Week 8 Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em

We have crested the fantasy football mountain. In most leagues, Week 8 is the first game of the second half of the regular season.

Of course, just because fantasy managers are headed downhill doesn't mean things are getting easier. Quite the opposite, in fact. For many fantasy managers, the later we get into the season, the higher the stakes become.

Folks who struggled out of the gate are running out of chances to turn things around. Teams hovering just above or just below .500 have to start stacking more victories to make the playoffs. Even teams that started hot dare not take their foot of the gas.

Week 8 presents significant line-up challenges, though, with six teams on bye.

Luckily, Bleacher Report is here to help by offering the names of some players who should be in starting lineups this week and others who shouldn't be anywhere near one.

Author's Note: "Starts" have a started percentage at NFL.com of less than 60 percent or do not exceed a maximum DFS salary threshold at DraftKings. "Sits" have a started percentage over 70 percent or exceed a minimum salary threshold. "Sleepers" have a started percentage of less than 30 percent or don't exceed an even lower salary threshold.

Quarterbacks

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Bears QB Caleb Williams

Start 'Em

Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (vs. DAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]

Nix probably isn't going to have another four-touchdown quarter any time soon, but it can't be ruled out against a Dallas defense that has struggled this year. The Cowboys are the only team in the NFL surrendering over 25 fantasy points per game to the quarterback position in 2025.

Caleb Williams, Chicago Bears (at BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]

Williams' last start was an underwhelming one: 172 passing yards, no touchdowns, and an interception in the win over the New Orleans Saints. But the second-year signal-caller should rebound Sunday in Baltimore against the Ravens and their 28th-ranked pass defense.

Sit 'Em

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (vs. TEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,100]

Daniel Jones has exceeded all expectations by ranking in the top five among fantasy quarterbacks at midseason. But the Titans have been fairly stout against the pass this season, allowing just 210 passing yards per game and the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to the position.

Drake Maye, New England Patriots (vs. CLE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,200]

Maye has been everything fantasy managers hoped for and more in his second season. He's third in fantasy points among quarterbacks after seven weeks. Although the Cleveland Browns have struggled as a football team, their defense has surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points per game to QBs.

Sleeper

Kirk Cousins, Atlanta Falcons (vs. MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,400]

It has been 10 months since Cousins started an NFL game, but he's expected to draw the start Sunday with Michael Penix Jr. nursing a sore knee. The one-win Dolphins haven't played well defensively--among AFC teams, only the Baltimore Ravens have given up more fantasy points per game to quarterbacks than Miami this year.

Running Backs

AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez

Broncos RB J.K. Dobbins

Start 'Em

J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos (vs. DAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,800]

After five straight weeks with double-digit PPR points to open the season, Dobbins has failed to hit that mark in back-to-back contests. He will get back on track this week against a Dallas team that has given up an NFC-high 141.3 yards per game on the ground.

Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at NO) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,400]

The Buccaneers have been ravaged by injuries on offense, and Bucky Irving has already been ruled out for Week 8. That means another week as Tampa's featured back for White against the Saints, which have allowed almost 130 rushing yards per game—ninth-most in the NFL this season.

Sit 'Em

Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns (at NE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,500]

In a season sorely short on bright spots on offense in Cleveland, Judkins has averaged 4.3 yards per carry and found the end zone three times last week. Success on the ground is easy against the Miami Dolphins, but repeating it against a Patriots defense giving up just 77.1 rushing yards per game in 2025 won't be.

Javonte Williams, Dallas Cowboys (at DEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,800]

Williams has been nothing short of a revelation in Dallas this year—he's sixth in PPR points among running backs after seven weeks. But the Denver defense has rounded into 2024 form after some early struggles, and the Broncos are a bottom-10 fantasy matchup for running backs while allowing 93.3 rushing yards per contest.

Sleeper

Woody Marks, Houston Texans (vs. SF) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,100]

Last week against Seattle, Marks had a touch share of nearly 33 percent and led all Texans backs in snaps, touches and fantasy points. The 49ers have allowed six running backs to tally at least 10 PPR points this season, including four who finished with 16 or more points. As spot-starts go, fantasy managers could do much worse in Week 8.

Wide Receivers

AP Photo/Matt Rourke

Eagles WR DeVonta Smith

Start 'Em

Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants (at PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,200]

Robinson has been on quite the rip the past two weeks, with 19 targets, 12 receptions, 179 yards and a touchdown. He should again be Jaxson's Dart's top target in a game where the Giants will likely be playing from behind against a defense giving up the 11th-most PPR points per game to wideouts in 2025.

DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. NYG) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]

Smith went wild against the Minnesota Vikings last week, catching nine passes for 183 yards and a touchdown. Expecting another 30-PPR point outburst this week may not be realistic, but the Giants have surrendered the third-most points per game to wide receivers this year and A.J. Brown is out.

Sit 'Em

George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys (at DEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $7,100]

Pickens has been outstanding in his first year with the Cowboys, ranking fifth in PPR points among wideouts. But CeeDee Lamb has returned to action, and given how much time the four-time Pro Bowler spends in the slot, it could be Pickens who draws the majority of coverage from Patrick Surtain II.

Deebo Samuel Sr., Washington Commanders (at KC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]

The good news is both Samuel and Terry McLaurin were upgraded to full practices on Thursday. The bad news is the duo will be without quarterback Jayden Daniels against a Kansas City Chiefs defense that has ceded the seventh-fewest PPR points per game to wide receivers this season.

Sleeper

Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans (at IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,900]

The Titans offense is struggling badly right now. But Ayomanor is second on the team in receiving yards, is the only Tennessee pass-catcher with multiple touchdown grabs and takes on a Colts team that leads the league in PPR points per game surrendered to wide receivers in 2025.

Tight Ends

AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes

Bills TE Dalton Kincaid

Start 'Em

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns (at NE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,400]

Recommending any player (especially a pass-catcher) from the Browns just feels wrong on some level. But Fannin leads Cleveland in both receptions and receiving yards this season, and the team travels to take on a Patriots team that has been kind to opposing tight ends this season.

Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills (at CAR) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,300]

Kincaid hasn't played since Week 5, but the third-year-pro appears on track to return to action this week after a pair of limited practices. His timing is good: The Bills return from their bye week against a Carolina Panthers squad allowing the sixth-most PPR points to tight ends this year.

Sit 'Em

Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys (at DEN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]

Sitting fantasy football's highest-scoring tight end is easier said than done. But there are reasons to believe Ferguson could be in for a letdown week, whether it's CeeDee Lamb coming back or a Broncos team giving up the eighth-fewest PPR points to tight ends this season.

George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers (at HOU) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,500]

Kittle returned to the 49ers lineup last week for the first time since Week 1 but was quiet in a win over the Atlanta Falcons, failing to catch either of his targets in the game. Now he takes on a Houston Texans team that has allowed the fifth-fewest PPR points per game to tight ends in 2025.

Sleeper

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. GB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,000]

Freiermuth went ballistic in last week's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, catching five passes for 111 yards and a pair of touchdowns. This week's matchup is a favorable one for tight ends, as the Packers have allowed the most PPR points to the position in the NFC.

Team Defenses

AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar

Steelers edge T.J. Watt

Start 'Em

Atlanta Falcons Defense (vs. MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,500]

The Falcons aren't generally regarded as a defensive powerhouse, but this is more about their opponent in Week 8. The Dolphins are 27th in the league in total offense, 25th in the NFL in scoring and sixth in fantasy points per game allowed to team defenses this season.

Cincinnati Bengals Defense (vs. NYJ) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,700]

This is another matter of a so-so defense with an excellent fantasy matchup, with a winless Jets team giving up the fourth-most points per game to opposing defenses in 2025. Gang Green are such a mess that they won't even tell their own quarterbacks who is starting Sunday.

Sit 'Em

Denver Broncos Defense (vs. DAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,100]

In most fantasy leagues, the Broncos were drafted as an every-starter after leading the league in total defense a year ago. But this has the makings of a down week for Denver, as the Cowboys are rolling offensively and have given up the third-fewest fantasy points per game to defenses this year.

Pittsburgh Steelers Defense (vs. GB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,800]

The Steelers may have a reputation as a formidable defensive team, but the reality in 2025 is far different. They are bottom-five in yards per game allowed and rank in the lower half of the league in scoring defense. Jordan Love and the Packers are likely to have offensive opportunities against a defense that has struggled this year.

Sleeper

New York Jets Defense (at CIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,300]

The Jets have had notable difficulties this season, while the Bengals showed improvement last week under Joe Flacco. However, Cincinnati has still given up the seventh-most fantasy points per game to defenses, and New York isn't without talent on that side of the ball.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.