Thanks for checking out Belly Up Start Em, Sit Em: Week 8! We’re missing these teams due to byes: the Arizona Cardinals, the Washington Football Team, the Houston Texans, and the Jacksonville Jaguars. I’m looking at guys with favorable matchups who might be on the fringe of your starting lineups or players to avoid if you’re in need of a homerun this week.

Start Em: QBs

Jimmy Garoppolo @ SEA

Jimmy Garoppolo has back to back games with over 250 yards passing and visits the Seahawks this week. Seattle has allowed 300+ yards passing in five of six games this season, and four of those were 360+ yards. Rookie WR Brandon Aiyuk gave Garoppolo a #1 target in New England with teammate Deebo Samuel sidelined during the game with a hamstring injury. With Seattle allowing the 2nd most fantasy points to opposing QBs, this is a great spot-start for Jimmy G.

Joe Burrow vs TEN

Rookie QB Joe Burrow has been slinging it from the start of the season! Five of his seven career games have already been 300+ yard days, including a 406 yard 3 TD effort last week against the Browns. Joe faces another weak pass defense in Week 8 with the Tennessee Titans coming to town. The Titans have allowed 250+ yards and 2+ TD passes in each game except Week 1. The Titans are 10th worst against opposing QBs in fantasy points allowed, and have allowed 31+ points in four of six games. Another shoot-out for Burrow and the Bengals.

Start Em: RBs

Jonathan Taylor @ DET

Jonathan Taylor faces off against the Detroit Lions defense who has allowed multiple TDs to opposing RBs in two of their last three games. Taylor hasn’t been under 4 YPC since Week 2 and the Lions allow 4.5 YPC on the year. The Lions have surrendered nine rushing and two receiving TDs to opposing RBs in 2020, I like Taylor’s chances of hitting pay dirt in this matchup.

Kareem Hunt vs LV

The Las Vegas Raiders have allowed the most rushing TDs in the NFL this season with 12. The Raiders have also allowed seven opposing RBs to snag four or more receptions against them. Kareem hasn’t had a rushing TD in three straight games, but has caught a TD in two of his last three outings. The Raiders have allowed the fourth most fantasy points to opposing RBs, making this a great opportunity for Kareem Hunt to have some TD correction on the ground and rack up some points through the air.

Start Em: WRs

Brandon Aiyuk @ SEA

Brandon Aiyuk finally put the flashes together for an entire game in last week’s beatdown of the New England Patriots. He caught six of seven targets for 115 yards in a game that was a blow-out. This week he lines up across from the league’s worst fantasy defense against opposing WRs. The Seahawks have allowed 15 WRs to snag five or more passes, and have allowed 2,243 yards through the air. The 49ers will have to outduel QB Russell Wilson to win this matchup, Ayiuk has a great opportunity for his second career 100 yard day.

Nelson Agholor @ CLE

Agholor has a receiving TD in four of six games this season, including his last three outings. This week the Raiders travel to Cleveland and face a Brown’s defense that has allowed the third most TDs through the air. Agholor has seen his production rise in four consecutive games, and had his most targets this season last week. QB Derek Carr will continue to look for Agholor as long as he keeps making plays. Both of these defenses are pretty weak, this game should be a shootout & Agholor would be a nice flex option or bye week filler in this matchup.

Start Em: TEs

Jimmy Graham vs NO

The Saints defense has allowed six TDs to opposing TEs, and have to face their old playmaker in the Windy City. Jimmy Graham has had three or more receptions in all but one game this season, and also has four TDs, his most in a season since 2017. I like Graham’s floor in Week 8, he gets plenty of redzone looks. Plus, we love revenge games, don’t we?! Throw Jimmy Graham in your lineup this week.

Jonnu Smith @ CIN

Jonnu Smith gets a great bounce-back opportunity visiting the Cincinnati Bengals this week. The Bengals have allowed six receiving TDs to opposing TEs in the last three games, as well as three guys to surpass 50 yards receiving in that stretch. Jonnu recorded five TDs in his first four games of the year before getting banged up. This is yet another game with two struggling pass defenses, start Jonnu this week at Cincinnati.

Sit Em: QBs

Drew Brees @ CHI

Drew Brees travels to Chicago where the Bears defense has only allowed six passing TDs, fewest in the league, and just a single 250+ yard performance in their last six outings. The Saints look to be without all-world WR Michael Thomas yet another week. Brees has benefited from softer matchups the last few weeks, but this may be a week to look elsewhere for your QB services.

Matthew Stafford vs IND

Stafford posted his first 300 yard game in his last outing in a last second win against the Falcons. This week the Indianapolis Colts come to town allowing the fewest passing yards in the league. The Colts are coming off their bye, and have also have recorded 10 INTs versus allowing 7 passing TDs in 2020. This could be a very rough afternoon for Matthew Stafford and the Lions offense.

Sit Em: RBs

James Conner @ BAL

This has the makings of being the most exciting game of Week 8. Conner has been playing well as of late however, the Ravens have allowed the seventh fewest rushing yards, and the fewest rushing TDs in the NFL(four). They are also the fourth stingiest fantasy defense against opposing RBs. Conner may be a guy you have to play based on your situation, definitely temper your expectations in this matchup.

David Montgomery vs NO

David Montgomery hasn’t averaged 3.5 YPC in five consecutive games, and faces a Saints defense that has allowed the fourth fewest rushing yards this season and the third best YPC average. Montgomery has also only hit pay dirt once on the ground and once in the air in 2020. The Saints defense can be had through the air, but against the RB position they’re not very giving. Montgomery is a flex option at best with a low floor in this matchup against the visiting Saints.

Sit Em: WRs

DeVante Parker vs LAR

Parker has underwhelmed most of the season as it is, surpassing the 70 yard mark only once all year. This week he play the Rams who are allowing the second fewest points to opposing WRs. Only three WRs have had a TD reception against LA, and have only allowed four 70+ yard performances. DeVante will also be playing alongside rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa in his NFL debut. I would avoid relying on Parker in this matchup, in this situation.

Darius Slayton vs TB

Slayton has only four receptions on seven targets for 64 yards in his last two outings. He did score two weeks ago against the Washington Football Team. The Buccaneers are in the top 10 against opposing RBs fantasy wise, and have allowed only nine TDs through the air all season, just five to opposing WRs. Tampa should roll the Giants in every aspect of this one, so there is some garbage time potential if you must plug him in.

Sit Em: TEs

Eric Ebron @ BAL

Ebron recorded his season high in receptions and targets last week against the Tennessee Titans, also playing a season high 84% of the Steelers offensive stats. This week the Steelers visit their division rival, Baltimore Ravens who haven’t allowed a TE to record 35+ yards since Chiefs TE Travis Kelce in Week 3. The Ravens have only allowed three receiving TDs to opposing TEs, and one of those was since Week 2. Have you ever heard of Jason Croom? Yea, me either.

T.J. Hockenson vs IND

Hockenson has been treading water from a fantasy perspective with his TD receptions the last three weeks. He has scored in four of his team’s six games in 2020, yet this week plays the Colts who allow the league’s fewest points to opposing TEs. Indianapolis has only allowed one TE to surpass the 50 yard mark, Austin Hooper had 5 receptions for 57 yards but it took 10 targets. No TE has scored against the Colts this season either. As much as it pains me to sit my Hawkeye alum, this just isn’t a favorable matchup for the Lions prized TE.

Thanks for checkin’ out Belly Up Start Em, Sit Em: Week 8. If you want to see how I’ve done in previous weeks, check out my other Start Em, Sit Em’s. You can follow me on Twitter @bwhitt24, and the rest of the fantasy crew @bellyupfantasy. Join us live on Twitter and Facebook Wednesday evenings at 7:30 PM CST for Belly Up Fantasy Live! The crew will be breaking down the upcoming week’s fantasy outlook, and as always answering your questions in the comments! Enjoy 20% off of your www.manscaped.com purchase by using our promo code BELLYUPFANTASY. You’re Welcome!