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

It's week 8, people! Time to set up those fantasy lineups! Start 'Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at a week's best and worst matchups in fantasy football leagues. Each week I examine kickers and defenses that may or may not exceed expectations based on their weekly opponent… like Austin Seibert and the Bengals defense in Week 7!

For your final lineup 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 I as we break down 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 the Buccaneers
8. Wil Lutz vs. Panthers
9. Will Reichard at Rams (Thursday)
10. Jake Bates vs. Titans

Complete the Week 8 Kicker Rankings

beginning 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 in which he scored 16 points. He faces Atlanta again this week, so make sure you have him in your lineup. No defense has allowed kickers more points per game.

Start them

Harrison Butker on Raiders (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Butker has only scored 4 points in two of his last three games, but I would stick with the veteran going into the game against the Raiders. The Silver & Black have been generous with kickers, allowing at least 11 fantasy points to all but two opposing booters this season. That makes Butker a solid option despite his recent stats.

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

Kickers with good matchups

Seat of the week

Cairo Santos on Commanders (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Santos saw its fantasy value drop sharply after a strong start, scoring 7 or fewer points in each of its last four games. I would leave the veteran kicker on the sidelines against the Commanders, who have allowed opposing kickers to average less than 7 fantasy points per game on the season.

Set them

Blake Grupe at the Chargers (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): Grupe opened the season with a 22-point performance against the Panthers. Since then, he hasn't scored more than 7 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 p.m. ET, Fox): Myers, who was listed as the starter last week, scored a solid 12 fantasy points in a win over the Falcons. Unfortunately, this week's matchup against the Bills isn't as favorable. Only one kicker has beaten them by more than 8 points, and the position overall has averaged less than 7 points per game against them.

Kickers with bad matchups

1. Lions defense against Titans
2. Broncos defense against Panthers
3. Chiefs defense at Raiders
4. Vikings defense at Rams (Thursday)
5. Steelers defense vs. Giants (Mon.)
6. Ravens defense at Browns
7. Jets defense at Patriots
8. Chargers vs. Saints defense
9. Packers defense at Jaguars
10. Bears defense at Commanders

Complete the Week 8 Defense Rankings

beginning of the week

Lions defense vs. Titans (1 p.m. ET, Fox): The Lions are having the best game in the league this week, facing a lackluster Titans offense at home. Defenses have averaged the most fantasy points against them, as Tennessee committed 12 giveaways and allowed 19 sacks of its quarterbacks despite already having a bye. Start this week with the Lions.

Start them

Chiefs defense at Raiders (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): The Chiefs' defense has been better in “real” football than in fantasy land, but this week's matchup against the Raiders makes this unit a strong option. Defenses averaged the second-most points against the Silver & Black, who had the highest point total in the league 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 produce more fantasy results. Their offense has committed 12 giveaways, tied for the second-most in the league, and the defense has scored the eighth-most points against them this season.

Defenses with good matchups

Seat 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 only had six giveaways this season and should produce plenty of points in this interconference matchup.

Set them

Bills defense at Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox): The Bills defense is in the top 10 in fantasy points, but a matchup in Seattle turns this unit into a sit'em. Their offense is averaging 25.7 points, a league-high 270.9 passing yards and 368 yards per game, and has recorded just 10 giveaways this season. Again, this could be a high-scoring affair.

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

Defenses with bad matchups