Week 8 - Players to Start and Sit
Start 'em C.J. Stroud (HOU, QB)C.J. Stroud has certainly impressed many. The rookie is currently the 15th best fantasy QB and he comes into our rankings this week as a potential low-end QB1 facing a Carolina secondary that has given up an average of 25 fantasy points the past two weeks. Stroud threw his first interception last week - a feat most rookies achieve in their first game...
Start 'em Sam Howell (WAS, QB)Sam Howell put up a stinker last week, but he's in a great spot to redeem himself against the Eagles. The Commanders will likely be playing from behind so Howell should have plenty of opportunities to throw. When he faced Philly in Week 4, he put up 19.6 fantasy points. It's not unreasonable to think that he can repeat or at least come close. He's a fringe QB1.
Start 'em Rachaad White (TB, RB)What Rachaad White couldn't accomplish on the ground (13 carries for 34 yards), he was able to make up through the air (6-65). Buffalo has been brutal against the pass, but it's a different story on the ground where they've given up double digits each of their last three games including a monster 36.4 point day to Travis Etienne. Consider White to be a low-end RB2 this week.
Start 'em Kareem Hunt (CLE, RB)We learned this week that Jerome Ford has a low-grade, high-ankle sprain. It wouldn't be a surprise to see Ford sit this one out of caution. Even if he does suit up, Kareem Hunt is in line for a nice RB2 day against a middle-of-the-road Seattle defense that coughed up 17 points to Miles Sanders earlier this year. Hunt should have plenty of touches in this one and should sit atop the depth chart - at least for a week.
Start 'em Jordan Addison (MIN, WR)With Justin Jefferson sidelined, Jordan Addison has had the opportunity to shine...and shine he has! He caught 7 passes last week for 123 yards and 2 scores against a tough 49ers team. His speed and quickness proved elusive. A matchup with division rival Green Bay will present a challenge, but we're confident in Addison's ability to make plays and finish the day as a WR2.
Start 'em Nico Collins (HOU, WR)Nico Collins is not going to be the most consistent player. In fact, we grade his consistency at a "D", but there's little doubt that he's the top option in this offense. Carolina can be thrown on as the Dolphins did in Week 6 (Tyreek Hill 28.3 points / Jaylen Waddle 18.1 points) and the Lions did the week prior (Josh Reynolds ended the day with 17.6 points). Collins will likely be a boom or bust player and we're hoping for a nice boom in Week 8.
Start 'em Darren Waller (NYG, TE)Darren Waller's weekly production looks like the classic rollercoaster with plenty of ups and downs. He may be able to stay atop the coaster this time after a beautiful 7-98-1 statline last week. He also led the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards last week. Now he'll face a Jets team that has surrendered the 3rd-most fantasy points to tight ends on the season.
Start 'em Dallas Goedert (PHI, TE)It was nice to see Dallas Goedert involved early in the game, and it was even nicer to see him in the endzone. The Commanders started out the season locking tight ends down, including Goedert who only had 4.5 points back in Week 4 against them. Over the past three weeks though, Washington has bled fantasy points giving up an average of 17.4 points. Goedert has a nice opportunity to redeem himself this week.
Start 'em Baltimore Ravens (BAL, DEF)Whose turn is it to pick on the Cardinals? Looks like it's Baltimore's turn. With their star running back on I.R. and their star QB still not ready to play, expect lots of pressure on Joshua Dobbs and an inexperienced backfield.
Start 'em Jake Elliott (PHI, K)Jake Elliott has struggled to put up points the past two games (4.5 avg), but he confidently delivered double digits in every game prior. When Elliott faced Washington back in Week 4, he put up a whopping 16 fantasy points. Double digits is certainly attainable here.
Start 'em Baker Mayfield (TB, QB)Despite a plethora of receiving options, Baker Mayfield can be hit or miss for fantasy. He's now thrown an interception in four straight contests. Don't be surprised if he makes it five straight games when the Bucs face the Bills. Only one other team is more stingy with fantasy points to QBs than Buffalo.
Start 'em Geno Smith (SEA, QB)Geno Smith started out solid last week throwing two scores in the first half to Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Jake Bobo. The second half was a different story as the Seahawks struggled. Smith threw and interception near the goal line and then fumbled the ball. He'll need a get-right game, but that's not likely to happen against Cleveland who ranks inside the Top 10 in fewest fantasy points allowed to the position.
Start 'em Darrell Henderson (LAR, RB)There was so much speculation around the Rams backfield going into last week that it was difficult to predict who would emerge. Darrell Henderson was the man (61 yards and a score). We expect Henderson to lead the backfield again this week (with Royce Freeman splitting carries), but the matchup is tough regardless of who starts. The Cowboys defense is giving up the 8th-fewest fantasy points.
Start 'em Zack Moss (IND, RB)As of this writing, Zack Moss has the 5th-most fantasy points out of all running backs thus far this season. While he and Jonathan Taylor each saw 18 carries last week, it was Taylor who found the endzone and all indications are that Taylor will start seeing more of the workload. If Moss' role is reduced, his fantasy relevancy will be as well. A reduced role with a tough matchup (the Saints give up the 2nd-fewest fantasy points) makes Moss nothing more than a flex play...and a risky one at that.
Start 'em Jerry Jeudy (DEN, WR)One positive that we can say about Jerry Jeudy is that he's consistent. He consistently delivers an average of 8.9 points this season, but that's not going to do it when there are no teams on bye. The Chiefs held Keenan Allen to single digits last week, and Jerry Jeudy only managed to put up 4.4 points against them the week prior. This isn't a hard call at all - time to sit Jerry Jeudy.
Sit 'em Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA, WR)It was great to see Jaxon Smith-Njigba find the endzone last week. It was his first career NFL touchdown. With D.K. Metcalf out, some of those targets opened up for JSN and he made the most of it. As of this writing, Metcalf's availability is questionable. What isn't questionable is the matchup. Nobody gives up fewer fantasy points to receivers this year than the Browns leaving JSN as a potential WR3/Flex option at most.
Sit 'em Cole Kmet (CHI, TE)We're a little nervous to start Cole Kmet without Justin Fields as he wasn't even targeted last week in Tyson Bagent's first career start. Kmet's fantasy value is likely intrinsically tied to Justin Fields and his thumb. Without Fields, Kmet is a risky option. With no teams on bye, surely there has to be another option for fantasy managers.
Sit 'em Hunter Henry (NE, TE)Hunter Henry started the season so strong racking up 33.8 points in his first two games. Since then, he's come crashing back down to Earth. He hasn't registered more than two catches or even seen more than three targets in his last three games. In fact, since his hot start, Henry has failed to deliver double digits for fantasy managers. Even in a plus matchup (at least on paper), it's difficult to trust Hunter Henry in our lineups.
Sit 'em Carolina Panthers (CAR, DEF)Who would have thought back in August that the Houston Texans would be sitting at .500 and second only to Jacksonville in the AFC South at the halfway point of the fantasy regular season? Their offense has been more prolific than anyone anticipated. That's not good news for the Carolina Panthers defense. Houston is currently giving up the second-fewest fantasy points.
Sit 'em Brett Maher (LAR, K)Brett Maher is currently the third highest scoring fantasy kicker this season, but you'll have to scroll way down to find him in our rankings this week. Maher faces a tough matchup. The Cowboys have given up the 2nd-fewest fantasy points to kickers this season.
Join the Discussion
If asking a sit/start question, be sure to provide your scoring format and contribute to answering questions from other FN members as well.
RogueRaider CommentedOct 25, 2023 12:49 pm
Well Maher is looking for work so I would agree with the sit!
mrock CommentedOct 27, 2023 12:20 pm
Superflex league. Need help with my 2nd QB. Jordan Love or Kirk Cousins? Thank you gentlemen.
Ed Chan CommentedOct 27, 2023 4:37 pm
Love's matchup against the Vikings' D seems easier, but I'd lean toward Cousins for his volume passing.
Nerd CommentedOct 27, 2023 4:49 pm
Agreed with Ed Chan.
cyberagent CommentedOct 28, 2023 4:09 pm
Cousins
mrock CommentedOct 28, 2023 4:12 pm
Kissing Cousins baby!
mrock CommentedOct 28, 2023 4:14 pm
Thank you gentlemen. I'm going with Cousins.
Ed Chan CommentedOct 27, 2023 4:45 pm
Engram or Schultz this week? The former has been consistent all season albeit with no TDs, while the latter has been consistent the last 3 games with a TD in each game.
Nerd CommentedOct 27, 2023 4:51 pm
Great question. It's close for me, but would stick with Engram. Good luck!
cyberagent CommentedOct 28, 2023 4:09 pm
Engram
mrock CommentedOct 28, 2023 4:12 pm
Evan Engram
jamisdiablo CommentedOct 29, 2023 12:12 pm
engram
The Mormon Battalion CommentedOct 28, 2023 12:38 pm
Wilson or Collins? Foreman or Mattison? Thanks Tons for all you do!
cyberagent CommentedOct 28, 2023 4:09 pm
Wilson and Mattison
mrock CommentedOct 28, 2023 4:13 pm
I assume that is Garrett Wilson. If so, then Wilson.
I like Mattison against the Green Bay front. Roschon is back and will take some of Foreman's carries.
jamisdiablo CommentedOct 29, 2023 12:12 pm
wilson, mattison
Big dak energy CommentedOct 28, 2023 12:53 pm
I don’t have great running backs with Montgomery hurt but should I start Freeman,McLaughlin,sanders or Singletary?need to start 2.any help would be appreciated.
cyberagent CommentedOct 28, 2023 4:10 pm
Sanders and Singletary
mrock CommentedOct 28, 2023 4:13 pm
I think cyberagent is right
jamisdiablo CommentedOct 29, 2023 12:12 pm
sanders and singletary
Geoffrey Favero CommentedOct 28, 2023 2:59 pm
Would you start Henderson, Foreman, or Roschon in #2 RB spot? And between the two remaining of the three, would you put any one of thorn in as a flex over Michael Rhomas? Thanks!
cyberagent CommentedOct 28, 2023 4:11 pm
Still start Foreman. I would put Henderson in at the flex over Thomas.
mrock CommentedOct 28, 2023 4:14 pm
I am going to agree with cyberagent again. Nice.
jamisdiablo CommentedOct 29, 2023 12:13 pm
henderson and foreman
Robsta CommentedOct 29, 2023 7:51 am
Need one in the FLEX:
Ridley, Higgins, Javonte Williams, Waller, M Thomas or D Foreman.
mrock CommentedOct 29, 2023 10:58 am
Williams and Foreman
jamisdiablo CommentedOct 29, 2023 12:13 pm
waller
jamisdiablo CommentedOct 29, 2023 12:11 pm
Full PPR, Scary Terry, RRice or wait on JPalmer? thanks!
Nerd CommentedOct 29, 2023 12:27 pm
It's Halloween weekend - gotta be Scary Terry, right?
Ed Chan CommentedOct 29, 2023 8:00 pm
So it's come down to this: my team is behind 32 points with Jacobs or Meyers to flex in tomorrow's game. Who stands a better chance to get me over the hump in this full PPR league?? I know, I know. Neither one, LOL
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