Fantasy football is basically a game of psychological warfare against your own gut. By the time you get to week 8 fantasy football sit and start decisions, your roster probably looks like a medical ward or a collection of "what was I thinking?" draft picks. We’ve hit the midpoint. Bye weeks are aggressively eating into your depth, and the waiver wire is starting to look like a desert. If you’re sitting at 3-4 or 2-5, this week isn't just another game. It’s the season.
Honestly, the biggest mistake people make right now is overthinking the "star" players who have been underperforming. You don't bench your first-round pick just because he had one bad game, but you also shouldn't start a "name" player who is trapped in a broken offense against a top-five defense. It's a balancing act. You have to look at volume, defensive matchups, and—perhaps most importantly—who is actually throwing the ball.
Let's get into the weeds of who deserves a spot in your lineup and who needs to stay on the pine for a few days.
Quarterbacks: Trusting the Floor vs. Chasing the Ceiling
Quarterback scoring is weird this year. We’ve seen a shift toward mobile guys again, but even the pure pocket passers are finding life in specific schemes. For your week 8 fantasy football sit and start calls at QB, look at the pressure rates.
Start: Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers)
Love is a rollercoaster, but the ride is worth the price of admission. The Packers’ offense is designed to attack downfield, and in Week 8, he’s facing a secondary that struggles with explosive plays. He might throw a pick—he usually does—but the touchdown upside is just too high to ignore. If you have him, you play him. He’s putting up numbers that rival the elite tier despite the occasional turnover.
Sit: Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys)
It feels wrong to bench Dak, but look at the context. The Cowboys' run game is virtually non-existent, meaning defenses can just pin their ears back and dare Dak to beat them through tight windows. Against a disciplined defense that limits yards after catch, Dak’s ceiling is capped. Unless you’re in a 2-QB league, there are probably better options on the wire with more favorable matchups.
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The Streaming Option: Bo Nix
Is it gross? A little. But Bo Nix has been quietly racking up rushing yards. In fantasy, a QB who runs for 40 yards is essentially starting the game with a free passing touchdown. If you’re desperate due to byes, his floor is higher than you think.
Running Backs: Volume is King, but Matchups are the Queen
Running back is a wasteland. We know this. But in week 8 fantasy football sit and start logic, you have to prioritize the guys who are guaranteed 15 touches, even if those touches are ugly.
Start: Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs)
It’s 2024 (and heading into 2025/2026 territory in our current timeline) and somehow Kareem Hunt is the focal point of the Chiefs' ground game. Life is strange. With Isiah Pacheco still out, Andy Reid has shown he trusts Hunt in the red zone. The Chiefs' offense isn't the high-flying circus it used to be; it’s a ball-control machine. Hunt is the beneficiary. Start him as a high-end RB2 with RB1 upside if he falls into the end zone twice.
Start: Javonte Williams (Denver Broncos)
People were ready to drop Williams a month ago. Don't. He’s finally looking like his pre-injury self—explosive through the hole and reliable in the passing game. The Broncos have realized that leaning on him takes the pressure off their rookie QB. He’s a volume play that is finally meeting efficiency.
Sit: Rachaad White (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
This is a "hot hand" situation and White’s hand isn't the one getting fed. Bucky Irving is real. He’s more efficient, he looks more decisive, and he’s eating into the passing downs. White might still get the start on the depth chart, but in fantasy, we care about the split. It’s becoming a 50/50 or even 60/40 split in favor of the rookie. That’s a nightmare for your RB2 slot.
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Wide Receivers: Finding the Air Yard Monsters
Wide receiver is where games are won in the modern era. For your week 8 fantasy football sit and start needs, stop looking at "projected points" and start looking at target share. If a guy is getting 30% of his team's targets, he’s a must-start regardless of the opponent.
Start: Jayden Reed (Green Bay Packers)
Reed is the "Swiss Army Knife" of that Packers offense. Even if the passing game stalls, they find ways to get him the ball on jet sweeps or screens. He’s a big play waiting to happen. In a week where several top-tier WRs are on bye or nursing hamstring issues, Reed is a locked-in starter.
Start: Ladd McConkey (LA Chargers)
Justin Herbert is finally being allowed to throw the ball more than 20 times a game. McConkey is his favorite target. He’s a route-running technician who creates separation almost instantly. Against a team that plays a lot of man coverage, Ladd is going to feast in the intermediate areas of the field.
Sit: George Pickens (Pittsburgh Steelers)
The talent is undeniable. The situation? It’s complicated. With the QB carousel in Pittsburgh, Pickens is the definition of "boom or bust." One week he has 120 yards, the next he has 3 catches for 28 yards because the offense decided to run the ball 40 times. Unless you’re a heavy underdog and need a miracle, the floor is too low for comfort this week.
Tight Ends: The Great Abyss
We don't "start" tight ends as much as we just "survive" them.
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Start: Cade Otton (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
With the injuries to the Bucs' wide receiver corps, Otton has become the de facto number two option in the passing game. Baker Mayfield trusts him in the middle of the field. He’s not going to give you 100 yards, but 6 catches for 60 yards and a score is very much on the table.
Sit: Kyle Pitts (Atlanta Falcons)
I know. I know. We keep waiting. But the consistency isn't there. The Falcons have too many mouths to feed—Bijan Robinson and Drake London are the primary engines. Pitts is a luxury item they use occasionally. You're better off streaming a guy with a better touchdown probability.
Defensive Strategies for Week 8
Do not hold onto a defense just because they have a cool name. Stream. Look for whoever is playing the team with the most sacks allowed or the most turnovers. The Houston Texans' defense has been a solid play, but also keep an eye on the Detroit Lions. They play fast, they force mistakes, and they've been scoring defensive touchdowns at an unsustainable—but delightful—rate.
Essential Actionable Tactics
Winning in week 8 fantasy football sit and start scenarios requires a shift in mindset from "draft day value" to "current reality."
- Check the Weather: We're hitting that time of year where wind matters more than rain. If it's over 15mph, downgrade the deep threats.
- The "Revenge Game" Myth: Stop starting players just because they’re playing their old team. It’s a fun narrative, but it doesn’t help a slow WR beat a fast CB.
- Pivot Late: If your Thursday night player duds, you need to swap your "safe" Sunday floor play for a "high-ceiling" flyer.
- Handcuff Season: If you have an open bench spot, drop your third-string TE and pick up the backup to a workhorse RB. Injuries happen fast in the mid-season.
The goal isn't to have the most points on your bench; it's to have the most points in your active slots. Be aggressive, trust the targets, and don't be afraid to bench a "star" for a surging rookie. Your playoff life depends on it.