Fantasy football sit-and-start advice should always be relative and league-dependent. Many starts and sits are obvious too, so we will instead focus on fringe options in this column, the ones that take real thought. Good luck with your Week 8 lineups!
Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns
Start: David Njoku
Njoku saw a league-high 14 targets last week with Amari Cooper gone, and he gets a big upgrade at QB with Jameis Winston starting Sunday. Njoku has earned a 31% first-read target rate over the last 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 pass rate (66.3%). Winston threw a touchdown during his only drive last week, so Njoku is a top-three tight end.
Rashod Bateman becomes a flex option if Zay Flowers sits.
Tennessee Titans @ Detroit Lions
Start: David Montgomery
Montgomery has practiced in full this week after briefly leaving the last game with a knee injury. The Titans aren’t an easy run defense, but the Lions ran for 144 yards against a tough Vikings D last week. Jameson Williams is out, and the Lions have the league’s highest implied team total (28.5 points) this week. Detroit is also the biggest favorite (-11.5) on the board, so game script should be highly favorable facing a team starting Mason Rudolph and likely missing both its top wideouts.
The Lions’ D/ST is a top-three start this week.
Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans
Start: C.J. Stroud
Stroud will continue to miss Nico Collins, but he’s in a good spot to bounce back from one of the worst games of his career last week. Stroud has gotten 8.7 YPA and averaged 311.1 passing yards with 22 total touchdowns over 11 games at home during his career. He also owns a 6:0 TD:INT ratio over three games versus the Colts, who’ve allowed the fifth-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. The Texans have the third-highest implied team total (26.5 points) this week, so start Stroud at home.
Green Bay Packers @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Start: Romeo Doubs
Doubs easily leads Green Bay with a 26% first-read target rate 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 have been on the field together this season. The Packers get a Jaguars defense allowing the most fantasy points to outside receivers, and Reed and Watson were both limited in practice Thursday with ankle injuries. Green Bay is projected 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 Tua Tagovailoa’s return. Waddle has averaged 47.7 receiving yards with zero touchdowns over 12 career games without Tagovailoa, but he’s averaged 75.2 receiving yards with all 19 of his touchdowns over 41 games with him.
Make sure to check Waddle’s status after being limited throughout practice this week with a quad injury. He could also be in for an expanded role if health cooperates, as Tyreek Hill was a late-week addition to the injury report with a foot issue. The Dolphins are projected to score 25.5 points with Tagovailoa back against a Cardinals defense that struggles in pressure rate, so Waddle can return to fantasy lineups.
New York Jets @ New England Patriots
Start: Rhamondre Stevenson
Game script limited Stevenson’s touches last week, and he should be healthier after returning to a 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 gotten 5.2 YPC and averaged 85.0 rushing yards and 1.0 TD over two home games this year, and Drake Maye gives the offense life. The Jets have allowed the 12th-most schedule-adjusted fantasy points to running backs when excluding receiving, so Stevenson can be started if needed. The Patriots are touchdown underdogs and have a lowly total, but running back is thin this week.
Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Start: Rachaad White
Bucky Irving’s status is in question with a foot injury, while Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are out. White (and Sean Tucker) will see an expanded role in a matchup that should be fast-paced. Tampa Bay games have averaged a whopping 55.6 points this season, and White should see even more targets than usual. He’s a fine 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 27.4% target rate and the 12th-highest air yards share (38.3%) this season — both marks are well ahead of Ja’Marr Chase’s (19.8%, 28.3%). The Eagles have ceded the sixth-fewest fantasy points to running backs but the ninth-most to wide receivers. Higgins ranks top 10 in fantasy points per route run versus man, a coverage Philadelphia has used at the league’s seventh-highest rate.
New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Chargers
Start: J.K. Dobbins
Dobbins has averaged just 3.1 YPC since getting 9.9 over the first two games of the season. There’s concern given he’s returning from Achilles surgery, but Dobbins should get a bunch of volume Sunday. New Orleans has allowed Kareem Hunt, Sean Tucker, Bucky Irving and Javonte Williams to total 525 yards and six touchdowns over the last three weeks. The Chargers are touchdown home favorites against a reeling Saints team likely starting Spencer Rattler, so 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 during his first game in Buffalo, but he had a 42% TPRR and led the team in fantasy points. Seattle’s top corners Riq Woolen and Tre Brown are banged up and/or out, and Cooper’s role is sure to grow in Sunday’s fast-paced matchup. Cooper can be a top-20 WR moving forward after the huge upgrade at quarterback.
Sit Geno Smith, who will be missing DK Metcalf and gets a run-funnel Buffalo defense outdoors.
Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders
Sit: Keenan Allen
Allen scored two touchdowns during his last game, but he’s just the WR49 in expected fantasy points. Allen could return from the bye healthier after playing through a heel injury, but it’s also possible Rome Odunze sees a rookie post-bye bump as well. Caleb Williams has unquestionably shown growth and will continue to improve, but his last three games have come against three of the easiest matchups in the league; he’s gotten 6.0 YPA and taken 11 sacks with a 2:4 TD:INT ratio on the road to open his career.
This matchup was moved to primetime, but the total sits at just 43.0 points thanks to Marcus Mariota likely starting for Jayden Daniels. Washington’s defense has also dramatically improved, allowing the seventh-fewest EPA/play over the last three weeks. The Commanders have also yielded the fourth-fewest fantasy points to the slot over the last month, so Allen deserves bench consideration.
Carolina Panthers @ Denver Broncos
Start: Javonte Williams
Williams has averaged 5.1 YPC and 16.8 opportunities over the last four games (after Tyler Badie was injured). He gets a prime matchup against a Panthers defense allowing by far the most fantasy points to running backs this season. The Broncos are double-digit home favorites against a Bryce Young-led Carolina team that’s ceded an NFL-high 13 rushing scores. Denver has the fifth-highest implied team total (26.5 points). Williams is a top-15 RB this week.
Sit Diontae Johnson, who continues to miss practice with a rib injury (among others) and gets a Denver secondary allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to WRs and EPA/pass. The Broncos are also yielding an NFL-low 4.4 yards per play, and Johnson will be shadowed by Patrick Surtain II. Johnson has averaged 2.3 catches and 18.5 yards with zero touchdowns over four games Young has appeared this season. He’s averaged 7.0 catches and 94.3 yards with three touchdowns during the other three games.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders
Start: Patrick Mahomes
Mahomes is unlikely to start performing up to his early ADP expectations moving forward, but he’s a solid start this week. He’s due for TD regression while ranking sixth in red-zone passes but just 22nd in touchdowns, especially with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins.
Let’s also take a quick trip down narrative 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 puppet in training camp. Mahomes responded “it will get handled,” and his personal trainer tweeted “we will remember.”
Mahomes is out for revenge Sunday.
Sit Alexander Mattison, who will be dealing with a negative game script against a Chiefs defense allowing the fewest fantasy points to running backs by a wide margin. No one has reached even 60 rushing yards in a game against Kansas City this season.
Dallas Cowboys @ San Francisco 49ers
Sit: Dak Prescott
Dallas’ offense showed big improvement after the bye last season, and the Cowboys hope the same happens this year; they rank 20th in scoring after leading the league in 2023. But Prescott has finished as a top-10 QB just once over six games this season, and San Francisco opponents have the fourth-lowest Passer Rating (78.7). The Cowboys have the eighth-lowest implied team total (20.5 points) during a week with many QB alternatives.
New York Giants @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Start: Najee Harris
George Pickens gets a huge fantasy boost with Russell Wilson starting, and Najee Harris does too. He’s sharing snaps with Jaylen Warren, but his percentage of runs against light boxes 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 six-point home favorites Monday night.
