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Quarterback
Start of the Week: Joe Burrow (v PHI)
Burrow has put up modest passing numbers in back-to-back games, but Eagles-Bengals feels like a potential shootout, and I’m not sure we can say Philadelphia’s defense has turned the corner with the past two games coming versus the Browns and Giants. This week, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will be a massive challenge for the secondary, so Burrow—who has thrown for multiple touchdowns in five of his last six games—is a clear top-four play to join the usual high-end QB1 options in Jalen Hurts, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson.
Start: Caleb Williams (@ WAS)
Jayden Daniels (ribs) being out could limit the ceiling some for Williams if Bears-Commanders becomes a lower-scoring game, but you can be sure he wants to shine versus his hometown team—and Sunday is a big opportunity to make Rookie of the Year case whether or not Daniels is active. Even with Washington playing much better defensively in recent weeks than they did to begin the season, I don’t see their secondary having answers for DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze; Williams is our QB8 for Week 8.
Start: Tua Tagovailoa (v ARI)
Tagovailoa is set to return to the lineup this week after a four-game absence, and he’ll immediately be in a blow-up spot versus an Arizona defense that is allowing the most passing yards per attempt in the league (8.3)—which could easily go up if Mike McDaniel’s offense hits on the explosive plays we have come to expect with Tua on the field. Before struggling in his last appearance with three interceptions versus Buffalo, Tagovailoa began the season with 338 passing yards, and Justin Herbert is coming off 349 passing yards against the Cardinals in Week 7.
Start: Bo Nix (v CAR)
Marcus Mariota was dropping dimes last week in relief of Jayden Daniels, but Carolina continues to look bad on both sides of the ball—while Nix and the Broncos are surging. Over the past two games, Denver’s franchise quarterback has rushed six times for 61 yards and 10 times for 75 yards to boost his fantasy outlook, and as stated last week, I believe Nix will have a huge game through the air eventually. With trips to Baltimore and Kansas City to begin November, this weekend is a good time for Sean Payton to unleash Nix in order to build confidence for a team currently in position for a playoff spot.
Sit of the Week: Brock Purdy (v DAL)
Deebo Samuel Sr. (illness) playing and the Cowboys still being without star defenders Micah Parsons (ankle) and DaRon Bland (foot) would take Purdy off the “sit” side of the ledger—especially considering the success he had in this matchup last year with 252 yards and four touchdowns through the air. A rested Dallas defense could create problems for San Francisco after Purdy threw three interceptions last week against the Chiefs, though, and uncharacteristic struggles in the red zone for Kyle Shanahan’s offense have held Purdy back despite ranking third in the league in passing yards. Consider him more of a QB2 this week.
Sit: Matthew Stafford (v MIN)
The Rams getting Cooper Kupp (ankle) back on Thursday night is tremendous news, and it’s possible Stafford lights it up throwing to his favorite target in what almost feels like the final stand for Los Angeles (at least the current core). My concern would be the offensive line getting overmatched by Minnesota’s extremely aggressive, blitz-heavy defense that wants to bounce back after the loss to Detroit, and Stafford has a 3:4 touchdown-interception ratio through six games. Primarily because of the low floor based on the matchup, Stafford remains outside the top 20 at quarterback.
Sit: Geno Smith (v BUF)
The combination of a matchup versus the Bills and likely being without DK Metcalf (knee) is bad news for Smith’s outlook this week—and I’d expect Seattle to do their best to keep the ball on the ground with Buffalo’s defense being much softer against the run. Needing to put up points to keep up with Josh Allen could be the silver lining from a fantasy perspective, but when the Seahawks do throw, not having Metcalf will limit the upside with Sean McDermott’s unit allowing fewer than 18.0 fantasy points to every quarterback not named Lamar Jackson so far this season.
Sit: Baker Mayfield (v ATL)
Tampa Bay has been lighting it up offensively with point totals of 33, 30, 51, and 31 over the past four weeks, so it’d be completely understandable to roll with Mayfield—who leads the NFL in touchdown passes (18). Unfortunately, the Bucs being without Chris Godwin (ankle) and Mike Evans (hamstring) really limits the offensive firepower, and the rematch versus Atlanta feels like it’ll be lower scoring than the 36-30 shootout earlier this month. Look for Tampa Bay to play more through their running backs to make Mayfield a low-end QB2 despite the monster start this season.
Running Back
Start of the Week: De’Von Achane (v ARI)
A concussion knocked Achane out early the last time he was here (on a day where Raheem Mostert and Jaylen Wright both ended up rushing for 80+ yards), but the second-year runner clearly led the backfield in his return last week (17 touches for 85 yards) to keep his upside RB1 status. And now, the ceiling should elevated—including as a pass-catcher—with Tua Tagovailoa back, and I like Achane to find the end zone for the first time since Week 2 following a four-game drought without Tagovailoa suited up.
Start: Javonte Williams (v CAR)
The stock for Williams is trending up since a slow start, as the former North Carolina standout has totaled 80+ yards in three of the past four weeks—with the lone exception being a six-carry outing when Denver fell behind early against the Chargers. Even including that game, Williams has rushed 49 times for 249 yards (5.1 YPC) and two touchdowns since Week 4, and he’s also caught 13 passes for 89 yards over that span. I’d expect him to stay hot this week versus a Carolina defense that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs.
Start: Travis Etienne Jr. (v GB)
We’ll have to monitor Etienne’s status after missing last week with a hamstring injury, but he was pushing to play—and Jacksonville will need all the weaponry they can get with the Packers coming to town. Although he will be splitting work with Tank Bigsby whenever he ends up returning, Etienne still provides enough big-play potential and work in the passing game to remain an RB2 option, and Green Bay showed they can be run on with Joe Mixon (25 carries for 115 yards and two touchdowns) going off last week.
Start: Jaylen Warren (v NYG)
The steadiness of Najee Harris should be highlighted with 73+ total yards in every game this season, and he’s caught fire with 102+ rushing yards and a touchdown in both games since Warren returned. Still, the Steelers being boosted with Russell Wilson under center creates more runway for everyone from a fantasy perspective, and Warren—who handled 14 touches last week—should be a solid FLEX versus a Giants defense that’s allowed the most yards per carry in the league (5.4) and was shredded by Saquon Barkley in Week 7.
Sit of the Week: Tony Pollard (@ DET)
Detroit had trouble slowing down Aaron Jones last week (17 touches for 116 yards and a touchdown), but they remain a top-five run defense on the season both from a real-life perspective and in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs. That’s bad news for Pollard for a Tennessee offense that could face stacked boxes all afternoon, and the Titans have been unable to get him the ball in space as a pass-catcher with five receptions for negative-one yard over the past two weeks. We have Pollard as more of a FLEX than RB2.
Sit: Chuba Hubbard (@ DEN)
The Panthers usually sticking with the run and not wanting to test Denver’s stingy secondary could allow Hubbard to again surpass expectations as one of the lone bright spots for Carolina this year—but I would anticipate Vance Joseph’s defense will do everything they can to stop the run. Either way, the chances of Hubbard ripping off a long run are probably lowered simply due to how effectively the Broncos tackle and hustle to the ball, so he’s a volatile, low-floor option on the road.
Sit: Nick Chubb (v BAL)
Tampa Bay seemed to go away from the ground game too early on Monday night after they had some early success, but the Ravens have mostly been dominant as a run defense—ranking first in the league in rushing yards per game (68.4) and yards per carry (3.3) allowed. Unless the Browns turning to Jameis Winston with Deshaun Watson (Achilles) done for the season provides a significant spark, Chubb is playing for an offense (and behind an offensive line) that isn’t close to the level it was in previous years, so another touchdown might be needed for him to pay off as a start on Sunday.
Sit: Alexander Mattison (v KC)
Mattison comfortably held onto his lead back status with Zamir White back last week, and he went for season-highs in carries (23), rushing yards (92), touches (26), and total yards (123) for a team that finally got the running game going to play the brand of football they expected to play under Antonio Pierce. However, the Chiefs have done an excellent job neutralizing opposing rushing attacks, and they surely remember White rumbling for 145 yards on 22 attempts last year in the Christmas Day loss; Mattison is a quality FLEX, but I wouldn’t boost him too much after last week’s performance.
Wide Receiver
Start of the Week: Davante Adams (@ NE)
Adams was held to three receptions (on nine targets) for 30 scoreless yards in his Jets debut, but a modest performance was to be expected in his first game with the team. Moving forward, fantasy owners should count on WR1 numbers from the former All-Pro wideout, and he should be one of the NFL’s top touchdown threats based on his chemistry with Aaron Rodgers. Get Adams in lineups as a top-ten play, and don’t be concerned about quiet outings against the Patriots over the past two seasons (28.5 receiving yards per game) when in Las Vegas.
Start: Jauan Jennings (v DAL)
Again, the status of Deebo Samuel Sr. is up in the air, but with Brandon Aiyuk (knee) done for the year, Jennings is set to step into a full-time role for the Niners—which resulted in an 11/175/3 line back in Week 3 for his lone game this season with more than 60% of the offensive snaps played. While the Cowboys having DaRon Bland back to pair with Trevon Diggs would make for a tougher matchup, the gambling duo can allow some production, and Jennings has the ultimate trust of Brock Purdy to be a WR2 if Deebo is out.
Start: Xavier Worthy (@ LV)
This is more of a gut feeling, as Worthy has largely been quiet to begin his career with 25 or fewer receiving yards in four-of-six games—but he has found the end zone four times and could be primed for an explosion in any given week based on his skillset. With the Chiefs perhaps having a bit of an edge taking on a Raiders team that beat them last year (Kansas City’s most recent loss), we could see a deep shot or two dialed up for Worthy, and the presence of DeAndre Hopkins will only create favorable looks for the rookie. We like him more than usual this week as a high-ceiling WR2/FLEX option.
Start: Courtland Sutton (v CAR)
Sutton was held without a catch last week in the win over New Orleans, but it wasn’t the best matchup for him—and Sean Payton appeared lightheartedly remorseful on the sideline at the end of the game about not getting him the ball, which Sutton responded to by saying “next week” (at least that’s what it looked like to me). The Panthers have a bottom-ten pass defense and have allowed the third-most touchdown passes in the league (14), so I like Sutton to be a more central part of the game plan and like his chances of returning to the end zone this weekend.
Others: Jalen McMillan (v ATL), Troy Franklin (v CAR)
Sit of the Week: Terry McLaurin (v CHI)
Marcus Mariota is plenty capable of getting McLaurin and his playmakers the ball (as shown last week) if he draws the start on Sunday, but the Bears are a brutal matchup for passing attacks—particularly McLaurin as he faces a possible shadow assignment from Jaylon Johnson. Kliff Kingsbury’s offense is much better than what Washington has had in recent years, but McLaurin was limited to 41 yards and 49 yards against Chicago over the past two seasons, so he should be downgraded to the WR3 range with a capped ceiling in Week 8.
Sit: Diontae Johnson (@ DEN)
Johnson was a reminder that it can be risky to trust pass-catchers on a bad team/offense, and the volume disappeared with one reception (on three targets) for 17 yards last week in a blowout loss versus the Commanders—which should have been a cupcake matchup for him and the passing attack. This week, Johnson could have a difficult time putting up numbers versus Pat Surtain II and the Broncos, so it’d be wise to keep him out of lineups if you have options, especially with Bryce Young back under center and not showing the same chemistry with Johnson that Andy Dalton has shown.
Sit: Michael Pittman Jr. (@ HOU)
The connection between Anthony Richardson and Pittman showed promise last week with three receptions for 63 yards, but Indy remains a tough offense to trust due to inconsistency from their quarterback—and Pittman has been held below 40 yards in five-of-seven games to begin the season. Maybe the hopeful return of Jonathan Taylor (ankle) will create weaker coverages for the passing attack to exploit, but Alec Pierce and Adonai Mitchell have been the “shot” players rather than Pittman, so you could be banking on a score (after zero touchdowns in four games with Taylor healthy to begin the season).
Sit: Chris Olave (@ LAC)
Olave needs to clear the concussion protocol after being out last Thursday night, but he’s another example of a player that is difficult to rely on simply because of the state of the offense with Derek Carr (oblique) out. The Saints turning to Jake Haener (or Taysom Hill) would provide some optimism about Olave, but Los Angeles has a top-ten pass defense in most major statistical categories, and they just limited Marvin Harrison Jr. to three receptions for 21 scoreless yards on Monday night. Assuming it’s Spencer Rattler that starts again, I’d be surprised if the Chargers allowed Olave to see much single coverage.
Others: Calvin Ridley (@ DET), DeAndre Hopkins (@ LV)
Tight End
Start: of the Week: Sam LaPorta (v TEN)
Jameson Williams (suspension) being out—though it’s not official yet—could have the Lions getting back to what they did more last season when LaPorta was such a major factor, so he’s worth keeping in lineups despite facing a Tennessee defense that has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. Last week, Dalton Kincaid was able to go for 52 yards against the Titans, and LaPorta could be featured in scoring territory with Ben Johnson pulling out some plays from 2023 when he had 10 touchdowns as a rookie.
Start: T.J. Hockenson (@ LAR)
We can also look back at last year for Hockenson ahead of his expected debut on Thursday night—as he was terrific with 95 receptions for 960 yards and five touchdowns across 15 games, including an extremely high floor with 50+ receiving yards in 11 consecutive weeks before going down with a torn ACL on Christmas Eve. Even if he’s not given a full workload, Hockenson can be in lineups as a TE1 at a very shaky position.
Start: Taysom Hill (@ LAC)
The Saints will probably end up starting Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener this weekend, but it sounds like there is at least a slim chance of Hill starting at quarterback for them—activating cheat-code status for him in fantasy lineups. So, if you’re reading this right now and it’s still unclear who might be under center for the Saints, run to the waiver wire if Hill is available.
Sit of the Week: Anyone other than Taysom Hill if he plays quarterback
Seriously, Hill needs to be added if he’s not rostered in your league, and even if the Saints go with Spencer Rattler at quarterback as expected, we’ll likely see a heavier dose of their versatile weapon on Sunday to boost his outlook as a fill-in option at tight end.