Fantasy Football IDP Starting/Sit Lineup Recommendation: Week 8 (2024)

Thursday Night Football got a big boost with the returns of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, and the Los Angeles Rams (2-4) looked like a completely different team against a Minnesota Vikings team that entered Week 8 as the NFC’s second seed started with a record of 5:1. The face mask on the Byron Young sack as a safety will be a talking point, but the Rams were the better team in Week 7. The offensive storylines will revolve around how different Matthew Stafford looks with his star receivers healthy and natural. Also worth noting is the consistent size of Justin Jefferson, but Kyren Williams continuing to dominate the snaps also deserves a mention. On the IDP side, Ivan Pace continued to impress for Minnesota, while Jared Verse racked up 1.5 sacks and Jaylen McCollough came back down to earth after three interceptions in two games. LLooking ahead to this weekend, we’ll take a look at five players fantasy managers should do their best to slot into their lineups, and five others who, despite promising opportunities, are better off left on the bench. Let’s dive in.

Fantasy Football IDP Start/Sit Week 8

Start them

Evan Williams (S – GB)
Evan Williams showed up again in Week 7, this time recording six solos and three assists. This was a season-high number of solos for Williams and is the third straight game in which he has recorded four or more solos. Evan appears to be stuck as a free safety as long as the Packers have Javon Bullard in the slot and should be used as a DB3 in leagues of all sizes. Mention him as a top-36 option for Week 8 thanks to a plus matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ventrell Miller (LB – JAC)
Ventrell has worked his way into must-start weekly territory and should be counted as a top-25 option as long as he competes. He was solid again in Week 7, recording six solos and four assists. He has hit six or more solos in four straight games and has emerged as the Jaguars’ most consistent LB option in the absence of Foyesade Oluokun. As the LB12, since Miller has started playing regularly for the Jaguars, he should be used everywhere in Week 8 if Oluokun is sidelined as expected.

Eric Wilson (LB – GB)
After Quay Walker left the game with a concussion, Eric Wilson came into action and recorded six solos, two sacks, four tackles for loss and one pass defensed against the Houston Texans. Overall, it was an impressive day for the Packers’ defense, but Wilson stood out. Wilson only has value if Quay misses this weekend’s contest against Jacksonville, but after this performance, it will become a must-start if Quay misses time (he got in limited practice on Thursday). Tap Wilson as a positive LB3 option if Quay is ruled out.

Jordan Poyer (S – MIA)
Poyer returned from injury and recorded six solos and two assists in Week 7. He should already be on the roster in well over one percent of Yahoo leagues. Poyer has recorded five or more solos in his last two complete games and should be trusted as a DB2 option for Week 8. He has upside in a matchup against an AFC team and should be busy enough against the run and pass to compensate for at least DB3 numbers. Tap Poyer as a top-25 option for Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals.

Jalen Carter (DT – PHI)
Jalen Carter showed up in Week 7, recording three solos, one assist, two sacks and two tackles for a loss. Carter was a disappointment in his first four games but now has three sacks in his last two games. Carter is still a DT2, but a DL3 option while he’s hot. Start him as DL3/4 for a plus matchup in Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Set them

Malcolm Rodriguez (LB – DET)
Rodrigo showed up in Week 7, recording five solos, two assists, one sack and one tackle for loss on 53 percent of snaps. This was only the second time all season that he played more than 50 percent of the snaps, and it was only his third start. Rodriguez has recorded five or more solos only once this season and four or more only twice. Rodriguez should be claimed off waivers in all but the major leagues as long as Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell are healthy.

Leo Chenal (LB – KC)
Chenal showed up in Week 7 with five solos, a tackle for loss, a pass defended and a forced fumble. Chenal has only recorded more than three solos twice all season and should not be included in the lineup unless he has a serious walk-off or an injury coming up. Leave Chenal on the bench for Week 8 despite a plus game against the Las Vegas Raiders.

Tim Settle (DT – HOU)
Settle showed up in Week 7 and recorded four solos, a sack and two tackles for loss. Settle is up to three sacks this season but has been too inconsistent in the solo department to be trusted with anything more than a DT2/3. Keep him on the bench for Week 8, even though he appears in the sack column again.

Ar’Darius Washington (S/CB – BAL)
Washington showed up in Week 7 with four solos, two assists, a sack and a tackle for loss. Washington hasn’t played a role outside of Week 7 and will only become an option for the CB league if Marlon Humphrey, who missed the first two practices of the week, is unable to attend this weekend. Look elsewhere for your Week 8 DB4.

Jalen Mills (S/CB – NYJ)
Mills was solid in Week 7, recording five solos, three assists, one tackle for loss and one pass defended. Due to lack of sample size, Mills is still up for grabs as a DB option, but he is worth a roster spot in CB leagues. Stash Mills where needed, but keep him out of lineups despite the plus matchup against the New England Patriots in Week 8.

Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more information from Raju, click here profile and follow him @FantasyContext.