Week 8 is on the horizon and with that comes all of those tough decisions on who to start and who to sit. Here are our recommendations at each position for Week 8.
Quarterback
Start ‘Em
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints (vs IND) – The Saints offense might not be a tonne of fun to watch, but Carr has been a very reliable fantasy starter through recent weeks. He has finished as QB10 or better in his last two outings and has a solid matchup against the Colts in Week 8. His ceiling might not be the highest, but this feels like a high floor game.
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs JAX) – The Steelers offense looked solid coming off their bye and Pickett finished Week 7 as the QB14. I like the matchup this weekend too. The Jaguars’ defense has been good, but their weakness has been in the passing game. I expect the Steelers to attack through the air and Pickett to pad the box score.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (vs CIN) – Purdy and the 49ers might have lost their last two, but I’m not letting that stop me from starting him. He is averaging 17.5 points per game and sits as the QB9 in scoring. Even in last week’s loss to the Vikings he scored 14.8 points and finished as QB16.
Sit ‘Em
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (vs CLE) – Geno has struggled in terms of his fantasy production through the last few weeks. He hasn’t topped 15 points in a game since Week 3 and he has finished as a top 12 quarterback just once this season. This weekend he faces off against an electric Browns defense that is allowing 13.5 points per game to opposing quarterbacks.
Joshua Dobbs, Arizona Cardinals (vs BAL) – Dobbs sits at QB17 through seven weeks of the 2023 season, but I’m very wary of starting him this weekend. He will be going up against a very good Ravens defense that just held a potent Lions offense to six points. I’d be inclined to look elsewhere.
Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos (vs KC) – Nothing looks easy for Russell Wilson and the Broncos’ passing game at this point. He hasn’t topped 200 yards in a game since Week 4 and Sean Payton seems to be increasingly keen to lean on their running game. This weekend Wilson faces a good Chiefs defense capable of keeping him in check.
Running back
Start ‘Em
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans (vs CAR) – Pierce hasn’t done much from a fantasy perspective this season, but this is a pure matchup play. The Panthers have had comfortably the worst run defense in football, allowing the highest EPA per rush and the highest success rate in football. If Pierce can’t make this work to his advantage then I don’t know when he will.
Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings (vs GB) – The Packers, as has been the case for a long time, cannot stop the run. They are currently giving up a whopping 27.3 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs and Mattison will take on the bulk of Minnesota’s workload in this one. He feels like a player with a high floor and potentially a high ceiling too.
D’Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears (vs LAC) – Foreman has made the most of an injury ravaged Bears backfield and has seized his chance. He was unstoppable last week against the Raiders, scoring a whopping 33 points. That isn’t going to happen again, but Chicago should continue to lean on him in the absence of Justin Fields.
Sit ‘Em
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers (vs MIN) – Jones is clearly still not back to full fitness, as evidenced by his reduced workload against the Broncos in Week 7. Add in a dysfunctional Packers offense with a banged up offensive line going up against a Vikings defense with one of the best run defenses in football and it’s tough to get on board with a start for Jones.
Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers (vs HOU) – Sanders was the big money free agent addition for Carolina’s backfield but he’s not done much this season. He has just one game with a finish above RB22 and has failed to hit double digit points three times in five games. Chuba Hubbard has been eating into his workload and this situation feels too uncertain to fully trust.
Brian Robinson, Washington Commanders (vs PHI) – Robinson’s lack of receiving work has made him one of the most touchdown dependent running backs in the NFL this season. Game script hasn’t helped either as he has seen his workload reduce through recent weeks. I struggle to see Washington moving the ball well on the ground against Philly so I would sit Robinson.
Wide receiver
Start ‘Em
Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders (vs DET) – It doesn’t matter who is at quarterback – Meyers’ production is like clockwork. He scored 18 points against the Bears last week with Brian Hoyer at quarterback. Meyers now has three games as WR10 or better and has scored 15+ points four times. This weekend he faces a Lions defense allowing the third most yards to opposing WR2s.
Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs JAX) – Johnson made his return from IR last weekend and it was as if he had never been away. He earned six targets, catching five of them for 79 yards on his way to 12.9 points. This weekend he faces a Jaguars team whose weakness has been in coverage and I suspect that is exactly where the Steelers will look to attack.
Joshua Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers (vs CHI) – Things aren’t going very well for the Chargers this season, but Palmer has at least been solid. He clearly has the trust of Justin Herbert, commanding at least seven targets in each of his last four games. He has now scored double digit points in each of those games and is preparing to face a porous Bears defense.
Sit ‘Em
Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers (vs MIN) – The Packers passing game seemed to lack any rhythm against the Broncos last week and Watson was limited to just three catches for 24 yards. He isn’t living up to his WR1 billing and doesn’t seem to have any real chemistry with Jordan Love. He isn’t getting the workload or the touchdowns to justify a start.
Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills (vs TB) – Which version of Davis are you going to get? Will it be the one that had 100 yards and a touchdown for 22 points against the Jags, or the one that has failed to top four points in either of his last two outings? Nobody really knows, and it is that uncertainty and volatility that makes me want to steer clear.
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (vs KC) – Sutton has been a very solid fantasy option through recent weeks, with two top 15 finishes in his last five games and double digit points in all but one game this season. The Chiefs are tough opponents though. They have been one of the best teams in the NFL at containing opposing WR1s, allowing just 46.6 yards per game.
Tight end
Start ‘Em
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints (vs IND) – Yes, it seems like Taysom Hill is still a thing in 2023. He has now earned 11 targets in his last two games and is regularly featuring in the run game. That has seen him log TE6 finishes in back-to-back games. This weekend he faces a Colts defense allowing 13 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends.
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (vs CAR) – Schultz had a slow start to his time in Houston but he seems to be finding his feet. In his last three games he has scored double digit points. He has sored a touchdown in each of those games and is quickly establishing himself as a favourite red zone target of CJ Stroud.
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons (vs TEN) – Pitts hasn’t always lived up to lofty fantasy expectations but the last three weeks have been very encouraging. Since Week 5, Pitts sits eighth in points per game amongst tight ends and has earned 21 targets. The matchup against the Titans isn’t the easiest, but I am going to bet on this good run continuing a little while longer.
Sit ‘Em
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears (vs LV) – If you weren’t already worried about what Kmet would look like without Justin Fields then you should be after Week 7. He finished the game with no targets and failed to score any fantasy points for the first time since Week 2 of 2022. Until we see him form some kind of connection with Tyson Bagent then I’m out on him as a starter.
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills (vs TB) – Kincaid had a breakout game in Week 7, logging eight catches for 75 yards against the Patriots. I don’t fully trust him this week though. He has failed to top nine points four times this season and is going up against a Bucs defense that has been very effective at limiting opposing tight ends.
Zach Ertz/Trey McBride, Arizona Caridnals – Arizona is splitting playing time between their tight ends. Both played just 53% of snaps in Week 7 and they were fourth and fifth in routes run respectively. If this role share continues then neither can be relied on as fantasy starters. That is especially true against an exceptional Ravens defense.