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Fantasy Football, Week 8. “Em, Sit” Em Start (Video)

Posted on by Gerres
Fantasy Football, Week 8. “Em, Sit” Em Start (Video)

Start-and-start advice in fantasy football should always be relative and league-specific. Many starts and sit-ups are also obvious, so in this column we’ll focus on the side options, the ones that require real thought. Good luck with your Week 8 lineups!

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns

Njoku scored a league-high 14 goals last week following the departure of Amari Cooper, and he will receive a big improvement at QB starting Sunday under Jameis Winston. Njoku made money the target percentage at first reading is 31%. over the last two weeks and receives extreme pass defense; The Ravens had an NFL-low 51.7 rushing yards per game but the most passing yards this season. Baltimore opponents have the third-highest passer rating in the league (66.3%). Winston scored a touchdown on his only drive last week, so Njoku ranks in the top three.

Rashod Bateman will become a flex option if Zay Flowers sits.

Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions

Montgomery completed full practice this week after briefly missing the last game with a knee injury. The Titans are not an easy defense, but last week the Lions rushed for 144 yards against strong Vikings D. Jameson Williams will be out and the Lions have the highest suggested team rating in the league this week (28.5 points). Detroit is also the biggest favorite (-11.5) in the standings, so the game scenario should be very favorable with a team starting Mason Rudolph and likely without both top wingers.

The Lions’ D/ST team is in the top three this week.

Indianapolis Colts and Houston, Texas

Stroud will still miss Nico Collins, but he is in a good moment to bounce back from one of the worst games of his career last week. Stroud has a career-high 8.7 YPA and averages 311.1 passing yards and 22 touchdowns in 11 home games. He also has a 6-0 TD:INT ratio in three games against the Colts, who have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. The Texans have the third-highest suggested team total this week (26.5 points), so Stroud will start at home.

Green Bay Packers @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Doubs easily leads Green Bay target first reading percentage of 26%. in matches with Jayden Reed (20%), Dontayvion Wicks (17%) and Christian Watson (9%). He also runs in cells and on air yards when Doubs, Reed and Watson played on the field together this season. The Packers have a Jaguars defense that allows as many fantasy points as possible to outside receivers, and Reed and Watson were limited in practice Thursday with ankle injuries. Green Bay is projected to score the second-most points this week (27.5); Doubs is a top 30 WR.

Arizona Cardinals @ Miami Dolphins

Miami averaged fewer points per game than the last two winless teams and the Panthers under Bryce Young, but the return of Tua Tagovailoa will give them a huge boost. Waddle averaged 47.7 yards with zero touchdowns in 12 career games without Tagovailoa, but in 41 games with him he averaged 75.2 yards with all 19 touchdowns.

Be sure to check on Waddle’s status after he was limited in practice this week with a quadriceps injury. If health favors, he could also be given an expanded role, as Tyreek Hill appeared on the injury report late in the week with foot issues. The Dolphins are projected to score 25.5 points when Tagovailoa turns against a Cardinals defense that has struggled with pressure, so Waddle will be able to return to fantasy lineups.

New York Jets @ New England Patriots

Game script limited Stevenson’s opportunities last week and he should be healthier when he returns to full practice on Thursday. Stevenson did not disappoint in subsequent games, with Jets opponents averaging the eighth-most offensive attempts in the league. Stevenson has 5.2 YPC this year and is averaging 85.0 rushing yards and 1.0 TD in two home games, and Drake Maye is revitalizing the offense. The Jets have allowed the 12th-most adjusted fantasy receiver to run, excluding receiving, so Stevenson will be available to play on the team if needed. The Patriots are a touchdown underdog and have a low point total, but comebacks are rare this week.

Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bucky Irving is is struggling with a foot injury that could jeopardize its availability (or photos) this week, while Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are absent. White (and Sean Tucker) will see an increased role in what should be a fast-paced matchup. Tampa Bay games have an average of 55.6 points this season, and White should see even more targets than usual. He is a good flex option this week.

Jalen McMillan is sleepy, especially if it goes to a slot machine.

Philadelphia Eagles and Cincinnati Bengals

Higgins has a target percentage of 27.4% this season and the 12th highest percentage of air yards (38.3%) – both of which are significantly better than Ja’Marr Chase (19.8%, 28.3%) . The Eagles have given up the sixth fewest fantasy points to running backs, but ninth fewest to wide receivers. Higgins’ place Top 10 fantasy points per route vs. man, which is the seventh-highest rate in the league in Philadelphia.

New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Chargers

Dobbins is averaging just 3.1 YPC since he posted a 9.9 in the first two games of the season. There are some concerns given his return from Achilles surgery, but Dobbins should be quite strong on Sunday. For New Orleans, Kareem Hunt, Sean Tucker, Bucky Irving and Javonte Williams have combined for 525 yards and six touchdowns over the past three weeks. The Chargers are favorites to score a touchdown against a slumping Saints team that will likely start Spencer Rattler, so the game plan should be favorable.

Buffalo Bills vs. Seattle Seahawks

Cooper was on the field for just 34% of Josh Allen’s turnovers in his first game in Buffalo, but 42% TPRR and led the team in fantasy points. Seattle’s leading scorers, Riq Woolen and Tre Brown, are getting hit and/or out, and Cooper’s role will certainly increase in Sunday’s fast-paced matchup. Cooper could end up being a top-20 WR later a huge reinforcement for the quarterback.

Sit down, Gena Smithwho will miss DK Metcalf and will be given Buffalo’s running defense on the outside.

Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders

Allen scored two touchdowns in his last game, but he was only WR49 expected fantasy points. Allen could come back from the game healthier after suffering a heel injury, but it’s also possible that Rome Odunze will also suffer an injury after the bye. Caleb Williams has undoubtedly shown development and will continue to improve, but his last three games have come against three of the easiest matchups in the league; earned 6.0 YPA and racked up 11 sacks with a 2:4 TD:INT ratio en route to his career opener.

This matchup was moved to prime time, but the point total was only 43.0 thanks to Marcus Mariota, who likely started for Jayden Daniels. Washington’s defense also improved dramatically, allowing this to happen 7th lowest EPA/play over the last three weeks. The Commanders have also allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points over the past month, so Allen deserves bench consideration.

Carolina Panthers vs. Denver Broncos

Williams is average 5.1 YPC and 16.8 possibilities over the last four games (after Tyler Badie’s injury). He has a great matchup with the Panthers defense, giving defensemen the most fantasy points this season. The Broncos are double-digit home favorites against Bryce Young’s Carolina team, which has given up an NFL-best 13 rushing totals. Denver has the fifth-highest team total (26.5 points). Williams is a top-15 RB this week.

Sit down Chuba Hubbardwho has done great but is held back by a terrible situation. Carolina will start Young in an offense that will be missing Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen against a Denver defense that has allowed an NFL-low 4.4 yards per play. The Panthers have an anemic suggested team total of 16.5 points. Hubbard has averaged 131 yards from scrimmage and 19.4 fantasy points (0.5 PPR) in three full games without Young this season; in four games with him, he averaged 59.3 YFS and only 9.9 fantasy points (H/T RotoViz).

Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders

It’s unlikely that Mahomes will start to perform in line with ADP’s initial expectations he’s moving forward, but he started this week well. He deserves a TD regression ranking sixth in red zone passing yards, but just 22nd in touchdowns, especially with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins.

Let’s also take a short trip down the narrative street; The Raiders beat Mahomes in Kansas City on Christmas Day, the last time these teams met, and then made fun of him with Kermit the Frog puppet at training camp. Mahomes responded “it will be taken care of” and his personal trainer wrote on Twitter: “We will remember.”

On Sunday, Mahomes will want revenge.

Sit on Alexander Mattisonwho will be dealing with a negative game scenario against a Chiefs defense that allows as few fantasy points as possible to high-impact running backs. This season, no one exceeded even 60 yards rushing against Kansas City.

Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers

After a bye last season, Dallas’ offense showed significant improvement and the Cowboys are hoping the same will happen this year. after leading the league in 2023, they are 20th in points. However, Prescott has been a top-10 QB just once in six games this season, and San Francisco’s opponents have the fourth-lowest passer rating (78.7). The Cowboys have the eighth-lowest suggested team scoring (20.5 points) on the week and have multiple QB alternatives.

New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

With the emergence of Russell Wilson, George Pickens gets a huge fantasy boostand Najee Harris does it too. He shares photos of Jaylen Warren, but of him the percentage of hits to light boxes almost doubled compared to his time with Justin Fields. The Giants have allowed defensemen the ninth-most fantasy points on the schedule, and the Steelers are six-point home favorites on Monday night.