Identifying Week 8 sleepers and avoiding potential duds can make all the difference for your team. Whether you’re looking for under-the-radar players poised for a breakout or trying to dodge early-season letdowns, our team of Featured Pros has you covered. In this article, we’ll dive into the key players you should start and those you might want to bench based on expert insights and analysis.
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Week 8 Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
Sleepers
Which player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is a good sleeper start, and why do you think he has upside this week?
Ricky Pearsall (WR – SF)
“The brutal injury to Aiyuk on Monday Night opens the way to a bigger workload for Ricky Pearsall, in his second week back from his own injury. Jauan Jennings is still nursing a hip injury and hopes to play in the Week 8 matchup against the Cowboys, but that is not certain at the moment. Pearsall should be rostered in all formats and is the hot waiver wire pickup this week. Be sure that he is at least on your roster, or use him to fill in for the several injuries or bye weeks.”
– Josh Hall (IDP Army)
Jalen McMillan (WR – TB)
“Jalen McMillan is a great sleeper WR3 heading into Week 8. With Chris Godwin out for the season and Mike Evans out until Week 12, McMillan becomes the top receiving option for a still well-playing Baker Mayfield. He could be a steal WR3 play even when Evans returns, as he will be the clear #2WR on the roster and will be fast-tracked by Evans’ Week 12 return.”
– Smitty (TheFantasyFootballShow)
Hunter Henry (TE – NE)
“Hunter Henry has shown improvement in fantasy production over the last two weeks, both of which were with the new starting QB and 3rd overall pick, Drake Maye. As Maye continues to become more comfortable running the offense, it looks as though Henry may have ingratiated himself as the primary receiving target on the Patriots. Eight receptions on nine targets last week from Henry was a terrific showing, and I look to see more of the same against a New York Jets secondary that was already down three players before the Steelers game on Sunday Night Football, where they lost two more.”
– David Biggs (Drink Five)
Kalif Raymond (WR – DET)
“Jameson Williams is suspended the next two games, putting Kalif Raymond in the starting lineup for the high-powered Lions offense. Raymond is starting to produce better even with Williams in the lineup the last few weeks. Raymond has 11-plus fantasy points in each of his last two games. He scored his first touchdown of the season last week. He has some potential in a starting role for an offense that is rolling over every opponent.”
– Jeff Paur (RTSports)
Chris Olave (WR – NO)
“Chris Olave is a screaming sleeper option for me this week. He’s ranked at WR56 and 108 overall in a week when the Saints face the Chargers. He’s the second-highest-ranked Saints player behind Alvin Kamara at 30 overall. Someone’s gotta catch the ball, even if Spencer Rattler is throwing it. Olave has disappointed this season, but the matchup here is too juicy. I think Olave outperforms his 108 flex ranking in Week 8.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)
Troy Franklin (WR – DEN)
“It was nice finally seeing Troy Franklin more involved in the offense last week with five catches for 50 yards and a 23% target share. Franklin has a great opportunity to solidify his role as the WR2 on this team, which could have some fantasy relevance with Bo Nix getting a little more comfortable as a passer in the NFL. Don’t be surprised if we see another impressive outing this week against a Panthers defense that has given up over 34 points a game this season.”
– Joey Meinerding (Fantasy Dink)
Cedric Tillman (WR – CLE)
“Cedric Tillman caught eight balls for 81 yards last week, reminding us of our taxi-squad stashes throughout! In for a prominent role ROS, Jameis Winston at the helm & an uncharacteristically bad Ravens pass defense allowing the most yards & TDs to WRs over the last month – I like Tillman for a potential monster encore in Week 8! Find a place for him in your lineups.”
– Billy Whitt (Belly Up Sports)
“Neither Jerry Jeudy nor Elijah Moore are suited to handle the “X” receiver duties that now belong to Cedric Tillman. In his first shot of significant playing time this season following the trade that sent Amari Cooper to Buffalo, Tillman recorded an 80.4% route rate, 36.7% of the team’s air yards, and a 23.1% target share. He even drew 31.3% of the first-read targets – tied with David Njoku for the team lead. Tillman made plays for all three quarterbacks Cleveland played in Week 7. It is conceivable that Tillman serves as a one-for-one replacement for Cooper, considering the upgrade at quarterback (going from the injured Deshaun Watson to Jameis Winston) should be getting. Further helping his cause this week is a matchup against the Ravens, who are so proficient on offense that they should be able to force the Browns into throwing at least 40 times.”
– Doug Orth (FFToday)
Duds
Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?
Chuba Hubbard (RB – CAR)
“Whether or not Jonathon Brooks returns this week or later, Chuba Hubbard has a tough matchup against the Broncos in Week 8. A touchdown saved a complete bust of a performance against the Commanders, and his lack of use in the passing game is concerning. It’s best to leave most, if not all, Panthers on the bench this week, as I don’t envision this being a high-scoring affair.”
– Josh Hall (IDP Army)
Tony Pollard (RB – TEN)
“Tony Pollard ranks inside the top 32 overall for Week 8, but the Eagles will likely get out to an early lead, and the game script won’t be advantageous for Pollard. The Titans are a mess, and I wouldn’t trust any Titans fantasy player going forward.”
– Smitty (TheFantasyFootballShow)
“Tony Pollard failed to reach double-digit fantasy points for just the second time all season last week. And he did this against a bad Bills rush defense. It was a disappointing showing. But the entire Titans offense is a mess right now, which isn’t helping Pollard. The lack of success in the passing game is caused by having teams stack the box to take away Pollard. This could be a similar game plan this week for the Lions. Detroit has really struggled to stop the pass but has been stout against the run. The Lions allow the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs and rank fifth overall against the run.”
– Jeff Paur (RTSports)
“The Titans are a dumpster fire right now, so it’s hard to trust anyone in this offense. They are starting Mason Rudolph this week, they just traded away Hopkins, and they are playing a very strong Lions defense. The Titans are more than likely going to be playing down most of the game, so Tony Pollard won’t be used much as a runner. Pollard has surprised me so far this season, but I’m not expecting much from him this week.”
– Joey Meinerding (Fantasy Dink)
“While Tony Pollard will be a good play for most of the rest of the season, Week 8 is shaping up to be one of those few down weeks. Not only have the Titans struggled to score (17.9 points per game – tied for the fifth-lowest mark in the league, but this week’s fire sale also suggests help is not coming until 2025. The Lions are also about as stout as any team against the run and one of the better defenses at limiting production to running backs in the passing game. This game figures to get out of hand quickly, and Tyjae Spears (hamstring) could be back from his one-game absence, so there is not even a guarantee Pollard will handle the bulk of the work in the passing game.”
– Doug Orth (FFToday)
D’Andre Swift (RB – CHI)
“After a slow start to the season, D’Andre Swift has put up three incredibly solid performances in a row against the Rams, Panthers, and Jaguars, but those teams all happen to rank in the bottom 12 rushing defenses and points scored per game in the NFL. In stark contrast, the Bears’ next opponent, the Washington Commanders, ranks as the No. 1 team in NFL scoring, putting up an average of 31.1 points per game. In theory, the Bears will need to lean more on the passing game to stay in this one – but keep watch as to whether or not Jayden Daniels ends up playing, as that will be the biggest swing for Swift’s expected fantasy points in this matchup.”
– David Biggs (Drink Five)
DJ Moore (WR – CHI)
“DJ Moore feels like the obvious landmine for me at WR12 and 33 overall. He’s only broken 16 PPR points in a game once this year when he finished as WR6 in Week 5. That was also the only week he broke 100 yards. The rest of the season he’s been very disappointing. Ranking him as WR12 against the Washington Commanders and their very tough defense feels a little high to me, so I’ll be avoiding him wherever possible.”
– Andrew Hall (FantasyPros)
Jahmyr Gibbs (RB – DET)
“Jahmyr Gibbs is facing a Titans defense that has allowed only one RB to rush for 60+ yards all season & they’ve surrendered just nine rec for 38 yards over the last month. Already dropping slightly in the Week 8 flex rankings to No. 11, the Gibbs concern is warranted vs Tennessee.”
– Billy Whitt (Belly Up Sports)
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