The closest calls

The tightest decision this week sits at wide receiver, where Rashod Bateman and Wan'Dale Robinson carry the same projection from News Hub Fantasy and land one spot apart on either side of the WR36 line. Running back has a similarly thin gap between RJ Harvey and Jordan Mason, and quarterback separates Kirk Cousins from Malik Willis by a single projected point. Every game on the Week 8 slate has a projection, so no players are missing from this column.

Quarterbacks: the line is QB12

Start: Geno Smith, New York Jets, vs Las Vegas Raiders. He threw for 287 yards and 3 touchdowns in Week 7, well above his season rate of 29.6 attempts, 231.9 passing yards and 1.4 touchdowns a game, and his last two outings have trended up. News Hub Fantasy projects him for 17.5 DraftKings points, and the matchup is easy, with the Raiders allowing 18.5 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks. Ranked 10th among playable quarterbacks, this is a comfortable start.

Start: Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He has thrown 3 touchdowns in back-to-back games, pushing his output past his season average of 1.8 passing touchdowns a game on 28.8 attempts, a growing trend. He projects for 17.0 points, but the matchup is tough, with the Buccaneers allowing just 15.2 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks. Usage is pointing up while the matchup pushes back; ranked 11th, he's still a start, just inside the line.

Start: Kirk Cousins, Las Vegas Raiders, at New York Jets. He's thrown for at least 243 yards in each of his last four games and sits at 36.7 attempts and 268.1 passing yards a game on the season, the highest volume of this group. He projects for 17.0 points against a tough matchup, with the Jets allowing 14.7 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks. Ranked 12th, he's the last starter at the position and the closest call at the position this week.

Sit: Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins, vs New England Patriots. He rushed for a touchdown in Week 7 to go with 208 passing yards, well above his season mark of 176.0 passing yards and 0.7 passing touchdowns a game, though his 5.8 carries a game remain his biggest scoring lever. He projects for 16.0 points, but the matchup is tough, with the Patriots allowing 13.9 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks. Ranked 13th, this is a sit by a single projected point.

Sit: Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers, vs Cleveland Browns. His 212 yards and 1 touchdown in Week 7 came in below his season average of 242.7 passing yards and 1.9 touchdowns a game, a dip after throwing multiple touchdowns in each of his three prior games. He projects for 16.0 points against an average matchup, with the Browns allowing 16.4 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks. Ranked 14th, the recent dip keeps him on the bench.

Sit: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs, at Denver Broncos. He has gone without a passing touchdown in two straight games after averaging 1.5 a game on the season, a clear step down in production. He projects for 16.0 points in an average matchup, with the Broncos allowing 15.6 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks. Ranked 15th, the touchdown drought makes this an easy sit.

Running backs: the line is RB24

Start: J.K. Dobbins, Denver Broncos, vs Kansas City Chiefs. His 6 carries in Week 7 were well below his season average of 12.4 carries and 41.9 rushing yards a game, but he still scored, and his touch count has bounced week to week rather than trending in one direction. He projects for 9.5 points against a tough matchup, with the Chiefs allowing 18.2 fantasy points a game to running backs. Ranked 22nd, he stays in lineups despite the lighter workload.

Start: Jeremiyah Love, Arizona Cardinals, at Dallas Cowboys. His most recent game produced 12 carries for 22 yards, below his season average of 13.4 carries and 49.0 rushing yards a game, and he was limited in practice this week. He projects for 9.0 points in an easy matchup, with the Cowboys allowing 28.0 fantasy points a game to running backs, the highest mark in this group. Ranked 23rd, the matchup is strong enough to start him.

Start: RJ Harvey, Denver Broncos, vs Kansas City Chiefs. His carries have stayed low at 4.0 a game on the season, but his receiving work has been inconsistent week to week, ranging from 1 target to 10, and he scored through the air in Week 7. He projects for 8.5 points against a tough matchup, with the Chiefs allowing 18.2 fantasy points a game to running backs. Ranked 24th, he's the last starter at the position and the closest call at running back this week.

Sit: Jordan Mason, Minnesota Vikings, at Detroit Lions. Across his two games of data, he's carried the ball 15 times in each outing for a 15.0 carry average, but he projects for just 8.0 points against a tough matchup, with the Lions allowing 18.7 fantasy points a game to running backs. Ranked 25th, this is a sit by half a point.

Sit: Rico Dowdle, Pittsburgh Steelers, vs Cleveland Browns. His target share jumped to 21% in Week 7, well above his season average of 12%, a growing receiving role, but his carries remain modest at 7.8 a game. He projects for 7.5 points in an average matchup, with the Browns allowing 20.5 fantasy points a game to running backs. Ranked 26th, the passing-game uptick isn't enough to crack the lineup.

Sit: Omarion Hampton, Los Angeles Chargers, at Los Angeles Rams. His last game produced just 7 carries for 18 yards, down from his season average of 13.3 carries and 48.2 rushing yards a game, a one-week dip in touches. He projects for 7.5 points against a tough matchup, with the Rams allowing 17.9 fantasy points a game to running backs. Ranked 27th, the lighter workload and tough matchup keep him out.

Wide receivers: the line is WR36

Start: Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings, at Detroit Lions. His 3 targets in Week 7 were below his season average of 5.0 targets and 20% target share, a one-week dip after a 9-target game in Week 3. He projects for 7.0 points in an easy matchup, with the Lions allowing 37.3 fantasy points a game to wide receivers, the highest allowance in this group. Ranked 34th, the matchup carries him into the starting lineup.

Start: Jaylen Waddle, Denver Broncos, vs Kansas City Chiefs. He's drawn 7 targets in back-to-back games, holding at a 23% season target share, a steady role. He did not practice this week with no game status yet attached. He projects for 7.0 points against a tough matchup, with the Chiefs allowing 21.2 fantasy points a game to wide receivers. Ranked 35th, the steady target share keeps him in lineups despite the tough matchup.

Start: Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens, at Buffalo Bills. His targets have bounced between 1 and 6 over his last four games, landing at a 13% season target share, an inconsistent but not declining role. He projects for 6.5 points in an easy matchup, with the Bills allowing 37.4 fantasy points a game to wide receivers. Ranked 36th, he's the last starter at the position and shares the closest call of the week with Wan'Dale Robinson.

Sit: Wan'Dale Robinson, Tennessee Titans, at Cincinnati Bengals. His target share has held steady between 18% and 32% over his last four games, a 22% season average, even though his Week 7 output was just 7 yards on 4 catches. Carnell Tate, ahead of him on the depth chart, did not practice this week with no game status yet attached, which could open more opportunity. He projects for 6.5 points in an average matchup, with the Bengals allowing 28.6 fantasy points a game to wide receivers. Ranked 37th with the identical projection to Bateman, this is a sit by the thinnest of margins.

Sit: Josh Downs, Indianapolis Colts, at Jacksonville Jaguars. His 4 targets in Week 7 came in below his season average of 6.6 targets and 20% target share, part of a week-to-week swing rather than a clear trend. He projects for 6.5 points in an easy matchup, with the Jaguars allowing 34.9 fantasy points a game to wide receivers. Ranked 38th, the matchup helps but isn't enough to clear the line.

Sit: Ladd McConkey, Los Angeles Chargers, at Los Angeles Rams. His most recent game produced just 1 target, well below his season average of 3.6 targets and 12% target share, a clear decline in usage. He projects for 6.5 points against a tough matchup, with the Rams allowing 26.1 fantasy points a game to wide receivers. Ranked 39th, the falling target share and tough matchup make this an easy sit.

Ruled out

Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams, is on Injured Reserve.

Tyquan Thornton, Kansas City Chiefs, is on Injured Reserve.

Roman Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers, is on Injured Reserve.

Romeo Doubs, New England Patriots, is on Injured Reserve.

Mack Hollins, New England Patriots, is on Injured Reserve.

Tight ends: the line is TE12

Start: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs, at Denver Broncos. His target share climbed to 25% in Week 7, above his 20% season average, a growing role. He projects for 8.5 points in an easy matchup, with the Broncos allowing 14.5 fantasy points a game to tight ends. Ranked 10th, both the trend and the matchup point toward starting him.

Start: Mason Taylor, New York Jets, vs Las Vegas Raiders. His 62 yards and 2 touchdowns in Week 7 came on a 21% target share, matching his prior week's share and well above his season average of 16%. He projects for 7.5 points in an easy matchup, with the Raiders allowing 18.6 fantasy points a game to tight ends. Ranked 11th, the growing target share and easy matchup both support the start.

Start: Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills, vs Baltimore Ravens. His most recent game produced an 8-target, 27% share, above his 18% season average, a spike worth noting, and he was limited in practice this week. He projects for 7.5 points in an average matchup, with the Ravens allowing 11.9 fantasy points a game to tight ends. Ranked 12th, he's the last starter at the position in a true coin-flip spot.

Sit: Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns, at Pittsburgh Steelers. His target share rose to 26% in Week 7, above his 19% season average, with 91 yards on 6 catches, a growing role. He projects for 7.0 points against a tough matchup, with the Steelers allowing just 10.0 fantasy points a game to tight ends, the lowest mark at the position in this group. Ranked 13th, the growing role is offset by the tough matchup.

Sit: Greg Dulcich, Miami Dolphins, vs New England Patriots. His 86 yards on 5 catches in Week 7 came on a 24% target share, well above his season average of 17%, a one-week spike, and he was limited in practice this week. He projects for 6.5 points in an average matchup, with the Patriots allowing 11.7 fantasy points a game to tight ends. Ranked 14th, the spike isn't enough to clear the line.

Sit: Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders, at New York Jets. His target share fell to 7% in Week 7, down from 23% in Week 6 and 3% in Week 5, below his 15% season average, with Brock Bowers, limited in practice this week, ahead of him on the depth chart. He projects for 6.5 points in an average matchup, with the Jets allowing 12.0 fantasy points a game to tight ends. Ranked 15th, the recent drop in usage keeps him on the bench.

This article was drafted with AI from Pro Football News Hub data (News Hub Fantasy projections, injury reports, depth charts and the schedule) and reviewed by our editor before publishing. Read how we use AI in our editorial standards.