Fantasy Football Week 8: Who to Start and Who to Sit This Week

The Week 8 waiver period has ended, so it’s now time for fantasy football owners to enjoy all their new toys.

This late in the season, the waiver wire is usually bone dry. That wasn’t the case this week thanks to injuries to two Bills running backs and a very unexpected trade by the defending Super Bowl champs.

Dwayne Allen, Doug Baldwin, Tre Mason and Denard Robinson are all getting plenty of buzz heading into Week 8. Rostering these players seems like a no-brainer, but do any of them carry starter potential?

Let’s find out.

START

Doug Baldwin, WR, Seattle Seahawks

Week 7 stats: 7 receptions, 123 yards, 1 TD (18 fantasy points)

Week 8 matchup: at Carolina

Percy Harvin is gone, so Baldwin should get most of the targets. Seems logical enough, right?

Wrong. If that were true, Baldwin would have made a name for himself in 2013 when Harvin missed most of the season with a hip injury. Instead, Baldwin barely registered on the fantasy scene, hauling in a pedestrian 50 catches for 778 yards.

But that was back when Golden Tate was around. Now that Tate plays in Detroit, Russell Wilson has to give it to Baldwin. Baldwin tied a career high with 10 targets last week against St. Louis and should see another heavy workload in Week 8.

Denard Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 7 stats: 22 carries, 127 yards, 1 TD (18 fantasy points)

Week 8 matchup: vs. Miami

This actually happened!

After six weeks of hitting brick walls, the Jags finally established a running game. Robinson’s 127 yards on the ground were the most by a Jacksonville runner since Maurice Jones-Drew had 177 in Week 3 of the 2012 season.

Of course, part of the reason the Jaguars haven't been able to run the ball effectively is because they’re usually losing. Thankfully, when the Jags inevitably fall behind Sunday against Miami, the multi-threat Robinson (60 receiving yards in Week 7) won't have to leave the field.

SIT

Dwayne Allen, TE, Indianapolis Colts

Week 7 stats: 3 receptions, 52 yards, 1 TD (11 fantasy points)

Week 8 matchup: at Pittsburgh

Allen keeps finding his way into fantasy starting lineups thanks to a phenomenally high touchdown rate. Just under 24 percent of his catches this year have gone for touchdowns.

That may sound like a good quality to have, but it actually makes Allen a huge risk in fantasy. Fifteen tight ends have more targets than Allen this season, and it’s debatable whether he’s the best tight end on his own team.

The Steelers don’t present a particularly difficult matchup (they’re middle-of-the-pack in most defensive stats), but with T.Y. Hilton and Reggie Wayne getting most of the looks from Andrew Luck, Allen isn’t on the fantasy radar for Week 8. However, if Wayne (listed as questionable with an elbow injury) is inactive Sunday, Allen would become a much better option.

Tre Mason, RB, St. Louis Rams

Week 7 stats: 18 carries, 85 yards, 1 TD (14 fantasy points)

Week 8 matchup: at Kansas City

The Rams finally came to their senses, unleashing Mason for a career-high 18 carries and his first touchdown against the Seahawks.

Mason is clearly the most talented running back of the bunch in St. Louis. With that said, it doesn’t look like head coach Jeff Fisher is totally ready to abandon Benny Cunningham, who received seven touches and scored a touchdown in last week’s win.

As long as Cunningham continues to breathe down his neck, Mason’s upside remains limited. It doesn’t help that the Rams’ Week 8 opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs, have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher at home this season.

All fantasy points courtesy courtesy of ESPN standard leagues.