Week 8 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Advice for Unfavorable Fantasy Football Matchups

For many fantasy football managers, Week 8 will be the toughest slate of the 2025 NFL season. Injuries have been an issue all season, and now, managers must deal with a season-high six teams on bye.

We've seen just two teams on bye in each of the past two weeks.

With the Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks all out of action this week, managers will be short on matchup-proof options. Many will need to turn to sleepers, second-tier starters or stars with unfavorable matchups.

Here, you'll find start/sit advice for some of the toughest matchups of the remaining schedule.

Start: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Cleveland Browns rookie Quinshon Judkins had a rough outing two weeks ago in a lopsided loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, he bounced back with 84 yards and three touchdowns in Week 7.

Judkins probably won't find the end zone three times against a good Patriots defense in New England. The Patriots have surrendered only three rushing touchdowns all season. They're also allowing just 3.4 yards per carry and 15.3 fantasy points per game to opposing backfields.

Yet, Judkins should see a workload that allows him to come through for fantasy managers. He logged a mere 12 carries in that aforementioned Steelers game, and the Browns should know better than to make their most reliable player such a small part of the offense again.

Expect Judkins to top 20 carries for the fourth time this season, likely breaking one of them for a big play in the process.

Sit: Tony Pollard, RB, Tennessee Titans

AP Photo/Rick Scuteri

There was a time when the Tennessee Titans might given Tony Pollard the workload needed to come through in a tough matchup. However, that time has passed.

With the offense largely running through rookie quarterback Cam Ward, Pollard hasn't logged 20 carries since Week 2 and hasn't recorded 15 carries since Week 3. Last week, Pollard got just 12 total touches while Tyjae Spears received eight.

Pollard is highly unlikely to draw a blank because of his point-per-reception (PPR) floor, but he's a matchup-based play at best with Spears healthy—and that's if Spears doesn't start eating even more of the backfield work.

This week doesn't bring a great week for Pollard either. The Titans will visit the Indianapolis Colts, who have surrendered the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.

Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar

The Cincinnati Bengals are playing with a new quarterback in Joe Flacco, but their offense looked quite potent against the Steelers last Thursday night. The New York Jets are likely to provide a bit more of a challenge this week.

The Jets have surrendered the 10th-fewest fantasy points to opposing receivers through seven weeks, and they've featured one of the league's worst offenses. There is some risk of Cincinnati getting ahead early and going run-heavy late—though first-half damage may be enough for fantasy managers.

And while the Jets be able to corral Ja'Marr Chase to a degree—not enough to sit him, of course—New York's defense probably can't contain Cincinnati's entire receiving core. The Jets limited Tetairoa McMillan to just three catches for 33 yards last week, but allowed Xavier Legette to record nine carries for 92 yards and a touchdown.

If New York focuses primarily on slowing Chase this week, Higgins might actually be in store for a huge game.

Sit: Keon Coleman, WR, Buffalo Bills

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Second-year receiver Keon Coleman has averaged a respectable 9.6 fantasy points per game this season. However, that number is skewed by the 25.2 points he racked up during the Buffalo Bills' epic Week 1 comeback.

Since then, Coleman has reached double-digit fantasy points only once and has recorded six or fewer points three times.

In other words, Coleman should be viewed as a backup with some situational or matchup-based flex value. Unfortunately, Coleman isn't facing a good matchup or an ideal situation this week.

The Bills are set to visit the Carolina Panthers, who have been much better defensively than some might expect. Carolina has surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers.

*Fantasy scoring information from FantasyPros.