Leaders of the Pack Week 8 2026

by Dennis Michelsen

Total Fantasy Football points and even Points per Game can be deceiving. In Fantasy Football, we want to know not only who the hot players are early in the season, but also which players have been productive over a longer period. My rankings utilize four separate indexes that are explained below to give a rating for each player. Let us look at who the leaders of the pack are in Fantasy Football after week eight. 

MVP Index Explained

Every week in Fantasy Football, a player’s statistics can have three possible outcomes. They can help your team win by having a huge points week. They can cause your team to lose with a very low-scoring week. They can keep your team in contention by performing above the historic median output. The MVP Index combines these three outcomes into one easy-to-understand number. While the historic median for Fantasy Football points differs by position, using the same expected performance level for RB, WR, and TE gives us a score to compare while making Flex starting decisions all season. 

MVP26 Explained

This index uses the same formula as the MVP Index above, but the data is only used from this season. All games played are used to give a true value to each player, as if they started them for every game this year in Fantasy Football. 

Upside Index Explained

While consistency matters in Fantasy Football, weekly upside consistency matters even more. The UPSIDE INDEX calculates a player’s best 1/3rd of his games over the past 2 seasons plus the current season. This extended database gives us a better idea of a player’s long-term form, not just the few data points represented by the current season. Each week, the data is weighted more heavily toward the current season. 

GOOD Index Explained

In the NFL, young players often struggle early in their careers. While the MVP Index does a solid job of keeping up with the latest player developments, the GOOD Index only counts a player's best games over the past 2 seasons plus the current season. This index values rookie and second-year players lower because they have fewer total games to post a high GOOD Index, but it rewards players who stay healthy and productive over a longer time frame. 

Scoring System Used

Regular 1-point-per-reception scoring is used, with no TE premium applied. Players get 1 point for every 10 yards of rushing and receiving yards and 1 point for every 25 yards of passing. TDs count 6 points for rushing and 4 points for passing TDs. 

Leaders of the Pack at QB

15 Point Games Week One: 15

25+ Point Games Week One: 4

MVP26>120: 3 (Median 4)

MVP26>100: 11 (Median 6.5)

MVP26>80: 14 (Median 11.5)

MVP26>60: 20 (Median 16.5)

1. Josh Allen: Drafted 3 rounds earlier than the QB1 measured by the MVP26 Index   

2. Joe Burrow: Top-rated QB this season with an MVP26 index of 157

3. Jared Goff: In a tier of his own at QB3   

4. Lamar Jackson: Last week on this chart due to injury, but only an MVP26 of 75 

5. Drake Maye (+1) Late 6th/early 7th was a huge value for Maye this season 

6. Brock Purdy (-1) Hopefully gets some receivers back from injury this week

7. Patrick Mahomes (+2) Strong Fantasy Football game in defeat against a solid defense

8. Dak Prescott (+2) Are we sure the Cowboys cheerleaders would not be better on defense? 

9. Matthew Stafford (-1) Nacua and 6 TEs should keep Stafford in the Top 10

10. Trevor Lawrence (+2) Only threw 14 times last week, with no player getting more than 3 targets

11. Jordan Love (+4) Lack of rushing game has led to Love taking command of offense

12. Bo Nix (+1) Back-to-back solid games from Nix

13. Caleb Williams (-2) Got the win but had a slightly below-average fantasy game. 

14. Tyler Shough (NEW) Tight group from QB14 to QB19

15. Jayden Daniels (-8) Rushing upside keeps him in the Top 15 for now 

Leaders of the Pack at RB

10 Point Games Week One: 26

20+ Point Games Week One: 12

Perfect MVP26 Scores After 8 Weeks: 1 

MVP26>120: 9 (Median 4.5)

MVP26>100: 16 (Median 12.5) 

MVP26>80: 16 (Median 19.5)

MVP26>60: 19 (Median 29)

1. Jahmyr Gibbs: Was indeed the best RB in the Fantasy Football draft this season.

2. Christian McCaffrey (+1) Carried the offense when they lost their starting WRs

3. Bijan Robinson (-1) Erratic QB play is hurting his upside every week

4. Josh Jacobs (+1) Top4 in Fantasy Football if he avoids FBI Most Wanted Top 10

5. Jonathan Taylor (-1) Trading away your best O-Lineman does have consequences

6. James Cook (+1) Imagine if they used him more in the passing game

7. Derrick Henry (-1) Might be the best option at QB operating out of a wildcat 

8. Kyren Williams: In a tier of his own but lacks upside with Corum splitting volume

9. Ken Walker: Top 4 RB in MVP26 this season 

10. D’Andre Swift (+2): Very inefficient at everything except scoring TDs on MNF

11. Chase Brown (-1): Getting the volume on one of the best offenses in the league.

12. Bucky Irving (-1) MVP26 of 112 is back to his rookie level of production, as expected.

13. Chubba Hubbard (+2) RB5 using only this year’s MVP Index

14. Ashton Jeanty (-1) Did trash talking really get him benched? On the Raiders? 

15. Saquon Barkley (+1) MVP26 Index of 0; the AMG Index got this one right

16. Javonte Williams (-2) Very consistent again this season but lacks typical RB1 upside

17. Bhayshul Tuten (+8) Could be emerging as one of the best RBs in the league

18. Breece Hall (-1) Apparently, that Jets rushing offense is very good

19. Alvin Kamara (-1): The older man could come back from Bye week with more volume

20. Jaylen Warren: RB16 using the MVP26 Index only 

21. Rhamondre Stevenson: Could emerge as a solid TD threat on a good offense

22. RJ Harvey (-3): Injury could cost him volume by the time he can return

23. Tony Pollard (+6): When Spears is out, he gets the volume to be a Top 10 RB

24. Cam Skattebo (-2) If he got higher volume, he could be a Top 12 RB

25. David Montgomery (-2) Falling fast due to injury and poor performances

26. Aaron Jones (-2) Volume split in Minnesota; tough to handicap each week

27. Rico Dowdle (+1) Will he cut into Warren’s volume in the second half of the season? 

28. Quinshon Judkins (-2) MVP Index over his career and this season both at 57

29. Kyle Monangai (+1) How many more weeks will he miss? 

30. Emmanuel Wilson (-3) Demoted to fourth-string RB for now

31. Rachaad White (+1) Might be the best of the healthy RBs with the Commanders

32. Zach Charbonnett (NEW) Managed his volume in his return to action

33. Jonah Coleman (NEW) Should emerge as the best RB in DEN, but will he get enough volume? 

34. Jordan Mason (-3) Vikings rumored to be adding an RB before the trade deadline

35. Omarion Hampton (-1) Auditioning for his role as the worst RB draft pick of the year 

Leaders of the Pack at WR

10 Point Games Week One: 37

20+ Point Games Week One: 7

MVP26>120: 6 (Median 4.5)

MVP26>100: 15 (Median 10.5)

MVP26>80: 16 (Median 21.5)

MVP26>60: 26 (Median 31)

1. Puka Nacua: Top 2 WRs have put some ground between WR3-4     

2. Jaxson Smith Njigba: Imagine what he could do with a more consistent QB?   

3. Amon-Ra St. Brown: Injury is a concern     

4. Ja’Marr Chase: Offense needs to score 35+ a game to win   

5. Cee Dee Lamb: Cowboys defense is so bad that it boosts Lamb’s value 

6. Tee Higgins (+6): Hard to believe one team can have 2 of the best WRs in the league

7. Malik Nabers: If he can stay healthy and get decent QB play, look out in the second half

8. Zay Flowers (-2) Could drop fast without an effective QB

9. Nico Collins (-1) Offense can be erratic at times

10. Chris Olave (-1) WR7 in MVP26 Index right now

11. Mike Evans (+1) Injuries will be the only thing to hold him back 

12. George Pickens (+1) His MV26 Index is only 18th best right now

13. Justin Jefferson (+1) Top 5 talent held back by QB play

14. Drake London (-4) WR26 using this year’s data 

15. DeVonta Smith: Eagles might choose to be very careful with the Slim Reaper

16. Garret Wilson: Adonai Smith emerging as a solid WR, which could hurt GW’s value

17. Jameson Williams: Would feast if the Sun God missed time

18. DJ Moore: MVP26 Index of 75 is lower than expected

19. Stefon Diggs: Emerging as the best WR on the team right now

20. Christian Watson (+1) Returning from an injury that sent him to the hospital shows toughness

21. Rashee Rice (+2) Came back from injury to post an 18 PPR-point game

22. AJ Brown (-2) Continues to struggle with that opening week injury

23. Tetairoa McMillan (+3) QB has a big problem against solid defenses

24. Matthew Golden (+10) His MVP26 Index is the sixth-best in the league right now

25. Ladd McConkey (+4) Offense has been awful, but Laddis  starting to see volume rise

26. Mike Wilson (+6) Gets the Minshew Miracle for a while

27. Terry McLaurin (-2) How many more games will he miss? 

28. Luther Burden: Emerging as the top WR on the Bears without any doubt

29. DK Metcalf (-5) Offense does not seem to match his playing style

30. Wan Dale Robinson (+3) Injury to the rookie opened the door, and he stepped up

31. Khalil Shakir (+4) MVP26 is more than 20 points below his usual level this season

32. Deebo Samuel (-1) 49ers need their WRs back healthy

33. Parker Washington (-6) His QB spreads the ball around too much for his value to rise

34. Jakobi Meyers (-4) Still finds the endzone on occasion

35. Emeka Egbuka (+1) Injuries continue to hold him back

36. Omar Cooper (-14) Went missing in action last week

37. Brian Thomas (+2) Found the endzone last week but not much else

38. Keenan Allen (-1) Colts’ offense is anemic and getting worse

39. Courtland Sutton (-1) Broncos WRs are TD-dependent 

40. Jaylen Waddle: He did remember how to do his little TD dance

Leaders of the Pack at TE

10 Point Games Week One: 15

20+ Point Games Week One: 3

MVP26>120: 2 (Median 1)

MVP26>100: 2 (Median 1.5)

MVP26>80: 3 (Median 2.5)

MVP26>60: 4 (Median 4)

1. Trey McBride: Top 2 TEs have a huge MVP26 advantage over the rest of the pack  

2. Brock Bowers: Four games over 20 PPR points in six games this season  

3. George Kittle: Will he get more competition for targets after the Bye week?   

4. Travis Kelce: Big tier drop to the TE5 this week  

5. Dallas Goedert: Eagles offense in decline due to QB play 

6. Harold Fannin (+5) Five double-digit games but 3 games under 5 points 

7. Sam LaPorta (-1) Lions offensive wizards trying to figure out how to add a second football

8. Tucker Kraft (+1) Tight bunch of TEs from TE5 to TE15 

9. Tyler Warren (-2) Could be the last viable receiving option on that offense if they trade Downs

10. Hunter Henry (+2) Injury is worrisome going forward

11. Juwan Johnson (+1) After 4 double-digit points games had 3 games under 5 heading into the bye

12. Dalton Kincaid (NEW) When he can stay healthy, he is a huge value

13. Kyle Pitts (-3) Three solid games in a row before last week’s disaster in the rain

14. Mike Gesicki (-1) Finding the endzone on an almost weekly basis 

15. Coleston Loveland (-1) Three solid games in a row  

Conclusion   

Hard to believe we've already reached the halfway point of the season. 

The top QB group is deeper than it has been over the past six seasons, with 11 players with an MVP26 of 100 or better compared to a median of 6.5. 

The group of super-elite RBs (MVP26 over 120) is twice the median over the last six years, but there are fewer at the RB2 level (MVP26 over 80). 

Usually, we see 10.5 WRs with an MVP26 rating of 100, and this season there are 15; but again, the WR2 level is running 5.5 players below the median over the last six seasons. 

Only two TEs are truly elite, but some of the most expensive TEs in the draft haven't lived up to expectations. Some of the cheap older TEs like Travis Kelce and George Kittle have paid dividends so far. 

Good luck with your Fantasy Football lineups this week.