Week 8 of the 2020 NFL season is right around the corner. All games are on schedule as it appears as though COVID-19 will not cause any delays *knocks on wood*. Bye weeks are officially up and running, which means that fantasy football owners are once again looking to their benches for the best quarterback start/sit options. Justin Herbert should have a good day, while Cam Newton is too risky to start.
Week 8 Start/Sits: Running Back – Wide Receiver – Quarterback
Justin Herbert, Cam Newton Highlight Fantasy Football Week 8 Quarterback Start ‘Em, Sit’ Em
Start: Justin Herbert
Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert should be an auto-start at this point. The rookie sensation has been nothing short of phenomenal since earning the starting job and is coming off of yet another fantastic performance. Last week, he completed 63% of his passes for 347 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions while adding another 66 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Herbert is a genuine stud and is already playing like a top-10 real-life NFL quarterback. His rushing ability gives him a safe floor while his rocket arm allows him to stretch the ball all over the field and connect with anyone and everyone for a big score. He’s proven he can do it against elite competition and should have a great game against a mediocre Denver Broncos defense.
Sit: Cam Newton
Something is seriously wrong with New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton. After starting off hot the first two weeks, the one-time MVP has come down to Earth in a huge way. Since returning from the COVID-19 list, Newton has completed 65% of his passes for just 255 yards, no touchdowns, and five interceptions while adding 95 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Newton is not playing good football, and New England’s supporting cast isn’t good enough to carry him through this slump. While his rushing ability always gives him the potential for a big game, he’s too risky to start in one-quarterback leagues.
Start: Baker Mayfield
In 2018, Baker Mayfield looked like one of the best young quarterbacks in all of football. The team acquired Odell Beckham in the following offseason, and Mayfield struggled in 2019 and 2020. Beckham suffered a knee injury early in Week 7, and Mayfield responded by having his best game in years. As strange as it sounds, Mayfield might actually be better without Beckham on the field.
Mayfield faces off against a surprisingly-effective Las Vegas Raiders offense that should be able to effectively move the ball. This game could turn into a shootout, and Mayfield should be up for the task of going blow-for-blow with this offense.
Sit: Tua Tagovailoa
After starting the season on the bench, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is finally ready to make his NFL debut. The Alabama product had one of the best collegiate tenures in recent memory and certainly has the raw potential to go off in his first real NFL action. However, he’s too risky to start in Week 8. The NFL is completely different from the college game, and it wouldn’t be too surprising to see Tagovailoa struggle during his first NFL start. He’s certainly an exciting prospect, but you’re better off looking somewhere else for this week.
Start: Derek Carr
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has quietly been one of the more reliable fantasy football quarterback streaming options. While nobody’s confusing him with Kyler Murray, the longtime Raider is currently the QB15 on a per-game basis and has the ability in the right matchup. As previously alluded to, I believe this to be the right matchup.
The Las Vegas offense is hard to contain with Henry Ruggs on the field, as demonstrated by Carr’s solid game against a fantastic Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. Carr should be able to comfortably move the ball up and down the field, and Mayfield’s presumed ability to move Cleveland’s offense should make this a high-scoring affair.
Sit: Jared Goff
After boasting a fast-paced offense for the majority of his Los Angeles Rams tenure, Sean McVay has completely re-invented his offense in 2020. Instead of the pass-happy attack of yesterday, the Rams have become a run-happy, ball-control offense. This is bad news for Jared Goff, as this drastically reduces his ceiling on a week-to-week basis. Goff probably won’t singlehandedly lose you a week, but he doesn’t have the upside to finish as a top-five option.
Week 8 Start/Sits: Running Back – Wide Receiver – Quarterback
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