We have learned a lot in the first seven weeks of the season, so we can use that to inform our lineup decisions. The best way to do so is to focus on the matchup, consider the game script and compare your thoughts with FantasyPros’ expert consensus rankings (ECR).
You’ll find three fantasy football booms to start and three busts to bench for Week 8. By this point in the season, we have a good sense of player projections. With that in mind, let’s make those lineup decisions easier for you in Week 8.
- Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Week 8 Start/Sit Advice
Fantasy Football Boom Starts
Isiah Pacheco (RB – KC)
Isiah Pacheco has been a disappointment this season, but he’s coming off his best fantasy game of the year, putting up 11.9 half-PPR points against the Raiders.
Kareem Hunt is banged up, which would condense touches in this backfield between Pacheco and Brashard Smith. This is a great spot at home against the Commanders in a game where the Chiefs are 11.5-point favorites, so rushing volume should be there for Pacheco to have another rock-solid game.
Rashid Shaheed (WR – NO)
Rashid Shaheed is the type of boom-or-bust option with a high ceiling you want to fire up with so many teams on the bye. We’ve seen the Saints’ No. 2 wideout put up 19.4 half-PPR points earlier this season.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see another spike week against the Bucs. It’s a game that projects to be relatively high-scoring with a 46.5-point total. Swing for the fence and hope that Shaheed gets loose downfield here.
Troy Franklin (WR – DEN)
Troy Franklin had a quiet Week 7, but the usage was there, including 10 targets and 172 air yards. Up next is a smash spot against the Cowboys, who rank 32nd in fantasy points allowed per game to wide receivers.
This is a projected shootout, as highlighted by a 50.5-point total. We could see Franklin catch a long touchdown in this game, making him worth a shot, especially if your team is dealing with bye weeks and injuries.
Fantasy Football Bust Sits
Jacory Croskey-Merritt (RB – WSH)
I’m a big fan of the one they call “Bill,” but this is an awful spot for Jacory Croskey-Merritt with the Commanders as 11.5-point road underdogs against the high-flying Chiefs.
If the Commanders fall behind by double digits, you’re going to see Jeremy McNichols get more snaps in passing downs, capping Croskey-Merritt’s upside. I’d consider leaving him on the bench this week.
DJ Moore (WR – CHI)
DJ Moore simply hasn’t gotten it done this year, getting relegated to an ancillary option in Ben Johnson’s offense. That’s why I’m hesitant to fire him up, even against a Ravens defense ranked 31st in fantasy points per game allowed to wideouts.
It wouldn’t shock me to see Baltimore look much better on defense coming out of the bye.
Darnell Mooney (WR – ATL)
Darnell Mooney is in a tough spot against the Dolphins, who surprisingly rank eighth in fantasy points per game allowed to wide receivers. This is a run-funnel defense that is likely to get gashed on the ground by Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier in this game.
That means less passing volume for Mooney to make an impact. With that in mind, I’d consider benching Mooney in this spot.
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