We have hit Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season, and regardless of six groups being on bye, the schedule is loaded. To prepare for it, our NFL analysts have you ever lined on last-minute prep. Make amends for all the pieces earlier than Sunday’s motion kicks off with 11 matchups.
First, analytics author Seth Walder breaks down three stat developments that could possibly be pivotal this weekend. Then fantasy soccer author Eric Moody runs by 5 gamers who’re rostered in beneath 50% of ESPN fantasy soccer leagues as of Saturday and could possibly be began in a jam. That is adopted by NFL analyst Matt Bowen predicting three doubtlessly huge surprises and sports activities betting analyst Pamela Maldonado giving her favourite wager for Week 8.
Can the Steelers maintain Micah Parsons away from Aaron Rodgers on Sunday evening? Might the Bears upset the Ravens in Baltimore? Ought to we count on extra fantasy upside for Joe Flacco? And would possibly we see Alec Pierce discover the top zone for the primary time this season? Let’s dive in.
Bounce to:
Stat developments | Fantasy sleepers
Potential surprises | Finest wager
Walder: Three key stat developments that might decide Week 8 winners
Will the Patriots be capable to goal the center of the sector in opposition to the Browns’ protection?
New England’s passing offense is on fireplace, rating second in EPA per dropback this season and first from Week 3 on. The Patriots are likely to work the center space of the sector greater than different groups, with 56% of their go makes an attempt going between the numbers — the second-highest price within the NFL. However that’s precisely the place the Browns deter targets, as solely 43% of targets in opposition to them have gone between the numbers, the second-lowest price amongst defenses.
When groups do assault the Browns between the numbers, it has typically labored poorly. Cleveland has a minus-0.02 EPA per play and a 54% defensive success price on these performs, each fourth-best within the league. So can the Patriots beat Cleveland in the course of the sector, or will they need to adapt to have success elsewhere?
Can the Steelers fend off Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons?
If we’re attempting to forecast the chance that the most recent Packers celebrity (Parsons) will sack the previous Packers celebrity (Aaron Rodgers), there are just a few components we’ve to think about. Three of them favor at the least one sack occurring:
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Parsons is a tremendous go rusher with an elite document, together with distinctive play this season. He has 5.5 sacks, in addition to a 26.1% go rush win price that is third-best within the NFL.
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Parsons traces up reverse the left sort out greater than anyplace else. Which means he’ll be squaring off ceaselessly in opposition to Pittsburgh’s Broderick Jones, whose 78% go block win price ranks 68th out of 69 qualifying tackles.
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The Packers are favored within the recreation, so they’re extra prone to find yourself in a positive recreation script.
However there’s additionally one factor to think about from the opposite aspect: Rodgers is getting the ball out lightning fast — 2.63 seconds on common, second-fastest within the league — and is taking sacks at a 4.8% clip, higher than common.
So the place does that depart us? Parsons nonetheless has an excellent forecast. In keeping with my sack mannequin, he has a 52% probability to document at the least 1.0 sacks this week, second-best amongst all gamers in Week 8. However nonetheless … it is no lock.
Can the Bears decelerate Ravens operating again Derrick Henry?
Henry has amassed over 100 speeding yards twice this season — within the Ravens’ Week 1 loss to the Payments and of their Week 6 loss to the Rams. However in between, he has didn’t exceed 50 yards in any of the opposite video games.
So which model of Henry will we see Sunday? I might guess an enormous day is coming. For starters, quarterback Lamar Jackson may return, which ought to assist open issues up for Henry within the operating recreation. However past that, the Bears’ protection is permitting 2.3 yards per carry after contact. That is the worst within the NFL, and a tough pairing in opposition to a Ravens offense that is averaging precisely 2.3 yards per carry after contact (third-best).
The Ravens additionally run exterior zone at a excessive price (46% of the time, fifth-most), which the Bears have particularly struggled to cease. Chicago is permitting 5.8 yards per carry in opposition to these performs. All of this works in Henry’s favor.
Moody: 5 fantasy sleepers it’s essential choose up — and might begin this week
Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (36.0% rostered)
Otton has emerged as a gentle fantasy choice, recording 15 targets over his previous two video games and scoring 10-plus fantasy factors in three straight. He led the Buccaneers in Week 7 with seven receptions for 65 yards and stays a key security valve for quarterback Baker Mayfield.
With Mike Evans sidelined for the common season (damaged collarbone) and Chris Godwin Jr.’s return unsure (fibula), Otton ought to proceed to see sturdy quantity in opposition to a middling Saints protection.
Troy Franklin, WR, Denver Broncos (34.2% rostered)
Franklin noticed a season-high 10 targets in Week 7, signaling rising involvement within the Broncos’ passing recreation. Whereas he turned that quantity into simply three receptions for 19 yards and a landing, the chance is there for extra manufacturing in Week 8. The Cowboys have allowed the second-most fantasy factors to large receivers, giving Franklin an opportunity to exceed his season-high, 24-point outing from Week 2.
Tez Johnson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (29.9% rostered)
Johnson has turn out to be one other dependable choice for the Bucs and fantasy managers, scoring touchdowns in back-to-back video games and seeing 9 targets in opposition to the Lions. Over the previous three weeks, he has accrued 162 yards and two touchdowns on 9 receptions. He ought to stay an necessary goal for Mayfield in opposition to a Saints protection that has allowed the eighth-most touchdowns to large receivers.
Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears (26.3% rostered)
Monangai is coming off his finest recreation of the season, posting 17.4 fantasy factors on a season-high 15 touches in opposition to the Saints. Coach Ben Johnson seems dedicated to splitting carries between D’Andre Swift and Monangai, much like his Detroit days with Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. The duo now faces a Ravens protection that is permitting the second-most fantasy factors per recreation to operating backs.
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Is Kyle Monangai a fantasy flex choice in Week 8?
Mike Clay explains how Kyle Monangai is just not but able to be a operating again starter or flex choice in fantasy for Week 8.
Joe Flacco, QB, Cincinnati Bengals (23.1% rostered)
Flacco has rapidly revitalized the Bengals’ offense, throwing for 561 yards and 5 landing passes with no interceptions in two begins. He is getting the ball out quick and studying defenses effectively, which has boosted manufacturing throughout Cincinnati’s passing recreation. And Flacco simply scored 25.9 fantasy factors in opposition to the Steelers, with elite playmakers resembling Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins at his disposal.
Fantasy managers can depend on him versus the Jets, particularly with the Cardinals, Jaguars, Lions, Raiders, Rams and Seahawks all on bye.
Bowen: Do not be shocked if …
Falcons operating again Bijan Robinson rushes for over 100 yards in opposition to the Dolphins
Robinson was restricted to 40 speeding yards (on 12 carries) within the Week 7 loss to the 49ers, however he has topped the 100-yard mark twice this season. Now we have to play the favorable matchup right here in opposition to the Miami protection. Via seven weeks, the Dolphins are giving up a league-worst 159.3 speeding yards per recreation.
I had the identical prediction for Browns rookie operating again Quinshon Judkins in opposition to Miami final week, and he rushed for 84 yards (with three TDs). Robinson will clip 100 on Sunday.
Colts large receiver Alec Pierce catches a landing in opposition to the Titans
Because the Colts’ vertical stretch goal, Pierce is averaging 19.8 yards per reception — however he is but to search out the top zone this season. I believe that adjustments in opposition to the Titans.
Search for quarterback Daniel Jones to focus on Pierce on a shot play that simply results in six factors. Pierce has the straight-line juice to separate excessive in opposition to Tennessee, which simply put beginning security L’Jarius Sneed on injured reserve.
Bucs security Antoine Winfield Jr. intercepts Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler
Rattler has thrown solely 4 interceptions this season, however three of these got here final week in opposition to a Bears protection that modified the post-snap image. He’ll face a number of the identical confusion in opposition to a Bucs unit that ranks within the prime 10 in each blitz and stress price, which may permit Winfield to seize his first choose of the season.
Maldonado: My favourite wager for Week 8
Chicago Bears +6.5 at Baltimore Ravens
Turnover differential may matter right here. The Bears lead the league at plus-11, whereas the Ravens sit thirty first at minus-7. That is an 18-possession swing between two groups that play at comparable tempos and run-heavy charges.
Chicago simply wants to guard the ball and shorten drives Sunday. Baltimore’s offense falls aside when quarterback Lamar Jackson makes errors, and the Bears’ protection has been opportunistic all season. Even when the Ravens transfer the ball, further possessions and quick fields favor the Bears overlaying. That is too huge of a margin to disregard in a recreation this risky.
