Tristan H. Cockcroft breaks down the projections for the Falcons' defense and he says fantasy managers can expect them to deliver. (0:49)
At various points during the fantasy football season, injuries, bye weeks and breaking news can cause you to need reinforcements for your fantasy lineup. Every Friday throughout the 2025 NFL season, Matt Bowen will offer up some late-week pickup options to help fill those holes, with an emphasis on deeper leagues.
Because of that, this column will focus mostly on players rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues, with occasional exceptions.
With six teams on a bye this week, the options are pretty slim, but there are enough quality players available to drop into deep-league lineups. We'll start at quarterback, with two longtime veterans coming off big-time games. I'm also eyeing a couple tight ends who are providing double-digit fantasy production, and we'll hit on multiple running backs and wide receivers, too. As always, I'll give you a defense to stream this week, and this one can pressure the quarterback.
Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals (26.3% rostered; vs. Jets)
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Flacco has attempted at least 45 passes in each of his two starts, with 18 or more fantasy points in both. While a negative game script did play a role, we know this is a heavy passing offense in Cincy. Plus, Flacco plays with an aggressive throwing mentality, and he has upper-level pass catchers in Ja'Marr Chase (23 targets in Week 7) and Tee Higgins. Sure, Flacco tends to get loose with the ball at times, the decision-making can decline, too. But with a Sunday matchup against a winless Jets team, you are betting on Flacco to stay hot in Week 8.
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (34.1% rostered; vs. Packers)
From a player's perspective, matching up against your former team does matter. And it goes up a notch if that team moved on from you. Just something to think about here as Rodgers gets the Packers on Sunday night. But let's not forget that Rodgers was driving the ball -- with velocity and location -- in the Week 7 game against the Bengals. Rodgers finished with four touchdown passes in that one, posting a total of 22.56 points. He now has multiple touchdown throws in three of his past four games and I think he's trending up based on the tape. He fits here as a deeper-league option for Week 8.
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (23.5% rostered; vs. 49ers)
