Almost halfway through the 2025 NFL season, you need to start stacking wins or you’ll risk missing out on the fantasy playoffs. After seven weeks, we have a strong sample size to analyze, as workloads, target shares, and other trends have been established across the league. With all of that in mind, let’s break down my start/sit Week 8 fantasy football picks.
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em: Bo Nix (Broncos) vs. Cowboys
On paper, starting the guy who just dropped 42.9 fantasy points seems like the obvious move. However, when you dive into this week’s matchup, it becomes… even more obvious?
Look, Nix was only started in around 58% of redraft leagues last week, which was fair coming off an underwhelming outing against the Jets. The Broncos have been struggling to get their offense rolling all year, relying on the defense to carry them to their current 5-2 record. In fact, that remained the case for over three quarters of Sunday’s matchup with the Giants, as Denver was held scoreless.
Suddenly, something clicked.
Nix and the Broncos erupted over the final 15 minutes, rattling off a ridiculous 33 points to pull off one of the most improbable comebacks in NFL history. The second-year signal caller found the end zone twice through the air and twice on the ground to do so. This week, he takes on a Cowboys defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks so far in 2025. It’s safe to say Nix is a must-start QB.
Sit ‘Em: Justin Herbert (Chargers) vs. Vikings — Thursday Night Football
It’s not typically advised to bench someone coming off a career performance, which was exactly the case for Herbert against the Colts, as he racked up 420 passing yards. However, a lot of signs are pointing towards the star QB crashing back down to earth against Minnesota on Thursday.
Herbert’s lack of consistent rushing upside has always been a thorn in his fantasy ceiling. It played a part in why, even on a career day, the 27-year-old still failed to eclipse 30 points. After opening the season on a strong note, Herbert underwhelmed in Weeks 2-6, scoring fewer than 20 points in all five contests.
On Thursday night, he draws one of the toughest defenses in the NFL. Minnesota allows the sixth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks thanks to Brian Flores’ trademark relentless pressure. The Vikings will also be looking to bounce back on that side of the ball after a lackluster performance against Jalen Hurts, and they should have little trouble taking advantage of L.A.’s banged up offensive line. I expect Herbert’s fantasy ceiling to be firmly capped against this stout defense.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em: Rico Dowdle (Panthers) vs. Bills
To some, starting Dowdle may seem like an easy decision. However, working within a committee (and alongside a highly-paid back) is always more complicated than it seems. The 27-year-old significantly outperformed Chuba Hubbard in the latter’s return to action last Sunday, rushing 17 times for 79 yards and catching one ball for 17 yards.
However, it was Hubbard who saw a higher snap share. When you commit a large sum of money to a running back as Carolina did with Chuba, you have to utilize him during his prime years. It’s also worth pointing out that Hubbard is quite talented… Dowdle has just been playing on another level lately.
Fantasy managers can hope that Dave Canales saw the same thing last week and will reward the hot hand with an expanded workload. The Panthers will have to rely on both of their backs with Bryce Young likely out against Buffalo. Game script could prove to be an issue here, but the Bills do allow the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing backfields. That could result in solid fantasy production for both Dowdle and Hubbard.
Sit ‘Em: Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots) vs. Browns
Stevenson was one of my starts of the week and anytime TD picks last Sunday, and the veteran delivered. He produced arguably his best outing of the season, rushing 18 times for 88 yards and a touchdown. Since I correctly predicted his second-best fantasy performance of the year, it’s only fair that I highlight what I expect to be an underwhelming game against Cleveland.
In case you’ve missed the memo through seven weeks, the Browns boast a Super Bowl caliber defense. Myles Garrett and company allow the fewest fantasy points per game to opposing backs and the fourth-fewest rushing yards. New England was finally able to get the running game going against Tennessee, but they’ve otherwise struggled throughout the year. As a result, Stevenson has produced four outings of fewer than six PPR points. I anticipate another tally mark being added to that total following this week’s contest in Foxboro.
Check out the rest of my Week 8 RB start/sit picks here!
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em: Jordan Addison (Vikings) at Chargers — Thursday Night Football
Move over Justin Jefferson… there’s a new No. 1 receiver in Minnesota.
Alright, jokes aside, Addison out-targeted and outproduced one of the top-two wideouts in the NFL against Philly, hauling in nine of 12 targets for 128 yards. With the Eagles laser-focused on containing Jefferson, Addison made the most of his one-on-one opportunities, serving as Carson Wentz’s go-to guy.
This was the third-straight performance in which Addison recorded at least 15 PPR points since returning from suspension. With his snap share jumping well above 90% in two of those contests, it’s easy to see who the clear No. 2 target for the Vikings is (sorry T.J. Hockenson fans).
The Chargers boast one of the better pass defenses in football, but if locking in on Jefferson is the gameplan, Addison will burn them too. Fire up the 23-year-old as a strong WR2 on Thursday.
Sit ‘Em: Kendrick Bourne (49ers) at Texans
The Kendrick Bourne WR1 experience has passed, and what a moment it was. For two games, the 30-year-old receiver looked like one of the top weapons in the game. However, all good things must come to an end, and that’s exactly what happened when Bourne took the field Sunday night and caught just two balls for 14 yards, despite seeing a 78% snap share.
Bourne and Mac Jones had relied on their rapport from the New England days against the Rams and Bucs, but Jauan Jennings finally returned to his role as the No. 1 healthy Niners wideout against Atlanta, with Christian McCaffrey serving as the true top receiver.
It won’t get any easier for Bourne against Houston. The Texans surrender the fifth-fewest passing yards and fantasy points to receivers. With Ricky Pearsall also nearing a return, Bourne’s brief window of fantasy opportunity is shutting.
Check out all of my Week 8 WR start/sit picks here!
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Tight Ends
Start ‘Em: Kyle Pitts (Falcons) vs. Dolphins
Finally, in a week with multiple key tight ends on bye, it’s Kyle Pitts’ time to shine in starting lineups. In the least surprising turn of events in the league, Pitts’ production has been volatile to open the year. However, this season feels a little different, as his improved target share has actually presented a decent floor.
Pitts has only scored fewer than seven fantasy points once in 2025, eclipsing the 12-point mark three times. The former fourth-overall pick just saw a season-high 10 targets against the 49ers, bringing in seven of them for 62 yards. In the most shallow position in fantasy, that type of production cannot be ignored.
This week, Pitts will take on a spiraling Dolphins squad that allows north of 14 fantasy points to tight ends per game. Momentum is building towards another strong outing for the 25-year-old as a low-end TE1.
Sit ‘Em: Zach Ertz (Commanders) at Chiefs
The correlation has been pretty straightforward for Ertz in his 13th NFL season. If Jayden Daniels plays, he’s typically a top-10 option at his position. If Daniels can’t suit up, he should remain on your bench.
In both games that the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year missed, Ertz totaled a combined 12.9 points. Upon his return to action, the veteran tight end actually put up a goose egg, before finding his rhythm again in Weeks 6 and 7.
Unfortunately, the injury bug may have caught up to Daniels once again, as he’s now dealing with a hamstring strain. I would be surprised to see him suit up on Monday, but even if he does, the Chiefs are a tough matchup. Kansas City allows the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing tight ends, setting the stage for a disappointing performance for Ertz.
Those are my start/sit Week 8 fantasy football picks! Stay tuned for more start/sit Week 8 positional analysis over the coming days.
