Week 8 Start'em/Sit'em

Wednesday, Oct 28, 2020 at 8:58 pm ET

This is the Fantasy Football Nerd's look at the best and worst matchups for Week 8 of the 2020 NFL season. Analysis is aggregated from multiple sources including FFN. FFN rankings are based upon PPR (point per reception) scoring. Given the known conditions, these matchups are the ones to watch and/or avoid.

Please Note: This list does not generally include the elite players that you are going to start regardless of matchup. You don't need us to tell you to start Christian McCaffrey, Travis Kelce, or Michael Thomas. Instead, we take a look at other players on your team that we believe either have great matchups or should be avoided for multiple reasons. Factors like opposing defense, performance trending, and peer comparisons may influence our decisions.

Start 'em Tom Brady (TB, QB)
He won't have Chris Godwin for Week 8 and he's one week away from adding Antonio Brown to the roster, but keep Tom Brady penciled into your lineups for Monday night. While the G-Men look tough on paper, Carson Wentz just took them for nearly 28 fantasy points last week. The Bucs offense is humming right now.

11th Fewest Pts to QB

Start 'em Joe Burrow (CIN, QB)
Ranked just inside our Top 10 this week is Joe Burrow who is really starting to come into his own. The matchup is great as the Titans give up 272 yards through the air and the 10th-most fantasy points to QBs including 32 points to Deshaun Watson in Week 6.

10th Most Pts to QB

Start 'em Carson Wentz (PHI, QB)
Even without a consistent receiving corp, Carson Wentz has managed to put up some decent fantasy games the past several weeks. Look for that streak to continue against the Cowboys who have given up an average of 31 fantasy points to Matt Ryan, Russell Wilson, and Kyler Murray this year. If Wentz can't get it done through the air, he'll get it done on the ground including three total scores in back-to-back games.

11th Most Pts to QB

Start 'em Melvin Gordon (DEN, RB)
With Phillip Lindsay (concussion) questionable, we could see more of Melvin Gordon this week against his former team. The matchup looks tough, but consider that over the last four games, the Chargers have given up an average of nearly 23 fantasy points (ppr) to James Robinson, Alvin Kamara, Ronald Jones, and Mike Davis. Double-digit production is almost a certainty.

13th Fewest Pts to RB

Start 'em Todd Gurley (ATL, RB)
Gurley delivered for fantasy owners last week even if he didn't do any favors for Falcons fans. A matchup with the Panthers should keep the good times coming as Carolina gives up the 5th-most fantasy points to running backs on the year. Gurley put up 25 fantasy points against them in Week 5.

5th Most Pts to RB

Start 'em Darrell Henderson (LAR, RB)
While a three-man committee approach isn't great for fantasy, Darrell Henderson has clearly been the most productive back for the Rams who lead the NFL in rush attempts on the year (222). He'll face a Dolphins front that has given up the 8th-most fantasy points to running backs on the season. Henderson remains a low-end RB2 and should be started in all formats.

8th Most Pts to RB

Start 'em Travis Fulgham (PHI, WR)
With no DeSean Jackson and a rotation of receivers/tight ends on the Philly receiving corp, Travis Fulgham has become a focal point for this air game and Carson Wentz. He'll get a nice matchup with the Cowboys who just gave up 22 fantasy points the last two weeks to both Terry McLaurin and Christian Kirk. Dallas has been very generous to wide receivers on the year giving up the 4th-most fantasy points to them.

4th Most Pts to WR

Start 'em Tyler Boyd (CIN, WR)
There should no longer be any doubt as to who the #1 wide receiver is in Cincy, and a favorable matchup with Tennessee should keep him locked into fantasy lineups. JuJu Smith-Schuster was able to get back to fantasy relevance last week against the Titans as was Brandin Cooks the week before.

6th Most Pts to WR

Start 'em Jarvis Landry (CLE, WR)
With no Odell Beckham Jr to split the field, it's going to be interesting to see if Jarvis Landry can take advantage of the additional looks or will get smothered by the extra attention. This is going to be a tough call. If he can rise to the occasion, the matchup is fairly decent as Tom Brady and company torched the Raiders last week with both Chris Godwin and Scotty Miller hauling in 23 fantasy points.

11th Most Pts to WR

Start 'em Richard Rodgers (PHI, TE)
With no Zach Ertz again this week, look for Richard Rodgers to see additional targets again this week. He filled in nicely last week putting up almost 15 fantasy points, and could replicate that performance against the Cowboys who just gave up 16 points to Logan Thomas last week.

11th Most Pts to TE

Start 'em Jonnu Smith (TEN, TE)
Don't let last week's performance sour you on Jonnu Smith. This matchup is perfect for Smith as the Bengals give up the 3rd-most fantasy points to tight ends including 3 touchdowns last week to David Njoku and Harrison Bryant. Smith is ranked 6th this week on FFN, and at $4,100 makes for a great option on Draft Kings this week.

3rd Most Pts to TE

Start 'em Philadelphia Eagles (PHI, DEF)
The Eagles defense comes into this week's rankings at #3 facing a Cowboys team that is allowing the 6th-most fantasy points to opposing D/STs. Look for Philly to bring the pressure early and often.

6th Most Pts to DEF

Start 'em Wil Lutz (NO, K)
The Bears may not surrender much through the air or on the ground, but teams have been able to put the ball through the uprights against them this year including three straight games of double-digit fantasy points to kickers.

4th Most Pts to K

Sit 'em Cam Newton (NE, QB)
Three interceptions and negative fantasy points - not what you want to see from your QB. Hopefully last week's benching will light a fire under Cam Newton, but if you've got a better option, play it. Newton is ranked 14th this week facing a Buffalo secondary that can be beat, but this Patriots team doesn't feel like trustworthy.

15th Fewest Pts to QB

Sit 'em Drew Brees (NO, QB)
The Bears secondary has been brutal to both receivers and quarterbacks. In fact, opposing QBs are averaging a mere 13 fantasy points - second fewest in the NFL. We can't even count on Michael Thomas being available as he's dealing with a Grade 1 hamstring strain and remains doubtful. Brees is ranked 20th this week and should only be started in Superflex leagues.

2nd Fewest Pts to QB

Sit 'em Baker Mayfield (CLE, QB)
After a terrible Week 6 performance, Baker Mayfield came out swinging against the Bengals last week throwing for 297 yards, 5 touchdowns, and a pick...and that was without OBJ - a situation he'll now need to get used to. The real question is this: which Baker will show up this week? On paper, this is a sweet matchup as the Raiders are giving up the 6th-most fantasy points on the season, but Baker sits at #18 in our rankings making him a QB2 for Week 8.

6th Most Pts to QB

Sit 'em Devonta Freeman (NYG, RB)
Although Freeman had been gaining more touches every week, he left last week's game with an ankle injury after just 3 attempts. Freeman plays on Monday night against the Bucs who have given up the 6th-fewest fantasy points and the fewest yards on the ground per game. There's not even a question as to what to do here. Leave him on your bench.

6th Fewest Pts to RB

Sit 'em Myles Gaskin (MIA, RB)
It's tough to see Gaskin ranked 13th this week. He's getting the volume as Miami's top back, but the Rams defense is no joke. They've allowed the 9th-fewest fantasy points to running backs on the year and no back has been able to score more than 10 points since Week 3 (Devin Singletary : 16.1 points). We disagree with the rankings on Gaskin and feel that he's more of a flex option than a high-end RB2 in Week 8.

9th Fewest Pts to RB

Sit 'em Chris Carson (SEA, RB)
As of right now, Chris Carson remains a game-time decision for the late afternoon game. Unfortunately, the combination of injury concerns and a brutal matchup (nobody gives up fewer fantasy points to RBs than San Francisco) means that Carson adds too much risk for fantasy owners in need of a win. Let him rest this week.

Feweset Pts to RB

Sit 'em Chase Claypool (PIT, WR)
Look, we said that Claypool will likely be a roller-coaster type player, and we certainly saw that last week. He's playing WR3 behind JuJu and Diontae Johnson and is going to be inconsistent. Assuming Johnson suits up this week, Claypool carries additional risk to fantasy owners as the Ravens have largely kept receivers in check giving up the 6th-fewest fantasy points to them on the year.

6th Fewest Pts to WR

Sit 'em Julian Edelman (NE, WR)
The Patriots offense is a shell of its former self. Edelman is no longer the target-monster that he once was. The combination of a knee injury, a tough matchup (Buffalo sits inside the Top 10 in fewest fantasy points allowed), and a QB-situation that has gotten very ugly means that Edelman could struggle to deliver this week.
UPDATE: Since publication, Julian Edelman underwent a precautionary standard knee procedure and will not play in Week 8.

9th Fewest Pts to WR

Sit 'em T.Y. Hilton (IND, WR)
It may not be time just yet to throw in the towel on T.Y. Hilton, but it's getting awfully close. The matchup here is fantastic as the Lions give up the 9th-most fantasy points. Even though players like Keelan Cole and Tre'Quan Smith have put up 20+ points, Hilton just hasn't been reliable regardless of who's he's lining up against. The Colts defense is solid, so rarely does the game script require Rivers to throw which isn't good news for T.Y.

9th Most Pts to WR

Sit 'em Gerald Everett (LAR, TE)
With no Tyler Higbee last week, Everett found his way into the endzone. Higbee could be MIA against MIA this week leaving some extra targets on the table, but the Dolphins are actually quite tough against tight ends giving up the 2nd-fewest points to them. No tight end has reached double-digit production against them including George Kittle.

2nd Fewest Pts to TE

Sit 'em Hayden Hurst (ATL, TE)
Hurst ranks 11th this week, so there's a strong possibility that you'll need to start him, but temper your expectations. He's averaged just 8.6 points over his last four games and could only put up 2.8 points against the Panthers back in Week 5. In fact, no TE has scored more than 12 fantasy points all year on them, and that was Jared Cook last week.

10th Fewest Pts to TE

Sit 'em Minnesota Vikings (MIN, DEF)
It doesn't seem that long ago that the Vikings defense was consistently in the Top 10. You'll have to scroll all the way down to #26 this week on the FFN rankings to find the Purple People Eaters facing their division rival in Green Bay. The Packers have surrendered the 3rd-fewest fantasy points to defenses on the year.

3rd Fewest Pts to DEF

Sit 'em Chris Boswell (PIT, K)
The Steelers on the road? What could go wrong? No team has given up fewer fantasy points to kickers this year than Baltimore. Boswell will face a Baltimore team that has given up an average of just 3 fantasy points to kickers over their last four games.

Feweset Pts to K

Join the Discussion

If asking a sit/start question, be sure to provide your scoring format and contribute to answering questions from other FN members as well.

Sarge831 CommentedOct 29, 2020 12:27 am

What is a.coopers fantasy value going forward with the state of the qb play

jamisdiablo CommentedOct 29, 2020 8:49 am

shitty, as is ALL Dallas players, except MAYBE Zeke.

Upper Decker CommentedOct 29, 2020 11:54 am

I would think Cooper's value will go down, but, they have to throw it to someone. I mean they're going to be behind most games.

Nerd CommentedOct 29, 2020 1:34 pm

Click on the Rankings option in the site menu and select Rest of Season rankings for different scoring options. In standard scoring, Cooper is a WR3 along with D.J. Chark, Tee Higgins , A.J. Green, and Jamison Crowder. What a dramatic fall in the rankings.

Upper Decker CommentedOct 29, 2020 11:53 am

I would think Cooper's value will go down, but, they have to throw it to someone. I mean they're going to be behind most games.

tramz18 CommentedOct 30, 2020 9:00 pm

I have questions for 2 leagues (sorry) hope it's ok.
1-A.Jones out. I have Mattison on the bench or do i pick up 1 of these FA's. If so,please list in order the top 2........Gore/ Deejay Dallas.
2- Have Sanders and Jones out.....Have Moss and Gore penciled in but these FA available....would you take any of these FA and please list the top 2 in order.... Deejay Dallas/Gallman/ Gus Edwards.
Both are PPR....Thanks in advance!

Nerd CommentedOct 31, 2020 11:59 am

Of those FA's, probably Gallman, Edwards, Dallas right now

tramz18 CommentedOct 31, 2020 1:29 pm

Thanks!

Hinzie22 CommentedNov 1, 2020 8:41 am

Would you start in J Jefferson in windy Green Bay or Travis Fulgham? .5 ppr. Thanks!

Nerd CommentedNov 1, 2020 8:57 am

Justin Jefferson - but check the rankings to be sure.