Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Fantasy Football Week 8: Wide Receivers - Sleepers, Fades, Matchups, DFS Bargains

Courtland Sutton will be latest wide receiver to thrive against the Football Team pass defense.

Start ‘Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey, Davante Adams, or Travis Kelce. Instead, I'll look at the players you have the most questions about to help you set the most effective starting lineup possible. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2021 NFL season.

Byes: Raiders, Ravens

Week 8 PPR Rankings: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | FLEX | KICKERS | TEAM DEFENSES (DST)

Week 8 Start ‘Em: Wide Receivers

Start of the Week

Courtland Sutton vs. Football Team (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Sutton has been a star in the stat sheets in recent weeks, scoring 23-plus fantasy points in two of his last three games. He’ll remain a strong option this week, as the Broncos face a Washington team that has allowed seven touchdowns and the second-most fantasy points per game to receivers lined out wide. Jerry Jeudy should also be back in most fantasy lineups.

Week 8 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em

QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS | TEAM DEFENSES

Start ‘Em

Chase Claypool at Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Claypool should be seen as a solid FLEX option this week, as he faces the Browns in a tough AFC North matchup. Over the last three weeks, only the Dolphins and Football Team have allowed more touchdowns and more fantasy points to opposing wideouts than Cleveland, so the matchup is more favorable than you might think. Look for Claypool to put up a pretty nice stat line.

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Michael Pittman Jr., vs. Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Pittman has looked good this season, scoring 20-plus fantasy points in three of his last six games including two of his last three. He’ll be in a great spot to continue that streak of success against the Titans, who have allowed 10 touchdowns and the most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. Consider Pittman a viable No. 2 fantasy wideout this week.

DeVonta Smith at Lions (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Smith’s numbers haven’t been massive in the last two weeks, but he continues to see solid target totals in the Eagles offense. I’d consider him a nice FLEX option this week, as the Eagles head to the Motor City to face the Lions. Their defense has allowed more receiving yards to pass catchers lined out wide than any team in the league, so Smith is in a potential smash spot for fans.

Emmanuel Sanders vs. Dolphins (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Sanders has been one of the most reliable wideouts in fantasy football over the last month, scoring 13-plus points in four straight games including two with 20-plus points. He’s in the FLEX conversation this week, as the Bills host a Dolphins team that’s allowed seven touchdowns and the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing receivers lined out wide this season.

More Starts

• Robert Woods at Texans (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
• Sterling Shepard at Chiefs (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
• Marvin Jones Jr. at Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Bargains

• Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Titans ($5,300)
• Jerry Jeudy vs. Football Team ($4,900)
• Laviska Shenault Jr. at Seahawks ($4,700)

Week 8 Sit ‘Em: Wide Receivers

Sit of the Week

Allen Robinson vs. 49ers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Robinson has been one of the biggest busts in fantasy football, but it’s by no fault of his own. The Bears offense is atrocious, and rookie Justin Fields looks like a deer in the headlines behind a terrible offensive line. As a result, Robinson has averaged just 7.7 points over his first seven games and the matchup hasn’t mattered. At this point, Robinson is droppable in smaller leagues.

Sit ‘Em

Jaylen Waddle at Bills (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Waddle is going to be active in most fantasy lineups, so consider this a warning. The latest reports have DeVante Parker trending towards playing this week, which makes Waddle a bit less attractive as a fantasy option. The Bills have also been tough on wideouts, allowing just two touchdowns and the second-fewest fantasy points a game to the position. If Parker is a go, Waddle is a risk.

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Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): The Browns offense is predicated on the run, and the return of Baker Mayfield doesn't really make OBJ that much more attractive. He’s been held to 5.1 or fewer fantasy points in three of his last four games, and the matchups don’t really matter at this point. So while Pittsburgh has been bad against receivers this season, OBJ is no better than a risk-reward FLEX option.

Tyler Boyd at Jets (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Boyd has failed to make much of a fantasy impact since the return of Tee Higgins. In fact, he's averaged just five targets and has a combined 70 yards with no touchdowns in the last three games with Higgins in the mix. The matchup against the Jets isn't great on paper either, as their defense has allowed just two touchdowns and 11.6 fantasy points per game to enemy slot receivers.

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Jakobi Meyers at Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Meyers, who is still seeking his first NFL touchdown, caught five passes last week but was still held to just 9.4 points in a win over the Jets. Next up is a difficult road matchup against the Chargers, who have allowed three touchdowns and the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. Unless you’re desperate, Meyers is a likely fade in this AFC matchup.

More Sits

• Tyler Lockett vs. Jaguars (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Robby Anderson at Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
• Jarvis Landry vs. Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Fades

• Calvin Ridley vs. Panthers ($6,600)
• Tyler Lockett vs. Jaguars ($6,100)
• Brandin Cooks vs. Rams ($5,700)

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. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for your late breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business!

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