Week 8 poses the biggest challenge of the year for many fantasy managers, with six teams on bye. Lineups may look more desperate this week than in any other, with managers being forced to take desperate swings on players they picked up on waivers this week.

In one of my own leagues, I’ll be without Ashton Jeanty, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Davante Adams. In their places, I’ll be starting RJ Harvey, Tez Johnson, Jaylin Noel, and David Njoku. With Njoku limited in practice, I may even be forced to start Marvin Mims or Jaylin Lane.

Fingers crossed.

But that is the situation many find themselves in this week. Every start/sit recommendation should always be taken with a pinch of salt, as they all depend on rosters and available alternatives. This week, you may have no choice but to play all of these players, but here are my recommendations nonetheless.

One last thing: My weekly “streamers” article for PFSN is available here, for those looking for a plug-and-play QB, TE, K, or DEF this week.

Week 8 Starts and Sits – START: Joe Flacco, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

Joe Flacco has enjoyed a resurrection since joining the Cincinnati Bengals, after putting in some truly atrocious displays in Cleveland. Having landed in a high-powered offense, designed for a shotgun pocket passer, the veteran has excelled over the last two weeks.

Flacco was the QB9 in fantasy points per game (FPPG) over Weeks 6 and 7 (22.4), and was second to only Justin Herbert (93) in pass attempts (92). This weekend, Flacco faces a New York Jets defense that has given up the seventh-most points in the NFL. The Jets remain seventh-worst in points allowed per game, when factoring in other teams’ bye weeks.

SIT: Mac Jones or Brock Purdy, QB, San Francisco 49ers

Obviously, only one of these quarterbacks will tempt fantasy managers into starting them this weekend, btu neither should make your lineup. The Houston Texans have allowed the fewest FPPG to opposing quarterbacks this season (10.4), 3.1 FPPG fewer than the Atlanta Falcons in second.

Houston just limited Sam Darnold to 9.6 fantasy points in Week 7, which was his lowest, by some margin, since Week 1. Houston’s defense is among the best in the league, both in real life and fantasy, and is one to avoid if possible this week.

START: Jordan Mason, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Like many backup running backs who get thrown into a starting role, Jordan Mason has failed to live up to the hype since Aaron Jones’s injury. The former 49er was the RB7 in his first game without Jones in Week 3, but his RB20 finish against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7 was his highest since.

After facing three solid run defenses in the Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, though, Mason has a better matchup this weekend. The Los Angeles Chargers have allowed 5.1 rushing yards per attempt this season, the fifth-most in the league.

Aaron Jones could make his return from injury, but Mason should lead the backfield, and has low-end RB1 potential this week.

SIT: Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots

Running back, as always, is the most difficult position to find a serviceable waiver add this week, so if you may be stuck with Rhamondre Stevenson. New England’s butter-fingered back enjoys a seemingly bulletproof role in the Patriots offense, but that won’t count for much this week.

The Patriots face the Browns, who boast one of the best run defenses in the NFL, having allowed a league-fewest (tied) 3.3 yards per rush attempt this year. That has translated to fantasy, where Cleveland is giving up only 16.1 FPPG to the running back position, the fewest of any team.

Stevenson’s fantasy value comes from his volume and goal line work; the Browns have allowed only three rushing touchdowns in seven games.

START: Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers

Romeo Doubs has been a solid flex play for weeks now, and continues to be so for Week 8, even for those who are unaffected by the extra byes. The Packers receiver has been targeted 25 times over the last three games, catching 17 of those targets for 185 yards and three touchdowns.

All three of those scores came against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 4, but he remains a key weapon for Jordan Love in every part of the field. Doubs is now 73% rostered in Yahoo leagues, so the opportunity to get him on waivers is long gone, but those who grabbed him earlier should be reaping the rewards.

SIT: Jerry Jeudy, WR, Cleveland Browns

This one may be obvious by the weekend, with Jeudy logging a DNP to start the week on Wednesday. The receiver was limited in practice last week, though, but was good to go on Sunday. This week, regardless of health, Jeudy is best avoided in fantasy if you can help it.

The Browns have been relatively ineffective through the air since Dillon Gabriel took over at quarterback, outside of their tight ends. Factoring in bye weeks, over each team’s last three games, the Browns have tallied the third-fewest passing yards in the NFL (467).

That’s roughly 155.6 passing yards per game, while the team’s two passing touchdowns is also third-fewest (tied) in that span. Jeudy hasn’t done a great deal for you lately, and that’s unlikely to change against a solid Patriots defense this weekend.

SIT: Darnell Mooney, WR, Atlanta Falcons

This is based on a normal week, in which Mooney would be a flex consideration, but many picked up Mooney this week specifically to cover byes. If that’s the case, and you’re that desperate, Mooney is one of the better receivers you could have gotten, so go ahead.

However, if your team is relatively unaffected, you may have better options for your flex spot this week. The Miami Dolphins are a hollow shell of a football team right now, and their run defense has been frankly embarrassing.

Two backups (Rico Dowdle, Kimani Vidal) and a rookie (Quinshon Judkins) have combined for 414 rushing yards and five total touchdowns against Miami in the last three weeks.

The Falcons have Bijan Robinson, who could genuinely top 250 scrimmage yards this weekend. In a potential blowout win, Mooney’s deep-ball prowess should be an afterthought, and used mainly to stretch the field.

He will still get targets, especially if Kirk Cousins replaces Michael Penix, who is carrying a foot injury, but it should be a run-heavy approach for Atlanta this week.

START: Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cade Otton is a smash start at tight end this week, and should be in your lineup as a flex if you already have a top tight end. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers star caught seven of nine targets for 65 yards against the Lions in Week 7.

With Mike Evans again joining Chris Godwin on the sidelines, Otton is one of the most valuable tight ends in fantasy. Rookie star Emeka Egbuka will take on a leading role in the Buccaneers offense, but Otton should be the secondary pass-catching option for Baker Mayfield.

Expect Otton to flirt with double-digit targets this weekend, with 100+ yards and a touchdown both within the realms of possibility.

START: Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets

I find tight end the most difficult position to project “sits,” as the position is so touchdown-dependent in fantasy. Rather than reach for something I don’t wholeheartedly believe, I’m pushing Mason Taylor as a strong start this week.

However, if his namesake, Tyrod Taylor, isn’t healthy enough to start against the Bengals this weekend, this take will be dampened considerably. Mason was targeted five times in Week 7, but all five targets came in the second half, after Tyrod had replaced Justin Fields at quarterback.

Garrett Wilson missed the matchup with the Carolina Panthers, and has started this week with a DNP on Wednesday. If Wilson misses a second straight week, Taylor is another tight end who could see double-digit targets this weekend, against a friendly Cincinnati defense.

That’s it for my Week 8 starts and sits. Be sure to check out my “streamers” article for PFSN, for a more in-depth look at QB, TE, K, and DEF options on waivers this week.

As always, best of luck with your matchups this week. You can follow me on socials at @camsheath_ff on X, or @camsheathff.bsky.social on Bluesky. You can also subscribe to this blog, for free, to receive email notifications whenever a new article drops.

*All fantasy points mentioned are based on PPR scoring; in-depth stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference.

Cover Image Photo Credit: Rhamondre Stevenson – Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images. Cade Otton – Joe Nicholson/Imagn Images.