Week 8 of the 2021 NFL season is about to kick off on Thursday with a matchup between the Green Bay Packers and Arizona Cardinals.
As always, we’re here to help with your weekly decisions with our fantasy lineup advice. Each week, we give you the studs (players with plus matchups due to the defense they’re facing or their team situation), duds (players with tougher matchups or who are in muddled roster situations at the moment) and sleepers (a player you might consider starting who could be in for a big week).
Here are the names we’ve got for Week 8, and as we always say, good luck!!
Studs
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QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
He’s coming off the bye, and before the break, he was starting to look good both through the air and on the ground. I like the matchup against the Seahawks a lot, so we’re pushing him past sleeper and into stud territory.
RB Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
A bit of an obvious name here, but he hasn’t exactly been stud-like in recent weeks, and A.J. Dillon is getting more work. But if the Packers are missing Davante Adams and Allen Lazard, he might get a whole bunch of targets in an offense-heavy game against the Cardinals.
WR D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers
I’m as worried about Sam Darnold as anyone, but Moore has a solid floor. Against the Falcons, I think we’ll see a ceiling with a big week.
TE Robert Tonyan, Green Bay Packers
See above regarding the lack of passing options for Thursday’s game, and add in that he had a huge game last week.
Duds
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QB Taylor Heinicke, Washington Football Team
We’ve seen him gather up garbage time points and would have had a bigger week in Green Bay had he not unnecessarily dived for the end zone. But I’m not starting him this week against the Broncos.
RB Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears
The Niners aren’t the best against the pass but I worry about the Bears’ offense overall and Damien Williams is still around to steal carries. With bye weeks still a thing, you may not be able to bench him, but don’t expect a huge game.
WR Robert Woods, Los Angeles Rams
What? A dud for a player on an elite offense facing the Texans? I know. But I think the Rams aren’t playing down to their opponent this week, and they’ll be up so much so that they’ll keep the starters on the bench in the fourth and run the ball a ton. Don’t expect a huge day.
TE Mo Alie-Cox, Indianapolis Colts
The Titans are pretty good against opposing tight ends and he’s become touchdown-dependent. I think there are better TE options this week.
Sleepers
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QB Daniel Jones, New York Giants
Any fantasy player facing the Chiefs’ defense automatically gets a big upgrade.
RB Kenneth Gainwell, Philadelphia Eagles
His first test as the presumed top RB in place of Miles Sanders is against the Lions, an enticing matchup, especially if he gets the kind of receiving workload he got last week (eight targets).
WR Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
He’s reportedly back this week off IR … just in time to face the league’s worst pass defense. Good timing!
TE Evan Engram, New York Giants
Sigh. He hasn’t scored all season … but the Giants’ passing corps are banged up and the Chiefs are vulnerable.
