Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’em: Don’t expect ‘Minshew Mania’ to continue in Week 8

The first “bye-pocalypse” of the season is officially behind us, with all 32 teams back in action this week. Here’s what to do in regard to some players you may be unsure about starting in Week 8:

Quarterbacks

Start: Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jaguars at Steelers / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

The Jaguars signal-caller is coming off his most productive game of the season against the Saints last Thursday, putting up 18.06 fantasy points in four-point-per-passing-touchdown formats. With extra rest and playing against a defense that has surrendered the seventh-most passing yards per game (259.7), Lawrence is poised to build on last week’s win with a more impressive outing.

Assuming RB Travis Etienne Jr. doesn’t find the end zone twice for the fourth straight game, expect Lawrence to put up multiple touchdowns against an opponent not named the Indianapolis Colts for the first time this season.

Other starts: Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals; C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

Sit: Gardner Minshew II, Indianapolis Colts

Saints at Colts / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

Thanks to his 334-yard, four-touchdown performance against the Browns, Minshew finished as the QB3 overall last week and seems like a strong streaming option for those desperate for a quarterback. However, don’t let New Orleans’ losing record or Indianapolis’ friskiness fool you. The Saints defense is still elite, particularly against quarterbacks, as the unit allows the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to the position (13.5). That’s not to mention that in Minshew’s last two starts, he has turned the ball over eight times. 

Other sits: Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams; Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks

Running backs

Start: Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens

Ravens at Cardinals / 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday

Most fantasy managers will probably attempt to sell Edwards high after he posted 21.4 PPR points last week, which mostly came from an 80-yard reception and one rushing touchdown. Although Edwards is an ideal trade candidate, his upcoming matchup presents a solid opportunity to improve his stock. Arizona allows the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs (21.1), and since the Ravens are 9.5-point favorites, they should run the ball often in the second half. 

Other starts: Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions; Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots

Sit: Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

Vikings at Packers / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

One of the most reliable fantasy running backs of the last several seasons has been anything but this season due to his Week 1 hamstring injury, which has limited him to two games since he sustained it. Considering the injury is still affecting Jones, and he’s in a timeshare with AJ Dillon, it’s difficult to imagine him having a breakthrough game. Additionally, Minnesota has been one of the best stopping the run over the last month, allowing just 94.3 rushing yards per game, the eighth-fewest among defenses, indicating Jones’ troubles may continue. 

Other sits: D’Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears; Darrell Henderson Jr., Los Angeles Rams

Wide Receivers

Start: Drake London, Atlanta Falcons

Falcons at Titans / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

Falcons head coach Arthur Smith’s animosity toward fantasy football is no secret, yet London has been one of his few players who has consistently been an integral part of the offense. Outside of a season-opening goose egg, London has been a steady WR2 from a fantasy perspective, averaging the 22nd-most PPR points among wideouts since Week 2 (13.9) despite catching only two touchdowns during that span. Tennessee’s defense allows the ninth-most fantasy points to receivers on average (23.5), putting London in line for a potentially massive game. 

Other starts: Garrett Wilson, New York Jets; Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

Sit: Marquise Brown, Arizona Cardinals

Ravens at Cardinals / 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday

Brown has surprisingly established himself as one of the more notable draft-day steals this season. He is the 11th-most targeted wide receiver (60) even though starting QB Kyler Murray hasn’t played a snap. Unfortunately, Joshua Dobbs has seemingly lost his early-season momentum, resulting in Brown having two consecutive games with fewer than eight PPR points. It’s unlikely that Dobbs will be able to make Brown a viable flex option against his former team given that Baltimore is the 10th-most difficult matchup for wide receivers. 

Other sits: DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks; Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers

Tight Ends

Start: Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans 

Texans at Panthers / 1 p.m. ET Sunday

Not only has Schultz finally emerged as a top red zone target for QB C.J. Stroud, but he’s become far more involved in the offense in recent weeks. Over the last two games, Schultz has caught 11 of 17 targets for 126 yards and two touchdowns. Rookie WR Tank Dell is expected to return after missing Houston’s last game with a concussion, and while he should take a few targets from Schultz, Carolina is much better at defending wideouts than tight ends. 

Other starts: Logan Thomas, Washington Commanders; Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys 

Sit: Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears

Bears at Chargers / 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday

Despite being the TE9 in PPR scoring formats this season and a favorable matchup with the Chargers looming, it appears Kmet won’t have much, if any, fantasy value while rookie QB Tyson Bagent is starting. Bagent has thrown 43 passes in six career quarters, none of which were intended for Kmet, who averaged 5.8 targets over the first five games this season. Until Justin Fields is back in the lineup, it’s hard to trust Kmet, even over tight ends sitting on waivers. 

Other sits: David Njoku, Cleveland Browns; Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals