X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Thursday Night Football Matchups Analysis - Week 8

Thursday Night Football starts/sits and matchups analysis for Week 8 of the 2019 NFL season. Which Redskins and Vikings to start or sit for fantasy football lineups.

The madden curse strikes again. Reigning MVP and superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who happens to be the cover athlete for the latest edition of the popular Madden football video game, suffered a dislocated knee on a quarterback sneak in the Kansas City Chiefs 30-6 victory over the Denver Broncos last Thursday night.

Despite the injury, fantasy owners were happy with the production of pass-catchers Tyreek Hill (three receptions, 74 yards, one touchdown) and Travis Kelce (six receptions, 44 yards) given the situation. Denver failed to get much going on offense, but running back Royce Freeman managed to find the end zone and wideout Courtland Sutton hauled in six receptions for 87 yards.

The Minnesota Vikings carry a great deal of momentum coming into this Thursday, having won their last three games without putting up less than 28 points in each contest. Meanwhile, the Washington Redskins will look to get back on track after a horrific offensive performance against the San Francisco 49ers. Let's dive in to Thursday Night Football Matchups Analysis for Week 8!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Washington Redskins @ Minnesota Vikings

Date and Start Time: October 24 at 8:20 PM ET

Notable Injuries and Status:

 

Offensive and Defensive Rankings in 2019:

Redskins Vikings
Passing Yards 31st 17th
Rushing Yards 24th 3rd
Pass Defense 12th 15th
Rush Defense 27th 7th

 

Must Starts

Top Performers That Have To Be In Your Lineups

Dalvin Cook (RB, MIN)

Fantasy owners have only had one game on the season where Cook has failed to eclipse 100 yards rushing or score a touchdown. Cook is about as reliable an RB1 option as you can find and draws a juicy matchup against Washington's bottom-five run defense.

Stefon Diggs (WR, MIN)

Although its hard to imagine Diggs needing any additional help to boost his statistics, as the Vikings wide receiver has scored 43.50 and 21.20 fantasy points in PPR formats over his last two games, the likely absence of slot receiver Adam Thielen leaves plenty of targets on the table. Plug and play Diggs with confidence.

 

Solid Options and Sleepers

Which Players Will Have Solid Games and Which Could Surprise?

Solid Option: Kirk Cousins (QB, MIN)

Despite Cousins likely being down one of his top targets, he will easily be capable of exploiting a Washington defense that has given up an average of two passing touchdowns per game. Since Week 4, Cousins has had more than 300 passing yards in each game and fantasy owners should continue to ride the wave.

Solid Option: Terry McLaurin (WR, WAS)

While the Vikings boast a scary defense on paper, their secondary has struggled to contain opposing wide receivers on the boundaries in recent weeks. Philadelphia's Alshon Jeffery caught 10 passes for 76 yards and a score in Week 6, while Detroit's Marvin Jones put up 93 yards and four touchdowns on 10 receptions in Week 7. Expect McLaurin to bounce back from his worst game of 2019.

Sleeper: Kyle Rudolph (TE, MIN)

Rudolph has been, for all intents and purposes, a fantasy bust in 2019. That said, we saw flashes of the scoring ability that he has last week when the Vikings tight end put up six receptions for 58 yards and a score against the Detroit Lions. With the team's preeminent red zone threat sidelined (Adam Thielen leads Minnesota with six red zone targets), Rudolph could find his number being called.

Sleeper: Wendell Smallwood (RB, WAS)

Washington's interim coach Bill Callahan has shown a dedication to running the football since filling Jay Gruden's shoes. The Redskins' top back, Adrian Peterson, has 43 rush attempts in his last two games, but appears to have suffered a high ankle sprain that could either keep him out of the game on a short week or have his snaps limited. Smallwood makes for an intriguing volume play with his upside capped by Minnesota's stout run defense.

 

Consider Sitting

Players To Avoid Putting In Your Lineup If Possible

Case Keenum (QB, WAS)

A smothering Vikings Defense combined with the possibility of a Dwayne Haskins appearance makes Keenum a QB3 option at best. The Redskins newly established devotion to running the ball also doesn't inspire much confidence.

Paul Richardson / Trey Quinn (WRs, WAS)

The duo of Richardson and Quinn has accounted for a cumulative total of seven receptions on 18 targets in the Redskins last three games. Neither offer any certainty in a tough matchup and fantasy owners can likely find better options to sub in.

Jeremy Sprinkle (TE, WAS)

Both Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis are likely going to be sidelined, opening the door for Sprinkle to continue to dominate snaps at tight end for Washington. That said, Minnesota ranks in the top-half of the league when it comes to fantasy points allowed to tight ends and Sprinkle hasn't had more than three targets in a game since Week 3.

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Pete Crow-Armstrong

Homers Twice, Drives in Three
Brice Matthews

Joining Astros
MLB

White Sox-Guardians Postponed on Thursday
Brandon Aiyuk

Likely to Begin Season on PUP List, but Not Ruled Out for Week 1
Jameson Williams

Not in the Team's Long-Term Plans?
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Micah Parsons

Plans to be Present for Start of Training Camp
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Ikem Ekwonu

Next Up for Extension in Carolina?
Jalen Thompson

Heading into Last Year With Cardinals?
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Najee Harris

Suffers Eye Injury in Fireworks Mishap
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Vitor Petrino

Set For His Heavyweight Debut
Tuco Tokkos

Set To Open Up UFC Nashville Main Card
Junior Tafa

Set For Light-Heavyweight Bout
Alex Bregman

Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Chris Sale

Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Clarke Schmidt

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Nick Nash

Unlikely to Make Falcons Active Roster
Lane Johnson

in No Rush To Retire
Jalen Williams

Signs Contract Extension With Thunder
Blake Corum

has "Gotten His Speed Back"
Jarquez Hunter

Picking Up Rams Offense Quickly
Alijah Martin

Agrees to Two-Way Deal With Raptors
Tristan Vukcevic

Set to Return to Washington
Kirk Cousins

Feels Misled by Falcons
Bijan Robinson

Says Falcons Have "Outlandish Goals" for the Running Game
Luther Burden III

Bears Expect Luther Burden III to be Ready for Training Camp
Cole Kmet

an Unlikely Trade Piece
Tony Pollard

Titans Hope to Balance Rushing Attack With Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears
Byron Buxton

Sitting Thursday
Quentin Johnston

Not Assured of Starting Role
Cordarrelle Patterson

on the Roster Bubble in Pittsburgh?
Shedeur Sanders

Not Assured of Roster Spot in Cleveland?
Wan'Dale Robinson

Hoping For More Downfield Opportunities
Anfernee Simons

Celtics Are "Actively Trying to Trade" Anfernee Simons
NBA

Alex Ducas Heading to Australia
Dominick Barlow

Inks Two-Way Deal With 76ers
Jordan McLaughlin

Spurs Re-Sign Jordan McLaughlin to One-Year Deal
Dylan Harper

Out Thursday, Expected to Play Saturday
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Homers Twice on Wednesday
Mike Trout

Homers Twice in Win Over Rangers
Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Leads Yankees to Victory
Salvador Perez

Crushes Two Homers in Win
Cleveland Browns

Greg Newsome on the Trade Block?
VJ Edgecombe

Diagnosed with a Sprained Thumb
Zach Tom

An Extension Candidate in Green Bay
Devin Booker

Agrees to Extension with Phoenix
Trevor Williams

to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery
Byron Buxton

Exits After Hit-by-Pitch, X-Rays Negative
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. Playing on Wednesday
Alex Bregman

has "Really Good Chance" to Return Before All-Star Break
Teoscar Hernández

Teoscar Hernandez Expected to Return on Friday
Walter Clayton Jr.

Leads Jazz to Summer League Win
Carter Bryant

Struggles in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Drops a Double-Double in Summer League Action on Tuesday
Oklahoma City Thunder

Malevy Leons Logs Impressive Summer League Outing on Tuesday
Dalton Knecht

Collects 25 Points in Lakers Summer League Win
Los Angeles Lakers

Darius Bazley Drops 27 Points in Summer League on Tuesday
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Chet Holmgren

Agrees to Rookie Max Extension
Alex Bregman

Not Returning Wednesday
Jhoan Duran

Unavailable Due to Illness
Shane McClanahan

Tosses Clean Frame in First Rehab Appearance
Jacob Wilson

Day-to-Day After HBP
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ronald Acuña Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. to be Reassessed Wednesday
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Malaki Branham

Traded to Washington
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Blake Wesley

Moves to Washington
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Kelly Olynyk

on the Move Again
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Anthony Davis

Recovering From Eye Surgery
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
NASCAR

Sepp Straka Not Likely to Find Momentum at Scottish Open
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
NHL

Tyler Johnson Retires After 13 NHL Seasons
Jack McBain

Inks New Five-Year Deal with Mammoth
Cam York

Re-Signs with Flyers for Five Years
Jake Knapp

Fits the Mold for Success at The Renaissance Club
Ty Gibbs

Finishes Second at Chicago and Advances in In-Season Challenge
Alex Bowman

Defeats Bubba Wallace in In-Season Challenge, but Not Without Controversy
Alex Bowman

Bubba Wallace Wrecked by Alex Bowman Again, Putting Playoffs in Doubt
Michael McDowell

Throttle Failure Ends Michael McDowell's Chances to Win at Chicago
Austin Hill

Earns First NASCAR Cup Series Top Ten at Chicago
Tyler Reddick

Scores a Strong Third-Place Run at Chicago
Kyle Busch

Matches his Best Career Finish At Chicago on Sunday
Denny Hamlin

Fights his Way to a Top-5 Finish at Chicago
William Byron

has his Worst Weekend of the Season at Chicago
Sonny Milano

on Track to Be Ready for Training Camp
Jakub Dobes

Signs Two-Year Deal with Canadiens
NHL

Hendrix Lapierre Signs One-Year Deal with Capitals
Carson Hocevar

Should DFS Players Consider Carson Hocevar for Chicago Lineups?
Tye Kartye

Kraken Re-Sign Tye Kartye for Two Years
Ross Chastain

May be A Decent DFS Option for Chicago Lineups
Dmitri Voronkov

Signs Two-Year, $8.35 Million Extension with Blue Jackets
Ryan Preece

Should DFS Players Roster Ryan Preece at Chicago?
Austin Dillon

Is Too Great of A Risk to Add to Chicago Lineups
Zane Smith

Is A Value Play Worth Rostering At Chicago
Austin Hill

is A Favorable Value Option for Chicago DFS Lineups
Ty Dillon

Is Ty Dillon A Decent Driver to Add For NASCAR DFS At Chicago?
William Byron

Qualifying Crash Makes William Byron a Likely DFS Must-Have
Alex Bowman

Should Finish Well, but Probably Costs Too Much for Serious DFS Consideration
Joey Logano

Has Been Relatively Mediocre on Road Courses Lately
Ryan Blaney

Doesn't Really Fit Neatly into Optimal DFS Lineups
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF