As I’ve mentioned with the other positions, this is a heavy bye week, and we are without luxury of playing some decent wide receivers, along with elite options like Odell Beckham and Antonio Brown. We are also without Jarvis Landry, Sterling Shepard, Kenny Britt and Mike Wallace. Also, let me mention one thing. Do not panic about DeAndre Hopkins yet. He has 27 targets over the past two weeks and there is a concentrated effort within the offense to get the ball into his hands. Brock Osweiler can’t play any worse than he is now and looking long term, Hopkins has excellent matchups for the stretch run of the season. Fantasy playoffs are usually Week 15 and 16, and from Weeks 12 to 16, Nuk gets to face the Chargers, Packers, Colts and Jaguars. He’s going to be fine.

Here are the top 5 wide receivers for Week 8.

Mike Evans vs. OAK

Evans is a monster out in Tampa Bay and no receiver is even threating his workload. His 75 targets are just one behind league leaders Antonio Brown and T.Y. Hilton, while his six touchdowns are tied with Michael Crabtree for most in the league. Oakland has handed out fantasy points in bunches to opposing receivers thus far, so there’s no reason why Evans shouldn’t be a top five receiver this weekend.

Julio Jones vs. GB

Jones’ 830 receiving yards and 16 receptions over 20 yards lead the league through the first seven weeks of the season. Green Bay has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers this season and unfortunately for them, that secondary still isn’t healthy for a matchup against Jones. Expect WR1 numbers from Jones this week, especially in a matchup where Atlanta will rely heavily on the aerial assault.

DeAndre Hopkins vs. DET

Yes, Brock Osweiler has played like shit this season, but if there is a time to get right, it’s here against a Detroit defense that has allowed nine touchdowns to opposing wide receivers. Will Fuller is there to get some targets, but Osweiler continues to get Hopkins plenty of looks. Hopkins has received 27 targets over the past two weeks and this Detroit defense simply can’t contain the elite talent that Hopkins possesses.

Jordy Nelson @ ATL

Nelson was lost in the shuffles last week, but Aaron Rodgers won’t let that happen two weeks in a row. Nelson is a deep threat who gets to go up against an Atlanta Falcons defense that has allowed 26 passes to go for more than 20 yards. The Falcons haven’t allowed a touchdown to an opposing wide receiver in two weeks, but that will change in Week 8, and I expect Nelson to be the recipient of one of Rodgers’ multiple touchdowns.

Brandon Marshall @ CLE

Only four teams are allowing more fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers than the Cleveland Browns. Also, Cleveland has been able to keep games somewhat close, so Marshall should be able to give you four quarters of production on Sunday. Marshall has struggled of late, but since Week 4, Marshall is receiving just under 30 percent of the targets. He’s a WR1 this week.

Be sure to check the rest of the NFL Week 8 Fantasy Football Player Rankings here at Fantasy Alarm.