Saturday Morning Panic Meter: Who to Start Week 8
The fantasy football season is officially getting serious. The bye weeks are piling up, injuries are chewing through rosters, and managers are starting to wonder whether that guy they picked up on waivers is really a better option than the player they drafted in the fifth round.
Week 8 brings four teams off the schedule: San Francisco, Houston, New Orleans and the New York Giants. That means some fantasy managers will be digging deep to fill their lineups. Fortunately, there are a few opportunities to take advantage of this week.
We’re looking at some of the tougher decisions highlighted by FantasyPros and identifying the players who offer the best combination of workload, matchup and upside.
Let’s get that lineup out of the mud.
Panic Meter: Ollie Gordon vs. Rhamondre Stevenson
Start: Ollie Gordon
If you haven’t been paying attention to Gordon lately, it’s time to climb out from under that rock. The Miami running back has become a legitimate fantasy option, and his recent workload suggests this isn’t a one-week fluke.
Since Week 4, Gordon has averaged 18.3 touches and 97 total yards per game, ranking as the RB12 in fantasy points per game. He’s also been making defenders miss and creating explosive plays. That’s exactly what fantasy managers want to see from a running back earning a larger role.
New England has struggled to contain opposing running backs, allowing the sixth-highest rushing success rate and the fourth-most yards after contact per attempt over its last five games. Gordon has a chance to keep rolling.
Stevenson is also a reasonable option. He’s averaging 13.9 touches and nearly 70 total yards per game, and Miami has been vulnerable to gap runs. But Gordon has been more productive recently and is seeing the larger workload.
When two running backs have appealing matchups, give the nod to the one getting more opportunities.
PigSkinFantasy Verdict: Start Gordon. His recent production, workload and matchup make him the stronger RB2 option. Stevenson is usable, but Gordon is the back I’d rather have in my lineup.
Panic Meter: Dalton Kincaid vs. Hunter Henry
Start: Dalton Kincaid
Tight end continues to be the position where fantasy managers go to lose their minds. One week a player catches seven passes, the next week he’s invisible, and suddenly you’re considering starting somebody who hasn’t scored since the previous presidential administration.
Kincaid has been frustrating lately, but his most recent performance before Buffalo’s bye was encouraging. He led the Bills with eight targets and caught seven passes against Las Vegas. Even though those catches produced only 38 yards, the involvement is what matters.
Kincaid also had a touchdown reception wiped out by a penalty. That’s a reminder that his fantasy production could have looked considerably better with a little more luck.
This week, Buffalo faces Baltimore in a matchup with a projected total of 54.5 points. If the game turns into the shootout many expect, Kincaid should have plenty of opportunities to contribute. He’s attached to Josh Allen, and that alone gives him a higher ceiling than most tight ends.
Henry had a productive game against Chicago, catching seven passes for 71 yards. But that was his first game all season with more than five targets. Rookie Eli Raridon has also started eating into his opportunities, averaging four targets and three catches over his last three games.
Henry has a favorable matchup against Miami, which has allowed the third-most fantasy points to tight ends. Still, Kincaid has the stronger upside and a more appealing passing-game environment.
PigSkinFantasy Verdict: Start Kincaid. Henry’s matchup is attractive, but the growing competition for targets makes him less appealing. Kincaid has the quarterback, the opportunity and the potential game environment to deliver a difference-making performance.
Panic Meter: Bhayshul Tuten vs. Chase Brown
Start: Bhayshul Tuten
Chase Brown has the more established fantasy reputation, but reputation doesn’t earn points on Sunday. And right now, Bhayshul Tuten is making a pretty convincing case that he’s the better play.
Tuten has become a legitimate part of Jacksonville’s offense, averaging 15.7 rushing attempts per game and 2.3 targets. He’s also coming off a stretch of productive performances that has pushed him into RB2 territory. The Jaguars face Indianapolis, a defense that has surrendered some enormous fantasy performances to opposing running backs this season. Jacksonville is also favored, which could create a favorable game script for Tuten to keep getting carries in the second half.
Brown’s situation is more complicated. He’s still receiving opportunities, including meaningful work in the passing game, but the rushing efficiency has been a problem. He’s averaging just 3.5 yards per carry, and his recent fantasy production hasn’t matched the workload. Cincinnati gets Tennessee, a defense that has struggled against the run, so Brown certainly has bounce-back potential. But we’re betting on the player who’s currently doing more with his opportunities.
The biggest difference is the direction these two backs are heading. Tuten’s workload and production have made him a dependable fantasy option, while Brown has been asking managers for patience for most of the season. At some point, patience becomes a fantasy tax.
PigSkinFantasy Verdict: Start Tuten over Brown. Brown’s receiving work gives him a reasonable PPR floor, but Tuten has the stronger recent momentum, a solid rushing workload and a favorable matchup against Indianapolis. Don’t let draft-day investment outweigh what is happening on the field.
Panic Meter: Trevor Lawrence vs. Jayden Daniels
Start: Trevor Lawrence
This one feels a little like choosing between the steak and the lobster. Both are good options, and Jayden Daniels’ rushing ability makes him a dangerous quarterback to bench. But if we’re looking for the better Week 9 play, I’m leaning toward Trevor Lawrence.
Lawrence has been throwing the ball more frequently, averaging 34.3 pass attempts per game over his last three games, compared with just 27.3 for Daniels. More attempts mean more opportunities for passing yards, touchdowns and those occasional fantasy-friendly mistakes by opposing defenses. Lawrence has also averaged 24.5 fantasy points over his recent stretch, so this isn’t a case of choosing a struggling quarterback simply because we like the matchup.
Daniels has the more obvious rushing advantage, and his recent 26.6-point scoring average is better than Lawrence’s. That’s the reason this is a difficult call. His ability to turn a broken play into 40 rushing yards gives him a fantasy ceiling that few quarterbacks can match.
But Lawrence has been productive lately, and his increased passing volume gives him a path to another strong performance. The projections are nearly identical, with Lawrence holding a slight edge.
PigSkinFantasy Verdict: Start Trevor Lawrence over Jayden Daniels in Week 9. This is a close call, not a declaration that Daniels has suddenly lost his fantasy superpowers. Lawrence’s recent passing volume and steady production give him the nod. Daniels remains the higher-upside option if you’re chasing a monster rushing performance, but we’re taking Lawrence to deliver the more dependable outing.
