Booms and Busts - Starts and Sits for Week 8 Lineups

November 1, 2020

Brandon Murchison's top starts and sits for your Week 8 fantasy football lineups - sneaky players to start that may boom, and typical starters that may disappoint or bust.

Week 7 of the 2020 season seemed to be the week of the fill-in player in fantasy leagues. Players like Baker Mayfield, Jeff Wilson, and Cole Beasley all came into the week as looked over players. But they turned solid matchups into positive fantasy performances. Sure, those household names continue to play a major part in the fantasy season, but with the number of injuries, we have seen this year secondary players get thrust into starting lineups more than ever. Now mixed in with the uncertainties surrounding Covid, there are so many variables at play for fantasy managers as they set up starting lineups.

Those variables will once again be in play for managers in Week 8 as the bye weeks continue to factor in as well as the mounting injuries. With several cases of positive Covid tests and isolations looming, it can easily change your perspective of a player and their matchups. Case in point with the Giants and their offensive line situation. With a majority of them in isolation, it makes a tough matchup for Daniel Jones even worse as he could be harassed for the entirety of the game. But looking past that, you have several key players trending towards missing games this week, putting back-up players in play yet again for managers to think about.

With all these pieces in motion, fantasy managers have to trust matchup decisions more than ever. That is what we do here for you with the Woos and Boos for Week 8. We Woo the players that are typically under the radar but could shine with plus matchups. While we Boo those every week starters that could be set-up to disappoint as they face difficult situations.

Week 8 Woos

Baker Mayfield vs. Las Vegas Raiders

An afterthought for much of the 2020 season, Mayfield came out of nowhere with a QB1 finish (QB6) in Week 7. After struggling for much of the season, he will be riding the momentum of a five-touchdown into what should be a plus matchup. Facing a Raiders secondary that is currently fourth in the league in points allowed to the position (23.5 FPPG), Mayfield could be in store for another solid performance. If he can play at a higher level than his poor YPA (7.0) and accuracy rating (6.4) indicates, he should be a player that is worth starting in Week 8 if you are in a pinch.

Darrell Henderson @ Miami Dolphins

Henderson has been stuck and mired in the dreaded RBBC that the Rams like to use with their backfield. His 39.1% snap share puts him at 42nd at the position, making him someone hard to trust every week. But he sits 13th in rushing yards (413) and 14th in scoring (4). A positive matchup awaits him in Week 8 as he will be facing a Dolphins Defense that is eighth in the league in points allowed to opposing RBs (22.6 FPPG). The Dolphins also allow an additional 2.8 FP per game compared to their opponent's average. Showing that as long as the game-script in his favor, Henderson could turn in a solid RB2 performance this week.

Brandon Aiyuk @ Seattle Seahawks

Aiyuk has been a player that has seen inconsistent opportunities for the majority of the 2020 season. He has yet to see a double-digit target game this year, but that could be changing with Deebo Samuel out of the lineup yet again for the 49ers. Coming off his first career 100-yard game, he now gets the pleasure of a matchup against a Seahawks secondary that allows the most points to opposing wideouts this year (38.1 FPPG). Seattle allows an astonishing 23.1 FP over the opponent's average per game, which means Aiyuk should see plenty of opportunities in a game in which the 49ers should be trailing. He should be started in Week 8 as a WR3 but has the upside to finish the week as a WR2 based on the matchup.

Richard Rogers vs. Dallas Cowboys

Rogers came out of nowhere to lead the Eagles in receiving in Week 7 (6 receptions for 85 yards). He is taking advantage of the team's lack of quality pass catchers and should once again put together a nice stat-line in Week 8. Facing the atrocious Cowboys Defense (9.9 FPPG allowed to TEs), Rogers should finish as a TE1 and is a solid play for managers looking to stream at the position.

Week 8 Boos

Drew Brees @ Chicago Bears

Brees has finished three out of the last four weeks as a QB1 even without the help of Michael Thomas in the lineup. He should be getting him back for this Week 8 matchup, but look for Brees to struggle mightily. He will be facing a Bears Defense that is currently the toughest in fantasy in points allowed to the position (13.1 FPPG). Not to mention this being a road matchup for Brees where he has historically averaged a full point less as opposed to home matchups. Proceed with caution as there are likely better matchups to take advantage of this week.

Ezekiel Elliott @ Philadelphia Eagles

There has been a considerable amount of erosion to Elliott's play in fantasy throughout the last few weeks. With back-to-back finishes outside of the top-30 at the position, many fantasy owners are left worrying about what to do with their prized first-round selection. Well, with the continuing issues along the offensive line and the likelihood of Ben DiNucci starting at QB for the Cowboys in Week 8, Elliott should be in for a long day. Not to mention facing an Eagles Defense on the road that is one of the better ones in the league in points allowed to the position (16.4 FPPG). It's tough facing the decision on what to do with Elliott as a fantasy manager, but the way the Cowboys offense is currently playing, benching him is not out of the question.

DeVante Parker vs. Los Angeles Rams

It may be "Tua time" for the Dolphins but that may not help Parker's inconsistent fantasy season to date. Outside of his ten-catch game in Week 4, Parker has been somewhat of a letdown for fantasy managers that were hoping to see the same version we saw to end the 2019 season. Now in Week 8, he will be facing Jalen Ramsey and a Rams secondary that is 31st in the league in points allowed to the position (16.1 FPPG). He is outside the top-24 in both receptions (29) and yards (364) and expecting a good game from him in this matchup is asking a bit much.

T.J. Hockenson vs. Indianapolis Colts

Hockenson has been on a roll as of late with scores in three straight games leading to TE1 performances in each. He is top-10 in both receptions (22) and yards (256), while he sits third in red-zone targets (10). But none of that will likely help him in Week 8 as he will be facing a very tough Colts Defense that allows just 2.3 FPPG to opposing TEs. He has been as consistent as they come lately, but this is a week in which fantasy managers should look elsewhere and stream at this position and leave Hockenson on the bench.

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