Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 8

SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.

For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 8 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 8 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.

StartKirk Cousins, Vikings

vs. Cowboys

Adam Bettcher / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Cousins is the QB10 in average fantasy points per game this year thanks to a favorable early-season schedule.

He gets another friendly draw against the Cowboys, who've been the 12th-easiest defense for quarterbacks to face. However, more importantly, this contest has the makings of a high-scoring affair with a projected point total of 53.5.

In Cousins' last meeting with Dallas, he posted 314 yards and three touchdowns at home in Week 11 last season.

You can confidently start him as a back-end QB1 this week.

Boone's projection: 327 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 8 rushing yards

Other QBs to start

• Joe Burrow at Jets
• Daniel Jones vs. Chiefs
• Ryan Tannehill at Colts

James Robinson, Jaguars

at Seahawks

Sam Greenwood / Getty Images Sport / Getty

It took a couple of games for Robinson to regain his 2020 form, but he's back in the groove as a borderline RB1.

The former undrafted free agent has averaged the seventh-most fantasy points among running backs over the last five weeks, recording at least 100 scrimmage yards or two touchdowns in four straight contests.

He'll encounter minimal resistance from a Seahawks defense that's permitting the second-most fantasy points to his position.

Boone's projection: 83 rushing yards, 26 receiving yards, TD

Other RBs to start

• Chuba Hubbard at Falcons
• Elijah Mitchell at Bears
• Zack Moss vs. Dolphins

Chase Claypool, Steelers

at Browns

Joe Sargent / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Claypool had the bye week to think about his worst outing of the season - a disappointing two-catch, 17-yard effort on seven targets in Week 6.

This might be your last chance to buy low.

Claypool is WR32 in fantasy points per game this year after finishing as WR18 in that category during his rookie season.

The matchup with the Browns' defense might seem challenging, but Claypool turned in stat lines of 5-101-1 and 4-74-0 in his previous two battles with Cleveland.

And after this week, the Steelers' schedule gets even softer with the Bears and Lions on deck. Claypool is also poised for big performances in the fantasy playoffs when he takes on the Titans and Chiefs in Weeks 15 and 16.

If you have him on your roster, make sure he's in your starting lineup. And if you don't have Claypool on your team, send an offer out for him immediately.

Boone's projection: 87 receiving yards, TD

Other WRs to start

• Adam Thielen vs. Cowboys
• Tee Higgins at Jets
• Emmanuel Sanders vs. Dolphins

Hunter Henry, Patriots

at Chargers

Adam Glanzman / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Revenge game!

Henry enters this matchup with his former club in the midst of a four-game touchdown streak.

Though his yardage totals haven't been massive, there's reason to believe that could change in this one.

The Chargers are giving up the most fantasy points to tight ends in 2021, including a four-game touchdown streak of their own to the position.

Meanwhile, Henry's teammate, Jonnu Smith, is dealing with a shoulder injury. That could direct more targets Henry's way.

He's a locked-in TE1 for Week 8.

Boone's projection: 72 receiving yards, TD

Other TEs to start

• Rob Gronkowski at Saints
• Tyler Higbee at Texans
• C.J. Uzomah at Jets

SitTua Tagovailoa, Dolphins

at Bills

Michael Reaves / Getty Images Sport / Getty

We've been recommending Tagovailoa as a strong fantasy play the last two weeks since he returned from injured reserve.

The sophomore quarterback rewarded us with back-to-back strong outings, finishing as the QB11 and QB3, respectively.

Unfortunately, his degree of difficulty will be cranked way up this Sunday. The Bills rank No. 1 in Football Outsiders' pass defense DVOA, and they're the team that sent Tua to IR back in Week 2.

Buffalo also forced three Tua interceptions in their matchup last season.

Assuming the Dolphins don't trade for Deshaun Watson before the Nov. 2 deadline, Tua will have a chance to continue putting up quality fantasy stats - just not this week.

Boone's projection: 208 passing yards, TD, 2 INTs, 14 rushing yards

Other QBs to sit

• Taylor Heinicke at Broncos
• Ben Roethlisberger at Browns
• Mac Jones at Chargers

Mike Davis, Falcons

vs. Panthers

Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

During the first five games of the season, Davis wasn't winning any weeks for fantasy managers, but he wasn't losing them for you, either.

The veteran runner had double-digit fantasy points in five straight outings to open the campaign. However, coming off the bye week, his usage cratered to just four carries for 10 yards and not a single target thrown his way.

While optimists will point to his snap share still being around the 60% mark, which is consistent with his earlier outings, his usage is still a terrible sign for a 28-year-old back.

The Falcons are clearly making a conscious effort to give Cordarrelle Patterson, who's recorded 28 carries over the last two games, more work as a runner.

Davis can't be trusted in your lineup until further notice.

Boone's projection: 26 rushing yards, 13 receiving yards

Other RBs to sit

• Myles Gaskin at Bills
• Melvin Gordon vs. Washington
• Jamaal Williams vs. Eagles

Tyler Lockett, Seahawks

vs. Jaguars

Abbie Parr / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Lockett's value will return to normal in a few weeks when Russell Wilson gets back in Seattle's lineup.

Until then, he's a volatile WR3 at best, even in a great matchup against the Jaguars.

The 29-year-old wideout has fallen off dramatically with Geno Smith at the helm, turning in stat lines of 2-35-0 and 2-12-0 the past two weeks.

Play him at your own risk.

Boone's projection: 35 receiving yards

Other WRs to sit

• Jakobi Meyers at Chargers
• Corey Davis vs. Bengals
• Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Steelers

Jared Cook, Chargers

vs. Patriots

Harry How / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Despite playing in a quality offense with an ascending young quarterback, Cook has only topped 30 yards in one of his last five appearances.

To make matters worse, the Patriots are experts at shutting down tight ends.

Bill Belichick's defense is giving up the third-fewest fantasy points to the position, with only one tight end surpassing 30 yards against New England this year.

Boone's projection: 27 receiving yards

Other TEs to sit

• Mo Alie-Cox vs. Titans
• David Njoku/Austin Hooper vs. Steelers
• Pat Freiermuth at Browns

StashSalvon Ahmed, Dolphins Mark Brown / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Ahmed (2% rostered) started to see more work in Miami's offense even before the team sent Malcolm Brown to IR this week.

He turned eight touches into 37 yards against the Jaguars in Week 6 and nine touches into 52 yards versus the Falcons this past Sunday.

In addition to some fantasy flex appeal, Ahmed is now next in line if something happens to starter Myles Gaskin.

Don't forget, when injuries thrust Ahmed into the starting role last season, he delivered three consecutive solid fantasy outings.

Jamal Agnew, Jaguars Don Juan Moore / Getty Images Sport / Getty

With Travis Etienne and D.J. Chark both out for the season, it's surprisingly been longtime special teamer Agnew (1% rostered) who's stepped up and taken on a bigger role in the Jags' offense.

Agnew played 63% and 59% of Jacksonville's snaps the last two games, respectively. He answered the call with six catches for 41 yards versus the Titans and five grabs for 78 yards against the Dolphins in London.

If he continues to be used as the team's third wideout, which seems likely at this point, Agnew deserves to be rostered as a flex option in deeper leagues.

QuitAllen Robinson, Bears Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty

The last couple of players we've mentioned as "quit" options have found the end zone the very next week. So, maybe this will turn out to be a reverse jinx for Robinson (86% rostered), who's been abysmal fantasy-wise in 2021.

Not only is Robinson averaging less than 36 yards per game this season, he's only found the end zone once.

There have been no spiked weeks, and the volume that once was his calling card has disappeared. Robinson has four campaigns with at least 150 targets on his resume, and yet this year he's on pace for just 97 targets in a 17-game season.

Some of the blame can fall on the coaching staff and some on his rookie quarterback. But in the end, fantasy managers are just looking for results, and Robinson has shown no sign of providing relief.

His best chance to salvage this season might be a trade. However, with a compensatory pick likely headed Chicago's way if he leaves in free agency, the odds of a deal being made before Tuesday's deadline are slim.

Try to work Robinson into a package deal to upgrade somewhere on your roster. If that doesn't materialize, send him to the waiver wire.

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