Welcome to Week 8 of the 2023 season, and our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em series. This is where it all the hard work is done as we prepare for another week of hard hitting action and paper championships.
As always, if you are struggling with a decision you can checkout our rankings for each Week. Or, if you want a more personal touch, reach out on social media. You can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. All stats refer to 1/2 PPR, 6 point per passing touchdown leagues. The number in brackets next to an opponent is that teams rank against the position. Rank 1 is the best possible matchup, Rank 32 is the worst. Follow me on Twitter @FFMadScientist
Start’Em
Dak Prescott, Cowboys v LAR (1)
Prescott has seen his share of inconsistencies this season and currently ranks as QB20, but this week he faces a Rams defense that ranks as the best matchup for quarterbacks and allows 24.4 fantasy points per game to the position. Look for Dak to get back into the ranks of the QB1s this week, even if it’s just on the low-end.
Mac Jones, Patriots v MIA (6)
Much like Prescott, Mac Jones has been all over the place this season with his play. One week he looks like a star and the next like a backup. In Week 8 he squares off with the sixth best matchup, the Miami Dolphins. Miami is allowing 19.0 fantasy points to quarterbacks and should allow Jones to be startable as at least a mid-range QB2.
Jordan Love, Packers v MIN (10)
Love concludes our trio of inconsistent quarterbacks to target in Week 8. Love faces a Vikings defence that has been unable to stop most opponents this season and are allowing 17.6 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Fire him up as a top-15 option this week.
Sit ‘Em
Russell Wilson, Broncos v KC (29)
Wilson continues a trend of middling quarterback play, but in his case he finds himself on the wrong side of a bad matchup. The Broncos face a Chiefs secondary that has been a lock down unit led by L’Jarius Sneed. I expect Russ to struggle mightily in this one.
Geno Smith, Seahawks v CLE (28)
Smith has also been a confusing case in 2023 and has been a disappointment after his 2022 breakout. It would seem that he is not the player he was in his tenth-year breakout and is closer to his previous breakup level. This week he faces Cleveland, and they are quickly becoming a defense on the must-avoid list.
Gardner Minshew, Colts v NO (26)
Minshew has stepped in for Anthony Richardson and alternated league-winning games with total duds. In Week 6 he faces a stingy New Orleans secondary led by Marshawn Lattimore and is likely to struggle to move the ball with much efficacy. He’s a mid-range Qb2 at best this week.
Start ‘Em
Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs v DEN (1)
Pacheco has quietly been a solid RB2 all season long. It will be tough for his production to fly under the radar this week as he gets a Broncos run defense that allows 33.8 fantasy points per game. He may not score four rushing touchdowns like the Dolphins backs did, but he should finish as a top-10 running back in Week 8.
Gus Edwards, Ravens v ARI (3)
Edwards and the Ravens backfield have been an avoid for much of the season. In Week 7, Gus exploded with fantasy points due in large part to an 80-yard reception. There is no way I would normally want to rely on a repeat performance of that but against a Cardinals defense allowing 23.5 fantasy points to running backs he should find himself as a steady RB2.
Alvin Kamara, Saints v IND (6)
Kamara is back from suspension and looks to be back to his old ways. This week he plays a Colts run defense allowing 22.8 fantasy points to running backs and should once again find himself among the top producers on the week. He has RB1 overall upside this week.
Sit ‘Em
Brian Robinson, Commanders v PHI (32)
Robinson has been one of the most matchup dependent players. In their wins, he is an RB2. In their losses he is useless.
Derrick Henry, Titans v ATL (31)
Henry has been the stud we have all come to expect over the past few games. He put up a monster game in Week 7 and won managers their matchup. This week he though he faces a Falcons run defense that has been shutting down their opponents on the ground entirely. The Falcons are allowing 13.1 fantasy points per game to running backs and could be tough going for Henry.
Rachaad White, Buccaneers, v BUF (12)
White has been bad in 2023. The Bills run defense has been good in 2023. This is not a formula for success for Rachaad White’s Week 8 fantasy outlook. The Bills are by no means a shut down unit on defense but are more than good enough to limit any upside we expected White to have.
Start ’em
Christian Kirk, Jaguars v PIT (2)
Kirk has emerged as the clear WR1 in Jacksonville and has produced consistently all season. This week he gets a Steelers defense allowing 35.5 fantasy points to receivers. Look for Kirk to push for WR1 territory in this matchup.
Terry McLaurin, Commanders v PHI (3)
Much like Kirk, McLaurin has found himself as the WR1 on his team, albeit with less upside. The Commanders offence lacks high-flying appeal but in a matchup with the Eagles he certainly has WR2 appeal. The Eagles are allowing 34.4 fantasy points per game to receivers and are prime targets.
Zay Flowers, Ravens v ARI (6)
Flowers too has found himself take over an ambiguous wide receiver core and emerge as the WR1. The Ravens have been fall less run heavy than in past years and a matchup with a Cardinals pass defense allowing 22.8 fantasy points per game should make for a prime spot for Zay.
Sit ’em
DK Metcalf, Seahawks v CLE (31)
Metcalf has been injured and inconsistent, much like the entire Seahawks passing game. This week he faces one of the leagues elite defenses in the Browns and will struggle to be a WR2 with them allowing only 19.2 fantasy points per game to receivers.
Marquise Brown, Cardinals v BAL (26)
Brown has been solid this season, his quarterback play has not. Kyler Murray may be back under center for the Cardinals soon, but that won’t happen in Week 8. Add to that a matchup with a Ravens defense allowing only 23.8 fantasy points to receivers and it could be a tough go for Hollywood.
Courtland Sutton, Broncos v KC (24)
Sutton has been the unquestioned WR1 for the Broncos and has been the preferred red zone option for Russell Wilson through seven weeks. In Week 8 the Broncos face off with a lockdown Chiefs secondary and it will prove to be a tough task for the entire Broncos passing game. He is a WR3 with absolutely no floor this week.
Start ‘Em
Michael Mayer, Raiders v DET (3)
Michael mayer had the most receptions and yards of his young career in Week 7 and will follow that up with an even more impressive outing against a Lions pass defense that has been terrible against tight ends. The Lions are allowing 12.7 fantasy points to tight ends and should allow the rookie tight end a career day.
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Titans v ATL (9)
Okonkwo has been hugely disappointing compared to offseason expectations. There are few options in this passing game and with rookie Will Levis primed to make his NFL debut, a big bodied tight end could be a valuable safety blanket in Week 8.
Jake Ferguson, Cowboys v LAR (12)
Ferguson has alternating good and bad games for much of the season but with Prescott’s love of targeting his tight ends he is always a candidate for a boom game. This week he faces the Rams who are allowing 10.4 fantasy points per game and should have every opportunity to finally have a breakout game.
Sit ’em
Noah Fant, Seahawks v CLE (32)
Fant has been disappointing since coming over from Denver and is best left on your waiver wire. This week he faces an elite Browns pass defense and is a must-avoid at all costs. The Browns are too good to risk a low-end streaming tight end.
Cade Otton, Buccaneers v BUF (25)
Otton has seen his snap share hover among the elite tight ends in the league, but for the most part this has not corresponded with fantasy production. Otton may someday be the breakout tight end we’ve been looking for but that won’t occur in Week 8 against a stingy Bills pass defense.
David Njoku, Browns v SEA (24)
Njoku has been puzzling this season as an injury sustained in a freak accident has caused him some issues. He has played the injuries but between health concerns and quarterback concerns he has been ineffective and inconsistent for fantasy. The Seahawks allow only 7.2 fantasy points to tight ends and Njoku can’t be trusted this week.
Well that’s it for our Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em for Week 8 of the 2023 season. Remember, you can check out rankings for each Week. Reach out on social media, you can find us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or jump into our Discord server. Follow me on Twitter @FFMadScientist
Image Credit: Ed Mulholland – USA TODAY Sports
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em 2022 Week 14
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