Fantasy football advice, Week 8: Who to start/sit for Buccaneers vs. Falcons

There’s a big gap in the NFC South, with the 6-0 Carolina Panthers and the 6-1 Atlanta Falcons sitting separate from the 3-4 New Orleans Saints and the 2-4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Sunday, the Buccaneers have the chance to close that gap or see it widen, as they face the Falcons in a divisional game.

The Buccaneers will be without wide receiver Vincent Jackson (knee) Sunday. Tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins has been limited in practice as he attempts to get over a shoulder problem that has held him out since Week 2. It looks like he’s trending toward returning Sunday, though it’s not yet confirmed. For the Falcons, wide receiver Leonard Hankerson is likely to miss Sunday’s game with a hamstring issue, though that too has yet to be confirmed.

The Falcons will host the Buccaneers Sunday, with game time scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Let’s take a look at the fantasy names to consider:

Start ‘em: With 22.7 fantasy points per game in his last three, Doug Martin has made himself back into a must-start. ... With Vincent Jackson out, Mike Evans should dominate targets. He’s an easy must-start.

Start ‘em?: Even with Martin producing well, Charles Sims had had 11-plus fantasy points in three of his last four, averaging 9.3 per game in that time. Assuming Austin Seferian-Jenkins returns Sunday, he’ll get a lot of looks. He has crazy upside, but the injury could limit him. ... Connor Barth has been a monster since being re-signed as the team’s kicker.

Sit ‘em: We haven’t seen an outright disaster fantasy game from Jameis Winston so far, but he also hasn’t really shown the No. 1 overall pick promise. Right now, he’s just a guy. ... The Buccaneers’ defense has been so-so, but against the Atlanta offense, best to avoid the unit.

Start ‘em: There’s not much to say about Devonta Freeman or Julio Jones at this point other than “use them.” ... The Falcons’ defense has put up 10-plus fantasy points in three of his last four, and gets a sub-par Tampa Bay offense this week.

Start ‘em?: At a glance, Sunday’s matchup looks good for Matt Ryan. But he’s averaged only 12 fantasy points a game over the last month, and even if he does well Sunday, they might get an early lead and turn to the run for much of the game. Ryan’s a QB2. ... In a world where tight ends have zero-point downsides, Jacob Tamme is usually reliable for at least three or four points, which has some value.

Sit ‘em: There will be a career for Tevin Coleman down the road, but not with Freeman performing like he is. ... Roddy White could benefit from Leonard Hankerson’s likely absence, but there are only so many targets available behind Jones. ... Matt Bryant has yet to see his fantasy performance rise all year. His season line goes 17-7-7-6-6-3-3.

Start in every league: Doug Martin, Mike Evans, Devonta Freeman, Julio Jones, Atlanta defense
Start if you’re desperate: Charles Sims, Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Connor Barth, Matt Ryan, Jacob Tamme
Bench: Jameis Winston, Tampa Bay defense, Tevin Coleman, Roddy White, Matt Bryant