NFL byes Week 8: Texans, Saints, Giants and 49ers
Four teams are on bye in Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season: the Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. That takes 25 ranked fantasy players off the field, led by Christian McCaffrey (RB4), Chris Olave (WR6) and George Kittle (TE3). Below is every player you lose, by position, and the best ranked replacements outside the usual starter range who do play that week.
Houston Texans
1-4 before Week 8 · back Week 9 @ LAC
8 ranked fantasy players off
New Orleans Saints
1-4 before Week 8 · back Week 9 vs. CLE
6 ranked fantasy players off
New York Giants
3-1-1 before Week 8 · back Week 9 @ PHI
6 ranked fantasy players off
San Francisco 49ers
5-0 before Week 8 · back Week 9 vs. LV
5 ranked fantasy players off
- TE is hit hardest: George Kittle (TE3), Isaiah Likely (TE10) and Juwan Johnson (TE12) are off, 3 of the top 12 at the position.
- The Texans take the most fantasy players with them: 8.
- Four team defenses are off too, so a defense and a kicker may need streaming.
Fantasy players on bye in Week 8 (25)
Each name carries his rest of season rank at his position as of Week 6 and his role over his club's last three games.
Quarterbacks4 off, 2 in the top 12
- QB7
- QB9
- QB13
- QB27
Running backs7 off, 3 in the top 24
- RB4
RB1, 80% of snaps, 14 carries and 4 targets a game
Is Christian McCaffrey playing? - RB18
- RB24
- RB33
- RB38
- RB41
- RB42
Wide receivers10 off, 4 in the top 29
- WR6
- WR9
- WR18
- WR28
- WR46
- WR49
- WR53
- WR63
- WR67
- WR72
Tight ends4 off, 3 in the top 12
- TE3
- TE10
- TE12
- TE15
Kickers and defenses off
- Houston Texans D/STDST
Ka'imi FairbairnK- New Orleans Saints D/STDST
Daniel CarlsonK- New York Giants D/STDST
Dominic ZvadaK- San Francisco 49ers D/STDST
Eddy PineiroK
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Who to start instead in Week 8
The best ranked players past the usual starter range in a 12 team league who play in Week 8. Nobody here is on bye, and anyone listed out or doubtful is left off.
QB replacements, QB13 and down
Ranked on the rest of season QB list as of Week 6; the Week 8 board replaces it once it posts.
- QB14
Kyler MurrayMIN @ DETQB1, 100% of snaps, 4 carries a game
16.5pts a game - QB15
Deshaun WatsonCLE @ PITQB1, 100% of snaps, 7 carries a game
16.4pts a game - QB16
Bo NixDEN vs. KCQB1, 100% of snaps, 3 carries a game
16.3pts a game - QB17
Jordan LoveGB vs. CARQB1, 98% of snaps, 1 carry a game
16.0pts a game
RB replacements, RB25 and down
Ranked on the rest of season RB list as of Week 6; the Week 8 board replaces it once it posts.
- RB25
Rhamondre StevensonNE @ MIARB1, 66% of snaps, 11 carries and 4 targets a game
10.7pts a game - RB26
Tony PollardTEN @ CINRB1, 50% of snaps, 16 carries and 3 targets a game
9.9pts a game - RB27
RB1, 42% of snaps, 13 carries and 2 targets a game
9.6pts a game - RB28
J.K. DobbinsDEN vs. KCRB1, 45% of snaps, 15 carries and 2 targets a game
9.2pts a game - RB29
RJ HarveyDEN vs. KCRB2, 39% of snaps, 4 carries and 6 targets a game
9.1pts a game - RB31
MarShawn LloydGB vs. CARRB1, 44% of snaps, 7 carries and 3 targets a game
8.4pts a game
WR replacements, WR30 and down
Ranked on the rest of season WR list as of Week 6; the Week 8 board replaces it once it posts.
- WR30
Denzel BostonCLE @ PITWR1, 92% of snaps, 6 targets a game
10.5pts a game - WR31
Xavier WorthyKC @ DENWR1, 79% of snaps, 5 targets a game
9.7pts a game - WR32
Khalil ShakirBUF vs. BALWR1, 72% of snaps, 5 targets a game
9.7pts a game - WR33
Courtland SuttonDEN vs. KCWR1, 79% of snaps, 5 targets a game
9.2pts a game - WR34
Romeo DoubsNE @ MIAWR1, 75% of snaps, 5 targets a game
9.2pts a game - WR35
Jakobi MeyersJAX vs. INDWR1, 83% of snaps, 5 targets a game
9.1pts a game
TE replacements, TE13 and down
Ranked on the rest of season TE list as of Week 6; the Week 8 board replaces it once it posts.
- TE13
Hunter HenryNE @ MIATE1, 65% of snaps, 4 targets a game
9.6pts a game - TE14
Colston LovelandCHI @ SEATE1, 84% of snaps, 6 targets a game
9.1pts a game - TE16
Brenton StrangeJAX vs. INDTE1, 82% of snaps, 7 targets a game
8.7pts a game - TE17
Pat FreiermuthPIT vs. CLETE1, 69% of snaps, 5 targets a game
8.2pts a game
More for Week 8
Common questions
Which NFL teams are on bye in Week 8?
The Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers. The fantasy names off include Christian McCaffrey, Chris Olave, George Kittle and Nico Collins.
Who can I start instead in Week 8?
The best ranked players outside the usual starter range who play in Week 8: Kyler Murray (QB14, @ DET), Rhamondre Stevenson (RB25, @ MIA), Denzel Boston (WR30, @ PIT) and Hunter Henry (TE13, @ MIA). Each position's full list is on this page.
By the Parlae deskBye weeks updated Oct 17, 2026 at 9:49 AM ETHow this is builtReport a wrong number