It’s Week 8 crunch time ahead of the Thursday Night Football showdown between the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.
There, the usual suspects—such as Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski and Lamar Miller with a newfound usage rate—will put on a show and hint toward what the rest of the slate has in store for owners.
The best thing owners can do on a short turnaround is march into the next week armed to the proverbial teeth with information based on seven weeks’ worth of data. Here’s a look at value comparisons and start ’em, sit ’em decisions.
QB
Start ‘Em: Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. DET)
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith hasn’t been the most reliable player this year, but owners in need of a streaming option might want to look his direction in Week 8.
There, Smith gets a great matchup against the Detroit Lions, a team allowing the seventh most points to quarterbacks this year. While Smith has thrown more than one touchdown toss in just a single game this year, he shouldn’t have any issues dumping it off and watching his targets dash through a leaky defense.
This matchup also goes down in London, which figures to help the quarterback more than anything.
Sit ‘Em: Ryan Fitzpatrick, New York Jets (at OAK)
Albeit in a quiet manner, New York Jets quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has been a dependable option for fantasy owners in a pinch based on the matchup.
Fitzpatrick has three games with 15 or more points and at least two touchdown passes in all but one outing this year, which tends to happen for a guy who gets to sling it to Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker.
The problem, though, is Fitzpatrick’s reliance on matchups. This weekend he travels to Oakland to take on the Raiders and a defense that has held its own against the Peyton Mannings of the world, only allowing major production when a team attempts more than 40 passes.
As a run-first team, the Jets won’t do so, which makes Fitzpatrick a sit.
RB
Start ‘Em: Chris Johnson, Arizona Cardinals (at CLE)
He might not be CJ2K anymore, but Arizona Cardinals lead back Chris Johnson sits as fantasy’s sixth-highest scorer at the position entering Week 8.
Johnson has flourished in the potent attack, scoring double digits in three games already with an impressive 27-point showing. Now he hits the road to Cleveland to take on the Browns, owners of the defense surrendering the second most points to backs this year.
The Browns have let up at least 16 points to all but one opposing backfield this year. Arizona, as visitors in the cold, will want to keep things on the ground. It writes itself.
Sit ‘Em: Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers (at DEN)
Owners want things to work with Green Bay Packers star Eddie Lacy, hence his 98.9 ownership percentage.
Yet Lacy has just one trip to double digits this year and just hasn’t been the same since Week 1. A summary of thoughts from head coach Mike McCarthy before the bye week says it all, per Packer Report:
A week to rest or not, now Lacy has to deal with a Denver Broncos defense that has coughed up just four touchdowns to opposing backs.
It sounds like Green Bay wants to go with the hot hand, which Lacy isn’t. There’s little reason for owners to believe that will change against one of the league’s best defenses.
WR
Start ‘Em: Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings (at CHI)
Minnesota Vikings wideout Stefon Diggs might be one of fantasy football’s biggest names right now. But he’s only owned in 59.4 percent of leagues, and owners have every right to wonder if he’s the real deal.
The short answer: He is.
Diggs has 12 and 16 points over the course of his last two after earning more playing time. His opportunities aren’t going anywhere, and now he gets to go against a Chicago Bears defense surrendering the third most points to receivers.
Chicago has allowed three sets of opposing wideouts to total three or more touchdowns in a game, so the odds Diggs slips past the unit and finds paydirt look good.
Sit ‘Em: Donte Moncrief, Indianapolis Colts (at CAR)
Owners are likely well-aware of the struggles of the Indianapolis Colts this season.
Still, Donte Moncrief has managed to reach double digits three times this year given the right situations.
Week 8 just isn’t one of them.
On the road against the Carolina Panthers, Moncrief figures to have trouble shaking free against the unit allowing the third-fewest points to his position.
Part of it is the fact quarterbacks can hardly get the ball off against the unit. When Andrew Luck manages to, he figures to look at T.Y. Hilton.
TE
Start ‘Em: Benjamin Watson, New Orleans Saints (vs. NYG)
New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson cooled off in Week 7 with just five points, a far cry from his nine in Week 5 or his 18 in Week 6.
The above still isn’t a reason to turn away from a veteran who is the closest thing to Jimmy Graham owners will get when it comes to the Saints this year.
Watson figures to have a quick return to form thanks to a date with the New York Giants, the unit surrendering the fifth most points to tight ends. In what figures to be a shootout, Watson will have plenty of chances to post another strong day.
Sit ‘Em: Ladarius Green, San Diego Chargers (at BAL)
With San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates looking iffy with an injury, owners might think it wise to roll with Ladarius Green.
It makes sense, as Green went to double digits twice while Gates served his four-game suspension and just did so again in Week 7. The problem, though, is that Green now has to take on the Baltimore Ravens.
For all the bad press around the Ravens, the one thing they do well is defend tight ends. They’ve let up just one touchdown to the position this year and just two allowances of six or more points, making Green a must-avoid option.
All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats as of Oct. 28. Statistics courtesy of ESPN. Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars on bye.
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