Start the game, sit down with the wide receivers for Week 8 of Fantasy Football

It’s been week 8, folks! Time to set up those fantastic lineups! Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is a best and worst look at the week’s best and worst matchups in fantasy football leagues. Each week I will be examining wingers who could exceed or fall short of expectations based on their weekly opponent… like Terry McLaurin and Jaylen Waddle in Week 7!

To make your final lineup decision, check out my fantasy player rankings. I update them every day! Make sure too subscribe to the Fantasy Dirt Podcast with Lindsay Rhodes and me as we cover all things fantasy football five days a week!

All items: QB | RB | WR | THESE | K and DEF

1. Justin Jefferson for Rams (Thursday)
2. Ja’Marr Chase vs. Eagles
3. AJ Brown for the Bengals
4. Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Titans
5. Tyreek Hill vs. Cardinals
6. CeeDee Lamb with the 49ers
7. Drake London on the Buccaneers
8. Stefon Diggs on the Colts
9. Cooper Kupp vs. Vikings (Thursday)
10. Malik Nabers for the Steelers

Complete Week 8 wide receiver rankings

The beginning of the week

Jayden Reed on Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Reed’s numbers have been declining over the past few weeks, culminating in a three-point performance last week against the Texans. However, I will continue to have faith in him this week as Reed faces a favorable matchup against the Jaguars. Their pass defense allowed wingers to score the fourth-most points per game, and nine WRs scored more than 14 points against them, including four who were mostly outside the box.

Run them

DJ Moore on Commanders (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Moore failed to score more than 12 points in two of his last three games, including a six-point stinker in the final game before the bye. However, I will keep him in the starting lineup this week because he has an extra matchup in Washington. Their defense allowed 10 tries to their wingers, and seven of them outscored them for over 15 points. Consider Moore a viable No. 2 winger.

George Pickens vs. Giants (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Pickens had a surprisingly big game last week, scoring a season-high 22.1 points even against CB Sauce Garnder and a stout Jets pass defense. The next game is a matchup with the second team from New York, the Giants, who have given up the sixth most points per game to opposing perimeter receivers this season. That makes Pickens a solid No. 2 fantasy player this week.

Jaylen Waddle vs. Cardinals (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Waddle’s numbers without Tua Tagovailoa are downright terrible, as he hasn’t scored in double figures in five straight games. However, Tua has cleared the concussion protocol and is expected to start this week, so be sure to include Waddle back in the lineups. He also has a great matchup with the Cardinals, who have allowed the eighth-most points per game to their opponents this season.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba vs. Bills (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): The Seahawks will be without their wide receiver, DK Metcalf, this week as he deals with a knee injury. This makes Smith-Njigba an attractive option for fantasy managers in what could be a high-scoring game against the Bills. Fantasy fans should also upgrade Tyler Lockett in their wide receiver rankings, as the veteran should be viewed as a flexible starter in most leagues. JSN is tracking as WR2.

WR with good matchups

Sit of the week

Terry McLaurin vs. Bears (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): McLaurin has a great record, which makes it difficult for him to secure a spot in most leagues. Still, I’d temper my expectations when he faces the Bears. In six games, Chicago has allowed only three tries to opposing wide receivers. Moreover, only two opposing wingers outperformed pass defenses by scoring more than 12.2 points. With Jayden Daniels a question mark, I would be wary of McLaurin.

Sit down

Marvin Harrison Jr. on Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Over the last three weeks, Harrison Jr.’s numbers. dropped because he didn’t score more than six points in any of those games (most of which he lost due to a concussion). This week will also be dicey as the rookie will go up against CB Jalen Ramsey and a Dolphins defense that has allowed 1 TD this season and the fourth-fewest points per game to opposing perimeter receivers.

Christian Kirk vs. Packers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Kirk has been hard to trust this season as he hasn’t scored more than 6.9 points in his last two games. Moreover, he averaged just 9 points per game during the season. I would keep him on the sidelines when the Jaguars host the Packers, who have given up 1 TD and just 10.6 points per game to receivers. They also kept Tank Dell at zero last week.

Calvin Ridley on Lions (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Ridley has a great matchup this week against the Lions, but has been unable to capitalize on a good matchup for most of the season. In fact, the veteran scored 8 or fewer points in all but one game. Attack on Titan was a train wreck and Ridley was very ineffective. He is fourth from last in the league among all offensive players in EPA Reception with a measly -11.9 points.

Josh Downs on Texans (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Downs is coming off his worst game of the year, scoring 1.3 points in the win over the Dolphins. He had scored at least 15.9 points in the previous three games, but those stats were visible when Joe Flacco was under center. Downs’ totals are significantly worse with Anthony Richardson at the helm, which was clearly visible against Miami. I would keep him on the bench until he can prove his connection to Richardson.

WR with bad matchups