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Fantasy Football Start/Sit: Week 8

NFL: Baltimore Ravens at Philadelphia Eagles Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterbacks

Start

Teddy Bridgewater, Panthers (vs. Falcons): Bridgewater’s fantasy performance this season has been contingent on his matchup. The Bears and Buccaneers held him to less than ten fantasy points, while he topped 20 fantasy points against the Falcons and Cardinals. The Falcons are allowing the most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, and Bridgewater already produced a good fantasy outing against them this season. He is a high-floor option, if you need a streaming quarterback this week.

Derek Carr, Raiders (vs. Browns): Carr has flew under the radar this season. He has 19+ fantasy points in four out of his last five games. The Browns are giving up the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Last Sunday, Joe Burrow posted 406 passing yards and four total touchdowns against the Browns.

Sleeper: Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (vs. Seahawks)

Sit

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins (vs. Rams): Tagovailoa is now the Dolphins’ starter. He will have a tough matchup in his first NFL start against the Rams. The Rams are holding opposing offenses to only 17.7 points per game, which is the second-fewest in the league.

Daniel Jones, Giants (vs. Buccaneers): Jones had easily his best fantasy performance of the season last week against the Eagles with 20.68 fantasy points. It was the first time he topped 15 fantasy points since Week 1. However, eight of those fantasy points came from a single 80-yard rush. Jones is only 29th in passing touchdowns and 24th in passing yards. He should not be started against a stout Buccaneers defense.

Running Backs

Start

Giovani Bernard, Bengals (vs. Titans): There are a number of injuries that are worth monitoring this week. Aaron Jones and Miles Sanders are both questionable. If they do not play, Jamaal Williams and Boston Scott will immediately become great starts. However, I decided to select Bernard as my first entry for this week, because I have less confidence in Joe Mixon playing. Mixon was originally considered week-to-week.

Additionally, he still has not practiced.

Bernard had 20.6 PPR fantasy points last week in Mixon’s absence. Still, the news surrounding Mixon should be monitored over the next couple of days.

Gus Edwards, Ravens (vs. Steelers): Speaking of injuries worth monitoring, Mark Ingram is questionable this week with an ankle injury, and the signs are not pointing in a positive direction. He missed Wednesday’s practice.

It has been difficult to trust a Ravens running back this season, because the backfield is overcrowded with Ingram, Edwards, and rookie J.K. Dobbins competing for touches. Without Ingram, Edwards would receive enough volume to be fantasy relevant. The Steelers are a very tough matchup. However, they allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to running backs last season, and Edwards still burned them for 130 rushing yards in a Week 17 game with playoff implications for the Steelers. Monitor Ingram’s status up until kickoff. Edwards is only rostered in 2.7% of ESPN leagues, so he is a widely available streaming option.

Sleeper: Jamaal Williams, Packers (vs. Vikings)

Sit

Adrian Peterson, Lions (vs. Colts): D’Andre Swift has finally broken out. He has three rushing touchdowns over the past two games. Conversely, Peterson had a season-low 29 rushing yards last week. Furthermore, the Colts are allowing the third-fewest rushing yards per game.

Devonta Freeman, Giants (vs. Buccaneers): Freeman is another running back, who is listed as questionable this week. However, the Giants will play on Monday night, so if he is a game-time decision and does not play, fantasy owners will have very few options left. On the other hand, Freeman could play against the Buccaneers defense, which is allowing the fewest rushing yards per game in the NFL. This is a lose-lose situation.

Wide Receivers

Start

Brandon Aiyuk, 49ers (vs. Seahawks): Deebo Samuel is out, so Aiyuk will be San Francisco’s top wideout. Aiyuk is coming off a big game against the Patriots; he had six receptions for 115 yards. Look for him to keep the momentum going against the Seahawks, who are giving up the most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.

Nelson Agholor, Raiders (vs. Browns): Agholor has scored a touchdown in three consecutive games. Last week, he had a season-high 107 receiving yards against the Buccaneers and tied with tight end Darren Waller for the team-lead in targets with nine. The Browns are giving up the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. As a result, Agholor is a sneaky good start this week.

Sleeper: Rashard Higgins, Browns (vs. Raiders)

Sit

DeVante Parker, Dolphins (vs. Rams): Parker is a very talented player, but like Freeman, he is surrounded by too many questions this week. He is dealing with a groin injury and was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday. Secondly, it remains to be seen how effective Tagovailoa will be in his first career start. Remember, Ryan Fitzpatrick was actually eighth among quarterbacks in fantasy points entering the Dolphins’ bye last week. Finally, the Rams are allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season. It is safer to stash Parker on your bench this week.

Michael Gallup, Cowboys (vs. Eagles): I listed Gallup as a player to sit last week, and he actually scored zero fantasy points. As long as the Cowboys continue to face uncertainty at quarterback, Gallup is off the fantasy radar.

Tight Ends

Start

Richard Rodgers, Eagles (vs. Cowboys): Rodgers led the Eagles in receptions and receiving yards last week against the Giants. The Eagles currently lead the league in tight end targets. Without Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, Rodgers should have a big game against a struggling Cowboys defense.

Sleeper: Albert Okwuegbunam, Broncos (vs. Chargers)

Sit

Greg Olsen, Seahawks (vs. 49ers): Olsen has only four targets over the past two games. He should be avoided in a touch matchup against the 49ers.