Fantasy football advice, Week 8: Who to start/sit for Titans vs. Texans

The AFC South is the worst division in the NFL, and there isn’t a close second. The Houston Texans, at 2-5, are only a game out of first in the division. The Tennessee Titans won in Week 1, but haven’t won since and sit at 1-5 in last place. Those two teams play one another Sunday in a battle to not be one of the league’s overall worst teams.

The Titans will be without quarterback Marcus Mariota for the second straight game Sunday as he deals with a knee injury. On the Texans side, they are obviously without running back Arian Foster, on injured reserve with a torn Achilles. Wide receiver Cecil Shorts will also miss Sunday’s game, while running back Chris Polk should play despite a knee injury/

The Texans will host the Titans Sunday, with the game scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. Here’s a look at the fantasy names to consider:

Start ‘em?: You’ve wanted more from Delanie Walker, but he’s the best weapon the Titans have, and he should be a high-end TE2 in most fantasy lineups. ... The Titans’ defense hasn’t been great, but with the Houston offense struggling, it has potential.

Sit ‘em: The absence of Mariota hurts the entire Tennessee offense, because Zach Mettenberger just isn’t a fair imitation. ... If you’re using a Tennessee running back right now, it’s Antonio Andrews over Bishop Sankey or Dexter McCluster, but better to avoid the whole group. ... Kendall Wright has three games this season of 10-plus fantasy points and six points total in his other three. He’s too inconsistent to run out there. ... Behind Wright, Justin Hunter and Dorial Green-Beckham aren’t producing much. ... Ryan Succop probably won’t get a lot of kicking opportunities Sunday.

Start ‘em: The best offensive player in this game is DeAndre Hopkins, and there might as well not even be a second place in that conversation.

Start ‘em?: Since taking back the team’s starting job, Brian Hoyer has been great, with a hair under 20 fantasy points a game. You don’t expect that to continue, but he has potential. ... With Foster done for the year, Alfred Blue sees the biggest bump. He’s a flex play. ... With Mettenberger at quarterback for Tennessee, maybe the Texans’ defense can be a sneaky play, but the unit has zero or fewer fantasy points in three of the last four weeks.

Sit ‘em: If Blue struggles, maybe Chris Polk and/or Jonathan Grimes see a bump eventually, but Blue will get first crack. ... Nate Washington was a Week 7 monster coming back from injury, but his 24 fantasy points was more than he had totaled all season before that; he isn’t a consistent contributor. ... Garrett Graham has five straight games with zero fantasy points, which is pretty sad. ... Nick Novak has had two good and two bad games as the Houston kicker.

Start in every league: DeAndre Hopkins
Start if you’re desperate: Delanie Walker, Tennessee defense, Brian Hoyer, Alfred Blue, Houston defense
Bench: Zach Mettenberger, Antonio Andrews, Bishop Sankey, Dexter McCluster, Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter, Dorial Green-Beckham, Ryan Succop, Chris Polk, Jonathan Grimes, Nate Washington, Garrett Graham, Nick Novak