Sit-and-start advice in fantasy football should always be relative and league-dependent. Many starting and sitting situations are also obvious, so instead in this column we’ll focus on the extreme options that really warrant consideration. Good luck with your Week 8 lineups!

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns

Starter: David Njoku

Njoku had a league-high 14 targets with Amari Cooper gone last week and gets a major upgrade at QB with Jameis Winston starting Sunday. Njoku won First read target rate of 31% has been taking an extreme funnel defense for the last two weeks; The Ravens allowed an NFL-low 51.7 RB rushing yards per game, but the most passing yards this season. Baltimore opponents have the league’s third-highest pass rate (66.3%). Winston scored on his only drive last week, so Njoku is in the bottom three.

Rashod Bateman will become a flexible option if Zay Flowers sits.

Tennessee Titans @ Detroit Lions

Starter: David Montgomery

Montgomery practiced fully this week after leaving the last game briefly with a knee injury. The Titans are not an easy-to-run defense, but the Lions rushed for 144 yards last week against the tough Vikings D. Jameson Williams is out and the Lions have the league’s highest implied team total (28.5 points) this week. Detroit is also the biggest favorite on the board (-11.5), so the game scenario should be pretty positive against a team that is starting Mason Rudolph and likely missing both wideouts.

The Lions’ D/ST team is in the top three this week.

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans

Starter: CJ Stroud

Stroud will continue to miss Nico Collins but is in a good spot to bounce back from one of the worst games of his career last week. For his career, Stroud has posted an 8.7 YPA in 11 games at home, averaging 311.1 passing yards, and has thrown for a total of 22 touchdowns in 11 games at home. He also has a 6:0 TD:INT ratio in three games against the Colts, and the Colts have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points on the schedule to quarterbacks this season. The Texans have the third-highest team total (26.5 points) this week, so start Stroud at home.

Green Bay Packers @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Starter: Romeo Doubs

Doubs easily leads Green Bay 26% first read target rate In games with Jayden Reed (20%), Dontayvion Wicks (17%) and Christian Watson (9%). It also leads in targets and airspaces Doubs, Reed and Watson were on the field together this season. The Packers got a Jaguars defense that allowed the most fantasy points to outside receivers, and Reed and Watson were limited in practice Thursday with ankle injuries. Green Bay is expected to score the second most points (27.5) this week; Doubs is a top 30 WR.

Arizona Cardinals @ Miami Dolphins

Starter: Jaylen Waddle

Miami averages fewer points per game They’re in better shape than the last two winless teams and the Bryce Young-led Panthers, but will get a big boost with the return of Tua Tagovailoa. Waddle averaged 47.7 receiving yards with zero touchdowns in 12 career games without Tagovailoa, while he averaged 75.2 receiving yards with 19 touchdowns in 41 games with him.

Be sure to check Waddle’s status after being limited throughout practice this week with a quad injury. He could take on a larger role if health cooperates, as Tyreek Hill was added to the injury report at the weekend with a foot issue. The Dolphins are expected to score 25.5 points with Tagovailoa returning against a Cardinals defense that has struggled with pressure rate, so Waddle can return to the fantasy lineup.

New York Jets @ New England Patriots

Starter: Rhamondre Stevenson

The game scenario limited Stevenson’s touches last week and he is expected to be healthier after returning to full training on Thursday. Stevenson has been no slouch in back-to-back games, and Jets opponents have averaged the eighth-most rushing attempts in the league. Stevenson has 5.2 YPC and averaged 85.0 rushing yards and 1.0 TD in his two home games this year, and Drake Maye breathes life into the offense. While excluding receivers, the Jets allowed the 12th most adjusted fantasy points on the schedule to running backs so Stevenson could be started if needed. The Patriots are weak in touchdowns and have a low scoring total, but their returns have been poor this week.

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Starter: Rachaad White

Bucky Irving dealing with a foot injury it can compromise its usability (or photo) No Chris Godwin and Mike Evans this week. White (and Sean Tucker) will see an expanded role in a matchup that needs to move quickly. There are Tampa Bay games received an average score of 55.6 this season and White will see more targets than ever before. A good flexible option this week.

Jalen McMillan is a sleeper, especially if it moves towards the nest.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Cincinnati Bengals

Starter: Tee Higgins

Higgins has a target rate of 27.4% and the 12th highest airspace share this season (38.3%); both points are well ahead of Ja’Marr Chase (19.8%, 28.3%). The Eagles gave up the sixth-fewest fantasy points to running backs and the ninth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. Higgins next Top 10 in fantasy points per route run Against men, it’s a coverage Philadelphia uses at the league’s seventh-highest rate.

New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Chargers

Starter: J.K. Dobbins

Dobbins averages just 3.1 YPC since getting a 9.9 in the first two games of the season. There is some concern given he will be returning from Achilles surgery, but Dobbins should get a lot of volume on Sunday. New Orleans has allowed Kareem Hunt, Sean Tucker, Bucky Irving and Javonte Williams to total 525 yards and six touchdowns over the last three weeks. The Chargers are home favorites against a reeling Saints team that will likely start Spencer Rattler, so the game scenario should be positive.

Buffalo Bills @ Seattle Seahawks

Starter: Amari Cooper

Cooper was on the field for just 34% of Josh Allen’s fumbles in his Buffalo debut, but 42% TPRR and led the team in fantasy points. Seattle’s top cornerbacks, Riq Woolen and Tre Brown, collided and/or went out, and Cooper’s role is sure to grow in Sunday’s fast-paced matchup. Cooper could be a top 20 WR next Big improvement in point guard.

Sit down Geno SmithHe’ll miss DK Metcalf and open Buffalo defense.

Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders

Sit: Keenan Allen

Allen threw two touchdown passes in his last game, but he was only the WR49. expected fantasy points. Allen could return to the bye healthier after suffering a heel injury, but it’s also possible Rome Odunze could see a rookie hit after the bye. Caleb Williams has undoubtedly grown and will continue to improve, but in his last three games he has played against three of the easiest matchups in the league; He posted a 6.0 YPA and 11 sacks with a 2:4 TD:INT ratio to start his career.

This matchup was moved to prime time, but the total remained at just 43.0 points thanks to Marcus Mariota, who will likely start alongside Jayden Daniels. Washington’s defense has also improved significantly. Seventh-fewest EPA/playing in last three weeks. The Commanders also allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points last month, so Allen deserves bench consideration.

Carolina Panthers @ Denver Broncos

Start: Javonte Williams

Williams caught the average 5.1 YPC and 16.8 opportunities Last four games (after Tyler Badie was injured). He’s coming off very well against the Panthers defense this season, allowing the most fantasy points to running backs this season. The Broncos are among the double-digit favorites against a Bryce Young-led Carolina team that has allowed an NFL-high 13 scoring runs. Denver has the fifth-highest team total points at 26.5. Williams is a top-15 RB this week.

Sit down Chuba HubbardA great performer but held back by a terrible situation. Carolina will start Young with an offense without Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen that allows an NFL-low 4.4 yards per play against a Denver defense. The Panthers have an anemic team total of 16.5 points. Hubbard averaged 131 yards from scrimmage and 19.4 fantasy points (0.5 PPR) in three full games without Young this season; In four games with him, he averaged 59.3 YFS and just 9.9 fantasy points (H/T RotoViz).

Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders

Starter: Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes unlikely to meet ADP’s early expectations is progressing but is off to a solid start this week. TD decline expected While he ranked sixth in red zone passing yards, he ranked just 22nd in touchdowns, especially with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins.

Let’s also take a quick trip down narrative alley; The Raiders beat Mahomes in Kansas City on Christmas Day in the last meeting between these teams, and then Taunted him with a Kermit the Frog puppet at training camp. Mahomes replied “this will be resolved” and her personal trainer tweeted, “We will remember.”

Mahomes is out for revenge on Sunday.

Sit Alexander MattisonHe will be dealing with a negative game scenario against the Chiefs defense that allows the fewest fantasy points to a running back by a wide margin. No one made it even 60 yards in the game against Kansas City this season.

Dallas Cowboys @ San Francisco 49ers

Sit: Dak Prescott

Dallas’ offense has improved greatly since last season’s bye, and the Cowboys hope to see the same happen this year; They are in 20th place in the scoring table after finishing top of the league in 2023. But Prescott has been a top-10 QB in just six games this season, and the San Francisco rivals have the fourth-lowest Passer Rating (78.7). The Cowboys have the eighth-lowest implied team total (20.5 points) through the week with multiple QB alternatives.

New York Giants @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Starter: Najee Harris

George Pickens gets big fantasy boost with Russell Wilson startingand so does Najee Harris. She shares photos with Jaylen Warren but Percentage of runs against light boxes nearly doubled Compared to her time with Justin Fields. The Giants have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points on the schedule to running backs, and the Steelers are six-point home favorites on Monday night.