Start ’Em, Sit ’Em Wide Receivers Fantasy Football Week 8: Statement Game for Christian Kirk

Kirk and Calvin Ridley are both in position to have big games on Sunday.

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 Wide Receivers

1. Tyreek Hill vs. Patriots
2. Ja’Marr Chase at 49ers
3. A.J. Brown at Commanders
4. Cooper Kupp at Cowboys
5. Amon-Ra St. Brown vs. Raiders (Mon.)
6. Stefon Diggs vs. Buccaneers (Thur.)
7. Keenan Allen vs. Bears
8. CeeDee Lamb vs. Rams
9. Davante Adams at Lions (Mon.)
10. Adam Thielen vs. Texans

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: Wide Receivers

Start of the Week

Morgan Tencza/USA TODAY Sports

Christian Kirk at Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Kirk has been a consistent fantasy option this season, scoring double digits in all but one game while averaging 14.7 points per game. He should continue to shine against the Steelers, who have given up the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers including the ninth-most points allowed to slot receivers. Kirk and Calvin Ridley are both attractive options.

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Start ’Em

Jordan Addison at Packers (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Addison is coming off a huge stat line, scoring a pair of touchdowns and 31.3 points against the 49ers. He has now scored in double digits in all but one game, and he’s posting an average of 15 PPR points overall. The Packers defense has been tough on wideouts, but this unit is also dealing with injuries and Addison is too valuable to sit at this point.

DJ Moore at Chargers (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): Moore’s totals have declined in the last two weeks, as he’s scored a combined 23.5 points with Justin Fields out. He is still getting plenty of targets, however, including nine from Tyson Bagent last week, and an upcoming matchup against the Chargers is a positive one. No team in the NFL has allowed more fantasy points to perimeter receivers this season.

Terry McLaurin vs. Eagles (1 p.m. ET, Fox): McLaurin has a very positive trend in matchups against this week’s opponent, the Eagles. In nine career meetings, he has scored 16-plus points six times including four with more than 20 points. He also beat them for eight catches, 86 yards and 22.6 points earlier this season, and the Eagles have allowed the most fantasy points to enemy perimeter receivers.

Zay Flowers at Cardinals (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Flowers isn’t putting up massive totals, but he has scored double digits in all but one game and has averaged 12.9 points per contest. I’d continue to start the rookie this week, as he has an attractive matchup in Arizona. The Cardinals have been generous to wide receivers, allowing seven touchdowns and the sixth-most fantasy points a game to the position.

More Starts

Garrett Wilson at Giants (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
Jakobi Meyers at Lions (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
Drake London at Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)

DFS Bargains (DraftKings)

Marquise Brown vs. Ravens ($5,200)
Kendrick Bourne at Dolphins ($4,700)
Curtis Samuel vs. Eagles ($4,200)

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Week 8 Sit ’Em: Wide Receivers

Sit of the Week

enny Simmons/USA Today Sports Network

DeAndre Hopkins vs. Falcons (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Hopkins is coming off his worst game of the season, scoring three points in a loss to the Ravens. He has now been held to single digits in three of his last five games, and facing Atlanta without Ryan Tannehill makes him a tough sell this week. The Falcons have allowed the fewest points per game to opposing perimeter receivers, so Nuk is a huge gamble.

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Sit ’Em

Tee Higgins at 49ers (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Higgins has been one of the bigger duds in fantasy football this season, scoring fewer than five points in all but one game. While he’s still hard to sit, Higgins is a major risk in traditional leagues and a player to avoid in DFS. He also has a tough matchup against the 49ers, who have allowed just two touchdowns to opposing perimeter receivers this season.

Amari Cooper at Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): Cooper’s numbers have been anything but consistent, as he’s scored fewer than seven points in three of his first six games. That includes two single-digit performances since Week 4. I’d beware the veteran against the Seahawks, especially with Deshaun Watson injured and P.J. Walker as the potential Week 8 starter. Cooper is a flex option at best.

Tyler Lockett vs. Browns (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): I was wrong on Lockett last week, as he had just 7.8 points despite DK Metcalf being out and a plus matchup against the Cardinals. I’d beware the veteran this week, as Lockett goes up against a Browns defense that’s allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing receivers. He’s at best a flex option, especially if Metcalf were out again.

Jerry Jeudy vs. Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Jeudy has been a disappointment in fantasy circles, scoring single digit points in three of his six games while putting up an average of just 8.9 points per game. He’ll be a risk-reward flex option at best this week, as Jeudy faces a Chiefs defense that’s been tough on wideouts and held him to just 4.4 fantasy points in their first matchup of the season (Week 6).

More Sits

Michael Thomas at Colts (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
K.J. Osborn vs. Packers (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
Tutu Atwell at Cowboys (1 p.m. ET, Fox)

DFS Fades (DraftKings)

Jaylen Waddle vs. Patriots ($7,500)
Michael Pittman Jr. at Saints ($6,500)
Amari Cooper at Seahawks ($6,200)

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