Booms and Busts - Fantasy Football Starts and Sits for Week 8 Lineups (2025)

Dave's fantasy football start 'em and sit 'em booms and busts for Week 8 of 2025. Sneaky starts that may boom, and typical starters who will disappoint.

We’re quickly approaching another weekend of jam-packed fantasy football action. Last week’s sonic boom, Quinshon Judkins, exploded for a huge game. Judkins only ran for 84 rushing yards, but he scored three rushing touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins' hapless defense. Hopefully, you heeded our advice, started Judkins, and picked up a win in the process.

There’s no time to celebrate, though, as this week, there are six teams on bye. That means fantasy managers could be down several starters, and it could really put them in a bind. If you're in a tough spot, we will do our best to help you out and identify several potential fill-ins who could pop for a big game. We’ll also examine a few players you should consider sitting.

Make sure you’re following RotoBaller on X and download the RotoBaller app for all your fantasy football needs. Let’s examine our boom/bust picks for Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season.

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• FLEX fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Sonic Boom of the Week

J.K. Dobbins - RB, Denver Broncos vs. Dallas Cowboys

Dobbins continues to show he is Denver’s most reliable rusher this season. He has run for 523 rushing yards, four touchdowns, and is averaging a robust 5.0 yards per carry in seven games this year.

A JK Dobbins rushing TD makes it a seven-point game 👀

DENvsPHI on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/1KzpkpLgZO

— NFL (@NFL) October 5, 2025

His advanced metrics also remain strong. Among 42 running backs with 40+ carries, Dobbins ranks:

Fifth in Next Gen Stats rush yards over expected
Sixth in Fantasy Points Data Suite’s explosive rushing yards
16th in PFF elusive rating

Dobbins now draws a tasty matchup this weekend against a Dallas Cowboys defense that’s allowed the third-most PPR points per game to opposing running backs per Fantasy Football Today. Dallas also ranks 32nd in PFF’s rushing defense grade and allows over 141 rushing yards per game.

With quarterback Bo Nix continuing to struggle with consistency, we should see the Broncos rely heavily on their rushing attack in this game. Dobbins would be the primary beneficiary.

Start him as a solid RB2 play with potential for much more.

Other Week 8 Fantasy Football Booms

Tyler Allgeier - RB, Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins

Allgeier has played second fiddle to RB1 Bijan Robinson. However, Allgeier has received double-digit carries in four of Atlanta’s six games and remains a constant feature in the team’s running game.

He’s had a few fantasy-relevant games this year, too. Allgeier has two top-24 finishes in 2025, with his best performance coming in Week 2 when he ran for 76 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Allgeier has a great chance to post another top 24 finish this weekend. Miami continues to be one of the biggest run funnels in the NFL. Its rushing defense has been nonexistent, and the Dolphins allow a league high 159.3 rushing yards per game. Miami also ranks 25th in FTN Fantasy’s defensive rushing DVOA and allows the sixth-most PPR points per game to opposing backs.

The Falcons are also listed as 7-point favorites this weekend, so they will likely be playing with a lead for the majority of this contest. That would ensure plenty of rushing opportunities for Allgeier. Even in a competitive game, we are likely to see Atlanta lean heavily on its running game to score a victory here.

Fantasy managers can start Allgeier as a flex play. He’s a good bye-week filler if your team is missing multiple starters.

Mason Taylor - TE, New York Jets at Cincinnati Bengals

Taylor disappointed in a plus matchup last week. That was largely because Justin Fields was highly ineffective as a passer. Fields will likely head to the bench this week in favor of Tyrod Taylor, and that could mean good news for Mason Taylor’s fantasy outlook.

Among 41 quarterbacks with 25+ dropbacks, Tyrod Taylor ranks second in Fantasy Points Data Suite’s adjusted completion percentage. His presence should help elevate the entire Jets passing game. It comes at a good time for New York’s TE1 as the Bengals rank 30th in DVOA against tight ends and allow an average of 6.8 receptions and 76.6 receiving yards per game to the position.

With wide receiver Garrett Wilson potentially missing his second consecutive game, Taylor could function as the team’s number one target. This is a good spot to roll out Taylor as a streamer. Gamers should consider him a backend TE1 candidate with top-five potential.

Chimere Dike - WR, Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts

Dike came out of left field in Week 7 to post a 4-70-1 line on four targets and finish as the PPR WR16.

Cam Ward and Chimere Dike connect for a 38-yard TD!

NEvsTEN on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/e2JoWXjqCh

— NFL (@NFL) October 19, 2025

He was selected by Tennessee at the top of the fourth round in the 2025 NFL Draft. His playing time has been on the rise, and he's played more than 50% of offensive snaps in each of the last two games. With veteran Tyler Lockett being released by the team earlier this week, Dike could be in line for an expanded role moving forward.

That’s good news because the Colts have allowed the most receptions, second-most receiving yards, and the most PPR points per game to opposing wide receivers this year. We should expect the Titans to be playing from behind for most of this game, and that would also ensure plenty of opportunities for Dike.

Gamers should view him as a viable flex play or WR3 in deeper leagues. He has a decent chance to build on his strong Week 7 performance.

Landmine of the Week

Jaylen Waddle - WR, Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons

The Dolphins' tailspin continued last weekend when the team dropped a game to the Cleveland Browns. Miami now sits at 1-6 on the season. The offense looked disjointed and once again struggled to get going against a stout Cleveland Browns defense last week.

Things don’t get any easier in Week 8 as Miami faces a Falcons defense that ranks first in defensive passing DVOA. Atlanta also ranks eighth in DVOA against opposing WR1s and has allowed the second-fewest PPR points per game to receivers.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has thrown three interceptions in two straight games and continues to struggle. This looks like another matchup where that trend could continue, and that’s also bad news for Waddle’s outlook.

Put it all together, and a lot is working against Waddle in this game. Even though he is Miami’s clear WR1, the Dolphins are a complete mess right now, and it’s hard to trust this passing game in a tough matchup. There will still be plenty of other opportunities for gamers to play Waddle, but this week doesn’t look like one of them. Proceed with caution for this weekend.

Other Week 8 Fantasy Football Busts

Jacory Croskey-Merritt - RB, Washington Commanders at Kansas City Chiefs

Croskey-Merritt let fantasy managers down last week in a plus matchup. He has still been an effective runner and ranks ninth in rush yards over expected. Croskey-Merritt is also third in Fantasy Points Data Suite’s rushing success rate.

However, it looks like Washington’s offensive line, which ranks 24th in PFF run blocking grade, is starting to interfere with his production. That's bad news, as the Chiefs have allowed the 10th-fewest rushing yards and the seventh-fewest PPR points per game to opposing backs.

Throw in the fact that star quarterback Jayden Daniels will miss this week’s game with a hamstring injury, and Croskey-Merritt becomes an easy fade. He has showcased some serious play-making ability this year, but this is not a great spot to deploy the Commanders' rookie.

Rhamondre Stevenson - RB, New England Patriots vs. Cleveland Browns

Stevenson is coming off his best game of the season in Week 7. He ran for a season-high 88 rushing yards, scored a rushing touchdown, and finished the week as the PPR RB13.

However, that was against a Tennessee Titans defense that ranks 28th in defensive rushing DVOA. This week, things will be much different as the Browns allow just 82.4 rushing yards per game (fourth-fewest in the NFL) and rank first in defensive rushing DVOA.

Stevenson could find little running room in this matchup. New England might also rely on the arm of quarterback Drake Maye to score another victory here.

Gamers should consider pivoting off Stevenson this week in favor of other options.

Andy Dalton - QB, Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills

With Bryce Young nursing an ankle injury, it appears Dalton will draw the start this weekend. It’s a tough spot for the 15-year veteran as Buffalo has allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this year.

Buffalo’s defense will also be motivated to atone for a poor performance against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6. Carolina’s offensive line could also struggle to hold up against a Bills defense that ranks seventh in PFF’s pass rushing grade. Both factors are bad news for Dalton's outlook.

We should expect a bounce-back performance from Buffalo’s defense in this game, and it could come at a bad time for Dalton and Carolina’s offense. Superflex managers should leave him on the bench, and Dalton is not a viable streaming candidate in single quarterback leagues either.

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