Who To Start And Sit In Week 8 Of The 2016 Fantasy Football Season

As we hit the midpoint of the fantasy football regular season, we take a moment to sit back and observe what’s happened so far this year. Eddie Lacy turned out to still be fat and his weak little feet couldn’t handle the weight…again. No one’s sure with Allen Robinson, but all his owners are disappointed. Everyone will learn a lesson when it comes to running backs entering the season with a knee injury after what happened to Jamaal Charles. The same goes with wide receivers and feet injury after the Sammy Watkins situation. And you can’t seem to plan for injuries, but it seems as if productive running backs are always easier to find on the waiver wire than wide receivers are.

It’s not all bad though as we’ve realized that Philip Rivers can make any wide receiver valuable. Amari Cooper and Ezekiel Elliott are both living up to all the hype that was bestowed on them coming out of college. All the Miami Dolphins running game needed was a healthy offensive line. Devonta Freeman can still ball out even if he’s sharing work. Christine Michael is finally living up to his athletic metrics. Greg Olsen is as consistent as ever with 60 receiving yards in every game this season. All Mike Wallace needed was a quarterback who knew how to throw a deep ball.

Below is a list of guys I’m focused on for one reason or another this week. They’re especially important in daily fantasy sports (DFS) leagues like DraftKings. If you’re curious about guys you don’t see listed here, you can always find me on Twitter (@MrT_BroBible) to ask questions, but remember to mention league specifics like PPR. You can always ask about trades as well.

You Know Who You Should Start?

 

Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB – New York Jets)

You may think I’m crazy for recommending a guy who lost his job two weeks ago and is only back in the game because the guy who replaced him tore his ACL. Consider, however, that the last four games Fitzpatrick started were against defenses ranked the following in fantasy points against to QBs: 12th, 5th, 14th, and 4th. No wonder he struggled. No one was complaining about Fitz before then. He gets to redeem himself this week against everyone’s favorite punching bag, the Browns. Cleveland has allowed at least 16 points a game to fantasy quarterbacks in every game this season including 20+ in the last three games. The Jets fans can look forward to good things this weekend.

Devontae Booker (RB – Denver)

Booker’s owners felt good after watching him get a half-share of the work on Monday night. After all, half-shares can yield fantasy results. Just ask Tevin Coleman. Well it turns out that C.J. Anderson was running through pain and now looks to miss this week and a few more. That means Booker, who just ran for 4.8 yards per carry and a touchdown last week, gets to go against a Chargers team that’s given up 21+ points in five of seven games this year. Lock and load Booker in your lineup.

Matt Asiata (RB – Minnesota)

The Vikings were splitting work between Asiata and McKinnon last week before McKinnon left the field with ankle issues. It’s unsure whether or not McKinnon plays this week, but don’t wait up for him. The Vikings get an extra day for McKinnon to recover, but they might hold him out in an easier spot to let him get healthy. With a full share of work and no one to steal any of it, Asiata looks able to collect 20-25 touches and find the end zone in a game Minnesota is predicted to be ahead. 

Ty Montgomery (RB, WR – Green Bay)

It’s debatable whether Montgomery is a running back or a wide receiver, but the bottom line is the Packers are going to involve him in the offense. ESPN’s added eligibility to both positions, while the other sites haven’t, but that shouldn’t matter because you need to find a spot for him this weekend. His main use is catching balls from the new Captain Checkdown, Aaron Rodgers. His opponent this week, Atlanta, has given up more receiving yards per game to running backs than any team in the league. Montgomery gets a bigger boost in PPR leagues, but expect a floor of 80 total yards with a good possibility for a touchdown in a likely shootout.

Doug Baldwin (WR – Seattle)

Whether it be the schedule, the return to health and dominance of Jimmy Graham, or a potential knee issue, Doug Baldwin has come up short in recent weeks. He has the dream matchup to turn things around this week as he heads into the Coors Field of fantasy football. The Saints, his opponent for the week, rank 28th in pass defense according to Football Outsiders DVOA. The game does have some shootout potential and it’s been a while since Baldwin got fed, so look for this to be his bounce back spot.

Stefon Diggs (WR – Minnesota)

Everyone was talking about Diggs after his first two weeks because he led the league in receiving yards. That’s quickly gone downhill because of opponents, game flow, and a groin injury that has hampered Diggs’ ability. Like Baldwin, Diggs is in a get well spot going up against Chicago. No defensive unit has yielded more fantasy points to opposing WRs this year. With 27.3 fantasy points available to WRs on average in Bears games, Diggs should once again show why people were so high on him.

C.J. Fiedorowicz (TE – Houston)

The big dude from the University of Iowa has come to life in the last few weeks. Big Ceej has grabbed at least four balls in the last four games for Houston. The timing of his increase in production is convenient given that the Lions have allowed at least four catches to tight ends in every game this season. It should be a return to form for Houston’s offense this week and Ceej has a chance to make some noise.

Other guys you should start: Russell Wilson (QB – Seattle), Carson Palmer (QB – Arizona), David Carr (QB – Oakland), Jameis Winston (QB – Tampa Bay), Brock Osweiler (QB – Houston), Spencer Ware (RB – Kansas City), Jacquizz Rodgers (RB – Tampa Bay), Giovani Bernard (RB – Cincinnati), Robert Kelley (RB – Washington), DeAndre Washington (RB – Detroit), DeAndre Hopkins (WR – Houston), Will Fuller (WR – Houston), Davante Adams (WR – Green Bay), John Brown (WR – Arizona), Quincy Enunwa (WR – New York Jets), Zach Ertz (TE – Philadelphia), Vernon Davis (TE – Washington), Gary Barnidge (TE – Cleveland)

 

You Know Who You Should Sit?

 

Philip Rivers (QB – San Diego)

We told you to sit Rivers the last time he played Denver and you laughed after Rivers threw for a touchdown on the first drive. He went on to finish with 11 fantasy points and now I’m laughing. This week he lines up against Denver again and this time it’s in the unfriendly confines of Mile High. Denver has held QBs to 11 points or less in five of their last six games. There are better options around this week.

Mark Ingram (RB – New Orleans)

Ingram’s production has been disappointing so far this season. In a season where those who are healthy should rise to the top, Ingram finds himself 22nd in fantasy points at his position behind the likes of Isaiah Crowell, Terrance West, and Matt Jones. Owners hoped for more touchdowns from the lead back in a high-scoring offense, but that’s clearly not happening. Don’t expect any touchdowns this weekend as Ingram takes on a Seattle bunch that’s only allowed rushing touchdowns to backs in one game this year. It might be hard to see Ingram during the bye week, but don’t hold out hope for a big game.

Jordan Howard (RB – Chicago)

Coach John Fox definitely gave Howard the kiss of death a two weeks ago when he applauded his work. Howard hasn’t been the same since. He no-showed against the Jaguars, which led to Kadeem Carey getting work and that continued again last week against Green Bay. While he can’t be completely to blame because the Bears couldn’t move the ball with Matt Barkley behind center, Howard somehow has lost the role as lead back. I’m not sure why the Bears wouldn’t see what they have with him because the already know Carey and Jeremy Langford are #notgoodatfootball, but it is what it is. Oh and the Bears face the Vikings this weekend and they only give up the sixth fewest points to fantasy RBs.

Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin (WRs – San Diego)

If we’re telling you to bench a quarterback, the wide receivers are a natural correlation. Williams and Benjamin combined for 1 fantasy point in Week 6 when these teams went at it. Why should this week be any different?

Marvin Jones Jr. (WR – Detroit)

No one outside of serious NFL personnel circles knew who A.J. Bouye was before the season started, but it’s time for us all to get to know the newest shutdown corner. Bouye has limited receivers in recent weeks and Jones is his next target. Denver realized they should go away from Bouye early on and neither receiver of theirs ended up with a good receiving yards total. Expect the same from Jones on Sunday.

Jack Doyle (TE – Indianapolis)

You were running around your living room last Sunday if you grabbed Doyle off the waiver wire. Let’s not be confused with Doyle’s talent. It was a great spot for him and now things come down to earth a little bit. He won’t be as useful against a Chiefs defense that’s only allowed one touchdown to TEs this year to go along with no more than 60 yards in any contest. The tight end position seems to perform in Indianapolis when there are less dudes on the field to fight for the gig, but that will have to get pushed back a week here.

Other guys you should sit: Matthew Stafford (QB – Detroit), Dak Prescott (QB – Dallas), Jay Cutler (QB – Chicago), Jonathan Stewart (RB – Carolina), Ryan Mathews (RB – Philadelphia), Mike GIllislee (RB – Buffalo), Chris Ivory (RB – Jacksonville), T.J. Yeldon (RB – Jacksonville), Jordy Nelson (WR – Green Bay), Kelvin Benjamin (WR – Carolina), Alshon Jeffery (WR – Chicago), Jeremy Maclin (WR – Kansas City), Desean Jackson (WR – Washington),  Cameron Meredith (WR – Chicago), Zach Miller (TE – Chicago), Coby Fleener (TE – New Orleans)