Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season is here, and that will kickstart the second half of the regular season for most fantasy football leagues.
By now, most teams know which players will be their week-in, week-out starters. However, injuries and bye weeks still create plenty of difficult start 'em, sit 'em decisions every week.
Those choices will be especially important in Week 8, as fantasy managers prepare for potential playoff pushes. They will have to navigate a four-team bye – the Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers are all off – while also facing uncertainty around plenty of fantasy stars like Lamar Jackson.
Who can you start and sit in fantasy football for Week 8 of the 2026 NFL season? USA TODAY Sports outlines
eight players to start and eight to sit:
Fantasy football players to start in Week 8
Quarterbacks
- Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers (at Green Bay Packers)
Young just had a woeful outing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7, but he should be poised to bounce back on "Thursday Night Football." The Packers have allowed an average of 256.3 passing yards per game when facing starting quarterbacks, while Young was averaging 309.8 passing yards and 2.2 touchdowns per game across his first five starts of the season. Expect Young to bounce back in another solid outing.
- Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals (at Dallas Cowboys)
Brissett has only accounted for one touchdown over his last two games combined, but he gets a favorable matchup against the Cowboys in Week 8. Dallas ranks last league-wide in defensive EPA per play, per the NFL's Next Gen Stats, so Brissett should find a way to log multiple touchdowns in what could be a high-scoring affair between two struggling defenses.
Running backs
- Jonah Coleman, Denver Broncos (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)
Coleman led the Broncos with nine carries against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7 and turned them into 54 yards. The fourth-round rookie is averaging 4.9 yards per carry in limited action this season and should only see increased opportunities as he gets further removed from the ankle injury that landed him on IR. The Chiefs have allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points per game (FPPG) to running backs this season. However, after Kansas City surrendered 100 yards to Emanuel Wilson in Week 7, fantasy managers should be confident in Coleman posting flex-caliber numbers against the Chiefs.
- Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Tennessee Titans)
Brown hasn't lived up to his early-round fantasy draft billing this season, averaging just 3.5 yards per carry and logging a modest average of 59 total yards over his last two games. Even so, Brown should be started against a Titans defense that ranks middle-of-the-pack against running backs and has allowed nine rushing touchdowns in seven games this season, including three last week to the Cleveland Browns.
Wide receivers
- Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (at Dallas Cowboys)
Wilson has averaged just four catches for 39 yards in three games without Marvin Harrison Jr. this season, but he draws a favorable matchup against the Cowboys in Week 8. The Cowboys have struggled to contain opposing receivers so it would hardly surprise to see Wilson re-emerge as a quality WR2 this week.
- Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders (at New York Jets)
Tucker just found success in a tough matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, totaling 103 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. Much of his production has come in late-game situations when the Raiders were trailing, but he should have a chance to be more consistent against a middle-of-the-pack Jets defense.
Tight end
- T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings (at Detroit Lions)
The Lions have played just six games thus far in 2026, but they still lead the league in catches (56), receiving yards (602) and touchdowns (10) allowed to the tight end position. Expect Hockenson, a favorite target of Kyler Murray, to have a big day in a favorable matchup.
Defense/special teams
- Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Tennessee Titans)
The Bengals should be the top streaming play this week. They just limited the Ravens to 13 points in Week 7 and now get to face a Titans team that is averaging just 15.4 points per game, second-fewest in the NFL. Cam Ward has also thrown an interception in five consecutive games, so the Bengals should emerge as a top-10 fantasy defense this week if they can extend that streak to six games.
Fantasy football players to sit in Week 8
Quarterbacks
- Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
No team has allowed fewer passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season than the Vikings. Brian Flores' squad has surrendered just three in six games, thanks to its aggressive, blitz-happy defense. Goff has been excellent this season and sports an impressive 129.6 passer rating against the blitz, per Pro Football Focus, but each of his last two multi-interception games have come against Flores' defense. That will make the Lions starter more of a boom-or-bust option this week.
- Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (at Denver Broncos)
Mahomes had three touchdowns against the Broncos in Week 1, but Denver will likely have a better plan to contain him in Week 8. This seems more like a spot where Kenneth Walker III could enjoy a bounce-back game and Mahomes take a backseat, especially since the quarterback hasn't logged a touchdown since his team's Week 4 win over the Raiders.
Running backs
- Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears (at Seattle Seahawks)
It isn't yet clear whether Monangai (thumb) will be able to return for the Bears in Week 8. However, even if he can play, it will be hard to trust him against a Seahawks defense that just shut down the aforementioned Walker. This seems more like a spot in which D'Andre Swift will do damage through the air – the Seahawks have allowed 38 receptions to RBs this season, tied for third-most in the NFL – while Monangai will play second fiddle and be a TD-dependent flex option.
- Aaron Jones, Minnesota Vikings (at Detroit Lions)
Jones is "day-to-day" with a knee injury that isn't expected to be serious. Even so, it's hard to trust him as anything more than a boom-or-bust flex, since Jordan Mason appears to be the Vikings' backfield leader after returning from a thumb injury. The Lions have also been better against the run than the pass, so this isn't a good spot in which to back Jones.
Wide receivers
- Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions (vs. Minnesota Vikings)
Williams' fantasy value is largely dependent on big plays and touchdowns. The Vikings have allowed just three receiving touchdowns to wideouts this season, which will put a cap on Williams' ceiling – as will the fact that any potential quick passing game the Lions might use could tilt targets toward Amon-Ra St. Brown.
- DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots (at Miami Dolphins)
The Dolphins have allowed just 78 targets to wide receivers this season, the lowest in the league by far. That's largely because Miami's opponents rarely have to throw late in games to beat the Dolphins. The Patriots may not have to do that either, and with the team needing to focus on getting A.J. Brown right for the long haul, Douglas could see decreased opportunities despite facing a weak-on-paper defense.
Tight end
- Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills (vs. Baltimore Ravens)
Kincaid was hot in the first two games of the 2026 NFL season, but he has averaged just 22.5 receiving yards per game over his last four outings. He's simply too hit-or-miss to trust against a Ravens defense that has surrendered just 29 receptions to tight ends this season, tied for the sixth-fewest league-wide.
Defense/special teams
- Denver Broncos (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)
The Broncos should have a better plan to handle the Chiefs a second time around, but that doesn't make them a great fantasy play. Mahomes has only been sacked seven times in six games while Kansas City has only committed five turnovers this season. That will give Denver a lower floor/ceiling combination than usual in Week 8.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: 16 players to start or sit in Week 8
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