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Scott Engel features fantasy football lineup starts/sits for Week 8 (2025). He focuses on key NFL players to start when faced with tight Week 8 fantasy football lineup decisions.
Welcome to RotoBaller’s Key Starters and Tough Calls article for Week 8 of the 2025 season. Scott Engel's Week 8 Lineup Spotlights focus on notable players to start or sit when faced with challenging lineup calls. This week, "The King" features deeper lineup options to consider because six NFL teams are on bye weeks.
The fantasy football players included in this Week 8 rundown are based on Scott's Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the 2025 RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. You can gain access to his full player rankings and also unlock a deluxe selection of tools and analysis for in-season usage.
To execute the best Week 8 lineup decisions, consult this analysis, the RotoBaller staff fantasy football rankings, and the free Who Should I Start tool for comparing up to four players. The skill position analysis from Scott is based on his Week 8 premium PPR rankings.
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Running Backs - Fantasy Football Week 8
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
Hubbard returned to action last week, much to the chagrin of those who roster Rico Dowdle. Head coach Dave Canales has indicated that his top two RBs will continue to split the workload. This situation will frustrate fantasy leaguers, as the Carolina RBs may be unpredictable for production every week.
A timeshare also caps the tremendous upside of Dowdle. Instead of being viewed as a fantasy RB1, he is now more of an RB2. Hubbard has been a reliable RB for the Panthers when starting, but he lacks the statistical ceiling of Dowdle.
Last week, Dowdle had 17 carries, and Hubbard had 14. The matchup is potentially favorable for both RBs, as Buffalo has allowed the third-most Fantasy Points Per Game to RBs. Carolina needs its RBs to control time of possession as much as possible. But there is also the possibility that the Bills start running away with the game, and the Panthers’ RBs might be scripted out of running the ball enough.
Still, those who roster Hubbard can consider him as a lineup filler for this week. He may be ticketed for an adequate number of rushing attempts against a vulnerable defense. With six teams on a bye, you must consider starting a guy who will get enough quality touches in a what may turn out to be a good matchup.
Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City offense is looking nearly whole again. The team appears to have regained most of its better form overall. But the running game is very shaky, as Isiah Pacheco is a big disappointment so far this season. Rookie Brashard Smith might get some more work soon, yet he certainly doesn’t appear to be a solution as a lead RB.
The Chiefs may soon address the issue and strike more fear into the rest of the league. A trade for the likes of Breece Hall or Alvin Kamara would be a perfect move. Sure, Kamara has said he doesn’t want to leave New Orleans. Yet I find it hard to believe he would refuse a good chance to possibly win a Super Bowl.
For now, Hunt is battling hard for his yardage and seems to be a preferred goal-line runner for Kansas City. If you are desperate for an RB option this week, Hunt can be started for at least one TD run. Over the past four weeks, Washington ranks 29th in rushing yards allowed to RBs, so Hunt might even score from more than one yard out.
The Commanders’ defense might also spend a lot of time on the field this week as the Kansas City defense snuffs out several Marcus Mariota-led drives. We could see the Chiefs’ offense provide Hunt with a few opportunities to finish off K.C. drives with a scoring run.
Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears
D'Andre Swift has been listed as questionable with a groin injury and is now likely to suit up in Week 8. He was able to work through the issue last week and play -- but this is the type of concern that still needs to be monitored:
Kyle Monangai Gaining Steam Heading into Week 8 https://t.co/R2ojvUMWUF
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 25, 2025
Swift may indeed be able to play as he did last week, but Monangai could see a decent amount of touches again to ensure the lead RB is not overworked. Last week, the rookie logged a season-high 13 carries for 81 yards. He could function in a similar role in Week 8 in a good matchup.
D'Andre Swift Likely to Suit Up in Week 8https://t.co/Z9XYnXyiyK
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 26, 2025
Baltimore’s defense is no longer regarded as a true deterrent to opposing RBs. This season, the Ravens have allowed the second-most Fantasy Points Per Game to RBs. If Swift plays, Monangai can be started as a lineup plugger. If Swift is ruled out, the first-year RB can be started as a fantasy RB2. He is a physical and determined runner.
Wide Receivers - Fantasy Football Week 8
Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos
Marvin Mims Jr. was a very popular waiver wire pickup this past week, as fantasy players who needed a fill-in WR or flex option pushed to pick him up. The matchup against Dallas marked Mims as a terrific one-week upside play. He may not be the only Denver WR to take advantage of the Dallas pass defense.
As any fantasy player knows, the Cowboys field the worst pass defense in the NFL, so any of the Denver pass-catchers are playable this week. Courtland Sutton is a top-5 WR because of the matchup, Mims carries WR3 appeal, and Evan Engram has started to provide improved production.
If you have to dig deeper for a WR option in Week 8, don’t forget about Troy Franklin, either. He caught his second TD pass of the season last week. Franklin has been targeted 10 times in the red zone this season and caught eight balls in those situations, per Player Profiler.
The Broncos may score enough this week for Franklin to get into the end zone for a second consecutive week, and he could provide at least a decent overall fantasy performance.
Jaylin Noel, Houston Texans
Houston is dealing with major injuries at the WR position, pushing this rookie into a larger role in the passing game. Jayden Higgins, who is also in his first NFL season, will be in the mix, as will Xavier Hutchinson in the Week 8 matchup vs. the 49ers.
Jaylin Noel Could Be the Texans' Top Receiver in Week 8 https://t.co/7qyC72pkzs
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 25, 2025
Going with Noel in fantasy football this week is not an instance where the matchup necessarily pinpoints him as a possible starter. San Francisco ranks 13th in FFPG to WRs. Noel, however, was the one who stepped forward at Seattle last week when the Houston WR corps thinned out in a significant way, as Nico Collins left the game.
Noel worked hard to get open against a tough Seahawk. He was targeted a season-high seven times and caught four passes for 77 yards. Of the three WRs slated to see the most reps for the Texans this week, Noel carries the most upside, and it was apparent that he was developing an on-field rapport with his QB last week.
His floor is uncertain, but when scrambling for bye week replacements at WR, Noel fits the bill for some potentially adequate volume and downfield promise.
Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears
Rome Odunze and D.J. Moore are the clear top two WRs for the Bears. Burden, however, is their best pure deep threat. Baltimore’s pass defense ranks 28th in FFPG allowed to WRs this season, so the rookie WR carries some big-play potential for NFL Week 8.
Burden had long receptions of 37 and 22 yards in his last two games. The Chicago speedster presents a big challenge for the Ravens’ pass defense, and Burden is more of a possible ceiling play that can hit for fantasy purposes this week.
Quarterback And Tight End - Fantasy Football Week 8
Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers
The huge revenge game angle against the Packers is obvious, and Rodgers is coming off his second four-TD game of the season.
Over the past four weeks, Green Bay’s pass defense has allowed the most FFPG to opposing QBs. Rodgers will provide a satisfying fantasy return this week.
Aaron Rodgers A High-End QB2 Against Former Team https://t.co/OIbm3V2Q9A
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) October 25, 2025
Mason Taylor, New York Jets
ESPN reported that Mason Taylor (quad) is expected to play on Sunday vs. Cincinnati. Although Tyrod Taylor has been scratched, and Justin Fields is starting, no team has allowed more FFPG to TEs this season than Cincinnati.
Taylor has the most promise among the Jets’ current pass-catching crew, which is missing Garrett Wilson and Josh Reynolds. Based on the matchup, Taylor is a viable TE starter for Week 8. Even Justin Fields might be able to perform respectably against the Bengals.
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