Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 8
Our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 8 article provides the best insights on players on your fantasy teams based on stats and projected behavior. Week 7 is over; you might have crossed the threshold and fallen victim to an opponent’s players going off. Or, you might be the guy who had Kareem Hunt on their team as he destroyed the San Francisco 49ers on the ground.
Fantasy football is weird. Sometimes, a team can be among the best in points against quarterbacks and then be the worst team in fantasy against quarterbacks, such as the New York Jets. Other times, a team can be the worst against running backs and still do decently against them. Fantasy football is not always predictable, and it causes us frustration and angst.
My Start ’em Sit ’em column is already in its eighth week, and there have been some ups and downs. Let’s see what I got right and what I got wrong.
Terry McLaurin had a good day, going slightly above his projections by catching six passes for 98 yards for 15.8 fantasy points. As always, my sit projections were mainly on point. Aaron Rodgers struggled with just 13 fantasy points against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Michael Pittman also had a bad day, finishing with 9.3 fantasy points.
Tony Pollard had a bad day, running 16 times for 61 yards and two catches to gain 8.5 fantasy points. Also, it was an awful night for Austin Ekeler, who rushed four rushes for 17 yards and two catches for a measly 4.0 fantasy points. Stefon Diggs also had a bad day, as the Texans’ offensive line could not give CJ Stroud much time. He finished with five catches for 23 yards and 7.3 fantasy points. Evan Engram caught all five of his passes, but only for 35 yards, which is a total of 8.5 fantasy points. Unfortunately, I was wrong about George Pickens, as he finally emerged for his best game of the season, scoring 22.1 fantasy points. Tucker Kraft beat my projections, but only because he scored a touchdown, finishing with 12.3 fantasy points.
It’s always smart to check the fantasy football points team ranks to see how teams have fared against certain positions. It’s not always 100 percent, but it is still a solid gauge of how the weekend will go. My Start em’ Sit em’ Week 8 analysis is below, with some obvious caveats.
Our Week 7 recap gives you a quick recap of everything that happened last weekend. Also, remember to optimize your lineups with our NFL Optimizer. It will give you a clear direction on what to do.
Week 8 Starts
*Start Stat Percentage, Via Yahoo
Jordan Love
Green Bay Packers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (97% started)
Jordan Love has been up and down since he returned from an ankle injury. He finished with just 16.8 fantasy points but did enough to lead the Green Bay Packers down the field to set up the game-winning field goal. This week, he will face the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. It could be a big day for him.
Kenneth Walker III
Seattle Seahawks vs. Buffalo Bills (98% started)
Isn’t it funny that the Seattle Seahawks almost always win when Kenneth Walker has a big day? Well, it happened again this past week against the Atlanta Falcons, as Walker torched the Birds for 14 rushes on 69 yards and a touchdown while catching two passes for 24 yards and a touchdown to finish with 23.3 fantasy points. While the Bills did well against Pollard, they still have allowed the second-most fantasy points to running backs this season and can be exposed. Start Walker with confidence.
Javonte Williams
Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers (73% started)
If you have patiently waited for Javonte Williams to do something finally, you won big this past weekend. Williams went off for 14 rushes for 88 yards and two touchdowns while catching three passes for 23 yards for 26.1 fantasy points. Now, he will get another opportunity to run wild as he faces the defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to running backs in a showdown with the Carolina Panthers. Williams will have another good weekend.
Jayden Reed
Green Bay Packers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (95% started)
Jayden Reed had his worst performance of the season, catching two out of four targets for just 10 measly yards and 3 fantasy points. Ultimately, he could have just been experiencing some discomfort from an injury he sustained the week before, which is something to monitor. Regardless, he gets a perfect opportunity to bounce back in a showdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
DJ Moore
Chicago Bears vs. Washington Commanders (95% started)
DJ Moore would like to forget the London game, where he finished with just 6 fantasy points in Week 5 against the Jaguars. He will get a chance to redeem himself against the Washington Commanders, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers. The Bears are also coming off the bye week, and Moore will be well-rested and ready for this one.
Brock Bowers
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs (97% started)
Brock Bowers is on the cusp of becoming an elite tight end and may soon no longer need to be on a list like this. He also seems to be the only Raider who actually does anything in this offense, as he had another good day with 19.3 fantasy points. Expect more of the same as he faces the Kansas City Chiefs, who allow the most fantasy points to tight ends in the NFL>
Week 8 Sits
Trevor Lawrence
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Green Bay Packers (50% started)
Trevor Lawrence has not had a good season. Ultimately, he’s been more mediocre than bad. Lawrence continued that trend last weekend in London, finishing with 15 fantasy points against the New England Patriots. It will not get any easier this week against the Green Bay Packers, who just held CJ Stroud to a measly 5.3 fantasy points. I would avoid Lawrence this week.
Alexander Mattison
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs (76% started)
Alexander Mattison has had a good few weeks, which continued this past Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams when he finished with 15.3 fantasy points. However, this week, he will turn into the best run defense in the NFL as he battles the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs just held Jordan Love to 14 rushes on 58 yards for 8.9 fantasy points. This is the week Mattison will struggle as he faces the best team in the NFK.
Tony Pollard
Tennesse Titans vs. Detroit Lions (94% started)
Pollard was on my list of starters last week, and that crumbled badly. Somehow, he was not able to take advantage of a great matchup. It gets worse this week as Pollard faces the Detroit Lions, who have allowed the third-fewest points to running backs. While the Lions allowed Aaron Jones to rumble for 14 rushes for 93 yards and a touchdown, that is the exception and not the rule. Expect the Lions to clamp their jaws on Pollard and hold him to less than 1o fantasy points.
Diontae Johnson
Carolina Panthers vs. Denver Broncos (91% started)
Diontae Johnson had another dud, catching just one pass for 17 yards with 2.7 fantasy points in a blowout loss to the Washington Commanders. It will not get better this week as he faces the Denver Broncos, who allow the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers and have been tough on everyone through the first seven weeks. Avoid Johnson this week.
Terry McLaurin
Washington Commanders vs. Chicago Bears (96% started)
Three things are working against Terry McLaurin. One, he won’t have his quarterback, Jayden Daniels, who sustained a rib injury and is week-to-week. Two, he will have Marcus Mariota throwing to him. Three, he will be facing a well-rested Bears’ defense that allows the seventh-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. McLaurin has been relatively successful recently, with 98 yards in three of five matches, but that might take a hit this week.
Pat Freiermuth
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Giants (75% started)
Pat Freiermuth had his first game with Russell Wilson throwing to him and it did not go well, as he finished with only 7.1 fantasy points. It will get worse this week as he faces the New York Giants, who have been relatively tough on tight ends. I would fade Freiermuth this week and go with another option.
