Jamey Eisenberg's Week 8 Fantasy football sleepers and DFS picks: Makai Lemon could be a bitter sweet surprise

With injuries opening doors across the NFL, Jamey Eisenberg highlights Makai Lemon and other sleepers who could deliver big Oct 30, 2026 at 6:25 pm ET • 4 min read Emeka Egbuka (foot) was ruled out for Week 8, and A.J. Brown (knee/ankle) and Carnell Tate (shoulder) are not expected to play. That opens the door for several sleepers on the Buccaneers, Patriots and Titans. In Tampa Bay, Chris Godwin should be viewed as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver against Atlanta; Ted Hurst and Tez Johnson are each worth a flier in deeper leagues and Cade Otton is a streaming tight end. Egbuka didn't play in Week 7 at Carolina, but the Buccaneers only attempted 11 passes, with the run game and defense dominating the Panthers. That might not happen against the Falcons, who are No. 11 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. Godwin had five targets against Carolina and finished with four catches for 27 yards. He has yet to score a touchdown or reach 50 receiving yards in a game this season, but he has scored at least 10.3 PPR points in four games in a row against Atlanta. Hurst has two games this season with at least six targets, and he scored 11 PPR points in one of them. And Johnson caught his first touchdown of the season in Week 7 with Egbuka out but only had two catches for 33 yards. Of that duo, I would lean toward Hurst, but either one could be viable against the Falcons. Atlanta is No. 9 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends, and Otton scored at least 8.6 PPR points in two of four outings with Baker Mayfield this year. All of these guys should be in play for Mayfield with Egbuka out. For New England, Hunter Henry is my favorite pass catcher, and I like him as a top-five Fantasy tight end in all leagues. He has scored at least 11.2 PPR points in four games in a row, including two touchdowns over that span, and the Dolphins are No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends. Eli Raridon, who has scored at least 10.7 PPR points in two of his past three games, is also worth a look as a streamer in deeper leagues. At receiver, Demario Douglas struggled in Week 7 at Chicago with three catches for 23 yards on four targets, but he scored at least 19.6 PPR points in each of his previous two games against Las Vegas and the Jets. I like Douglas as a high-end No. 3 receiver in all leagues. Efton Chism III scored at least 10.9 PPR points in the two games before Brown returned from his ankle injury in Week 6. He had 10 targets over that span and finished with seven catches for 99 yards and a touchdown, and Chism is worth a flier in deeper leagues. Just keep in mind that Miami is No. 3 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and this should be a great game for Rhamondre Stevenson. In Tennessee, the only pass catcher I would consider starting in three-receiver leagues is Wan'Dale Robinson at Cincinnati. He has struggled in his past two games against Indianapolis and Cleveland with seven catches for 29 yards and no touchdowns on 13 targets, but he scored at least 11 PPR points in each of his three games prior to that against the Giants, Ravens and Texans. The Bengals have allowed three receivers in their past two games to score at least 12 PPR points, and Robinson should lead the Titans in targets with Tate out. Week 8 Sleepers Defense/Special TeamsBengals (vs. TEN) Chiefs (at DEN) Buccaneers (vs. ATL) KickerChris Boswell (vs. CLE) Chase McLaughlin (vs. ATL) Matt Gay (at NYJ)DFS Lineups for Week 8FanDuelQB: Geno Smith (vs. LV) $7,000 RB: Javonte Williams (vs. ARI) $7,500 RB: Rhamondre Stevenson (at MIA) $6,500 WR: Zay Flowers (at BUF) $8,000 WR: Garrett Wilson (vs. LV) $7,000 WR: Tre Tucker (at NYJ) $6,100 TE: Hunter Henry (at MIA) $5,200 FLEX: Ja'Marr Chase (vs. TEN) $8,700 DEF: Buccaneers (vs. ATL) $3,900Smith should do well in his revenge game against the Raiders, and I expect him to lean on Wilson. He's been quiet in his past two outings against New England and Miami with six catches for 70 yards and no touchdowns on nine targets, but the Raiders shouldn't be able to slow down Wilson or Omar Cooper Jr. I'll play Tucker to counter the Jets' stack, and he has 10 catches for 200 yards and three touchdowns on 19 targets in his past two games against Buffalo and the Rams. Flowers and Chase are the other receivers in this lineup, and both should be awesome. The Bills are No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to receivers, and the Titans are No. 7. Williams and Stevenson should both dominate at running back in Week 8. Williams has scored seven touchdowns in his past five games, and Stevenson is facing a Miami defense that is No. 2 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Stevenson and Henry should also benefit with A.J. Brown out, and the Dolphins are No. 3 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends. Henry has also scored a touchdown in two of his past three games. DraftKingsQB: Trevor Lawrence (vs. IND) $6,200 RB: Bucky Irving (vs. ATL) $6,400 RB: Chase Brown (vs. TEN) $6,300 WR: CeeDee Lamb (vs. ARI) $8,100 WR: Michael Wilson (at DAL) $6,200 WR: Omar Cooper Jr. (vs. LV) $4,800 TE: Brenton Strange (vs. IND) $4,000 FLEX: Rhamondre Stevenson (at MIA) $5,600 DST: Broncos (vs. KC) $2,300 Lawrence is my Start of the Week, and I'm expecting him to dominate the Colts, who just traded away standout defensive lineman DeForest Buckner. Lawrence should lean on Strange in this matchup, and Indianapolis has allowed three touchdowns to tight ends in the past three games. I'll play Stevenson in this lineup as well, and Irving should stay hot against the Falcons, who are No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. Brown also has the chance for a breakout game against the Titans, who just traded away standout defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons to Chicago. At receiver, I'm expecting a high-scoring game between Dallas and Arizona, which should benefit Lamb and Wilson. And I'm sticking with Cooper against the Raiders, who have allowed six touchdowns to receivers in their past three games.