Fantasy football tips should always be relative and league dependent. Many starts and sessions are also obvious, so we’ll focus instead on the fringe options in this column, the ones that really need to be thought about. Good luck with your Week 8 lineups!

Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns

Start: David Njoku

Njoku saw 14 targets in the league last week with Amari Cooper gone, and gets a big upgrade at QB with Jameis Winston starting Sunday. Njoku won a target rate of 31% on first reading over the past two weeks, he too is receiving extreme pass defense; The Ravens have allowed an NFL-low 51.7 RB yards per game, but the most passing yards this season. Baltimore’s opponents have the league’s third-highest pass percentage (66.3%). Winston threw a touchdown on his only drive last week, so Njoku is a top-three tight end.

Rashod Bateman becomes a flex option if Zay Flowers sits.

Tennessee Titans @ Detroit Lions

Start: David Montgomery

Montgomery practiced fully this week after briefly leaving the last game with a knee injury. The Titans aren’t an easy defense, but the Lions ran for 144 yards against a tough Vikings D last week. Jameson Williams is out and the Lions have the team’s highest default total (28.5 points) this week. Detroit is also the biggest favorite (-11.5) on the board, so the game plan should be very favorable for a team that starts Mason Rudolph and likely misses both top teams.

The Lions’ D/ST is one of the top three starts this week.

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans

Start: CJ Stroud

Stroud will still miss Nico Collins but is in a good place to bounce back from one of the worst games of his career last week. Stroud posted 8.7 YPA and averaged 311.1 passing yards with 22 total touchdowns in 11 home games during his career. He also owns a 6-0 TD:INT ratio in three games against the Colts, which have allowed the fifth-most program-adjusted fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. The Texans have the team’s third-highest scoring total (26.5 points) this week, so Stroud starts at home.

Green Bay Packers @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Start: Romeo Doubs

Doubs easily leads Green Bay with a target rate of 26% for the first reading in games with Jayden Reed (20%), Dontayvion Wicks (17%) and Christian Watson (9%). He also leads in targets and passing yards when Doubs, Reed and Watson were on the field together this season. The Packers get a Jaguars defense that allows the most fantasy points to outside receivers, and Reed and Watson were both limited in Thursday’s practice with ankle injuries. Green Bay is projected to score the second most points (27.5) this week; Doubs is a top 30 WR.

Arizona Cardinals @ Miami Dolphins

Start: Jaylen Waddle

Miami averaged fewer points per game than the last two winless teams and the Bryce Young-led Panthers, but they will get a huge boost with the return of Tua Tagovailoa. Waddle averaged 47.7 receiving yards with zero touchdowns in 12 career games without Tagovailoa, but averaged 75.2 receiving yards with all 19 touchdowns in 41 games with he.

Be sure to check out Waddle after being limited throughout practice this week with a quad injury. He could also have an extended role if health cooperates, as Tyreek Hill was a late week addition to the injury report with a foot problem. The Dolphins are projected to score 25.5 points with Tagovailoa back against a Cardinals defense that struggles in pressure rate, so Waddle can return to fantasy lineups.

New York Jets @ New England Patriots

Start: Rhamondre Stevenson

The game script limited Stevenson’s touches last week, and he should be healthier after returning to full practice Thursday. Stevenson didn’t fumble in back-to-back games, and Jets opponents averaged the eighth-most rushing attempts in the league. Stevenson has posted 5.2 YPC and averaged 85.0 rushing yards and 1.0 TD in two home games this year, and Drake Maye gives life to the offense. The Jets have allowed the 12th-most program-adjusted fantasy points to running backs when excluding receiving, so Stevenson can be started if needed. The Patriots are a touchdown underdog and have a low total, but the running back is thin this week.

Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Start: Rachaad White

Bucky Irving is who is dealing with a leg injury this could compromise its availability (or snaps) this week while Chris Godwin and Mike Evans are out. White (and Sean Tucker) will see an extended role in what should be a fast-paced matchup. Tampa Bay games have averaged 55.6 points this season, and White should see even more targets than usual. It’s a good flex option this week.

Jalen McMillan sleeps, especially if it moves to the slot.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Cincinnati Bengals

Start: Tee Higgins

Higgins has a 27.4 percent field goal rate and the 12th-highest passing yardage rate (38.3 percent) this season — both marks well ahead of Ja’Marr Chase (19.8 percent, 28 .3%). The Eagles have given up the sixth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, but the ninth-most to receivers. Higgins ranks top 10 in fantasy points on the road to man, a coverage Philadelphia used at the league’s seventh-highest rate.

New Orleans Saints @ Los Angeles Chargers

Start: JK Dobbins

Dobbins averaged just 3.1 YPC since scoring 9.9 in the first two games of the season. There is some concern given that he is coming back from Achilles surgery, but Dobbins should get a ton of volume on Sunday. New Orleans has allowed Kareem Hunt, Sean Tucker, Bucky Irving and Javonte Williams to combine for 525 yards and six touchdowns over the past three weeks. The Chargers are the favorites to land at home against a Saints team that will likely start Spencer Rattler, so the game plan should be favorable.

Buffalo Bills @ Seattle Seahawks

Start: Amari Cooper

Cooper was on the field for just 34 percent of Josh Allen’s sacks during his first game in Buffalo, but he had a TPRR of 42%. and led the team in fantasy points. Seattle’s top corners Riq Woolen and Tre Brown are getting hit and/or out, and Cooper’s role is sure to increase in Sunday’s fast-paced game. Cooper can be a top-20 WR going forward after huge quarterback upgrade.

Wait Geno Smithwho will be missing DK Metcalf and getting a Buffalo defense in the open.

Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders

Wait: Keenan Allen

Allen scored two touchdowns during his last game, but is only WR49 expected fantasy points. Allen could return from the bye healthier after playing through a heel injury, but it’s also possible Rome Odunze could see a rookie bump after the bye as well. Caleb Williams has undoubtedly shown growth and will continue to improve, but his last three games have come against three of the easiest matchups in the league; posted 6.0 YPA and 11 sacks with a 2:4 TD:INT ratio en route to his career opener.

This matchup has been moved to primetime, but the total is only 43.0 points thanks to Marcus Mariota likely starting for Jayden Daniels. Washington’s defense also improved dramatically, allowing seventh-fewest EPA/play over past three weeks. The Commanders have also given up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to the slot over the past month, so Allen deserves consideration.

Carolina Panthers @ Denver Broncos

Start: Javonte Williams

Williams averaged 5.1 YPC and 16.8 opportunities in the last four games (after Tyler Badie was injured). He gets an excellent matchup against a Panthers defense allowing by far the most fantasy points to running backs this season. The Broncos are double-digit home favorites against a Bryce Young-led Carolina team that has given up an NFL-high 13 rushing scores. Denver has the team’s fifth-highest default total (26.5 points). Williams is a top-15 RB this week.

Wait Chuba Hubbardwhich was great but is held back by a terrible situation. Carolina will start Young on offense, missing Diontae Johnson and Adam Thielen against a Denver defense allowing an NFL-low 4.4 yards per play. The Panthers have an anemic team total of 16.5 points. Hubbard averaged 131 yards from scrimmage and 19.4 fantasy points (0.5 PPR) in three complete games without Young this season; he’s averaging 59.3 YFS and just 9.9 fantasy points through four games with him (H/T RotoViz).

Kansas City Chiefs @ Las Vegas Raiders

Start: Patrick Mahomes

Mahomes is unlikely to start performing at his early ADP expectations moving forward but off to a solid start this week. TD regression follows while ranking sixth in red-zone passing, but just 22nd in touchdowns, especially with the addition of DeAndre Hopkins.

Let’s also take a quick trip down narrative street; The Raiders beat Mahomes in Kansas City on Christmas Day the last time these teams met, and then taunted him with a Kermit the Frog puppet in camp. Mahomes replied “it will work out” and his personal trainer tweeted “we’ll remember”.

Mahomes is looking for revenge on Sunday.

Wait Alexander Mattisonthat will deal with a negative game scenario against a Chiefs defense allowing the fewest fantasy points to running backs by a wide margin. No one has even reached 60 rushing yards in a game against Kansas City this season.

Dallas Cowboys @ San Francisco 49ers

Wait: Dak Prescott

Dallas’ offense showed significant improvement after last season’s layoff, and the Cowboys hope the same happens this year; they rank 20th in scoring after leading the league in 2023. But Prescott has finished as a top-10 QB just once over six games this season, and San Francisco’s opponents have the fourth-lowest passer rating ( 78.7). The Cowboys have the team’s eighth-lowest default total (20.5 points) during a week with many QB alternatives.

New York Giants @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Start: Najee Harris

George Pickens gets a huge fantasy boost with Russell Wilson startingand so does Najee Harris. He shares snaps with Jaylen Warren, but his own the percentage of runs against light boxes almost doubled compared to my time with Justin Fields. The Giants have allowed the ninth most fantasy points with the most adjusted running backs, and the Steelers are a six-point home favorite Monday night.