Not only did Week 7 have injuries to contend with, but multiple offensive starters were also dealing with illnesses with limited playing time and production, making the fantasy football season more difficult.
Last week's dart throws were successful as Jonnu Smith became the focal point of the Dolphins offense and Rashod Bateman’s fourth year breakout looks to be real.
Fortunately, there are no byes this week, opening a larger player pool for fantasy managers to get back on track in the back half of the fantasy season.
Week 8 Fantasy Football Starts:
| Week 8 Starts | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Dolphins |
| D'Andre Swift | RB | Bears |
| Courtland Sutton | WR | Broncos |
| Taysom Hill | TE | Saints |
Week 8 Fantasy Football Sits:
| Week 8 Sits | Position | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Geno Smith | QB | Seahawks |
| Alexander Mattison | RB | Raiders |
| Christian Kirk | WR | Jaguars |
| Mark Andrews | TE | Ravens |
Quarterback Lineup Advice, Fantasy Football
Start Tua Tagovailoa in Week 8
The entire Miami Dolphin team has a different attitude in interviews as Tua returns to action and is a Week 8 start against the Cardinals.
The Cardinals are an ideal opponent for Tua’s return as they struggle to get pressure, ranking in the bottom five of the league for the second consecutive season.
As a result of this passive defense, opponents have a league high 55.8% success rate, and quarterbacks are averaging the fourth most fantasy points against.
Also working in the Dolphins' favor is the fact that the Cardinals are traveling across the country to play an early game. They will also bake in the sun as game time temperatures should be above 80 on Sunday.
Tua is a welcome addition for fantasy gamers since the ancillary pieces of the offense should have success this week with much-improved quarterback play.
Honorable Mention: Bo Nix
The Carolina defense continues to be one of the worst units of the current century.
The Panthers are allowing an average of 22 points in the first half of games.
It is difficult to see a ceiling game from Nix as the Panthers are likely to struggle to push back with Bryce Young under center, but Nix is a safe floor play this week.
Nix is averaging 35 yards a game rushing and has found the endzone with his legs three times this season.
His passing should improve efficiency wise against the Panthers defense, but opponents are averaging 28.8 dropbacks per game in wins against them.
Sit Geno Smith in Week 8
Smith lost his top receiver and heads outdoors for Week 8, making him a sit candidate.
Last week was pegged as a perfect game environment for Smith with pass-heavy, high-tempo offenses, but that is exactly the opposite of what Sean McDermott does.
The Bills are third in EPA per play, but instead of capitalizing on a competitive advantage, they slow the game down and run the fewest offensive plays of any team.
They are also starting to improve health wise on defense.
Without DK Metcalf, it is hard to see a path to consistent success in the passing game for Smith against a top-tier defense.
I’m fading Smith without his best weapon and sitting him in Week 8.
Running back Lineup Advice, Fantasy Football
Start D'Andre Swift in Week 8
Swift is a must start in Week 8.
After averaging 1.8 yards per carry in the first three weeks, Swift has done his best Undertaker meme, rising from the grave scoring rushing touchdowns and finishing as a top-six fantasy scorer among running backs in three consecutive games.
The Commanders rank 28th in defensive success against and yards per carry allowed against running back rushes, which provides an avenue for Swift to continue his success on the ground.
Swift is averaging 18 carries per game over the past three games as Khalil Herbert has been phased out of the offense.
Swift's volume and favorable match-up make him one of the top running backs this week.
Sit Alexander Mattison in Week 8
It’s only fitting that this year’s worst fantasy selection in the running back dead zone was Zamir White, who lost his starting job to Alexander Mattison, who was last year's dead zone cover boy.
Despite taking over the Raider backfield, Mattison is a sit-candidate in Week 8 as he faces the Chiefs defense.
The Raiders defeated the Chiefs last year on the success of the running game, but I’m betting on less success this year.
The Chiefs continued their defensive success against running backs limiting Jordan Mason to 58 rushing yards and 8.9 PPR fantasy points on Sunday and continue to allow the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs.
Even with an increased workload, Mattison is likely to struggle to score fantasy points on the ground.
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Wide Receiver Lineup Advice, Fantasy Football
Start Courtland Sutton in Week 8
Sutton was held off the scoresheet last Thursday as he failed to record a target against the Saints, but he has a prime matchup this week against the Panthers.
It would make sense for the Broncos to involve him this week to build some chemistry with Bo Nix
It’s highly unlikely that a team multiple games above .500 trades it’s best receiving option.
I doubt Sutton reached double digit targets as he did early in the season, but he could be the benefactor of red zone passes in a get-right spot.
Sit Christian Kirk in Week 8
Kirk continued to underachieve his fantasy draft position on Sunday and remains a sit candidate again in Week 8.
Kirk struggles to rack up volume when the Jaguars are fully healthy as Brian Thomas and Evan Engram limit his floor and ceiling.
Kirk is not a red zone threat and requires volume to be a fantasy football contributor but has not earned more than 6 targets in any game Evan Engram has played.
Should the Jaguars remain within multiple scores, the rushing game could have success against the Packers, and Kirk could be limited to a handful of low-fantasy calorie targets.
Unfortunately, this is another week where Kirk is best on fantasy benches.
Tight End Lineup Advice, Fantasy Football
Start Taysom Hill in Week 8
Hill looks on track to return to action and provides a boom or bust start option in Week 8.
The Saints' offensive line looks should return a starter to action, which is useful for Hill. Although he’s listed as a tight end, his usage is in the rushing game and potentially passing.
Hill has three targets and 14 rush attempts this season but provides a skeleton key to the Saints in the red zone and has touchdown upside.
With Alvin Kamara literally banged up everywhere, Hill could hit double digit carries this week with some touchdown upside.
Honorable Mention: Grant Calcaterra
Dallas Goedert did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, and an improved matchup and game script should provide a floor for Calcaterra with touchdown upside as the Eagles are likely to surpass 14 pass attempts against the Bengals.
The Bengals are allowing the fifth most passing yards to tight ends and the third most fantasy points, making this a viable spot start.
Sit Mark Andrews in Week 8
Andrews is coming off a multiple touchdown game on prime time, yet his underlying usage metrics are a bit of a concern, making him a sit in Week 8.
For the fifth consecutive game, Andrews has been on the field for fewer than 60% of Lamar Jackson’s dropbacks.
He has lived on efficiency for the past two weeks.
Unfortunately, as double-digit favorites against the Browns, the number of passing attempts may be limited, and the Browns are one of the league's best teams in defending tight ends, ranking 2nd in DVOA and fifth allowing 34.1 yards per game to tight ends.
This might not be a great week to chase the last week's points with Andrews.