Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 8
SSSQ is a weekly look at underappreciated fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.
For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 8 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 8 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.
Start
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
vs. Lions
Tagovailoa has finished as a top-12 fantasy quarterback in 50% of the games he's played this season - not counting the contest he left early due to injury.
Now he gets his easiest matchup of the season against a Lions defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to his position. This contest also features the highest projected point total of the week at 51.5.
Don't hesitate to start Tagovailoa as a mid-range fantasy QB1 this week.
Boone's projection: 317 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 11 rushing yards
Other QBs to start
- Kirk Cousins vs. Cardinals
- Daniel Jones at Seahawks
Tony Pollard, Cowboys
vs. Bears
With Ezekiel Elliott expected to miss Sunday's contest due to a knee injury, Pollard becomes an automatic start for fantasy managers who have been holding him for this moment.
The great thing about Pollard is that he's provided weekly flex value by scoring double-digit PPR fantasy points in four of his last six outings with Elliott in the lineup.
The 25-year-old even poured in 109 yards from scrimmage on 14 touches in last week's win over the Lions.
He should have no problem improving on those totals with his team favored by 9.5 points against the Bears, who are the sixth-best matchup for fantasy running backs.
Boone's projection: 92 rushing yards, 28 receiving yards, 3 receptions, TD
Other RBs to start
- Raheem Mostert at Lions
- Miles Sanders vs. Steelers
- James Conner at Vikings (if active)
Tyler Boyd, Bengals
at Browns
The fantasy world was stunned by the news that Ja'Marr Chase is likely headed to injured reserve and could be out four-to-six weeks with a hip issue.
Tee Higgins can step into the top receiver role, but Boyd was also undervalued as the third option in the Bengals' passing attack.
For the next month or more, Boyd will be elevated into the No. 2 spot, where he'll be in the weekly WR2 conversation for fantasy.
Look no further than his eight-catch, 155-yard, one-touchdown performance last week to get an idea of what his ceiling could be over roughly the next month.
Boone's projection: 89 receiving yards, 7 receptions, TD
Other WRs to start
- Tyler Lockett vs. Giants
- Devonta Smith vs. Steelers
- Brandon Aiyuk at Rams
Hayden Hurst, Bengals
at Browns
While we normally don't give multiple players from the same team full writeups in the start section, the Chase injury has pushed several players up the rankings in the middle of the week.
In addition to the wideouts, Hurst will see his opportunity rise with Chase sidelined.
Hurst is the TE10 in fantasy scoring on the season, and two of his biggest games occurred when Higgins was limited. Hurst put up a 5-46-0 stat line in Week 1 and 6-53-1 in Week 5.
You should expect a similar result with Chase sitting out, making Hurst a strong fantasy start moving forward.
Boone's projection: 64 receiving yards, 5 receptions, TD
Other TEs to start
- Evan Engram vs. Broncos
- Mike Gesicki at Lions
Sit
Aaron Rodgers, Packers
at Bills
Rodgers is averaging the 26th-most fantasy points among quarterbacks through seven weeks, and a trip to Buffalo isn't going to help his situation.
The Bills are the No. 1-ranked defense in Football Outsiders, placing fourth against the pass and first versus the run.
Rodgers has been vocal about his displeasure with some of the offensive weapons. Now he'll likely be without his favorite receiver Allen Lazard, who's dealing with a shoulder injury.
All signs point to a miserable evening for Rodgers and the Packers on Sunday Night Football.
Boone's projection: 218 passing yards, TD, INT
Other QBs to sit
- Matthew Stafford vs. 49ers
- Russell Wilson at Jaguars (London)
David Montgomery, Bears
at Cowboys
Montgomery has rewarded his fantasy managers in two of the last three outings thanks to touchdowns. However, he finds himself in a tough spot in Week 8.
If Khalil Herbert slowly convincing the coaching staff he deserves more touches wasn't worrying enough, Montgomery will also have to contend with a Cowboys defense permitting the third-fewest fantasy points to runners.
Meanwhile, the Bears are massive underdogs playing on a short week after an emotional win over the Patriots on Monday night.
Treat the veteran back as a RB3/flex play at best this week.
Boone's projection: 43 rushing yards, 14 receiving yards, 2 receptions
Other RBs to sit
- Najee Harris at Eagles
- Darrell Henderson vs. 49ers
- Kareem Hunt vs. Bengals
Diontae Johnson, Steelers
at Eagles
It's been a tough season for Johnson. His numbers have declined considerably while playing with a combination of Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett at quarterback.
Johnson hasn't cracked the top-35 fantasy receivers over the last month, with weekly finishes of WR75, WR36, WR43, and WR44.
The Eagles already boasted one of the best defenses in football before trading for pass-rusher Robert Quinn this week. That's a bad recipe for a rookie QB who's still trying to find his footing in the pros.
Despite all the talent in Pittsburgh's receiving corps, it's hard to trust them for fantasy in this contest.
Boone's projection: 48 receiving yards, 5 receptions
Other WRs to sit
- Drake London vs. Panthers
- Michael Gallup vs. Bears
- Romeo Doubs at Bills
Kyle Pitts, Falcons
vs. Panthers
It's come to this. We can talk all we want about Pitts' skill and athleticism, but in the end, it doesn't matter when the Falcons are throwing the ball at a historically low rate.
Outside of his five-catch, 87-yard performance in Week 3, Pitts has been held to 25 yards or less in each of his other five appearances.
With just one touchdown on the season, it's difficult to envision a path back to fantasy starter status unless something changes in Atlanta.
Boone's projection: 29 receiving yards, 3 receptions
Other TEs to sit
- Hunter Henry at Jets
- Tyler Conklin vs. Patriots
Stash
JaMycal Hasty, Jaguars
The James Robinson trade has cleared the way for Hasty to assume the immediate backup duties behind Travis Etienne.
Head coach Doug Pederson confirmed that Hasty's carries would increase since the team doesn't want to overload their sophomore starter.
If you're in a deeper league, Hasty should be on your radar as the newest one-injury-away running back to stash.
James Cook/Khalil Shakir, Bills
Rookies often see a bump in usage after the bye week as they grow more comfortable in the system.
Cook and Shakir are clear backups right now, but it wouldn't take much for them to assume significant roles in the league's best offense.
If Devin Singletary gets hurt, the Bills will need Cook to handle a large share of the backfield touches. And if Isaiah McKenzie continues to struggle, we might see Shakir overtake him in the coming weeks.
Either way, the Bills' offense is one you want to invest in, and these two rookies are a cheap way to do it.
Quit
Quarterbacks (1QB): Matthew Stafford, Russell Wilson
Running backs: JK Dobbins, Cam Akers
Wide receivers: Romeo Doubs, Corey Davis
Tight ends: Hunter Henry, Cole Kmet