Welcome to bye week hell. With six teams on bye, fantasy owners are left in a bind for Week 8, as the options to keep lineups across the spectrum competitive have dwindled. It would be nice to reassure fantasy owners that it only gets better going forward, except Week 9 will have six more teams taking their bye weeks. Fun times.
Fantasy football advice, Week 8: who to start/sit for New York Jets vs. Cleveland Browns
Dan Ciarrocchi reviews who should be in fantasy lineups or on benches for a matchup between two teams attempting to right their ships.
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In the meantime, fantasy owners can look at each game to see who can be a capable fill-in while their studs are sidelined, starting with the Jets and Browns.
New York Jets
Start ‘em
The Jets’ once deep group of pass catchers dwindled quickly, and Brandon Marshall remains a target monster that could lay waste to a miserable Browns defense, despite Ryan Fitzpatrick’s struggles. Marshall is an every-week WR2 and has considerable upside in an exploitable Week 8 matchup. Running back Matt Forte can also be started after the veteran ran roughshod over a stout Ravens front seven in Week 7.
Start ‘em?
Quincy Enunwa has been lost in the shuffle despite a strong start to the season, but he has a great matchup since the Browns have struggled to contain slot receivers. Enunwa is worth a dart throw in deeper leagues, and fantasy owners in a bind from byes could bank on worse than Enunwa’s upside.
Sit ‘em
Bilal Powell, Fitzpatrick, and the committee of Robby Anderson and Charone Peake do not need to be considered in fantasy leagues.
Cleveland Browns
Start ‘em
Josh McCown brings an upside to the Browns’ offense that none of the five (!) other quarterbacks on the roster can provide. As a result, Terrelle Pryor and Gary Barnidge need to be in lineups of all formats. It was with McCown at the helm in 2015 when Barnidge rose to TE1 status, and he can be considered to be that once again.
Sit ‘em
The Jets’ run defense reverted to its usual dominant self in Week 7 after David Johnson laid waste to them the week prior. It will likely be tough sledding for Isaiah Crowell, especially if the Browns fall behind early. Duke Johnson deserves starting consideration in PPR formats, but this isn’t a matchup that should have fantasy owners salivating.
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