It doesn’t look like we are in line for any COVID cancellations, but it is only mid-week. We have 14 games on the schedule with four teams on bye.

The teams off this week are the Houston Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Football Team.

You could be needing to replace some important pieces on your fantasy team with Cardinals QB Kyler Murray & WR DeAndre Hopkins and Texans QB Deshaun Watson on bye.

How will Niners QB Jimmy Garoppolo fare against against the Seahawks?

Here is our Fantasy Football Sit/Start for Week 8 of the 2020 NFL season…and enjoy our awesome MS Paint masterpiece of RB Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans.

I want to explain what I mean by “sit” and “start.” Of course you are going to start some of the guys i say to bench this week, because you probably used high draft picks or a lot of money in an auction for them. My ‘sit’ players are guys I am just not completely sold that they will have good weeks. If you have a guy that you are on the fence about, maybe this will help you pick between the players.

START’EM

• QB Jimmy Garoppolo (Buffalo Bills) – Jimmy G has either been solid or completely awful in games this year. He’s facing one of the worst pass defenses in the league (Seattle) this week. The Niners will need to score a lot of points to keep up with the Seahawks, so Jimmy G should be solid in fantasy this week.
• RB Jamaal Williams (Green Bay Packers) – It looks like Packers RB Aaron Jones could miss another game due to his calf injury. The Packers face a below average Vikings defense and whomever starts at running back should be a must-start.
• WR Marcus Johnson (Indianapolis Colts) – Johnson literally came out of nowhere in the Colts last game against the Bengals. I’ve came to a conclusion that Colts QB Philip Rivers has horrible peripheral vision and can’t see anyone shorter than six-foot tall. Johnson was targeted consistently and the Colts had a lot of their usual talent on the field. Johnson should be a flex option in all leagues this week against Detroit.
• TE Trey Burton (Indianapolis Colts) – Here’s another must-start for the Colts. Burton has usurped Jack Doyle and Mo Alie-Cox as the only tight end you need to own on the Colts. He’s even being used for trick plays. Burton could be in line to have a very solid fantasy season from this point forward.
• RB Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans) – I know it’s almost a given you will start Henry if he’s on your team, but I think he could be in line for an extra special game against the Bengals. Colts RB Jonathan Taylor was able to bully defenders against Cincinnati two weeks ago, so Henry should have even more success against them.
• Buffalo Bills Defense & Special Teams – The Bills face the Patriots this week, who have struggled mightily since QB Cam Newton returned from his bout with COVID-19. Newton was even relieved by his backup last week, who quickly threw two interceptions himself. The Bills should be a solid fantasy defense this week.
• RB JaMycal Hasty (San Francisco 49ers) – I listed Hasty here last week, but didn’t know RB Jeff Wilson Jr. was healthy enough to play. Wilson suffered a high-ankle sprain in last week’s game and Hasty had a lot of success in his relief. It looks like Wilson will miss a game or two with his new injury and Hasty is the back to own over RB Jerick McKinnon (who only gained one yard on three attempts last week).
• WR Rashard Higgins (Cleveland Browns) – Here’s another guy who came out of nowhere to put together a good week in fantasy. Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. tore his knee early in last week’s game and Higgins had six catches for 110 yards. Higgins has been with the team for a few years, but has taken a backseat to the stars they’ve signed the last few years. He’s a talented wide receiver and should get plenty of targets against the Raiders.
• TE Richard Rodgers (Philadelphia Eagles) – Not many people mentioned Rodgers in their sit/start posts last week. I knew he was going to be a solid start due to the Eagles offense relying on tight ends. He had six catches for 85 yards last week. He has some success when he was on the Packers, so I know he can do this on a consistent basis when given targets.
• WR Preston Williams (Miami Dolphins) – This pick has a lot to do with QB Tua Tagovailoa, even though QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has been good lately. Williams should have a very good fantasy week if WR DeVante Parker has to miss another week, who is currently listed as questionable. I still think Williams is a solid flex play against the Rams.
• RB D’Andre Swift (Detroit Lions) – Swift is still stuck in a timeshare at running back in Detroit, but he is clearly the priority in the red zone. He has scored three touchdowns over the last two games. He’s the running back I’d want in Detroit against Indianapolis.
• Denver Broncos Defense & Special Teams – The Broncos defense has been impressive early this year. I wasn’t expecting much from that side of the ball after a season-ending injury to LB Von Miller and some recent free agent departures. They’ve been getting pressure on quarterbacks and the Chargers offensive line has been allowing a lot of QB pressures this year. Denver should get a handful of sacks against Los Angeles.
• QB Teddy Bridgewater (Carolina Panthers) – Bridgewater threw for over 300 yards and two touchdowns the last time he faced the Falcons. It was just a couple weeks ago, so it’s not like the teams have changed much, well except the Falcons canned their head coach and front office after the Panthers smoked them. Bridgewater should be a nice option if you have Texans QB Deshaun Watson or Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, who are both out on bye.

SIT’EM

• RB Malcolm Brown (Los Angeles Rams) – Brown finally got some work last week against the Bears, but it was because the game was out of teach by halftime. It’s still clear that RB Darrell Henderson is the lead back right now and the Rams don’t run the ball enough in most games to feed to running backs consistently.
• QB Cam Newton (New England Patriots) – Newton looked like he could have a career resurgence this year with the Patriots, but he’s been God awful since returning from contracting COVID-19. He was actually benched late in last week’s loss to the Niners and backup QB Jarrett Stidham threw a couple picks himself. You just can’t start Newton right now.
• WR Michael Gallup (Dallas Cowboys) – Cowboys backup QB Andy Dalton suffered a concussion late in last week’s loss to Washington. He’s currently in concussion-protocol and he’s listed as questionable. Dallas could start third-string rookie QB Ben DiNucci against the Eagles. I don’t expect the rookie to throw much or even have much success on the throws he will be limited to on Sunday. There just won’t be enough targets for Gallup to be worth playing this week.
• RB Devin Singletary (Buffalo Bills) – Singletary hasn’t replicated the same stats he had last year. He has only gained 86 yards on 30 carries the last three games combined. RB Zack Moss is gaining a larger share of the touches. Singletary is barely worth a flex play in a 12-team league.
• QB Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings) – Cousins had his most prolific game of the season two weeks ago against the Falcons. Unfortunately, he did threw three interceptions in that game. The Vikings are coming off bye, but face a very tough Packers defense. Cousins is only a deep league streaming start at this point.
• WR Mecole Hardman (Kansas City Chiefs) – The Chiefs play the Jets this week and Kansas City should be able to sit their starters in the second-half. I expect the Chiefs running backs will get plenty of work, but Hardman could see limited targets.
• TE Jack Doyle & Mo Alie-Cox (Indianapolis Colts) – As I mentioned earlier, Colts TE Trey Burton is the tight end you want in Indy. He’s playing more snaps, doing more with his targets and he was even used in a gimmick play as a quarterback in their last game. Doyle and Alie-Cox are just the odd men out.
• Baltimore Ravens Defense & Special Teams – The Ravens face the Steelers on Sunday and Pittsburgh’s offense is just clicking on all levels. The Ravens defense is far from bad, but sometimes a team can just be red hot on offense and can cut through good teams. I’m bullish on the Steelers right now, so I’d stream the Chiefs or Broncos defense.
• WR N’Keal Harry (New England Patriots) – This is more about the Patriots current quarterback situation. Harry isn’t receiving the targets and isn’t getting many at all. I’d rather add someone like Broncos WR Tim Patrick or Colts WR Marcus Johnson over Harry.
• RB Alexander Mattison (Minnesota Vikings) – Mattison is only worth a start when RB Dalvin Cook is out and they have a favorable match-up. He is a handcuff that you want to just keep on your bench though, since Cook tends to miss a few games every year.

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About the Author…

Bobby Roberts (otherwise known as Sweetbob) is the creator of ‘America’s White Boy’ and contributor at Project Shanks. His writing has been featured on ESPN’s ‘SportsNation’, Sports Illustrated’s Hot Clicks, Guyspeed, and various other sites. You can follow him on Twitter at @Sweetbob.