Week 8 brings the chaos every fantasy football manager dreads: Bye-mageddon. Six teams are on bye, benches are bare, and you’re debating whether starting a backup tight end with one career touchdown is a good idea. Don’t panic — our Featured Pros are here to help you navigate the carnage. From sneaky upside plays to avoid-at-all-cost duds, they’ve got the insight you need to survive the bye-week apocalypse and keep your fantasy season afloat.
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Fantasy Football Week 8 Start/Sit Advice
Sleepers
Which player outside of the top 100 in the FantasyPros Flex rankings is a good sleeper start, and why do you think he has upside this week?
Colston Loveland (TE – CHI)
“Colston Loveland. Cole Kmet left the Bears’ Week 7 game with a back injury and is considered week-to-week, giving him slim chances of suiting up versus the Ravens in Week 8. Loveland, whose start to the season was derailed by a hip injury, saw his season-high in snap share last week (67%). The upcoming Ravens-Bears game has a projected total of 50 points, which only trails the Cowboys-Broncos (50.5). Between potential increased volume and a chance at a touchdown, Loveland has a couple of paths to a relevant fantasy day. It was clear the Bears had a plan for Loveland when they drafted him 10th overall this past April — the stars may be aligning for it to be unveiled. Loveland is still a longshot play, but one you can squint and see the path towards success if you’re in a pinch.”
– Charlie Sisian (The Fantasy DC)
“Rookie Colston Loveland has been sharing snaps and targets with veteran tight end Cole Kmet, but Kmet left last week’s game with a back injury and isn’t likely to play in Week 8. Loveland was talented enough to be a top-10 draft pick. He hasn’t seen more than four targets in any game this season, but Loveland could see a target spike this week in a game where the Bears are 6.5-point road underdogs against the Ravens. Baltimore is giving up the eighth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
Brashard Smith (RB – KC)
“Brashard Smith is taking over the Jerick McKinnon role in Kansas City. In 2022, we saw McKinnon legitimately win people’s leagues off of waivers with two RB1 overall finishes down the stretch, with one of them in the first week of the fantasy playoffs. Smith did get most of his opportunities in garbage time this week. However, another one could easily be on the way against the Commanders. The Chiefs are 10.5-point favorites against the Commanders team in a game Jayden Daniels will miss. I like Smith this week as a bye week fill-in Flex play.”
– Ryan Prosick (Fantrax)
Duds
Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros Flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?
Alvin Kamara (RB – NO)
“Alvin Kamara was once a fantasy must-start, and for a few years was drafted by some owners at the first overall pick. Unfortunately, this year has not been kind to him. He is 30 years old, which is a steep plateau for all running backs, but the most challenging part to his production is that the Saints are not a very good team, and often play from behind. He has only eclipsed 45 yards rushing in two games, and his receiving total, which was his bread and butter, is way down, with only one game over 28 yards receiving. He is currently ranked as the #32 player in half PPR, which will disappoint owners during this week and going forward.”
– Adam Dove (The Fantasy Couriers)
“It’s Alvin Kamara, and it stings to say it, but man, oh man, has it been stinky. The offensive line is beat up, the offense as a whole doesn’t do enough consistently, and it isn’t like Kamara was an in-between-the-tackles beast to begin with. It is a great matchup this week versus a Tampa defense who were just torched by Jahmyr Gibbs, and now Kamara finds himself without Kendre Miller, who is out for the year. The Saints may look to integrate rookie Devin Neal more into the offense, which would certainly hurt Kamara. It stings, but until he has a big one, Kamara can’t be relied upon.”
– Ed Birdsall (Talking Points Sports)
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