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Welcome to bye week hell. With six teams on bye, fantasy owners are left in a bind for Week 8, as the options to keep lineups across the spectrum competitive have dwindled. It would be nice to reassure fantasy owners that it only gets better going forward, except Week 9 will have six more teams taking their bye weeks. Fun times.
In the meantime, fantasy owners can look at each game to see who can be a capable fill-in while their studs are sidelined, starting with the Texans and Lions.
Houston Texans
Start ‘em
If there was ever an offense in need of a “get right” game, it’s the Houston Texans, after the world witnessed Brock Osweiler’s historically inefficient game on Monday night against his former team. The Lions have had issues defending the pass all season, which gives DeAndre Hopkins owners hope for him to rebound after a string of awful fantasy outputs. Hopkins can be considered a high-end WR2 with upside.
Start ‘em?
Lamar Miller is expected to be a game-time decision due to a shoulder injury, and fantasy owners would be advised to pick up Alfred Blue off of waivers in case Miller can’t go. If Miller suits up, it cannot be expected that he will have his usual mammoth workload, which makes him a risky RB2 instead of his usual RB1 status.
Sit ‘em
Though the matchup looks strong for the Texans’ passing game, they haven’t shown enough for owners to express confidence in it. Until they do, fantasy owners don’t have to feel obligated to start Will Fuller V, C.J. Fiedorowicz, or Osweiler.
Detroit Lions
Start ‘em
Though the Texans can be run on, they have performed well against the pass, leaving Matthew Stafford with a middling matchup. The good news for Stafford is that he will be getting Eric Ebron and Theo Riddick back into the lineup, and both should heighten his already lofty ceiling. Stafford is a QB1, and top target Marvin Jones can be considered a middle-tier WR2.
Start ‘em?
While Riddick and Ebron’s presence will help Stafford, it doesn’t mean they can be trusted to have standalone fantasy value. It should also put a dent into Golden Tate’s value, as Tate remained an afterthought in the beginning of the season when all were healthy. Tate can be penned into lineups as a risky flex option, and fantasy owners need to be aware of his downside.
Sit ‘em
Though Dwayne Washington is back at practice, fantasy owners are likely in for a dreaded committee approach when it comes to the Lions’ backfield. Washington needs to be on benches until he shows fantasy owners he’s worth more than a depth spot.