It's time for the Week 8 NFL Fantasy Football Rookie Start/Sit! Some new names have proven themselves reliable as starting options this week, while some of the most dependable rookie fantasy players should go to the bench for a week.
On top of those trends, managers will need to monitor the injury report for a few potentially important decisions regarding a few rookie wide receivers.
NFL fantasy football rookie starts for Week 8
Start 'Em: Eli Raridon
The matchup: The New England Patriots are playing in a divisional game in Week 8 against the Miami Dolphins. While Miami hasn't been a kind fantasy football matchup for wide receivers, they have been extremely favorable to tight ends.
The Dolphins are allowing the third-highest fantasy points per game to tight ends in the league in 2026. Five tight ends in Miami's first six matchups have gotten double-digit point totals, and four of the six have scored touchdowns.
Why I'm starting him: From Week 1, Eli Raridon was making his presence known in the Patriots offense, catching his first career touchdown in the first game of the season against the Seahawks.
But Raridon has become a more consistent part of the offense in the last three weeks. In the last three games, he has nine receptions on 12 targets for 124 yards and a touchdown. Despite the first-game touchdown, he had just three catches and four targets from Weeks 1-3.
With the injuries to so many starting receivers throughout the season, Raridon has found himself as a reliable target for Drake Maye and the offense. The opportunity, production, and favorable matchup make him a sneaky fantasy start this week if you need a tight end.
Fantasy Outlook: TE/FLEX
Start 'Em: Omar Cooper Jr.
The matchup: The New York Jets are facing the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 8. The Raiders' defense had a good start to the season, but that hot start has cooled off. After a combined 27 points allowed in the first two weeks, they've allowed at least 27 points in each game since.
Las Vegas is also giving up the 13th-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
Why I'm starting him: Omar Cooper Jr. has been a seamless fit since returning to the lineup for the Jets in Week 6. In his two games back from injury, he has 11 catches on 12 targets for 218 yards and two touchdowns. Only five players have had at least 10 catches for 200 yards and a score in the last two weeks: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Zay Flowers, Luther Burden, Tre Tucker, and Cooper Jr.
Cooper is showing what made him a first-round pick for the Jets and has immediately become their second option since his return.
With Cooper on a hot streak and the Raiders in a downward spiral, Cooper is a solid play in lineups in Week 8.
Fantasy Outlook: WR2
Start 'Em: Antonio Williams
The matchup: The Washington Commanders are facing the Philadelphia Eagles this week. Washington is coming off a bye week to face the reeling Eagles. Philadelphia has lost five straight games and just gave up 38 points to the Dallas Cowboys.
The Eagles have the 21st-ranked scoring defense in the NFL, giving up the seventh-most passing yards and the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers this year.
Why I'm starting him: The injury situation in Washington is once again impacting Antonio Williams. Terry McLaurin is now out for the season with a torn patellar tendon. Stefon Diggs and Treylon Burks are also on the injury report for Week 8.
With injuries mounting and Head Coach Dan Quinn highlighting Williams as a player in line for more targets, we could see Williams continue to expand his role in the offense this week.
He has consistently been on the field in the last three weeks (between 67-69 percent of the offensive snaps in Weeks 4-6), which is a clear uptick from the first three weeks (37-49 percent of snaps in Weeks 1-3), and is coming off his best statistical game in Week 6 against the 49ers.
With the Eagles floundering and increased opportunities ahead, Antonio Williams can be inserted into your lineup this week, especially if Diggs or Burks remain limited or questionable.
Fantasy Outlook: Low-end FLEX.
NFL fantasy football rookie sits for Week 8
Sit 'Em: Germie Bernard
The matchup: The Pittsburgh Steelers host the Cleveland Browns in their second meeting this season. Cleveland is ranked 12th in scoring defense, has given up the seventh-fewest passing yards, and ranks 14th in points allowed to wide receivers in fantasy.
After giving up over 230 passing yards in three of the first four games this season, Cleveland has given up 181 or fewer yards through the air in three straight weeks.
Why I'm sitting him: Germie Bernard came back down to Earth last week with just three catches on five targets for 27 yards. It was his least productive game of the season while actually seeing snaps on the field.
One thing to monitor this week before their bye is the targets going to running backs. Since Rico Dowdle returned to the lineup, he's received 10 targets in addition to Jaylen Warren's eight on his own snaps out of the backfield.
If Pittsburgh is motivated to get both backs going on the ground and through the air, there may be fewer targets available for Bernard. But maybe it was also just an international game fluke.
Either way, with a tough matchup in Week 8 after a down performance, this might be a week to sit Bernard if you can.
Fantasy Outlook: Bench/stash
Sit 'Em: Jonah Coleman
The matchup: The Denver Broncos will face the Kansas City Chiefs this week. Kansas City is fifth in the league in rush yards allowed and has given up the eighth-fewest fantasy points to running backs.
Why I'm sitting him: Jonah Coleman may have excited some fantasy football managers last week. In his first game back from injury, he immediately took snaps from R.J. Harvey and J.K. Dobbins. He even outsnapped them 30-16-14, respectively.
But there still isn't a lot of valuable volume. Coleman had just nine carries last week, compared to six from Dobbins and three from Harvey. And of his 30 snaps, only three came in the red zone, and they were all pass plays. Meanwhile, the one carry Denver had in the red zone went to Dobbins for a one-yard touchdown.
Coleman is in too much of a timeshare and, seemingly, without the high-value touches at this point in the season. He's worth keeping on rosters in case his role grows, but for now he should stay on your bench.
Fantasy outlook: Bench/stash
Sit 'Em: Denzel Boston
The matchup: Denzel Boston will get his second chance to play the Pittsburgh Steelers this year. Pittsburgh is 14th in yards allowed through the air and has given up the 11th-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers.
Pittsburgh is also fourth in passing touchdowns allowed this year with seven, three of which came in one game against Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
Why I'm sitting him: Things have cooled down for Boston recently. He has one touchdown in the last five games, and hasn't had more than three catches or 46 yards in three weeks.
This is the life of the vertical, outside receiver. Sometimes production can come and go. Boston is at least still seeing the targets with 20 in the last three games, but those targets haven't been turning into production recently.
With K.C. Concepcion having the best day of his season last week, and Harold Fannin having one of his better games as well, Cleveland might be riding one of those hot hands in a tougher matchup against Pittsburgh, making Boston a sit for Week 8.
Fantasy Outlook: Bench/stash
Rookie sleeper of the week: Makai Lemon
The matchup: The Philadelphia Eagles are facing the Washington Commanders this week on Sunday Night Football. Washington has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers, and the third-most passing touchdowns this season.
Why he's my sleeper: DeVonta Smith ended up being inactive for Philadelphia's Week 7 game against the Cowboys, and Makai Lemon took advantage.
Lemon had season highs in snap percentage (91 percent), targets (8), catches (7), yards (67), and his first touchdown of the season.
Smith was held out of Philadelphia's walkthrough on Wednesday, and his status will need to be monitored. In Week 6 when Lemon and Smith were both on the field, along with Tanner McKee playing quarterback, Lemon had just three catches for 19 yards.
If Smith plays in Week 8, Lemon should probably go to the bench. If he's out, then Makai Lemon is a startable fantasy wide receiver.
Fantasy Outlook: With DeVonta Smith - Bench, without DeVonta Smith - WR2
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