Fantasy Football Week 8 Quarterback Start Decision: Matthew Stafford, Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Kyler Murray and More

Taking a look at several fantasy quarterback starting options for week 8.

It’s time for another quarterback start decision story!

In week 8, we’ll compare Sam Darnold, Matthew Stafford, Baker Mayfield, C.J. Stroud, Kyler Murray, Caleb Williams, Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Jared Goff, Dak Prescott, Joe Burrow, Bo Nix, Geno Smith, Patrick Mahomes and Tua Tagovailoa.

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Season Numbers

Darnold has thrown for 1,370 yards, 12 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. He’s also got 100 rushing yards and a 66.5% completion mark. He bounced back a bit last week after a rough showing in his fifth game of the season.

Stafford has completed 66.7% of his passes for 1,392 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s barely added anything as a runner. He’s been average or worse in every start this season, but will have Cooper Kupp back this week, and might even get Puka Nacua back.

Mayfield has 1,859 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions on the season. He’s completed 70.5% of his passes and added 158 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. He’ll be without Chris Godwin and Mike Evans this week.

Stroud has 10 touchdowns, four interceptions, 1,663 passing yards and a 66.4 completion percentage. He’s rushed for 94 yards. Stroud is coming off the worst passing game of his career, but has scored in double digits in every other game, with average or better marks in all but one of those games.

Murray has 1,331 passing yards and 325 rushing yards so far this season. He’s thrown for nine touchdowns and tossed three picks, while adding two rushing scores. Murray has a 66.3% completion mark and has scored in double figures each week.

Williams has 1,317 passing yards, nine touchdowns and five touchdowns this season. He’s completed 65.3% of his passes and added 169 rushing yards. Williams has scored in double figures in his past four games, with 20+ point performances in two straight.

Cousins has 1,830 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions for the season. He’s completed 66.9% of his passes and added nothing as a runner. Cousins is coming off a rough game against a middling defense.

Wilson made his first start for the Steelers last week, completing 55.2% of his passes, but for 264 yards, two touchdowns and no picks. He added a rushing touchdown. 

Goff is up to 1,610 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and four interceptions, while completing 73.6% of his passes. He’s got just 17 rushing yards. Goff has been average or better in four straight games.

Prescott has 1,602 passing yards, eight touchdowns and six picks for the season. He’s rushed for 25 yards and a score and completed 63.4% of his passes. The last time we saw Prescott, he got embarrassed by the Lions.

Burrow has 1,759 passing yards, 14 touchdowns and two picks for the season. He’s completed 70.4% of his passes and added 91 rushing yards and a score. Burrow has been average or better in all but one game this season, week 1.

Nix has 1,246 passing yards, a 61.2% completion mark and five touchdowns and interceptions. He’s also got 255 rushing yards and three scores. He’s been an average or better fantasy performer in three straight weeks and in four of the past five contests.

Smith already has 1,985 passing yards, but just eight touchdowns and six picks. He’s completed 68.5% of his passes and added 161 yards and a score on the ground.

Mahomes continues to underwhelm, and now has 1,389 yards, six touchdowns and eight interceptions on 67.8% passing. He’s added 122 rushing yards and a score. Mahomes has scored in double figures every game, but only had one average showing.

Tagovailoa is expected to return to the field after missing several weeks with his concussion. In the first two games, Tagovailoa completed 64.5% of his passes for 483 yards and two touchdowns. He threw three picks in his last start and has 28 rushing yards.

Week 8 Matchups

Darnold and Stafford square off in the Thursday night game. It’s an average matchup for the quarterbacks, with each defense allowing 15 fantasy points to the position per week.

Mayfield and Cousins are also going against each other. They have favorable matchups, with the Buccaneers allowing 22 points per game, while the Falcons give up 19.

Murray and Tagovailoa are also in the same game. Arizona is a super favorable matchup for Tagovailoa, as the Cards allow 19 points a game. Miami gives up only nine points. 

Stroud takes on the Colts, which is a slightly above-average matchup, as Indy allows 17 points a week. Williams has a more average matchup against Washington, which allows 16 points.

Wilson has a slightly above-average clash against the Giants, who allow 18 points a game. Goff has an average test against the Titans, who surrender 16 points a week.

Prescott has a tougher matchup against San Francisco, which gives up 15 points to opposing quarterbacks. It’s a similar matchup for Burrow against the Eagles, who allow 14 points.

Nix has a very favorable matchup against Carolina, which allows 19 points per week. Smith has a tough battle against the Bills, with Buffalo allowing just 14 points. Mahomes has a slightly above-average matchup against the Raiders, who give up 16 points per week.

Projections and Recommended Starts

In the week 8 projections, Burrow leads the way in this group with 21 points. Tagovailoa is second at 18 points.

Mayfield, Stroud, Murray, Williams and Mahomes are all projected for 17 points. Cousins, Goff, Prescott, Nix and Smith sit at 16 points. Darnold (15), Wilson (14) and Stafford (13) round things out.

This is pretty risky, but I feel most confident in Tagovailoa scoring the most fantasy points this week. The matchup is fantastic, and as long as there aren't any setbacks this week in practice, I’d turn Tagovailoa loose this weekend.

I’m going with Mahomes next. He’s struggled this season, but a matchup against the Raiders should get him moving in a positive direction. I think the addition of DeAndre Hopkins will open the offense up again and lead to a big fantasy day from Mahomes.

Give me Burrow next. He’s really been a good fantasy asset since week 1, and even in the bit tougher matchup, I think Burrow has an above-average fantasy showing.

I got Cousins next. This is a super favorable matchup, and he went nuclear last time these teams faced off. I’m expecting another big showing this time around.

Give me Goff here. He’s been trending up, and I don’t think the Jameson Williams suspension is going to alter his fantasy showing all that much.

I’ll take Stroud here. I think he shakes off a down week 7 showing with an average or better outing in week 8.

I’d next try Williams. He seems to be figuring some things out, and after the team’s bye week, I think he delivers another good fantasy total.

I have Wilson here. I’m a bit surprised to see his projection so low. The only thing I’d really worry about is the Steelers blowing out the Giants, and leaving Wilson with less passing stats.

I’d finally take Murray here. The matchup is brutal for him, but I think he’ll do enough as a runner to still post a decent fantasy score.

Nix is next for me. I think he’s still very undervalued as a fantasy player, and the matchup is right for him to perform above average again.

I like Stafford here. I’m higher on him than most this week. Getting Kupp and maybe Nacua back will immensely help him, and to keep up with Minnesota, expect Stafford to pass plenty and maybe enjoy a breakout performance.

Give me Prescott next. I don’t love the matchup, but Dallas passes so much that Prescott is still a good fantasy asset. 

Smith goes here for me. I love all his passing yards, but the lack of touchdown passes and the bit tougher matchup make me wary of starting him.

I hate doing it, but I have Mayfield here. He’s been great this season and the matchup is very favorable, but without Godwin and Evans around, I don’t expect Tampa Bay to pass nearly as much, which will leave Mayfield as an average fantasy performer at best.

Darnold checks in last for me. The matchup is fine, but he’s starting to look more like his old self. He still could put up average numbers, but I don’t like his upside nearly as much as these other quarterbacks.

Best of luck in week 8!

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