After an entertaining Thursday night contest, it’s time to prepare for a weekend full of tough decisions as fantasy football managers stare down their lineups awaiting the slate of games in Week 8.
Fortunately, there are no teams on a bye in Week 8, which makes start/sit decisions a bit easier. Still, there are plenty of injuries and trends taking place to factor into the decision-making process.
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, (@KevinHickey11) or check out our start/bench list for Week 8:
Quarterback
Start ‘Em
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts
Despite having just one game with multiple passing touchdowns, Carr has three outings with at least 300 passing yards. Two of them have come in the last two weeks. There’s a good chance he will hit that mark again as the Colts have allowed the 13th-most fantasy points per game (15.9) to quarterbacks this season. As a whole, the Colts defense is allowing the third-most points per game (27.3), so the Saints should have the ability to score.
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams
Prescott finally flashed some upside right before the Week 7 bye when he finished as the QB1 overall with his best game of the season. Coming out of the bye week, we shouldn’t expect another performance like that, but he has top-12 value this week taking on a Rams defense that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game (17.3) to quarterbacks over the last five weeks.
Desmond Ridder, Atlanta Falcons at Tennessee Titans
This matchup may not be fruitful for fantasy points. The betting total for this game is 35.5 points, which is the lowest of the week. The Titans are trotting out a combination of Will Levis and Malik Willis so it would not be a surprise at all to see Arthur Smith ground and pound his way to a low-scoring win. On top of that, the Titans defense has allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points per game (13.4) to quarterbacks over the last five weeks.
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks vs. Cleveland Browns
The Browns surprisingly allowed Gardner Minshew to throw for two touchdowns and add two more on the ground in Week 7, but we shouldn’t expect that to be the norm. Smith has just one result as a QB1 this season and hasn’t finished higher than QB16 in a week since Week 3. It’s best to fade Smith this week considering his low upside.
Running Back
Start ‘Em
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens at Arizona Cardinals
Though we’d like to see a higher snap share, Edwards has been dominating the carries on the ground over the last three weeks with a 68.9% running back rush share. The matchup this week should give Edwards fringe RB2 value as the Cardinals have allowed the fourth-most PPR points per game (27.6) and 4.8 yards per carry to running backs over the last five weeks.
Roschon Johnson and D’Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Chargers
Typically, we want to avoid split backfields, especially when it isn’t clear what that split will look like. But both Johnson and Foreman provide flex value in this matchup. Johnson should walk right into a solid receiving role as he’s practiced all week coming off a concussion, while Foreman has dominated on the ground during his two spot starts. The Chargers have allowed the sixth-most PPR points per game (24.4) to running backs over the last five weeks.
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers
The struggle has been real for Pierce this season. Even though we listed Devin Singletary as a sleeper, the former could provide some flex value in a pinch. I’d prefer not to start Pierce if possible, but not all managers have that luxury. The Panthers have allowed the second-most PPR points per game (34.7) and rushing touchdowns (seven) to running backs over the last five weeks, so there is some upside here for those who can stomach it.
Sit ‘Em
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts vs. New Orleans Saints
Currently second in the NFL in rushing yards, that ranking won’t last long. His starting role is gone now that Jonathan Taylor is back. While he saw 18 carries in Week 7, that was due to a surprisingly high-scoring game script. The Saints have been stout against the run, allowing the fourth-fewest PPR points per game (14.3) to running backs over the last five weeks, so Taylor is the only Indy back to be started this week.
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Williams has looked great during his return from a quad injury over the last two games, but this is still a three-way committee with Jaleel McLaughlin and Samaje Perine. He has not found the end zone this season, and the Chiefs have allowed the seventh-fewest PPR points per game (15.5) to running backs over the last five weeks.
Washington Commanders RBs vs. Philadelphia Eagles
We may have a full-blown three-way committee on our hands here. Rookie Chris Rodriguez Jr. saw a season-high seven carries in Week 7 while Brian Robinson Jr. had eight, and Antonio Gibson had two. On top of that, the Eagles have allowed the fewest PPR points per game (12.8) to opposing running backs over the last five weeks.
Wide Receiver
Start ‘Em
DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders
Smith has been virtually unusable for fantasy purposes for the better part of the last five weeks. His best finish in that span is WR24, and he’s posted double-digit PPR points just once. It’s a risky play considering his recent production, Smith is a flex option with upside given the pristine matchup against a Commanders defense allowing the ninth-most PPR points per game (38.2) to wideouts over the last five weeks.
Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts vs. New Orleans Saints
The matchup may suggest otherwise, especially with Marshon Lattimore on the other side. But Pittman became a little squeaky after only seeing five targets in Week 7. The Colts offense has maintained its explosiveness thanks to Shane Steichen’s offensive mind, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Pittman saw double-digit targets in this game.
Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
Watson appears to be healthy despite exiting Week 7 late in the fourth quarter. The Vikings have allowed the fourth-most PPR points per game (41.6) to opposing wide receivers over the last five weeks, so his upside as a WR2 is there in this divisional matchup.
Sit ‘Em
DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans vs Atlanta Falcons
Between his streaky production, the struggling offense and now a split at quarterback between Will Levis and Malik Willis, we should run far away from Hopkins as a fantasy asset. Oh, and the Falcons are allowing the eighth-fewest PPR points per game (29.7) to opposing wideouts over the last five weeks.
New York Giants WRs vs. New York Jets
Though Tyrod Taylor is a serviceable backup quarterback, there isn’t much upside here for the Giants wideouts. This game has a low over/under, and the Jets have allowed the fewest PPR points per game (19.5) to wide receivers over the last five weeks. Easy pass.
Marquise Brown, Arizona Cardinals vs. Baltimore Ravens
Despite seeing double-digit targets in four of his last six games, the quality of those targets hasn’t been enough for fantasy production. Brown hasn’t surpassed four receptions in a game since Week 5, and the Ravens defense has allowed the third-fewest PPR points per game (24.7) to wide receivers over the last five weeks.
Tight End
Start ‘Em
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams
Ferguson has seen only four targets over the last two games, but the matchup is too strong to ignore here. The Rams have allowed the second-most PPR points per game (16.8) to tight ends over the last five weeks, making Ferguson an upside option at a thin position.
Darren Waller, New York Giants vs. New York Jets
Managers probably aren’t sweating this decision, but the Giants will be rolling out backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor again. The Jets defense is tough and coming off a bye week, but they’ve allowed the fourth-most PPR points per game (16.5) to the position over the last five weeks.
Sit ‘Em
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns at Seattle Seahawks
It’s disconcerting enough that Deshaun Watson suffered a setback with his shoulder injury. Another week of PJ Walker is enough to warrant sitting Njoku. Add in the fact that the Seahawks have allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points per game (7.4) over the last five weeks, and the decision becomes necessary.
Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Thomas has given managers some viable weeks and is coming off a solid game, but he shouldn’t be considered in this tough matchup. The Eagles have allowed the fewest PPR points per game (5.7) to tight ends over the last five weeks.
