ESPN Fantasy
Oct 27, 2023, 11:37 AM ET
The ESPN+ Cheat Sheet is your one-stop shop for Week 8 fantasy football advice. We've curated all of our best start/sit advice from this week, including Mike Clay's Playbook and Shadow Report, Matt Bowen's Film Room, Tristan H. co*ckcroft's Matchups Map, Liz Loza's Facts vs. Feelings and Eric Karabell's Fantasy Hot Seat. Don't have time to read it all? That's why cheat sheets were invented in the first place! Catch up on a week's worth of reading in mere minutes, see which players are on the injury report and then set your lineup with confidence.
Lines courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook. Injury aggregation powered by Rotowire.
Los Angeles Rams @ Dallas Cowboys -6
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 45.5 (fifth highest)
FPI favorite: Cowboys by 6.6 (68.8% to win outright)
Rams injury watch: WR Ben Skowronek: Q
Cowboys injury watch: none to report
Best of the Week
The Playbook: Mike Clay likes the workload from Darrell Henderson Jr., but the matchup with Dallas renders him no more than a fringe RB2.
Shadow Report: Mike Clay is downgrading Brandin Cooks and Michael Gallup, but not CeeDee Lamb due to their expected coverage matchups.
Minnesota Vikings -1.5 @ Green Bay Packers
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 42 (11th highest)
FPI favorite: Vikings by 2.8 (58.2% to win outright)
Packers injury watch: RB Aaron Jones: Q; TE Luke Musgrave: Q
Best of the Week
Film Room: Matt Bowen is still playing Aaron Jones, but is managing his expectations.
Shadow Report: Mike Clay is upgrading Packers wide receivers due to depth issues in the Vikings' secondary.
The Playbook: Clay does have reservations about Christian Watson, who simply isn't getting the targets.
Atlanta Falcons -2.5 @ Tennessee Titans
Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee
Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 35.5 (15th highest)
FPI favorite: Titans by 0.7 (51.9% to win outright)
Falcons injury watch: none to report
Titans injury watch: WR Chris Moore: Q; TE Josh Whyle: Q; QB Ryan Tannehill: Q
Best of the Week
Film Room: Matt Bowen considers DeAndre Hopkins a lower-tier flex with Will Levis expected to start at QB.
Matchup Map: Tristan H. co*ckcroft warns that the matchup also isn't great for Hopkins, pointing to a Falcons defense which has been top 10 in limiting opposing receivers for the past five weeks on a points-per-target basis.
Hot Seat: Eric Karabell is watching Bijan Robinson's carry share, saying he is not being treated as the three-down back we expected on draft day.
New Orleans Saints at Indianapolis Colts (Pick)
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 43.5 (seventh highest)
FPI favorite: Saints by 1.6 (54.8% to win outright)
Saints injury watch: TE Jimmy Graham: Q; TE Juwan Johnson: Q
Colts injury watch: RB Zack Moss: Q; TE Kylen Granson: Q
Best of the Week
The Playbook: Although Gardner Minshew had a great Week 7, Mike Clay believes he's a poor fantasy start this week against a New Orleans defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest QB fantasy points.
Shadow Report: Clay is downgrading Michael Pittman Jr. and Alec Pierce, but not Josh Downs, due to their expected individual coverage matchups.
Facts vs. Feelings: Liz Loza sees Jonathan Taylor grabbing a growing share of the touches in the Indy backfield, but this is likely not the matchup in which he reaches his full RB1 potential.
New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins -9.5
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida
Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 47 (Highest)
FPI favorite: Dolphins by 11.7 (80.6% to win outright)
Patriots injury watch: TE Hunter Henry: Q
Dolphins injury watch: WR Tyreek Hill: Q; WR Jaylen Waddle: Q; RB Raheem Mostert: Q
Best of the Week
The Playbook: Mike Clay will trust Kendrick Bourne as a flex option if JuJu Smith-Schuster remains sidelined this week.
New York Jets -3 @ New York Giants
MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey
Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 36.5 (14th highest)
FPI favorite: Jets by 10.1 (77.3% to win outright)
Jets injury watch: WR Randall Cobb: Q
Giants injury watch: WR Wan'Dale Robinson: Q; TE Darren Waller: Q; RB Saquon Barkley: Q; QB Daniel Jones: Q; RB Gary Brightwell: Q
Best of the Week
Shadow Report: Mike Clay recommends benching all Giants receivers against the stout Jets secondary.
The Playbook: Clay does however recommend stashing Jalin Hyatt, who has played in over 70% of snaps in consecutive games for the Giants.
Jacksonville Jaguars -2.5 @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh
Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 41 (12th highest)
FPI favorite: Jaguars by 3.7 (60.7% to win outright)
Jaguars injury watch: QB Trevor Lawrence: Q; WR Zay Jones: Q
Steelers injury watch: WR Diontae Johnson: Q
Best of the Week
Film Room: Matt Bowen likes George Pickens as a WR2/flex in a favorable matchup.
Facts vs. Feelings: Liz Loza points to the fact that Pickens had 8 targets -- basically his average without Diontae Johnson -- in Week 7, as a reason not to worry about Johnson's return capping Pickens' opportunities.
Shadow Report: Mike Clay is upgrading both Pickens and Johnson due to the Jaguars' difficulties covering the perimeter.
The Playbook: The presence of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren in the Pittsburgh backfield limits the fantasy value of both backs, but Mike Clay thinks Warren gets the matchup edge this week against the Jaguars.
Facts vs. Feelings: Liz Loza has Calvin Ridley as a flex due to the low floor that accompanies his high ceiling; the Steelers have allowed opposing receiver pairs to feast or starve so far this season.
Philadelphia Eagles -7 @ Washington Commanders
FedExField, Landover, Maryland
Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 43.5 (seventh highest)
FPI favorite: Eagles by 9.7 (76.4% to win outright)
Eagles injury watch: none to report
Commanders injury watch: WR Curtis Samuel: Q
Best of the Week
The Playbook: With Washington seemingly moving toward more of a three-man backfield of Brian Robinson Jr., Antonio Gibson and rookie Chris Rodriguez Jr., Mike Clay recommends trading away Robinson before others catch on to this trend.
Facts vs. Feelings: Liz Loza also downgrades Robinson Jr. to RB3 status due to the matchup and the competition for touches in the Commanders' backfield.
Matchup Map: Tristan H. co*ckcroft joins in on the distrust of the Washington backfield against the Eagles, who have allowed the second-fewest points per carry this season.
Matchup Map: co*ckcroft says that recent injuries and performance point to a Commanders defense that is particularly vulnerable to tight ends. Dallas Goedert has a team-leading four red zone targets in the past two weeks.
Shadow Report: Clay recommends starting Terry McLaurin due to a history of success against the Eagles. He is also upgrading both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith due to strong stat lines in their first matchup against the Commanders.
Hot Seat: Despite the matchup, Eric Karabell warns you don't have to feel obligated to start Smith, who is struggling even as Brown is thriving on his five-game 125-yard streak.
Houston Texans -3 @ Carolina Panthers
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
Sunday 1 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 43.5 (seventh highest)
FPI favorite: Texans by 4.5 (62.9% to win outright)
Texans injury watch: WR Robert Woods: Q; TE Brevin Jordan: Q
Panthers injury watch: WR Laviska Shenault Jr.: Q
Best of the Week
Matchup Map: Tristan H. co*ckcroft gives C.J. Stroud a good chance to rebound from back-to-back subpar efforts. The Panthers' defense is bottom three against fantasy QBs on a points-per-pass basis.
The Playbook: Mike Clay is going to avoid a Houston backfield that might have seen Devin Singletary overtake Dameon Pierce as the Texans' top guy.
Cleveland Browns @ Seattle Seahawks -3.5
Lumen Field, Seattle
Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 38 (13th highest)
FPI favorite: Seahawks by 5.5 (65.9% to win outright)
Browns injury watch: TE David Njoku: Q; RB Jerome Ford: D; QB Deshaun Watson: Q; WR Marquise Goodwin: Q
Seahawks injury watch: WR Tyler Lockett: Q; RB Kenneth Walker III: Q
Best of the Week
The Playbook: Mike Clay warns that Kareem Hunt is a risky flex play this week against a Seattle defense that has allowed a league-low 3.2 yards per RB carry.
Shadow Report: Clay is also downgrading Browns receivers due to the Seahawks giving up the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers.
Kansas City Chiefs -7 @ Denver Broncos
Empower Field at Mile High, Denver
Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 47 (Highest)
FPI favorite: Chiefs by 12.7 (82.7% to win outright)
Chiefs injury watch: RB Jerick McKinnon: Q
Broncos injury watch: WR Brandon Johnson: Q
Best of the Week
Film Room: Matt Bowen is encouraged by Rashee Rice's recent play and considers him a WR3 in deeper leagues.
The Playbook: Although the Chiefs' WR room remains quite crowded, Mike Clay agrees that Rice might have established himself as -- at worst -- a weekly flex option.
Matchup Map: Tristan H. co*ckcroft highlights Isiah Pacheco's opportunity to exceed Week 6's 15.8 PPR points in this rematch.
Baltimore Ravens -9.5 @ Arizona Cardinals
State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona
Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 44.5 (sixth highest)
FPI favorite: Ravens by 14.2 (85.4% to win outright)
Ravens injury watch: RB Keaton Mitchell: Q; WR Odell Beckham Jr.: Q
Cardinals injury watch: QB Kyler Murray: O; WR Zach Pascal: Q
Best of the Week
Film Room: Matt Bowen thinks volume and big-play ability keep Marquise Brown in the flex conversation despite his recent decline in production.
Shadow Report: Mike Clay recommends benching Rondale Moore and Michael Wilson due to difficult matchups.
Matchup Map: Tristan H. co*ckcroft thinks Zay Flowers can benefit from red-hot Lamar Jackson's arm and the matchup, providing his usual floor and a nicer-than-normal ceiling.
The Playbook: With Zach Ertz being placed on IR, Clay says that Trey McBride is best valued as a midrange TE1 in Week 8.
Facts vs. Feelings: Liz Loza is on the McBride train, though posits that it might take a while to get to full speed with this matchup and next week's (Cleveland).
Cincinnati Bengals @ San Francisco 49ers -4
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California
Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 43.5 (seventh highest)
FPI favorite: 49ers by 7 (69.9% to win outright)
Bengals injury watch: RB Chase Brown: Q
49ers injury watch: QB Brock Purdy: Q; WR Deebo Samuel: O
Best of the Week
The Playbook: Even if Joe Burrow is back at 100%, a meeting with the 49ers in Week 8 has Mike Clay looking for other QB options in Week 8.
Matchup Map: With all 32 teams in action this week, Tristan H. co*ckcroft agrees that you should consider all options before locking in Burrow in a classic "elite talent meets elite defense" matchup.
Chicago Bears @ Los Angeles Chargers -8.5
SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 46.5 (third highest)
FPI favorite: Chargers by 9.4 (75.8% to win outright)
Bears injury watch: QB Justin Fields: D
Chargers injury watch: TE Gerald Everett: Q; WR Joshua Palmer: Q
Best of the Week
The Playbook: Mike Clay wants nothing to do with the Bears' backfield, as the snap-share breakdown between D'Onta Foreman, Darrynton Evans and Roschon Johnson is way too unpredictable at present.
Shadow Report: Clay recommends upgrading Bears wide receivers instead, due to the Chargers' struggles defending the pass.
Las Vegas Raiders @ Detroit Lions -8
Ford Field, Detroit
Monday 8:15 p.m. ET
Over/under total: 46 (fourth highest)
FPI favorite: Lions by 9.9 (76.8% to win outright)
Raiders injury watch: QB Jimmy Garoppolo: Q
Lions injury watch: RB David Montgomery: Q
Best of the Week
Film Room: Matt Bowen expects Jared Goff to bounce back and be a lower-tier QB1 on Monday night.
Facts vs. Feelings: Liz Loza agrees, citing Goff's home/road splits as a reason he should be able to exploit this matchup.
The Playbook: The Raiders have allowed both the fifth-most RB fantasy points and RB scores (8) this season, which is why Mike Clay is very high on Jahmyr Gibbs for Week 8.
