Week 8 Fantasy Football Start/Sits - NFL 2025 (QB, RB, WR, TE)

We blinked and are somehow already entering Week 8 of the NFL season. Hopefully your teams remain in the mix, and in a week with six teams on BYEs including teams with multiple fantasy stars such as the Lions and the Rams, there are some tough decisions to make and barrels to scrape to make lineups happen in some larger leagues. Not to worry, however. We got you.

Using data, gut feelings and ethereal projections, we will provide you the tools needed to get that juicy dub week after week with 100% accuracy. We will, of course, omit matchup-proof choices such as Puka Nacua and Josh Allen.

Quarterbacks: @jvr1210

Start: Bo Nix vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 10/26 @ 4:25 PM EST

I am saying this with the caveat that I do, in fact, have Bo Nix rostered in one of my main fantasy football leagues. After three quarters last week, I was ready to give up on Bo Nix. But wow, did Bo Nix put together one of the greatest quarters in NFL history. In just 15 minutes, Bo Nix threw 2 touchdowns and rushed for 2 more, leading the Broncos to a miraculous comeback victory over the Giants. In terms of running the football, Bo Nix has quietly been rather consistent, ranking 10th in QB rushing yards and tied for 4th in QB rushing TDs. Nix also ranks 11th in passing yards and 10th in passing TDs.

This week, the Broncos will play the Dallas Cowboys, who are the worst defense in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing QBs, rushing yards allowed to opposing QBs, passing yards allowed, and have allowed the second most passing TDs and the second highest passer rating to opposing QBs. Bo Nix should feast in this game, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets it done both on the ground and in the air.

Start: Joe Flacco vs. New York Jets (Sunday, 10/26 @ 1:00 PM EST)

Joe Flacco looks like a new man with all the weapons he has in Cincinnati. In his two games as the Bengals starting QB Flacco has thrown for 550 yards and 5 TDs, not too shabby for a 40-year-old. This week, the Bengals and Joe Flacco will play the New York Jets, who will be without the star of the secondary and the defense, Sauce Gardner. The Jets have been less than mediocre against the pass this year, allowing 13 TDs to 0 INTs, as opposing QBs have combined for a passer rating of 106.5 so far this year. With Gardner out it will in all likelihood be the Joe Flacco to Ja’Marr Chase show, and Flacco is worth a start if you are looking for a QB due to injuries or a bye week.

Sit: C.J. Stroud vs. San Fransisco 49ers (Sunday, 10/26 @ 1:00 PM EST)

The Texans' receiver corps is in rough shape. Nico Collins will be out this week, and Christian Kirk will, in all likelihood, be out this week as well. With these two likely out it will be up to the rookies Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, who both have seen a very small share in targets this season. All this to say C.J. Stroud will struggle without his top two options. Coming into the bye week, it looked like Stroud had perhaps turned a corner, throwing 4 passing TDs against the Baltimore Ravens, but he struggled last week against the Seahawks with 229 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT thrown. This week, Stroud will play the 49ers, who are the 10th best fantasy defense against opposing QBs this year. With his top two options out for a tougher matchup, I don’t expect Stroud to do a whole lot this week.

Sit: Brock Purdy / Mac Jones @ Houston Texans (Sunday, 10/26 @ 1:00 PM EST)

On the other side of the Texans vs 49ers matchup, we have Brock Purdy or Mac Jones. As of writing this on Friday, all signs seem to be pointing towards another Mac Jones start, but there is a small chance that Purdy could play, as he was a limited practice participant on Thursday. Regardless of who is starting this game, the Texans have been a nightmare for opposing QBs. In 6 games this season, the Texans have held opposing QBs to an abysmal passer rating of 68.3. They have allowed only 4 passing TDs on the season and have nearly double the interceptions with 7, with Baker Mayfield being the only QB to have a decent game against them. Regardless if it is Mac Jones or Brock Purdy starting this one, I’d stay away from both of them.

Running Backs: @BreTT_Shevlin

Start: J.K. Dobbins vs. Dallas Cowboys (Sunday, 10/26 @ 4:25 PM EST)

Dobbins draws a very favorable matchup this week vs a Cowboys defense that let Rico Dowdle rush for 183 yards in week 6. While many assumed rookie RJ Harvey would be more involved to this point, he’s mainly ceded to just pass catching duties. With Dobbins seeing a consistent workload of 15-20 touches every week, lock him in as a high upside RB2 this week.

Start: D’Andre Swift @ Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, 10/26 @ 1:00 PM EST)

Coming off two straight 100 yard performances and then traveling to Baltimore who are bottom five against the run this season should have you excited if you’re a Swift owner. Ben Johnson’s success with Detroit was how he was able to create blocking lanes for Gibbs and Montgomery and now Swift is benefiting from it in Chicago. Kyle Monangai’s uptick in involvement wouldn’t concern me in the short term, but something to monitor as the weeks progress. In the meantime continue to ride the hot streak with Swift this week.

D'Andre Swift

Sit: Alvin Kamara vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers  (Sunday, 10/26 @ 4:05 PM EST)

I can’t even say the matchup is bad here because it’s not I just can’t trust the Saints. Let me spit some knowledge at you from the one Saints fan here at 4QWI. The Saints are a very bad interior blocking team, but both tackles are pretty solid. Erik McCoy the starting Center (who was the best of the interior blockers) tore his bicep last week and is out for the season. Kamara is averaging just 3.6 yards per carry and his involvement as a receiver hasn’t been there. Looking to sell at the trade deadline, the Saints have no interest in being competitive this year and thus will be fighting with the Jets for the # 1 draft pick. Avoid anyone not named Chris Olave.

Sit: Quinshon Judkins @ New England Patriots (Sunday, 10/26 @ 1:00 PM EST)

Shout out to our beloved friend Kevin for providing this information, but apparently not a single RB has rushed for 50 yards on the Patriots this season. The Patriots brought in Milton Williams, Khyiris Tonga and Robert Spillane to help beef up the run defense and it sure has helped. The Patriots have surrendered just 540 yards total to RB’s through 7 weeks which ranks 3rd in the NFL. Last nugget I’ll throw in here; as TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins were both teammates at Ohio State so expect there to be some added motivation for both teams to stop them from having a big day.

Wide Receivers: @Endydoe

Start: Romeo Doubs @ Pittsburgh Steelers (SNF, 10/26 @ 8:20 PM EST)

Doubs has been a steady and consistent hand these past three weeks, with 8,9 and 8 targets along with 6, 5 and 6 receptions in each. He did score three times in Week 4 and has not had a tuddy since but he's obviously a focal point of this Green Bay pass attack. On Sunday night, the Packers travel to their former QBs new home to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers. I want a shootout between these squads and I think Doubs is in for some healthy volume this game. Additionally, the Steelers have allowed 93 WR receiptions, tied for fourth in the league, along with the 8th most receivers yards to WRs, at 1,108. All told, Doubs is giving me WR3/2 vibes this week.

Romeo Doubs

Start: Tez Johnson @ New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 10/26 @ 4:05 PM EST) We've steadily seen the surge of Tez Johnson over the past three weeks as he has incrementally scored more fantasy points every week since Week 5. With Mike Evans now on the IR and Chris Godwin out, Tez will serve as the pass-happy Buccaneers' WR2 against a Saints defense allowing the 11th most fantasy points to the position thus far. That includes eight touchdowns, which is tied for fifth in the NFL. I like Tez a lot going further into the season, and especially so in a depleted player pool this week.

Sit: Keon Coleman @ Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 10/26 @ 1:00 PM EST)

This week is crazy with the byes, with six teams out of action. I am sure my fellow 4QWI'ers on this article struggled picking reasonable sits with this mind mind. With that said, I'm down with leaving Keon Coleman on the bench this week. The Bills' receiver room was one of speculation entering the season and thus far Coleman hasn't produced much fantasy-wise as he enters Week 8 as the WR46 on the season, owing to having just one game wherein he had 50 yards. Buffalo will travel to Carolina to take on the Panthers who have a formidable pass defense. The Panthers have allowed just 817 yards to opposing WRs this season, which is 5th in the NFL, along with four touchdowns to the position (T-3rd). Even amongst the BYEs this week, I would look elsewhere.

Tight Ends: Austin # 1

Start: Cade Otton @ New Orleans Saints (Sunday, 10/26 @ 4:05 PM EST)

Cade Otton has been picking up his production the past few weeks compared to the start of the season, and given that the Buccaneers are one injury away from rebranding to Weenie Hut General, Mayfield is going to be looking for any reliable hands to throw it to. In the last 3 weeks, Otton has posted a line of 16-20-197-0, which is 85% of his total yards on the season (231). Rostered in only 42% of ESPN leagues, Otton is a great addition to your team that may lead to long term production, as Mike Evans is likely out for most of the remaining season.

And incase you don’t know, with Evans now being on the IR, he joins Chris Godwin and Bucky Irving on the sideline, meanwhile rookie star Emeka Egbuka was a limited participant in practice today and remains questionable going into week 8.

Start: Noah Fant vs. New York Jets (Sunday, 10/26 @ 1:00 PM EST)

Need to fill a bye? Look no further. Only rostered in 4% of ESPN leagues, Noah Fant has the luxury of having a nearly retired Joe Flacco under center now, who just had the debut of a life time. Fant caught 4 passes for 44 yards and a score with Flacco under center, and this week they draw a favorable matchup against a helpless NYJ team. Additionally, Sauce Gardener still got the sauce on defense, and he will be shadowing Jam’arr Chase most of the game, and although Chase’s ability will still allow him open looks, he is going to be tightly covered in most plays, and I think Flacco will have to turn to his secondary options more often than not to keep the ball moving. Fant is a great bye week filler candidate and should be considered should you need a TE.

Noah Fant

Sit: Theo Johnson @ Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 10/26 @ 1:00 PM EST)

Theo Johnson has been an exciting playmaker with this new look Giants offense, and has been hot the past 4 weeks, posting a 14-23-143-4 stat line in that span. Those numbers are great, but they don’t tell the whole story, and the detail they’re missing is that Johnson faced the Eagles just 2 weeks ago in week 6, and posted a measly 2-4-27-0 line. Now, traveling to Philly for this week, I wouldn’t expect Johnson to have much of an opportunity to make a real impact, which is why I’m leaving Johnson in the bench in week 8.

Sit: Hunter Henry vs. Cleveland Browns (Sunday, 10/26 @ 1:00 PM EST)

Hunter Henry looked like he was going to be a stud in the first month of the season, but since week 3 he hasn’t seen more than 5 targets in a game, and he faces a tough defense in the Browns who only allowed 29 yards to TE’s last week against the Dolphins. If Henry doesn’t find the endzone in this game, he’s not going to get enough opportunities to make an impact in your fantasy lineup. If you have another option to turn to on your bench I’d consider it. Sorry Kev.