NFL Week 8 Studs and Duds: Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Week 8 was filled with performances fueled by revenge, and some players did not disappoint. Others, however, wilted under the bright lights. Here’s a look at this week’s Studs and Duds.

Stud: Jonathan Taylor

At this point, it feels like Jonathan Taylor could appear in this column every single week. He has been nothing short of spectacular, leading the NFL in carries, yards, and touchdowns with 14 trips to the end zone. This past weekend, Taylor and the Colts continued their dominance against the Titans, rushing 12 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns, while adding two catches for 21 yards and another score (37.4 fantasy points).

With the Colts at 7-1 and Taylor leading nearly every major rushing category, it’s time for him to be part of the MVP conversation. His most eye-popping stat? Taylor has reached the end zone more times than five different NFL teams this season. He’ll look to stay hot next week against a struggling Steelers defense that ranks 19th against the run despite being the highest-paid unit in football.

Dud: Baker Mayfield

Baker Mayfield has been outstanding this year, but even the best have off days. In the Buccaneers’ gritty win over the Saints, Mayfield threw for just 152 yards with no touchdowns and lost a costly fumble deep in his own territory (4.08 fantasy points). Tampa Bay’s offense mustered only 212 total yards, with no player reaching 50 from scrimmage.

The Bucs now head into a much-needed bye week, giving time for key players to recover. Running back Bucky Irving should return to full health, and wideout Emeka Egbuka is expected to be 100 percent after a nagging hamstring injury. The question is whether Mayfield can regroup before facing a brutal three-game stretch against the Patriots, Bills, and Rams.

Stud: Jordan Love

Jordan Love’s Sunday night performance against Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers felt like finally beating your dad at golf for the first time. Love completed 29 of 37 passes for 360 yards and three touchdowns (28.3 fantasy points), leading Green Bay to a statement win.

Even Rodgers praised Love afterward, calling him “fantastic” and lauding his patience and control. Tight end Tucker Kraft deserves his own shoutout after catching seven passes for 143 yards and two touchdowns. It was no fluke as Kraft has now scored in three straight games and has become the Packers’ top receiving threat.

Dud: Rhamondre Stevenson

After running wild against the Titans in Week 7, Stevenson came crashing back to earth in Week 8. Against Cleveland, he managed only 34 yards on 14 carries and caught one pass for 15 yards (5.9 fantasy points). His yards-per-carry average dropped from 4.9 to just 2.4, and he was out-rushed by both quarterback Drake Maye and rookie TreVeyon Henderson.

Stevenson has not practiced this week due to a toe injury, and Henderson may now be in line to take over the lead role against Atlanta.

Stud: Saquon Barkley

Fantasy owners can finally exhale. Yes, the breakout has arrived. Barkley exploded against his former team, taking 14 carries for 150 yards and a touchdown while adding four catches for 24 yards and another score (33.4 fantasy points). His 65-yard touchdown run on the second play from scrimmage set the tone.

He did leave briefly with a minor groin issue late in the third quarter, but with the Eagles on bye and reports suggesting it’s not serious, Barkley appears ready to keep rolling.

Dud: Christian McCaffrey

The “Stud-to-Dud” curse strikes again. McCaffrey managed only 25 rushing yards on eight carries in the 49ers’ loss to the short-handed Texans, adding just three receptions for 43 yards (9.8 fantasy points). San Francisco ran only 12 plays in the first half and held the ball for barely five minutes, giving McCaffrey no chance to make an impact. Expect him to bounce back next week and likely make his own revenge list.

Emergency Room

Cam Skattebo

After having his ankle caught under an Eagles defender, Skattebo was carted off the field and later diagnosed with a dislocated ankle. With both Skattebo and Malik Nabers now out for the year, the Giants’ offense has taken a major hit. Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. will return to the starting role, but expect quarterback Jaxson Dart’s production to take a dip without his top two weapons.

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