Making lineup decisions can be the most frustrating or most rewarding part of fantasy football. Here to help you make those decisions are our start ’em and sit ’em picks. Lineup decisions are crucial as fantasy managers make that playoff push. Let’s take a look at our early Week 8 start/sit plays.
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Start ‘Em Picks for Week 8
Jared Goff, QB, Detroit Lions (vs. LV)
Last week, Jared Goff had his worst performance of the season. He threw for 280 yards but failed to throw a touchdown for the first time all season. He scored just 10.2 fantasy points.
Fantasy managers who roster Goff need not concern themselves with any of that, though. Last week was “Road Goff.” We won’t be seeing him this week. Instead, we get “Home Goff.”
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This season, “Road Goff” is averaging 17.5 fantasy points per game and a QB13 ranking. Meanwhile, “Home Goff” is averaging 23.5 ppg and is the overall QB1. Yes, you read that right. “Home Goff” has been the best quarterback in fantasy.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been a run-funnel defense, but that shouldn’t deter you from starting Goff. Coming off their worst loss of the season, the Lions should bounce back at home.
Even if they move the ball mostly on the ground, there should be plenty of opportunities for Goff to throw touchdowns. “Home Goff” has thrown at least two in 14 of his last 16 starts. Fire him up as a mid-level QB1.
Dameon Pierce, RB, Houston Texans (vs. CAR)
This guy has been on my sell list since about Week 3 or 4. My hope for those of you who were unable to move him is that I’m right about what he can do this week, which will reopen the window.
Dameon Pierce has been one of the worst picks you could’ve made in the fourth or fifth round. He’s averaging just 8.6 ppg and is outside the top 36 running backs.
The Houston Texans’ back is averaging a paltry 2.9 yards per carry. The key to him maintaining any semblance of value was his volume. At the very least, he was handling the bulk of the touches.
Well, two weeks ago, before the Texans bye, Pierce played just 33% of the snaps. He was outsnapped and outplayed by fellow Texans rusher Devin Singletary.
It’s entirely possible that Pierce has just lost his job or that this is now just a timeshare. Even so, the matchup this week is worth chasing.
The Panthers allow the second most points per game to running backs — they’re surrendering 1.8 touchdowns per game to the position. Only the Denver Broncos allow a worse yards-per-attempt than the Carolina Panthers’ 5.3. If Pierce can’t at least post RB2 numbers this week, it’s over for him.
Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers (at HOU)
For the other start’em of the week, we’re sticking with this game. With starter Miles Sanders out, Chuba Hubbard played 77% of the snaps in Week 6. His 16.0 fantasy points were just 1.2 short of Sanders’ best performance all season.
More importantly, Hubbard just looks like the better back. He’s averaging 4.48 yards per carry against Sanders’ 3.11. He creates more yards per touch and evades more tackles per touch, as well.
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Sanders was never a special player, but neither was Hubbard. Still, he’s the guy playing better now. Even if Sanders returns this week, as expected, I’m not so sure he’s getting the lead job back.
The Texans currently allow the ninth-most points per game to running backs. They also have seen 16% of their receiving yards allowed go to running backs. That’s slightly below average, which is good for Hubbard, who is a better receiver than Sanders.
If you have Hubbard and are scared of Sanders returning, don’t be. Hubbard is the better player and is still worth a start.
Marquise Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals (vs. BAL)
For most start’em and sit’em plays, it’s just playing matchups with good players that aren’t auto-starts every week. Sometimes, I go a little outside the box, though.
The Baltimore Ravens are not an easy matchup. They’re allowing the 10th-fewest points per game to wide receivers. Most interestingly, teams target the WR position a lot against them, doing so 66.5% of the time, which is the fifth most in the league.
However, just 66.7% of their receiving yards allowed go to WRs, which is in the bottom half of the league. The Ravens’ 9.9 yards per route run allowed is the lowest in the league.
So, why would you want to start Marquise Brown? I love a good revenge game.
Not only did Brown leave the Ravens, but he did so on not-so-great terms. There was at least a little animosity over the offense and the way he was used. You can bet he wants to show his former team just who he is.
Additionally, it helps that Brown is also good at football and has a great role. His 27.5% target share is elite. After scoring an incredibly consistent 16.1-17.4 fantasy points from Weeks 2-6, Brown disappointed with 7.4 and 7.9 points the past two weeks. Still, he’s seen 18 targets over that span.
The volume is there, the talent is there, and the motivation is there. I’m expecting a big game from “Hollywood” this week.
Garrett Wilson, WR, New York Jets (at NYG)
For all the concerns over Garrett Wilson without QB Aaron Rodgers, he’s been doing alright. He no longer has elite WR1 upside, but at 13.5 points per game, he’s been a good WR2.
Relative value matters a ton in fantasy. Yes, Wilson is a bust relative to his ADP, but he hasn’t been so bad that he’s unstartable. He’s still a weekly WR2. You can be disappointed at his production while simultaneously understanding he’s still a weekly fantasy starter.
Over his last three games, he’s shown signs of life. Wilson saw a whopping 33 targets over that span. He posted games of 15.0, 8.4, and 17.0 fantasy points without a touchdown.
I’m banking on the Jets using the bye week to figure out more ways to get Wilson the ball. This offense needs to run through him and RB Breece Hall.
The New York Giants are a decidedly average matchup for WRs, ranking in the middle of the pack in points per game allowed. Wilson remains the only game in town at wide receiver for the Jets. Fire him up in the Battle of the Meadowlands.
Jake Ferguson, TE, Dallas Cowboys (vs. LAR)
It remains rough out there at the tight-end position. Jake Ferguson has garnered just four total targets in his last two games.
But the Cowboys are coming off the bye with an extra week to prepare for the Los Angeles Rams. How have the Rams been beaten all season? The tight end.
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This season, only the Texans have surrendered a higher percentage of their receiving yards allowed to the tight end position than the Rams’ 28.3%. They are allowing the eighth-most points per game to the position.
Ferguson may have done a whole lot of nothing against the Los Angeles Chargers, but he played 86% of the snaps. He’s out there, and he’s running routes. The Rams are vulnerable against the TE, so Ferguson is a nice start this week.
Sit ‘Em Picks for Week 8
Deshaun Watson, QB, Cleveland Browns (at SEA)
It’s easy to pick on Deshaun Watson after you would have been better off starting yourself at QB last week. This is less about the matchup and more about Watson’s talent. Simply put, it’s gone.
I had a loose policy before the season (and for years) — don’t draft players who miss a year of football due to non-injury reasons. I didn’t draft Watson anywhere, but in one league, he was dropped early in the season, and I was struggling at QB (still am!), so I picked him up.
While Watson was injured, I was able to stash him. But then last week, even when he was healthy enough to return in a favorable matchup, I just dropped him. Why? He’s no longer a quality NFL starting QB.
The Seattle Seahawks are a pass-funnel defense. In theory, he should be able to throw on them. They’re allowing the 11th-most fantasy points per game to QBs, but the player matters. Watson is not a viable fantasy starter. Put him on the bench.
Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers (vs. MIN)
In Week 1, Aaron Jones looked like his usual, explosive self. He looked like one of the best picks you could’ve made in the third round. Then, he pulled up lame on a touchdown reception.
Jones’ hamstring strain lingered for nearly two months. It cost him three full games. And if we’re being truthful, it’s really cost him five games overall.
Seven weeks later, Jones is still not right. At this point, fantasy managers cannot trust Jones until he proves he’s back. At 29 years old, there’s a non-zero chance it’s over for him, which would be very unfortunate because it’s not due to declining ability but rather health.
The Minnesota Vikings have surprisingly been one of the best run defenses in the league. They’ve allowed the fifth-fewest points per game to running backs.
Even after facing the San Francisco 49ers and RB Christian McCaffrey last week, they’re still the third-toughest team for running backs out of the backfield. Just 8.3% of Minnesota’s receiving yards allowed have gone to running backs. That’s bad news for Jones, who ran fewer routes than fellow Packers RB AJ Dillon last week.
Fantasy managers can’t really do anything with Jones to make the situation better. You can’t trade him, and you can’t drop him. You just have to bench him and hope he shows signs of life.
Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Washington Commanders (vs. PHI)
For where he was drafted, Brian Robinson Jr. has been of tremendous value this season. He’s averaging 13.6 points per game and is a solid RB2. He’s also entirely touchdown-dependent.
Robinson has scored six times this season, which is awesome. It’s also inflating his perceived performance. As is his 28.9-point explosion against the hapless Broncos in Week 2.
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Outside of that game, Robinson hasn’t topped 13.6 fantasy points, which, coincidentally, is his average on the season. The only games he got there were the ones in which he scored.
Well, the Philadelphia Eagles don’t really like when running backs score — or really do anything against them. They are the top run defense in fantasy, allowing the fewest points per game to the position. They’re allowing just 0.3 rushing scores per game. Only the Seahawks allow a lower yards per carry than the Eagles’ 3.3.
This is shaping up to be a bad week for “BRob.” Last week, he scored a menial 8.3 fantasy points with a touchdown. I am terrified to think of what his line might look like without one this week. Sit him.
Calvin Ridley, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (at PIT)
It was admittedly a challenge to find wide receivers to sit this week. There are so many talented guys with good matchups. When all else fails, there’s always Calvin Ridley.
In my QB section, I mentioned my policy on not drafting players who miss a year of football due to non-injury reasons. That applies to Ridley, too.
Ridley supporters may point to Weeks 1 and 5 as evidence Ridley is still a top-tier player. We’ve seen far, far worse players pop off for a big game or two. What the evidence actually shows is a 28-year-old WR who hasn’t played football for nearly two years and hasn’t been good in three, struggling to get open.
Yes, we all saw Ridley make an over-the-shoulder circus catch that was ruled out of bounds but probably should’ve been overturned. That looks cool, but maybe stop to think why it’s necessary. Ridley cannot separate — at all. As a result, he cannot command targets.
Ridley currently has a 20.2% target share. That is three percentage points behind the Jaguars’ true WR1, Christian Kirk.
The former Atlanta Falcon has scored 7.0 fantasy points or fewer in four of his seven games this season. The only reason it isn’t five is because one of his whopping two targets in Week 4 went for a touchdown.
It is very difficult to bench a guy you drafted in the third round. It’s also Week 8. We know who Ridley is, and that’s not a guy who is anything more than a rotation WR3 at the NFL level anymore. On your fantasy team, he belongs on the bench.
Kendrick Bourne, WR, New England Patriots (at MIA)
We just saw the Miami Dolphins get absolutely torched by Eagles WR A.J. Brown on Sunday night. Due to that performance, they are now allowing the ninth-most points per game to wide receivers. In theory, this isn’t a bad matchup for the WRs of a team likely to be trailing and throwing. I just can’t buy into Kendrick Bourne suddenly being a weekly starter.
Bourne seemingly does this every year. He posts a big game, and fantasy managers rush to pick him up. They start him the next week, and he disappears. After a few weeks, Bourne gets dropped, and the cycle repeats.
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Well, last week, Bourne actually broke it. He followed up a 10-89 effort with 6-63-1. If you chased his Week 6 production, you were rewarded. I say take the production and run. I just don’t think Bourne can do it again.
The Patriots just played the best game of their season last week in an upset win over the Buffalo Bills. Meanwhile, the Dolphins never really had a chance against the Eagles. Look for the Dolphins to bounce back and completely shut down the Patriots.
Prior to Week 6, Bourne had scored between 5.6 and 8.6 fantasy points in four straight games. This one is admittedly more narrative-based than stats-based, but I think Bourne goes back to being a random WR4/5 in Week 8.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons (at TEN)
It’s a challenge to recommend sit’em options at tight end because outside of five or six guys, every TE can reasonably be benched. Since Kyle Pitts still carries name value, he seems like a good choice.
Throughout Pitts’ surge in Weeks 5 and 6, I was cautioning fantasy managers that it was just a blip and not a sign of any sort of leap in performance. Sure enough, Pitts’ 15.7 and 14.3 fantasy points in those two weeks look like the outlier. In his other five games, his best effort is 8.7 points.
The most concerning part isn’t even Pitts’ raw fantasy output. Rather, it’s his volume. After seeing 11 targets in Week 5, Pitts has seen 10 combined over his last two games.
Pitts’ 18.9% target share isn’t terrible, but remember it’s in a low-volume passing offense. He’s gone over 50 receiving yards just once all season.
The Tennessee Titans have been a pass-funnel defense, but they are good at defending the tight end. They’re allowing 8.9 points per game to the position, which is the eighth-fewest in the league. Fantasy managers should not rush to put Pitts in Week 8 lineups.