Sit-and-start advice for fantasy football should always be relative and league-dependent. Many starts and sits are also obvious, so in this column we’ll focus instead on marginal options, the ones that really require some thought. Good luck with your week 8 lineups!
Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns
Start: David Njoku
Njoku saw 14 goals in the league last week with Amari Cooper gone, and he gets a big upgrade at QB starting Sunday in Jameis Winston. Njoku has a target first-read percentage of 31% over the past two weeks, and he gets an extreme pass-funnel defense; the Ravens have allowed an NFL-low 51.7 RB rushing yards per game, but the most passing yards this season. Baltimore opponents have the league’s third-highest success rate (66.3%). Winston threw a touchdown on his lone drive last week, so Njoku is in the top three for a tight end.
Rashod Bateman becomes a flex option if Zay Flowers sits.
Tennessee Titans @ Detroit Lions
Start: David Montgomery
Montgomery has been practicing heavily this week after briefly leaving the last game with a knee injury. The Titans are not an easy defense, but the Lions ran for 144 yards last week against a tough Vikings D. Jameson Williams is out and the Lions have the league’s highest implied team total this week (28.5 points). Detroit is also the biggest favorite (-11.5) on the board, so the game script should be very favorable against a team starting Mason Rudolph and likely missing both of its best wideouts.
The Lions’ D/ST starts this week in the top three.
Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans
Start: CJ Stroud
Stroud will continue to miss Nico Collins, but he is in a good place to bounce back from one of the worst games of his career last week. Stroud has posted 8.7 YPA and averaged 311.1 passing yards with 22 total touchdowns in 11 home games during his career. He also has a 6-0 TD:INT ratio through three games against the Colts, who have allowed the fifth-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. The Texans have the third-highest implied team total this week (26.5 points), so Stroud will start at home.
Green Bay Packers @Jacksonville Jaguars
Beginning: Romeo Doubs
Doubs easily leads Green Bay with a target first-read rate of 26% in games with Jayden Reed (20%), Dontayvion Wicks (17%) and Christian Watson (9%). He also leads in targets and air yards when Doubs, Reed and Watson were on the field together this season. The Packers get a Jaguars defense that allows most of its fantasy points to be sent to outside receivers, and Reed and Watson were both limited in practice Thursday with ankle injuries. Green Bay is expected to score the second-most points (27.5) this week; Doubs is a top-30 WR.
Arizona Cardinals @ Miami Dolphins
Start: Jaylen Waddle
Miami has averaged fewer points per game than the last two winless teams and the Bryce Young-led Panthers, but will get a huge boost with the return of Tua Tagovailoa. Waddle has averaged 47.7 yards receiving with no touchdowns in 12 career games without Tagovailoa, but he has averaged 75.2 yards receiving with all 19 touchdowns in the 41 games with him.
Be sure to check on Waddle’s status after he was limited in practice this week with a quad injury. He could also have a bigger role if health cooperates, as Tyreek Hill was added to the injury report late in the week with a foot issue. The Dolphins are expected to score 25.5 points with Tagovailoa back against a Cardinals defense struggling under pressure so Waddle can return to fantasy lineups.
New York Jets @ New England Patriots
Start: Rhamondre Stevenson
The game script limited Stevenson’s touches last week, and he should be healthier after returning to full practice Thursday. Stevenson hasn’t fumbled in back-to-back games, and Jets opponents have averaged the eighth-most rush attempts in the league. Stevenson has put up 5.2 YPC and averaged 85.0 rushing yards and 1.0 TD over two home games this year, and Drake Maye is bringing life to the offense. The Jets have allowed the 12th most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to running backs, excluding receiving, so Stevenson can be started if needed. The Patriots are touchdown underdogs and have a low total, but running backs are thin this week.
Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Start: Rachaad White
Bucky Irving’s status is in the balance due to a foot injury, while Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are out. White (and Sean Tucker) will see a bigger role in a matchup that should be quick. Tampa Bay games have averaged a whopping 55.6 points this season, and White should see even more goals than usual. He is a great flex option this week.
Jalen McMillan is a sleeper, especially if he moves to the slot.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Cincinnati Bengals
Start: Tee Higgins
Higgins has a target percentage of 27.4% and the 12th highest share of air yards this season (38.3%) – both numbers well above those of Ja’Marr Chase (19.8%, 28.3%). The Eagles have given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, but the ninth-fewest to wide receivers. Higgins ranks in the top 10 in fantasy points per route versus man, a coverage that Philadelphia has used at the seventh-highest rate in the league.
New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Chargers
Start: JK Dobbins
Dobbins has averaged just 3.1 YPC since posting a 9.9 in the first two games of the season. There is concern as he returns from Achilles surgery, but Dobbins should get a ton of volume on Sunday. New Orleans has allowed Kareem Hunt, Sean Tucker, Bucky Irving and Javonte Williams for a total of 525 yards and six touchdowns over the past three weeks. The Chargers are home touchdown favorites against a reeling Saints team that will likely start Spencer Rattler, so the game script should be favorable.
Buffalo Bills @ Seattle Seahawks
Start: Amari Cooper
Cooper was on the field for just 34% of Josh Allen’s dropbacks in his first game in Buffalo, but he had a TPRR of 42% and led the team in fantasy points. Seattle’s top corners, Riq Woolen and Tre Brown, are on and/or off, and Cooper’s role is sure to grow in Sunday’s fast-paced game. Cooper can become a top-20 WR after the massive upgrade at quarterback.
Sit Geno Smithwho will miss DK Metcalf and get a run-funnel Buffalo defense outdoors.
Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders
Sits: Keenan Allen
Allen scored two touchdowns in his last game, but he is only the WR49 in expected fantasy points. Allen could return from the farewell game healthier after a heel injury, but it is also possible that Rome also sees Odunze as a rookie after the farewell game. Caleb Williams has undoubtedly shown growth and will continue to improve, but his last three games have come against three of the easiest games in the league; he has posted 6.0 YPA and 11 sacks with a 2:4 TD:INT ratio heading into his career.
This matchup was moved to primetime, but the total is only 43.0 points thanks to Marcus Mariota likely starting ahead of Jayden Daniels. Washington’s defense has also improved dramatically, allowing the seventh-fewest EPA/play over the past three weeks. The Commanders have also yielded the fourth-fewest fantasy points at the end over the past month, so Allen deserves consideration on the bench.
Carolina Panthers @ Denver Broncos
Start: Javonte Williams
Williams is averaging 5.1 YPC and 16.8 chances over the past four games (after Tyler Badie was injured). He will have an excellent matchup against a Panthers defense that is allowing by far the most fantasy points for running backs this season. The Broncos are double-digit home favorites against a Bryce Young-led Carolina team that has given up an NFL-high 13 rushing scores. Denver has the fifth-highest team implied total (26.5 points). Williams is a top-15 RB this week.
Sit Diontae Johnsonwho continues to miss practice with a rib injury (among other things) and gets a Denver secondary, allowing the second-fewest fantasy points for WRs and EPA/pass. The Broncos are also yielding an NFL-low 4.4 yards per play, and Johnson will be overshadowed by Patrick Surtain II. Johnson has averaged 2.3 catches and 18.5 yards with zero touchdowns through four games. Young appeared this season. He averaged 7.0 catches and 94.3 yards with three touchdowns during the other three games.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders
Starts: Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes is unlikely to perform to his early ADP expectations going forward, but he is off to a solid start this week. He’s on the verge of TD regression while ranking sixth in red zone passes but only 22nd in touchdowns, especially with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins.
Let’s also take a short trip down the story street; the Raiders beat Mahomes in Kansas City on Christmas Day, the last time these teams met, and then mocked him with a Kermit the Frog doll in training camp. Mahomes responded, “It will be handled,” and his personal trainer tweeted, “We will remember.”
Mahomes is out for revenge on Sunday.
Sit Alexander Mattisonwho will have to deal with a negative game script against a Chiefs defense that allows the fewest fantasy points to be dropped by a wide margin. No one has even reached 60 rushing yards in a game against Kansas City this season.
Dallas Cowboys @ San Francisco 49ers
Seat: Dak Prescott
Dallas’ offense showed major improvement after last season’s farewell game, and the Cowboys are hoping the same will happen this year; they rank 20th in scoring after leading the league in 2023. But Prescott has finished as a top-10 QB just once in six games this season, and San Francisco opponents have the fourth-lowest Passer Rating (78.7). The Cowboys have the eighth-lowest team implied total (20.5 points) during a week with plenty of QB alternatives.
New York Giants @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Start: Najee Harris
George Pickens gets a huge fantasy boost with Russell Wilson starting, and so does Najee Harris. He shares snaps with Jaylen Warren, but his percentage of runs against light boxes has nearly doubled compared to his time with Justin Fields. The Giants have allowed the ninth-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to running backs, and the Steelers are home favorites Monday night by six points.
