Week 8 Start or Sit

Start 'em Bo Nix (DEN, QB)
Bo Nix produced one of the wildest comebacks of the year in Week 7, erasing a 19-0 deficit to beat the Giants 33-32 with four fourth-quarter touchdowns (two passing, two rushing) - the first player in NFL history to record that combination in a single quarter. He's gone three straight games without a turnover, and although his overall numbers lag his rookie season, this game could kickstart an upswing. With a favorable home matchup in Week 8 against the Cowboys' league-worst pass defense in fantasy points allowed, Nix looks like a strong top-five QB play.

Start 'em Daniel Jones (IND, QB)
Daniel Jones has multiple touchdown passes in five of seven starts for the Colts, with one of his rare down outings coming in the 41-20 Week 3 trip to Tennessee when Indy leaned on the run. While a lopsided matchup could limit his passing volume if the Colts jump out early, his rushing upside and a strong home scoring average (about 25.9 fantasy points) make him a reliable start - he's only fallen below 20.7 fantasy points twice, both on the road. Facing a Titans unit that has allowed more rushing scores than passing and could be missing key defenders like Jeffrey Simmons or L'Jarius Sneed, Jones has the upside for a big game similar to other QBs who have thrived against Tennessee.

Start 'em Rachaad White (TB, RB)
With Bucky Irving ruled out for Week 8, Rachaad White is set to handle the bulk of Tampa Bay's backfield work in New Orleans. He produced a modest line last week (10 carries for 38 yards, 4 catches for 6 yards) but has logged at least 14 touches in each of the three games Irving missed and posted multiple starts with 17.6+ PPR. The Saints have been vulnerable to rushers (e.g., D'Andre Swift's 19-124 and Kyle Monangai's 13-81 in Week 7) and rank near the top in fantasy points allowed to running backs, so White profiles as a Week 8 RB2 with clear top-10 upside and should rebound from his 8.4 PPR outing in Detroit.

Start 'em Jaylen Warren (PIT, RB)
Jaylen Warren has solidified his hold on Pittsburgh's backfield, topping 20 touches again in Week 7 and ripping off 127 rushing yards on 16 carries while catching four passes for 31 yards. That performance produced a season-high 19.8 PPR and continued a steady run of production (at least 13.1 PPR in four of five games). He faces a tough Week 8 matchup against a Green Bay defense that has been stingy to opposing running backs, but the Packers have still surrendered a fair number of receptions to RBs. With a clear role and involvement in the passing game, Warren projects as a viable RB2 or FLEX despite the difficult matchup.

Start 'em Chris Olave (NO, WR)
Chris Olave enters Week 8 riding momentum after consecutive 98-yard performances, including a five-catch, two-touchdown outing in Week 7, and he's clearly developing chemistry with young QB Spencer Rattler. Facing a Tampa Bay secondary that's been only average against wideouts and has recently given up big games to opposing No. 1 receivers, Olave projects as a safe start with clear upside. Over his last two games he's totaled 11 catches for 196 yards and two scores on 17 targets, and he looks capable of delivering another top-10 fantasy outing this week.

Start 'em Wan'Dale Robinson (NYG, WR)
With Malik Nabers out, Wan'Dale Robinson has become a go-to option for the Giants, posting back-to-back games of six catches and at least 84 yards (including the earlier upset of Philly) and logging seven or more targets in three straight contests. Heading into the Week 8 rematch in Philadelphia - after New York's surprising 34-17 win - Robinson's growing connection with Jaxson Dart, combined with the Eagles allowing 221.3 passing yards per game (while surrendering just seven passing TDs), makes him an intriguing fantasy play.

Start 'em Cade Otton (TB, TE)
Cade Otton projects to remain a primary target for Tampa Bay at New Orleans in Week 8 after a standout outing in Detroit. He led the Bucs with seven catches for 65 yards on nine targets in Week 7 and has been targeted 20 times over the last three games as Tampa's receiving room deals with injuries. With Mike Evans (collarbone) and Chris Godwin (leg) sidelined, Otton should be the team's second-most targeted pass-catcher behind Emeka Egbuka against a Saints defense that's been roughly average versus fantasy tight ends. Given his three straight games of at least 10.1 PPR points and a recent knack for scoring vs. New Orleans, he's in position for a top-10 TE outing in Week 8.

Start 'em Dallas Goedert (PHI, TE)
Goedert was subdued in Week 7 with just three catches for 18 yards, but after a 9-catch, 110-yard, one-touchdown outing in Week 6 against the Giants - whose pass defense has surrendered 245.3 yards per game - he looks set to bounce back in the Eagles' Week 8 rematch as Philadelphia's aerial attack gains traction. Meanwhile, Pitts hauled in seven passes for 62 yards on 10 targets in Week 7 at San Francisco and has posted at least 13.2 PPR points in two of his last three games; with Miami having already allowed four tight ends to reach 11.5+ PPR this year, Pitts projects as a viable low-end No. 1 fantasy option.

Start 'em Indianapolis Colts (IND, DEF)
Tennessee is the league's biggest giver of fantasy points to opposing defenses, and Indianapolis' unit already dominated them in Week 3 - a defensive touchdown, four sacks, an interception and only 20 points allowed. I have the Colts DST ranked No. 1 for Week 8, and in the rematch they should be set for another commanding performance.

Start 'em Evan McPherson (CIN, K)
Evan McPherson has quietly benefited from Joe Flacco's arrival in Cincinnati: after one field-goal attempt in each of the first five games, he totaled seven attempts across Flacco's two starts in Weeks 6–7. He's a perfect 9-for-9 from inside 50 yards and delivered a big Week 7 (4 FGs, 3 PATs), including a game-winning 36-yarder with 10 seconds left. With the Bengals' offense clicking and the Jets ranked second in fantasy points allowed to kickers - six different kickers have already made at least two FGs on them - McPherson is a viable Week 8 streaming option with top-10 upside.

Sit 'em Tua Tagovailoa (MIA, QB)
Tua Tagovailoa and Miami's offense are out of rhythm heading into Week 8 at Atlanta. After a 100-yard game in Week 7, he's now posted four outings under 200 passing and a 1:6 TD-to-INT mark over his last two starts (six INTs and 305 yards combined against the Chargers and Browns), leaving him precariously close to a benching. That slump meets a stingy Falcons unit that hasn't allowed a 200-yard passer all year, has blanked three of six opposing QBs for touchdowns, and is holding quarterbacks to just 141.2 yards and 15.9 fantasy points per game, so Tua is best considered only in Superflex or two-QB formats this week.

Sit 'em C.J. Stroud (HOU, QB)
Stroud looked like he was building momentum before Houston's bye, but Week 7 was a step back: he finished with just 15.7 fantasy points, absorbed multiple sacks and hits, and lost WR Nico Collins to a concussion. If Collins is still sidelined for Week 8, Stroud's ability to move the ball through the air will be severely diminished - even against a 49ers defense that's been more vulnerable to the pass - making him nothing more than a deep‑league streaming option while many teams are on bye.

Sit 'em Tony Pollard (TEN, RB)
Tony Pollard's workload has been limited to about a dozen touches in each of the last two games as Tyjae Spears has re-entered the mix. Although he remains Tennessee's lead back, the 1-6 Titans could be forced into a pass-heavy script early on the road against a 6-1 Colts team that thumped them 41-20 in Week 3. Pollard still offers flex upside after solid outings this season - including a Week 3 TD and 13.9 PPR versus Indianapolis and 12.1 PPR with six catches in Week 7 - but his value is shrinking due to the split with Spears and the Colts' stout rush defense (No. 4 in fewest RB fantasy points allowed), so he's best used as a flex in most leagues.

Sit 'em Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS, RB)
After being held to just 33 yards on 13 carries in Week 7, Croskey-Merritt enters Monday night as part of a timeshare and with only a 3.1-yard average over his last two games. His Week 5 explosion (27 PPR) feels like an outlier - he's totaled only 10 PPR points in the two outings since - so he's just a risky flex against Kansas City. The Chiefs are among the league's tougher defenses for running backs (No. 7 in fewest RB fantasy points allowed) and haven't allowed an RB score in three straight games; add the possibility Marcus Mariota starts and the threat of an early deficit, and the rookie could see his opportunities evaporate.

Sit 'em Jerry Jeudy (CLE, WR)
Jerry Jeudy's struggles continued in Week 7, as poor game flow and bad weather limited him to two catches on four targets for 17 yards in Cleveland's win. He hasn't topped 50 receiving yards in five straight games and has just 74 yards across Dillon Gabriel's three starts; Jeudy has also scored 9.3 PPR points or fewer in six straight games and remains without a touchdown. A Week 8 matchup with New England - which ranks 22nd in fantasy points allowed to WRs (27.6) - isn't intimidating, but Jeudy is best treated as a bench stash rather than a reliable starter until he develops a better connection with Gabriel and his production steadies.

Sit 'em D.J. Moore (CHI, WR)
Heading to Baltimore in Week 8 after a 26–14 win over New Orleans in which he caught three of five targets for 43 yards and added a 9‑yard rush, DJ Moore remains a boom-or-bust option. He hasn't topped 50 receiving yards since Week 1, has one touchdown on the season and has produced 8.2 PPR points or fewer in three straight games, largely because Chicago's conservative game plans and Caleb Williams' growing pains have limited downfield looks. Still, Moore's big-play ability makes him a threat against a Ravens defense that has been generous to opposing receivers, projecting him as a WR2/WR3 with upside if the Bears are forced to open the offense, while Rome Odunze stays the safer play.

Sit 'em Zach Ertz (WAS, TE)
Zach Ertz led Washington in targets last week and scored his second straight touchdown, finishing with three catches for 37 yards while playing through a shoulder issue and with the team's top three wideouts sidelined. He now has four TDs on the season, but Jayden Daniels exited with a hamstring injury and could miss Week 8, raising the possibility Marcus Mariota will take over - a scenario that hasn't been kind to Ertz (five catches, 59 yards, no scores in two Mariota starts). That's a tough draw against a Chiefs defense that is one of the league's best against the pass and has allowed only one tight end touchdown all year. Despite a productive two-game stretch (9 catches, 80 yards, 2 TDs on 13 targets), Ertz is best treated as a deep-league start this week, especially if Deebo Samuel or Terry McLaurin return.

Sit 'em T.J. Hockenson (MIN, TE)
T.J. Hockenson and the Vikings head to Los Angeles for Thursday Night Football in Week 8 after a Week 7 loss in which he caught six of nine targets for 43 yards, almost exclusively in the short and intermediate game. That usage fits what Carson Wentz is likely to do on a short week - quick throws to avoid pressure and keep drives moving. The Chargers allowed four catches for 69 yards and a score to Tyler Warren in Week 7, and if they shade coverage toward Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, Hockenson should continue to scoop up underneath looks (he reached a season-high nine targets last week). Still, he hasn't topped 50 receiving yards this year and faces a unit that holds tight ends to just 38.7 yards per game, making him a low-end TE1 with a solid PPR floor and some touchdown upside if red-zone touches come his way.

Sit 'em Chicago Bears (CHI, DEF)
The Bears had a sweet matchup in Week 7 against the Saints - New Orleans yielded four sacks, three interceptions and one fumble while scoring just 14 points. That said, Chicago faces a tougher challenge if Lamar Jackson (hamstring) returns for the Ravens. With Jackson at full strength Baltimore has put up 30+ points in each of his three full games and totaled only two turnovers, so this could be a rough week for the Bears' defense.

Sit 'em Matt Gay (WAS, K)
Matt Gay's production has cooled - he didn't attempt a field goal in Week 7 and has only one made FG across his last two games - and Washington's injury-plagued offense, plus uncertainty at quarterback with Jayden Daniels' hamstring (Marcus Mariota likely to start), reduces scoring chances. Facing a Chiefs defense that has been stingy against kickers, this matchup looks risky for Gay in Week 8. I'd bench him in most fantasy formats.