Key Starters and Tough Calls - Week 8 Lineup Spotlights for Fantasy Football Include Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Calvin Ridley, Javonte Williams

Scott Engel provides selected fantasy football lineup starts/sits for Week 8 (2024). He spotlights key NFL players to start when faced with tight Week 8 fantasy football lineup calls.

Rotoballer Senior Writer Scott Engel's weekly Lineup Spotlights feature key performers to consider for your starting lineups. Every week, he highlights players to choose as starting options when you are up against challenging lineup decisions.

The lineup picks featured in this rundown are based on Scott's Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter the promo code KING at checkout for an additional discount and gain access to his ranks in all formats, plus a full suite of tools and analysis for in-season use.

When considering these players for lineup usage, also check into our fantasy football rankings to see if they are ranked higher or lower than your other possible starters. The skill position analysis is tied to my PPR rankings.

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Wide Receivers – Fantasy Football Week 8

Jaxon Smith-Njigba

The second-year Seahawk stirred fantasy excitement as soon as he was drafted in the first round last season. The decline of Tyler Lockett was prematurely anticipated, though, and while the longtime veteran standout is still in the mix for Seattle this year, there was still great anticipation that this would be the breakout season for “JSN.”

In the second game of the season, Smith-Njigba caught 16 of 16 targets for 117 yards, and those who drafted him in the seventh to ninth round this preseason thought he had arrived as a regular starter. But the numbers just haven’t been there since, despite Geno Smith being one of the busiest passers in the NFL. Over the past five games, JSN has not reached the 55-yard mark.

With DK Metcalf out, this is the chance for Ryan Grubb to figure out how to actually use Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who is averaging an unimpactful 8.6 yards per catch. Get him downfield more, #Seahawks

— Chris Cluff (@CHawk_Talk) October 25, 2024

On the season, Smith-Njigba has one TD reception. With DK Metcalf out this week, though, JSN will get a real chance to shine. Much like former Seahawk Doug Baldwin, he is capable of challenging defenses at every level and can let loose as a more regular target as Seattle tries to keep up with Buffalo on the scoreboard.

The matchup is not a pure tough draw, as the Bills rank 16^th in Fantasy Points Per Game allowed to WRs over the last four weeks. Smith has performed well overall behind a shaky offensive line, and he will demonstrate more on-field faith in JSN this week. Start Smith-Njigba for sure as a fantasy WR3, as he is ranked inside my top 20 at the position.

Calvin Ridley

The departure of DeAndre Hopkins has regenerated some interest in putting Ridley back into fantasy lineups, as he has no significant challengers for primary targets in Tennessee anymore. The Lions also allow the second-most Fantasy Points Per Game to opposing WRs. His foot injury is not a concern heading into Week 8.

Yet the matchup and potential increased playmaking opportunities don’t move me to recommend Ridley as a starter this week. He has been a continued disappointment this season and gaining more defensive attention could be a barrier to increased production. The Titans also aren’t a good target for pass-catchers playing in catch-up mode. Tennessee might simply log several three-and-outs.

I do not have Ridley ranked in my top 35 WRs for fantasy NFL Week 8. I want to see him actually benefit from a possible expanded amount of targets before he should be put into lineups. It’s possible that his output could improve this week, yet the floor is not there. Ridley is a proven talent, but the quarterbacking in Tennessee also holds him back. He is a fantasy WR4 for this week.

George Pickens

The Pittsburgh offense woke up in a major way last week, rolling up 37 points against a Jets defense that was dealing with key injuries in its secondary. That is how to win in the NFL, to take advantage of any perceived weaknesses on the other side of the ball. Russell Wilson passed for two TDs and rushed for another.

The latest Steelers QB no longer displays the mobility that made him a dynamic and highly versatile player in his prime. Yet he still throws a consistently good deep ball and retains the ability to fit downfield throws into tight passing windows.

Pickens instantly saw a production boost with Wilson inserted at QB, as he finished with 111 receiving yards and a TD against the Jets.  The Steelers still desperately need a No. 2 WR, as they have not effectively replaced Diontae Johnson.

The Giants have the sixth-best pass defense in the NFL and also lead the NFL in sacks with 31. The latter stat is certainly not good for Wilson, who has a long history of taking many sacks, back to his Seahawks days.

When Wilson can complete passes, though, he will frequently connect with Pickens on all types of throws, including short and intermediate passes. The Pittsburgh WR can be used in Week 8 lineups for many potential targets, rather than being looked to for significant upside. Pickens is a top 20 fantasy WR for NFL Week 8.

Running Backs – Fantasy Football Week 8

Javonte Williams

Denver’s offense has been flashing signs of progress, and in a matchup with Carolina this week, expect the Broncos to unfurl some statistical goodies. Williams rushed for a season-high 88 yards and two TDs in a win over the Saints. Against the injury-riddled Panthers defense, he should be locked into lineups as a flex option.

Carolina allows the most FFPG to RBs, and Williams has also displayed versatility as a runner and receiver this season. Any perceived threats to his lead role have been wiped away, and he is a top 20 fantasy RB for NFL Week 8.

Najee Harris

I will stick with a Steelers flow here, as Harris is a very interesting play for Week 8. Until the last two games, he seemed to forget what an end zone looked like. Harris did not rush for a TD in the first five games of the season, apparently not benefitting at all from Justin Fields also keeping defenses further off balance with his unique rushing abilities.

Najee Harris is one of 3 RBs who have forced 30 or more missed tackles this season, per PFF

1. James Conner - 35
2. Jordan Mason - 32
3. Najee Harris - 30

The wild part is 15 of the 30 missed tackles Najee has forced have come in the last two weeks.

— Daniel Valente (@StatsGuyDaniel) October 25, 2024

Harris also rushed for 100 yards in each of the last two games, after not rushing for 75 yards at all previously to start the season. The Giants rank 21^st in rushing yards allowed to RBs, and Pittsburgh’s No. 1 RB is a viable fantasy starter for Week 8. Jaylen Warren is back in action, but Harris is showing that he is deserving of a sizable workload right now.

Brian Robinson Jr.

Robinson has been a very good value fantasy-wise so far this season, as Jayden Daniels is fully elevating the entire Washington offense. The Commanders RB has already surpassed his previous career high of five rushing TDs by one after just six games played.

Daniels is trending to play on Sunday, but if he does not, the Commanders’ offense could take a big tumble. Marcus Mariota looked decent enough in relief last week, but when a good defense has a week to prepare for him, the optimism surrounding the Washington offense will fully dissipate and Robinson won’t be a fantasy RB2 play. If Daniels suits up, Robinson has a higher floor and ceiling.

Quarterback And Tight End – Fantasy Football Week 8

Anthony Richardson

He has totally frustrated those who drafted the promising dual threat as a QB1 this year. Richardson has looked like a lesser version of Michael Vick, as he is an erratic passer like Vick was, and hasn’t reached the former Atlanta star’s levels of rushing upside.

This can be a week where Richardson does produce better, though. He passed for two TDs and rushed for another in the first meeting with the Texans this season. Houston has allowed 15 TD passes to opposing QBs, which is second-most in the NFL. The Colts QB ranks just outside my top 10 for NFL Week 8.

Cade Otton

The terrible crush of injuries at WR in the league has affected Tampa Bay more than any other team. Otton admirably stepped forward with a career performance in Week 7, catching eight of 10 targets for 100 yards. He will obviously have to take on a larger role again this week.

With the Buccaneers top two WRs going down, I expect a lot of targets to go @CadeOtton's way. He was terrific on Monday night and has strung together a few nice weeks in a row. He finds holes in zones, has great hands, and is tough as nails. He can also block. #Bucsfilm2024wk7 pic.twitter.com/NnxtIATPaZ

— Steven Cheah (@StevenCheah) October 26, 2024

With so many TEs lacking a stable statistical floor, you must eye potential targets and volume over matchups. Otton must still prove he can build on last week’s outing, so I cannot recommend him over some other TEs who have shown us more already. But he does have an apparent path to a healthy amount of targets against Atlanta, so Otton ranks just outside of my top 10 TEs for the week.

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