We’re officially hours away from 12 pm kickoff which means we need to make some last minute start ’em sit ’em decisions. In order to help you prepare for your week eight matchups, we’re going to be going over some of the most polarizing start/sit decisions according to ESPN’s projections. The players that will be eligible for this list are all close to being ranked as a back-end QB1/TE1 or WR2/RB2 based on ESPN’s PPR projections.

Wide Receiver

Start 

Jaylen Waddle vs ARI  
ESPN Projection - WR23

Tua Tagovailoa is officially off the IR and being treated as questionable by the “Dolphins.” It’s all but confirmed that Tagovailoa will play, but this take is based on the assumption that he’s under center. I’m fully aware that up to this point, Waddle hasn’t been startable, scoring 8.3 PPG on the year. However, we know that the WR2 from last season, Tyreek Hill, has been almost as bad (10.5 PPG).

I would much rather look at the years when Waddle has been playing with Tagovailoa. In every season Waddle has played, he’s never scored less than 14 PPG. In week eight, the Cardinals are also a great matchup for Waddle, as they’ve allowed the 8th most fantasy points to wide receivers this year (254.9). PFF’s WR/CB matchup tool has this as an “average” (56.5) matchup, so I’m not worried about that. If Tagovailoa plays, I’m very comfortable putting Waddle back in my starting lineup.

Sit

Darnell Mooney @ TB
ESPN Projection - WR20

I really do like Darnell Mooney but he’s a player that you should consider sitting. Being projected as the WR20 is a bit too rich for me but in a deep league I don’t hate the idea of flexing him. Over the past few games Mooney hasn’t looked great, only scoring 6.8 and 9.8 points in back to back weeks. It’s more so a matter of Mooney being boom or bust this year and there’s other wide receivers who I would trust a bit more.

In 2024, Mooney has only scored over 10 points in three games. He’s had a few great games, including a 31.5 game in week five, but for a FLEX option, that’s not a projection I love starting. Looking at PFF’s WR/CB matchup tool, he has an “average” matchup (45.3), but that’s just 0.7 points above a below-average matchup. The Buccaneers have played wide receivers very poorly, giving up the 4th most fantasy points (274.1), but keeping the PFF grade in mind, it’s not a smash spot.

Running Back

Start

Josh Jacobs @ JAC  

ESPN Projection - RB20

Having Josh Jacobs as the RB20 for week eight makes zero sense. There’s just no reason why ESPN should have him as a borderline RB2 for the week. Since Jordan Love came back after his week one injury, Jacobs has flipped the script, scoring 11.8, 16.4, 12, and 20.2 points. You would think a physical running back like Jacobs could only be having these big weeks because of touchdowns, but he’s only scored one during that span.

Touchdowns are very volatile and I believe Jacobs is just getting unlucky considering he has no competition, and the Packers offense has been high-scoring with Love. The Jaguars are also a great fantasy matchup for running backs, allowing the 6th most fantasy points (186.1) to running backs this season. I have Jacobs as my RB10 for the week so this projection by ESPN is extremely confusing. 

Sit

Rhamondre Stevenson vs NYJ  
ESPN Projection - RB26

If you’re on the fence about Rhamondre Stevenson, I would leave him on your bench despite the Drake Maye emergence. The Patriots still don’t trust Stevenson a ton despite his 19.2 week six performance. Especially around the goal line, we saw Stevenson get a touchdown vultured by JaMycal Hasty who I didn’t even know was still in the NFL. On a day where Stevenson had seven carries and a 2.6 YPC mark, I can’t imagine the Patriots staff will be super inclined to give him more work.

The matchup for Stevenson is also poor as they go up against the Jets, who have been very good at stopping the run. This year, they’ve allowed the 10th least fantasy points to running backs (147.7). Stevenson seems to be going on a downward trend, and it’s not something I want to be involved in.

Quarterback

Start

C.J. Stroud vs IND  
ESPN Projection - QB18

I’ve never been the biggest fan of C.J. Stroud in fantasy football, but that was at mid-QB1 prices. It seems like many have over-adjusted, making him a value at this point. Even with a rough week seven performance, Stroud is still having a solid 15.1 PPG season. I’m not suggesting that you should start Stroud expecting him to be a high-end QB1, but he’s a much better option than the waiver wire. 

Even if you’re not a fan of playing Stroud without Nico Collins, facing off against the Colts is a great matchup. So far, they have allowed the 7th most fantasy points to quarterbacks (137.3) this year. The Texas also have an implied team total of 26 points (5th), according to RotoCurve. While ESPN clearly suggests benching Stroud this week, I would stick him in your starting lineup if you’re looking for a low-end QB1 

Sit

Justin Herbert vs NO
ESPN Projection - QB11

Having Justin Herbert as the QB11 seems ridiculous, but there are many fans who use ESPN’s projections as a resource. I would love for the projections team to explain this when Herbert hasn’t gone above 15 points on the year and is averaging 11.7 PPG. Yet he’s ranked higher than Stroud this week?

I fully understand how talented Herbert is, but Jim Harbaugh just wants to run the ball. It’s not like the matchup against the Saints is a good one, either. This year, the Saints have allowed the 14th most points to quarterbacks, which is far from optimal. Any way you look at it, there’s no reason you should be starting Herbert this week.

Tight end

Start

Kyle Pitts @ TB
ESPN Projection - TE11

Kyle Pitts hasn’t been the elite tight end everyone thought he could be, but he also hasn’t been a bust, either. Pitts is averaging 9.1 PPG this season, good for a TE7 finish, but each week, many have him close to being outside the top 12 in their projections. Recently, Pitts has looked great, drawing eight-plus targets in his last 2/3 games. He’s also scored over 10 points in all of his last three games.

Pitts is a solid start most weeks, but his matchup for week eight is fantastic as well. The Buccaneers defense has struggled to guard tight ends, allowing the 2nd most fantasy points (166.8) to them this season. Using PFF’s TE Matchup tool, Pitts has a 30% advantage, which is one of the highest scores for week eight. 

Sit

Zach Ertz vs CHI  
ESPN Projection - TE13

Zach Ertz is coming off of two games with ten or more points, but I’m scared for his quarterback play in week eight. I highly doubt Jayden Daniels will play this week, but even so, he’s not going to be at full strength. It’s not like Ertz commands a ton of targets either, only going above five one time this year.

The matchup for Ertz is pretty poor as well, going up against a strong Bears defense. The Bears have allowed the 10th least fantasy points to tight ends this year with 62.5. Diving further into this matchup, PFF has Ertz at a -16% advantage, which makes me even more worried. Ertz is being treated as a borderline TE1, but I’d look elsewhere on the waiver wire this week.