Week 8 Fantasy Football Insights

Welcome to Week 8 of fantasy football! I’ve put together some players I recommend you start and some you might want to sit. Of course, your specific situation could be different, so don’t rush to bench someone just because I said so, especially if you can’t find a better option!

Teams with notable mentions this week include the Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, and San Francisco 49ers.

Dak Prescott, Cowboys vs. Cardinals

Prescott’s performance this season has been pretty inconsistent, but he recently had a solid outing against the Eagles. Now, he’s up against a struggling Cardinals pass defense that has let up the most adjusted yards per attempt, the most receiving touchdowns, the second-worst QB rating, and has given up a lot of yards per completion. It feels like he could continue his strong performance from Monday night.

Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals at Cowboys

With the Cardinals lacking solid backup quarterbacks, I’m not overly concerned about Brissett getting benched mid-game. As long as he plays the full game, he should be able to rack up some fantasy points, especially since the Cowboys have had issues in pass defense, allowing a poor completion percentage and yards per attempt.

Kyler Murray, Vikings vs. Lions

Murray’s performance has been shaky lately, even though the Vikings keep winning. When they’re not trailing, he doesn’t have to throw or run as much, which is a bit of a downside. The Lions’ offense might give the Vikings’ top defense a run for its money, and they’ve been terrible at preventing fantasy points to quarterbacks this season, so that’s definitely something to keep an eye on.

Michael Penix Jr., Falcons at Buccaneers

Penix Jr. has been impressive lately, posting consecutive games with three touchdowns, but this week could be a tough matchup. The Buccaneers’ defense has been strong against both the run and pass, even shutting down Bryce Young last week. They tend to perform better against the run, which could impact Penix Jr.’s efficiency.

Caleb Williams, Bears at Seahawks

Williams is showing promise and might already be among the top quarterbacks in the league. However, facing the Seahawks in Seattle will be a significant challenge. They’re currently allowing just 144 passing yards per game, making them the best in the league in that category. Only the Vikings have been stingier in terms of fantasy points given to opposing quarterbacks.

Bayshul Tuten/Chris Rodriguez, Jaguars vs. Colts

The Colts are having a rough time and just lost one of their best defensive players, DT Jeffery Simmons. Even before, they struggled with stopping the run, ranking among the worst in yards per carry. As 9.5-point favorites at home against a faltering team, I’d consider both Jaguars running backs. Tuten has the most upside, while Rodriguez had a decent showing against the Texans and might be worth a flex start if the Jaguars get ahead.

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots vs. Dolphins

Coming off his best receiving game this season with 93 yards and a touchdown, Stevenson has been hard to predict week-to-week. His role appears to be increasing, especially with concerns about TreVeyon Henderson’s performance. The Dolphins have struggled against running backs, so I expect Stevenson to be productive this week.

J.K. Dobbins, Broncos at Chiefs

This matchup will be tough for the Broncos’ running backs. The Chiefs have kept fantasy points and yards per carry allowed pretty low. Dobbins hasn’t been the same this season, and with rookie Jonah Coleman back from injury, it might be best to prioritize Coleman if you’re considering anyone in this tough matchup.

Tyler Allgeier, Cardinals at Cowboys

Allgeier’s performances this season have been disappointing, and it’s surprising since he had a chance to take over leading duties while rookie Jeremiyah Love was sidelined. Given this matchup against the Cowboys, I would prefer Bam Knight if Love can’t play again.

Garrett Wilson, Jets vs. Raiders

Wilson started the season strong but has seen a dip in production with rookie Omar Cooper Jr. emerging. While Cooper has had some great games, it’s hard to believe he can maintain that pace. Wilson remains the primary receiver and should get targeted often against the Raiders, particularly given their last game frustrations with the Dolphins.

Keenan Allen, Colts at Jaguars

Before the Vikings came to town, Allen was on a targeting spree, averaging nearly ten targets over his previous matches. The Colts will likely have to lean on the pass game being underdogs in this matchup, which could favor Allen. The Jaguars have the fourth-worst record for giving up fantasy points to receivers, creating potential for Allen to deliver.

Kendrick Bourne, Cardinals at Cowboys

With Jalen Brooks out this week, Bourne’s role should expand. He’s already been seeing strong target volume, so against a weaker pass defense, he might be poised for a solid outing. Plus, the Cowboys are likely to concentrate on other receivers, opening up better matchups for Bourne.

Caleb Douglas, Dolphins at Patriots

Douglas has shown promise, but this week’s matchup isn’t ideal. It’s possible that Patriots corner Christian Gonzalez could shadow him during the game. Gonzalez has proven to be an effective defender when healthy, so it may challenge Douglas’s ability to put up good numbers.

Carnell Tate, Titans at Bengals

With Bengals corner DJ Turner performing well, he’ll probably be covering the rookie Tate heavily. Last week, Zay Flowers found success against the Bengals but managed to avoid Turner’s shadow coverage. Tate, being primarily an outside receiver, could face a challenging matchup against Turner.

Dallas Goedert, Eagles vs. Commanders

The Eagles have been a mixed bag lately, but Goedert faces a favorable matchup against the Commanders. They’ve struggled against tight ends, allowing many touchdowns and fantasy points this season. Goedert performed well in their first meeting, and despite recent inconsistencies, I like his chances this week.

TJ Hockenson, Vikings vs. Lions

It’s often tough to sit tight ends with solid track records, but the Viking defense has looked exceptional at stopping tight ends this season. Their statistics show they’ve given up very few yards, receptions, and touchdowns. It might be wise to be cautious with LaPorta this week.