Welcome to our eighth Start & Sit article at Fantasy In Frames for the 2023 fantasy football season!
Rejoice, fantasy managers! A week with no byes to worry about! Week eight is upon us, and we are past the midway point for this fantasy season. The playoffs will be here before we know it, and this is the time when your decision-making must be on point to keep your playoff hopes and dreams alive. I’m here to help make sure you fire up the right players to push you past the competition. Let’s get down to it! Here are my Fantasy Football Starts & Sits for Week 8 (2023).
Start
Sam Howell vs Philadelphia
Fantasy points all count the same even if they come from not-so-great teams. While the Commanders may not be the easiest team to watch play, Howell’s fantasy production is undeniable. Howell has posted over 20 fantasy points in four games this season with his only low production games coming against the Giants and Bills.
Philly has been allowing an average of 17 points to quarterbacks, ranking them in the bottom ten for points allowed. Per Fantasypros, opposing quarterbacks are having better than their average day when playing against the Eagles. Combine those two stats and Howell could have another 20-point day.
Tyson Bagent @ LA Chargers
Before you think I’m crazy, hear me out. The Chargers give up the MOST fantasy points to quarterbacks out of any team in the league. An average of 24.4 points possibly awaits the manager brave enough to start the Bears rookie quarterback in only his second game ever. Quarterbacks are typically outperforming their numbers when playing against the Chargers and Bagent is riding high after that thumping they gave the Raiders.
The Chargers have not benefited from home field advantage and are 1-2 in matchups at Sofi this season. Depending on your situation at the position and the format of your league, Bagent could be a viable option this week.
Sit
Russell Wilson vs Kansas City Chiefs
The Fighting Taylor Swifts give up the fourth fewest points, 13.7, to opposing team’s quarterbacks which is not a good omen for Russ and the Broncos in this divisional matchup. Russ has, on average, contributed 17.3 fantasy points, per game to your starting lineup.
The Broncos will have homefield advantage but it’s not likely to matter much considering that according to Fantasypros, quarterbacks perform below their typical average against this defense.
CJ Stroud vs Carolina
This is purely a matchup-based decision and not all reflecting on Stroud’s starting potential for the rest of the season. Carolina may be 0-6 but it’s not for a lack of trying. Their defense ranks in the top ten when it comes to keeping the opposing team’s quarterback in check, holding them to only 15.4 total points. Stroud’s production has been impressive especially considering that he’s a rookie and the Texans weren’t expected to be as competitive as they have been this season. All that considered, this might be the week to temper expectations.
Start
Dameon Pierce @ Carolina Panthers
Pierce has absolutely disappointed fantasy managers this season, not even getting over ten fantasy points per game. But if there ever was a week to fire him up, it’s this week against the second worst run defense in the Carolina Panthers.
Opposing teams’ running backs have a field day against this defense, putting up an average of 31.5 points each game. You should feel confident, at least for this week, leaving Pierce in your starting lineup.
D’Onta Foreman @ LA Chargers
Foreman is coming off a massively productive game last week against the Raiders, scoring his fantasy managers 33 points in an absolute rout, led by fellow start/sit candidate,Tyson Bagent. If this sounds familiar it’s because he’s flashed before, most recently in 2022, racking up 100+ yards in five different games.
Even if Roschon Johnson is healthy and active this week, Foreman can still be a “start” in your lineup, especially against the Chargers. Los Angeles has allowed an average of 20.6 fantasy points each week to the running back position, which puts them in the bottom 12 of all defenses in the league in this category.
Sit
Javonte Williams vs Kansas City
Williams is only averaging 7.1 fantasy points per game this season. We mentioned some similar stats earlier when discussing Russell Wilson and the matchup against the Chiefs, but it bears repeating, teams are being held to minimal points against this defense. Don’t forget that these two teams just went at it in week six and Williams struggled to put up 52 yards in ten attempts. Not ideal for even a RB2.
Aaron Jones @ Green Bay
My Packers welcome the Vikings to town fresh off their Monday night win against the Niners. CMC did score twice on them but he’s the exception to the rule. Minnesota has the sixth best run defense, allowing only 15 fantasy points per game to those running backs who are just mere mortals.
Jones has been hampered by injuries and missed three of the Packers six games this year. It’s difficult to trust anyone in the Green Bay backfield this year and this week won’t be any different.
Start
Drake London vs Tennessee
Scored by Fantasypros as one of the best matchups of the week, London is in line for a productive day versus the Titans. The Tennessee defense is susceptible to the passing attack and London is leading the team in targets and yards. With the exception of weeks one and three, London has put up respectable fantasy scores. This week should be no exception.
Josh Downs vs New Orleans
Downs and Minshew have an undeniable connection since Richardson’s season ending injury put Minshew in at quarterback on a permanent basis. Downs currently is second on the team in targets and yardage. With touchdowns in each of the last two games, he’s a player who plays much bigger than his physical size would suggest. His confidence, as well as his role in this offense, is only going to continue to grow.
Sit
Chris Olave @ Indianapolis
Legal issues aside, things have not looked great in New Orleans lately for Chris Olave. We’ve also been hearing about some tension between Quarterback Derek Carr and his receiving corps. Olave has been productive all season from a fantasy standpoint, but considering where he was drafted (second round) you’ve expected higher numbers. The vibes are off with this team, and it doesn’t feel good to see him in your lineup.
Davante Adams @ Detroit
If you have a strong receiving room, this might be the right call for you. With Garoppolo being inactive with the back injury, both Brian Hoyer and Aiden O’Connell saw action last week. No word yet on the starter at quarterback for week eight at this time. Adams snap percentage also dropped from mid 90’s to 75% last week as well. The combination of Adam’s frustration over his role in this offense and the uncertainty at quarterback make me want to look at other options this week if I have them on my roster.
Start
Mike Gesicki @ Miami Dolphins
Patriots play the Dolphins this week… sounds like a revenge game for Mike Gesicki is on its way. The Dolphins are giving up an average of 10.9 fantasy points to the tight end position this season. The Pats always play the Dolphins tough, so this game sets up nicely for Gesicki fantasy owners.
Dalton Kincaid vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bills are looking to get right this Thursday night after a loss to the Patriots in week seven. Kincaid should factor into the offense in an impactful way. Week seven saw him have his best fantasy output so far in his rookie season going eight for eight with 75 yards. Fun fact about Kincaid, he’s only missed one of 26 targets on the season. The Buccaneers give up more yardage to receivers than they do for tight ends and running backs but Kincaid tends to be used as more of a receiver anyway so that should not present a problem.
Sit
Any TE on the Atlanta Falcons @ Tennessee Titans
You’re getting a buy one get one deal here on Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith. The Falcons are going up against a Tennessee Titans defense that is stingy on the points they give up to opposing tight ends, only allowing an average of 6.8 per game.
Both players have nearly identical statistics in targets, total yards, and fantasy points per game. We know exactly how Arthur Smith feels about your fantasy team so counting on either Pitts or Smith to bring home the W for your team this week isn’t likely to end well.
Evan Engram @ Pittsburgh Steelers
You may not have any better options and be forced to start Engram, but you should temper your expectations. Jacksonville goes into Pittsburgh to match up against a defense only giving up a measly 5.7 fantasy points to tight ends per game. Engram is only averaging 7.9 points per game in half PPR formats so it’s easy to see why this isn’t an enticing match up in week eight.
Start
Jets @ Giants
The Jets are the toughest matchup for teams who rely on their passing attack. New York only allows 18.9 fantasy points to receivers on an average weekly basis. FantasyPros has this as one of their highest rated defensive matchups this week.
2. Kansas City @ Denver
Fun fact of the day- Kansas City remains as the only team to allow no more than 21 points in a game this season. Denver averages 21.1 points per game so far this season. These two teams faced off in week six and KC only allowed eight total points to the Broncos.
Sit
1. Tampa Bay @ Buffalo
No one envies the Bucs facing off this Thursday in Buffalo against an angry Bills team coming off a loss to the Patriots in week seven. According to fantasypros, team defense and special teams perform worse than usual when playing the Bills.
2. Dallas vs Los Angeles Rams
Sounds controversial, doesn’t it? Sit the defense who scored 40 points in week one. But hear me out, the Cowboys defense only scored four points total in their last two games before last week’s bye. They scored zero against San Francisco and four against the Chargers.
They match up against the LA Rams this week with a healthy Cooper Kupp and Puka Nukua. Statistics from Fantastypros show that defenses perform below average against this squad on a weekly basis.
