Week 8 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Advice on Fantasy Football Stars to Play or Bench

Week 8 is set to get underway with a Thursday night matchup between two 2024 playoff teams, the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Chargers.

Managers looking to make a run at the fantasy playoffs this year know they can't afford to slip up in what is likely to be a very difficult week to navigate. The NFL's injury list isn't getting any shorter, and the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks will all be on bye in Week 8.

Expect second-tier stars to get plenty of run this week. Here, we'll dive into some of the best and worst matchups of the upcoming slate.

All picks and analysis are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

Start: Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

The New York Jets offense has struggled mightily this season, and the team is approaching a QB decision as the midpoint of the season approaches. Justin Fields was benched at halftime in Week 7, and there's a real chance that Tyrod Taylor will get the start against the Cincinnati Bengals this week.

The Jets offense didn't exactly look good with Taylor behind center last week, but it was at least able to push the ball down the field. That might be enough to open up running lanes for Breece Hall, who has been one of the only reliable contributors to the unit.

Hall has had some stinkers this season, including four games with fewer than 60 scrimmage yards, and he still hasn't found the end zone. However, he's topped 110 scrimmage yards three times and has an enticing matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

No team has surrendered more fantasy points to opposing running backs than Cincinnati.

Sit: Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots

AP Photo/George Walker IV

New England Patriots starter Rhamondre Stevenson has become a solid matchup-based play in 2025. Though other backs—including Terrell Jennings and rookie TreVeyon Henderson—will occasionally cut into Stevenson's workload, he's typically seen the bulk of the backfield work.

This hasn't always led to fantasy success. In Week 6, for example, he carried 13 times for only 18 yards. He's also fumbled three times this season.

Stevenson is coming off a good week, which he finished with two catches, 88 yards and a touchdown. However, he's heading into a difficult matchup against the Cleveland Browns.

Cleveland has allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. The Patriots are likely to lean on Drake Maye and attack the Browns through the air. Since Stevenson isn't regularly part of the passing game plan (15 catches in 7 games), managers with other options can ignore him this week.

Start: Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers

AP Photo/Samantha Chow

The interesting thing about the Green Bay Packers' receiving corps is that it doesn't feature a singular go-to target. The committee approach is largely working for Jordan Love and Green Bay, but it's been a headache for fantasy managers.

Tight end Tucker Kraft leads the Packers with 326 receiving yards, and he's about the closest thing to a must-start in their receiving corps. However, Romeo Doubs is becoming a strong matchup-based play.

Doubs leads the Packers with 24 receptions and is tied with Kraft with a team-high four receiving touchdowns. He's also seen no fewer than eight targets, five receptions or 50 yards in any of his last three games. Now, he has a matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing receivers.

While Doubs certainly isn't a weekly must-start, he's a solid flex option in a week with so many stars on bye.

Sit: Jauan Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49eres

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

San Francisco 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings has failed to replicate the success he had in 2024 as an injury replacement. Jennings became one of Brock Purdy's go-to targets last season, along with tight end George Kittle. This year, it's largely been Mac Jones under center, and Kendrick Bourne has emerged as his go-to receiver.

Jennings has only been available for five games this season, and his overall production (14 catches, 167 yards, 1 TD) are worthy of an outright drop. Jennings did get seven targets in Week 7, but he only caught four of those for 31 yards.

Now, 7.1 fantasy points might be acceptable in a week with this shallow of a player pool. However, there's no guarantee Jennings will even get to that point. Kittle should see a bigger role in the offense in his second game back, and the 49ers are visiting a very good Houston Texans defense.

Houston has surrendered the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers.

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros.