Making lineup decisions can be the most frustrating or rewarding part of fantasy football. Here to help you make those decisions are our positional start ’em and sit ’em picks.
Fantasy decisions will only get more difficult from here on out, so let’s look at our Week 8 start/sit plays for the QB position.
Which QBs Should You Start in Fantasy This Week?
Jared Goff, 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.
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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.”
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.
Which QBs Should You Sit in Fantasy This Week?
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (vs. CLE)
The good news is the Seahawks are home. The bad news is they play the Browns. And it’s not as if Geno Smith has been particularly productive this season.
Smith has just one QB1 performance all season. That came back in Week 2 against the Lions’ pass-funnel defense.
This week, Smith gets a Browns defense allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to QBs. Teams throw for just 170 yards against them.
Getting DK Metcalf back will certainly help, but Smith does not look like a strong start this week. He is best left on fantasy benches.
Trending Searches for QB Start/Sit
Did you know that we have a Start/Sit Optimizer here at Pro Football Network?! It’s completely free to use, allowing you to enter up to six players to find the best option to plug into your starting lineup!
It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, which we’ve jotted some of them down here to help provide some clarity on!
Should You Start Jared Goff or Joe Burrow?
When I put this one into the Start/Sit Optimizer, I was half expecting it to spit out Joe Burrow. Fortunately, it’s too smart for that.
Burrow may have the name value, but he also has just one QB1 performance all season. That came in Week 5 against the Cardinals.
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By all accounts, Burrow is the healthiest he’s been all season. He’s been getting better after each game and just had two full weeks of rest, courtesy of the Bengals’ bye.
While I’m expecting a strong second half for Burrow, there has not been a better QB in fantasy this season than Home Goff. He gets the edge here.
Should You Start Jordan Love or Matthew Stafford?
Hopefully, in a week where no teams are on bye, fantasy managers have better options than these two. Jordan Love has played exceptionally poor football for the past month or so but has found a way to post respectable fantasy numbers.
Meanwhile, Matthew Stafford is like a poor man’s Trevor Lawrence. You know you’re never getting a big game, but you’re also never getting an outright disaster. Stafford has somehow scored between 13.46 and 17.16 fantasy points in every game this season.
Even against a tough Cowboys defense, Stafford is the safer bet. However, there is no real upside. Love has a low floor, but the Vikings are a pass-funnel defense. That gives him a higher ceiling. Since I’m all about chasing upside, I would go Love, which is exactly what the Start/Sit Optimizer says to do.
Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!