After injury and 'Byenado' carnage last week, Week 8 seems breezy by comparison. We will be missing Lamar Jackson and Derek Carr this week, but that leaves most of us with plenty of quarterback options.
Jamey Eisenberg has his Start and Sit calls for QB here. His Waiver Wire column also can direct you to the best options who may be available. And don't forget to check out Heath Cummings' quarterback preview for more help with matchup notes, Week 8 numbers to know and more.
START 'EM & SIT 'EM
Quarterbacks
Start 'Em
Projections powered by
Sportsline
Burrow was exceptional last week at Baltimore with 416 passing yards, three touchdowns and one interception, and he appears to be hitting his stride as a Fantasy quarterback. He's scored at least 25 Fantasy points in three of his past four games, and he's been below 22 Fantasy points just once all year. He should light up the Jets, who have allowed at least 25 Fantasy points to Matt Ryan and Mac Jones in the past two games.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Wentz's worst game this season was at Tennessee in Week 3 when he only scored seven Fantasy points. Since then, he's scored at least 20 Fantasy points in four games in a row. He should stay hot in Week 8 and do much better in the rematch. Hopefully, T.Y. Hilton (quad) is healthy, and I don't buy the Titans holding Patrick Mahomes to 10 Fantasy points as a sign that this defense is fixed. Five quarterbacks have scored at least 21 Fantasy points against Tennessee, and Wentz will be next. He's a potential top 10 Fantasy quarterback this week.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Ryan was solid as the Start of the Week in Week 7 with 21 Fantasy points, and he would have been even better if not for his first interception since Week 2 and his second lost fumble of the year. He should have the chance for his fourth game in a row with at least 21 Fantasy points against the Panthers, who have allowed three of the past four opposing quarterbacks to score at least 22 points. Ryan is another quarterback with top-10 upside this week.
| ||||||||||||||||||
There is no better matchup for a quarterback this week than Bridgewater against Washington. The Football Team allows the most Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and Justin Herbert in Week 1 (15 Fantasy points) is the lone quarterback who failed to score at least 26 points against this defense. For the season, Washington allows 31.4 Fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Bridgewater has struggled of late, but he does have at least 22 Fantasy points in two of his past three games. I expect him to score in that range -- if not higher -- especially with Jerry Jeudy (ankle) back in action.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Sleepers
Projections powered by
Sportsline
Winston will have revenge on his mind against his former team this week, and I'm hoping there's a shootout in New Orleans between the Saints and Buccaneers. Winston has attempted at least 30 passes in each of his past two games, and he's averaging 25.5 Fantasy points per game over that span. The Buccaneers held Justin Fields to zero Fantasy points in Week 7, but in their first six games, opposing quarterbacks averaged 26.0 Fantasy points against Tampa Bay. It would be great if Winston had Michael Thomas (ankle) back this week, but I still like Winston as a low-end starter in this matchup.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Tannehill's best game this season was against the Colts in Week 3 when he scored 26 Fantasy points, and I hope he can have similar success this week. The Colts allow an average of 23.4 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, and this game should be a shootout with a projected total of 50.5, according to Caesars Sportsbook. Hopefully, we see the best of A.J. Brown and Julio Jones in the same game, and maybe this is the week that happens to help Tannehill to a huge outing.
| ||||||||||||||||||
As of Wednesday, we don't know the status of Saquon Barkley (ankle), Sterling Shepard (hamstring), Kadarius Toney (ankle) or Kenny Golladay (knee), so this posting might change if all of them are out again. But if Jones gets any reinforcements then I like him as a starter in deeper leagues with his matchup against the Chiefs. While Kansas City will be tough going back home after a difficult loss at Tennessee in Week 7, the Chiefs have still allowed an average of 26.6 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. And Jones has scored 30 Fantasy points in each of the two road games he's been able to finish this year (he left Week 5 at Dallas with a concussion). The Chiefs also allow the most rushing yards to opposing quarterbacks, and Jones is averaging 38.2 yards per game in his six healthy outings.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Sit 'Em
Projections powered by
Sportsline
Tagovailoa has been great of late with at least 25 Fantasy points in each of his past two games. But that was against Jacksonville and Atlanta, and he's stepping up in competition against the Bills this week. He didn't finish the first game against Buffalo in Week 2 because of a rib injury that knocked him out for three games, but I don't have high hopes for him in the rematch. The Bills are No. 1 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, and only Taylor Heinicke in Week 3 and Mahomes in Week 5 have scored more than 13 Fantasy points against this defense.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Darnold will hopefully finish the game against the Falcons this week after getting benched in Week 7 against the Giants, but I have minimal expectations for him despite a favorable matchup. The Falcons allow an average of 26.3 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, but Darnold has scored a combined 26 Fantasy points in his past three games against Philadelphia, Minnesota and the Giants. His offensive line has fallen apart, and he's been sacked a whopping 18 times in his past five outings. He has six turnovers in his past three games, and it's hard to trust him in anything but two-quarterback and Superflex leagues right now.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Jones just had the best game of his rookie season with 25 Fantasy points against the Jets in Week 7, and he's actually scored at least 19 Fantasy points in three of his past four games. But he should struggle this week at the Chargers. In two road games at the Jets in Week 2 and at Houston in Week 5, Jones has combined for just 20 Fantasy points, and the Chargers allow an average of just 17.3 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this year. The Patriots will likely lean on their ground game this week, and Jones is only worth using in two-quarterback and Superflex leagues.
| ||||||||||||||||||
Bust Alert
Projections powered by
Sportsline
I wouldn't have Rodgers in this spot if his receiving corps were healthy, but he's not expected to have Davante Adams or Allen Lazard this week after both were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. That duo has accounted for 67 catches, 928 yards and four touchdowns, which for Rodgers is 44.4 percent of his completions, 54.2 percent of his yards and 26.7 percent of his touchdowns this year. He should get Marquez Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) back after he's been out since Week 3, and Randall Cobb, Robert Tonyan and the running backs should keep Rodgers' stats respectable. I wouldn't completely run away from him this week, even though the Cardinals allow an average of just 14.9 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. But without Adams and Lazard it feels like the ceiling is capped for Rodgers, and he's only worth starting in deeper leagues on Thursday night.
| ||||||||||||||||||
2021 NFL Salute to Service Gear is here
Honor our service members while supporting your favorite team. Get camo trucker hats, pullovers hoodies, jerseys, and more. See the entire 2021 NFL Salute to Service collection here. We salute our service members and thank you for your dedication!
We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
