We are halfway through the NFL season and it is playoff push time for fantasy football players. Hopefully, everyone is safely in their playoff picture, but for those of you that are hovering around 3-4 or 4-3, I’m here to help secure you a spot. Week 8 is a pivotal time on the fantasy schedule, as it’s really can make or break your season, a loss can eliminate you, and a win can keep you alive. Let’s do this people. All it takes is making to the postseason and then anything can happen. Heck, I won my league last year as the 8 seed out of 8 playoff teams. It is possible! Let’s get this championship run going, Start-Sit: Week 8 !
Start Them
Quarterbacks: Jacoby Brissett, Daniel Jones, Josh Allen
Jacoby Brissett is going to have a much better game than most people expect this week. The Broncos are in absolute tatters and their once feared defense is now struggling to be average. The Colts are going to let Marlon Mack get his touches, but T.Y. Hilton is healthy for the first time in a while and I expect him to be a big part of the gameplan. Daniel Jones is getting the benefit of the Lions already declaring themselves sellers for the rest of the season by shipping off some of their key defensive players. It doesn’t help Detroit losing Kerryon Johnson for the rest of 2019, which means it’s all on the shoulder of Matt Stafford. He’s not a bad play either, but Daniel Jones is going to have a lower ownage percentage. The Eagles defense is suffering from a major Super Bowl hangover. They’ve shown no ability to hold up in crucial situations, and have really struggled against hard-nosed teams. The Bills can really solidify themselves as a contender with a win, and Josh Allen can use his legs just as effectively as his arm. He’s a sneaky play this week.
Running Backs: Derrick Henry, Chase Edmonds, Todd Gurley
The Titans have had no help from the quarterback position so far this year, but the good thing about switching to Ryan Tannehill is that he is just as good at handing the ball off as every other quarterback in the NFL. That’s what Tennessee will have to lean on, but Derrick Henry is going to be able to take that workload and trample a terrible Tampa Bay defense. If you’re as tired as I am about the Cardinals reports about David Johnson’s injury, then you should have no issues having confidence in starting Chase Edmonds. He looked dynamic against a bad Giants team, but they seem to love his versatility in the offense and even tweeted that you should start Edmonds on your fantasy team (seriously, I’m not joking). He has a tougher opponent in the Saints this week, but he will get his touches and points. Usually, I don’t have to tell people to start Todd Gurley. Usually, Todd Gurley is a fantasy stud. He has been anything but consistent this season, but he has a unique matchup this week. He has one of the two worst teams in the NFL and he’s playing in London. It’ll be tough adjusting to the time difference, being a west coast team, but the Rams should be relying on their running game as they should be up early.
Wide Receivers/Tight End: Mike Williams, Kenny Stills, Kenny Golladay, Cameron Brate
The Chargers are going up against a tough defense in Chicago, but they’re not invincible. Quite honestly, their kryptonite has been their own offense forcing them to stay on the field. Rivers and his coaches know that, and they’ll use it to their advantage. Keenan Allen is dealing with an injury, and will still draw number one coverage. Mike Williams is a big body target and athletic, so he should catch a touchdown and pull down 5 or more balls. Kenny Stills is flying under the radar right now, and it makes sense. He’s a new addition to the Texans and has been the number three option. However, with Will Fuller out for a significant amount of time, Stills is elevated to the number two spot and will take advantage of that against a porous Raiders secondary for Week 8. I already alluded to the Giants/Lions game being a shootout, and Kenny Golladay is going to be a big part of that. Marvin Jones had such an enormous game last week, there’s no doubting New York took note and steps to prevent that from happening. Golladay should have a great game. Cameron Brate is a great tight end when he’s utilized, and this is the week to use him. Against a struggling Tennessee team that will look to control the clock and jam Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, the underneath and seam routes should be open for Brate to exploit. Jamie’s needs a security blanket, and outlets to the tight end are always safe.
Sit Them
Quarterbacks: Matt Ryan, Kyle Allen, Carson Wentz
The Atlanta Falcons have been one of the biggest disappointments so far in the 2019 season and heading into Week 8, it isn’t looking like it will get any better. Matt Ryan is hobbled by an injury and it’s looking like he will try to play through it. Against a tough Seattle defense and his own offense in disarray, you (and the Falcons in general) should sit him this week. Kyle Allen has been a sneaky play almost every week so far, and he’s paid off for the most part (because he’s smart enough to use Christian McCaffrey in the passing game). However, the 49ers have proven to be an elite defense so far this season, and if the Panthers want a chance, they’ll have to run the ball rather than passing it. Just from a lack of passing plays this week, I don’t like Allen this week. Carson Wentz has had a very pedestrian season so far, and this won’t be the breakout week he’s looking for. The Buffalo Bills have been relying on their defense all season, and they’ll be getting a lift from an underrated homefield advantage. Although he’s elite at almost being sacked, I fear that Wentz is going to hit the turf multiple times. Look for other options in Week 8.
Running Backs: Nick Chubb, Le’Veon Bell, Damien Williams
Look, if the Browns want to live up to the guaranteed win that Jarvis Landry promised against New England this week, they’ll have to do it through the passing game and unconventional plays. The one thing that the Patriots won’t do is let Nick Chubb beat them. He’s their best weapon so far this year, and New England is the best at taking away every opponent’s best player. We have to start seriously considering the fantasy tier that Bell is in. He’s clearly no longer elite, and he’s teetering on the edge of mediocre. He’s hovering around RB17 and has two entire touchdowns heading into Week 8. Jacksonville still has a good defense, and until the Jets can prove they can throw the ball at all, they can just stack the box. Until he proves otherwise, Bell is riding the bench. I’m not even sure what kind of offense the Chiefs are going to plan on Sunday Night. Sure, they can go back to the Alex Smith playbook with Matt Moore at the controls, but even that had Kareem Hunt as the workhorse. Damien Wiliams is far from workhorse status. He’s a super deep flex option at the very best, and in reality, I’m avoiding every Chief when Mahomes is out with the exception of Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Just load up on Packers for this game.
Wide Receivers/Tight End: Allen Robinson, DJ Moore, Brandin Cooks, Zach Ertz
As crazy as it sounds, Allen Robinson was more of a threat with Chase Daniel as his quarterback than Mitch Trubisky. The Bears offense right now is predicated on shortening the game and keeping the scoreboard within 14 to 21 points at the most. If I know that, guess who else does? That’s right, the Chargers. They’ll cover Robinson and make Trubisky beat them by some other means. That’s not going to happen. DJ Moore isn’t having a really average year so far, and with all the hype he had coming into the 2019 campaign, that’s really disappointing. It’s not going to get better against an elite San Francisco defense Week 8. He’s really shined in jump ball situations, but I just don’t think Carolina is going to get away from Run CMC when it’s third down or in the red zone. Cooper Kupp is really the only consistent part of the Rams passing attack this season, and Cooks is going to deal with a London game. That being said, it’ll more than likely be a blowout anyway, so there won’t be a need for Jared Goff to throw the ball much. It will be tough for Cooks to see many targets, so look for other sleeper options. Zach Ertz just hasn’t had a productive season so far this season, and that’s not entirely his fault. The Eagles offense as a whole has been wildly inconsistent and only using Ertz as a safety valve for the most part. Buffalo is smart enough to not let Ertz beat them, so I’m expecting a season-low in fantasy points from Ertz in Week 8.
That does it for the playoff push edition of Start/Sit! Did I miss anyone, or do you have any other tough choices on your team? Don’t be afraid to hit me up on Twitter @Rellihan51. Best of luck to everyone, and I hope you all get one step closer to qualifying for your fantasy playoffs.
