Key Starters and Tough Calls - Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football Week 8 Include Eno Benjamin, Michael Carter, Wan'Dale Robinson

Scott breaks down his fantasy football lineup starts/sits for Week 8 (2022). He spotlights key NFL players to start, and tougher lineup start/sit decisions.

Every week, I share some of my favored choices and players to go with when dealing with challenging lineup decisions. These selections are based on my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a discount and get access to my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the 2022 fantasy football season.

We feature players that you should lean to in tough calls, and guys who may exceed expectations this week are also highlighted, so you can feel even more confident about starting them.

Skill position analysis here is based on my PPR rankings. When considering each player for your lineup, check my rankings to see exactly where they are positioned when compared to your other possible lineup choices.

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Running Backs – Fantasy Football Week 8

D'Andre Swift

In his highly-anticipated return to action this week, Swift has significant appeal in what should be a high-scoring game vs. Miami. He is aiming for his third consecutive game at home with 85+ scrimmage yards and his fourth in a row at home with a TD. Miami has also lost leading tackler and strong safety Brandon Jones, further elevating the outlook for the Detroit RBs.

Jamaal Williams, who rushed for two TDs in the season opener when Swift was healthy and in full form, does remain a notable threat to vulture some scoring opportunities. He has rushed for six TDs this season and he has rushed for two scores in two of three home games. The Lions could elect to be a bit careful with Swift in some goal-line situations, so he is more of a higher-end RB2 option this week than an RB1 play. Williams can still be considered as a streaming flex option for some TD potential.

Eno Benjamin

He will fill in for James Conner again and operate as the lead RB against the Vikings. Benjamin set career highs in scrimmage yards (113) and rushing yards (92) and registered his third career rushing TD last week. He is aiming for his fourth game in a row with 50+ scrimmage yards.

Benjamin started to look more authoritative and decisive as a runner last week and he now gets strong RB2 consideration for Week 8. He is versatile and should get a lot of quality touches. The Vikings rank 10th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to RBs, but even if the Cardinals fall behind, he can contribute as a pass-catcher, so volume makes him an appealing play.

I have already received many questions about Benjamin as a flex play for Week 8, and he should get the edge over many WRs because of a projected healthy amount of likely touches.

Michael Carter

You should expect Carter to be the Jets’ lead RB this week in terms of workload and fantasy output. He had 74 scrimmage yards last week and he can certainly surpass that number in Week 8. Carter had 104 scrimmage yards (67 receiving) and eight catches in his last meeting with the Patriots. He had 85+ scrimmage yards in his last two matchups vs. New England.

Michael Carter led all RBs in missed tackles forced per touch in 2021: pic.twitter.com/fZ4k7k5Cfa

— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) October 24, 2022

James Robinson should eventually project to split the workload with Carter, but the latter will still be quite productive as a dual rushing/receiving producer and he can be locked in as a flex play beginning this week. We should not expect to see much of Robinson just yet. The Patriots rank sixth in FFPG allowed to RBs, but Carter will get enough quality touches to post at least a respectable stat line.

Devin Singletary

Singletary had a season-high 107 scrimmage yards (season-high 85 rushing) in Week 6. He has 90+ scrimmage yards in three of his last four games. He also has a seemingly great matchup to exploit in Week 8. The Packers have allowed the second-most rushing yards to running backs, and the most among NFC teams.

While Singletary is a viable plug-in option this week, he may see his reps cut into by James Cook. According to CBS Sports, there was recent talk that Cook could see increased opportunities to contribute to the Buffalo offense coming out of the bye week. It is recommended to use Singletary if you need a streamer outside of the top-30 at RB, but don’t start him over most RBs who are likely to see consistent touches.

Wide Receivers – Fantasy Football Week 8

CeeDee Lamb

Most fantasy leaguers who drafted Lamb did so with the intention of receiving WR1 production. The Dak Prescott injury certainly hurt his outlook for several weeks, and Lamb has averaged 14 PPR points per game, which puts him in lower-end fantasy WR2 territory. His numbers have not been terrible, but they have not been satisfying.

In Prescott’s return to action, Lamb had four catches for 70 yards, which again was decent, but not enough to meet the standards for where he was drafted. Still, you should start to see Lamb’s production start to rise as soon as this week. Prescott may open things up more in the passing game against Chicago as the Cowboys look to impose their will on the Bears.

These Cowboys don’t require Prescott to carry such a heavy offensive load, but the connection to Lamb should still start to generate more encouragement this week. Dallas won’t have an explosive passing game this season because it may not be necessary with the way the team is constructed, but Lamb will still deliver his share of difference-making fantasy performances in the weeks ahead. Get ready for more promising production.

D.J. Moore

Last week, we finally saw the version of Moore that we all expected when he was drafted in fantasy leagues in the preseason. He had a season-high seven receptions for 69 yards and his second TD of the season in Week 7. At first glance, you really have to like the matchup vs. Atlanta. The Falcons have allowed the most TD receptions (11) and FFPG to WRs.

Moore had six catches for 84 yards in his last meeting with the Falcons. He has 50+ yards in seven of his eight career games vs. the Falcons. But Atlanta CB Darren Hall has played well this season and will battle hard with Moore this week. Getting the ball to some other targets often may be necessary for P.J. Walker, who has to prove he can build on his encouraging Week 7 outing. Moore should return to your fantasy starting lineup this week, but I don’t necessarily expect a highly impressive stat line.

Wan’Dale Robinson

The trade of Kadarius Toney only confirmed that unless the Giants make a trade for a WR by the deadline, Robinson is ticketed to be their top WR. Even if New York does engineer a deal for an established wideout, the rookie should continue to emerge as a primary playmaker in the passing game.

Wan'Dale Robinson = Stud = Confirmed pic.twitter.com/ulF3Iy5F7A

— Alex Wilson (@AlexWilsonESM) October 23, 2022

This week, Robinson faces a Seattle defense that has improved in the last two games, and their secondary has been very solid. Robinson is not an upside play for Week 8, but he does have some promise for volume, and he should be started as a fantasy WR3 or flex option over another player who does not have much of a statistical floor.

Robinson led the Giants with six catches last week, registering all of his receptions in the first half before playing through an injury in the second half. He is not on the Week 8 injury report.

Adam Thielen

He has cracked the 60-yard receiving mark just twice this season and Thielen has eight catches in his last two games. Yet, he is worthy of streaming consideration in Week 8. The Cardinals will be dialed on trying to handle Justin Jefferson and Arizona ranks 20th in receiving yards allowed to WRs. Thielen remains a TD threat and he can deliver respectable yardage and reception totals in what should be a busy offensive day against the Cardinals.

Quarterbacks And Tight Ends – Fantasy Football Week 8

Jimmy Garoppolo

He will be without his best WR this week, but Garoppolo still has enough weaponry, including a likely full-throttle Christian McCaffrey, to be a respectable streaming option for Week 8. He passed for 303 yards and two TDs with an INT last week.

Garoppolo has passed for two TDs in each of his past three games. The 49ers need Garoppolo to play a big key role in an important NFC West matchup with the Rams. The 49ers have won the last seven games between the teams and Garoppolo should supply at least satisfactory fantasy totals this week.

Aaron Rodgers

A matchup with the Bills would seem to be very daunting for a passing game that is under the microscope because of its struggles. But possible game scripts can allow Rodgers to finish with adequate fantasy totals in Week 8. If the Packers stay in the game, it is because Rodgers will be playing well enough. If the Packers fall behind, Rodgers can certainly pad his totals in catch-up mode.

Rodgers has passed for two TDs in five of his past six games. He has 2+ TD passes in his last seven Sunday night games. You can stream Rodgers and expect a decent statistical return this week.

Noah Fant

Fant has caught just one pass in two of his last four games. He has not topped 50 receiving yards in a game this season. But this can be the week where he can come through as a dart-throw fantasy TE. The Seahawks are dealing with significant injuries at WR and may work Fant more into the offensive flow. The Giants rank 26th in receiving yardage allowed to TEs.

Scott Engel's fantasy and betting analysis is also featured at The Game Day.

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