Welcome back to Cap’s Fantasy Corner, your go-to article series for all of your fantasy football needs! In this week’s edition, I’m breaking down my favorite starts and sits at each position, giving you a one-stop-shop for your start/sit questions for Week 8 of the NFL Fantasy Football season. You won’t find obvious starts in this article. If you have Patrick Mahomes, of course, you’re starting him. The point of this article is to preview the best matchup-based starts for your teams.
Last week, some of the big hits in the article were the starts of the week Tua Tagovailoa (QB1 overall last week), Mike Gesicki, and Dallas Goedert.
The sits of the week also hit at a high rate, with Justin Fields, Melvin Gordon, Odell Beckham Jr., T.Y. Hilton, and Evan Engram all being highlighted as must-sit options.
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Quarterback Starts of the Week
Daniel Jones vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Since suffering a concussion in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys, Jones has not been as productive for fantasy as he was in the first month of the season. All of the should change this week in what looks to be a get-right game for Jones’ fantasy value against the Kansas City Chiefs, who are allowing the 2nd most fantasy points (24.14 per game) to the quarterback position. With Jones’ rushing floor and the likely negative game script coming for the Giants offense in this game, Jones should easily find his way into the Top-10 fantasy QBs for this week.
Carson Wentz vs. Tennessee Titans
Carson Wentz is starting to look like the QB of old we knew and loved. He has been incredibly consistent this season for the Colts and has scored under 20 fantasy points just twice this year (19.25 in Week 6 against the Texans getting him close to 20). With a plus matchup against the Titans defense, who is allowing an average of 20.60 points per game to quarterbacks, Wentz should find himself in the low-end QB1 to high-end QB2 conversation this week and projects as a great streaming option.
Quarterback Sits of the Week
Jameis Winston vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This season, much like his entire career, Winston has been up-and-down with his production. We’ve seen a few spike games (30+ points in Weeks 1 and 5), but we’ve also seen lower lows than you’d care for in your starting fantasy QB, with Winston finishing with under 16 fantasy points 3 times this year. I’m sitting Winston against his former team. I highlighted Justin Fields as a sit of the week against the Buccaneers defense last week and I’m continuing to fade opposing QBs against this elite defense. I’d expect tough sledding for Winston and the Saints, who still look like a team searching for their offensive identity outside of Alvin Kamara.
Ryan Tannehill vs. Indianapolis Colts
Tannehill was supposed to be one of the late-round QB darlings of fantasy drafts this season. He hasn’t panned out as such through seven games. Over the last four games combined, Tannehill has just 3 passing TDs to 2 INTs. With Derrick Henry’s continued dominance on the ground, the Titans offense does not have to rely on Tannehill to win games, which equals a low passing volume and low passing TD total. A lower-than-average passing volume is nothing new for this offense, but Tannehill is not converting scores at the high efficiency he was the past two seasons. Until Tannehill re-emerges with high efficiency passing numbers, he is remaining on my bench. There are likely better streaming options available to you on the waiver wire this week.
Running Back Starts of the Week
Kenneth Gainwell vs. Detroit Lions
Kenneth Gainwell is one of the rare waiver wire pickups of the week that also fits as a start of the week candidate. Gainwell is in line for a monster week against the porous Detroit Lions defense, who are allowing an average of 28.71 points to running backs per game in full-PPR formats. Gainwell was arguably the best pass-catching running back in this draft class and I’d expect the Eagles to take full advantage of that skillset against what projects to be more of a neutral game script against the Lions, who have found ways to hang around in games they really shouldn’t be.
Zack Moss vs. Miami Dolphins
After starting the season on a double-digit point hot streak, fantasy managers have quieted on Zack Moss. Partially due to a poor performance against the Titans, but also because the Bills are coming off their bye week. I’m liking a fresh-legged Moss in a matchup against the Miami Dolphins defense, who are allowing the 5th most fantasy points to running backs this year (27.69 per game). The Bills should jump out to a lead early against the Dolphins, which is indicative of a positive game script for Josh Allen and the offense, hopefully leading to more rushing opportunities for Moss.
Running Back Sits of the Week
Mike Davis vs. Carolina Panthers
Mike Davis’ usage plummeted last week against the Dolphins. It seems Cordarelle Patterson has fully taken over as the RB1 in this backfield, with Davis serving as just a guy to give Patterson a breather. Davis draws the hardest matchup on paper against the Carolina Panthers defense, who are allowing the fewest fantasy points to running backs (15.41 points per game).
D’Ernest Johnson vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
I know some are eager to keep the good times rolling with D’Ernest Johnson after his stunning 24.80 point performance last week on Thursday Night Football, but with Nick Chubb back in practices, I don’t see a lot of potential for Johnson this week. He should be the RB2 behind Chubb with Kareem Hunt on injured reserve, but it’s no lock that’ll he produce on limited opportunities against a stout Steelers run defense, who only allow an average of 19.08 fantasy points per game to running backs.
Wide Receiver Starts of the Week
Diontae Johnson vs. Cleveland Browns
I’m not sure why I keep seeing questions like “should I start Diontae Johnson or ______?”, 80% of the time, my answer to you will be Diontae Johnson. He is a must-start in every sense of the word. Besides the game against the Denver Broncos in Week 5, Johnson is averaging targets per game. That is an elite-level target share for a wide receiver that is an elite route runner in the NFL. With Juju Smith-Schuster out for the season and Chase Claypool limited in practices this week, I’m firing up Johnson in every league format as a fantasy WR1. In full-PPR leagues, he’s obviously more valuable. This is a great matchup for him against a weak Browns secondary.
Randall Cobb vs. Arizona Cardinals
This one is for all of the Davante Adams and Allen Lazard fantasy managers of the world. I’ve been toying with the question of: “which Packers pass-catcher is even playable this week?” for the better part of a day now. I believe the most logical answer has to be Randall Cobb. We all know the storyline, Cobb was productive in the past with Rodgers, Rodgers demanded the Packers trade for Randall Cobb this offseason, and here we are. Outside of a monstrous 23.90 point performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4, Cobb hasn’t been a usable fantasy asset. He’s averaging 3 to 4 targets per game, which is nothing to get excited about. However, someone has to take over the targets in this offense. I think we see tight end Robert Tonyan get a slight bump, but the Cardinals have been elite in defending against tight ends this season. Aaron Jones also likely absorbs some of the pass-catching duties vacated by Adams and Lazard. But in the wide receiving room, I’m siding with the wide receiver who has the most history and chemistry built up with Aaron Rodgers, who quite literally plays favorites in the offense. In full-PPR formats, we could see a WR2 performance out of Cobb this week. I’m projecting 7 to 10 targets and 14 to 18 points from him this week.
Wide Receiver Sits of the Week
Tyler Boyd vs. New York Jets
In games with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins both in the lineup and healthy, Boyd has been an unusable fantasy asset. Believe it or not, the New York Jets defense is allowing the 3rd fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season. With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins receiving the lion’s share of targets, I want nothing to do with Boyd this week. Over the last three games, in full-PPR, Boyd is only averaging 5.3 points per game. He’s a full fade in this game.
Jakobi Meyers vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Meyers is consistently seeing a steady share of targets each week, but without any touchdowns or long plays, he’s not making the most of the opportunities in terms of fantasy points scored. Meyers has had single-digit fantasy point performances in two of the last three weeks. With tight end Hunter Henry looking like a focal point of the passing game over the last month, and the fact that the L.A. Chargers allow the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers (25.42 points per game) I’m leaving Meyers on my bench this week.
Tight End Starts of the Week
Zach Ertz vs. Green Bay Packers
With reports coming out that Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins may not suit up for Thursday night’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers, Ertz becomes a very tantalizing play this week. We saw his immediate involvement in the offense in his first game with the Cardinals, as he gained 5 targets and 3 catches for 66 receiving yards and a touchdown; leading to 16 fantasy points on the day. The Packers are middle of the pack (pun intended) of the NFL in terms of fantasy points allowed to tight ends. With Hopkins’ status iffy for game time, Ertz should see a boost in his target share this week in what projects to be a pass-heavy game script for both teams.
Noah Fant vs. Washington Football Team
Fant has been up and down over the course of the season. His weekly fantasy point totals have been: 12.20, 13.30, 3.50, 16.60, 5.00, 24.70, and 8.90. I believe we’re in store for another Fant boom week against the Football Team, who are allowing the 12th most fantasy points to tight ends (14.84 points per game). The return of wide receiver Jerry Jeudy to the Broncos offense should help draw attention away from Fant, opening up more opportunities for him in the middle of the field.
Tight End Sits of the Week
Jared Cook vs. New England Patriots
Cook has been sneakily good as a streaming option at tight end, but this is a bad matchup for the Chargers tight end. The Patriots are allowing the 2nd fewest fantasy points to tight ends this year (7.16 points per game). With the Chargers having a plethora of other offensive weapons to choose from, I’d expect them to look elsewhere while the Patriots blanket Cook and the rest of the Chargers tight end room this week.
Cole Kmet vs. San Francisco 49ers
The temptation is there to stream Kmet again after two solid performances in a row (8.90 points against the Packers and 9.30 last week against the Buccaneers). However, with how bad the Chicago Bears offense is looking across the board, I want nothing to do with Kmet in a matchup with the 49ers who are allowing the 7th fewest fantasy points to tight ends (8.72 points per game). If you have to, start at your own risk.
Defensive Starts of the Week
Cincinnati Bengals vs. New York Jets
The Bengals defense has to be the play of the week against the New York Jets, right? The Jets just lost starting quarterback Zach Wilson to a knee injury and are rolling out Mike White as their starter. The Jets have been giving up boatloads of points to opposing DSTs all season, and the Bengals have been an underrated defensive unit to start the season. I’m expecting two to three sacks and a few turnovers out of this game, at the least.
Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons
To the surprise of many, the Panthers have been a great defensive unit all season. They allow the fewest fantasy points to running backs and have been good at containing offenses. While the Falcons offense does seem to be on the upswing, Matt Ryan is still good for a few sacks and the head-scratching mistake or two in any given week. With options being light in terms of streamers this week, the Panthers are likely as good as it comes.
Defensive Sits of the Week
Minnesota Vikings vs. Dallas Cowboys
The Vikings defense was the laughing stock of fantasy analysts last season, but this season they’ve gotten back to their roots and have performed much more admirably as of late. With CB1 Patrick Peterson hurt, I think the Vikings are going to have a tough time containing the explosive Cowboys offense, which can beat you in both the run and pass game.
Tennessee Titans vs. Indianapolis Colts
Simply put, the Titans’ defense has been horrific this year. I challenge you to name two starters on the defense. Not only that, but the Colts’ offense has been very good of late. Led by Jonathan Taylor and a now-efficient and non-turnover-prone Carson Wentz, the Titans should be a full fade this week.
I hope you enjoyed these start/sits and that you win all your fantasy matchups this week! To find more of my fantasy advice, follow me on Twitter @ClinicCapp. You can also listen to my weekly podcast, where I go more in-depth about players and matchups each week.
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