Boom or Bench: Week 8 start/sit fantasy tips
Boom or Bench provides insight and analysis to help you handle your difficult fantasy football starting lineup decisions every week.
QB: Bears' Caleb Williams at Ravens
The Ravens have allowed the fifth-most passing touchdowns this season, and only the Cowboys have given up more fantasy points per contest to quarterbacks. Baltimore is also one of 10 teams to have surrendered at least two rushing scores to signal-callers this year. Williams should have his fourth game as a QB1 against this defense.
The pressure for the 23-year-old to keep his offense moving will only ramp up if Lamar Jackson returns to the Ravens' lineup. Williams didn't need to do too much last week after the Bears built an early lead in their matchup against the Saints. However, Baltimore is more likely to keep this game competitive, even if Cooper Rush starts.
Projection: 230 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 16 rushing yards, rushing TD
Other QBs primed to boom:
Broncos' Bo Nix vs. Cowboys
Packers' Jordan Love at Steelers
RB: Jets' Breece Hall at Bengals
Hall's matchup with the Bengals is one of the few appealing games on his schedule. No team has been worse at preventing running backs from racking up fantasy points than Cincy, and only the Titans (11) have allowed more scrimmage touchdowns to the position.
You also have to consider New York's quarterback situation. The Jets benched Fields for Tyrod Taylor last week. It wouldn't be shocking for Hall to earn his biggest workload of the year as the club aims to limit its passing exposure in search of its first win of the season.
Projection: 110 rushing yards, 24 receiving yards, 4 receptions, TD
RB: Bears' D'Andre Swift at Ravens
The Bengals are the only squad worse at defending running backs than the Ravens in 2025. Swift having another strong outing isn't difficult to see, especially after he took advantage of a Saints defense last week that has performed significantly better (but still poorly) against tailbacks.
Swift has never strung together three consecutive 100-yard rushing games in his NFL career, but that's likely to change. He's received at least 12 carries in every contest this season, including 19 last week, and that trend should continue as long as he's productive against these underwhelming defenses.
Projection: 101 rushing yards, 18 receiving yards, TD
Other RBs primed to boom:
Saints' Alvin Kamara vs. Buccaneers
Panthers' Chuba Hubbard vs. Bills
WR: Giants' Wan'Dale Robinson at Eagles
Robinson has already shown he can take advantage of this Eagles secondary, recording six receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown against Philadelphia two weeks ago. Robinson's ability to work underneath routes is especially valuable in PPR leagues, and the Eagles have allowed the sixth-most receptions to receivers this year.
Although the 5-foot-8, 185-pounder will likely need more than the seven targets he drew in the first matchup to reach this projection, Jaxson Dart looked his way 12 times last week. Robinson has recorded at least seven targets in each of the previous three games and in five of seven contests.
Projection: 90 receiving yards, 7 receptions, TD
WR: Buccaneers' Tez Johnson at Saints
Johnson has started to step up over the last three weeks as the Buccaneers continue to battle through their receiver injury problems. He's tallied at least 45 receiving yards in the previous three games and scored a touchdown in the last two. Johnson will have opportunities to keep those streaks going, with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin sidelined again for Tampa Bay.
The 5-foot-10, 165-pounder will also benefit from another solid matchup. The Saints have allowed the eighth-most touchdowns (eight) and the 12th-most fantasy points per game to wideouts this campaign. Additionally, quarterback Baker Mayfield has thrown for at least 246 yards and two touchdowns in every matchup he's played against New Orleans since joining the Bucs.
Projection: 81 receiving yards, 5 receptions, TD
Other WRs primed to boom:
Eagles' DeVonta Smith vs. Giants
Colts' Alec Pierce vs. Titans
TE: Falcons' Kyle Pitts vs. Dolphins
This likely won't be the last time Pitts pops up as having a Boom opportunity, since he should benefit from an amazing remaining schedule. And the Dolphins represent one of his best chances. Miami has surrendered the fifth-most receiving yards and eighth-most receptions to tight ends this year.
Pitts should see another strong target share after getting 10 looks last week, hauling in seven of those. He's had at least four receptions in all but one contest in 2025, but I think he finishes closer to seven in a strong fantasy performance.
Projection: 88 receiving yards, 6 receptions, TD
Other TEs primed to boom:
Packers' Tucker Kraft at Steelers
Saints' Juwan Johnson vs. Buccaneers
QB: Chargers' Justin Herbert vs. Vikings
Herbert leads the NFL in passing yards entering Week 8, but his 420-yard outing against the Colts does much of the heavy lifting. While his fantasy points on the season are solid, Herbert has been sacked three or more times in four games, thrown at least one interception in four contests, and recorded two fumbles in another outing.
The Vikings' defense is allowing the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this campaign, and the short week will give the Chargers less time to come up with answers for Brian Flores' unit. Herbert's yardage total will likely be solid, but the potential for negative plays will limit his ceiling.
Projection: 255 passing yards, passing TD, 2 INTs, 21 rushing yards
Other QBs to bench:
Cowboys' Dak Prescott at Broncos
Dolphins' Tua Tagovailoa/Quinn Ewers at Falcons
RB: Bills' James Cook at Panthers
Cook got off to a red-hot start to the year before slowing down in his last two games. He likely won't get back on track against a Panthers team that's been surprisingly effective at limiting running back fantasy points this season. Carolina has given up just five touchdowns and the ninth-fewest fantasy points per game to tailbacks while averaging the eighth-fewest rushing yards allowed per contest.
However, you may need to start Cook with all the byes and injuries impacting lineups this week. I wouldn't be entirely distraught if that's your situation, considering the 26-year-old could right the ship, but keep your expectations modest.
Projection: 64 rushing yards, 16 receiving yards, 2 receptions
RB: Titans' Tony Pollard at Colts
The Titans' schedule doesn't get any easier for running backs this week. The Colts have allowed the seventh-fewest rushing yards and the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs this season. Pollard had just 18 rushing yards on six carries last week, but he somewhat salvaged his day with 43 receiving yards on six catches. He'll likely need to be active as a receiver to be a reasonable flex option this week.
Unfortunately, Pollard didn't find much room as a pass-catcher when these two teams faced off in Week 3. The 28-year-old hauled in two receptions for 14 yards in the contest, and he also struggled on the ground. Although Pollard finished with 45 rushing yards on 16 carries (2.8-yard average), he saved his point total by finding the end zone.
Projection: 58 rushing yards, 11 receiving yards, 1 reception
Other RBs to bench:
Patriots' Rhamondre Stevenson vs. Browns
Steelers' Jaylen Warren vs. Packers
WR: Falcons' Drake London vs. Dolphins
Like Cook, London is someone you'll likely need to keep expectations low for rather than benching him. The 24-year-old has been one of the best or worst wide receivers every week this season, posting no finishes between WR6 and WR29. This week, I think we're more likely to see him closer to WR29.
The Dolphins have a top-seven defense against wide receivers this year, and they're allowing the third-fewest receiving yards to wideouts. That's bad news for London, who finished with 110-plus yards in his two elite outings this campaign. Miami has also struggled to defend running backs and tight ends this year, setting up Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts for bigger games than London.
Projection: 64 receiving yards, 5 receptions
WR: Dolphins' Jaylen Waddle at Falcons
The Falcons are one of the few teams to concede fewer fantasy points and yards to wide receivers than the Dolphins this year, ranking third and first in those categories, respectively. Waddle will need to overcome that challenge and poor quarterback play to have a respectable fantasy week, regardless of whether Tua Tagovailoa, Quinn Ewers, or both play in this game.
Waddle finished with just 15 yards on one reception last week against a talented Browns defense. While Mike McDaniel and Co. will likely make sure he gets more opportunities this week as they try to save their jobs, there are too many indications showing that Waddle could struggle to have a good fantasy performance.
Projection: 11 rushing yards, 41 receiving yards, 3 receptions
Other WRs to bench:
Panthers' Tetairoa McMillan vs. Bills
Patriots' Stefon Diggs vs. Browns
TE: Vikings' T.J. Hockenson at Chargers
The Chargers present a below-average matchup for Hockenson this week, which should be a familiar feeling for the 6-foot-5, 248-pounder. Minnesota has faced only two favorable contests this season, and the first of those was Hockenson's lone finish as TE1. Outside of another TE5 performance, he's been TE19 or worse every week.
There are some advantageous matchups later in the campaign, so I wouldn't completely give up on Hockenson if I have the bench space to keep him around. However, that's where the Iowa product should remain against the Chargers. They're surrendering the 11th-fewest fantasy points and seventh-fewest yards to tight ends.
Projection: 37 receiving yards, 4 receptions
Other TEs to bench:
Patriots' Hunter Henry vs. Browns
Commanders' Zach Ertz at Chiefs
Andrew Dixon is a contributing fantasy analyst for theScore.