It’s not easy to know who exactly to draft every single round of your fantasy football draft. The first couple of rounds may be simple to get a sense of who can be there for you every time, but the further you get down the draft board, you may not even recognize some of the names.
We do the research and preparation here at Pro Football Network so you can look like a pro to the rest of your league as you make the sharp selections deep into your fantasy football draft!
With that in mind, here are the top players to target when you’re on the clock in the eighth round of your draft.
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The Top Players To Draft in the Eighth Round
Gabe Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills
Gabe Davis was the center of fantasy football discussions going into last season. Several fantasy managers were massive believers in the talented wideout, while others felt that the hype he was receiving was unwarranted.
Josh Allen and Gabe Davis connected on two LONG touchdowns in a 38-3 win over Pittsburgh.
The Eagles may be 5-0 but are the Bills the best team in the #NFL? #BillsMafia #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/6eYqP4S7Bt
— For Future Considerations (@PodcastFFC) October 10, 2022
If we’re being honest, Davis finished somewhere in the middle last season. He didn’t turn into a massive fantasy superstar, but he also didn’t fail to return value on where he was being drafted.
We saw the big boom performances from him in Buffalo that helped push fantasy lineups over the top to a victory in that certain week, while consistency certainly escaped him over the course of the season.
MORE: PFN Consensus Top 120 WRs To Draft
Heading into 2023, Davis is fully healthy, he’s still the No. 2 WR in this Bills offense, and he’s attached to one of the best QBs in the NFL. The only difference now is that Davis comes at a much greater discount than where he was being drafted in 2022.
At his current price tag, Davis can be added as a Flex option to your roster, which means that you can live with some of the potential inconsistencies. But if he does put it all together this year, he could be a league-winner that you drafted in the eighth round or later.
AJ Dillon, RB, Green Bay Packers
We saw a massive commitment to the run game the last time Matt LaFleur had full control over an offense back in 2018 with the Tennessee Titans. With Derrick Henry, LaFleur was able to control the clock and let his defense rest on the sidelines while his RB handled a massive workload.
As LaFleur landed in Green Bay as the head coach, he wasn’t able to instill his full offensive philosophy as Aaron Rodgers required the ball in his hands versus simply handing it off 25 times per game to the running backs. That’s no longer the case with Rodgers now in New York and Jordan Love commanding this offense.
This means that we could see AJ Dillon be the vessel in which LaFleur controls the clock and takes the pressure off of Love and his defense. We’ve seen Dillon’s talent in the past — especially the ability to punch the ball in at the goal line — and now he has a significant opportunity in front of him.
As an RB3 or RB4 on your roster, due to where he’s going in drafts, Dillon’s a top target for me before the depth dries up quickly.
Khalil Herbert, RB, Chicago Bears
Khalil Herbert showed out last season in this offensive scheme as he ran for nearly six yards per attempt on 129 carries! Herbert was clearly the better fit for this run game than David Montgomery, and as a result, Chicago was comfortable letting Montgomery walk in free agency to let Herbert be the lead option.
Yes, he has his deficiencies in the passing game, and Roschon Johnson should quickly establish himself as the third-down back. However, there’s more than enough rushing volume for Herbert to be a solid RB2 in your lineup on a weekly basis. The best part is, you don’t have to draft him to be that.
Herbert’s going off the board routinely in the back end of the eighth round, while the PFN Consensus Rankings have him nearly 20 spots higher! This signals a massive value in drafts and one that you should pounce on if he’s still available for you.
Who Should You Draft in the Eighth Round in Fantasy Football?
This answer comes completely down to your earlier strategy and how your roster has been constructed. Do you need WR depth? If so, Davis is your selection. Do you need an RB that has more upside? Then, Herbert should be your draft target.
Or do you need a running back that presents a very high floor to offset some uncertainty with your earlier selections? Did you take a swing-for-the-fence with Jonathan Taylor? Pairing him with Dillon is a perfect strategy to offset some of the risk you absorbed earlier on.
Who Should You Draft in Other Rounds?
Want to see what options might be available before or after your pick in other rounds? We have you covered.