5 Start, 5 Sit for Week 8 of the 2023 NFL Season
It’s getting easier to know who is worth playing now. Trends are a little more visible and guys we thought might be lightning in a bottle have turned out to be a fart in a jar. What I have for you this week is a list of players that I think are worthy of your starting rosters, followed by guys that might need to start applying for day jobs.
Start:
C.J. Stroud vs CAR – Start
Coming off of the bye, Stroud is looking to return to early season form after finally showing some struggle in week 6. The Texans still came away with a win, but Stroud threw his first interception and wasn’t able to break 200 passing yards. Carolina doesn’t do a phenomenal job against quarterbacks and Stroud has been able to dissect defenses that let him stay comfortable in the pocket. Look for Stoud to end up as a top ten quarterback this week.
Alvin Kamara vs ATL – Start
In his first four games this year, Kamara has finished in the top ten every week. In the same stretch, he is both the lead rusher AND lead receiver for the Saints. That sort of volume is nearly unheard of for running backs. As long as Derek Carr keeps checking down with impunity, Kamara will be a fantastic option. He has an RB1 floor and is practically guaranteed to get you 20 points in a PPR. Get him in your lineup!
Jordan Addison vs GB – Start
Without Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison has had to step into the #1 receiver roll. In those three games, Addison has shown that he has the capability to shoulder that burden. He is averaging 8 targets, 5 catches, 72 yards and a touchdown without Jefferson. Production like that puts him firmly in the WR2 range and based on his performance against the 49ers, he can flourish even in tough matchups. Against a shaky Packers team, Addison is a great option at receiver.
Dalton Schultz vs CAR – Start
After a horrible first three games, Dalton Schultz’s most recent three games have been fantastic. He’s scored a touchdown in three straight games and has lead the Texans in targets in his past two games. As far as tight end production goes, Schultz is establishing himself as a top option. I think he will continue to be a great option going forward as he strengthens his chemistry with his rookie QB.
D’Onta Foreman vs LAC – Start
The Bears’ running back room has been up and down so far this season, but now that D’Onta Foreman has taken the role, it seems like the questions have been answered. He had 120 scrimmage yards and 3 touchdowns last week against the Raiders and finished as the RB1 in every format! Even with Roschon Johnson coming off of concussion protocol, Foreman will still be getting a majority of the work. The Chargers’ defense hasn’t been good my entire life, so I expect him to tear it up once again.
Sit:
Will Levis/Malik Willis vs ATL – Sit
Just like week 1 of this season, I don’t want to go anywhere near rookie quarterbacks’ first games. On top of that, we don’t even really know who the “main” quarterback is going to be. I don’t think the Titans have great expectations for their guys this week, so I would steer clear of both of them. We might see one of them emerge as a guy after this week, but don’t get burnt trying to get fancy.
Brian Robinson vs PHI – Sit
The last time Robinson played the Eagles he did manage to get into the end zone so his numbers weren’t actually that bad. Keep in mind, however, that the Eagles are playing much better football now and have added some pieces to shore up their defense. Brian Robinson is still a good back, but just like I said in week 4, I would stay away from him this week.
Calvin Ridley vs PIT – Sit
This one hurts me because of how many shares of Ridley I have. He has flashes of elite play, but on average he just isn’t able to take advantage of most of his targets. Add to that, that the Jaguars rarely ever have games with multiple passing touchdowns so his ceiling for production is pretty low. Until we see some consistent production, Ridley is barely worth having in your flex.
David Njoku vs SEA – Sit
Njoku’s play this year has been more or less tied to how well the Browns’ quarterback plays. And that play has been kinda all over the place. Njoku has not had any top 10 finishes this year and hasn’t found the end zone yet. With the number of tight ends emerging as legitimate weapons, you should be able to find a better option for your starting lineup.
Dameon Pierce vs CAR – Sit
As well as the Texans have played this year, unfortunately, not much of the success has been because of the run game. Pierce’s best game was week 3 against the Jaguars and was only salvageable because of his only touchdown of the year. For the most part, his fantasy season has been entirely disappointing. I have my fingers crossed that the bye week can revitalize their run game, but it’s unlikely to be a drastic enough change to make him worth starting this week.
If you want more offensive start/sit advice, follow me on X @TFFGRobbie. If you need IDP start/sit advice, give @ThePPRShow a follow as well.