Fantasy Football: Start ‘em, sit ‘em for Week 8

Here we go again with another week of exciting Fantasy Football. Here is your start/sit advice for this week. All the following stats are in standard league format only.

Around the league, Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers put up 43.76 points against the Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions WR Marvin Jones Jr. scored four touchdowns to gain 38.30 points (you all started him obviously), and Arizona Cardinals RB Chase Edmonds scored three rushing touchdowns to put him at 34.00 points. Coming in with the fourth-most fantasy points last week was Lions QB Matthew Stafford with 29.56 in the big win over the Vikings.

I told you guys to sit Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams, and yes, for the second time this season this was a poor decision. I will never doubt Aaron Jones again. This time for real.

Here’s who you should start and sit, along with their projected points.

Who to start

1) RB James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Miami) | 15.40 points

No brainer here. James Conner goes up against the NFL’s worst defense, the NFL’s worst fantasy defense and the defense that gives up the most fantasy points to opposing running backs. It doesn’t take Einstein to figure this one out.

The Steelers and their sensitive quarterback position will feed Conner the rock. He’ll then put points in fantasy owner’s tallies.

2) WR John Brown, Buffalo Bills (vs. Philadelphia) | 9.59 points

Brown is going up against an Eagles defense that gives up the most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. He’s Josh Allen’s unquestioned first look and he’s proven himself as a trusted WR2 this year, having scored at least 10 points in four of six games. The other two games he got 9.40 and 7.50 points.

Both times I’ve picked John Brown this season he paid big dividends in my weekly column. If only all my picks were like that.

3) WR DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks (vs. Atlanta) | 9.57 points

While Tyler Lockett is an obvious start from a Seattle offense perspective, I’m going to go with DK Metcalf as a good pick this week. The Seahawks offense is fifth in the NFL in yards per game and the Falcons defense is giving up the 3rd-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this year.

I think DK will get several looks from Russell Wilson this Sunday against Atlanta. And guess what? He’s coming off a season-high nine targets from Sunday in the loss to Baltimore.

Who to sit

1) QB Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns (vs. New England) | 16.89 points

Baker goes up against the league’s top defense, and the defense that’s giving up an average of just 7.84 points against to opposing quarterbacks. That’s very, very low. Good luck, Baker.

2) WR Alshon Jeffery, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Buffalo) | 9.46 points

The Eagles offense will go up against a Bills defense giving up just 20.92 points per game to opposing WRs, good for third-least in the entire NFL. Meanwhile, Jeffrey saw a season-low five targets in the loss to the Cowboys Sunday night, collecting just 4.8 points.

3) RB Frank Gore, Buffalo Bills (vs. Philadelphia) | 4.98 points

I wouldn’t start Bills rookie RB Devin Singletary either, for that matter. Gore has been the lead back this season as Singletary has missed a few games, but this week will be tough. The Eagles defense is giving up the 4th-least fantasy points to opposing running backs and Gore has dropped down to just over 7 points per game over his past two contests.

Let’s see how my picks did last week (actual fantasy points):

Start

1) TE Evan Engram, New York Giants (vs. Arizona) | 1.10 points

2) WR Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys (vs. Philadelphia) | 4.90 points

3) WR John Brown, Buffalo Bills (vs. Miami) | 16.80 points

Sit

1) RB Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Tennessee) | 7.90 points

2) RB Aaron Jones and RB Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers (vs. Oakland) |

16.30 points (Jones), 11.10 points (Williams)

3) WR Terry McLaurin, Washington Redskins (vs. San Franciso) | 1.60 points