2018 Fantasy Football: Week 8 Start ‘Em or Sit ‘Em

See who you should start or sit this week.

Don’t Panic, but this Sunday marks the halfway point in the NFL regular season. It’s been one hell of a year so far with teams putting up points at record rates thanks to the league’s offense-friendly officiating. Fantasy owners sure aren’t complaining about the uptick in production and this week provides another opportunity to tap into the scoring frenzy.

Last week’s Start/Sit may have been my most accurate set of predictions yet. I correctly suggested starting guys like Baker Mayfield, Latavius Murray, Kerryon Johnson, David Njoku and the Colts’ defense just to name a few. As always, I had a few misses as well. Players like Lamar Miller, Jameis Winston and Benjamin Watson proved me wrong when I claimed they would have lackluster outings. You can’t win them all but as the season goes along I am able to gather more and more information to use when projecting a player’s performance.

I make these suggestions based on each player’s weekly matchups, surrounding talent and in-game usage. While predicting the future is anything but easy, using these tools can help us make better choices when determining which players we start or sit from week to week.

Let me remind you that these lists consist of players who aren’t obvious. I shouldn’t have to tell you to start the Antonio Browns, Aaron Rodgers and Todd Gurleys of the world. This article revolves around players who haven’t yet reached “stud” status, and thus require weekly consideration for your lineup.

For more help with your lineup check out The Wolf’s weekly rankings.

Start

Quarterback

Kirk Cousins:

Cousins has been so-so the last few weeks, but I expect him to breakout against a Saints defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. At the same time New Orleans is surrendering the fewest rushing yards per carry (3.1 YPC) and has scored the second-most points per game (34 PPG). This should lead to a favorable game-script for Cousins owners.

Andy Dalton:

Let’s give Dalton a chance to redeem himself after Cincinnati failed to show up last week in Kansas City. He has another juicy matchup this Sunday at home against a Buccaneers defense that has given up the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Tampa Bay has allowed the most passing yards per game (327.5), touchdown passes (18) and the highest completion percentage (75.4%) in the league.

Running Back

James White:

White played a season-high 70% of the offensive snaps last week with Sony Michel exiting the game early in the second quarter due to injury. The veteran is experiencing a career year with the rest of New England’s backfield dealing with an assortment of ailments. This week the Patriots play a Bills defense that has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points (PPR) to opposing backfields.

Philip Lindsay:

Denver’s three-headed committee is down to just two this week with Royce Freeman ruled out due to an ankle injury. Lindsay already leads the team in carries (75) and is expected to see in uptick in rushes without Freeman. This week the Broncos play a Chiefs defense that has given up the second-most fantasy points (PPR) to opposing running backs.

Adrian Peterson:

During the four games in which Washington held their opponents to 20 or less points this season, Peterson averages 122.5 yards from scrimmage and has three touchdowns. Giants have scored 20 or less points in five of their sevens games this year. New York has surrendered the tenth-most fantasy points (PPR) to opposing backfields and just traded away their best run-defender, Damon Harrison.

Wide Receiver

Stefon Diggs:

Diggs has recorded 33 receiving yards in back to back games and hasn’t reached the endzone since week two. The good news is he still saw 15 targets last week and averages 10.4 looks per game this season. Diggs has a chance to right the ship this week at home against a Saints defense that has given up the most fantasy points (PPR) to opposing receivers.

Tyler Boyd:

Like Dalton, I’m giving Boyd another chance after he failed to live up to expectation a week ago. The third-year player is experiencing a breakout season and is tied with A.J. Green for the team-lead in receptions (40). This week the Bengals are at home to host a Buccaneers defense that has surrendered the second-most fantasy points (PPR) to opposing receivers.

Chris Godwin:

Both Tampa Bay (327.5 YPG) and Cincinnati (300.7 YPG) rank in the bottom four in passing yards allowed per game, which suggests we’ll see a shootout this Sunday. Godwin is second on his team in targets (37) and leads the Bucs with four receiving touchdowns. The Bengals have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points (PPR) to opposing receivers.

Tight End

David Njoku:

In the four games since Baker Mayfield became the starter, Njoku has averaged 5.5 receptions and 54.5 yards per contest and has scored two touchdowns. Zach Ertz and Eric Ebron are the only tight ends to see more targets over the past three weeks. So long as his knee holds up, Njoku will be productive this week against a Steelers defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points (PPR) to opposing tight ends.

O.J. Howard:

A speedy recovery from his sprained MCL helped Howard retain his position as Tampa Bay’s lead tight end. The 2017 first-round-pick hasn’t posted less than 54 yards in any game this season, excluding week four when he suffered his injury. Coming off a nine-target outing against Cleveland, Howard faces a Cincinnati defense this week that has surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points (PPR) to opposing tight ends.

Defense

Indianapolis Colts:

After making short work of the Bills, Indianapolis has another cupcake matchup this week versus the Raiders. Oakland averages the fifth-fewest points per game (18.3) and has committed the tenth-most turnovers (11). Meanwhile, the Colts have quietly racked up the fourth-most sacks (21) and have forced the third-most turnovers (15).

New England Patriots:

This week is New England’s turn to beat up on the Bills. Buffalo has averaged the fewest points per game (11.6), the second-fewest yards per game (234) and has allowed the third-most sacks (26). After failing to score an offensive touchdown last week, Derek Anderson will once again start as Josh Allen recovers from injury.

Sit‘Em

Quarterback

Carson Wentz:

The Jaguars have held opposing quarterback under 200 yards passing in four of their last five games and have surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points to opposing passers this season. Meanwhile, they’ve allowed opposing running backs to reach the endzone each of the past three weeks and average 113 rushing yards per game over that time. With the Jaguars’ offense averaging 9.3 points per game during the last three weeks, this could lead to a run-heavy game-script for Philadelphia.

Matthew Stafford:

No defense has allowed fewer fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks than the Seahawks. They’ve surrendered the third-fewest passing yards per game (206) and have an 8-9 touchdown to interception ratio. Stafford has been solid this season but has a tough matchup in week eight.

Running Back

Carlos Hyde:

Hyde figures to suit up in a Jaguars’ uniform for this first time this Sunday after being traded last week. He’ll split time with T.J. Yeldon and faces an Eagles defense that has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game (85.7) this season. Philly has given up the eighth-fewest rushing touchdowns (4) and the ninth-fewest fantasy points (PPR) to opposing running backs.

Isaiah Crowell:

Bilal Powell’s season-ending neck injury could open the door for Crowell after the two split touches to begin the season. However, Cannon Trenton had four catches for 69 yards last week in Powell’s absence and will likely remain involved in the passing game. The Jets travel to Chicago this week to play a Bears defense that has surrendered the fourth-fewest fantasy points (PPR) to opposing backfields and is yet to allow a rushing touchdown.

Javorius Allen:

Over the past two weeks Allen has just 10 touches for 43 yards and hasn’t scored a touchdown since week three. Alex Collins has out-carried Allen 87-38 this season with Allen operating primarily as the team’s receiving ‘back. The Ravens travel to Carolina this week to play a Panthers defense that has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points (PPR) to opposing running backs.

Wide Receiver

Devin Funchess:

Fantasy owners must love what Funchess has been giving them, scoring touchdowns in three of his last four games and continuing to lead the team in targets despite Greg Olsen’s return. However, matchups don’t get much tougher than Carolina’s battle with Baltimore this week. The Ravens have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points (PPR) to opposing receivers, the second-fewest passing yards per game (190.4), the second fewest touchdown passes (8), the lowest completion percentage (57.8) and have accumulated the most sacks (27).

Marvin Jones Jr.:

The emergence of Kenny Golladay and Kerryon Johnson has suppressed Jones Jr.’s opportunities this season. The vet has caught four of his eight targets over the past two weeks for 37 yards and a score. Jones Jr. is yet to eclipse 70 receiving yards in any game this year and faces a Seahawks defense that has allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points (PPR) to opposing receivers.

Nelson Agholor:

Agholor’s yards per catch average is down from 12.4 last season to 8.5 this year and he has just one touchdown after scoring eight times in 2017. This Sunday the Eagles travel to London to play a Jaguars defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers. There are better options out there than Agholor this week.

Tight End

Jordan Reed:

Both Washington (21) and the Giants (19.6) rank in the bottom eight in terms of points per game which suggests this should be a low scoring affair. Washington has been run-heavy this season, accumulating the third-most rush attempts per game (29.5) and the seventh-fewest passing yards per game (218.5). Individually, Reed has drawn four or less targets in two of his last three games and hasn’t scored a touchdown since week one.

Cameron Brate:

O.J. Howard has completely overtaken Tampa Bay’s lead tight end position. Despite spraining his MCL in week four, Howard has played 33% more snaps than Brate, has seen twice as many targets and averages 41.6 more yards per game. Brate is nothing more than a touchdown dependent TE2 at this point.

Defense

Denver Broncos:

Denver’s defense went off last week, racking up five turnovers, two touchdowns and six sacks. Don’t expect that to continue this week as the team travels to Kansas City. The Chiefs average the most points per game (37.1) and the third-most yards per game (437.4) in the NFL.

Los Angeles Rams:

Here’s another defense coming off a strong performance but facing a high-powered offense. L.A. will host the Packers who average the fourth-most yards per game (421). Aaron Rodgers and company have had a bye week to rest, heal and game plan for a shootout with the Rams.

Author

  • Fantasy football writer for Roto Street Journal. Freelance writer, Senior Podcast Producer and Production Assistant for FOX59 and CBS4. Indiana University graduate class of 2016. Follow on Twitter @fasttakefantasy

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