The week fantasy football managers have been dreading has arrived. ‘Byemageddon’ is officially hitting the NFL in Week 8.
For the first, and only, time of the 2025 NFL season, a whopping six of the league’s 32 teams will be out of action. That will leave Week 8 with just 13 total games of action while thinning the ranks of available options for fantasy football managers.
That will create some difficult start ’em, sit ’em decisions for fantasy football managers looking to replace talent like Jahmyr Gibbs, Puka Nacua, Trey McBride and much more.
Add in the injuries that are still impacting the availability of some top fantasy stars, and managers may have to scour the waiver wire for potential bye-week fill-ins with upside. That could lead to some strange-looking lineups, especially for those that have multiple players on bye in Week 8.
Who can you start and sit in fantasy football for Week 8 of the NFL season? USA TODAY Sports breaks down the outlook for 16 players.
Fantasy football players to start in Week 8
Quarterbacks
- Bo Nix, Denver Broncos (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
The Cowboys have given up the most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to quarterbacks this season. That includes a league-high 16 passing touchdowns and 222 rushing yards to the position. Nix just scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter of the Broncos’ 33-32 comeback win over the Giants, so expect the second-year quarterback to remain hot in a good matchup.
- Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Green Bay Packers)
Are the Packers as easy a matchup for Rodgers as the Bengals? Not quite. Still, Green Bay has surrendered multiple passing touchdowns in four of its last five games while Rodgers has racked up 14 touchdowns across his six starts with the Steelers. He should be plenty motivated to post good numbers against his former team, making this a potential boom spot for the 41-year-old.
Running backs
- Rico Dowdle, Carolina Panthers (vs. Buffalo Bills)
Dowdle maintained a solid workload despite the return of Chuba Hubbard from a calf injury. Both players should be able to earn fantasy relevance against a Bills defense that has surrendered the fifth-most FPPG to running backs this season and is tied for second in total rushing touchdowns allowed to the position with eight.
- Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (vs. Miami Dolphins)
Wide receivers
- Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears (at Baltimore Ravens)
Don’t be scared off by Odunze’s back-to-back two-catch outings. He’s still averaging 7.7 targets per game and has emerged as Caleb Williams’ favorite target. That should give him a chance to find success often against a Ravens defense that has allowed the second-most FPPG to receivers this season.
- Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
The Cowboys have a weak pass defense that has allowed a league-high 12 receiving touchdowns to wide-outs this season. That could position Franklin, who is averaging a solid 6.6 targets per game, for a strong outing.
Tight end
- Mason Taylor, New York Jets (at Cincinnati Bengals)
The Bengals allowed four receiving touchdowns to tight ends in Week 7 alone. They have allowed nine total throughout the season, which is three more than the second-ranked team, the Jets. That could position Taylor, who has seen at least five targets in four of his last five games, for a big week.
Defense/special teams:
- Indianapolis Colts (vs. Tennessee Titans)
The Colts are averaging 2.7 sacks per game and are going up against a Titans defense that averages a league-low 13.7 points per game. That will make for a high-floor matchup and should allow Indianapolis to emerge from Week 8 as a top-five fantasy defense.
Fantasy football players to sit in Week 8
Quarterbacks
- Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (at Denver Broncos)
Sitting Prescott may not be easy after the veteran quarterback has posted at least three touchdowns in four consecutive games. That said, the Broncos have allowed no more than one passing touchdown in five of their seven contests this season. Prescott will maintain a high ceiling given the level at which he is playing, but his floor makes him a riskier start than usual.
- Justin Fields, New York Jets (at Cincinnati Bengals)
Some may be tempted by Fields’ rushing upside against a woeful run defense, but the 26-year-old might not even start this game for the Jets. He was benched mid-game last week in favor of Tyrod Taylor and has racked up nearly as many sack yards (76) as passing yards (91) over his last six quarters of action. So, even if Fields does start, his limitations as a passer should prevent him from becoming a quality fantasy starter this week.
Running backs
- Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots (vs. Cleveland Browns)
Stevenson may not be threatened for touches by second-round rookie TreVeyon Henderson, but the veteran has a tough matchup against the Browns. Cleveland has allowed the third-fewest FPPG to running backs and just three touchdowns. Stevenson had 90 scrimmage yards and a touchdown against a weak Titans run defense but had averaged just 35.5 scrimmage yards across his previous four games.
- Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns (at New England Patriots)
Funny enough, Stevenson and Judkins were our ‘start’ recommendations last week. Now, they are both ‘sits.’ Judkins is facing a Patriots defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest FPPG to running backs this season and two rushing touchdowns. It will be hard for Judkins to enjoy the type of consistent success he did against a bottom-tier Dolphins run defense in Week 7.
Wide receivers
- Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens (vs. Chicago Bears)
Quietly, Chicago’s pass defense has improved during its four-game winning streak. The Bears have allowed just 201.5 passing yards per game during that span, so Flowers’ opportunities to make downfield plays may be more limited, especially if Lamar Jackson (hamstring) can’t return following the bye week.
Flowers hasn’t scored since Week 1 and is averaging a solid but unspectacular 59 receiving yards per game with Jackson out of the lineup.
- Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons (vs. Miami Dolphins)
Mooney had a solid return to action against the 49ers, catching three passes for 68 yards playing across from Drake London. The Dolphins have allowed just 780 receiving yards to wide-outs this year though and are extremely weak against the run. Atlanta prefers to be a ground-dominant offense, so that may prevent Mooney from getting the volume needed to produce a quality fantasy outing.
Tight end
- Zach Ertz, Washington Commanders (at Kansas City Chiefs)
Many variables could impact Ertz’s performance on ‘Monday Night Football’ in Week 8. Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels is dealing with a hamstring injury that could impact his availability for this game while the statuses of Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel could also impact the type of receiving volume Ertz gets. Add in that the Chiefs have allowed the fourth-fewest FPPG to tight ends this season, and this seems like an unappealing spot for the veteran.
Defense/special teams:
- Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Green Bay Packers)
The Steelers are averaging a strong 3.7 sacks per game but were just shredded by Joe Flacco and Chase Brown on ‘Thursday Night Football.’ Jordan Love and Josh Jacobs could be similarly effective, so it’s best not to trust Pittsburgh’s stop unit this week.
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