Start Chris Godwin vs. Gabe Davis vs. Rashee Rice vs. Tee Higgins vs. Josh Downs | Fantasy Football Week 8 WR Start Decision

We’ve already covered start/sit articles on quarterbacks and running backs, but our start/sit tool also has several trending decisions at the wide receiver position that involve Thursday night players, so we got one more discussion for you before week 8 opens Thursday night.

Let’s talk about Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Chris Godwin, Buffalo Bills’ Gabe Davis, Kansas City Chiefs’ Rashee Rice, Cincinnati Bengals’ Tee Higgins and Indianapolis Colts’ Josh Downs.

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Why You Should Start Chris Godwin

We’ll start things off by discussing Godwin, who is involved in several of the trending decisions. Godwin is dealing with a neck injury, but is expected to play.

Godwin is tied with Mike Evans with 49 targets. Godwin has three more catches (30), but his yardage and touchdown production is severely behind Evans. Godwin has 398 yards and still has not scored.

Godwin has played the most snaps of any receiver on the team. He’s also got the most red zone targets, so it’s shocking to still see him with no touchdowns. I’ve said it before and will say it again, but he’s bound to score soon with the numbers he’s putting up.

This is a tougher matchup for the Bucs’ wideouts, as the Bills’ defense allows just 31 fantasy points per game. Receivers are averaging 140 yards, and have only five touchdown grabs.

Godwin is the 23rd-ranked receiver in our weekly projections.

Why You Should Start Gabe Davis

Davis is the Bills’ second-most productive receiver, but he’s a distant second to Stefon Diggs in most stats. Davis does lead the team with 393 snaps played.

Davis has been targeted 35 times, including just nine times over the past two games. He’s caught 22 passes for 347 yards and four touchdowns. He’s hauled in three of his five red zone targets.

Buffalo is down two tight ends for the contest, so Davis might be a touch more involved than he usually is.

Davis and the team’s wideouts have a slightly-above average matchup, as the Bucs’ defense allows 36 fantasy points a week. Wideouts are averaging 178 yards and have scored five times.

Davis is the 43rd-ranked receiver in our week 8 projections.

Why You Should Start Rashee Rice

Rice has started to emerge as Kansas City’s No. 1 wideout over the past few weeks. Of course, any pass catcher on the team is going to be overshadowed by tight end Travis Kelce, but anytime you play with a quarterback like Patrick Mahomes, you hold decent fantasy value.

Rice is second on the team in most receiving statistics. He’s caught 26 passes on 34 targets, going for 305 yards and three touchdowns. He’s caught half of his four red zone targets.

Rice has been targeted at least four times over the past four games. He’s gone for at least 30 receiving yards in those contests and has scored twice.

In week 8, the Chiefs play the Denver Broncos for the second time this season. Rice had his best showing of the season against Denver, hauling in four passes on as many targets for 72 yards.

The Broncos’ defense has been an improving one against the pass, which started against Kansas City two weeks ago. Wideouts are averaging 35 fantasy points. They are also averaging 148 yards and have scored nine touchdowns.

Rice is the 38th-ranked receiver for week 8.

Why You Should Start Tee Higgins

Higgins has had a lackluster start to the season between some down games and an injury. He’s healthy now and hopes to get rolling this week.

Higgins has only topped 25 receiving yards once in five weeks. His best game was in week 2, when he caught eight passes on 12 targets for 89 yards and two scores.

Overall, Higgins has 14 grabs on 36 targets for 149 yards and the two scores. He’s played 228 snaps and caught four of his six red zone targets.

The Bengals are facing the San Francisco 49ers in week 8. The Niners’ defense has been below average against the pass, allowing wideouts to score 37 fantasy points a game. Wide receivers are averaging 166 yards and have scored five times.

Higgins is still ranked 24th in our projections despite his down season so far.

Why You Should Start Josh Downs

Downs is an emerging fantasy asset coming off his best game yet. He caught five passes for 125 yards and a touchdown last week.

The rookie is up to 33 catches on 47 targets for the season. Downs has turned those receptions into 401 yards and two scores. Downs has played 372 snaps and caught four of his seven red zone targets.

Downs will take on the New Orleans Saints this weekend. The Saints are an above-average defense against receivers, allowing 32 points a week. Wideouts average 142 yards and have scored six times.

Downs is the 45th-ranked receiver in our projections.

Final Numbers and the Recommended Start

Since Godwin is the main focus of fantasy owners, let’s take a look at how fantasy owners are approaching things. Owners prefer starting Godwin over Davis, Higgins (barely), Downs and Rice. Most of the matchups are pretty close battles at the time of this publication.

I’m a bit surprised to see those numbers - although the projections back that up - considering Godwin hasn’t scored and has the toughest matchup on paper. That being said, none of these wideouts really stand out over the others to me. 

So even though I’m surprised by the numbers, I also would take Godwin first in this discussion. You’d love for him to score, but he’s been fairly consistent and a better week-to-week performer than the other four. I'd take my chances and hope he scores to add the cherry on top.

I’d take a gamble on Davis next. He’s a boom-or-bust wideout that’s had a couple down weeks in a row. It just feels like the perfect time for a big catch or two, which should help the Bills’ offense get back on track.

I’d take Rice next. He’s been consistently involved over the past month and is facing a team he excelled against just a couple weeks ago. He could set a new career high in yards this week.

I’d take Higgins slightly ahead of Downs for my last spot. Higgins has just one solid fantasy outing this year, but sooner or later, he’s going to get back on track and be the team’s No. 2 receiving option again. His matchup is also a touch easier than Downs, so give me Higgins.

I am a big fan of Downs, so it pains me to put him last in this discussion. He’s going up against a Saints’ defense that’s really good at taking away opposing team’s top playmakers, which is what Downs is for the Colts now. I just don’t see Downs breaking off any big receptions, and as the No. 2 option at receiver, I don’t think he’ll get enough catches to outscore any of the other receivers.

With that being said about Downs, I still think he’s a solid fantasy option this week, so you should try to work him into your starting lineup if you can.