Week 8 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Final Review of Most Difficult Fantasy Matchups

Every week in fantasy football there seems to be one or two decisions that simply taunt you when you are setting your lineup.

Sure, the superstars are obviously must-starts, but there are always a handful of players who are just inconsistent enough to drive a fantasy football owner mad. For better or worse, the decisions you make on those calls often determine the outcome of the matchup.

No pressure or anything.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the most difficult fantasy football choices for Week 8. Perhaps it may help a bit with the decision process.

Start ’Em: QB Ryan Tannehill, Miami Dolphins

Ryan Tannehill has looked like the multidimensional quarterback that the Miami Dolphins have always hoped for the past three games.

In fact, he has 799 passing yards, 132 rushing yards and six total touchdowns in that stretch and has showed off an impressive arm and athleticism in the open field. Some of the most important plays in Miami’s win over the Chicago Bears came when Tannehill scrambled down the field. 

Jeff Darlington of NFL.com noted that Tannehill has even made some history in the process:

Now the red-hot quarterback gets to go against a Jacksonville Jaguars defense that just lost linebacker Paul Posluszny for the season. The Jaguars are an abysmal 30th in the league against the pass at 280.1 yards per game and have allowed 12 touchdown passes.

Expect more of the same on Sunday from Tannehill.

Sit ’Em: QB Nick Foles, Philadelphia Eagles

Michael Perez/Associated Press

Nick Fabiano of NFL.com believes fantasy football owners should not start Nick Foles in Week 8:

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Foles has been ice cold in the stat sheets lately, scoring fewer than 15 fantasy points in each of his last three games. This week he faces the Cardinals, who have been tough on quarterbacks on their home field. In fact, their defense has given up just four touchdown passes and posted four interceptions in three games at home.

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Philadelphia has struggled to protect Foles, which could be a serious problem on Sunday.

If there is a saving grace, Arizona is 31st in the NFL against the pass at 284.8 yards per game, but that number is incredibly distorted by Peyton Manning’s career-high of 479 passing yards and four touchdowns in one game. 

Foles is no Manning, and he has four touchdowns and five interceptions the past three games. The Eagles quarterback has simply been too inconsistent this year to trust for fantasy purposes on Sunday.

Start ’Em: RB Andre Ellington, Arizona Cardinals

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Andre Ellington finally broke out against the Oakland Raiders in his last game with 88 rushing yards and 72 receiving yards. He is getting involved in the passing game now that Carson Palmer is back and has a total of 12 combined catches the last two contests.

His Week 8 opponent, Philadelphia, has given up a head-turning 387 rushing yards the past two road games. The Eagles are also 23rd in the league against the run at 124.3 yards per game and will have trouble bottling up Ellington for all four quarters.

It is also worth noting that Arizona will likely try to keep the Eagles' fast-paced offense off the field to give its defense a rest, which means plenty of touches for Ellington to keep the clock running. 

Increased opportunities could lead to increased yards and touchdowns for the Cardinals running back.

Sit ’Em: RB Steven Jackson, Atlanta Falcons

Chris Keane/Associated Press

Four starting offensive linemen are out with injury for the Atlanta Falcons, which is not the formula for fantasy success for a running back.

Steven Jackson has struggled with that type of attrition up front and has a combined 14 carries for 47 yards the past two games. To make matters worse for those counting on Jackson’s production, he is in a dreaded committee of backs with Antone Smith, Jacquizz Rodgers and Devonta Freeman.

It is a fairly safe bet that Jackson will not be the first running back to top 85 yards against the Detroit Lions this season. 

The Lions are third in the NFL against the run at 73.4 yards per game and should keep Jackson (and the rest of the Atlanta runners) in check. You are basically counting on a short-yardage touchdown with Jackson, which is an extremely risky proposition.

Start ’Em: WR Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks

With no more Percy Harvin in town, there is little doubt who the top receiver is for the defending champion Seattle Seahawks.

Doug Baldwin finished with 123 receiving yards and a touchdown catch against the St. Louis Rams last time out and also has Russell Wilson throwing it to him. All Wilson did in that contest was become the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 300 yards and run for 100 yards in the same game.

Baldwin tried to quell any worry about Seattle’s mindset after the Harvin trade and loss to the Rams, via Gregg Bell of The News Tribune, “I think we’re good. I think we’re really good. We’re positive and upbeat and ready to go to work.”

Next up for Baldwin is a date with the Carolina Panthers and a defense that has allowed 12 touchdown catches to receivers. Carolina is 22nd in the league against the pass at 250.7 yards per game and won’t be able to keep Baldwin in check in Week 8.

Sit ’Em: WR Brian Quick, St. Louis Rams

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

It is hard to rack up fantasy points as a wide receiver if you are not getting enough targets, as Brian Quick owners have recently found out.

Quick has a combined six targets in the last two games against the Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers and only finished with three catches for 43 yards in those. It was quite the change from at least nine targets in three of his first four games.

Now Quick has to play the Kansas City Chiefs, who have only allowed five touchdown catches to wide receivers all year.

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Kansas City is also second in the NFL against the pass at 209 yards per game and held Tom Brady to 159 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Chiefs even held Peyton Manning and his elite wide receivers to fewer than 250 passing yards, which is an accomplishment in itself. 

If the Chiefs did that to those passing attacks, they are certainly not going to let Quick and the Rams put up yards through the air.

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