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Quarterback
Start of the Week: Bo Nix (v DAL)
The first three quarters weren’t great, but Nix was unleashed in a 33-pooint fourth quarter for Denver last week—totaling four touchdowns to finish with 39.96 fantasy points (most by any player so far this season). Next up is a matchup versus a Dallas defense that’s allowing the most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks (25.1), so the buy-low window that I’ve mentioned a couple of times should be completely shut. Make sure Nix is in lineups as a top-five play for Week 8.
Start: Aaron Rodgers (v GB)
There isn’t really any outward animosity between Rodgers and the Packers heading into Sunday night, as he has a great relationship with Jordan Love and might have even more of an appreciation for his time there after a two-year nightmare in New York. However, you can absolutely certain that Rodgers will have intense motivation to do well having been replaced by Love and Green Bay not handling the entire situation in the best way. Pass protection needs to hold up, but Rodgers had four touchdowns against the Jets in the opener and will hope for a similar performance in primetime.
Start: Joe Flacco (v NYJ)
Flacco needing to play two games in five days after being traded to the Bengals hasn’t phased him at all—as the former Super Bowl MVP has thrown for 280.5 yards per game with a 5:0 touchdown-interception ratio in two starts. Basically, a confident, experienced quarterback paired with a dominant duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins has led to immediate success, and Flacco shouldn’t slow down this week despite improved play for the Jets on defense over the past two games. Consider him an excellent streaming option.
Start: Cameron Ward (@ IND)
There is plenty of risk in starting Ward on what has easily been the worst offense in the league (235.6 yards per game and 13.7 points per game both rank last), but they showed some flashes last week—and the Colts have allowed the fourth-most passing yards per game in the league (255.4). Particularly if he gets Calvin Ridley (hamstring) back, Ward could have one of his better games of the year, and the No. 1 pick has gone for 255+ passing yards twice in three games this month. We have him as a top-20 option with six teams on a bye.
Sit of the Week: Jordan Love (@ PIT)
Pittsburgh was torched by Joe Flacco last Thursday night, but I think there might be something to them having a bunch of veterans and not responding well on short rest (which would help explain the TNF struggles in recent years). Based on the matchups this week, the Steelers should have an easier time covering the Green Bay wideouts than they did Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, and Love struggled in this matchup two years ago (21-of-40 for 289 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in a 23-19 loss). I’d rather play Aaron Rodgers in the Sunday Night Football showdown.
Sit: C.J. Stroud (v SF)
Nico Collins (concussion) would seem to be unlikely to suit up this week after Houston just played late on Monday night, so it’ll be difficult to trust Stroud on an offense that has underperformed with the star wide receiver in the lineup. San Francisco perhaps being without Renardo Green (toe) would boost the matchup, but Stroud has been held below 230 passing yards and fewer than two touchdowns in four-of-six games this season. Even at home, Stroud is our QB18 for Week 8 (assuming Collins is out).
Sit: Carson Wentz (@ LAC)
It might be paradoxical to have Wentz ranked as a low-end QB2 while expecting Justin Jefferson (overall WR2) and Jordan Addison (WR21) to both do well—but quality passing numbers have led to just 15.6 fantasy points per game in four starts in place of J.J. McCarthy (ankle). Now on a short week at less than 100% with a left shoulder injury that has bothered him, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising if a slow start led to the Vikings turning to rookie Max Brosmer, and the Chargers have been better versus the pass (No. 8 in the NFL) than the run (5.1 yards per carry allowed).
Sit: Tyrod Taylor (@ CIN)
Taylor is the new starter for the winless Jets after Justin Fields struggled again last week and was benched during the game—but the offense didn’t look any better when Tyrod was under center in the eventual 13-6 loss to Carolina. I’m not sure that Garrett Wilson (knee) potentially returning is enough to feel good about Taylor considering the state of the offense right now, and a big part of the fantasy appeal for Fields was his ability to do damage as a runner, which the 36-year-old doesn’t come close to at this stage in his career. I don’t see how some have him projected higher than options like Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco.
Running Back
Start of the Week: Rachaad White (@ NO)
White was a sit last week due to the difficult matchup for the Lions, and his chances of being saved by a touchdown were limited by a game that didn’t live up to shootout expectations. For this week, though, White will be taking on a New Orleans defense that was just shredded for 37.8 fantasy points by the Chicago backfield, so I’d anticipate him getting closer to RB1/RB2 production with at least 15-18 touches on the road in what could be the final start before Bucky Irving (foot/shoulder) returns following a Week 9 bye.
Start: Kimani Vidal (v MIN)
The Chargers getting left tackle Joe Alt (ankle) back on Thursday night is a huge boost for the entire offense—including Vidal being given a better chance of chunk gains on outside runs. Minnesota has shown stoutness versus the run at times (including last week), but they’ve been somewhat of a gameplan-dependent defense, and I doubt the priority will be stopping Vidal on an offense with Justin Herbert and an outstanding group of pass-catchers. Hassan Haskins (hamstring) being out only increases the touchdown potential for Vidal, so he’s a solid RB2.
Start: Bill Croskey-Merritt (@ KC)
Croskey-Merritt struggled last week as the Dallas defense continued to have Washington’s number, but it sounds like the Commanders could get Terry McLaurin (quad) and Deebo Samuel Sr. (heel) back on Monday night. If so, “Bill” will face much lighter boxes with the Chiefs allowing 4.5 yards per carry on the season, and I wouldn’t be so quick to downgrade the rookie back after a quiet game—as he’s still averaging a healthy 5.2 yards per carry to begin his career.
Start: Tyler Allgeier (v MIA)
Again, six teams are on a bye in Week 8, so some fantasy owners might need to dig deep for an option in lineups. At running back, Allgeier can be a very capable FLEX option behind Bijan Robinson based on the dream matchup versus Miami, as they’ve been ripped by Rico Dowdle (23 carries for 206 yards and a touchdown), Kimani Vidal (18 carries for 124 yards), and Quinshon Judkins (25 carries for 84 yards and three touchdowns) over the past three weeks. And in three Atlanta wins this year, Allgeier has handled 10+ carries with a touchdown in each game.
Sit of the Week: Rhamondre Stevenson (v CLE)
Stevenson continued to dominate backfield touches for the Patriots and remains a volume-based RB2, but a favorable matchup versus Tennessee last week is being followed up by perhaps the worst—with Cleveland allowing an NFL-low 3.3 yards per carry on the season. Prior to last week, Stevenson had 33 carries for 88 yards (2.7 YPC) and two short touchdowns in the previous four games, so you’re likely banking on a score for him to pay off in a brutal matchup.
Sit: Nick Chubb (v SF)
Houston would be wise to feature the running game with Nico Collins probably out, but Chubb saw just five carries for 16 yards coming out of the bye—and San Francisco has been better attacked by running backs through the air than on the ground. That sets things up more for Woody Marks (who caught a touchdown last week) to perhaps have the upper hand, and the overall offensive struggles for the Texans lowers Chubb’s touchdown upside with two scores in six games to begin his Houston tenure.
Sit: Aaron Jones Sr. (@ LAC)
The Vikings could get Jones (hamstring) back from injured reserve on Thursday night, and his talent in Kevin O’Connell’s offense will immediately put him on the FLEX radar. That said, expectations should be tempered with Carson Wentz at quarterback, as he’s not thrown to running backs at a high rate throughout his career, and Jones will be the clear No. 2 behind Jordan Mason (at least in his first game back). I’d say the outlook for Jones will be better down the stretch after a Week 9 bye.
Sit: Cam Skattebo (@ PHI)
Skattebo should be in all lineups and remains a top-15 option at running back, but I would not expect anything close to a repeat of the first matchup versus the Eagles when he had 21 touches for 110 yards and three touchdowns. For one, the Philadelphia defense giving Nakobe Dean snaps at linebacker last week (after zero in his season debut when Skattebo ran wild) completely changes the Philly defense—and that’s without even mentioning Jalen Carter (heel) and Quinyon Mitchell (hamstring) being out there. Plus, Tyrone Tracy Jr. was more involved in his second game back, so Skattebo is more of a high-end RB2 against an Eagles defense that should make Jaxson Dart and the passing attack beat them on the road.
Wide Receiver
Start of the Week: Marvin Mims Jr. (v DAL)
The involvement for Mims has been inconsistent this season, but he had one of his best career games last week with six receptions for 85 yards—two of which were clutch grabs down the field late in the comeback win. If the performance is parlayed into more targets, Mims gets a prime opportunity on Sunday versus a Dallas defense that has allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers (34.1). I like him as a low-end WR2/FLEX with upside.
Start: Calvin Ridley (@ IND)
It’s unclear if Ridley will return this week, but if he does, the Colts are extremely thin on the perimeter with Charvarius Ward (concussion) out—boosting the big-play threat higher than usual in a spot where Tennessee will likely need to score. In the last full game for Ridley in Week 5, he caught five passes for 131 yards, so that was an encouraging step between him and Cameron Ward; last year, Ridley hit Indy for a 38-yard score in the second meeting (with Mason Rudolph under center) after being held without a catch in the first matchup (with Will Levis starting).
Start: Jayden Higgins (v SF)
Nico Collins facing an absence and Christian Kirk (hamstring) remaining out of practice to start the week will lead to the rookies—Higgins and college teammate Jaylin Noel—needing to step up this week, so the second-rounder is on the FLEX radar. As stated, the Niners could be without emerging cornerback Renardo Green due to a toe injury, so hopefully Higgins will be able to show his upside as more of a central part of the passing attack this weekend.
Start: Terry McLaurin (@ KC)
Jayden Daniels (hamstring) has already been ruled out, and the mystery surrounding McLaurin—out since getting injured in the Week 3 win over Las Vegas—could keep him out again, too. But if he does return, McLaurin will still have a strong option under center with Marcus Mariota quarterbacking for Washington, which had led to lines of 6/98, 8/62/1, and 3/78 (on limited snaps in Week 3) dating back to last year in three games where Mariota has seen extended action. I’d view him as a quality WR2.
Others: Tez Johnson (@ NO), Darnell Mooney (v MIA)
Sit of the Week: George Pickens (@ DEN)
The game plan for Denver might not be known until Sunday, and there is chance they decide to put Pat Surtain II on CeeDee Lamb (even in the slot) while hoping a confident Riley Moss can contend with Pickens. So if it looks like that’ll be the plan, Pickens will rise from low-end WR2 status considering the success another big-bodied target in Tee Higgins had against Moss last year in a similar situation. On the other hand, it’s notable that Surtain called Lamb his toughest matchup in college, and I believe the better strategy would be to put the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year on Pickens and trying to double Lamb. The uncertainty is enough to downgrade the talented wideout.
Sit: Stefon Diggs (v CLE)
Diggs has been remarkable since a slow start, and he’s now caught 39-of-44 passes for 456 yards on the season—including lines of 6/101, 10/146, and 7/69 in three of his past four games. The Browns are a tough matchup, though, and this feels like a spot where the New England offense can have some trouble like it did versus the Steelers last month (when Diggs had three receptions for 23 yards). I am expecting better numbers than that, but I’d label him as more of a FLEX than WR2 despite all the teams out of action.
Sit: Jerry Jeudy (@ NE)
On the other side of Browns-Patriots, the chemistry between Dillon Gabriel and Jeudy simply hasn’t been there—and I have doubts about them getting on the same page versus a New England defense. Even before Gabriel took over at quarterback, Jeudy hadn’t picked up where he left off from last season, especially in the last five games with an average of 2.6 receptions and 28.0 receiving yards (with zero touchdowns) on 3.9 yards per target. Wait until better matchups to consider Jeudy in lineups.
Sit: Keon Coleman (@ CAR)
There aren’t a ton of obvious sits this week, but Coleman gets a difficult draw versus Jaycee Horn and an underrated cornerback group for Carolina. However, I’ll use this as an opportunity to highlight Coleman as a player I would be looking to acquire down the stretch—with better matchups coming as early as next week in a probable shootout versus the Chiefs. Before heading into the bye, Sean McDermott said the Bills would use it as an opportunity to reset, and Coleman being a bigger part of the offense makes sense.
Others: Keenan Allen (v MIN), Xavier Legette (v BUF)
Tight End
Start: of the Week: Dalton Kincaid (@ CAR)
Kincaid (oblique) is limited in practice to start the week, which should put him on track to return after being out prior to the bye—so make sure he’s in lineups as a high-end TE1 versus a Carolina defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends (13.1). Through five outings this year, Kincaid is on a 17-game pace of 68 receptions, 976 yards, and 10 touchdowns, so somehow being ranked as a low-end TE2 by others is difficult to comprehend.
Start: Kyle Pitts Sr. (v MIA)
The 10 targets for Pitts last week were the second-most of his career, and he’s looked closer to his rookie form than ever—perhaps due to finally being healthy. Either way, has at least five targets, four receptions, and 37 receiving yards in all but one game this season, so the floor has been increased despite an up-and-down Atlanta offense. The final piece for Pitts is unlocking his upside in scoring territory, so we’ll see if his luck changes this week versus a collapsing Miami squad.
Start: Isaiah Likely (v CHI)
Likely was up to 80.8% of the snaps played in Week 6, so the ramp is there for takeoff with Lamar Jackson (hamstring) set to return on Sunday. Chicago has improved defensively during their four-game winning streak, but they’ve allowed 12.2+ fantasy points to enemy tight ends four times already this season, and Likely should be a borderline TE1/TE2 along with Mark Andrews this week.
Sit of the Week: None
All the bye weeks make it a challenge to say there are players to outright avoid at such a shallow position, but Theo Johnson (@ PHI) and Ja’Tavion Sanders (v BUF) are two names to maybe keep out of lineups based on the matchups.