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With Week 8 of the fantasy football season approaching, managers are faced with critical lineup decisions. Michael Fabiano's Start 'Em, Sit 'Em column provides an in-depth look at the best and worst quarterback matchups, tailored to a full-point PPR scoring system. The column excludes elite options like Josh Allen, Bijan Robinson, Ja'Marr Chase, and Trey McBride, instead focusing on players who could exceed or fall short of statistical expectations. For final lineup decisions, Fabiano's weekly player rankings are updated daily.
Streamers listed are players started in fewer than 50% of Sleeper fantasy leagues. The teams on bye this week are the 49ers, Giants, Saints, and Texans.
Fabiano's top 10 fantasy quarterback rankings for Week 8 are: Josh Allen vs. Ravens, Drake Maye at Dolphins, Lamar Jackson at Bills, Joe Burrow vs. Titans, Trevor Lawrence vs. Colts, Dak Prescott vs. Cardinals, Jayden Daniels vs. Eagles, Jordan Love vs. Panthers (Thursday), Matthew Stafford vs. Chargers, and Caleb Williams at Seahawks (Monday).
Start 'Em Quarterbacks
Start of the Week: Dak Prescott vs. Cardinals (1 p.m. ET, Fox) – Prescott halted a two-game slump by posting 23.4 fantasy points in the Cowboys' win over the Eagles. He should remain in starting lineups this week as Dallas hosts Arizona. The Cardinals' defense has allowed five quarterbacks to score 18 or more fantasy points, including three who exceeded 26 points. The projected point total for this game is in the mid-50s, indicating Vegas expects a high-scoring affair at Jerry World.
Trevor Lawrence vs. Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS) – Lawrence has been putting up impressive fantasy totals lately, scoring 19-plus points in three of his last four games. He should stay in starting lineups against the Colts, who have allowed the 10th-highest EPA (Expected Points Added) and an average of 18 points per game to quarterbacks. Lawrence has also scored 19-plus points in each of his last three games against Indianapolis, so a solid stat line is expected.
Jordan Love vs. Panthers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video) – Love has scored 17 or more fantasy points in three straight games and has posted more than 18 points in four of his seven games. He is worth starting against the Panthers, who have allowed three quarterbacks to beat them for more than 20 fantasy points. Carolina did hold Baker Mayfield to just 6.7 points last week, but that was due to game script and the Buccaneers' success in the running game.
Kyler Murray at Lions (1 p.m. ET, Fox) – Murray's numbers have not been great this season, as he has failed to score more than 14 fantasy points in all but one of his four full games. Still, he is in the starting conversation this week against the Lions. All but one quarterback has beaten Detroit for 21-plus fantasy points, and no team has allowed more points to the position this season. In what could be a breakout game for him as a Viking, Murray is a top-12 option this weekend.
Jacoby Brissett at Cowboys (1 p.m. ET, Fox) – Brissett's numbers haven't been great this season, but he can be a useful streamer when the matchup is favorable. That's the case this week, as he faces a Cowboys defense that has been brutal against quarterbacks. Four opposing quarterbacks have beaten them for 20-plus fantasy points, and they're fifth in fantasy points allowed and third in EPA per game to the position. Brissett is a free agent in many leagues, too.
More Starts – Drake Maye at Dolphins (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), Jayden Daniels vs. Eagles (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), Joe Burrow vs. Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
Quarterback Streamers – Kirk Cousins at Jets (39%): Cousins has scored 18-plus fantasy points in all but two games and faces a plus matchup against the Jets defense. Sam Darnold at Bears (18%): Darnold's numbers haven't been great, but he faces a Bears defense that has allowed the ninth-most points per game to quarterbacks in 2026. Geno Smith vs. Raiders (17%): Smith, listed as a streamer last week, had 23.4 points against Miami. Next, he has a good matchup against the Raiders in a revenge game.
Sit 'Em Quarterbacks
Sit of the Week: Caleb Williams at Seahawks (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN) – Williams is a tough player to sit, but he has a brutal matchup against the Seahawks. Their defense has allowed just one quarterback to beat them for more than 9.8 fantasy points at home, including holding Drake Maye and Patrick Mahomes to fewer than 10 points. Overall, Seattle has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game and the second-fewest points per dropback to enemy quarterbacks.
Patrick Mahomes at Broncos (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS) – Listed as a sit last week, Mahomes was held to just 6.7 fantasy points in a loss to the Seahawks. He has now failed to score more than 17 points in four straight games, averaging just 12.4 points in that span. Next up is a matchup against a Broncos team that has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per dropback. While he did beat them for 21.7 points in Week 1, Mahomes does come with risk right now.
Bo Nix vs. Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS) – Nix went off last week, scoring 26.3 fantasy points in a win over the Cardinals. However, that's more points than he had scored in his previous three games combined! Nix also has a much tougher matchup against the Chiefs, who held him to just 5.4 points back in Week 1. Overall, Kansas City has held all but one quarterback to fewer than 14 points this season. Nix is just a Superflex option, and not a very attractive one.
Justin Herbert at Rams (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox) – Herbert and the Chargers should be healthier coming off a bye, but that doesn't change the fact that this offense has been awful this season. Herbert hasn't scored more than 13.3 fantasy points in a game, and his 10.4 points-per-game average makes him waiver-wire fodder in most leagues. So, while this week's matchup against the Rams isn't terrible on paper, Herbert simply isn't worth starting in any fantasy leagues.
Deshaun Watson at Steelers (1 p.m. ET, CBS) – Watson has been a pleasant surprise, scoring 18-plus fantasy points three times in his last six games. He hasn't been a consistent performer, however, and a matchup against the Steelers makes him a fade. Their defense has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points per dropback, and quarterbacks have put up the fourth-fewest points per game against them. Also, Watson scored just 12.9 points against them in Week 4.
More Sits – Bryce Young at Packers (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video), Malik Willis vs. Patriots (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS), Daniel Jones at Jaguars (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
Michael Fabiano is a fantasy football analyst for Sports Illustrated. His weekly rankings and Start 'Em, Sit 'Em articles are must-reads for fantasy players. Before joining SI in August 2020, he worked for CBS Sports, NFL Network, and SiriusXM. He also contributes to Westwood One Radio and the Locked on Dynasty Podcast. Fabiano was the first fantasy analyst to appear on one of the four major TV networks and is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association Hall of Fame. Follow him on Twitter @Michael_Fabiano.