Fantasy Football Today: LAST-MINUTE Week 8 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, Actives/Inactives & Listener Q&A (Aired: 10/26/2025)

Episode Overview

This special Sunday edition of Fantasy Football Today hits the air just before the Week 8 NFL action, focusing on last-minute lineup advice, quarterback shakeups, and rapid-fire start/sit Q&A. Host Field Yates and analyst Heath Cummings break down key inactives, analyze the latest quarterback news (including the return of Justin Fields and Kirk Cousins), debate wide receiver and running back rankings, and answer listener lineup dilemmas with practicality and urgency.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Quarterback News & Lineup Impacts

• Lamar Jackson Out, Tyler Huntley Starting (01:54)

  • Implication: Dolphins vs. Ravens game script changes, with lower projected totals and downgraded optimism for relevant fantasy players.
  • Heath: "I view Caleb [Williams] as a QB2. I do have him behind Justin Fields. I view Roma Dunese as a high, high-end, number three wide receiver." (02:24)

• Justin Fields & Kirk Cousins Return (01:54 - 03:11)

  • Fields faces the Bengals, but with limited supporting cast; Cousins gets a favorable matchup vs. Miami.
  • Field: "My answer was Cousins in six-point, Mariota in four-point. I don't want to start Justin Fields...but I understand the upside." (03:11)

• Waiver QB Rankings (03:51)

  • Heath touts Joe Flacco as his top streaming QB.
    • "Joe Flacco's the one guy out of this group that I want to start. He's the only one I have projected for more than 20 points." (03:51)

2. Wide Receiver Opinions & Start/Sit Ranks

• Zay Flowers vs. Jalen Waddle, DK Metcalf, Others (05:33 - 06:19)

  • Heath ranks Flowers as a strong WR2: "I've got him at 15 right now... Jalen Waddle at 20, so, yeah, I would [start Flowers over Waddle]." (06:07, 06:16)
  • Notes nervousness about DK Metcalf with Calvin Austin back and the tough Packers D.

• Drake London’s Status & Kirk Cousins’ Outlook (06:19 - 08:10)

  • London’s practice status introduces lineup uncertainty.
  • "If London plays, you have to start him. If London was out, Darnell Mooney would probably go into that top 24 range." (06:50)
  • Skepticism around Cousins' upside given recent form and Dolphins' defensive woes.

3. Rapid-Fire Start/Sit Q&A

• Key Listener Questions & Recommendations (13:05 - 15:12)
  • Schultz vs. Kittle: "I'm gonna go... with Kittle." (13:20)
  • Evan Engram over Dawson Knox or Theo Johnson if Kincaid is out (13:43)
  • Sit 1: Rico Dowdle, Bill or Tyler Algier? "I would sit Algier." (13:52)
  • Taj Spears or Rico Dowdle? "Dowdle by a million miles." (14:00)
  • Tee Higgins vs. George Pickens? "That'd be Pickens for me." (14:26)
  • Dowdle or Flowers (PPR)? "I'm gonna go Doubtle." (14:34)
  • Josh Downs or Cade Otten (Flex, Full PPR)? "I would go with Otten. I think Downs has more upside." (14:11)
  • Start Zay Flowers, Josh Dobbs, or Romeo Dobbs? "I would go with Flowers." (15:12)

4. Notable Injury Updates & End-of-Week Adjustments

• Skill Player Injuries: (10:31 - 13:05)
  • Kareem Hunt expected to play; AJ Brown ruled out (bumping up DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert); Christian Watson playing, but with Sunday night timing concerns; Christian Kirk and Nico Collins both out for the Texans (making Jalen Noel a deep-league WR dart throw).
  • Heath on Texans WRs: "I don't have a Texans wide receiver ranked in my top 36, but Jalen Noel would be the best one if you had to start one." (11:56)
  • Tight ends: Dalton Schultz a top-5 play, Kincaid and Najoku questionable, with last-second rankings subject to inactives.

5. Running Back Musings

• Kamara’s Role with Saints (and Devin Neal’s Impact) (13:05)
  • "I'm treating Kamara like an RB2 this week and planning on starting him." (13:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Heath on Joe Flacco’s streaming value:

  "Joe Flacco's the one guy out of this group that I want to start. He's the only one who ranks inside my top 12 quarterbacks." (03:51)

• Field Yates on Quarterback Ceiling:

  "He is another guy that every time he's had the opportunity, he's gotten 20 fantasy points twice last year, twice this year. I don't think he has much more of a ceiling than that." (04:30)

• Listener Q&A Lightning Round:

  "Dowdle by a million miles. So go, go play Taj Spears in DFS." (14:00)

• Heath on the ever-shifting nature of Sunday actives/inactives:

  "A lot of backup quarterbacks starting today, but I don't think that's Josh Dobbs." (15:25)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• QB Injury News & Game Context: 01:54 – 03:51
• Waiver QBs / Start or Sit Debate: 03:51 – 04:57
• WR Ranks & Injuries: 05:32 – 06:19
• Drake London & Kirk Cousins Implications: 06:19 – 08:10
• Skill Player/RB/Tight End Updates: 10:06 – 13:15
• Listener Q&A Lightning Round: 13:15 – 15:12

Conclusion

This episode dives deep into rapidly changing last-minute NFL news for Week 8, especially at QB and WR, with decisive ranks and pragmatic, actionable advice for fantasy lineups. Field Yates and Heath Cummings provide candid, data-driven responses mixed with humor and urgency for listeners making crunch-time decisions. The episode is a must-listen for anyone needing an efficient rundown of late-breaking fantasy insights before kickoff.