Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Week 8 Kickers - Sleepers, Busts, Matchups
Week 8 Start ‘Em: Kickers
Byes: Cardinals, Football Team, Jaguars, Texans
Start of the Week
Rodrigo Blankenship at Lions
Blankenship has emerged into one of the top kickers in fantasy football, as he ranks tied for fourth in fantasy points at the position. He's scored double digits in four of his first six NFL games, and he's had a strong floor as well. So while this week's matchup against the Lions isn't favorable on paper (kickers have averaged just 3.7 points against them since Week 3), Blankenship has emerged into one of those kickers you start every week.
Week 8 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em
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Start ‘Em
Jake Elliott vs. Cowboys (SNF)
Notice a trend of start ‘em Eagles? Yes, it even pertains to the kickers when it comes to facing the loathsome Cowboys. Not only has their defense given up the most points in the NFL at nearly 35 a game, but kickers have put up an average of more than 10 fantasy points against them too. In fact, three kickers have scored at least 11 fantasy points while two others produced a respectable eight points. Elliott is a nice streamer.
Brandon McManus vs. Chargers
McManus went bananas in Weeks 4 and 6, scoring a combined 39 fantasy points. He crashed back to earth last week, scoring just four points in a loss to the Chiefs, but I'd get him back in your lineup for a matchup with the Chargers. Kickers have had some real success against the Bolts, as four of five enemy kickers have scored at least eight points, including three with 13 or more points. McManus should rebound this weekend.
More Starts
- Stephen Gostkowski at Bengals
- Ryan Succop at Giants (MNF)
Sleepers
- Daniel Carlson at Browns
- Tyler Bass vs. Patriots
Week 8 Sit ‘Em: Kickers
Sit of the Week
Chris Boswell at Ravens
Boswell has been very steady for fantasy fans, scoring at least eight fantasy points in all but one of his first six games. However, this week, Boswell is a fade for me based on a tough matchup against the Ravens. Their defense has allowed just five field goals and the fewest fantasy points per game (3.7 PPG) to opposing kickers. In fact, just one kicker has scored more than five fantasy points against Baltimore through six games.
Sit ‘Em
Matt Prater vs. Colts
Prater has been an all-or-nothing kicker in fantasy leagues this season, scoring 10 or more points four times while posting just three points in two other games. This week’s matchup in Detroit isn’t a favorable one, at least based on the matchup against the Colts. Their defense has allowed the fourth-fewest points per game in the league (19.2 PPG), and kickers have produced an average of fewer than seven fantasy points.
Dan Bailey at Packers
Bailey has failed to produce worthwhile numbers for fantasy fans this season, putting up seven or fewer points in all but one game. That trend is likely to continue too, as he faces a Packers defense that's allowed an average of fewer than seven fantasy points per game to kickers this season. That includes Bailey, who was held to one field goal, one extra point, and four fantasy points against Green Bay in their Week 1 contest.
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More Sits
- Graham Gano vs. Buccaneers (MNF)
- Jason Myers vs. 49ers
Busts
- Jason Sanders vs. Rams
- Greg Zuerlein at Eagles (SNF)
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for the latest news and analysis!
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