Fantasy Football Wide Receiver & Tight End Start/Sit Week 8: George Pickens, Jerry Jeudy, Dalton Schultz
The importance of knowing who to start and who to sit can make or break a fantasy week and your matchup. People like to say, “Start your studs,” and typically speaking, that is the way to go, especially early in the season, but sometimes a player's matchup gives them more value in a certain week. On the flip side, a player can also have a poor matchup that could give you a reason to bench them.
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Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Week 8 Starts
George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Pickens has seen 18 targets in the past two weeks and has turned them into 237 yards and a TD. He and QB Kenny Pickett appear to be on the same page, which sets Pickens up well for his Week 8 matchup against the Jaguars, who rank 31st against the pass in the NFL and 23rd in fantasy vs. opposing WRs. Even in the shallowest of formats, Pickens needs to be in your lineups.
Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles
McLaurin seems to be the only consistent pass catcher on the Commanders. The rest of the offense disappears at times, including QB Sam Howell. McLaurin has seen 20 targets over the past two weeks and faces an Eagles defense that ranks 30th in fantasy against the WR position. In the first matchup this season between the Commanders and the Eagles, McLaurin caught eight passes for 86 yards, and he will be in line to see plenty of volume again in what should be another high-scoring game.
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens @ Arizona Cardinals
Flowers is a rookie, but he is undoubtedly the top WR in the Ravens offense. He delivers double-digit points every week, has big-play potential every time he catches a pass, and has an excellent matchup this weekend against a Cardinals defense that ranks 23rd in the NFL vs. the pass and 27th against opposing WRs. He has yet to top 100 yards in a game and only has one TD so far, but his consistency as a WR3 or flex play in your lineups makes him a must start.
Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Week 8 Sits
Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Jeudy has been a big disappointment this season. He hasn’t scored a TD, and he has only one game of 70+ receiving yards. That one game came in the massive 70-20 blowout against the Dolphins in Week 2. This week, he takes on a Chiefs defense that ranks sixth in the NFL vs the pass, ninth vs. WRs in fantasy, and held him to only 14 yards on three catches in the first meeting between these teams this season. Leave him out of your lineup.
Jalin Hyatt/Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants vs. New York Jets
Despite the Giants' passing game coming alive a little last week, this week, you should be looking to sit all their pass catchers with the exception of TE Darren Waller. They face a really good Jets defense that ranks third overall against WRs in fantasy and is one of the best defenses overall in the NFL. Since these guys hover on the edge of startability anyway, this is a week to leave them on your bench.
Fantasy Football Tight End Week 8 Starts
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans @ Carolina Panthers
Schultz has seen 17 targets in the past two games and he has a TD in three straight games. He has become more involved in the offense lately, particularly in the red zone, where QB C.J. Stroud looks for him. He faces a Panthers defense this weekend that is top 10 against the pass but ranks middle of the pack against opposing TEs. Schultz should be started in any 12, 14 or 16-team leagues, even with a medium-difficulty matchup.
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams
Ferguson has only seen four targets in the past two games but has an excellent matchup this weekend against the Rams. The Cowboys are coming off their bye week and will make a more concerted effort to get him the ball, especially against a Rams defense that ranks 27th in fantasy football vs. TEs this season.
Fantasy Football Tight End Week 8 Sits
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans vs. Atlanta Falcons
Okonkwo hasn’t reached double-digit points in PPR scoring yet this season and has yet to top 35 receiving yards in any game. Even in a matchup against the Falcons, who rank 23rd against the TE, Okonkwo needs to remain on your bench until he proves he can be productive.
