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

Knowing when to start or sit a top fantasy football star looks like the main theme going into Week 8.

In Week 7, owners who knew to throw Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck into the fire received 23 points, while those who believed in Eli Manning of the New York Giants got six.

Look, it's never easy to sit a star player, which on its own has a fluctuating definition based mostly on name recognition and ownership percentage. But it's one of the proven ways to get ahead of the competition if an owner has an adequate replacement.

Below, let's compare value on top names and point out some of the star players to play or sit.

QB

Matchup	Verdict
Andy Dalton (at PIT) vs. Matt Ryan (vs. TB)	Andy Dalton
Aaron Rodgers (at DEN) vs. Cam Newton (vs. IND)	Aaron Rodgers
Tom Brady (vs. MIA) vs. Eli Manning (at NO)	Tom Brady
Philip Rivers (at BAL) vs. Drew Brees (vs. NYG)	Philip Rivers
Carson Palmer (at CLE) vs. Matthew Stafford (at KC)	Carson Palmer

Star to Know: Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals (at PIT)

Don't hop off the Andy Dalton train just yet, folks.

The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback and borderline MVP candidate returns from a bye this week as fantasy's fourth-highest scorer at the position. An AFC North road encounter looks rough, but Dalton's gone for 18, 30 and 21 points on the road this year and knows a thing or two about the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Those wobbly Steelers have allowed 20 or more points to quarterbacks three times. Dalton had an extra week to prepare and the Steelers don't have the talent to contain all his weapons, so he looks like one of the top-scoring players of the week.

Star to Bench: Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos (vs. GB)

David Richard/Associated Press

A Peyton Manning-Aaron Rodgers showdown means start both, right?

Not anymore. Still 92.2 percent owned, the leader of the Denver Broncos has managed double digits just twice this season. His coming out of a Week 7 bye doesn't help like it normally would, either, not with the connection issues he's had with his top wideouts.

It's easy to pigeonhole the Green Bay Packers as an exploitable defense, but the unit has allowed just seven touchdown passes this year and more than two touchdowns just twice.

Home game out of a bye or not, owners cannot afford to throw Manning into lineups until he shows signs of life.

RB

Matchup	Verdict
Devonta Freeman (vs. TB) vs. Doug Martin (at ATL)	Devonta Freeman
Matt Forte (vs. MIN) vs. Giovani Bernard (at PIT)	Matt Forte
Chris Ivory (at OAK) vs. Mark Ingram (vs. NYG)	Chris Ivory
Adrian Peterson (at CHI) vs. Justin Forsett (vs. SD)	Adrian Peterson
Le'Veon Bell (vs. CIN) vs. Dion Lewis (vs. MIA)	Le'Veon Bell

Star to Know: Justin Forsett, Baltimore Ravens (vs. SD)

Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett hasn't had the explosive campaign some expected after a surprise performance last year, but he's still quite the viable option this week against the San Diego Chargers.

Forsett has reached double digits just twice, but it's more a product of the catastrophe around him. He won't need much help hitting value against the Chargers, though, a team allowing the most points to backs on average with every opposing backfield except one going for 19 or more points.

With what should be a full workload at home, Forsett has a chance at leading all scorers this week.

Star to Bench: Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers (at STL)

Ben Margot/Associated Press

San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde hasn't been the same since a 29-point outburst in Week 1.

In fact, he's gone for double digits just one time since. To make matters worse, news about a foot injury came out earlier this week, although Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group revealed it won't hold him out of this week's encounter with the St. Louis Rams:

Owners should hold him out, though.

Hyde won't be able to find much in the way of room against the Rams. Opposing backs have scored just three times against the unit this year, so avoid Hyde at all costs. 

WR

Matchup	Verdict
DeAndre Hopkins (vs. TEN) vs. James Jones (at DEN)	DeAndre Hopkins
Julio Jones (vs. TB) vs. Keenan Allen (at BAL)	Julio Jones
Larry Fitzgerald (at CLE) vs. Brandon Marshall (at OAK)	Larry Fitzgerald
Odell Beckham Jr. (at NO) vs. Julian Edelman (vs. MIA)	Odell Beckham Jr.
A.J. Green (at PIT) vs Steve Smith Sr. (vs. SD)	A.J. Green

Star to Know: Martavis Bryant, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. CIN)

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

One of the main players tasked with keeping up with Dalton in the AFC North showdown will be Pittsburgh's Martavis Bryant.

Bryant returned from suspension in Week 6 and has posted three scores with 25 and 11 points despite the absence of Ben Roethlisberger under center.

With Big Ben a go for this weekend, Bryant becomes one of the top players of the week against a Cincinnati defense that has allowed six scores and 17 or more points in five of six outings. He'll sneak behind the secondary for at least one major play on the day.

Star to Bench: Amari Cooper, Oakland Raiders (vs. NYJ)

No. 1 wideouts just don't do well against the New York Jets.

It's due to Darrelle Revis, of course, who has held many, including Julian Edelman and Jarvis Landry, in check this season.

Amari Cooper of the Oakland Raiders is next. The rookie's been great this year, going for double digits in four of his six outings, but he's going to have a hard time shaking free against one of the game's best.

Still not free of the matchup-based play tag, Cooper needs to sit on the bench this week in favor of someone with a more stable floor.

TE

Matchup	Verdict
Rob Gronkowski (vs. MIA) vs. Travis Kelce (vs. DET)	Rob Gronkowski
Tyler Eifert (at PIT) vs. Gary Barnidge (vs. ARI)	Tyler Eifert
Greg Olsen (vs. IND) vs. Jimmy Graham (at DAL)	Jimmy Graham
Martellus Bennett (vs. MIN) vs. Jason Witten (vs. SEA)	Martellus Bennett
Richard Rodgers (at DEN) vs. Delanie Walker (at HOU)	Richard Rodgers

Star to Know: Martellus Bennett, Chicago Bears (vs. MIN)

David Banks/Associated Press

Target monsters go a long way at tight end, providing a semblance of a secure floor at a wild position. 

Which is why more than 90 percent of owners still clutch Martellus Bennett of the Chicago Bears. He's scored just eight combined points over his last two outings, but what owners should really look at is the fact he's tallied at least 11 targets in each of his past three.

That will lead to an explosion sooner or later, as it did in Week 4 when he posted 14 points. Now he gets the Minnesota Vikings, the defense allowing the seventh-most points to the position.

Star to Bench: Jordan Cameron, Miami Dolphins (at NE)

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

More than 65 percent of owners still believe in Miami Dolphins tight end Jordan Cameron, who has become one of fantasy football's biggest disappointments this season. 

Owners were excited to see what Cameron could do with a strong quarterback under center, but he's responded with just one score and zero trips to double digits.

Cameron is simply lost in an offense featuring droves of weapons, which won't change much on the road against the New England Patriots and a defense surrendering the ninth-fewest points to tight ends.

Owners have to look elsewhere, and those on the hunt for a streaming option can do better.

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats as of Oct. 29. Statistics courtesy of ESPN. Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars on bye.