Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 8
We are nearing the halfway point of the 2022 campaign. That makes these crucial mid-season games ‘ must-win’ territory for contenders. Our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 8 picks help you identify values to target and fades to avoid. It is also crucial to know which waiver wire pick to make and to stay up-to-date on the injury report. Here are our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 8 picks. QUARTERBACKS Start ‘Em Daniel Jones (New York Giants) Jones is coming off a monster game last week in which he threw for over 200 yards and a touchdown and rushed for over 100 yards and a TD. This week he takes on the Seahawks who have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Not only that, but they’ve also allowed the sixth-most rushing yards to quarterbacks this season. This matchup lines up perfectly for Jones and he appears to be getting more comfortable in the Giants’ new system every week. Jared Goff (Detroit Lions) The Dolphins’ secondary is ravaged by injuries and they are already allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to QBs. Goff should also be getting Amon-Ra St. Brown and D’Andre Swift back which should help him immensely. The biggest factor is the Dolphins’ secondary though. Their second-string through sixth-string quarterbacks are out injured as is their starting safety, Brandon Jones. They can’t stop any passing attack right now. Sit ‘Em Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) We shouldn’t have to put Rodgers in here again, but people seem to still be stuck on his name. He’s still being ranked as a top-15 guy and there is no excuse for that this week. He will be without his top receiver Allen Lazard and is going up against the best defense in football. He should be nowhere near a starting lineup this week. Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks) Smith may be the biggest surprise of the year. He’s far exceeded expectations. However, this is a tough matchup against the Giants this week, especially without D.K. Metcalf who is out with a knee injury. The Giants are allowing the 13th-fewest fantasy points to the QB. Over the past two weeks, the Giants’ defense has allowed one total passing TD against Lamar Jackson and Trevor Lawrence. RUNNING BACKS Start ‘Em D’Onta Foreman (Carolina Panthers) You don’t have to start either Panthers’ running back this week. However, if you’re going to Foreman is the guy to plug in. Last week, Foreman out-carried Chuba Hubbard 15-9, nonetheless, those numbers may be a bit skewed because Hubbard left early. He left early because of an ankle injury that could slow him down this week, which is a reason to go with Foreman. The biggest reason is that Foreman is so clearly better when you watch both of them. He will emerge as the RB1 soon. Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons) Allgeier is beginning to look the part of an NFL RB1. Last week, he out-snapped Caleb Huntley 29 to 11 and out-carried him 16 to six, rushed for 50 yards, and found the end zone. The numbers aren’t amazing, but he looks more comfortable out there and is getting the goal-line work now. He also has a great matchup against Carolina who are giving up the eighth-most fantasy points to running backs. Sit ‘Em Aaron Jones (Green Bay Packers) There isn’t a Packer who should be started this week. The Bills are the most dominant defense in the NFL and are allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs. Don’t be distracted by a strong fantasy week for Jones. He has been slumping for weeks and this offense is going to struggle mightily this week. Editor’s note: Obviously this depends on your ability to field a complete lineup during a bye week. Make sure to ask your questions in our Discord this week and we’ll help you decide whether you can sit the great Aaron Jones in this brutal matchup. Gus Edwards (Baltimore Ravens) There is going to be a lot of hype surrounding Edwards this week coming off a two-TD season debut. However, while he should be on your roster he shouldn’t be in your lineup. Beyond a tough matchup against the Bucs, a lot of the numbers weren’t great for Edwards last week. He only played 23 total snaps (36%). He was also in a favorable game script where the Ravens could run the ball 44 times and he didn’t catch a pass. WIDE RECEIVERS Start ‘Em Brandin Cooks (Houston Texans) Cooks has a great matchup this week against the Titans who are allowing the second-most fantasy points to wideouts. The Texans WR2 Nico Collins is also dealing with a groin injury so he could miss this game or be limited. This could open more targets in this great matchup. Wan’Dale Robinson (New York Giants) With Jones comes his WR1 Robinson, who is clearly a talented rookie and a potential PPR machine. Last week he led all Giants with eight targets. His role and his production will get greater each week. He’s an excellent weekly flex option in all PPR leagues. D.J. Moore (Carolina Panthers) With Robbie Anderson and Christian McCaffrey shipped out of Carolina last week, Moore had his best game of the season. He saw double-digit targets for just the second time this season and caught seven passes for 69 yards and a TD. All of which were season highs. Falcons top corner A.J. Terrell is also injured and expected to miss this one making Moore’s day much easier. Sit ‘Em Jakobi Meyers (New England Patriots) Meyers will likely be lined up against Sauce Gardner this week (Jets rank 13th most difficult against WR1s for the season) and the Patriots don’t even know who their quarterback will be. I know who it won’t be, anyone good enough to make me start Meyers against Sauce. Courtland Sutton (Denver Broncos) If Sutton thought he had it bad with Russell Wilson this season things got a lot worse last week. Not only is
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DraftKings Week 8 WR Report
DraftKings Week 8 WR Report Codes: Favorable Matchup Neutral Matchup Risk/Against the Grain Tough Matchup with Limited Upside A.J. Green (DK – $8,600/FD – $8,500): Cinci struggled to get Green the ball last week against the leagues the top defense vs. WR. He caught three of his five targets for 41 yards. In two of his previous three games, A.J. had two strong games (10/111/1 and 7/189/1). Green's now averaging 9.3 targets per game. The Colts have risk against WRs (86/1415/4 on 145 targets) with four teams gaining over 200 yards from the WR position (ARI – 14/258/1, SF – 15/221, TEN – 13/218/1, and 11/237). Indy can struggle in the deep passing game while doing a better job in the red zone limiting passing TDs to WRs. He lines up on the side of the field with the weaker CB in the Colts' defense creating a winnable edge. Top shelf matchup, but he'll need follow through to reach a high level of catches. Julio Jones (DK – $8,400/FD – $8,700): The Falcons decided to get Julio involved in the passing game vs. the Patriots, but his best value came after the game was well in hand. Jones finished with a season high 13 targets leading to nine catches for 99 yards and a TD. He's on pace for 91 catches for 1,243 yards and 3 TDs on 133 targets. WRs have 78 catches for 949 yards and eight TDs on 136 targets against the Jets. No WR has over 100 yards receiver against New York with Michael Crabtree (6/80/3) and Kenny Stills (6/85/2) having the two best games. Part of the reason for the lack of big games is the success of teams running the ball against the Jets (206/886/5). Jones or Devonta Freeman should score 25+ Fantasy points in this game. Julio is a special player who looks ready to deliver and impact game, but he needs the Jets to push the issue on the scoreboard. Mike Evans (DK – $7,900/FD – $8,200): After seven weeks, only one WR is averaging over 20 Fantasy points in PPR leagues (Antonio Brown – 20.93). This has been the case over the last two seasons. In 2016, Mike was one of three WRs to score over 300 Fantasy points (304.10) while averaging 19.01 FPPG. After six games, Evans had four TDs while averaging 9.7 targets per game. He's yet to gain over 100 yards receiving in a game, but he's scored 17.32 FPPG (4th). Last year he had two steady games against the Panthers (6/89/1 and 5/65/1) with 23 combined targets. Carolina hasn't allowed over 100 yards receiving to an WR with Michael Thomas (7/87/1) having the best games. WRs have 74 catches for 842 yards and six TDs in 116 targets. Not the best matchup even with an edge over his defending CB, but his volume of chances leads to high floor paired with his ability offer an edge in TDs. Dez Bryant (DK – $7,700/FD – $8,300): Dez has a TD in four of his last five games. Last week he finally had the look of being edge part of the Cowboys' passing game. He caught seven of his ten targets for 63 yards and TD. His upside in catches still leaves him in a weak area in his catch rate (48.3). Bryant averages 9.7 yards per game while lacking a 100-yard receiving game. Last season he had seven catches for 102 yards on 12 targets in his matchup in Washington with a step back in production in Week 12 (5/72). The key to Dez this week with be the status of CB Josh Norman who missed the last two games with a rib injury. WRs have short success against the Redskins (53/726/4 on 103 targets) with no WR gaining over 100 yards receiving. Nelson Agholor has the only game of value (6/86/1). Scoring ability while needing to catch more of his chances. Not ideal unless Norman misses this game. Michael Thomas (DK – $7,600/FD – $7,500): Thomas landed on the injury report this week with a knee issue. The injury sounds minor and he's expected to play on Sunday. Michael has four games with between 82 and 89 yards receiving while catching five catches or more in five of his six starts. New Orleans played four of their first six games on the road, which points to a better finish to the year for Thomas. Despite his slow start, Mike is the 10th highest scoring WR (14.60) in PPR leagues with two TDs. WRs have 76 catches for 916 yards and six TDs on 134 targets against the Bears. Mike Evans (7/93/1), Antonio Brown (10/110/1), and Jordy Nelson (4/75/2) all have solid games vs. Chicago. Very winnable game and the Bears can get lost in coverage in rub routes at the goal line. For him to reach an elite level in this matchup, Michael needs the Bears to score as well. DeAndre Hopkins (DK – $7,500/FD – $8,000): Game score led to Hopkins having minimal chances in his last games (2/19/1 on four targets). Over his first five games, DeAndre averaged 12.2 targets per game. He scored five TDs in his last three games and six TDs on the year with all of his scoring at home. Seattle continues to play well vs. WRs (64/676/3 on 119 targets) with no WR gaining over 100 yards. Two WRs posted strong games (Jordy Nelson – 7/79/1 and Rishard Matthews (6/87/1) vs. Seahawks. I don't expect Hopkins to see a lot of Richard Sherman so he'll have an edge over CB Shaquill Griffin. The difference in Deshaun Watson than most QBs is that he'll challenge a defense deep. Hopkins will get plenty of chances, but a short field does favor the Seahawks pass coverage. If he scores, it will come from long range. Keenan Allen (DK – $7,300/FD – $7,800): Allen entered last week with a shoulder issue. He struggled to get open against the Broncos (3/41 on seven