Start ‘EM Sit ‘EM Week 8
Let’s recap how my recommended starts and sits finished in Week 7. The running backs were solid. Ezekiel Elliot plodded his way into the end zone for a pair of touchdowns, while Rhamondre Stevenson and Kenneth Walker both finished inside the top five at the running back position in PPR formats. Wideout Chris Godwin caught seven of his 13 targets but finished with only 43 receiving yards and still cannot get into the end zone, leaving him as the WR30. Tee Higgins had a great outing despite Chase and Boyd scoring the touchdowns, finishing as the WR22 by hauling in five of seven targets for 93 receiving yards, and Allen Lazard caught six of seven targets for 55 receiving yards in a disappointing loss against Washington, finishing as the WR30 alongside Godwin. David Njoku is out with a high ankle sprain moving forward but he caught seven receptions for 71 yards against Baltimore, finishing top-five at the tight end position. I nailed the quarterback recommendation, as Burrow led the way with 481 passing yards, four total touchdowns, and a 138.19 passer rating.
Unlike previous weeks, just two teams will be on Bye in Week 8, meaning you’ll need to prepare for pivot options if you roster any Los Angeles Chargers or Kansas City Chiefs in fantasy football. With that said, let’s dive into which players to start or sit as we’re officially halfway through the regular fantasy football season.
START
Raheem Mostert (RB) Miami Dolphins
It took a few weeks to come to fruition, but Raheem Mostert has stepped into the RB1 role in Miami. First-year head coach Mike McDaniel was busy with transactions in the offseason, but he made sure to sign his former running back in San Francisco to bolster the Dolphins’ rushing attack. In his last three games, Mostert has delivered 19.2, 5.8, and 20.9 fantasy PPR points. He’s got elite speed and vision but has begun finding the end zone twice during these three weeks, including a receiving touchdown against Pittsburgh in Week 7. Detroit has the 31st-ranked rushing defense, so plug Mostert into lineups confidently as an RB2 with RB1 upside.
Travis Etienne (RB) Jacksonville Jaguars
James Robinson’s trade to the New York Jets all but certifies Travis Etienne as a borderline fantasy RB1 for the rest of the season. The second-year running back is explosive, fast, and finally found his way into the end zone during Week 7 for his first career touchdown against a good New York Giants run defense. Etienne has double-digit PPR points in three consecutive games leading into a Week 8 tilt against the 15th-ranked Denver Broncos’ run defense. Trevor Lawrence won’t be able to air it out much against the second-best pass defense in the league, so expect Etienne to get a lot of volume in a decent matchup, converting it into high-end RB2 production.
Tony Pollard (RB) Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliot’s recent knee injury has opened up the opportunity for Tony Pollard to become a three-down back in a run-centric Dallas offense. The fourth-year running back has still managed double-digit carries in two consecutive games with Elliot playing, which indicates that Pollard could wind up with 20 touches in a plus-matchup against Chicago’s 29th-ranked run defense. Pollard has scored four double-digit finishes in PPR formats this season and is set-up to surpass 20 points for the first time at home against the Bears on Sunday. Plug him in with confidence as a high-end RB2.
DeAndre Hopkins (WR) Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray was happy to get star veteran wideout DeAndre Hopkins back in the lineup after serving a six-game suspension for PEDs. The timing couldn’t have been better following Marquise Brown’s injury in Week 6. Murray force-fed Hopkins in a decisive 42-34 win against New Orleans, finishing with ten receptions and 103 receiving yards on 14 targets. The Cardinals are a bit of a run-centric team, relying on the spread RPO offensive scheme called by head coach Kliff Kingsbury, which allows Hopkins to create separation and get downfield to get behind a loaded defensive front. Against Minnesota’s pass defense, which is allowing the 14th-most points to fantasy wide receivers, fire up Hopkins as a borderline WR1 with top-five upside in Week 8.
DJ Moore (WR) Carolina Panthers
Carolina didn’t mail it in against Tampa Bay in Week 7, rallying around the negative press to shock the Buccaneers with a 21-3 win at home. While the Panthers aren’t equipped with elite personnel following the trade of star running back Christian McCaffery, they still roster wideout D.J. Moore. He struggled with Baker Mayfield in the lineup, but backup quarterback P.J. Walker improved his quality of play against a talented Tampa Bay defense, throwing two touchdowns, including one to Moore. It’s volatile and risky, especially considering the Panthers fell flat against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 6, but a good matchup against Atlanta’s 32nd-ranked pass defense makes Moore a mid-range WR2 with fringe WR1 upside in Week 8.
Brandon Aiyuk (WR) San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco has dropped consecutive games to Atlanta and Kansas City, so they are desperate for production that translates to wins. Third-year wideout Brandon Aiyuk has become increasingly involved within the 49ers’ passing attack, drawing 11 targets during their two-game losing slump. Head coach Kyle Shanahan just acquired Christian McCaffrey, adding a huge weapon to a run-centric offense, which opens up downfield opportunities for Aiyuk. Outside of Jalen Ramsey, the Rams have a mediocre secondary, which is a big reason why they’re allowing 21 points per game this season. Plus, Shanahan has owned Rams’ head coach Sean McVay in the regular season. Expect Aiyik to be heavily involved. He offers a high floor as a mid-range WR2 but can pop as a WR1, so roll Aiyuk out as a strong Flex option in a pivotal Week 8 divisional matchup.
Pat Freiermuth (TE) Pittsburgh Steelers
Tight end is a difficult position to fill if you’re not rostering Travis Kelce. Even Mark Andrews was limited to one catch in Week 7. The return of second-year tight end Pat Freiermuth allowed Pittsburgh to stay competitive throughout the entire game against Miami last week, as he hauled in eight receptions for 75 receiving yards. Through six games played, Freiermuth has recorded four double-digit PPR point outings. He’s consistent and should return value despite playing Philadelphia’s defense in Week 8, as they are the 12th-toughest matchup for fantasy tight ends.
Derek Carr (QB) Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas has finally found its rhythm on offense on the shoulders of fourth-year running back Josh Jacobs. His speed, physicality, and jump-cutting ability have made life a lot easier for quarterback Derek Carr. He has not thrown an interception during the last three games while completing over 60 percent of his pass attempts. The absence of Darren Waller has not been detrimental to Carr’s production, as he has star wideout, Davante Adams, to return value as his top weapon in a run-centric offense. Carr will play in a hostile environment in New Orleans during Week 8, but the Saints’ defense is ranked 16th against the pass, so Carr should be able to throw a couple of touchdowns for the fifth time this season.
SIT
David Montgomery (RB) Chicago Bears
Chicago is riding the “hot hand”, which is never a good sign for the incumbent veteran in the Bears’ backfield. David Montgomery is averaging 2.2 YPC fewer than second-year running back Khalil Herbert, who handled 12 carries compared to Montgomery’s 15 in a huge win over New England. Yes, Montgomery scored his second touchdown of the season, but he hardly gets any opportunity in the passing attack and is competing for touches with Herbert. Against Dallas’ second-ranked scoring defense, allowing only 14.9 points per game, the prospect of a touchdown is far-fetched in Week 8. Pivot elsewhere and sit Montgomery against the Cowboys’ defense.
Diontae Johnson (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers
The emergence of rookie wideout George Pickens is quickly erasing the floor Diontae Johnson previously held with Ben Roethlisberger and Mitchell Trubisky under center. Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett favors Pickens and Pat Freiermuth in the passing attack, which has left Johnson with three single-digit PPR performances in three of the last four weeks. Philadelphia has one of the top secondaries in the league, so sit Johnson in Week 8.
Kyle Pitts (TE) Atlanta Falcons
The hype surrounding Kyle Pitts entering his second season in the league was palpable in the offseason, but Atlanta is one of the lowest-volume passing offenses in the league. Marcus Mariota utilizes his legs and targets Drake London as his top weapon when tasked with passing, leaving Pitts as another boom-or-bust tight end reliant upon touchdowns. He has only scored one touchdown this season and will face a gritty Carolina pass defense in Week 8, which is a bottom ten-matchup for fantasy tight ends. Bench Pitts against Carolina and try to sell high to any eager fantasy managers.
Dak Prescott (QB) Dallas Cowboys
The formula for success in Dallas is the rushing attack. Dak Prescott threw a touchdown and just over 200 passing yards in a pedestrian outing against a top-12 matchup against the Detroit Lions secondary in Week 7. Ezekiel Elliot and Tony Pollard are the one-two punch in the Cowboys’ offense, while Prescott will continue targeting Dalton Schultz and CeeDee Lamb during play action and bootleg passes. Chicago’s pass defense is top-three in the league, so Prescott is a prime candidate to sit in Week 8.
