Major RB and WR injuries have Week 8 fantasy start ’em, sit ’em decisions are in flux, and owners are looking for any tips or lineup advice they can get. Fortunately, Sporting News NFL writer Vinnie Iyer is here to help with his potential sleepers and stumblers and NFL DFS picks for the upcoming week.
Just a reminder that the Cowboys and Ravens are on bye this week, so make sure to get those players out of your lineup. Will Fuller (hamstring) and Kerryon Johnson (knee) have already been ruled out, and plenty of other question marks hang over fantasy owners’ heads. Let’s get right to it.
WEEK 8 NON-PPR RANKINGS
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
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Fantasy Football Week 8 Start ‘Em: Quarterbacks
Regular starts
Deshaun Watson, Texans (vs. OAK), Russell Wilson, Seahawks (at ATL), Aaron Rodgers, Packers (at KC), Tom Brady (vs. CLE)
Stronger starts
Kirk Cousins, Vikings (vs. WAS). Revenge game at home for a red-hot quarterback against a team with a pass defense. Fire up him Thursday night.
Jared Goff, Rams (vs. CIN). The Rams can run all over Cincy, but that also will set up good play-action shots and red-zone work to the tight end in what should be a blowout.
Josh Allen, Bills (vs. PHI). He can do the Dak Prescott with some big-play passing and solid rushing against this D.
Matthew Stafford, Lions (vs. NYG). He has great matchups for his wideouts, and their running game limitations are greater now, too.
Jameis Winston, Buccaneers (at TEN). There might be multiple sacks and turnovers that come with this performance, but the Titans have enough problems in the middle of the field in coverage to put something like 350 yards and two TDs.
Ryan Tannehill, Titans (vs. TB). He was solid despite an interception in his first start, and there’s nothing scary about the Bucs and their inability to handle their primary weapons.
DFS bargains
Matt Schaub, Falcons (vs. SEA, $4,700 on DraftKings, $6,600 on FanDuel). If he gets the keys to Matt Ryan’s offense for a week, even without Mohamed Sanu, he can give great ROI in a solid matchup at home.
Derek Carr, Raiders (at HOU, $5,000 on DraftKings, $5,000 on FanDuel). Carr has actually played well on the road this season and even with the Texans getting his former teammate Gareon Conley, he can put up more good stuff in garbage time opposite of Watson.
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Deep streamers
Mason Rudolph, Steelers (vs. MIA), Teddy Bridgewater, Saints (vs. ARI)
WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end
Fantasy Football Week 8 Sit ‘Em: Quarterbacks
Weaker starts
Carson Wentz, Eagles (at BUF). He usually comes through but this might be a week where you pivot off him if you have an alternative with a much better matchup, especially given how he didn’t look so good last week.
Kyler Murray, Cardinals (at NO). He has underwhelmed in his recent road games, and the rookie faces a very confident Saints defense on the road.
Jacoby Brissett, Colts (vs. DEN). The Colts should go back to ball control and running to win here given the Broncos are better against the pass than run.
Philip Rivers, Chargers (at CHI). The Bears’ defense isn’t dominant anymore, but you still can’t trust him here.
Baker Mayfield, Browns (at NE). The Patriots can do to him what they did to Sam Darnold.
Gardner Minshew, Jaguars (vs. NYJ). You should really avoid what could be an ugly defensive duel between Minshew and Darnold.
Deep trap
Daniel Jones, Giants. He’s another rookie you can’t trust on the road, even if the numbers say you might be able to do so.
Week 8 DFS Lineups:
Y! Cash | Y! GPP | FD Cash | FD GPP | DK Cash | DK GPP
Fantasy Football Week 8 Start ‘Em: Running backs
Regular starts
Saquon Barkley, Giants (at DET), Christian McCaffrey, Panthers (at SF), Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (bye), Dalvin Cook, Vikings (vs. WAS), Todd Gurley, Rams (vs. CIN), Nick Chubb, Browns (at NE), Le’Veon Bell, Jets (at JAX), Leonard Fournette, Jaguars (vs. NYJ), Derrick Henry, Titans (vs. TB), Marlon Mack, Colts (vs. DEN), Mark Ingram, Ravens (at SEA), Chris Carson, Seahawks (at ATL), James Conner, Steelers (vs. MIA), Josh Jacobs, Raiders (at HOU), Aaron Jones, Packers (at KC)
Stronger starts
Latavius Murray, Saints (vs. ARI). He was an awesome plug-and-play for Alvin Kamara last week, and there’s good chance New Orleans sits him again going into a bye.
Austin Ekeler, Chargers (at CHI). Melvin Gordon has been terrible back in action and the smart thing would be for them to keep feeding Ekeler as a runner and receiver against a suddenly leaky Bears front seven.
Sony Michel, Patriots (vs. CLE). He wasn’t good beyond his three TDs against the Jets, but those are three good reasons to think he can pop in at least once more on the Browns. James White gets the usual PPR consideration again.
LeSean McCoy, Chiefs (vs. GB). They should lean on him running more again against a bad run defense to help Matt Moore.
David Montgomery, Bears (vs. LAC). They should overcorrect to more power running and more touches for their rookie back overall as the Chargers tend to wilt against that approach.
Joe Mixon, Bengals (at LAR). He had microscopic numbers against the Jaguars, but he should rebound with more volume for a passable yards-from-scrimmage FLEX play in Week 8.
Tevin Coleman, 49ers (vs. CAR). It’s hard to extend to banged-up Matt Breida in another middle-road matchup but the Panthers tend to give up short rushing scores and he can get 70-80 yards with it.
DFS bargains
Ty Johnson, Lions (vs. NYG, $4,900 on DraftKings, $5,200 on FanDuel). He will be filling for Kerryon Johnson with more key volume ahead of J.D. McKissic in a great matchup in a game they should lead. Boom.
Darrell Henderson, Rams (vs. CIN, $4,000 on DraftKings, $5,600 on FanDuel). This tournament pivot should be spelling Gurley again with some stellar supplementary work against an atrocious run defense.
Fantasy Football Week 8 Sit ‘Em: Running backs
Weaker starts
Chase Edmonds and/or David Johnson, Cardinals (at NO). This matchup is pretty brutal and Johnson may not be able to play at all with his various injuries. Edmonds may not get enough in the passing game to make up for little rushing.
Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman, Broncos (at IND). The Colts’ run defense is much better with Darius Leonard cleaning up, especially at home.
Devonta Freeman, Falcons (vs. SEA). You can’t trust him against a tough traditional run defense, even with no Ito Smith.
Adrian Peterson, Redskins (at MIN). Revenge game? Nah. Just an old straight-ahead dude vs. good power run defense. No thanks.
Frank Gore, Bills (vs. PHI). Old straight-ahead dude vs. good power run defense. No thanks.
Jordan Howard and Miles Sanders (at BUF). You can’t count on the big plays and TDs to save their production here.
Ronald Barber and Peyton Jones, Buccaneers (vs. TEN). It’s a horrible matchup, and we might as well mix up their names because neither should be in your lineups, just like Ronde Barber and Peyton Manning.
MORE WEEK 8 DFS: Stacks | Values | Lineup Builder
Fantasy Football Week 8 Start ‘Em: Wide receivers
Regular starts
DeAndre Hopkins, Texans (at IND), Julio Jones, Falcons (vs. LAR), Michael Thomas, Saints (vs. ARI), Odell Beckham Jr., Browns (at NE), Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Buccaneers (at TEN), JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers (vs. MIA), Amari Cooper, Cowboys (bye), Stefon Diggs, Vikings (vs. PHI), Julian Edelman, Patriots vs. CLE), Keenan Allen, Chargers (at CHI), Tyler Lockett, Seahawks (vs. BAL), Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, Rams (vs. CIN), T.Y. Hilton, Colts (vs. DEN), Kenny Golladay, Lions (vs. NYG), D.J. Chark, Jaguars (vs. NYJ), Tyreek Hill, Chiefs (vs. GB)
Stronger starts
Corey Davis, Titans (vs. TB). He smashed with Tannehill in a tough coverage spot and will keep getting nice looks against a weaker secondary.
Terry McLaurin, Redskins (at MIN). The Vikings’ secondary isn’t as scary as you think any more, and Case Keenum should throw enough times in trail mode to give him at least 75 yards and a score.
Courtland Sutton, Broncos (vs. IND). The Colts’ corners are banged up, and he’s been balling.
Allen Robinson, Bears (vs. LAC). We assume Mitchell Trubisky will throw his way enough times to make a tough matchup a good one again.
Marvin Jones, Lions (vs. NYG). We were off on him having the big week instead of Golladay, and that certainly could be flipped to Kenny G this week, but these cornerbacks should be destroyed by both.
DK Metcalf, Seahawks (at ATL). The rookie had a rough game against the Ravens including a lost fumble, but he’ll rebound big-time here as the Falcons cannot stop big or speedy receivers.
Kenny Stills, Texans (vs. OAK). He fills in for Will Fuller and will keep producing in a terrific cornerback matchup opposite ‘Nuk after what Green Bay’s wideouts did downfield.
Dede Westbrook, Jaguars (vs. NYJ). The Jets can’t handle much in the slot, and he’s playing well.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers (at KC). He should be good for a shot play or two against this secondary.
DFS Bargains
John Brown, Bills (vs. PHI, $5,900 on DraftKings, $5,900 on FanDuel). This secondary stinks and the price Is right to come through in another favorable spot.
Golden Tate, Giants (at DET, $5,800 on DraftKings, $6,100 on FanDuel). He’s been Daniel Jones’ main man with Sterling Shepard out.
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (at NO, $5,400 on DraftKings, $5,400 on FanDuel). Fitz has been quiet of late, but the Saints are most vulnerable against big slots.
WEEK 8: Waiver wire | FAAB planner | Trade values | Snap counts
Fantasy Football Week 8 Sit ‘Em: Wide receivers
Weaker starts
Alshon Jeffery, Eagles (at BUF). He can be erased again by Buffalo’s outside defensive backs.
Tyler Boyd, Bengals (at LAR). He has been bad of late, and Jalen Ramsey won’t break him out of his slump.
Calvin Ridley, Falcons (vs. SEA). The Seahawks’ coverage hasn’t been as bad as expected, and Schaub could easily turn this into a big Julio and Hooper game.
D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel, Panthers (at SF). This pass defense is hard to play anyone against.
Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder, Jets (at JAX). This doesn’t seem like a get-well game on the road after a miserable Monday.
Jarvis Landry, Browns (vs. CLE). We’re barely endorsing Odell Beckham Jr., but you have to play him because you invested a high pick in him.
All 49ers (vs. CAR). Just forget about trying anymore with Emmanuel Sanders creating more confusion.
All non-Edelman Patriots (vs. CLE). Now Jakobi Meyers and Phillip Dorsett have company from Mohamed Sanu, too. Avoid this if you can.
All Dolphins (at PIT). You might think about DeVante Parker and Preston Williams in deep desperation, but this one could be ugly all-around with the pass rush killing Fitzmagic.
Fantasy Football Week 8 Start ‘Em: Tight ends
Regular starts
Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs. GB), George Kittle, 49ers (vs. CAR), Zach Ertz, Eagles (at BUF), Austin Hooper, Falcons (vs. SEA), Darren Waller, Raiders (at HOU), Hunter Henry, Chargers (at CHI)
Stronger starts
Evan Engram, Giants (at DET). The chemistry with him and Jones has been off, but the Lions are leaky enough in coverage in the position to think he’ll put together a nice game off reasonable volume.
Vance McDonald, Steelers (vs. MIA). He’s healthy and has a good connection with Rudolph in a great spot.
Jimmy Graham, Packers (at KC). The Chiefs cannot cover him, and his usage and production last week was inspiring.
Darren Fells, Texans (vs. OAK). He’ll need to be used more to help ‘Nuk and Stills with Fuller out, and this is a solid spot.
Jonnu Smith, Titans (vs. TB). He might need to be busy filling in for Delanie Walker (ankle), and the matchup is awesome.
DFS Bargain
Josh Hill, Saints (vs. ARI, $3,200 on DraftKings, $5,000 on FanDuel). The Cardinals didn’t cool off against the tight end last week — it just happened to be Rhett Ellison. The Saints’ tight ends have scored in three straight weeks, and he’s a super cheap in the best possible cheap should Jared Cook (ankle) sit again as expected.
Fantasy Football Week 8 Sit ‘Em: Tight ends
Weaker starts
Eric Ebron, Colts (vs. DEN). The Broncos are tougher on tight ends than you think.
O.J. Howard, Buccaneers (at TEN). The matchup could help him get going post-bye, but watch out for Cameron Brate.
T.J. Hockenson, Lions (vs. NYG). The wideouts have this one covered.
Greg Olsen, Panthers (at SF). Avoid Kyle Allen adjacent plays here.
Dallas Goedert, Eagles (at BUF). Don’t freak out. Ertz will finally get his decent production this week.
Fantasy Football Week 8 Start ‘Em: Defenses
Regular starts
Patriots (vs. CLE), Bears (vs. LAC)
Stronger starts
Steelers (vs. MIA), Vikings (vs. WAS), 49ers (vs. CAR), Rams (vs. CIN), Jaguars (vs. NYJ), Saints (vs. ARI), Titans (vs. TB)
DFS Bargains
Colts (vs. DEN, $2,900 on DraftKings, $4,800 on DraftKings), Lions (vs. NYG, $2,800 on DraftKings, $4,500 on FanDuel)
Fantasy Football Week 8 Sit ‘Em: Defenses
Weaker starts
Packers (at KC), Texans (vs. OAK), Panthers (at SF), Chargers (at CHI), Cardinals (at NO), Chiefs (vs. GB), Broncos (at IND)