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Welcome to the Week 8 edition of fantasy football starts and sits from The Sporting News.

“The Decider” is your one-stop shop for fantasy start/sit lineup advice in 2025 — a unique mashup of rankings and matchup breakdowns to help you make those tough decisions on whom to play and not to play:

  • There are several high-drafted fantasy players who should be in lineups every week when they’re active. Those are the “regular starts.”
  • For those borderline options with favorable matchups, they are “stronger starts,” while the recommended sits are “weaker starts.”
  • We’re also basing our advice on 12-team, half-point PPR to split the difference between shallow and deep leagues and full-PPR and standard formats.

Going beyond the redraft league starts and sits, “The Decider” also includes some DFS picks for different styles of daily fantasy sports games on DraftKings and FanDuel.

Keep scrolling for how to put the best fantasy football lineups on “the field” for your critical seventh game with tips on starts and sits this week.

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🗒️ LINEUP TIPS THIS WEEK: Week 8 Waiver Wire

Fantasy Football Week 8 Start ‘Em: Quarterbacks

Must-start Week 8 QBs

  1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (vs. WAS)
  2. Jalen Hurts, Eagles (vs. NYG)
  3. Josh Allen, Bills (at CAR)
  4. Lamar Jackson, Ravens (if he returns, vs. CHI)
  5. Drake Maye, Patriots (vs. CLE)
  6. Bo Nix, Broncos (vs. DAL)
  7. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (at NO)
  8. Dak Prescott, Cowboys (at DEN)
  9. Daniel Jones, Colts (vs. TEN)

Strong Week 8 QB starts

10. Jaxson Dart, Giants (at PHI): Keep rolling with him in the rookie gunslinging matchup that got it going for him.

11. Caleb Williams, Bears (at BAL): The Ravens won’t suddenly fix all their pass defense woes and the running game should open things up well.

12. Joe Flacco, Bengals (vs. NYJ): Don’t question it. Just enjoy the ride with his receivers.

13. Justin Herbert, Chargers (vs. MIN): He compiled despite early mistakes vs. the Colts with much higher volume now.

14. Michael Penix Jr., Falcons (vs. MIA). He should be healthy enough to go to rip a bad defense at home playing off the run.

DFS QB Week 8 pick

  • Bo Nix, Broncos (vs. DAL, $56,000 on DraftKings, $7,800 on FanDuel): Nix is back to having the hot hand, arm and legs at home after ripping the Giants and will stay hot in needing to maybe score even more to beat the Cowboys.

Fantasy Football Week 8 Sit ‘Em: Quarterbacks

Weaker Week 8 QB plays

15. Jordan Love, Packers (at PIT): You can’t trust him on the road against a defense that can still rev up the pass rush despite other weaknesses.

16. Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (vs. GB): The revenge narrative aside, the Steelers will need to win this game more with running game, tight end and defense.

17. C.J. Stroud, Texans (vs. SF): Whether he has his full weapons or not, you can’t go vs. the overachieving 49ers defense, even at home.

18. Mac Jones or Brock Purdy, 49ers (at HOU): The Texans’ pass defense is much like the 49ers so this is more of a big CMC game again.

19. Justin Fields or Tyrod Taylor, Jets (at CIN): You can’t feel good about either QB when Garrett Wilson is hurting and not playing.

↕️ MORE: Week 8 Fantasy Rankings

Fantasy Football Week 8 Start ‘Em: Running backs

Must-start Week 8 RBs

  1. Jonathan Taylor, Colts (vs. TEN)
  2. Bijan Robinson, Falcons (vs. MIA)
  3. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (at HOU)
  4. Josh Jacobs, Packers (at PIT)
  5. Quinshon Judkins, Browns (at NE)
  6. De’Von Achane, Dolphins (at ATL)
  7. Breece Hall, Jets (at CIN)
  8. JK Dobbins, Broncos (vs. DAL)
  9. James Cook, Bills (at CAR)
  10. Saquon Barkley, Eagles (vs. NYG)
  11. Derrick Henry, Ravens (vs. CHI)
  12. Chase Brown, Bengals (vs. NYJ)
  13. Javonte Williams, Cowboys (at DEN)
  14. Cam Skattebo, Giants (at PHI)
  15. D’Andre Swift, Bears (at BAL)

Strong RB Week 8 plays

16. Jordan Mason, Vikings (at LAC): The Chargers broke down vs. Taylor and the Colts similar front last week.

17. Rico Dowdle, Panthers (vs. BUF): The matchup is too good not to give him another shot in the now committee.

18. Rachaad White, Buccaneers (at NO): White keeps it up on the road filling in with key touches for Bucky Irving.

19. Jaylen Warren, Steelers (vs. GB): Running on the Packers is the best Steelers path in the Rodgers’ revenge game.

20. Isiah Pacheco, Chiefs (vs.WAS): Pacheco is taking more control of the improve running game and with the situational split of Kareem Hunt and Brashard Smith, he’s the best scoring bet.

21. Chuba Hubbard, Panthers (vs. BUF): Dowdle and Hubbard can work to put up usable numbers here. You can also look at Tyler Allgeier working behind Robinson in a similar vein.

DFS RB Week 8 Picks

  • Breece Hall, Jets (at CIN, $6,100 on DraftKings, $7,400 on FanDuel): Hall may not have much time left in a Jets uniform before the trade deadline so here’s one last chance to showcase himself to a contender in a very beatable big-day matchup.
  • James Cook, Bills (at CAR, $6,700 on DraftKings, $8,200 on FanDuel): Cook comes in well rested after a bye and the Panthers’ pass defense can be tough at home so Josh Allen and Joe Brady should lean on Cook plenty.

Fantasy Football Week 8 Sit ‘Em: Running backs

Weaker RB Week 8 plays

22. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders (at KC): His usage keeps going up and down and this matchup stinks.

23. Rhamdondre Stevenson, Patriots (vs. CLE): His usage has stabilized more but this matchup also stinks. Don’t even think about TreVeyon Henderson, either.

24. Tony Pollard, Titans (at IND): He needs to get traded somewhere to save his value.

25. Alvin Kamara, Saints (vs. TB): The catches and touchdowns have dried up in the new offense.

26. Kimani Vidal, Chargers (vs. MIN): This is a brtual spot after they just erased the Eagles on the ground last week.

27. Nick Chubb, Texans (vs. SF): Chubb and Marks aren’t finding what Joe Mixon did last season.

👮 PROTECT YOUR BACKFIELD: RB handcuff rankings and depth charts

Fantasy Football Week 8 Start ‘Em: Wide receivers

Must-start Week 8 WRs

  1. Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals (vs. NYJ)
  2. Justin Jefferson, Vikings (at LAC)
  3. CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (at DEN)
  4. Courtland Sutton, Broncos (vs. DAL)
  5. Drake London, Falcons (vs. MIA)
  6. Rashee Rice, Chiefs (vs. WAS)
  7. Nico Collins, Texans (if he plays, vs. SF)
  8. A.J. Brown, Eagles (vs. NYG)
  9. Tee Higgins, Bengals (vs. NYJ)
  10. Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers (at NO)
  11. Rome Odunze, Bears (at BAL)
  12. DeVonta Smith, Eagles (vs. NYG)
  13. Michael Pittman Jr., Colts (vs. TEN)
  14. DK Metcalf, Steelers (vs. GB)
  15. Chris Olave, Saints (vs. TB)
  16. Ladd McConkey, Chargers (vs. MIN)
  17. Quentin Johnston, Chargers (vs. MIN)
  18. Zay Flowers, Ravens (vs. CHI)
  19. Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers (vs. BUF)

Strong WR Week 8 starts

20. Xavier Worthy, Chiefs (vs. WAS): Worthy is worth starting to see what he can do with Rice now drawing more attention and big plays possible on the Commanders.

21. Jordan Addison, Vikings (at LAC): He’s feeling it with Wentz and will produce back in Los Angeles.

22. Stefon Diggs, Patriots (vs. CLE): He’s fading a bit vs. other weapons but he’s still doing enough in PPR.

23. Keenan Allen, Chargers (vs. MIN): Allen’s targets are too consistent to sit despite other weapons.

24. Kayshon Boutte, Patriots (vs. CLE): The Browns give up a lot of big pass plays on the road.

25. Darnell Mooney, Falcons (vs. MIA): The Dolphins give up a lot of big plays on the road.

26. DJ Moore, Bears (at BAL): He returns to Maryland and will put up some nice all-around numbers with Williams.

27. George Pickens, Cowboys (at DEN): The matchup is tough but just demote him down to WR3 this week.

DFS WR Week 8 picks

  • Rome Odunze, Bears (at BAL, $6,300 on DraftKings, $7,300 on FanDuel): Odunze will get revved back up with Williams against a reeling secondary and make plays well off homecoming D.J. Moore.
  • Courtland Sutton, Broncos (vs. DAL, $6,200 on DraftKings, $7,700 on FanDuel): Sutton should smash the Cowboys’ secondary with some big plays downfield and he makes for the natural nice stack with Nix at home.
  • A.J. Brown, Eagles (vs. NYG, $6,100 on DraftKings, $8,400 on FanDuel): The Eagles need to stay aggressive passing with their running game sputtering all-around and Brown can torch this secondary downfield and in the red zone.

Fantasy Football Week 8 Sit ‘Em: Wide receivers

Weaker Week 8 WR plays

28. Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (at ATL): Not with a bad QB vs. a tough pass D on the road.

29. Romeo Doubs, Packers (at PIT): The volume isn’t there with Jalen Ramsey looming.

30. Jauan Jennings, 49ers (at HOU): He might get the Stingley treatement.

31. Matthew Golden, Packers (at PIT): Love won’t have time to push it downfield.

32. Rashid Shaheed, Saints (vs.TB): Spencer Rattler won’t have time to push it downfield.

33. Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants (at DEN): They suddenly have a lot more weapons involved.

34. Khalil Shakir, Bills (at CAR): Jaycee Horn and company are tough on the back end.

35. Kendrick Bourne, 49ers (at HOU): He also can get slowed by the Texans’ corners.

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Fantasy Football Week 8 Start ‘Em: Tight ends

Must-start Week 8 TEs

  1. Tyler Warren, Colts (vs. TEN)
  2. Jake Ferguson, Cowboys (at DEN)
  3. Dalton Kincaid, Bills (at CAR)
  4. Tucker Kraft, Packers (at PIT)
  5. George Kittle, 49ers (at HOU)
  6. Travis Kelce, Chiefs (vs. WAS)
  7. Cade Otton, Buccaneers (at NO)

Stronger Week 8 TE starts

8. Kyle Pitts, Falcons (vs. MIA): Pitts got more target volume at the right time just in time to rip the Dolphins.

9. Mark Andrews, Ravens (vs. CHI): He’ll get a much more favorable QB situation with no Cooper Rush to come through.

10. Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (vs. GB): Rodgers will recognize Freiermuth can be a big factor against the Packers, too.

11. Mason Taylor, Jets (at CIN): Taylor needs to come through here and maybe a QB change can spark the rookie on the road.

12. Noah Fant, Bengals (vs. NYJ): He’s a sneaky play in that same game given the new chemistry with Flacco when he’s not throwing to wideouts.

13. Zach Ertz, Commanders (at KC): He needs to be targeted and leaned on plenty with the wide receiver injuries and a likely backup QB.

DFS TE Week 8 pick

  • Mason Taylor, Jets (at CIN, $3,500 on DraftKings, $4,900 on FanDuel): He was quiet with Justin Fields struggling against the Panthers but he can redeem himself in the best possible matchup for tight ends seeing how the Steelers woke up that position last week.

Fantasy Football Week 8 Sit ‘Em: Tight ends

Weaker TE Week 8 starts

14. Dallas Goedert, Eagles (vs. NYG): The wide receivers are unlocked so he will get a lot less action come his way.

15. T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (at LAC): He missed a TD last week and besides that his numbers have been rough with either QB.

16. Oronde Gadsden II, Chargers (vs. MIN): This is a much tougher spot to handle as the Vikings have been nasty on tight ends of late.

17. Evan Engram, Broncos (vs. DAL): You can’t go here with the competition at the position and the wide receiver depth.

18. Harold Fannin Jr., Browns (at NE): He underwhelmed without David Njoku and the volume isn’t there to come through here.

Fantasy Football Week 8: Defense/special teams best starts

  1. Indianapolis Colts (vs. TEN)
  2. Kansas City Chiefs (vs. WAS)
  3. Atlanta Falcons (vs. MIA)
  4. New England Patriots (vs. CLE)
  5. San Francisco 49ers (at HOU)
  6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at NO)
  7. Buffalo Bills (at CAR)
  8. Philadelphia Eagles (vs. NYJ)
  9. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. GB)
  10. Green Bay Packers (at PIT)
  11. Houston Texans (vs. SF)
  12. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. MIN)
  13. Denver Broncos (vs. DAL)
  14. Minnesota Vikings (vs. LAC)

DFS Week 8 D/ST pick

  • San Francisco 49ers (at HOU, $3,000 on DraftKings, $3,900 on FanDuel): The 49ers’ defensive replacements have been on point for Robert Saleh and he will work to show up DeMeco Ryans’ struggling offensive unit.

🎙️LISTEN: Get more of Vinnie Iyer’s weekly fantasy football analysis five days a week by subscribing to the Locked On Fantasy Football podcast.

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