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USATSI

Cooper Kupp (ankle) and Puka Nacua (knee) are expected to play in Week 8 against Minnesota, and the Rams and Fantasy managers are excited to have them back. It's great timing with a fantastic matchup against the Vikings.

Minnesota is No. 1 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and six receivers have scored at least 18.0 PPR points against the Vikings this season. Hopefully, Matthew Stafford will lean on Kupp and Nacua like he typically does, and this could be an amazing performance for both.

With both receivers back, Stafford now becomes a potential starting quarterback in deeper leagues. But Kupp and Nacua are starters in all formats. I like Kupp as a borderline No. 1 Fantasy receiver, and Nacua is a low-end No. 2 receiver.

Let's hope there's no rust from the long layoff since Nacua was injured in Week 1, while Kupp was injured in Week 2. But given the matchup, it's worth trusting the Rams receivers, and hopefully both deliver against the Vikings on Thursday night..

WRs to Start
Projections powered by Sportsline
PIT Pittsburgh • #14
Age: 23 • Experience: 3 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs NYG PIT -6.5 O/U 36.5
OPP VS WR
15th
PROJ PTS
14
WR RNK
10th
YTD Stats
REC
31
TAR
53
REYDS
474
TD
1
FPTS/G
11.8
Pickens was awesome in his first start with Russell Wilson in Week 7 against the Jets, with five catches for 111 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. He's had at least seven targets in five games in a row, but that was just his second game with more than 10.7 PPR points over that span. I expect Wilson to continue to lean on Pickens in Week 8 against the Giants, and I like Pickens as a top-10 Fantasy receiver in all leagues in Week 8.
BUF Buffalo • #18
Age: 30 • Experience: 10 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ SEA BUF -3 O/U 47
OPP VS WR
14th
PROJ PTS
13
WR RNK
16th
YTD Stats
REC
28
TAR
58
REYDS
316
TD
3
FPTS/G
11.1
Cooper only played 19 snaps in his debut with the Bills in Week 7 against Tennessee, but he made the most of them. He had four catches for 66 yards and a touchdown on five targets, and he should continue to be more involved moving forward as he gets more comfortable with Josh Allen in Buffalo's offense. Seattle's defense is banged up in the secondary, and Cooper should be considered a top-15 Fantasy receiver in the majority of leagues in Week 15.
ATL Atlanta • #1
Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ TB ATL -2.5 O/U 46
OPP VS WR
28th
PROJ PTS
12.2
WR RNK
22nd
YTD Stats
REC
32
TAR
53
REYDS
414
TD
3
FPTS/G
13.1
Mooney's best game of the season was Week 5 against Tampa Bay when he caught nine passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns on 16 targets for 31.5 PPR points. It's doubtful he gets that many targets again in the rematch in Week 8, but Mooney does have three games in his past five outings with at least eight targets. The Buccaneers are No. 5 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and Mooney should be considered a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in all leagues for this week.
MIA Miami • #17
Age: 26 • Experience: 4 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs ARI MIA -3.5 O/U 45.5
OPP VS WR
27th
PROJ PTS
12
WR RNK
20th
YTD Stats
REC
22
TAR
30
REYDS
269
TD
0
FPTS/G
8.3
The Dolphins are expected to get Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) back in Week 8 against the Cardinals, which is great news for Tyreek Hill and Waddle. Hill is a must-start Fantasy receiver in all leagues, and I like Waddle as a No. 2 receiver in all formats as well. Including the Week 2 game when Tagovailoa was injured, Waddle has scored 8.6 PPR points or less in five games in a row. But he had 16.2 PPR points in Week 1 against Jacksonville with a healthy Tagovailoa, and that's what Waddle is capable of now that his quarterback is back. Arizona is also No. 6 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, so this is a fantastic matchup.
SEA Seattle • #11
Age: 22 • Experience: 2 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs BUF BUF -3 O/U 47
OPP VS WR
9th
PROJ PTS
9.5
WR RNK
24th
YTD Stats
REC
37
TAR
55
REYDS
319
TD
1
FPTS/G
10.9
I'll use Smith-Njigba as a low-end No. 2 Fantasy receiver this week if DK Metcalf (knee) is out as expected. And I also like Tyler Lockett as a high-end No. 3 receiver as well. Smith-Njigba has scored 13.1 PPR points in two of his past four games, and Lockett has scored at least 11.1 PPR points in three of his past four outings. But both should benefit if Metcalf can't play, even in a tough matchup against Buffalo. Seattle leads the NFL in pass attempts, and Geno Smith should lean on Smith-Njigba and Lockett a lot in Week 8.
Sleepers (Start/Sit)
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GB Green Bay • #87
Age: 24 • Experience: 3 yrs.
Doubs has scored at least 17.4 PPR points in each of his past two games, and I like him as a borderline starter in all leagues against the Jaguars in Week 8. Jacksonville is No. 4 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and Doubs just had 10 targets in Week 7 against Houston for eight catches and 94 yards. Jayden Reed is a must-start receiver for the Packers in all leagues, but Doubs is right behind him. Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks are boom-or-bust receivers, but this is a great matchup to consider all of Green Bay's passing options in Week 8.
HOU Houston • #3
Age: 25 • Experience: 2 yrs.
I'm going back to Dell as a No. 3 receiver in all leagues in Week 8 against the Colts, and Dell should rebound from his disappointing performance in Week 7 at Green Bay when he had no catches on four targets. Prior to that, Dell had seven catches for 57 yards and a touchdown on nine targets at New England, and he should be heavily involved with Nico Collins (hamstring) still out. Stefon Diggs is a must-start Fantasy receiver in all leagues in Week 8, but Dell should be productive for C.J. Stroud as well.
DEN Denver • #14
Age: 29 • Experience: 7 yrs.
Sutton had no targets in Week 7 at New Orleans, but he should be involved in the game plan in Week 8 against Carolina. Prior to Week 7, Sutton had scored at least 13.8 PPR points in three of his previous four games. The Panthers have allowed eight receivers to score at least 15.8 PPR points this season, and Sutton is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver in Week 8, given the matchup.
TB Tampa Bay • #15
Age: 23 • Experience: Rookie
With Chris Godwin (ankle) and Mike Evans (hamstring) out in Week 8 against Atlanta, someone has to step up and help Baker Mayfield, and McMillan is worth using as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver based on upside. Sterling Shepard and Trey Palmer will also be involved, but I like McMillan the best. He had eight targets against the Ravens in the game when Godwin and Evans were injured in Week 7, although McMillan finished with three catches for 15 yards. Still, he could be a go-to option for Mayfield, and Atlanta is No. 9 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers.
CHI Chicago • #13
Age: 32 • Experience: 12 yrs.
The last time we saw Allen in Week 6 against Jacksonville in London, he scored a season-high 21.1 PPR points with five catches for 41 yards and two touchdowns on five targets. Hopefully, that's the start of a big finish for Allen coming off Chicago's bye in Week 7, and he has a great matchup in Week 8 at Washington. The Commanders are No. 7 in most Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, so consider D.J. Moore a must-start receiver and Allen a No. 3 option in most leagues. And Rome Odunze can be a flier in deeper formats.
WRs to Sit
Projections powered by Sportsline
IND Indianapolis • #11
Age: 27 • Experience: 5 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ HOU HOU -5 O/U 46
OPP VS WR
22nd
PROJ PTS
9.6
WR RNK
41st
YTD Stats
REC
28
TAR
47
REYDS
336
TD
2
FPTS/G
10.5
Anthony Richardson returned in Week 7 against Miami after missing the previous two games with an oblique injury, and it was bad news for Pittman and Josh Downs. Pittman had three catches for 63 yards on five targets against the Dolphins, and he has now scored 9.3 PPR points or less in all four complete games with Richardson. Downs had one catch for 3 yards on three targets against Miami, and it's tough to trust the Colts receivers with the way Richardson is playing right now. At best, consider Pittman and Downs just No. 3 Fantasy receivers in Week 8 at Houston.
JAC Jacksonville • #13
Age: 28 • Experience: 7 yrs.
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
vs GB GB -4 O/U 49.5
OPP VS WR
13th
PROJ PTS
11.5
WR RNK
35th
YTD Stats
REC
25
TAR
42
REYDS
320
TD
1
FPTS/G
9
In the past two games with Evan Engram back for the Jaguars following a four-game absence with a hamstring injury, Kirk has combined for four catches for 63 yards and no touchdowns on nine targets. Prior to that, Kirk had scored at least 12.8 PPR points in three games in a row. The Packers have locked down the Cardinals and Texans receivers in the past two games, and I would only use Kirk in three-receive leagues in Week 8. Despite the tough matchup, Brian Thomas Jr. should remain a starter in all leagues. He has scored at least 21.9 PPR points in three of his past four games.
Bust Alert
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ARI Arizona • #18
Age: 22 • Experience: Rookie
Weekly Breakdown
MATCHUP
@ MIA MIA -3.5 O/U 45.5
OPP VS WR
1st
PROJ PTS
11.3
WR RNK
26th
YTD Stats
REC
20
TAR
43
REYDS
300
TD
4
FPTS/G
10.6
Harrison is struggling coming into Week 8 at Miami, and he's only worth starting in three-receiver leagues. He hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 4, and he scored 5.6 PPR points or less in each of his past two healthy games against the 49ers in Week 5 and the Chargers in Week 7 (he left Week 6 against the Packers with a concussion). The Dolphins are No. 1 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers, and Miami has allowed just two touchdowns to receivers this season in six games.