With the final October football weekend upon us, we here at 4QWI are here to sauce you some advice for your fantasy football lineups for Week 8. This fantasy season has been memorable for several reasons, including many players we thought would dominate the PRKs either being injured or just being lackluster. In some of your leagues, the playoff picture can be pretty clear at this point in the season, and yet there is still plenty of time to adjust course and get your team on track to make it into the bracket.
This may go without saying, but we will go ahead and leave out the effective matchup-proof picks such as Tyreek Hill, Christian McCaffrey and Patrick Mahomes. With all that said, let's get down to business.
Quarterbacks: @spechty49
Start: Kenny Pickett vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (10/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Going up against a sub-par Jags defense, Kenny Pickett could be in line for some big plays. On top of facing a mediocre defense which is 2nd in terms of giving up points to QBs, Pickett has Diontae Johnson back as well for his 2nd game. Also the running game found a little groove with Najee finally remembering how to be a running back. Things should open up a bit! Not expecting a monster game but a solid one at least!
Start: Jared Goff vs. Las Vegas Raiders (MNF, 10/30 @ 8:15 PM EST)
After a mediocre game in a blowout, Goff owners may consider sitting the man. But he is up against a Raiders defense which should put him in a position for a decent bounce back. Raiders D has the 8th highest average completion % so in a PPR league Goff should be able to have a decent outing.
Sit: Joe Burrow @ San Francisco 49ers (10/29 @ 4:25 PM EST)
As encouraging as it is to see Joey B's calf getting better it’s just been a rough year. Coming off the BYE is great from an injury standpoint but he’s on the road in California. I wouldn’t look to this game to be his bounce back game. If it was any other team after the BYE it may be a different outlook. I do not look at Kirk Cousins 'recent performance as anything other than fuel for the 9ers to just wreck Joes day.
Sit: Geno Smith vs. Cleveland Browns (10/29 @ 4:05 PM EST)
After a meh performance against a favorable matchup vs Arizona the outlook for Geno vs a monster Browns Defense is … not good. The Browns defense is extremely good in case you didn’t know. If DK Metcalf is out or still hurt it should be a rough day for poor Geno. The Browns defense is first in opponents passing yards … they have yet to give up 1000 pass yards this season. So needless to say they’re pretty good.
Bonus Sleeper Start: Jordan Love vs. Minnesota Vikings (10/19 @ 1:00 PM EST)
After a nice two touchdown performance Love has a nice matchup against the Vikings. The Vikings sit above league average in most defensive categories so Love could have some sleeper potential!
Running Backs: @Endydoe
Start: Dameon Pierce @ Carolina Panthers (10/29 @ 1:00 PM EST) Dameon Pierce has been one of the many Running Back busts this fantasy season, especially at the average ADP he has been drafted at. However, much of these woes for fantasy owners come from the fact that Pierce has only hit paydirt once this season. This week he and the Texans travel to face the Panthers; a defense that is tied for most rushing touchdowns allowed this season with 12, along with the second most rushing yards per game (144.3). Even with the emergence of Devin Singletary in the Houston backfield, use the matchup to give Pierce one more chance. Pierce has a steady diet of 13 or more carries in all but one of his games this season and with a mouthwatering matchup, he can't possibly not have a touchdown or at least a decent performance on the ground. Slot him in at flex with RB2 upside this week.
Start: Saquon Barkley vs. New York Jets (10/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Barkley's trajectory the past few seasons has been marred with inconsistency and injuries which have been a defining part of his fantasy identity. This week, Barkley enters as RB22 in PPR leagues on the season and for leagues with 10 or less teams, his presence in your lineup can be called into question. I propose Barkley for start consideration this week despite this. Firstly, he enters a "home" matchup against the Jets who are allowing the seventh most rushing yards per game and the 12th most fantasy points allowed to Running Backs. Barkley is one of the more routinely used backs in the league and has an undisputed hold on the NYG backfield, and has had 45 carries in the last two weeks alone. Barkley is a strong RB2 candidate this week.
Sit: Brian Robinson vs. Philadelphia Eagles (10/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Brian Robinson began the 2023 campaign hot out of the gate, averaging 4.5 yards per carry along with four total touchdowns in his first four games of the season. He has since cooled down and is averaging a paltry 2.5 yards per carry in his last three games, with one rushing touchdown in that span. All this is considered before even looking at his opponent. Despite a home matchup this week, Robinson plays the extremely tough Eagles defense, which has allowed just three rushing touchdowns all season and are allowing the least rushing yards per game by a wide margin, with just 62.9. There is nary a worse matchup for a Running Back this week. He is at most a desperation flex in PPR and we recommend you leave him on your bench.
Sit: Rachaad White @ Buffalo Bills (TNF, 10/26 @ 8:15 PM EST)
Despite a decent 3-3 start on the season, the Buccaneers have struggled mightily on the rushing end of things. Rachaad White is the main culprit here. Despite having a stranglehold on lead back duties in Tampa Bay, the sophomore White is 32nd in the NFL in yards per attempt this season for Running Backs with just 3.2. Even against a middling Bills rushing defense, there is just no reason to run with White in any of your leagues, and the only real value he possesses right now is in deep PPR formats.
Wide Receivers: @jvr1210
Start: Nico Collins @ Carolina Panthers (10/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Nico Collins comes into week 8 as the #15 ranked WR despite being on the BYE last week. Collins has been impressive so far this year with two standout games solidifying him amongst the games best, with 9 receptions for 146 yards and 1 TD in week 2 against the Colts, and 9 receptions for 168 yards and 2 TDs in week 4 against the Steelers.
This week Collins will match up against the Carolina Panthers. Although on paper Carolina hasn’t been bad against WRs (currently ranked 14th), they have been torched by opposing teams WR1’s. In the PPR setting, they allowed 29 points to Tyreek Hill, 14 points to Chris Olave, 26 points to Justin Jefferson, and 17 points to DK Metcalf. With Collins lining up as the WR1 expect a productive day.
Start: Joshua Palmer vs. Chicago Bears (SNF, 10/29 @ 8:20 PM EST)
Palmer is coming off of a week 7 performance against the Chiefs in which he set a new career high in receiving yards with 133 yards on 5 catches. With Mike Williams out for the year and the Chargers trying to fill that hole, it seems Palmer has slotted himself into the WR2 role for the Chargers, with at least 7 targets in each of his last four games.
With a 20th-ranked Bears defense, who admittedly played better than expected last week, albeit against a Brian Hoyer-led Raiders offense, I’d expect the Chargers offense who ranks 8th in the league in passing yards per game to have a productive day through the air. Expect that productive day to include Joshua Palmer who should be given at least Flex if not borderline WR2 consideration this week in fantasy football.
Sit: Amari Cooper @ Seattle Seahawks (10/29 @ 4:05 PM EST)
Amari Cooper has not been great without Deshaun Watson. Across his last three games which have for the most part been with Phillip Walker at the helm, Amari Cooper has 7 catches for 146 yards and 0 TD’s, most of which came against the 49ers in week 6. With Watson out again I don’t have high hopes for Amari Cooper despite a favorable matchup against the Seahawks defense who ranks 20th in the league in passing yards allowed per game. If you have to Cooper may be worthy of a Flex spot this week if he can put together a performance similar to his game against the 49ers.
Sit: DeAndre Hopkins vs. Atlanta Falcons (10/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Imagine a time when we would recommend sitting both Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins. With Ryan Tannehill out this week and reports that both Will Levis and Malik Willis will be seeing playing time against the Falcons defense which is allowing the third least total yards per game (with 285.4 yards allowed per game), it’s tough to see a situation where starting DeAndre Hopkins would be a smart decision. On top of that some age may be showing as in a PPR setting Hopkins has only scored more than 10 points once so far this year (week 5 against the Colts). Avoid starting Hopkins if you can.
Tight Ends: @jvr1210
Start: Sam LaPorta vs. Las Vegas Raiders (MNF, 10/30 @ 8:15 PM EST)
Sam LaPorta at home may be better than every TE in the league except Travis Kelce. In 3 home games so far this year LaPorta has 16 catches for 194 yards and 3 TDs, that’s stellar production from the TE position. With an average matchup against the Raiders defense who has allowed the 18th most points to TE’s in fantasy this year, expect a productive day for Sam LaPorta.
Start: Dallas Goedert @ Washington Commanders (10/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Dallas Goedert got off to a less-than-desirable start to the season, with single-digit fantasy results in the first four weeks of the season. From Week 5 on Goedert has found his stride, propelling himself to a top 5 fantasy spot for tight ends. In those last three games, Goedert has 18 catches for 236 yards and 2 TDs.
This week Goedert matches up against the Commander's defense who ranks 24th in the league against TE’s and 28th in passing yards allowed per game. Last week the Commanders allowed Darren Waller to rack up 98 yards and 1 TD on 7 catches and I’d expect very similar results this week for Goedert.
Sit: Cole Kmet @ Los Angeles Chargers (SNF, 10/29 @ 8:20 PM EST)
With Justin Fields out, avoid Cole Kmet like the plague. Two weeks ago with a favorable matchup against the Vikings, Kmet only produced 9 yards on 2 catches, and last week Kmet didn’t even receive a target. Justin Fields is doubtful for a favorable TE matchup against the Chargers defense who ranks 22nd in the league against opposing TEs. Despite this favorable matchup with Tyson Bagent likely at the helm for the Bears I would sit Kmet.
Sit: David Njoku @ Seattle Seahawks (10/29 @ 4:05 PM EST)
David Njoku is coming off his most promising performance of the season with 5 catches for 54 yards last week against the Colts. Even with this being his best fantasy performance of the season it is still less than stellar. With Deshaun Watson out again this week and a matchup against a Seahawks defense who is 4th in the league against opposing TE’s all signs point towards sitting Njoku this week.
D/STs: @BreTT_Shevlin
Start: Chargers vs. Chicago Bears (SNF, 10/29 @ 8:20 PM EST)
I can’t believe I’m saying this because I hate the Chargers defense. I don’t think they can stop a nose bleed to be quite frank and Brandon Staley is a boob, but I have two words for you. Tyson Bagent.
Sit: Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams (10/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
The Cowboys defense is legit. They’re rostered in over 91% of ESPN leagues, but I don’t like their matchup this week. The LA Rams have a lot of offensive firepower now with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua playing alongside one another. I would fade the Cowboys in this one.
Kickers: @BreTT_Shevlin
Start: Jason Sanders vs. New England Patriots (10/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Yea not really sure what to say here as far as kickers go because I doubt you’re fostering more than 1 and if you are, do better. However, Jason Sanders faces the Patriots in sunny Miami this week where the Patriots have had their issues going back to when Tom Brady was on the team. Sanders was 1/3 on field goals and made all 3 extra point attempts in week 2 against the patriots in Gillette Stadium. The attempts should be there as the Patriots defense has made a living on just giving up 3 as opposed to 7.
Start: Younghoe Koo @ Tennessee Titans (10/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Mr. Koo is starting to heat up. He has supplied the game winning kick 3 times this season while connecting on 21/23 attempts. He looks to ride this momentum against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville where the weather conditions should be excellent.
Sit: Greg Joseph @ Green Bay Packers (10/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Lambeau Field has always been one of the trickiest places to kick in the National Football League. The bitter cold and swirling wind can be tough for kickers that aren’t used to playing there. Joseph also missed a field goal and an extra point in Monday’s win over the 49ers. I’m sure you can find a better option in fantasy this week.
Sit: Matt Gay vs. New Orleans Saints (10/29 @ 1:00 PM EST)
Colts offense just ain’t clicking right now with Minshew behind center. If the Colts can’t push the ball down the field, opportunities will be limited for Matt Gay. Maybe Matt can ask Chad Ryland some tips on how to kick against the Saints 😉