Thursday Night Football got a major boost with the returns of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, and the Los Angeles Rams (2-4) looked like a completely different team against a Minnesota Vikings team that entered Week 8 as the second seed in the NFC with a 5-1 record. The facemask on the Byron Young sack for a safety will be the talk of the talking heads, but the Rams were the better team in Week 7. The offensive storylines will revolve around how different Matthew Stafford looks with his star receivers healthy and, of course, the consistent greatness of Justin Jefferson, but Kyren Williams continuing to dominate snaps also deserves mention. On the IDP side of things, Ivan Pace continued to impress for Minnesota, while Jared Verse picked up 1.5 sacks, and Jaylen McCollough came back to earth after recording three interceptions in two games. Looking ahead to this weekend, we will take a look at five players fantasy managers should do their best to plug into their lineups and five others who are better left on benches despite promising upside. Let’s dig in.

Fantasy Football IDP Start/Sit Week 8

Start em

Evan Williams (S – GB)
Evan Williams showed up again in Week 7, this time notching six solos and three assists. This was a season-high in solos for Williams and marks the third consecutive game in which he has recorded four or more solos. Evan appears locked in as the free safety as long as the Packers have Javon Bullard in the slot, and should be started as a DB3 in leagues of all sizes. Tap him as a top-36 option for Week 8, thanks to a plus matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ventrell Miller (LB – JAC)
Ventrell has played his way into weekly must-start territory and should be counted as a top-25 option as long as he is starting. He was solid again in Week 7, tallying six solos and four assists. He has recorded six or more solos in four straight games, emerging as the most consistent LB option on the Jaguars in the absence of Foyesade Oluokun. The LB12 since he started getting regular snaps for the Jaguars, Miller should be started everywhere for Week 8 if Oluokun remains sidelined as expected.

Eric Wilson (LB – GB)
Eric Wilson stepped up after Quay Walker left the game with a concussion, exploding for six solos, two sacks, four tackles for loss, and one pass defended against the Houston Texans. It was an impressive day for the Packers’ defense on a whole, but Wilson was a standout. Wilson only has value if Quay ends up missing this weekend’s contest against Jacksonville, but after this performance becomes a must-start if Quay misses time (he got in a limited practice on Thursday). Tap Wilson as an upside LB3 option if Quay is ruled out.

Jordan Poyer (S – MIA)
Poyer returned from injury to post six solos and two assists in Week 7 and should already be rostered in far more than one percent of Yahoo leagues. Poyer has registered five or more solos in both of his last two complete games and should be trusted as a DB2 option for Week 8. He has a plus matchup against an AFC team and should stay busy enough against the run and the pass to make good on at least DB3 numbers. Tap Poyer as a top-25 option for Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Jalen Carter (DT – PHI)
Jalen Carter showed up in Week 7, tallying three solos, one assist, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. Carter had been a been a disappointment through his first four games but now has three sacks in his last two games. Carter is still a DT2 but is a DL3 option while he is hot. Start him as a DL3/4 for a plus Week 8 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Sit em

Malcolm Rodriguez (LB – DET)
Rodrigo showed up in Week 7, tallying five solos, two assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss on 53 percent of the snaps. This was just the second time all season that he played more than 50 percent of the snaps and was just his third start. Rodriguez has recorded five or more solos just once this season and has registered four or more just twice. Rodriguez should be on waiver wires in all but the deepest of leagues as long as Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell are healthy.

Leo Chenal (LB – KC)
Chenal showed up in Week 7, posting five solos, one tackle for loss, one pass defended, and one forced fumble. Chenal has recorded more than three solos just twice all season and should not be plugged into lineups outside of heavy byes or an injury ahead of him. Leave Chenal on benches for Week 8 despite a plus matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Tim Settle (DT – HOU)
Settle showed up in Week 7, notching four solos, one sack, and two tackles for loss. Settle is up to three sacks on the season but has been too inconsistent in the solo department to trust as anything more than a DT2/3. Keep him benched for Week 8 despite his reappearance in the sack column.

Ar’Darius Washington (S/CB – BAL)
Washington showed up in Week 7, racking up four solos, two assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. Washington has been a non factor outside of Week 7 and will only become a CB league option if Marlon Humphrey, who missed the first two practices of the week, can’t go this weekend. Look elsewhere for your Week 8 DB4.

Jalen Mills (S/CB – NYJ)
Mills was solid in Week 7, posting five solos, three assists, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. The book is still out on Mills as a DB option due to a lack of sample size, but he is worth a roster spot in CB leagues. Stash Mills where needed, but keep him out of lineups for Week 8 despite the plus matchup against the New England Patriots.

Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.