Start Em, Sit Em Kickers and Defenses for Fantasy Football Week 8

It’s week 8, folks! Time to nail down those fantasy lineups! Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst games in a given week for fantasy football leagues. Each week I examine kickers and defenses who could exceed or fall short of expectations based on their weekly opponent… like Austin Seibert and the Bengals defense in Week 7!

For your final draft decisions, check out my fantasy player rankings. I update them daily! Also, be sure to subscribe to the Fantasy Dirt Podcast with Lindsay Rhodes and me as we discuss all things fantasy football five days a week!

All positions: QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | K&DEFs

1. Brandon Aubrey at 49ers
2. Harrison Butker at Raiders
3. Austin Seibert vs. Bears
4. Ka’imi Fairbairn vs. Colts
5. Chase McLaughlin vs. Falcons
6. Justin Tucker at Browns
7. Younghoe Koo at Buccaneers
8. Wil Lutz vs. Panthers
9. Will Reichard at Rams (Thursday)
10. Jake Bates vs. Titans

Complete the Week 8 Kicker Rankings

Start of the week

Chase McLaughlin vs. Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox): McLaughlin has been hot lately, scoring nine or more points in three of his last four games. That includes a Week 5 game against the Falcons where he scored 16 points. He faces Atlanta again this week, so make sure you have him in your lineup. No defense has allowed more points per game to kickers.

Start them

Harrison Butker at Raiders (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Butker has scored just four points in two of his last three games, but I’d stick with the veteran if he faces the Raiders. The Silver & Black have been generous with kickers, allowing at least 11 fantasy points to all but two opponents this season. That makes Butker a solid option despite his recent stats.

Will Lutz vs. Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Lutz has once again emerged as a solid fantasy pick, scoring the fifth-most points among kickers after seven weeks. He should continue to find success this week as he has a favorable matchup against the Panthers. This unit has allowed four kickers to score at least 12 fantasy points against them this season.

Kickers with good matchups

Sits of the week

Cairo Santos on Commanders (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Santos has seen his fantasy value plummet after a strong start, scoring seven or fewer points in each of his last four games. I would sideline the veteran booter against the Commanders, who have allowed opposing kickers to average less than 7 fantasy points per game on the season.

Sit down

Blake Grupe at Chargers (4:05 PM ET, Fox): Grupe opened the season with a 22-point performance against the Panthers. Since then, he has failed to score more than seven points in four of his last six games. Next up is a date with the Chargers, who have given up fewer than 8 fantasy points to all but one of the six kickers they’ve faced this season.

Jason Myers vs. Bills (4:05 PM ET, Fox): Myers, listed as a starter last week, had a game-high 12 fantasy points in a win over the Falcons. Unfortunately, this week’s game against the Bills isn’t as favorable. Only one kicker has beaten them by more than 8 points, and the position has totaled less than 7 points per game against them.

Kickers with bad matchups

1. Broncos Defense vs. Panthers
2. Lions Defense vs. Titans
3. Chief’s defense at Raiders
4. Viking defense at Rams (Thursday)
5. Steelers defense vs. Giants (Mon.)
6. Ravens defense at Browns
7. Patriots Jet Defense
8. Chargers Defense Against Saints
9. Packers defense at Jaguars
10. Defends the commanders

Complete the Week 8 defensive rankings

Start of the week

Lions Defense vs. Titans (1 p.m. ET, Fox): The Lions have the best game in the league this week and face a mediocre Titans attack at home. The defense has averaged the most fantasy points against them as Tennessee has committed 12 giveaways and allowed 19 quarterback sacks despite already having a bye. Start this week with the Lions.

Start them

Raiders Main Defense (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): The Chiefs defense has been better in “real” football than in fantasyland, but this week’s matchup against the Raiders makes this unit a strong option. Defenses have averaged the second-most points against the Silver & Black, who have committed a whopping 16 giveaways this season.

Broncos defense vs. Panthers (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): The Broncos defense has become a solid fantasy option, and a plus matchup against the Panthers should yield more fantasy fruit. Their offense has yielded 12 giveaways, which is tied for second-most in the league, and the defense has scored the eighth-most points against them this season.

Defense with good matchups

Sits of the week

Eagles defense vs. Bengals (1 p.m. ET, CBS): The Eagles’ defense is in the bottom half of the league in fantasy points, and a matchup against Joe Burrow and the Bengals won’t be the start of a turnaround in their fortunes. Cincinatti’s offense has produced just six giveaways this season and should score plenty of points in this interconference matchup.

Sit down

Seahawks defense of bills (4:05 PM ET, Fox): The Bills defense is in the Top 10 in fantasy points, but a Seattle matchup makes this unit a sit ’em. Their offense averaged 25.7 points, 270.9 passing yards, and 368 yards per game in the league, committing just 10 giveaways on the season. This could also be a high-scoring case.

Commander Defense vs. Bears (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): The Commanders defense has been playing better lately, making it a matchup-based option in fantasy leagues. The problem, at least this week, is that Washington is going up against red-hot rookie Caleb Williams and a Bears offense that has been solid in recent weeks. I would keep the commanders on the bench.

Defense with bad matchups