Week 7 reminded us how good Aaron Rodgers is, how Ryan Tannehill might actually make the Titans fantasy relevant, and that Chase Edmunds is living up to the hype. Week 8 is just around the corner so let’s jump right into the starts, sits, and waiver wire pickups. All point totals done in the basic ESPN PPR point format.

Must Start:

Stefon Diggs- Wide Receiver- Minnesota Vikings: I’m going to be honest. Diggs proved me wrong. For weeks I constantly was saying how Diggs is not reliable and now he has completely turned his season around and proving everyone wrong. Diggs is coming off 43.5 and 21.2 point performances and now finds himself against the Washington Redskins this week. With a very likely chance that Theilen does not play, Diggs could seem himself as an absolute target hog against a tragic Redskin team. The Skins have allowed the sixth most TDs to opposing WRs so far this season as well.

Juju Smith-Schuster- Wide Receiver- Pittsburgh Steelers: Juju is currently WR41 and is really struggling. He finds himself not being a weekly lineup lock and is really screwing up fantasy lineups for many owners. Juju has a very good chance to see his luck change this week against the Dolphins though. Mason Rudolph finally returns which will help booster Juju against a defense that is tied for second in passing TDs allowed to opposing WRs so far this season. If that stat isn’t good enough for you, then how about the fact the Miami Dolphins team that has allowed 17.9 points to opposing teams’ WR1 in six of their seven games this year.

John Brown- Wide Receiver- Buffalo Bills: The Bills take on an Eagles team who has just been terrible against opposing WRs. I mean just horrendous. They have allowed the most FPPG to opposing WRs this year and is tied for second most TDs surrendered to opposing WRs as well. Brown has solidified himself as Josh Allen’s number one target and is quietly a top 20 fantasy WR at the moment. He has gone over double digit points in 4 of 6 games this year and has top 10 potential this week if not better.

Do Not Start:

Derrick Henry- Running Back- Tennessee Titans: I know in deeper leagues and even average sized leagues, Henry is a hard one to bench. With that said, you may want to really consider it. They play the Buccaneers who have, surprisingly, been the best team against opposing RBs. They have only allowed one RB (Alvin Kamara for 62 rushing yards) to break 40 rushing yards all year. That is insane. For me, you really cannot trust Henry this week.

Alshon Jeffery- Wide Receiver- Philadelphia Eagles: Jeffery has had some serious volume issues this year. He has only gone over 55 receiving yards in one game this year and he is also dealing with a struggling Carson Wentz. His only saving grace has been TDs and against a Bills team, who has only allowed two to opposing WRs all year, that will be hard to come by. 

Jacoby Brissett- Quarterback- Indianapolis Colts: Brissett has really filled into his role as the starter very nicely. He is a top 15 fantasy QB at the moment and is averaging 19.1 FPPG. Those are really good numbers and he is a very capable fantasy starter. With that said, he finds himself again a Bronco team who has been nothing but brutal against opposing QBs. They have allowed the third lowest FPPG to opposing QBs and have only allowed over 8.5 fantasy points to QBs twice this year. Brissett will have his work cut out for him against a Bronco team who tends to keep games low scoring.

Waiver Wire Pickups: 

Kirk Cousins- Quarterback- Minnesota Vikings: Over his last three games, Kirk Cousins has been a menace. Over 300 yards in all those games, combined 10 TDs, and only one interception. His next two games are against Washington and Kansas City who are super friendly matchups. Cousins is only owned in 50% of ESPN leagues and is a great spot starter for a QB on bye or if you have Brissett this week against the Broncos.

Ty Johnson- Running Back- Detroit Lions: Johnson is a must add with Kerryon Johnson going on IR for the remainder of the season. Johnson will see himself fill into a workhorse role and is a solid RB2 until proven otherwise. There is a chance the Lions will trade for a RB now before the trade deadline, but for now, Johnson is a very solid add. He is only owned in 50% of ESPN leagues.

Corey Davis- Wide Receiver- Tennessee Titans: Davis shined with Ryan Tannehill at the helm last week. Tannehill will most likely remain as the starter for the Titans for the time being which makes Davis a competent fantasy WR. The WR1 for the Titans saw 6/80/1 in his debut with the new QB which really restores confidence in Davis. He is only owned in 50% of ESPN leagues.