With Week 8 now here, it’s time for a look at our weekly start/sit advice for the toughest calls facing your fantasy football lineups.
Fantasy football, Week 8: Who to start and sit across the NFL
Check out our weekly starts/sits column for help setting your fantasy football lineups in Week 8.
Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
This week, we have six teams on their bye week, including the Tennessee Titans, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
That means you’ll obviously have guys like Larry Fitzgerald, DeMarco Murray, Leonard Fournette, and Todd Gurley on the bench. Hopefully, our start/sit advice will help you find the best replacements for them.
START
Cam Newton hasn’t been anything close to the fantasy MVP he was in 2015, but he’s still good enough to light up bad defenses. Newton gets to face one this Sunday, as the Bucs are allowing the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Aside from Mike Glennon in Week 2, Tampa Bay has been shredded by every quarterback it’s faced. Start Newton in Week 8.
Yeah, Andy Dalton is coming off a disaster in Pittsburgh, but the Steelers have made every quarterback look bad thus far. Dalton still managed to toss two passing scores, and he should do even more damage against the Colts this week. Indy is already giving up the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, and it could be down four defensive starters this week due to injury. Dalton is a worthy starter this week.
Miami may be going through quarterback issues, but Jay Ajayi has been a constant in this offense in recent weeks. Ajayi has gotten 20-plus carries in three-straight games after failing to do so in his first three games. He’s also becoming more of a PPR factor after catching three balls in Week 7. Baltimore has normally had a stout run defense, but it’s just not the same this year, allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. Keep Ajayi in your starting lineup.
The Vikings may be without Sam Bradford and Stefon Diggs, but the passing game has still been quite effective thanks to Adam Thielen. After his breakout 2016 season, Thielen is on pace for another career year with 43 grabs for 529 yards through seven games. He now gets to feast on a Browns secondary tied for the third-most passing scores allowed this season (14). Though Thielen has yet to score this season, he has a great shot at doing so against the Browns, so keep him in your starting lineup.
Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten vs. Washington
The ageless wonder Jason Witten continues to be a fantasy player at age 35. Though he’s no longer a must-start every week, he’s still a solid tight end you can get by with. He’s become more of a factor recently, catching 17 passes over his last two games on 22 targets. He’ll now face a Washington defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this season. Start Witten this week.
SIT
Houston Texans QB DeShaun Watson vs. Seattle Seahawks
DeShaun Watson has been nearly unstoppable this season, but he’ll face the toughest test of his rookie season in Seattle this Sunday. The Seahawks are once again among the NFL’s elite defenses, and few passers have done much damage to them. They’ve allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Put Watson on the bench this week.
Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
As mentioned above, the Steelers are shutting down every quarterback they’re facing. Don’t expect Matthew Stafford to fare any better, especially with Golden Tate out due to injury. Pittsburgh is allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Put Stafford on the bench.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Doug Martin vs. Carolina Panthers
2017 Doug Martin looks like the Doug Martin we all came to love during his breakout rookie season. However, don’t expect that to continue against a stout Panthers front seven this week, which could be getting All-Pro linebacker Luke Kuechly back from a concussion. Carolina is already allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season, so keep Martin benched.
Cleveland Browns RB Duke Johnson vs. Minnesota Vikings
The Browns’ offense hasn’t done much this year, but Duke Johnson has been a nice bright spot. He’s also the perfect fantasy back for a team constantly playing from behind, as he’s caught 24 passes over his last five games, including six in Week 7. However, the Vikings shut down almost every back they face, as they’ve allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs this season. Sit Duke this week.
Indianapolis Colts WR T.Y. Hilton vs. Cincinnati Bengals
The Colts’ offense has fallen off a cliff with Andrew Luck on the sideline. To be fair, Jacoby Brissett has done well with a limited supporting cast, which does include T.Y. Hilton. Unfortunately, Hilton is all the Colts have, and opposing defenses have figured that out. Now he’ll face a Bengals second that could have star cornerback Adam Jones this week. Even with Jones, Darqueze Dennard and William Jackson have helped shut down opposing receivers, and Cincinnati is allowing the ninth-fewest fantasy points to receivers this season. Bench Hilton this week.
