored at least 20 Fantasy points against them, and four of those quarterbacks have scored at least 24. it is an elite matchup, which is a big part of why the Broncos have an implied point total of 26.25, easily their highest of the season.

This brings us to the third reason: Nix has been a huge part of the Broncos offense, even for a quarterback. They've scored 11 touchdowns on the season, five of those are Nix passing touchdowns, and three are Nix rushing touchdowns. If they're going to score a bunch of points in Week 8, you would expect Nix to score multiple touchdowns.

Again, you won't see Nix as my top QB add below, but the projections would tell you he should be. At least now you know why.

Let's get to the rest of the preview:

Week 8 QB Preview
QB Preview
Numbers to know
  • 10 -- Bo Nix has 10 red zone rush attempts, just one behind Javonte Williams. Jalen Hurts, Justin Fields and Jayden Daniels are the only QBs who have run more in the red zone.
  • 3.33% -- Russell Wilson had a 3.33% sack rate in Week 8. Justin Fields has been sacked on 9.09% of his dropbacks this season. If Wilson can cut that in half, it will be a big boost for the offense.
  • 338 -- Tua Tagovailoa threw for 338 yards way back in Week 1. His return makes a huge difference for the Dolphins.
  • 45.9% -- Nearly half of Baker Mayfield's passes have gone to Mike Evans or Chris Godwin this season. He'll be tough to trust without them.
  • 7 -- Daniel Jones was sacked a season-high seven times in his first game without Andrew Thomas.
  • 10 -- Anthony Richardson has completed 10 or fewer passes in three of his four complete games this season. 
QB Preview
Matchups that matter
Matchups that Matter
Projections powered by Sportsline
DEN Denver • #10
Age: 24 • Experience: Rookie
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs CAR DEN -8.5 O/U 43.5
OPP VS QB
29th
PROJ PTS
23.8
QB RNK
19th
YTD Stats
PAYDS
1246
RUYDS
255
TD
8
INT
5
FPTS/G
16.2
MIN Minnesota • #14
Age: 27 • Experience: 7 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ LAR MIN -3 O/U 48
OPP VS QB
17th
PROJ PTS
21.3
QB RNK
6th
YTD Stats
PAYDS
1370
RUYDS
100
TD
12
INT
5
FPTS/G
20.4
NE New England • #10
Age: 22 • Experience: Rookie
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs NYJ NYJ -7 O/U 41.5
OPP VS QB
5th
PROJ PTS
13.3
QB RNK
22nd
YTD Stats
PAYDS
541
RUYDS
68
TD
5
INT
2
FPTS/G
17.4
DET Detroit • #16
Age: 30 • Experience: 9 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs TEN DET -11 O/U 45.5
OPP VS QB
15th
PROJ PTS
21.9
QB RNK
9th
YTD Stats
PAYDS
1610
RUYDS
17
TD
11
INT
4
FPTS/G
21
HOU Houston • #7
Age: 23 • Experience: 2 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs IND HOU -6 O/U 46
OPP VS QB
23rd
PROJ PTS
23.7
QB RNK
8th
YTD Stats
PAYDS
1663
RUYDS
94
TD
10
INT
4
FPTS/G
18
QB Preview
Waiver Wire Targets
Adds/Streamers (QB Preview)
MIA Miami • #1
Age: 26 • Experience: 5 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs ARI MIA -3 O/U 46.5
OPP VS QB
25th
QB RNK
15th
ROSTERED
52%
YTD Stats
PAYDS
483
RUYDS
28
TD
2
INT
3
FPTS/G
14.1
Tagovailoa was a borderline top-12 QB for me coming into the season. If he can stay healthy, I would expect him to be a borderline top-12 QB the rest of the season. He has a very good matchup against Arizona this week, they have allowed the second-highest NY/A to opposing QBs.
DEN Denver • #10
Age: 24 • Experience: Rookie
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs CAR DEN -8.5 O/U 43.5
OPP VS QB
29th
QB RNK
19th
ROSTERED
33%
YTD Stats
PAYDS
1246
RUYDS
255
TD
8
INT
5
FPTS/G
16.2
The Panthers have seen the 21st most pass attempts from opposing QBs, and they've allowed the third most passing TDs. Nix has at least 25 rushing yards in five of seven games and 136 yards combined in his last two games. If you want to trust the projections, he's the top streamer and a top-12 QB this week.
One To Stash (QB Preview)
PIT Pittsburgh • #3
Age: 36 • Experience: 13 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs NYG PIT -6.5 O/U 36.5
OPP VS QB
24th
QB RNK
18th
ROSTERED
18%
YTD Stats
PAYDS
264
RUYDS
3
TD
3
INT
0
FPTS/G
28.8
Russell Wilson just scored 28.6 Fantasy points in his 2024 debut. I understand not trusting him as a starter immediately, but he needs to be rostered everywhere. He and George Pickens look like a match made in heaven.
QB Preview
DFS Plays
Top DFS Play
Projections powered by Sportsline
BAL Baltimore • #8
Age: 27 • Experience: 7 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ CLE BAL -9.5 O/U 44.5
OPP VS QB
14th
PROJ PTS
26.1
QB RNK
1st
YTD Stats
PAYDS
1810
RUYDS
455
TD
17
INT
2
FPTS/G
29.7
Jackson is projected to score five more points than any other QB this week. Even if he was the highest-priced QB, he would be my top cash game option, but there are three other passers who are more expensive. He leads the NFL in passer rating, and he's averaging 65 rushing yards per game. Simply remarkable.
Contrarian DFS Play
Projections powered by Sportsline
DEN Denver • #10
Age: 24 • Experience: Rookie
All those positive things I said about Nix at the top come in a QB that is priced as one of the worst starters in the league in the Week, and I don't imagine he'll be highly rostered. There is three-touchdown upside here in a bargain basement price.
QB Preview
Heath's projections

My full set of Week 8 Fantasy football projections for every position are now available on SportsLine. You'll find them here. Find out which of my favorite plays are projected to score higher than consensus rankings and which don't live up to their draft hype, at least in Week 8. Projected stats for all starting running backs are available, so be sure to check out the full set of projections at SportsLine.