Fantasy Focus Football — Week 8: Who to Start, Who to Sit & Who Stays HOT! 🔥

Date: October 23, 2025
Hosts: Field Yates, Mike Clay, Daniel Dopp (Stephania Bell not present)

Overview

This episode kicks off the in-depth Week 8 preview (Part 1) with ESPN’s fantasy football experts breaking down essential start/sit decisions, trending players, and the crucial wide receiver–cornerback matchups. With "buymageddon" (six teams on bye) shaking up lineups, the crew unpacks RB and WR roles, injury updates, and sleeper options—from hot takes on breakout rookies to geeky analytics from Mike's Playbook. Expect actionable insight, playful debates, and a few deep-cut sleeper picks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Running Back “Heat Index”: DeAndre Swift & Beyond

— [03:58] Field: DeAndre Swift is white hot, lighting up with back-to-back 100+ yard games and top-12 RB finishes in both Week 6 and 7. Despite the Ravens’ defensive reputation, they’ve actually allowed the 2nd-most fantasy points to RBs.

• “Swift is banged up… treating his DNPs as maintenance. He was obviously great last Sunday when he barely practiced all week. I’m assuming Swift is just fine and should be in line.” — Field [07:07]
• Swift projected as a locked-in top 15 RB.

— [05:13] Mike: Caution flag on Bears’ rookie Kyle Manungai. While he broke out for 17.4 points last week (81 yards/TD on 13 carries) and may be on benches as a desperate flex, Mike says: “He’s not a flex option for me… Swift is the clear lead back.”

• Manungai: “Maybe someday, but we’re not there yet.” — Mike [06:24]
• Projects him for just 7.8 pts.

— [06:40] Consensus: Swift fully green-lit despite minor injury, Manungai is more bench depth than starter.

2. Wide Receiver Strengths & Concerns

— [07:38] Daniel: Raises concerns about Panther rookie WR Ted McMillan and whether Andy Dalton boosts his value with Bryce Young struggling.

• “Is Andy Dalton enough of a bump to get more out of Ted McMillan this week?” — Daniel [08:33]

— [08:47] Field: Not completely tied to Dalton; last two weeks skewed by context (facing Sauce Gardner in shadow coverage, Jets D). Expects normal volume bounce-back but notes risk if Carolina dominates via run.

— [09:46] Mike: “Andy Dalton is probably just similar to [Bryce Young]. It’s a wash.” Details will appear in the Shadow Report tomorrow, noting that Dalton’s not a material upgrade.

— [10:51] Field: “If they sign Deontay Johnson, I’m starting him.” (Joking about Dalton–Deontay chemistry from a previous team.)

3. Is Rashee Rice the Chiefs’ WR1 Already?

— [11:19] Field: “He’s the clear preferred pass catcher for Mahomes.” Despite just 16 routes last week, saw 10 targets (!) — “63% of the time he ran a route, the ball went his way. Absurd.”

• “Doesn’t matter: WR1, 2, 3 or 4, you’re starting him.” — [12:11]

— [13:20] Mike: If Rice is white hot, Xavier Worthy (who returned week 4) is cooling off: “121 yards in week 4, then just 125 total in next three with only one TD.”

• Target priority: Rice > Worthy, but both have high value in KC's past-heaviest offense.

— [14:11] Mike: “If there’s an offense that can support two top-20 WRs, it’s the Chiefs.”

4. Jalen Warren: Tempering Week 8 Expectations

— [17:55] Daniel: Big last week (20 touches, 158 yards, 4 rec, 19.8 pts), but Packers have allowed 5th fewest RB points, just 3 RBs over 9.5 points.

• “Consensus RB10 feels high… more a low-end RB2 due to ‘buymageddon.’”
• “Still going to start Jalen Warren, but temper expectations.” — [19:24]

— [19:53] Mike: Pushes back—Warren’s role is terrific, dominating carries and catches, and snaps are up. “If you’re just talking about running backs’ roles in their offenses, there’s not many better.”

— [21:16] Small tangent: Aaron Rodgers notched “revenge games” but hosts agree, given his consistent play, the spectacle is overblown.

5. Injury Updates & Waiver Strategy

— [21:47] Mike: Joe Burrow—out for now, maybe back for final 3 games (reports). Debates stashing on IR.

• Daniel: “I wouldn’t hang on to him, but I’d mark my calendar and grab him… not worth burning an IR spot for.”
• Mike: Only worth it if you have a back-end QB1 and want fantasy semifinals upside (Week 16 vs MIA, 17 vs ARI).

6. Panthers’ RB Backfield Split: Rico Dowdle vs. Chuba Hubbard

— [26:00] Field: “If ever there was a week to start them both, it's this one (vs. Bills run defense)."

• Dowdle outplayed Hubbard last week, but “I’m leaning slightly toward Dowdle, but both are usable flexes.”
• Mike: Snap split is more incidental than planned ("just rotated"). 50/50, but ride the hot hand.

7. Quarterback Streaming Tier

— [29:42] Mike:

• Startable: Jackson Dart — "Fringiest of fringe" but 3 top-10s in 4 tries, faces Philly (good test).
• Bo Nix — "Top 5 streamer for the week," Dallas gives up 17.7+ fantasy points to every QB, has high volume.
• Daniel Jones — "MVP favorite," dual-threat. Faces Titans (struggling secondary).

— [36:09] Daniel: “Start-Bo Nix, Bench-Daniel Jones, Cut-Jackson Dart—just for this week.”

8. Tight End Streaming & Evan Engram vs. Dal (Cowboys)

— [37:32] Daniel: Evan Engram faces the most generous pass D in the league. “Put him in with the Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert tier.”

• Mike: “This tight end tier is wild this week. I have 12 guys projected for 10 points, Ingram included.”

9. The Raheem Sanders Monopoly Fund: Deep Sleepers

— [64:01+]: Weekly deep shot betting pool (hit 5 out of last 6 weeks!).
- Field: Broncos FB Nate Adkins (0% rostered) for a random anytime TD (+2500… if even available). - Mike: Arian Smith, Jets WR (rookie, 0.1% rostered)—gets increased usage if Garrett Wilson sits. - Daniel: Connor Heyward (Steelers TE/FB, +1300).
- Producer: Tyler Johnson, Jets WR (0% rostered).

• “There’s never a good or bad justification—it's always vibes.” — Field [68:14]

10. Wide Receiver / Cornerback Matchups — The Playbook

Upgrades:

• Titans WRs vs. Colts (Calvin Ridley if healthy, or AO Manor, etc.).
• Broncos WRs (Courtland Sutton) vs. Cowboys.
• Bucs WRs (Emeka Egbuka, Tez Johnson, Sterling Shepard) vs. Saints.

Downgrades:

• Bengals WR Jamar Chase — If Sauce Gardner plays (check injury report), he’ll shadow; substantial bust potential given Sauce’s track record.
  • “Downgrading Chase a bit, but still can’t bench him.” — Mike [48:13]
• CeeDee Lamb — Faces Denver’s Pat Surtain II, who’s held every WR under double digits except one. Lamb still an auto-start, but clear bust alert.
  • “Seriously, no WRs have scored 20+ against Denver all year.” — Mike [52:02]
• Dolphins WRs (Waddle) — Atlanta has allowed just two WRs with 12+ this year; expectations must be tempered.

Other Shadow Matchups:

• Drake London vs. Rasul Douglas; AJ Brown vs. Paulson Adebo; T. McMillan vs. Christian Benford — mostly neutral.

11. Thursday Night Football Preview: Vikings vs. Chargers

— Aaron Jones status: Questionable, could play, but likely flex only, hard to trust if limited. Jordan Mason the safer RB2/FLEX. — Jordan Addison vs. Justin Jefferson Gap Shrinking?

• Addison's three games: 15.4, 15.1, 21.8 pts, nearly matching Jefferson’s output. Daniel argues Addison may belong right behind Jefferson—a board bet is made on which will score more tonight. — Chargers RB Kamani Vidal: Little confidence; volume is “king,” but he's not explosive.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “If he’s white hot, does that make Kyle Manungai red hot?” — Mike, riffing on heat metaphors for RB trends [05:04]
• “63% of the time he ran a route, the ball went his way—which is just absurd.” — Field, on Rashee Rice, [11:54]
• “Dowdle was clearly the more effective player… If there was ever a week to start both, it’s this one.” — Field, on Panthers RBs vs. Buffalo [26:36]
• “Can I just randomly disrupt this pod for one second…” — Mike, pausing for a classic waiver wire tangent [22:32]
• “There’s never a good or bad justification [for a Monopoly bet pick]—it’s always vibes.” — Field [68:14]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Swift & Manungai RB Discussion: 03:58 – 07:10
• Panthers WRs & Dalton QB Effect: 07:38 – 10:51
• Rashee Rice/Worthy in KC: 11:19 – 15:25
• Jalen Warren & Packers Run D: 17:53 – 21:35
• Joe Burrow IR Debate: 21:47 – 25:03
• Panthers Backfield Split: 26:00 – 29:15
• QB Streaming Tier (Dart/Nix/Jones): 29:42 – 36:09
• TE Streaming / Evan Engram: 37:32 – 39:52
• Monopoly Fund Deep Sleeper Picks: 64:01 – 68:16
• WR/CB Playbook (Upgrades/Downgrades): 42:45 – 55:36
• Thursday Night Football & Addison/Jefferson Talk: 57:13 – 62:46

Final Takeaways

• DeAndre Swift remains a must-start; Manungai is a deep bench hold.
• Rashee Rice is an every-week must, and Chiefs’ WRs as a group are still rising.
• Jalen Warren is a fine start, but expectations should be checked against Green Bay.
• The Panthers’ RB split is truly 50/50, but both are usable this week.
• Deep sleeper bets have become cult—don’t be afraid to go gross with your picks.
• WR/CB matchups give DFS edges: beware studs facing elite shadows.
• Thursday Night: All eyes on the Vikings’ WR pecking order and who emerges at RB for the Chargers.
• Always trust “the vibes” for those desperation darts—and good luck this bye week!

Tone & Vibe: Fast, friendly, data-rich, and loaded with playful banter and fantasy inside-jokes—classic Fantasy Focus chaos with lots to take away for owners navigating a messy, bye-heavy Week 8.