It’s time for Week 8 weekend action in the NFL, and we get respite from bye weeks. All 32 teams are in action, before the byes resume in Week 9.
The overseas games in the United Kingdom are in the rear-view mirror, although there is one more international game in Germany in November. So, enjoy sleeping in on Sunday for the first time since Week 5.
We’re finally starting to get some big-time fantasy options back from longer-term injuries. The Los Angeles Rams welcomed back WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua on Thursday night in Minnesota. On Sunday, Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor could potentially return to action, and Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is trending toward a return, too. The latter has a ton of fantasy ramifications, especially for WRs Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who pine for the days of having an NFL-caliber QB under center.
We also saw WR DeAndre Hopkins dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs, making WR Calvin Ridley and his fantasy managers super jealous.
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@danieledobish), or check out our start/bench list for Week 8:
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: It takes a little bit of a leap of faith to start Cousins in Week 8. While, yes, he has completed 66.9% of his pass attempts. However, he has managed 241 or fewer passing yards in six of his seven starts, while going for one or no touchdown passes in five of those outings. However, his best performance, by far, came in Week 5 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, throwing for 509 yards and four touchdowns, with a season-high 8.8 average yards per pass. The Bucs allow the second-most fantasy points to opposing QBs, so it should be another strong showing for Cousins.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers at Jacksonville Jaguars: Love has managed just one 300-yard passing performance in five starts this season, but that could change against a leaky pass defense of the Jaguars. He also has managed three or more touchdown strikes in three of the past four outings, with multiple TD throws in each of his five outings. You have to expect miscues as Love has eight picks, or 1.6 interceptions per game, but fantasy managers can look past that with three or more TDs and a healthy amount of yardage.
Sit ‘Em
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons: Mayfield has managed 300 or more yards in each of the past two games, and three of the previous four outings. However, the lone exception in the past four games was a 180-yard effort in Atlanta on Thursday Night Football in Week 5. In addition, Mayfield lost WR Chris Godwin — the NFL’s league leader in receptions — to a season-ending ankle injury last time out. WR Mike Evans also left last Sunday’s game due to a hamstring injury, and he’ll be sidelined until at least Week 11. With Evans and Godwin on the shelf, Mayfield’s top targets figure to be TE Cade Otton, rookie WR Jalen McMillan, and RB Rachaad White. That’s a big difference from Evans and Godwin.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals at Miami Dolphins: Murray has a ton of flash, and he is a tremendous runner. However, his overall statistics are very mediocre. He has passed for more than 214 yards just once this season, and he has exactly one touchdown throw in six of his seven games. His best effort came in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Rams, when he had 266 passing yards, three touchdown throws, and 59 rushing yards. While Murray has ran for a pair of scores in the past three games, that’s not enough to justify his starting most weeks. And, the Dolphins allow the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, so there’s that.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em
J.K. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers vs. New Orleans Saints: Dobbins posted 131 or more yards and a touchdown in each of his first two games, and he was looking like an RB1 regardless of fantasy format. However, he has managed 44 or fewer rushing yards in three of the past four games, and Dobbins has scored just one touchdown in the span. So, why start him now? The Saints are among the most giving defenses against opposing tailbacks, allowing the fifth-most points in the NFL with an NFL-high tying nine runs of 20 or more yards.
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers: The Broncos host the lowly Panthers, who have allowed an NFL-high 1,135 rushing yards with 13 touchdowns. The next worst team, the Dallas Cowboys, has allowed 10 scores on the ground. Carolina is allowed 4.7 yards per rushing attempt, too, and the most fantasy points to opposing running backs. Williams will be the next tailback to roll up huge totals on the Panthers, and he is a legit low-end RB1 this week in fantasy leagues of 12 or more teams.
Sit ‘Em
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers at Denver Broncos: On the opposite sideline of Williams, Hubbard faces a tall order. The Broncos allow 4.1 yards per rushing attempt with just four scores through seven games. Denver heads into this one as a double-digit favorite, so it is expected to win by a large margin. Carolina is likely to be in a large hole early, possibly abandoning the run to pass more in an attempt to get back into the game. While Hubbard has a little more appeal in PPR formats in that scenario, he is still a risky play against a sturdy Broncos D.
Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans at Detroit Lions: Pollard has posted some pretty decent numbers for a back on a terrible team. The 27-year-old had 88 or more rushing yards with at least one rushing touchdown in Weeks 5 and 6. However, he had just 3.8 yards per rushing attempt last week in Buffalo, grinding out 61 yards on 16 attempts. Pollard is in the same boat at Hubbard, as his team is a double-digit underdog, and the Titans are likely to be on the short end of a lopsided score. Tennessee should abandon the early, too, and he isn’t very consistent catching the ball out of the backfield.
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins vs. Arizona Cardinals: Normally, this would be a no-brainer, but Hill managed just a single catch for eight yards last week on two targets. Cheetah can’t touch the ball in a game just two times, but the quarterback turnstile with QBs Tim Boyle, Tyler Huntley and Skylar Thompson has crushed his fantasy production. However, QB Tua Tagovailoa is trending toward a return from concussion. Hill’s fantasy managers didn’t know how much they’d miss Tua until he was gone.
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers at Jacksonville Jaguars: This advice comes with a disclaimer. He has been nursing an ankle injury, so there is a small chance he is not at 100%. But, with a super favorable matchup, he is likely to do whatever he can to play. The Jaguars allow the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts, with 30 pass plays of 20 or more yards, which is second-most in the NFL. The Jags have coughed up 8.7 yards per target (YPT), too. If Reed cannot go, Romeo Doubs would be a top-tier fantasy option, with Dontayvion Wicks and Christian Watson being WR3 or flex options.
Sit ‘Em
DeAndre Hopkins, Kansas City at Las Vegas Raiders: We’ve seen a lot of wide receiver movement leading up to the NFL trade deadline. Buffalo’s Amari Cooper had a successful debut last week, while Davante Adams of the New York Jets didn’t do much. Hopkins is likely to be a lot closer to Adams than Cooper, and it’s a matchup issue. The Raiders are actually pretty decent against the pass, allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wideouts. He might have a handful of targets, which will be day and night from his final days in Nashville, but it won’t be nearly enough.
Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders vs. Chicago Bears: McLaurin has been one of the most productive fantasy options in the past five weeks, going for 27 catches, 52 or more receiving yards and four touchdowns. Scary Terry faces a tough matchup against Chicago, though, a team that has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. The Bears have allowed just six pass plays of 20 or more yards, and two pass plays of 40 or more yards, too.
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em
Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs: The rookie has emerged as a top-tier TE1 despite the fact Las Vegas has had a shaky quarterback situation. Bowers has eight or more catches and 71 or more receiving yards in each of the past three games. There are no signs of him slowing down, either, as the Chiefs allowing more fantasy points than any other team to opposing tight ends.
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens: If you were concerned about the fact QB Jameis Winston is starting for Cleveland due to the season-ending injury to QB Deshaun Watson, let’s allay those fears. First off, Njoku rolled up 10 receptions for 76 yards and a touchdown on 14 targets last week against Cincinnati. And, that TD came with Winston under center late in the fourth quarter. The Ravens allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends, and Chiefs should have another strong stat line.
Sit ‘Em
Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions vs. Tennessee Titans: LaPorta hasn’t exploded for the giant stat lines that he did in his rookie campaign in 2023. He hasn’t been nearly as effective, going for 53 or fewer yards in each game, and he has just one score. The Titans allow the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends, and they’ve allowed just 31 receptions to the position with only two touchdowns.
Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals at Miami Dolphins: McBride has managed at least five receptions in five of his six games, and 51 or more receiving yards in three straight outings. However, facing the Dolphins is a tough matchup as Miami has allowed the fewest amount of fantasy points to opposing tight ends. In fact, the Dolphins have allowed just one TD to the position all season, and he has no scores. He is a risky fantasy option.
