With a full 16-game slate in week 8, here are three players you should be starting in fantasy this weekend, as well as three players to think twice about.

As always, starts and sits will depend on each individual roster, but I’ve included some context to help you when it comes to making those final decisions.

Starts

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J.K. Dobbins (LA Chargers)

Dobbins has been the epitome of boom/bust through the Chargers‘ opening six games. The former Ravens running back has finished three weeks inside the top 12 at the position, and three weeks outside the top 28 (half-ppr).

This week though, he faces a New Orleans defense tied with the Giants for the third most rushing yards allowed, per attempt, on the year (5.4). Over their last three games, the Saints are actually allowing 5.9 yards per rushing attempt, which is the second highest in the league over that spell.

Romeo Doubs (Green Bay)

If there’s a safe bet in the NFL right now, besides Carolina losing, it’s a bet against the Jaguars defense.

So far this season, Jacksonville are tied with the Rams for third most yards allowed per pass attempt, have allowed the second-most total passing yards, and the most passing touchdowns (16).

Romeo Doubs seems to have put his issues behind him after missing week five’s visit to the Rams. Since then, he has finished as the WR9 and WR15 in half-ppr, catching two touchdowns in the process.

Javonte Williams (Denver)

This one is pretty simple.

Coming off his first RB1 finish of the year (RB6 in half-ppr) in week 7, Williams now faces the worst team in the league.

Carolina have allowed the most rushing yards and the most rushing touchdowns in the NFL to this point, largely due to negative game scripts.

Denver‘s defense, on the other hand, is allowing the lowest yards per pass attempt in the league, so Williams could have endless opportunities to rack up yards if they can force Bryce Young to play from behind.

Sits

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Nick Chubb (Cleveland)

Nick Chubb made his eagerly anticipated return in week seven, in a game that also saw the final snaps of Deshaun Watson‘s season, and possibly his career.

A 36% snap share last week suggests that, as expected, Chubb’s comeback may take time to ramp up, his 2 yards per carry suggests much the same.

Baltimore are still the best run defense in the league so far this year, so things might get worse before they get better for Chubb, who would have totaled 3.7 half-ppr points last weekend without his touchdown.

Cleveland will also likely be facing a negative game script, given their first-half points differential is currently -43, whilst their opponents are 44 points up in first halves this year.

Chase Brown (Cincinnati)

The Cincinnati Bengals, through seven games, are tied for the fourth fewest rushing attempts this season, and that includes all the teams who have only played six.

Still though, from weeks four-six, Chase Brown finished as the RB5, RB12 and RB19, scoring four touchdowns in that time.

Without a touchdown though, Brown has topped out at RB34. Last week, with a 58% snap share, Brown averaged 2.93 yards per carry against Cleveland and finished as the RB36 in half-ppr.

That Browns defense has allowed 126.1 rushing yards per game and eight rushing touchdowns this season. This week, he faces an Eagles defense that has allowed only 115.2 rushing yards per game and three rushing touchdowns (six games).

DeAndre Hopkins (Kansas City)

Hopkins‘ trade to Kansas City has been hailed by the fantasy football community since it’s announcement this week. Naturally, I too am glad to see Hopkins get a move away from a less that stagnant situation in Tennessee.

But I wouldn’t be rushing to start him this weekend.

The Chiefs have been a defense-first team in 2024, especially since Rashee Rice‘s season ending injury in week 4. Patrick Mahomes has the lowest intended air yards per attempt in the league, something that won’t inspire a downfield threat like Hopkins.

As I mentioned in my mid-week article, the catch-and-run specialist has been the player to own on the Chiefs in recent times.

Over their last three games respectively, the Raiders have scored the fifth-lowest amount of points, whilst the Chiefs have allowed the fewest. In what therefore looks like being a positive game script for Kansas City, I can’t imagine Mahomes suddenly deciding to air it out downfield in this one.

Over that same three-game stretch, the Raiders have allowed the second-fewest air yards in the league (tied with New Orleans), whilst giving up 99 yards after the catch, per game.

I think Xavier Worthy is the Chiefs receiver to start this weekend.

That’s me done for today but I’ll be releasing my week 8 betting preview this weekend. If you’re finding value in these articles, please subscribe for email notifications, or just let me know via the comments, thank you.

In-depth stats from Pro Football Reference.