StickToTheModel
NFL Players of the Week: Week 8, 2026
One winner at every position, offense and defense, picked from the stat lines that happened. Offense is weighted by EPA, touchdowns and yards; defense by pressures, tackles for loss, takeaways and what a cover man gave up on his targets. Every card names the two who came closest.
Offense
Quarterback of the week
Joe Burrow
QB · CIN · week grade 99
5pass TD
462 yds, 5 TD, 3 INT, 79.2% comp
Also in the running: Patrick Mahomes (KC) 321 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT · week grade 96 · Kirk Cousins (LV) 247 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT · week grade 94
Every QB, season to date →Running back of the week
Bhayshul Tuten
RB · JAX · week grade 99
159scrimmage yds
16 car, 104 rush yds, 1 rush TD, 2 rec, 55 rec yds
Also in the running: Tyler Allgeier (ARI) 11 car, 147 rush yds, 1 rush TD · week grade 96 · D'Andre Swift (CHI) 27 car, 69 rush yds, 3 rush TD · week grade 94
Every RB, season to date →Wide receiver of the week
Tee Higgins
WR · CIN · week grade 99
155rec yds
10 rec, 12 tgt, 155 yds, 2 TD
Also in the running: Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) 11 rec, 16 tgt, 141 yds · week grade 96 · Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA) 6 rec, 11 tgt, 118 yds · week grade 94
Every WR, season to date →Tight end of the week
Brock Bowers
TE · LV · week grade 99
92rec yds
7 rec, 10 tgt, 92 yds, 2 TD
Also in the running: Dalton Kincaid (BUF) 4 rec, 6 tgt, 86 yds · week grade 96 · Trey McBride (ARI) 7 rec, 8 tgt, 72 yds · week grade 94
Every TE, season to date →Defense, week 7
Week 8 defense lands when the advanced stats are in, usually Wednesday.
Edge rusher of the week
Yaya Diaby
OLB · TB · week grade 99
3pressures
3 sacks, 3 QB hits, 3 TFL, 3 tkl, 0 FF
Also in the running: Derick Hall (SEA) 1 sacks, 2 QB hits, 1 TFL · week grade 96 · Boye Mafe (CIN) 1.5 sacks, 2 QB hits, 1 TFL · week grade 94
Every EDGE, season to date →Interior D-line of the week
Adetomiwa Adebawore
DT · IND · week grade 99
3pressures
2 sacks, 2 QB hits, 2 TFL, 5 tkl
Also in the running: Malcolm Roach (DEN) 1 sacks, 4 QB hits, 1 TFL · week grade 96 · Quinnen Williams (DAL) 1 sacks, 1 QB hits, 3 TFL · week grade 94
Every IDL, season to date →Linebacker of the week
Blake Cashman
ILB · MIN · week grade 99
12tackles
2 TFL, 2 sacks, 3 pressures, 0 INT, 4 PBU
Also in the running: Alex Singleton (DEN) 1 TFL, 1 sacks, 2 pressures · week grade 96 · Patrick Queen (PIT) 1 TFL, 1 sacks, 1 pressures · week grade 94
Every LB, season to date →Cornerback of the week
Nohl Williams
CB · KC · week grade 99
10yds allowed
2 tgt, 1 comp allowed, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 9 tkl
Also in the running: Zyon McCollum (TB) 5 tgt, 0 comp allowed, 1 INT · week grade 96 · Denzel Ward (CLE) 6 tgt, 2 comp allowed, 1 INT · week grade 94
Every CB, season to date →Safety of the week
Jessie Bates
SS · ATL · week grade 99
9tackles
1 INT, 2 PBU, 0 TFL, 1 FF
Also in the running: Ty Okada (SEA) 1 INT, 1 PBU, 0 TFL · week grade 96 · Tykee Smith (TB) 1 INT, 1 PBU, 0 TFL · week grade 94
Every S, season to date →More weeks
Fantasy angle on the same week? See the weekly fantasy superlatives. Season to date: the league leaderboards and every player's season grade, career grade and contract.