Fantasy Football 2024 Week 8: Start ’em, Sit ’em

Welcome back to Fantasy Football Start ‘em, Sit ‘em – where each week we explore some of my best picks for who should be starting in fantasy managers’ lineups, and who should be sitting the week out.

Week 7 was just a continuation of the injury onslaught that has been haunting fantasy managers all season –  Chiefs WR Juju Smith-Schuster left their game after aggravating a lingering hamstring issue. Pats rookie WR Ja’Lynn Polk suffered a head injury in London. 49ers WR Deebo Samuel currently has pneumonia with no timetable to return. Seahawks WR DK Metcalf suffered a Grade 1 MCL sprain and is considered week-to-week. Commanders QB Jayden Daniels is week-to-week with a rib injury. Bucs WR Mike Evans hopes to be good to go following the bye week after aggravating his hamstring. Fellow wideout Chris Godwin got it much worse, as he dislocated his ankle and will have season ending surgery. Brandon Aiyuk is also done for the season after tearing his ACL.

On the bright side, there are no byes this week, so fantasy managers have a little wiggle room in terms of dealing with all the injuries sustained so far.

Per usual, let’s take a look at the best of what we have left to work with this week.

Ian’s Record: 33-18

Start ’em

Tua Tagovailoa (QB, Dolphins) vs Cardinals

Miami’s offense has been silently screaming for Tua to come back after suffering tough losses to the Titans, Seahawks, and the Colts this past week. The energy might be about to shift however, as through meetings with neurologists and the press, it seems like all arrows are pointing to Tua returning Sunday.

The Cardinals have been letting opposing QBs walk all over them recently. They’ve given up the sixth most fantasy points in the past five weeks, with eight passing touchdowns and a 70.4 completion percentage.

At 2-4, the Dolphins are nowhere near where they expected themselves to be seven weeks in. At home with a roaring crowd, I’d expect Miami’s explosive offense to get right back to where they were last year as they look to turn the tables in the AFC East.

Javonte Williams (RB, Broncos) vs Panthers

Following what’s been a quiet year so far for Denver’s featured back, Williams finally arrived last week by finding the endzone twice and averaging 6.3 yards a carry against New Orleans’ egregious run defense.

Now back at home, Williams finds himself in a matchup against the only other NFC run defense that’s worse than the Saints. Cha-ching.

Calvin Ridley (WR, Titans) at Lions

This may seem crazy, but hear me out.

Even though it seems like the entire league runs through Detroit right now, their pass defense remains not great. Their secondary (while not allowing many touchdowns) has given up both the most receptions and receiving yards to wide receivers on the year at 109 and 1,279 respectfully.

With DeAndre Hopkins now in Kansas City, this feels like a good time for Ridley to rack up some garbage time stats in a blowout game script.

David Njoku (TE, Browns) vs Ravens

See above, but swap out Hopkins with Amari Cooper, and Deshaun Watson, now out for Cleveland.

Sit ’em

Kyler Murray (QB, Cardinals) at Dolphins

There’s a chance Murray hops on the opportunity to feed his rookie star WR going up against two aging corners, but Miami’s defense has clamped down on opposing QBs in the past four weeks.

In the three games they’ve played since week 4, the fins haven’t allowed either a passing touchdown or a rushing touchdown from a QB. Albeit these contests were against Will Levis/Mason Rudolph, Jacoby Brissett, and Anthony Richardson, but allowing zero passing touchdowns is tough to do in today’s NFL.

This bodes worse for Murray as a dual-threat QB, and it’s much easier to gash Miami’s defense on the ground. As a running back that is.

Alexander Mattison (RB, Raiders) vs Chiefs

If you read my article last week, you’d know to absolutely not play a running back vs the Chiefs right now. Pass.

Diontae Johnson (WR, Panthers) at Broncos

Following Andy Dalton’s first start this season, it seemed like Carolina at least had some friskiness to them after putting up 36 points against Vegas. Ever since then, it’s been whatever you call the step before square one.

He threw three touchdown passes that game (week 3) and has only thrown four since, and seven interceptions.

All that aside, I was very glad to hear no one was seriously hurt or required medical attention following the crash he and his family were in this past week.

Put most simply, Johnson should see plenty of Patrick Surtain this week and by no means hold any fantasy value.

Zach Ertz (TE, Commanders) vs Bears

Ertz has picked up some steam as of late, hauling in his first touchdown of the season against Carolina last week and snagging 68 yards on four receptions the week prior.

It’s possible that if Jayden Daniels is forced to miss this week, backup QB Marcus Mariota will be looking for him again. But Chicago remains easier to beat through the run game, and Brian Robinson Jr. has been too hot lately to take the risk. Pass.

BYES: NONE