Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Quarterbacks Fantasy Football Week 8: Home Sweet Home for Jared Goff

It's simple: Lions quarterback Jared Goff is just better at Ford Field.

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 or Justin Jefferson. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2023 NFL season.

Fabs’ Top 10 Quarterbacks

1. Patrick Mahomes at Broncos
2. Jalen Hurts at Commanders
3. Josh Allen vs. Buccaneers (Thur.)
4. Lamar Jackson at Cardinals
5. Justin Herbert vs. Bears
6. Jared Goff vs. Raiders (Mon.)
7. Tua Tagovailoa vs. Patriots
8. Trevor Lawrence at Steelers
9. Dak Prescott vs. Rams
10. Brock Purdy vs. Bengals

Complete Week 8 rankings

Week 8 Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES

Byes: None

Week 8 Start ’Em: Quarterbacks

Start of the Week

Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA TODAY Sports

Jared Goff vs. Raiders (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Goff is coming off a massive stinker in a loss to the Ravens, but that was against a tough defense on the road. Goff is back at Ford Field this week, where he has scored 17-plus points in 10 of his last 12 starts including seven games with more than 20 points. The Raiders defense has also allowed 18-plus points to three quarterbacks since Week 2.

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Start ’Em

Justin Herbert vs. Bears (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): This is low-hanging fruit, but the quarterback slate is a tough one to navigate this week so I’m putting Herbert in the column. He’s coming off a bad game against the Chiefs, but he should rebound and get back in our good graces against Chicago. Their defense has allowed 14 touchdown passes and the sixth-most fantasy points to enemy quarterbacks.

Trevor Lawrence at Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Lawrence is coming off his best fantasy game of the season, scoring 18.1 points in a win over the Saints. He did rush for 59 yards in the game, however, and he’s still averaging just 15.2 points per game overall. Still, his receivers should be able to exploit a vulnerable Steelers defensive backfield this week, making him a viable, low-end No. 1 starter.

Dak Prescott vs. Rams (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Prescott is coming off his best game of the season, scoring nearly 25 fantasy points before the bye. He’ll be an attractive fantasy starter this week, as Prescott faces a Rams defense that’s surrendered 27-plus fantasy points to two quarterbacks in their last four games. This could end up being a high-scoring affair, so Prescott should be in a good spot this week.

C.J. Stroud at Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Stroud hasn’t put up great numbers in his last two starts, but his floor has been around 14 points per game. The Panthers defense can be tough on quarterbacks, but this unit has some injuries and has allowed 22-plus points to the position in each of their last two games. Stroud might not be a high-end starter this week, but he’s at least a lower end option.

More Starts

Jordan Love vs. Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Brock Purdy vs. Bengals (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
Derek Carr at Colts (1 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Dak Prescott vs. Rams ($6,100)
Brock Purdy vs. Bengals ($5,600)
Sam Howell vs. Eagles ($5,200)

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Week 8 Sit ’Em: Quarterbacks

Sit of the Week

Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports

Russell Wilson vs. Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Wilson has posted a couple of stinkers in a row, scoring a combined 20.8 fantasy points with two touchdowns and two interceptions. I’d fade him against the Chiefs, who have surrendered the fourth-fewest points per game to quarterbacks this season. That includes holding Wilson to fewer than seven points against them just a couple of weeks ago.

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Sit ’Em

Kirk Cousins at Packers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Cousins looked like an absolute star in last week’s win over the 49ers, throwing for 378 yards with two scores and finishing with 21 points. I would be wary of this weekend’s matchup in Green Bay, however, as their defense has allowed just two quarterbacks to beat them for more than 12.4 points at Lambeau Field since last season. Cousins is a risk-reward option.

Matthew Stafford at Cowboys (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Stafford has been very average from a fantasy standpoint this season, scoring no more than 16.9 points in any game regardless of the matchup. So, while this week’s game against the Cowboys could turn into a shootout, it’s tough to trust the veteran. Dallas has also allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing field generals this season.

Geno Smith vs. Browns (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): Remember when Smith was the fifth-best quarterback in fantasy last season? That seems light years ago, as the “real” Geno has re-emerged. He’s failed to score more than 16 points in all but one game, and facing the Browns defense is a brutal matchup. In fact, Cleveland has given up an average of fewer than 14 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks.

Gardner Minshew vs. Saints (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Minshew is coming off a monster game, scoring 27.1 fantasy points in a loss to the Browns. He was helped by the fact that he scored two touchdowns on the ground, however, which is not going to be the norm. The Saints have also been tough on quarterbacks, allowing eight scoring strikes and an average of fewer than 14 points per game this season.

More Sits

Kenny Pickett at Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Mac Jones vs. Patriots (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Joshua Dobbs vs. Ravens (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Kirk Cousins at Packers ($6,900)
Matthew Stafford at Cowboys ($6,600)
Geno Smith vs. Browns ($5,900)