Fantasy Football Start/Sit Today: Who to Start and Sit in NFL Week 8

Week 8 brings another slate of difficult fantasy football lineup decisions, with several players facing dramatically different circumstances than they did earlier in the season.

Matchups, recent usage and injuries can all shift a player's outlook from week to week, making it important to look beyond season-long rankings when setting your lineup.

Using our fantasy football projections as a guide, let’s get you prepped for this week’s fantasy football decisions.

This article is geared toward 12-team, half-PPR scoring formats with only one starting quarterback -- though the general advice can be loosely applied to most formats. Injury information may change after this article is published. You can stay up to date with this week’s injury news via our NFL player news page.

All betting references refer to the NFL odds at FanDuel Sportsbook. All statistics via NFL Next Gen Stats and Pro Football Focus unless otherwise stated.

Today’s Week 8 Fantasy Football Start/Sit

Fantasy Football Starts

Jacoby Brissett, QB, Arizona Cardinals

Jacoby Brissett is an intriguing streaming option in a great matchup against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8. Brissett has thrown at least 35 passes in each of his last four games, including 48 attempts in his most recent outing, giving him a strong volume-based floor for a quarterback who isn't typically viewed as a fantasy starter.

Dallas has allowed plenty of production through the air this season, and the Arizona Cardinals should have to throw to keep pace with an offense that can put points on the board. Brissett doesn't need to be viewed as an every-week starter, but this is the type of matchup where his passing volume can make him a viable QB1 streamer.

Chris Rodriguez Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Chris Rodriguez Jr. is one of my favorite deeper running back starts of the week. The Jacksonville Jaguars get the Indianapolis Colts, and Jacksonville enters the game as a significant favorite. That creates a favorable game script for the Jaguars' running game.

Rodriguez has already shown he can provide useful production when his workload increases. He rushed 11 times for 55 yards against Houston in Week 6, and his 39 carries over the first six games demonstrate that Jacksonville has been willing to use him when needed.

Elic Ayomanor, WR, Tennessee Titans

Elic Ayomanor is a particularly appealing deeper-league start this week. The Tennessee Titans are significant underdogs against the Cincinnati Bengals, which could force Tennessee to throw throughout the afternoon.

Ayomanor has also established himself as an active part of the Titans' receiving corps. He's played 89% of Tennessee's offensive snaps last time out and drew seven targets in his most recent game, giving him the type of opportunity we want to see from a deeper fantasy option.

Ryan Flournoy, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Ryan Flournoy is another player worth considering in deeper leagues. The Dallas-Arizona clash should be one of the higher-scoring games on the Week 8 slate.

Flournoy has 23 receptions for 234 yards and a touchdown through six games, and he's coming off a stretch in which he has consistently been involved in Dallas' passing game. He's a low-floor option, but the matchup and expected passing volume give him enough upside to warrant consideration as a flex play in deeper leagues.

Fantasy Football Sits

J.K. Dobbins, RB, Denver Broncos

J.K. Dobbins is a player fantasy managers should consider sitting against the Kansas City Chiefs. The matchup is not ideal, and Denver's backfield workload creates some uncertainty about how much volume Dobbins will receive. Even with RJ Harvey out, Dobbins may work behind Jonah Coleman.

Dobbins remains capable of producing on limited touches, but there are enough concerns surrounding his workload and matchup to make him a risky option if you have a comparable alternative.

Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions

Sam LaPorta is a tougher start against the Minnesota Vikings. His talent makes him difficult to bench in deeper leagues, but this is a matchup where expectations should be tempered.

Minnesota has been one of the league's toughest defenses against tight ends, making LaPorta more of a touchdown-dependent option than usual. If you have another tight end with a stronger matchup, this is a week to consider making the switch.

Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

Ladd McConkey is a risky start against the Los Angeles Rams. McConkey's talent and role normally make him difficult to bench, but the matchup creates a lower ceiling than usual.

The Rams have done a good job limiting opposing wide receivers, and McConkey could have trouble finding enough volume to overcome the matchup. He's still playable in deeper formats, but I'd prefer a higher-upside alternative in typical 10- and 12-team leagues.

Kyler Murray, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Kyler Murray is a difficult quarterback to trust today despite a nice matchup against the Detroit Lions. Murray's rushing ability normally gives him a strong fantasy floor, but his passing production has been inconsistent this season.

Even in an indoors game against a meh defense, Murray is not someone I trust right now.

Fantasy Football Start/Sit FAQ

Who should I start in fantasy football this week?

The best starts are typically players with strong recent usage, favorable matchups and a reliable path to touches or targets. Matchup-specific factors and changes in workload should also be considered before setting your lineup.

Who should I sit in fantasy football this week?

Players can be worth sitting when they face difficult matchups, have seen their role decrease or carry significant risk due to injuries or inconsistent usage. Even proven players can be matchup-based sits in a given week.

How do you decide who to start or sit in fantasy football?

Start/sit decisions should account for a player's expected volume, recent production, matchup, offensive role and game environment. Comparing those factors against your other lineup options can help determine which player offers the best combination of floor and upside.

Should I start a player with a difficult matchup?

It depends. A difficult matchup can lower a player's expected production, but high-volume players can still deliver strong fantasy performances regardless of the matchup. The player's role and expected opportunity should usually carry more weight than matchup alone. Another huge factor is whether or not you have quality alternatives on your roster.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.