Fantasy Football Must-Start Players for Week 8

November is finally upon us, and while the month on the calendar may have changed, the energy of fall football remains the same. Whether you’re a returning reader or a newcomer, welcome to my weekly fantasy must-start column. I’ll be here for the entire season to bring you a selection of the players you should want in your fantasy football lineups in season-long and/or DFS formats. These guys are screaming starts for one reason or another – it could be an advantageous matchup, a recent hot streak or a value salary in DraftKings contests, among others – so we’re looking to find an edge through the lens of actual analysis. I just want to help you win your week!

Let’s jump in with some must-start players for fantasy football in Week 8.

Set your DraftKings fantasy football lineups here: NFL $2.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st, $50K Crown Cash Throne Eligible]

Fantasy Football Week 8 Must-Start Players

QB: Dak Prescott, Cowboys vs. Cardinals ($6,300)

I considered going with Kyler Murray at a cheaper $5,600 salary this week since he’s going up against the Lions, who allow a league-high 26.6 FPPG to the QB position. If you have an appetite for risk, he makes for a great differentiator, but I’m instead selecting Dak Prescott this week in a matchup that’s almost just as appealing. The Cowboys’ QB1 averages 19.9 FPPG and has been a little hot-and-cold at times this season, but he’s coming off a nice performance of three touchdowns, 212 yards and 23.3 DKFP against the Eagles on Monday Night Football. Prescott’s floor is pretty safe with 250+ passing yards in five of his seven appearances in a Dallas offense that ranks third in PROE and first in pass rate, so I’m not at all worried about his floor in a game tied for the highest total of the week at 54.5 combined points on DraftKings Sportsbook. The veteran has three games with 20+ fantasy points and is positioned to exploit the Cardinals’ defense, which gives up the third-most FPPG to QBs (22.8) and 0.71 points per dropback, more than any other team. The 2.4 passing touchdowns allowed per game are also the third-most in the league, too. Prescott should light the scoreboard up.

RB: Jonah Coleman, Broncos vs. Chiefs ($4,300)

I waffled between Jeremiyah Love and Jonah Coleman at this spot while writing this column, and if I were filling out my own lineup, I’d have both starting between the RB and FLEX spots. Love is an honorable mention against a Cowboys defense allowing the eighth-most FPPG to RBs, but he’s a somewhat obvious start this week as he returns from injury. As such, we’re writing up his fellow rookie, who’s in line to see an elevation in the pecking order for the next few weeks. Coleman returned from IR last game and promptly led the Broncos with 54 yards on nine carries, both of which were highs in the backfield. That sparked chatter that he’d soon take over the starting job from incumbent J.K. Dobbins, but we all know Sean Payton can be unpredictable with his halfbacks. However, pass-catching specialist RJ Harvey is headed to the IR himself now, setting the stage for a two-man show that includes Dobbins as the likely grinder and Coleman in the third-down role. The rookie did have two receptions last week, which tied with Harvey among the running backs, so it’s more probable that he gets most of the receiving work over Dobbins, who has very little history as a pass-catcher. Either way, Coleman is averaging 11.9 FPPG across the two games in which he’s actually seen at least one touch. Harvey was producing 11.2 FPPG, so it’s not unreasonable to assume Coleman can do the same with a similar share of opportunities. The Chiefs are a tough matchup, but if Denver trails, that’s even better for Coleman’s outlook if he’s to get checkdowns. With his DFS salary especially, I like him this week as a potential value.

WR: Zay Flowers, Ravens at Bills ($7,200)

We’re looking at a DFS-centric pick here since I don’t have to tell managers in season-long leagues to start Zay Flowers. Still, if you’re filling out a lineup on DraftKings, there’s probably not a better star wideout to build things around than the Ravens’ top guy this week. He’s in the midst of taking the leap to superstardom, ranking seventh in receiving yards at the position with 608 despite playing just six games and seeing limited snaps in another, spending less time on the field than most of the guys ahead of him. He’s clearly having a career-best season with 40 catches and three touchdowns in addition to that yardage total, and to top it off, he hasn’t even had Lamar Jackson as his quarterback for multiple weeks. The former MVP returns to the fold for this marquee matchup, boosting the outlook for the entire Ravens offense. Flowers is already producing 21.9 FPPG and comes off 30.7 DKFP last week with 137 yards and a score on eight receptions. This guy is legitimately elite – he ranks second in YPRR (3.85), sixth in YAC/REC (8.30) and first in separation score among 115 qualifying wide receivers. If those numbers and the return of his quarterback don’t inspire you, consider this other figure. The Bills concede a league-high 42.3 FPPG to WRs and 1.8 touchdowns per game to the position. Plus, this game is tied with Cardinals/Cowboys for the highest total of the week at 54.5 combined points. Plan accordingly and pay up for Flowers, who is the clear focal point of Declan Doyle’s offense with a 29.8% target share and a 36.8% first-read share.

TE: T.J. Hockenson, Vikings at Lions ($4,600)

He’s not a sexy name by any means, but I do like T.J. Hockenson to put up one of his best outings of the season this week. Why’s that? The matchup is a dream in a dome against the Lions, whose 29.4 FPPG allowed to TEs paces the entire NFL. Detroit truly struggles to defend the big guys – the 11.7 targets, 9.3 receptions, 100.3 yards and 1.7 touchdowns per game allowed to the position all, predictably, rank first as well. There’s no better matchup to attack than this one, even if the Vikings’ offense hasn’t been very attractive with Kyler Murray under center. The good news is that Hockenson averages 11.0 FPPG and has three games of 13.0 DKFP or better. He’s garnered at least four targets in five of his six games this season with a target share of 18.9% and a 19.8% first-read share, so he does maintain a fairly significant role, even in a low-volume passing offense. With the struggles the Lions have shown defending tight ends this year, I’m willing to take the risk that Murray and this aerial attack flop against a division rival. I do think that’s an unlikely outcome since Detroit’s elite offense is likely to push Minnesota in a competitive game, which should benefit Hockenson if all goes according to plan.