Week 8 Fantasy Football TE Rankings

Peppers & Picks ranks Trey McBride (ARI TE), our TE1 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season at DAL, projecting 9.8 projected points with a on fire Pepper Meter rating. Sally doesn't overthink it — that's 2.8 points of upside over the position line, so he plays. 99% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. I have him at TE1 because the projection lands about 40% clear of what a typical TE banks in a week. That combination is why the Pepper Meter has him at On Fire this week.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Brock Bowers (LV TE), our TE2 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season at NYJ, projecting 9.0 projected points with a hot Pepper Meter rating. Sally doesn't overthink it — that's 2 points of upside over the position line, so he plays. 97% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. 9 projected points is roughly 29% more than the TE baseline, and that gap is the entire argument for the spot at TE2. Hot on the Pepper Meter reflects a steady weekly floor rather than a boom week — that's still a start.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Sam LaPorta (DET TE), our TE3 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs MIN, projecting 7.7 projected points with a spicy Pepper Meter rating. For Sally this is a volume bet, and the volume is there: 0.7 points clear of the starter baseline. 7.7 projected points is roughly 10% more than the TE baseline, and that gap is the entire argument for the spot at TE3. Facing MIN in front of his own crowd, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. Sally keeps the Pepper Meter at Spicy here because the ceiling is capped, not the role.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Colston Loveland (CHI TE), our TE4 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season at SEA, projecting 7.5 projected points with a spicy Pepper Meter rating. Sally doesn't overthink it — that's 0.5 points of upside over the position line, so he plays. 78% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Loveland clears the TE bar by about 7%, which is why he sits this high on my board. Spicy on the Pepper Meter reflects a steady weekly floor rather than a boom week — that's still a start.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks T.J. Hockenson (MIN TE), our TE5 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season at DET, projecting 7.0 projected points with a spicy Pepper Meter rating. Sally doesn't overthink it — that's 0 points of upside over the position line, so he plays. Roster share is moving +6.4% week over week, so the rest of the country is catching up. 36% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. I have him at TE5 because the projection lands about 0% clear of what a typical TE banks in a week. Spicy on the Pepper Meter reflects a steady weekly floor rather than a boom week — that's still a start.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Tyler Warren (IND TE), our TE6 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season at JAX, projecting 6.7 projected points with a spicy Pepper Meter rating. Sally's angle is simple: he's a top-six TE on our board, and she never benches the guys who win weeks. JAX is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. Fair warning: he carries a questionable tag as of the timestamp below, so re-check before kickoff. Spicy heat, high rank: reliable points without the fireworks.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Tucker Kraft (GB TE), our TE7 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs CAR, projecting 6.6 projected points with a spicy Pepper Meter rating. Sally's honest about it: 0.4 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. He grades 6% below the average weekly TE number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. CAR is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. Sally keeps the Pepper Meter at Spicy here because the ceiling is capped, not the role.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Travis Kelce (KC TE), our TE8 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season at DEN, projecting 6.5 projected points with a spicy Pepper Meter rating. Sally's honest about it: 0.5 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. The projection sits about 7% under what a startable TE returns, so I can't pretend the price tag matches the output. On the road against DEN, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. Sally keeps the Pepper Meter at Spicy here because the ceiling is capped, not the role.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Brenton Strange (JAX TE), our TE9 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs IND, projecting 6.5 projected points with a spicy Pepper Meter rating. Sally's honest about it: 0.5 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. Roster share is moving +4.6% week over week, so the rest of the country is catching up. Only 41% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. The projection sits about 7% under what a startable TE returns, so I can't pretend the price tag matches the output. The Pepper Meter cools him to Spicy, and that reading is doing its job.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Kyle Pitts Sr. (ATL TE), our TE10 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season at TB, projecting 6.2 projected points with a spicy Pepper Meter rating. Sally wants fireworks, and 0.8 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. He's still in 59% of lineups at 83% rostered, which is exactly the trap I'm trying to talk you out of. Nothing in the projection defends him — 11% below positional par is a bench line for me. The Pepper Meter cools him to Spicy, and that reading is doing its job.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Hunter Henry (NE TE), our TE11 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season at MIA, projecting 5.9 projected points with a spicy Pepper Meter rating. Sally's honest about it: 1.1 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. He grades 16% below the average weekly TE number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. MIA is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. Spicy on the Pepper Meter is generous, honestly.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Dallas Goedert (PHI TE), our TE12 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season at WSH, projecting 5.8 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally wants fireworks, and 1.2 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. Facing WSH away from home, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. He's still in 55% of lineups at 85% rostered, which is exactly the trap I'm trying to talk you out of. Sally keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE TE), our TE13 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season at PIT, projecting 5.6 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally's honest about it: 1.4 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. PIT is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. He's still in 56% of lineups at 85% rostered, which is exactly the trap I'm trying to talk you out of. Sally keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Dalton Kincaid (BUF TE), our TE14 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs BAL, projecting 5.6 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally wants fireworks, and 1.4 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. The vs BAL draw matters here — home snaps against BAL shape how often he's asked to do something. 17% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Sally keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Chig Okonkwo (WSH TE), our TE15 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs PHI, projecting 5.4 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally's honest about it: 1.6 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. PHI is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. Roster share is moving +4.2% week over week, so the rest of the country is catching up. Only 9% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. Sally keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Mark Andrews (BAL TE), our TE16 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season at BUF, projecting 5.3 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally's honest about it: 1.7 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. 28% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. He grades 24% below the average weekly TE number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. The Pepper Meter cools him to Mild, and that reading is doing its job.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Pat Freiermuth (PIT TE), our TE17 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs CLE, projecting 5.2 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally wants fireworks, and 1.8 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. The vs CLE draw matters here — home snaps against CLE shape how often he's asked to do something. Roster share is bleeding 5.5% this week, which lines up with what the projection already told me. Only 55% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. Sally keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Colby Parkinson (LAR TE), our TE18 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs LAC, projecting 5.0 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally wants fireworks, and 2 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. Only 7% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. 5 points is roughly 29% short of the TE baseline, and I rank on output, not name recognition. The Pepper Meter cools him to Mild, and that reading is doing its job.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Greg Dulcich (MIA TE), our TE19 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs NE, projecting 5.0 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally's honest about it: 2 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. NE is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. Only 1% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. Sally keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks AJ Barner (SEA TE), our TE20 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs CHI, projecting 4.8 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally wants fireworks, and 2.2 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. The vs CHI draw matters here — home snaps against CHI shape how often he's asked to do something. 2% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Sally keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Mason Taylor (NYJ TE), our TE21 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs LV, projecting 4.7 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally wants fireworks, and 2.3 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. Nothing in the projection defends him — 33% below positional par is a bench line for me. The vs LV draw matters here — home snaps against LV shape how often he's asked to do something. Mild on the Pepper Meter is generous, honestly.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Eli Raridon (NE TE), our TE22 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season at MIA, projecting 4.4 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally's honest about it: 2.6 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. MIA is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. He grades 37% below the average weekly TE number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. Mild on the Pepper Meter is generous, honestly.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Michael Mayer (LV TE), our TE23 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season at NYJ, projecting 4.1 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally's honest about it: 2.9 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. He's being dropped at a 2.3% clip, and I don't think the market is wrong about it. 10% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. The projection sits about 41% under what a startable TE returns, so I can't pretend the price tag matches the output. The Pepper Meter cools him to Mild, and that reading is doing its job.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Cade Otton (TB TE), our TE24 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs ATL, projecting 4.1 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally wants fireworks, and 2.9 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. The vs ATL draw matters here — home snaps against ATL shape how often he's asked to do something. 1% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Sally keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Mike Gesicki (CIN TE), our TE25 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs TEN, projecting 4.0 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally's honest about it: 3 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. He grades 43% below the average weekly TE number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. TEN is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. Mild on the Pepper Meter is generous, honestly.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Darnell Washington (PIT TE), our TE26 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs CLE, projecting 4.0 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally's honest about it: 3 points under the starter line isn't the ceiling she chases. He grades 43% below the average weekly TE number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. CLE is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. Mild on the Pepper Meter is generous, honestly.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Tyler Higbee (LAR TE), our TE27 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs LAC, projecting 3.9 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally wants fireworks, and 3.1 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. Roster share is bleeding 5.8% this week, which lines up with what the projection already told me. 7% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. 3.9 points is roughly 44% short of the TE baseline, and I rank on output, not name recognition. The Pepper Meter cools him to Mild, and that reading is doing its job.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Darren Waller (CAR TE), our TE28 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season at GB, projecting 3.5 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally wants fireworks, and 3.5 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. 3.5 points is roughly 50% short of the TE baseline, and I rank on output, not name recognition. Facing GB away from home, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. Mild on the Pepper Meter is generous, honestly.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Evan Engram (DEN TE), our TE29 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs KC, projecting 3.2 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally wants fireworks, and 3.8 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. 3.2 points is roughly 54% short of the TE baseline, and I rank on output, not name recognition. Facing KC in front of his own crowd, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. Mild on the Pepper Meter is generous, honestly.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.

Peppers & Picks ranks Jake Ferguson (DAL TE), our TE30 this week for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season vs ARI, projecting 3.1 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. Sally wants fireworks, and 3.9 points below a typical starter isn't fireworks. Roster share is bleeding 2.5% this week, which lines up with what the projection already told me. 16% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. 3.1 points is roughly 56% short of the TE baseline, and I rank on output, not name recognition. The Pepper Meter cools him to Mild, and that reading is doing its job.

Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data. Stats and injury designations as of Oct 28, 7:59 AM ET — statuses change fast, verify before kickoff.