Another Steeler featured last week, and Jaylen Warren did his thing in Paris. Same goes for my Braelon Allen shout. Tyler Higbee? Not so much. The only miss on my sit suggestion was Emanuel Wilson, who earned his second career 100-yard game in the win against Kansas City.
Moving on to Week 8!
A reminder that I judge my “start” or “sit” against a full-PPR format.
Start ‘Em
KC Concepcion Jr., WR – Cleveland Browns
Week 8 Matchup: @ Pittsburgh Steelers
This week, I’m banking on a player facing the Steelers. It’s a rookie wide receiver from the Cleveland Browns, KC Concepcion Jr. He’s coming off a career-high Week 7 in which he caught eight of ten targets for 129 yards, and added three carries for 23 yards to his day in the win over Tennessee. KCC out-snapped Jerry Jeudy last week 55 to 43, and was just under fellow rookie Denzel Boston, who played 61 snaps.
On the season, Concepcion is averaging 6.42 targets per game, and will look to build on his breakout Week 7 against a Steelers defense that is allowing the 19th-most fantasy points to opposing WRs this year. It’s not the biggest smash spot in terms of matchup, but the increasing opportunity is his biggest case for this being another solid week for the rookie.
Rachaad White, RB – Washington Commanders
Week 8 Matchup: vs. Philadelphia Eagles (SNF)
Fresh off a Week 7 BYE, we last saw Rachaad White have his best game of the season, albeit a receiving touchdown saved his fantasy day. In Week 6, White rushed for 27 yards on seven carries, adding four receptions on five targets for 30 yards and the score. With Jacory Croskey-Merritt hitting the IR with a groin injury, White will continue to hold RB1 duties for the Commanders. He’s got the Eagles on tap this coming Sunday night, and while they are a middle-of-the-pack defense against running backs, they did just allow Javonte Williams to rush for 155 yards last week.
FantasyData has him pegged to finish as the RB22 on the week; Williams finished as the RB7 with 21.5 full-PPR points.
Keon Coleman, WR – Buffalo Bills
Week 8 Matchup: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson is primed to return to action for the Ravens this week, and with the Bills coming off their BYE, let us fully brace/hope for a fantasy shootout. Enter Keon Coleman, who, entering Week 8, has scored in three straight games. In that span, he has caught 11 of 15 targets for 182 yards and three touchdowns. There’s no doubt he is likely to lose targets to a returning DJ Moore, but with the likes of Malik Nabers, Mike Evans, Nico Collins and Chris Olave all on BYE this week, you could do a lot worse than Coleman as a fill-in. The Ravens are allowing the seventh-most fantasy points to WRs this year.
Sit ‘Em
Sam LaPorta, TE – Detroit Lions
Week 8 Matchup: vs. Minnesota Vikings
In recent weeks, it’s been the Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams show for the Lions pass game. On National Tight End Day, of all Sundays, Sam LaPorta laid a dud to the tune of one catch on two targets for 18 scoreless yards. One may wonder if his comments during the week about his contract situation were reflective of his target share in a win over Green Bay, but that’s a topic for another day. Green Bay are the second-best defense against TEs this season, and do you know who the best in the league are? That’s right, the Vikings. LaPorta will still be on TE1 rankings, making this declaration pretty bold, but if you can find a pivot other than LaPorta, it may just be the proper play this week.
Tony Pollard, RB – Tennessee Titans
Week 8 Matchup: @ Cincinnati Bengals
This spot is your classic ‘don’t-let-one-blowup-week-fool-you’. Tony Pollard had his best fantasy day in years last week against the Browns, scoring three times on the ground and rushing for 129 yards on 25 carries. Ironically, Week 14 last season against the Browns was his next-best fantasy output as a Titan: 28.1 full-PPR points.
With potential trade rumors looming, and the fact that the Bengals are strong against the run this season – allowing the 30th most points to the position – look for Pollard to come back down to earth in this one.
TreVeyon Henderson, RB – New England Patriots
Week 8 Matchup: @ Miami Dolphins
Simply put, TreVeyon Henderson is best left on your bench and is teetering on the edge of hitting your waiver wire. Since Week 3, Henderson has averaged 4.04 full-PPR points per game. He’s the RB48 on the season, and there is no sign right now of him turning things around. Matchup aside – and that’s because the Dolphins are amongst the league-worst against the run this season – look elsewhere for a running back this week.
– Matthew Cava (@cavaM_ Twitter & Reddit)
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurt_player02 on Instagram & Threads @kuwasemiller.bksy.social on BlueSky)