Not all fantasy football weeks are created equal. Week Seven was an odd one for projection, prediction, and production. Sure, owners of every-week studs like Todd Gurley, Adam Thielen, and Patrick Mahomes were delighted, per normal. However, some big-name players like Ezekiel Elliott or Stefon Diggs let some people down.
This is the maddening world of fantasy football. The ups and downs and blind stupid luck all play their respective role.
Now we are almost through the mid-point of the season. We have enough history on players and how they fit in their respective offenses to make the best-educated projections of their respective production.
With that in mind, let’s analyze some matchups and formulate the strong starts and stay away sits for week eight.
Public service announcement, the following teams are on bye this week. The Atlanta Falcons, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, and Tennessee Titans.
Fantasy Football Week Eight: Starts and Sits Featuring Marlon Mack
Starts: Quarterbacks
Andrew Luck vs. Oakland Raiders
Much of the preseason talk and speculation surrounding Andrew Luck was warranted. A lot of owners who were burned last year were hesitant to take a shot at a repeat of last season’s string along that ended with zero fantasy value. This season, Luck has rapidly returned to form, even after speculation about his ability to throw the long-ball made its way around.
Luck is currently leading the league in pass attempts. He only has two games with less than 40 attempts. Through seven games he has 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. The Oakland Raiders are allowing the 11th most fantasy points to the quarterback position. He’s an all-systems-go-top-ten play this week. Fire him up in all formats.
Mitchell Trubisky vs. New York Jets
Second-year pro Mitchell Trubisky has started to look like a budding, serviceable fantasy option. While his season started with the same low-volume approach, the reins have been lifted in the last several weeks. This has led to surprisingly good fantasy production.
The Bears face off against a Jets defense that is allowing the 17th fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. However, Trubisky has thrown for over 300 yards and 11 touchdowns in his last three games. While his play on the field doesn’t always match the stats, he’s been an asset recently for fantasy owners. His rushing ability also provides a safe floor to work with. With four teams on bye, Trubisky enters the streaming conversation and as a good two-quarterback league play this week.
Sits: Quarterback
Deshaun Watson vs. Miami Dolphins
Deshaun Watson has struggled the last two weeks against tough defenses. Battling both injury and inconsistency, he’s let some owners down recently.
Watson has been struggling with a mysterious chest injury that is rumored to be lung or rib related. While that has not been confirmed, it’s certainly something fantasy owners should take into consideration.
The Dolphins are allowing the seventh-fewest points to the quarterback position. The lingering injury concerns have reduced his rushing floor and he’s thrown for under 200 yards in his last two outings. Until we see Watson look more like himself, he should be sat in favor of better matchup plays.
Starts: Running Backs
Marlon Mack vs. Oakland Raiders
Second-year back Marlon Mack is healthy and is showing the explosiveness that made him a good target in drafts. He has put up 215 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the last two weeks. The Colts should take an early lead, and maintain it which scripts well for clock-killing rushing attempts.
The Raiders defense is allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs. Fire up Marlon Mack for a solid RB2 floor play.
Phillip Lindsay vs. Kansas City Chiefs
No rookie this season has been more pleasantly surprising than undrafted free agent, Phillip Lindsay. Thus far he’s remained fantasy relevant despite the three-headed running back committee. Royce Freeman is dealing with an ankle injury, clearing the way for more touches for Lindsay and sadly, Devontae Booker.
The Chiefs defense is allowing the second-most points to running backs this season. The Chiefs will score, putting the Broncos in catch up mode. With Lindsay’s dual-threat ability, he should remain firmly involved. He’s a PPR darling this week.
Sits: Running Back
Mark Ingram vs. Minnesota Vikings
Mark Ingram‘s physical running style struggles against elite rush defenses. The Baltimore Ravens run defense held him to just 32 yards on 12 carries (2.7 yards per carry) and kept him out of the end zone. This week Ingram and the Saints take on the Minnesota Vikings front seven that’s allowing the seventh-fewest fantasy points to running backs. They’ve also yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this season. This game script favors Alvin Kamara. Teams with another solid option should consider sitting Ingram this week.
Starts: Wide Receivers
John Brown vs. Carolina Panthers
At this point in the fantasy season, John Brown should be at least in flex consideration on weekly basis. For those on the fence about playing him over some other tantalizing prospects, this matchup should not be a reason to pause. The Panthers defense is good but can be beaten deep. Smoky Brown has the speed to do precisely that. Expect WR2 type of production this week from him.
Sterling Shepard vs. Washington Redskins
The New York Giants are the most talented bad team in the NFL. With all the talent this offense has, it’s held back by a poor offensive line and a less-than-stellar Eli Manning. Despite the troubles, Sterling Shepard has done very well with the workload he’s had. Last week he had a season-high 167 yards on only five receptions. Prior to that, he’s had at least 70 yards in four of the seven games this season.
The Redskins defense is good, but their secondary is hurting. With all the focus required to slow down Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley, Shepard should see a healthy number of targets. He’s a solid WR3 play with upside this week.
Sits: Wide Receivers
Marvin Jones Jr. vs. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks have done a better job at corralling quarterbacks in the last several games. Coupled with the recent success the Lions have had running the ball, Marvin Jones Jr. is taking the biggest hit to fantasy production. This game should lean heavily on the run which minimizes the targets for a boom-or-bust option like Jones. The one caveat to this is to monitor Golden Tate‘s health this week as he popped up on the injury report with an ankle issue. If Tate is healthy and active, expect little production from Jones.
