The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 8
How are we feeling out there? Are you soaring with great joy about your fantasy teams, or are you weeping in the streets? Between all the injuries and the great fun with bye weeks, your team could be shredded entirely right now. So, what are you going to do about it? The odds seem stacked against you as you wrestle with the hard choice of whether to play AJ Dillon or D’Onta Foreman. All the analytics tell you one thing, but your heart says another. The only thing you want is a win! Please, Fantasy Wizard, just one little win!
Never fear because while the Fantasy Wizard may not be there to help you out, The Fantasy Footballers will never abandon you. On Thursday’s episode, listeners gleaned the coveted Starts of the Week. To check out the entire episode on YouTube, check the link below.
Read below for a quick recap of the players Andy, Mike, and Jason are looking to start.
Andy’s Starts of the Week
QB- Tua Tagovailoa vs. DET
The Miami vs. Detroit matchup is a good one this week. Detroit is giving up 32 points per game to opposing offenses. That is just an insane kind of number for a defense to allow. Tua has had two performances in the top-12 this season and has had a monster week already, which means we know he can do it. The Dolphins are made for big plays, and the Lions give those up in bunches. It will be exciting to start Tua this week.
RB- Raheem Mostert vs. DET
Same situation as Tua. The Lions are the 2nd worst team in the NFL against running backs. They are giving up an extra 9.6 points over expectation to the running back position. How good has Mostert been this year? Over the last four weeks, he has been on pace for 323 opportunities, 1,300+ rushing yards, and eight touchdowns. He has been a bonafide stud at the running back position. With Tua back, the passing game should be headed in the right direction, which is even better news for Raheem.
WR- Chris Olave vs. LV
He is just that good. Over his last four starts, he is on pace for 170 targets, 100+ receptions, 1,500 receiving yards, and eight touchdowns. He has not finished outside of the top-16 in any of those games, despite one of them being the game he left early with a concussion. He isn’t just good, he is great! The Raiders live their defensive lives to give up points to opposing wide receivers.
TE- TJ Hockenson vs. MIA
I told you this matchup was a big one this week. Assuming Hockenson plays in the game, this is an excellent opportunity at home to get back on the right track. The injuries for Detroits’ pass catchers are plentiful, which have led to big weeks for Hockenson. If anyone misses again, this could be another huge opportunity for Hockenson to put up some massive points.
Jason’s Starts of the Week
QB- Jared Goff vs. MIA
This matchup is just so juicy. If Amon-Ra is back and playing, then Jared Goff should have a massive performance. Byron Jones is still out for the Dolphins. Nik Needham and Trill Williams are on the IR. Brandon Jones, the starting safety for the Dolphins, is out for the season with an ACL injury. Their entire secondary is injured. If Goff has all his weapons back and healthy, this should be a real score-fest.
RB- Tony Pollard vs. CHI
Jason said that with or without Zeke, he still wants Pollard in his lineups. The Bears are 26th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points given up against running backs. The Cowboys are big-time home favorites, which is excellent for running backs. Even when Zeke has been playing, Pollard has averaged ten carries, plus his targets. If there is no Zeke, that number could skyrocket.
WR- Tee Higgins vs. CLE
It’s been a while since you have been thrilled with Higgins. Some of that is due to health, but he should be back to almost full strength this week. With the Bengals new-found passing philosophy and Joe Burrow airing it out all over the place, it’s time for Higgins to have a big game. The Cleveland matchup makes this week an even more enticing play for Higgins. In the last two weeks, even when he hasn’t been fully healthy, Higgins has seen 17 targets. The big game is due, and this matchup is as good as any for the returns to finally come in. Update: Jason made this pick before the surprising news about Ja’Marr Chase expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a hip injury.
TE- Irv Smith Jr. vs. ARI
Always start tight ends against Arizona and Seattle. Big Irv is going against the 31st worst team, by both week-to-week and schedule-adjusted metrics, in Arizona this week. The Cardinals stink when it comes to defending the TE. Players to have big weeks against them are Kelce, Waller, Higbee, Goedert, and Juwan Johnson. Even Tommy Tremble had his most targets, receptions, and yards against the Cardinals this season. Put Irv in, and know he will be a part of the game plan, so he should be good.
Mike’s Starts of the Week
QB- Kirk Cousins vs. ARI
Arizona is 27th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks. Since 2020, Cousins has averaged 274 yards and two touchdowns when playing at home. He threw for 244 yards and three touchdowns in the same matchup last year. He finished fifth at the position two weeks ago but still hasn’t had a three-touchdown game this year. This week could be one of those big boom games.
RB- Devin Singletary vs. GB
Over the last month, Green Bay is 25th in schedule-adjusted points in the running back position. The last time we saw Singletary was a 22-opportunity game. It could have been the clear shift that he is the back that the Bills trust. In three of the last four games, he has had five or more targets. He is getting worked in to be the bell cow at this point. So play him, and he shouldn’t kill you. He might even win you a week.
WR- DJ Moore vs. ATL
A slight steel underpants play, but last week against the Buccaneers, he turned in a 48% target share. There is no one else to throw the ball to in Carolina. Atlanta is the best matchup for wide receivers currently, and those targets will be flowing. No CMC? No problem for DJ Moore.
TE- Mike Gesicki vs. DET
If you don’t get the trend, play all your healthy players in this matchup. The Lions are the 3rd best matchup for the tight end position. There is a good chance of a shootout in this game, with a 51.5 projected over/under. Gesicki has seen his targets per route run increase in three straight weeks, which could be a recipe for success.