We are nearing the halfway point of the 2022 campaign. That makes these crucial mid-season games ‘ must-win’ territory for contenders. Our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 8 picks help you identify values to target and fades to avoid.
It is also crucial to know which waiver wire pick to make and to stay up-to-date on the injury report.
Here are our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 8 picks.
QUARTERBACKSÂ
Start ‘Em
Daniel Jones (New York Giants)
Jones is coming off a monster game last week in which he threw for over 200 yards and a touchdown and rushed for over 100 yards and a TD. This week he takes on the Seahawks who have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. Not only that, but they’ve also allowed the sixth-most rushing yards to quarterbacks this season. This matchup lines up perfectly for Jones and he appears to be getting more comfortable in the Giants’ new system every week.
Jared Goff (Detroit Lions)
The Dolphins’ secondary is ravaged by injuries and they are already allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to QBs. Goff should also be getting Amon-Ra St. Brown and D’Andre Swift back which should help him immensely. The biggest factor is the Dolphins’ secondary though. Their second-string through sixth-string quarterbacks are out injured as is their starting safety, Brandon Jones. They can’t stop any passing attack right now.
Sit ‘Em
Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers)
We shouldn’t have to put Rodgers in here again, but people seem to still be stuck on his name. He’s still being ranked as a top-15 guy and there is no excuse for that this week. He will be without his top receiver Allen Lazard and is going up against the best defense in football. He should be nowhere near a starting lineup this week.
Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks)
Smith may be the biggest surprise of the year. He’s far exceeded expectations. However, this is a tough matchup against the Giants this week, especially without D.K. Metcalf who is out with a knee injury. The Giants are allowing the 13th-fewest fantasy points to the QB. Over the past two weeks, the Giants’ defense has allowed one total passing TD against Lamar Jackson and Trevor Lawrence.
RUNNING BACKS
Start ‘Em
D’Onta Foreman (Carolina Panthers)
You don’t have to start either Panthers’ running back this week. However, if you’re going to Foreman is the guy to plug in. Last week, Foreman out-carried Chuba Hubbard 15-9, nonetheless, those numbers may be a bit skewed because Hubbard left early. He left early because of an ankle injury that could slow him down this week, which is a reason to go with Foreman. The biggest reason is that Foreman is so clearly better when you watch both of them. He will emerge as the RB1 soon.
Tyler Allgeier (Atlanta Falcons)
Allgeier is beginning to look the part of an NFL RB1. Last week, he out-snapped Caleb Huntley 29 to 11 and out-carried him 16 to six, rushed for 50 yards, and found the end zone. The numbers aren’t amazing, but he looks more comfortable out there and is getting the goal-line work now. He also has a great matchup against Carolina who are giving up the eighth-most fantasy points to running backs.
Sit ‘Em
Aaron Jones (Green Bay Packers)
There isn’t a Packer who should be started this week. The Bills are the most dominant defense in the NFL and are allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs. Don’t be distracted by a strong fantasy week for Jones. He has been slumping for weeks and this offense is going to struggle mightily this week. Editor’s note: Obviously this depends on your ability to field a complete lineup during a bye week. Make sure to ask your questions in our Discord this week and we’ll help you decide whether you can sit the great Aaron Jones in this brutal matchup.
Gus Edwards (Baltimore Ravens)
There is going to be a lot of hype surrounding Edwards this week coming off a two-TD season debut. However, while he should be on your roster he shouldn’t be in your lineup. Beyond a tough matchup against the Bucs, a lot of the numbers weren’t great for Edwards last week. He only played 23 total snaps (36%). He was also in a favorable game script where the Ravens could run the ball 44 times and he didn’t catch a pass.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Start ‘Em
Brandin Cooks (Houston Texans)
Cooks has a great matchup this week against the Titans who are allowing the second-most fantasy points to wideouts. The Texans WR2 Nico Collins is also dealing with a groin injury so he could miss this game or be limited. This could open more targets in this great matchup.
Wan’Dale Robinson (New York Giants)
With Jones comes his WR1 Robinson, who is clearly a talented rookie and a potential PPR machine. Last week he led all Giants with eight targets. His role and his production will get greater each week. He’s an excellent weekly flex option in all PPR leagues.
D.J. Moore (Carolina Panthers)
With Robbie Anderson and Christian McCaffrey shipped out of Carolina last week, Moore had his best game of the season. He saw double-digit targets for just the second time this season and caught seven passes for 69 yards and a TD. All of which were season highs. Falcons top corner A.J. Terrell is also injured and expected to miss this one making Moore’s day much easier.
Sit ‘Em
Jakobi Meyers (New England Patriots)
Meyers will likely be lined up against Sauce Gardner this week (Jets rank 13th most difficult against WR1s for the season) and the Patriots don’t even know who their quarterback will be. I know who it won’t be, anyone good enough to make me start Meyers against Sauce.
Courtland Sutton (Denver Broncos)
If Sutton thought he had it bad with Russell Wilson this season things got a lot worse last week. Not only is Rypien terrible, but he targeted Jerry Jeudy a team-high 11 times and had a much better connection with him. The Broncos also play in London this week where all the games tend to be low-scoring disasters.
Christian Kirk (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Like Sutton, Kirk will also be playing in a low-scoring affair in London. However, Kirk will also be forced to deal with a Denver defense that is allowing the fewest fantasy points to wideouts. Don’t expect much from Kirk or the Jags passing attack this week.
TIGHT ENDS
Start ‘Em
Irv Smith Jr. (Minnesota Vikings)
This is purely a matchup-based start. The Cardinals have been getting torched by tight ends all season giving up the second-most fantasy points to the position. He should be a great streaming option in Week 8. Irv Smith Jr. is rated our #2 TE overall during our prelim rankings analysis!
Juwan Johnson (New Orleans Saints)
He was a start last week in our column and delivered in a big way with two TDs. He’s back here again for a lot of the reasons he was last week. Adam Trautman, Michael Thomas, and Jarvis Landry could all be potentially sidelined again opening up targets for Johnson. He also has another great matchup the third-most fantasy points to opposing TEs.
Sit ‘Em
Dawson Knox (Buffalo Bills)
Knox is a TD-or-bust tight end and this week goes up against the Packers who have not allowed a tight end to catch one TD pass all season.
They are allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to TEs this season. Green Bay has also struggled to slow down receivers so the Bills will be beating them on the outside this week.
Darren Waller (Las Vegas Raiders)
If Darren Waller plays this week there is a chance he’s limited and the matchup is a nightmare. He gets the Saints who are allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to tight ends at only 6.3 fantasy points per game! In seven games, they have allowed a total of 22 receptions for 198 yards and no TDs. Even if Waller is active, leave him on your bench another week.
