Fantasy plays: Players to start and sit for NFL Week 8

Nearing the halfway point of the NFL's regular season, fortune can favor the brave in fantasy football. These are my favorite sit/starts in Week 8 of the NFL season, with a few pertinent plays to avoid thrown into the mix.

Quarterbacks

Start: Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins vs Cardinals

Tagovailoa has been recovering for more than a month, after suffering a concussion in Week 2 against the Bills. Miami’s offense has been struggling since then, but barring any setbacks, Tagovailoa could return in Week 8. Miami faces the Cardinals this week, a top-five matchup for opposing QBs.

Other locks:

—Caleb Williams at Commanders

—Sam Darnold at Rams

—Joe Burrow vs Eagles

—Jordan Love at Jaguars

Avoid: Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs at Raiders

It’s crazy to think that the winningest team in football this season has a QB that hasn’t reached 17 fantasy points in standard leagues even once, but such is the case with the Chiefs and Mahomes. A model of efficiency, Mahomes has done just enough to take his team to victory six times. Mahomes has six touchdown passes and eight interceptions on the season. Mahomes has a solid floor every week, sure, but his upside is capped by the style of football the Chiefs are playing, and this week doesn’t project to be any different.

Running backs

Start: James Conner, Cardinals vs Dolphins

Conner has been on a roll for the Cardinals recently, reaching at least 100 all-purpose yards in three of his past four games. He surpassed 150 yards against the Chargers in a win in Week 7, and his longest run was only 14 yards. He’s also had at least 19 touches in those three games, so Conner is an indispensable facet of the Cardinals’ game plan on a weekly basis. He’ll get a top-five matchup this week against the Dolphins.

Other locks:

—JK Dobbins vs Saints

—Kareem Hunt vs Raiders

—Kenneth Walker III vs Bills

—Tank Bigsby vs Packers

Avoid: Devin Singletary, Giants at Steelers

Singletary is rehabbing from a groin injury and also losing snaps to rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. in the Giants backfield. Even if Singletary gets significant snaps this week, he only had six touches in Week 7, his upside is stymied by Pittsburgh’s top-five run defense. It’s best to leave him on the bench in Week 8.

Wide receivers

Start: Cedric Tillman, Browns vs Ravens

The casual football fan has probably not heard of Tillman, but that doesn’t change the fact that he got 12 targets in Week 7 for the Browns. Jerry Jeudy was supposed to be the No. 1 option once Amari Cooper was traded. But he caught only one of five targets for 18 yards. Tillman turned his 12 targets into eight catches for 81 yards to lead all Browns pass catchers in receiving in Week 7. There are still questions about who will start at quarterback for Cleveland this week, but in any case, Tillman could be a primary option in a matchup against Baltimore’s secondary.

Other locks:

—Tyreek Hill vs Cardinals

—Drake London at Buccaneers

—Stefon Diggs vs Colts

—Tee Higgins vs Eagles

Avoid: Terry McLaurin, Commanders vs Bears

McLaurin has flourished with rookie Jayden Daniels under center, scoring and/or topping 100 yards in four of his past five games, but there are a couple of potentially mitigating factors limiting his potential in Week 8. One is the potential for Daniels to have to sit out this week with a rib injury suffered in Week 7. Marcus Mariota is the backup to Daniels. The second, and perhaps more important factor, is Jaylon Johnson, the shutdown corner for the Bears. Regardless of who the QB is, Johnson could shadow McLaurin all game long.

Tight ends

Start: Cade Otton, Buccaneers vs Falcons

Otton is on a roll, either scoring or surpassing 50 yards receiving in three of his past four games. His best performance yet came in Week 7, when he caught eight passes for 100 yards against Baltimore. Averaging more then seven targets in his past five games, Otton has developed into a major part of Tampa Bay's offense, and he could continue to roll in Week 8.

Other locks:

—Cole Kmet at Commanders

—Kyle Pitts at Buccaneers

—Zach Ertz vs Bears

—David Njoku vs Ravens

Avoid: Colby Parkinson, Rams vs Vikings

Parkinson hasn’t been able to find a consistent role in the Rams offense, even with Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua sidelined for the majority of the season. Parkinson has only topped 50 yards once this season, and he still has yet to find the end zone. With Cooper Kupp possibly returning this week, Parkinson’s targets and fantasy potential could wither.