Fantasy sit-start: Lineup advice on every Week 8 game
Vikings vs. Browns: Start the Vikings defense, who’ve played well this season and get a Browns team going back to DeShone Kizer at QB and missing LT Joe Thomas on a neutral field. Kizer has thrown 11 picks on 179 attempts this season.
Sit all Browns, as they’ve averaged just 14.7 ppg (second lowest in the NFL) and are now without the team’s best player. Even in the deepest leagues it’s hard to see using any Cleveland player at this point.
Bears vs. Saints: Start Zach Miller, who’s scored twice over the last three games, and the Bears aren’t going to be able to hide Mitchell Trubisky as nine-point underdogs in New Orleans.
Start the Saints defense, as the game script with the rookie QB having to throw far more than he has been recently is a recipe for DST success. New Orleans’ defense has played better this season and is the best readily available streaming option in Week 8.
Falcons vs. Jets: Start Mohamed Sanu, who’s averaged nearly eight targets during the four games in which he’s been healthy, including 10 last week. The Jets are still searching for their first sack from their defensive line and have allowed an NFL-high 15 TD passes.
Start Robby Anderson, who’s seen 17 targets over the last two weeks, including three in the red zone. Josh McCown has thrown seven touchdowns over the last three games, and the Falcons rank No. 25 in pass DVOA.
Panthers vs. Buccaneers: Start Devin Funchess, who’s averaged 8.8 targets over the past five games and is up against a Buccaneers secondary that’s yielded the most fantasy points to wide receivers.
Start DeSean Jackson, who’s seeing fewer deep shots but more volume than usual and gets a Carolina defense that’s ceded a 10:1 TD:INT ratio with a 100.4 Passer Rating.
[Week 8 rankings: Overall | PPR | QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | FLEX | DST | Ks]
49ers vs. Eagles: Start Marquise Goodwin, who’s quietly averaged 8.0 targets over the last three games, reaching at least 80 receiving yards in two of them. He’s dirt cheap in DFS and has Olympian sprinter speed and showed good rapport with C.J. Beathard during the rookie QB’s first start last week. Moreover, the Eagles’ main weakness on defense is outside cornerback. Be sure to check on Goodwin’s status, however, as he missed practice time this week with a back issue.
Start Nelson Agholor, who’s at home as 13-point favorites against the 49ers’ funnel defense. Agholor is on pace to record 11 touchdowns this season.
Raiders vs. Bills: Sit Raiders running backs. Both DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard are likely upgrades over the suspended Marshawn Lynch, but the two figure to be in an even timeshare, and Oakland hasn’t run blocked well. Buffalo has allowed just 3.4 YPC this season.
Start LeSean McCoy. Obviously, this is a no-brainer in yearly leagues, but McCoy should be your foundation in DFS this week, as he’s coming off a big game, continues to see a huge workload and gets a struggling Raiders defense traveling across the country to play a 10 a.m. game. McCoy averaged 129.2 yards from scrimmage and scored 11 touchdowns over seven games at home last year.
Colts vs. Bengals: Sit T.Y. Hilton. Again, more of a DFS fade than a true bench recommendation in yearly formats, but Hilton has averaged just 2.3 catches for 35.3 yards (and no scores) on the road this season. The Bengals rank sixth in DVOA against No. 1 wide receivers this year.
Start Joe Mixon, who inexplicably saw zero carries in the second half last week after getting 6.9 YPC in the first. The rookie is primed for a huge breakout this week, as the talent is clearly there, and Cincy is at home and 10-point favorites against a Colts defense that’s allowed the second-most fantasy points to running backs. Mixon remains affordable in DFS, so load up on him before his price inevitably rises.
Chargers vs. Patriots: Start Hunter Henry, who’s finally taking control as San Diego’s clear top tight end, as he’s seen 64 more snaps than Antonio Gates over the last three games, a span in which he’s recorded four 20+ yard catches. Henry leads all tight ends with 10.0 YPT (minimum 30 targets) and faces a New England defense that’s been routinely beaten by the position this season (and will now be without Dont’a Hightower).
Start Chris Hogan, who’s been relatively quiet over the last two games but remains about as good of a bet to score as any wide receiver in the league. His four targets inside the five-yard line rank second in the NFL.
Texans vs. Seahawks: Sit Deshaun Watson. The QB is in the midst of one of the best rookie seasons of all time, but 13 of his 15 TD passes have come at home, and his schedule has been highly favorable. Watson is the real deal, but Seattle remains the toughest place to play in the league by far, and the Seahawks have allowed an NFL-low 5.6 YPA. Treat Watson as more of a QB2 in Week 8.
Start Paul Richardson. This is more of a desperation play with six teams on bye, but Richardson has scored three times over the past five games and gets a banged-up Houston defense that ranks No. 31 in DVOA against No. 2 wide receivers.
Cowboys vs. Washington: Start Jason Witten, who’s been targeted in the red zone in all but one game this season and is up against a Washington defense that’s yielded the third-most fantasy points to tight ends.
Start Josh Doctson, who remains risky given the team’s “hot hand” approach at the “X” receiver position. But he’s slated to start once again over Terrelle Pryor in Week 8 and possesses a low floor/high ceiling against a burnable Dallas defense in a game with this week’s highest Over/Under (49.5 points).
Steelers vs. Lions: Start JuJu Smith-Schuster, who’s going to be given the biggest opportunity of his young career (in fact, he’s the youngest player in the league) with Martavis Bryant slated to be inactive.
Start Marvin Jones, who’s facing a daunting Steelers secondary but should see plenty of targets with Golden Tate playing banged up.
Broncos vs. Chiefs: Start Demaryius Thomas, who hasn’t recorded a touchdown in his past 12 games but should see a bunch of targets with Emmanuel Sanders out and as seven-point underdogs against a Chiefs secondary that was roasted last week and has allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
Sit Alex Smith, who’s had an MVP-caliber season getting 8.7 YPA with a 16:0 TD:turnover ratio but faces a still strong Denver defense in what could easily turn into a low scoring game. The Broncos’ sputtering offense hurts Smith’s Week 8 fantasy outlook, although Denver is more beatable through the air than the ground.
