**Fantasy Football Week 8: Key Players Face Tough Matchups**

As fantasy football enthusiasts gear up for Week 8, several key players are projected to face challenging matchups that could significantly impact their fantasy output. Let's take a closer look at what to expect.

Veteran quarterback Smith has been a reliable option for fantasy players, currently ranking as the QB7 this season. He notably recorded his first two-passing touchdown game in Week 7 against the Atlanta Falcons, amassing 17.8 fantasy points. Impressively, Smith has achieved 17.8 or more fantasy points in 71.4% of his games this season. However, his performance flounders against stronger defenses; for instance, he logged two interceptions and 12.5 fantasy points two weeks ago against the San Francisco 49ers. Adding to his challenges, Smith is likely to be without top receiver DK Metcalf, who is dealing with a knee injury.

Running back Tony Pollard, coming off a high-hope Week 7, struggled against the Buffalo Bills' defense. Despite the favorable conditions with Tyjae Spears sidelined, Pollard only averaged 3.8 yards per carry and totaled 7.5 half-point PPR fantasy points. He had averaged 17.1 points per game across the previous two weeks, highlighting a drastic fall in performance. With Pollard facing the Detroit Lions, who have held running backs to 15.5 fantasy points per game, the matchup doesn't look favorable. The Lions' defense has been particularly efficient, allowing fewer than 45 rushing yards to running backs in 60% of their games since Week 1.

The Raiders' Alexander Mattison has taken on a more prominent role in their backfield, surpassing Zamir White with 88.5% of the team's backfield rushing attempts against the Los Angeles Rams. Currently, he stands as the RB21 for the year, but Week 8 presents a formidable challenge against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs boast one of the NFL's top defenses, allowing running backs only 12.2 fantasy points per game. With Kansas City having surrendered just two rushing touchdowns this season, Mattison will likely have a tough time breaking through.

Meanwhile, Washington's wide receiver Terry McLaurin has had an impressive season, ranking as the WR13. Over the past five weeks, he has averaged 15.4 fantasy points per game. However, facing the Chicago Bears, who have limited wide receivers to 21.9 fantasy points per game, McLaurin's streak of double-digit fantasy points might be in jeopardy. The Bears' defense has consistently shut down top wide receivers, making this a challenging week for McLaurin.

Diontae Johnson of the Carolina Panthers has experienced fluctuations in his performance. Despite an uptick when Andy Dalton is under center, recent weeks have seen a decline, averaging only 7.8 fantasy points per game over the last three weeks. With the Denver Broncos potentially getting Patrick Surtain II back from a concussion, Johnson could struggle against a defense that has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers in the NFL.

Lastly, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs might face a tough outing against the Las Vegas Raiders, despite the recent addition of DeAndre Hopkins to the Chiefs' roster. Kelce, who is the TE16 for the year, has found it challenging to maintain his production, especially following their bye week. The Raiders have consistently held tight ends to low fantasy points, and with Kelce's recent struggles against Las Vegas, he could be in for another low-scoring game this week.

As Week 8 approaches, fantasy managers will need to carefully evaluate their lineups and consider these tough matchups when setting their rosters.