Week 8 of the Fantasy Football Season is here and Anson is back with his “Sit and Start” list. If you are wondering what to do with these guys, we hope this helps!
I need to put out a disclaimer on as we kick off this weekly Fantasy Football Start/Sit breakdown together…
I’m not making obvious picks here, so if you’re in an 8 team league, some of these guys may not even be rostered. Keep in mind I am not suggesting these guys are universally startable. That being said, this week’s theme is Dallas!
QUARTERBACK
Carson Wentz PHI vs DAL
Two things I like to focus on in weekly matchups are opponent and volume. Wentz will have plenty of both in a matchup against Dallas’ porous pass defense. He put up 30 last week against better competition.
START HIM…The sneaky #10 Fantasy QB will definitely return top 10 value this week,
Jimmy Garappolo SF @ SEA
Garoppolo’s volume rises as each 49ers’ RB goes down. If you take average or better usage, along with Kittle and the emergence of Brandon Aiyuk, then put that against the Seattle secondary, you end up with top 10 fantasy results. Game flow should also be in his favor, most likely playing from behind all or most of the game.
START HIM…The #29 QB rises up the ratings after a strong Week 8 outing.
Joe Burrow CIN vs TEN (Rookie)
I see a shootout in Cincinnati this weekend. The Bengals pass percentage should see a small uptick without Mixon in the lineup. Burrow’s best bets are through the air and the rookie is sharp enough to utilize AJ Green, Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins and even Gio Bernard through the air.
START HIM…The #14 QB looks great at home this week.
Jared Goff LAR @ MIA
First off I’m not a Goff Guy. But heading to Miami, Goff offers bottom 3rd volume against a top 3rd passing defense. Miami is no longer a punching bag.
SIT HIM…The #19 QB may not even score 19 pts in this one.
Matthew Stafford DET vs IND
This is actually less about Indy having the #5 defense against fantasy quarterbacks and more about the emergence of the Lions’ run game. Stafford is in the bottom half of the league in terms of usage for the first time in his career. I don’t see a ton of points in this one either.
SIT HIM…The #20 QB fails to finish as a top 20 QB this week.RUNNING BACK
Boston Scott PHI vs DAL
The Eagles injury woes across the board have put Boston Scott into an awesome usage spot. He is handling all three downs, has great hands and even better agility. I don’t really see him reaching the end zone often, but with tons of targets and double digit carries, he is an RB2 all day.
START HIM…The #52 RB returns Top 15 again this week.
DeeJay Dallas SEA vs SF (Rookie)
I told you Dallas was the theme this week! Except this time it’s a rookie and not a terrible defense. DeeJay Dallas is an unexciting rookie from Miami that finds himself as the starting back in Seattle. And there is no one behind him. Even Travis Homer is hurt. Who? Shit, the Seahawks brought in Alex Collins for a workout…dude hasn’t played since 2017.
START HIM…The #92 RB is easily a top 20 guy this week…and any week he’s the starter behind Russell Wilson.
Gio Bernard CIN vs TEN
Volume Strikes Back as Gio Bernard finds himself as the starter in Cincy yet again through injury. This time he has an exciting rookie QB slinging mud pies and a host of WR’s to make Gio mostly an after thought for the defense. Cincinnati should attempt to slow things down a bit by running Gio. But even if they’re forced to throw the ball, Gio benefits.
START HIM…The #41 RB comes close to matching his #7 ranking in this same postion last week.
Darrell Henderson LAR @ MIA
I don’t like the Rams in Miami that’s for sure. But I also don’t like the direction Henderson’s game has been headed since the return of Mack Brown. Cam Akers anyone?
SIT HIM…The #23 Fantasy Football Running back fails to fill the top 25.
Justin Jackson/Josh Kelley LAC @ DEN
If either of these guys had the job outright, I might be telling you to start them. But until then, one cancels the other. Cancel Culture.
SIT THEM…The #58 and #39 backs are too risky.
Leonard Fournette/Ronald Jones III TB @ NYG
If either of these guys has the job outright, they’d be helping you win a fantasy championship. But until then, both guys are barely startable. Brady Culture.
SIT THEM…The #45 and #13 backs are too risky as well.
WIDE RECEIVER
Travis Fulgham/Jalen Reagor (Rookie) PHI vs DAL
And we’re back to Dallas! One of these two receivers is gonna have a big game. Reagor is the guy to own long term, but Fulgham is the better start this week.
START THEM…The #35 and #136 wide receivers will both finish higher than their current spots.
Brandon Aiyuk (Rookie) SF @ SEA
The rookie will benefit from both high volume against a terrible Seattle pass defense, but also a weekly increase in offense role for Aiyuk, that looks to continue to be the trend.
START HIM…The #41Fantasy Football WR will finish in the top 25 this week.
Denzel Mims (Rookie) NYJ @ KAN
The rookie saw 7 targets last week before watching both Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder go down. The Jets are gonna be down big and it’s gonna happen early. Mims might just break out this week through sheer usage alone. You hear that Stick!?!
START HIM…The #156 WR is the only guy left in New York.
Davante Parker/Preston Williams MIA vs LAR
One of these guys is gonna win you a fantasy football championship. But until we see a full game out of Tua, there is no way of knowing which one it will be. Please hold.
SIT THEM…The #29 & #45 wide receivers are too risky for my blood this week.
Darius Slayton NYG vs TB
If you haven’t benched this guy already, you should have. The Giants offense is abysmal. Slayton is a great dynasty hold but I want no part of any Giant, any time soon. Where fore art though Saquon?
SIT HIM…The #31 WR needs to take a seat…for the rest of the season.
JuJu Smith-Schuster PIT @ BAL
Same story here…if you haven’t benched JuJu already, you record looks like shit. He got 14 looks last week, but I call bullshit. Maybe he is back, but I’m not trying to find out against the Baltimore defense.
SIT HIM…The #30 Fantasy Football WR needs to prove it before you can trust him in your lineup
TIGHT END
Richard Rodgers PHI vs DAL
Let’s touch on Dallas one more time…and this time for my favorite start of the week. It’s no secret the TE position is a huge part of the Philly offense, and last week we saw it doesn’t matter who is manning the position. I like Rodgers to see a ton of looks…up and down the field and in the end zone.
START HIM…The #33 TE repeats his top 6 finish from last week.
Albert Okwuegbunam (Rookie) DEN vs LAC
I hope you caught my waiver wire wins article last week and snatched this stud up. Albert O saw as many targets as returning starter Noah Fant saw last week (7). Except Albert O caught all 7 for 60 yards. He was also Bronco starter Drew Lock’s starting TE in college at Mizzou. This is your Albert O warning. He should be on your team, even if he isn’t in your fantasy football lineup this week.
START HIM (with caution) …The #46 TE will finish in the top 20 of all TE’s
Noah Fant DEN vs LAC
Fant should be usable this week. But if you’re expecting TE1 numbers, you need to read the blurb above on Albert O again. Fant was only picked 31 spots before Albert O (#87 & #118)…John Elway will have no problem going with the better player, and I don’t think that’s Fant.
SIT HIM…The #10 TE will be the #2 TE on his own team, failing to be a top 12 TE
Evan Engram NYG vs TB
It hurts to hate a guy I really like. Imagine if this kid was catching balls from Aaron Rodgers, Scary. But not as scary as the Giants offense. They are Halloween scary. Stay away from all of them including Evan Engram…unless they are playing Dallas of course.
SIT HIM…The #18 Fantasy Football tight end is not playing Dallas.
