Everett Cook, USA TODAY Mon, October 26, 2026 at 8:10 PM UTC · 5 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An underrated skill in fantasy football is being able to ruthlessly self-scout your own teams. Nothing can sink a contending team faster than shipping off its only depth, while nothing can ensure a last-place team finishes in last than sitting pat and just hoping things get better.
Before Week 8, look at your team's schedule, the schedules of the other teams around you in the standings and your last 3-5 weeks of scoring position by position. Feel confident in a playoff berth? Spend all your fantasy time buying low on a future contributor. If you take a hard look and realize the goal is going to be to try to not get last, you need to sell your one or two stars high for multiple starters in return. Heading into November, there are few other paths. Waiting around doesn't help.
Reminder that the Saints , Giants , 49ers and Texans are on bye this week. Here are 10 fantasy football trade targets for Week 8:
Tyler Shough of the New Orleans Saints is tackled at the goal line by Jamel Dean of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the NFL game between Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints at Stade de France on Oct. 25, 2026 in Paris, France. (Franco Arland, Getty Images) A general view of Stade de France Stadium prior to an NFL game between Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints on Oct. 25, 2026 in Paris. (Kirby Lee, Imagn Images) Pittsburgh Steelers' US cornerback #35 Jamel Dean during (R) tackles New Orleans Saints' US wide receiver / return specialist #19 Barion Brown during the NFL Paris Game American football match between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris on Oct. 25, 2026, the first-ever regular-season NFL game to be played in France. (FRANCK FIFE, AFP via Getty Images) Pittsburgh Steelers' US Wide receiver #04 DK Metcalf (L) jumps to catch the ball past New Orleans Saints' US safety #23 Julian Blackmon during the NFL Paris Game American football match between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris on Oct. 25, 2026, the first-ever regular-season NFL game to be played in France. (FRANCK FIFE, AFP via Getty Images) New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) is sacked by Chicago Bears linebacker D'Marco Jackson (48) and cornerback Clark Phillips III (20) at Soldier Field on Oct. 22, 2026 in Chicago, Ill. (Matt Marton, Imagn Images) D'Andre Swift #4 of the Chicago Bears scores a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the first quarter of the game at Soldier Field on Oct. 22, 2026 in Chicago, Ill. (Michael Reaves, Getty Images) 1 / 6 NFL Week 7 highlights, standout performances and reactions Tyler Shough of the New Orleans Saints is tackled at the goal line by Jamel Dean of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the NFL game between Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints at Stade de France on Oct. 25, 2026 in Paris, France. (Franco Arland, Getty Images) 1 / 6 NFL Week 7 highlights, standout performances and reactions Tyler Shough of the New Orleans Saints is tackled at the goal line by Jamel Dean of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the NFL game between Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints at Stade de France on Oct. 25, 2026 in Paris, France. (Franco Arland, Getty Images) 2 / 6 NFL Week 7 highlights, standout performances and reactions A general view of Stade de France Stadium prior to an NFL game between Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints on Oct. 25, 2026 in Paris. (Kirby Lee, Imagn Images) 3 / 6 NFL Week 7 highlights, standout performances and reactions Pittsburgh Steelers' US cornerback #35 Jamel Dean during (R) tackles New Orleans Saints' US wide receiver / return specialist #19 Barion Brown during the NFL Paris Game American football match between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris on Oct. 25, 2026, the first-ever regular-season NFL game to be played in France. (FRANCK FIFE, AFP via Getty Images) 4 / 6 NFL Week 7 highlights, standout performances and reactions Pittsburgh Steelers' US Wide receiver #04 DK Metcalf (L) jumps to catch the ball past New Orleans Saints' US safety #23 Julian Blackmon during the NFL Paris Game American football match between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris on Oct. 25, 2026, the first-ever regular-season NFL game to be played in France. (FRANCK FIFE, AFP via Getty Images) 5 / 6 NFL Week 7 highlights, standout performances and reactions New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye (10) is sacked by Chicago Bears linebacker D'Marco Jackson (48) and cornerback Clark Phillips III (20) at Soldier Field on Oct. 22, 2026 in Chicago, Ill. (Matt Marton, Imagn Images) 6 / 6 NFL Week 7 highlights, standout performances and reactions D'Andre Swift #4 of the Chicago Bears scores a touchdown against the New England Patriots during the first quarter of the game at Soldier Field on Oct. 22, 2026 in Chicago, Ill. (Michael Reaves, Getty Images) Week 8 fantasy football players to buy RB Tony Pollard, Titans We'll start with an obvious one, as Pollard just ripped off three touchdowns and 129 rushing yards for his best game of the 2026 season against the Browns . But in the prior six games, he had scored one total touchdown without topping 80 rushing yards in a single contest. The current Pollard manager might think that they are selling high. So if you explore this, it's a bet on the Titans trading Pollard to a contender at some point over the next two weeks.
Wilson was a buy last week and I'm not budging in Week 8 despite the emergence of rookie Omar Cooper Jr. and the consistent incompetence that is the New York Jets. Wilson is one of the best WRs in the league and if someone is selling for less than WR1 prices, you should pounce before his next five against the Raiders , Chiefs, Bills , Chargers and Dolphins .
The 2025 fourth round pick was invisible as a rookie but has looked promising in 2026, and just pulled in 56 yards on three catches while being inches away from a touchdown in Week 7. Someone has to play wide receiver for San Francisco, right?
It seems like Los Angeles is going to lean into its tight end room while Davante Adams is out. Even though Davis Allen caught two touchdowns in Week 7, Higbee leads Rams tight ends in snaps and routes and should be cheap to acquire. They also have the Chargers, Commanders and Cardinals over the next three weeks.
I can't believe I'm typing this, and this is only a bet you make if you can get Herbert back essentially for free ... but he could've worked on things over the Chargers' bye and be playable in Week 8 against the Rams. If the offense sputters again, offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is almost definitely getting fired, which could be good for Herbert. So this could be the last buy low window – if that even exists – this year. But again, only if you can buy for pennies.
I always like trying to buy unproven players coming out of the bye. The rookie should be Jayden Daniels' No. 2 option in the passing game behind veteran Stefon Diggs, who has already missed time this year, and Washington's defense looks like it's going to keep giving up a lot of points.
Week 5: The mascot of the Arizona Cardinals, Big Red, performs before the game against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen, Getty Images) Week 5: New England Patriots cheerleaders perform during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 5: San Francisco 49ers fans cheer as Brock Purdy #13 leaves the field after defeating the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) Week 5: A Seattle Seahawks fan cheers during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) Week 5: Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson does a Lambeau Leap after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Bears, 31-7 . (Sarah Kloepping, Green Bay Press-Gazette) Week 5: Fans look on from the stands during the game between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The game ended in a 27-27 tie . (Patrick Smith, Getty Images) Week 5: The mascot of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jaxson de Ville, performs before the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The Jaguars won the game, 19-17 . (Nathan Ray Seebeck, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 5: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform before the "Thursday Night Football" game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on October 8, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins, Getty Images) Week 5: Singer and songwriter Lainey Wilson dances with members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders before the "Thursday Night Football" game between the Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. (Ron Jenkins, Getty Images) Week 4: The San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush cheerleaders take the field before a game against the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium. (Darren Yamashita, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 4: Seattle Seahawks fans hold cutouts of quarterback Sam Darnold prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Lumen Field. (Joe Nicholson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 4: Houston Texans mascot Toro and Superfan pose for a photo prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium. (Thomas Shea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 4: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders perform before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Raymond James Stadium. (Jonathan Dyer, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 4: A young fan of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before the start of the game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium. (Tommy Gilligan, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 4: Washington Commanders mascot Major Tuddy holds a camera during the second quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. (Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) Week 3: Denver Broncos cheerleaders perform during the "Sunday Night Football" game against the Los Angeles Rams at Empower Field at Mile High.
Week 3: The Maracanã Stadium gets set to host the International Series game between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Week 3: Corgi dog competitions take place during halftime of the game between the Detroit Lions and New York Jets at Ford Field.
Week 3: A fan looks on during warmups prior to the game between the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
Week 2: Singer Taylor Swift watches the game between the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Week 2: The Canadian and U.S. anthems are sung during a pregame ceremony before the "Thursday Night Football" game between Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills at new Highmark Stadium.
Week 1: Singer Taylor Swift and actor Tom Cruise attend the "Monday Night Football" game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.
Week 1: Fans arrive ahead of the NFL game between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (in Melbourne, Australia. The 49ers won the first NFL game played in Australia, 27-7 .
Week 1: Kim Thayil of Soundgarden and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam perform during halftime of the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at Lumen Field.
1 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: The mascot of the Arizona Cardinals, Big Red, performs before the game against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen, Getty Images) 1 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: The mascot of the Arizona Cardinals, Big Red, performs before the game against the Detroit Lions at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. (Christian Petersen, Getty Images) 2 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: New England Patriots cheerleaders perform during the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Gillette Stadium. (David Butler II, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 3 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: San Francisco 49ers fans cheer as Brock Purdy #13 leaves the field after defeating the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) 4 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: A Seattle Seahawks fan cheers during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field on October 11, 2026 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers, Getty Images) 5 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: Green Bay Packers wide receiver Christian Watson does a Lambeau Leap after scoring a touchdown against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. The Packers defeated the Bears, 31-7 . (Sarah Kloepping, Green Bay Press-Gazette) 6 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: Fans look on from the stands during the game between the New York Giants and Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. The game ended in a 27-27 tie . (Patrick Smith, Getty Images) 7 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: The mascot of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jaxson de Ville, performs before the game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The Jaguars won the game, 19-17 . (Nathan Ray Seebeck, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 8 / 37 NFL Week 5 highlights, standout performances and reactions Week 5: The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders perform before the "Thursday Night Football" game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on October 8, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Ron Jenkins, Getty Images) 9 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 5: Singer and songwriter Lainey Wilson dances with members of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders before the "Thursday Night Football" game between the Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. (Ron Jenkins, Getty Images) 10 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 4: The San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush cheerleaders take the field before a game against the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium. (Darren Yamashita, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 11 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 4: Seattle Seahawks fans hold cutouts of quarterback Sam Darnold prior to the game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Lumen Field. (Joe Nicholson, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 12 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 4: Houston Texans mascot Toro and Superfan pose for a photo prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Reliant Stadium. (Thomas Shea, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 13 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 4: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleaders perform before the game against the Green Bay Packers at Raymond James Stadium. (Jonathan Dyer, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 14 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 4: A young fan of the Baltimore Ravens looks on before the start of the game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium. (Tommy Gilligan, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 15 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 4: Washington Commanders mascot Major Tuddy holds a camera during the second quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. (Kirby Lee, IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect) 16 / 37 Cheerleaders, celebrities, fans and mascots at NFL games during 2026 season Week 3: Denver Broncos cheerleaders perform during the "Sunday Night Football" game against the Los Angeles Rams at Empower Field at Mile High.
Week 3: The Maracanã Stadium gets set to host the International Series game between the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Week 3: Corgi dog competitions take place during halftime of the game between the Detroit Lions and New York Jets at Ford Field.
Week 3: A fan looks on during warmups prior to the game between the Cleveland Browns and Carolina Panthers at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio.
Week 2: Singer Taylor Swift watches the game between the Indianapolis Colts and Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
Week 2: The Canadian and U.S. anthems are sung during a pregame ceremony before the "Thursday Night Football" game between Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills at new Highmark Stadium.
Week 1: Singer Taylor Swift and actor Tom Cruise attend the "Monday Night Football" game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos at Arrowhead Stadium.
Week 1: Fans arrive ahead of the NFL game between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (in Melbourne, Australia. The 49ers won the first NFL game played in Australia, 27-7 .
Week 1: Kim Thayil of Soundgarden and Mike McCready of Pearl Jam perform during halftime of the 2026 NFL Kickoff Game between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots at Lumen Field.
More: 32 things we learned in NFL Week 7: As trade deadline nears, so do showcase opportunities
The second-year wideout is outplaying his ADP, but the former Texas Longhorn also leads the NFL in drops and has turned 69 targets into just 34 catches. Over the last four games of the fantasy season, when it's, wait for it, colder than it is in October, Green Bay plays three home games and at Chicago. Two of those games are at night. Let someone else bet that Golden's hands get better as the weather gets worse.
It's always nice to make a bye week someone else's problem, but even if the Giants were playing in Week 8, it would be a good time to sell Skattebo. He put his head down for 124 rushing yards and a touchdown in a win against the Texans and also pulled up early on a long run in OT with a hamstring injury . A report on Monday, Oct. 26 said that the second-year RB avoided a major injury , but Skattebo isn't exactly a picture of health. You can let another manager handle the ups and downs.
Hand up – Marks led the buy list in both Week 6 and Week 7 , so I'm not rushing to make this move. But Marks scored under 10 fantasy points in each of the last two weeks, David Montgomery could be returning soon and Houston is officially much better at throwing the ball than running it. Marks should be a good flex option the rest of the season, so only sell if you're getting a return of a RB2 or better.
Shough is easy to root for and plays hard. However, he also has broken bones in his non-throwing hand and then banged up the throwing one in the Saints' loss to the Steelers in Paris . New Orleans is 2-5 and a person who throws a football can only sustain so many hand injuries.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football buy, sell: 10 trade candidates for Week 8
Source: Sports
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