The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 8

There is nothing like a middle-of-the-season NFL week without any teams on bye! The rush of not dealing with players being out for the week is very helpful, but there is an issue on the other side. You must figure out who to play out of all your players. Yet again, The Fantasy Footballers showed up to help you navigate who to get into your lineups. On Thursday’s episode, Andy, Mike, and Jason delivered their Starts of the Week to give you confidence on who you can get into your lineup. To check out the entire episode on YouTube, follow the link below:

If this isn’t enough fantasy goodness for you, and you need more guidance, you can always head to the Ultimate Dashboard to get more designed insight into your leagues and rosters. If you don’t have access to the UDB, you need to head over to jointhefoot.com to become a member and utilize all the premium perks of being a member of the Foot Clan.

Now, let’s get into the breakdown.

Andy’s Starts of the Week

QB – Tua Tagovailoa vs. ARI

It has been a long wait for Miami and all their players for Tua to return from IR. If you stashed him, the good news is that he has an excellent first-week matchup. The Cardinals are a beatable secondary, ranking 26th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs and 31st in completion permitted percentage. Miami has been wildly conservative while Tua was out, as they haven’t completed a pass of 20+ yards in the last five weeks. Last week, Justin Herbert, on a run-first team, threw for 349 yards; Tua can come back and be right back to who you want him to be. 

RB – J.K. Dobbins vs. NO

Last week, it didn’t work out for Dobbins against the Cardinals. However, he still saw 68% of the snaps and 17 opportunities. He averages five yards per carry and 2.5 receptions per game during the season. He was facing a Saints defense that had been annihilated on the ground for several weeks. In fact, since Week 3, the Saints are dead last against RBs, allowing 10.9 points above expectation. Have confidence in Dobbins to bounce back.  

WR – Jayden Reed @ JAX

Reed hasn’t had a boom game in a while, finishing the last three weeks as WR25, 25, and 83. However, he is still the WR6 on the season. The Packers have the highest team-implied total on the week at 28 points. They face a Jaguars defense that ranks 32nd in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs and 32nd in expected points added per pass attempt. Reed could easily have another boom week with Jordan Love on an absolute heater. 

TE – Dalton Kincaid @ SEA

Kincaid has disappointed fantasy managers based on where he was drafted and the projections of what he could be in the offense. He has only averaged 3.4 receptions and 38 yards per game. However, Buffalo upped their passing rate last week after just one week of Amari Cooper being in the building, going from 49% in Weeks 1-6 up to 63% last week. Seattle’s defense is fragile against the TE position, ranking 31st in the schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed by the TE. The previous three TEs they have faced have had at least five receptions, with Theo Johnson going 5-for-48, George Kittle 5-for-58 and two touchdowns, and Kyle Pitts 7-for-65. Kincaid could get over the hump this week and finally give you the big fantasy game you hoped for when you drafted him. 

Jason’s Starts of the Week

QB – C.J. Stroud vs. IND

Stroud has been frustrating this season because he has been very inconsistent. However, the trend from last year has continued. When he plays terrible defenses, he destroys them, which he gets this week. In Week 1 at Indianapolis, he completed 75% of his passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns. The Colts’ defense is still just as bad as it was then, ranking 28th in schedule-adjusted points allowed to QBs, and Stroud is at home. There should be a safe floor with the potential of a vast ceiling. 

RB – D’Andre Swift @ WAS

Swift heard what everyone was saying about him through the first three weeks of the season, and since then, has been on a tear! In Week 4, he was RB3; in Week 5, he was RB3; and in Week 6, he was RB9. Over that span, he’s averaging 22 opportunities per game as the clear starting RB for the team. Chicago is a 2.5-point road favorite against a Commanders defense that allows 4.9 yards per carry and is ranked 27th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. Swift should stay on his hot streak coming off the bye.

WR – Tank Dell vs. IND

Jason wanted to go with the stack of Dell and Stroud. This week also feels like a now-or-never moment for Tank Dell. This week, Head Coach DeMeco Ryans and Stroud came out supporting Tank. Last year, we saw him break out against the Colts at home with 10 targets, seven receptions, 72 yards, and a touchdown. The Colts’ defense got plenty of bashing under the Stroud start, but they are also ranked 29th against the pass and 25th against the WRs. Come on, Tank, it is your time to shine, buddy! 

TE – Kyle Pitts @ TB

Pitts has been quietly really good the last few weeks, 7-for-88 against Tampa Bay, 3-for-70 at Carolina, and 7-for-65 last week against Seattle. He has seen 18% of the targets for a Falcons team that loves to throw. Over the last month, Tamps Bay ranks 30th against TEs and has given up some big games, one of which was to Pitts. It should be expected that Pitts is at least a safe option for you this week. 

Mike’s Starts of the Week

QB – Jordan Love @ JAX

His 8.4% TD rate is enormous, and while there is an easy path for regression, this won’t be the week it happens. The Jaguars are the best matchup to target this year, ranking 31st in passing yards allowed per game, 32nd in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs, and 32nd in expected points added per pass attempt. The matchup is perfect, and with Love on this heater, there is no reason to fear having him in your lineup. 

RB – Javonte Williams vs. CAR

Last week, Javonte had 17 opportunities against New Orleans and two touchdowns. He has been up and down all season, but he’s an excellent start this week because of the matchup. Denver has an implied team total of 25 points, which is their highest in the last 40 games; again, this is because of the matchup. Carolina’s defense cannot stop anyone, and they rank dead last in schedule-adjusted fantasy points given up to RBs while teams are running the ball 54% of the time. So teams are running a lot because they are having success. This game could quickly turn into Javonte Williams carrying the ball repeatedly until the clock runs out, which is great for fantasy! 

WR – Darnell Mooney @ TB

He has been more boom/bust this season, but the volume has been there all along. He is the WR16 on the season, currently averaging 7.6 targets and 4.6 receptions per game. A few weeks ago, Mooney dominated the Bucs with 16 targets, nine receptions, 105 yards, and two touchdowns. The Tampa secondary has continued to be one team that can be thrown on at will, ranking 27th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs and 29th in passing yards allowed. It’s a great week to get Mooney in your lineup, and I feel he can deliver for you. 

TE – David Njoku vs. BAL

Mike wants it to be clear that he can now officially join the club of backing Njoku. Last week he saw 14 targets, and there is no reason to believe he can’t do that again. The Ravens allow the most passing yards per game in the NFL at 287. They also rank 28th against fantasy TEs, including Cade Otton, who went for 100 yards last week. Njoku has all the talent in the world, and if Cleveland is going to succeed in the air, he will have to be a vital part of that attack.