LAST-MINUTE Week 8 Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em, Advice, Actives/Inactives & Q/A! (10/26 Fantasy Football Podcast)

Summary

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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.

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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)

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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)

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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

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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.

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Transcript

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[Heath Cauthen]

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[Field Yates]

The return of Justin Fields, the return of Kirk Cousins and much more on Fantasy Football Today Express. Good morning. Sunday, October 26th. We're getting those lineups set for week eight and the quarterback landscape has changed. Okay, so let's start with Baltimore. Lamar Jackson not going to play. Tyler Huntley is going to start. What does this mean for everyone participating in that game? For example, I am much less optimistic about Caleb Williams now. So what do you think about the Ravens and Bears?

[Heath Cauthen]

Yeah, and we're seeing that. I think the number even for the Bears has come down a little bit. Baltimore was a six and a half point favorite with a spread close to 50 and now it's down to around 44 and it's a two and a half point spread. I, I'm starting DeAndre Swift in this game, I'm starting Derek Henry in this game and I'm still starting Zay Flowers as a number two wide receiver. I've been low on the Bears because I think you have to decide how as bad as the Ravens defense was at times earlier this year, how much does having most people back healthy change things? Yeah, I view Caleb as a QB2. I do have him behind Justin Fields. I view Roma Dunes as an as a high, high end, number three wide receiver.

[Field Yates]

You're starting Justin Field. So when you look at let's say Justin Fields, boy, someone sent me an email this morning. It was great. It was all these guys was like, Justin Fields, Marcus Mariota, Kirk Cousins, C.J. stroud was in there. I don't want to start Justin Fields. I know he's facing the Bengals, but there's no, there's no Garrett Wilson. There's no Josh Reynolds. Trey Hendrickson is playing for the Bengals. I don't trust Justin Fields. I understand the upside. I think Kirk Cousins has similar upside against Miami. My answer was Cousins in six point Mariota and four point. But you know, how do you feel about some of these quarterbacks that are available on waivers?

[Heath Cauthen]

So, and I think he, because he's still probably available on waivers in a lot of one QB leagues just to say his name. Joe Flacco's the, the one guy out of this group that I want to start. He's the only one that I have projected for more than 20 points. He's the only one who ranks inside my top 12 quarterbacks. After that, I rank it Fields, Huntley, Mariota, Cousins, Huntley.

[Field Yates]

Really? I mean, this guy stinks.

[Heath Cauthen]

I mean, well, he, he, he does run and he has produced some fantasy points in the past.

[Field Yates]

Has he?

[Heath Cauthen]

And it is the Bears.

[Field Yates]

It is the Bears.

[Heath Cauthen]

And I don't like Mariota against the Chiefs.

[Field Yates]

Yeah, I mean, so I mean the only reason I, I even consider it is because he's getting his starting wide receivers back. And 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. And obviously we don't want to go this route. But what I threw Aaron Rodgers in there. How would you rank Rogers with this group.

[Heath Cauthen]

I'm pretty nervous about Rogers this week. I. I would definitely start Fields and Mario over him.

[Field Yates]

I feel bad about what I said about Tyler Huntley. He just. He runs a lot. He doesn't throw much. And when you're talking about Zay Flowers, you take a look at five games that. That Tyler Huntley started last year. One of the games he left early. Honestly don't remember if that was injury or being benched because he had thrown for 87 yards in like three quarters. But Tyreek Hill had one good game out of those. Five, of course, was the game I benched him in the fantasy championship for Don Tavian Wicks. But that was also the only game he played without Jalen Waddle when they were both on the field. Neither of them had any good games. Flowers doesn't really have any competition.

[Heath Cauthen]

We.

[Field Yates]

I'm sorry if you said this. Where's Flowers in your rankings?

[Heath Cauthen]

He is a wide receiver, too. So, like, just looking at it and again, it's not exactly like there's a lot of wide receivers.

[Field Yates]

Yeah.

[Heath Cauthen]

That we want. That we want to start. I would start Devonte Smith without A.J. brown over him. The one I kind of am going back and forth with is DK Metcalf because Calvin Austin back is going to drive that target share down a little bit. And the packers defense is very good. So I've got him at 15 right now. Okay. Per se. Flowers.

[Airbnb Host]

Wow.

[Field Yates]

Okay. So Jalen Waddle's kind of been the guy we've talked about as the wide receiver boogeyman this week. We're very nervous about him. I guess you'd start Flowers over Waddle.

[Heath Cauthen]

I've got waddle at 20, so, yeah, I would.

[Field Yates]

Now, the good thing today, Heath, is that a lot of the guys are questionable, that we don't necessarily know if they're going to play. They play at one o', clock, so you should be able to make any roster adjustments. One of those guys is Drake London, and obviously Kirk Cousins would take a big downgrade if. If London didn't play. He's questionable. He practiced in full for Wednesday and Thursday, then was downgraded to limited on Friday. I did see a report that. What's that?

[Heath Cauthen]

Go ahead.

[Field Yates]

No, I saw. I saw a report that he was expected to play, but I think that was before he was downgraded. Limited. I don't know. So I. We don't know with London.

[Heath Cauthen]

I. I just get really nervous about these guys who are downgraded in the middle of the week. Obviously, if London plays. You have to start them. Yeah. If for some reason London was out, Darnell Mooney would become someone that probably goes into that top 24 range. I'm, I think it's, it's tough to know. Cousins at times looked okay last year, but he also hasn't been playing real football for a long time and he's an older guy and so I'm probably a little more skeptical of how good he's going to be.

[Field Yates]

Yeah, I mean, Kirk Cousins, I think if he had a, even an average matchup, we'd probably shy away from him. It's the Dolphins that entice you. Kirk Cousins made 14 starts last year. He had two enormous games, both against the Buccaneers. One in which he threw, I think 59 passes. And then he had two games in the low 20s in fantasy points and six point per passing touchdown leagues. And out of 14 starts, those were his only four with multiple touchdown passes. He threw a ton of interceptions. He really just wasn't that good. But he actually wasn't that bad until he hurt his shoulder late in the year and then he played three more games and was terrible. All right, we have more heads.

[Heath Cauthen]

I think a big difference is we think that their defense has been really good this year.

[Field Yates]

It has.

[Heath Cauthen]

Their Dolphin, their Dolphins have been awful offensively. Like I don't know that he throws more than 25 passes.

[Field Yates]

And the Dolphins run defense is the one that Rico dowdle ran for 200 yards against and Quintean Judkins and ran for three touchdowns.

[Heath Cauthen]

Again.

[Field Yates]

That's what they do. And see the second fewest pass attempts per game. All right, we're going to take a break. We have a few more headlines for you. We'll talk about Monday Night Football, packers wide receivers, Texans wide receivers, Giants wide receivers, Dalton Kincaid, and more business owners. I'm going to give you a tool that will make a huge difference for you. It's called Quo, formerly Open Phone. It's the same great business phone system I've talked about before, just with a new name. And here's why it matters. Every time you miss a call, you're leaving money on the table. You need a phone system that keeps up and helps you stay connected 24 7. And that's why you need quo. Over 90,000 businesses trust Kuo, formerly OpenPhone, to streamline their customer communications. It works through an app on your phone or computer. So no more carrying two phones or using a landline. With Quo, your team can share one number and collaborate on customer calls and texts like a shared inbox. So anyone can jump in and keep response times fast and forget voicemail. Quo's built in AI agent can be set up in minutes to handle calls after hours, answer questions and capture leads so you never miss a customer. Get started free plus get 20% off your first 6 months at quo.com FFT that's qU-U-O.com/fft and if you have existing numbers with another service, Quo will port them over at no extra charge. Quo no missed calls, no missed customers. All right, we're back here. So we'll fire through these here because those quarterbacks, that was really the big story. Mac Jones going to start again. Ricky Pierce, all is out. So real quick your thoughts. Tough, tough matchup for the 49ers at Houston.

[Heath Cauthen]

Yeah, I don't, I don't really want to start Kendrick Bourne even more than I don't want to start the other 20 guys that are ranked ahead of him. I think he's my wide receiver 31, so kind of a boom bust. Wide receiver 3. I don't really want to start Mac Jones. He is QB18 for me. So behind several of the streamers we talked about, I definitely start Fields and Mario over him.

[Field Yates]

Okay, tight ends day Kittle star Kiddle start Kiddle. Let's see Kareem Hunt expected to play. So if you were starting, if you're planning to start Isaiah Pacheco, that puts a little bit of a damper on that. AJ Brown is out, hopefully back after the buy. Not guaranteed to be back after the buy. Giants are likely without two starting defensive backs. Two games without A.J. brown last year. Very good in terms of target share for Devonte Smith. One of those games he went off and Dallas Goddard obviously becomes even more attractive. Now Christian Watson is going to play. We don't know about Matthew golden and that is the tough one here because that's a Sunday night game so you might want to avoid Golden. You could pick up Calvin Austin. I don't know, maybe you could pick up Christian Watson or something for that game. But any, any interest in starting Watson if Golden were out?

[Heath Cauthen]

No. Okay.

[Field Yates]

Terry McLaurin and Debo Samuel are both playing. So how are we feeling about those guys?

[Heath Cauthen]

They are ahead of Kendrick Bourne. They are just on the outside of my top 24 wide receivers. I do prefer Debo if you have to choose one of them. But I've kind of talked about how I'm scared of Roma Dunese this week. I'd start Roma Dunes A over both the Commanders wide receivers.

[Field Yates]

Yeah, it's a pretty Tough matchup. Tough to get stuff to sit. Debo has been so good, but. All right, let's see. Christian Kirk and Nico Collins are out. Anyone? Yeah, anyone there?

[Heath Cauthen]

I really like to not. I don't have a Texans wide receiver ranked in my top 36, but Jalen Noel. Noel. Noel would be. Would be the best one if you had to start one.

[Field Yates]

I'm starting Dalton Schultz as a flex in two leagues this week.

[Heath Cauthen]

Dalton Schultz is a top five tight end for me.

[Field Yates]

Wow. Okay. David Najoku is questionable. So again, that's a one o' clock game. That's going to change your rankings quite a bit. Right.

[Heath Cauthen]

Right now because Harold Fannin is right behind Dalton Schultz in the rankings and if, if Najoku is back ne one of them will be in the top 10.

[Field Yates]

Dalton Kincaid is questionable. Another one o' clock game at Carolina. Where would you rank him? If he plays, he's going to be.

[Heath Cauthen]

In that six through eight range. It's tight end position.

[Field Yates]

Okay. And Vita Vea is questionable for the Buccaneers, which is always a huge deal for them. That's actually a 4 o' clock game against the Saints and huge deal for their run defense. I don't know that. I mean, Camara has faced some bad running defenses already this year and hasn't really delivered.

[Heath Cauthen]

The hope with Camara is that he doesn't share with Devin Neal as much as he shared with Kendra Miller.

[Field Yates]

Yeah.

[Heath Cauthen]

So I, I'm. I'm treating camara like an RB2 this week and planning on starting him.

[Field Yates]

Okay. All right, let's read some questions here. Schultz or Kittle?

[Heath Cauthen]

I'm gonna go. This is just totally me buying into the narrative of George Kittle's own created holiday. I'm gonna go with Kittle.

[Field Yates]

I think, I think there's a good history there. I gotta look.

[Heath Cauthen]

Oh, there's a great history. Like it, like, wouldn't it be great if you could just make up a holiday and it turned into a thing and everybody celebrated it?

[Field Yates]

Yeah, we should do that. If Kincaid is out, do you like Dawson Knox, Evan Ingram or Theo Johnson?

[Heath Cauthen]

I'll go with Evan Ingram. High scoring game.

[Field Yates]

Sit 1. Rico Dowdle, Bill or Tyler Algier, who's also questionable by the way.

[Heath Cauthen]

I would sit Alger.

[Field Yates]

Sit Alger in ppr. Let's see. Taj Spears or Rico Dowdle.

[Heath Cauthen]

Doubt will buy a million miles. So go, go play Tyler, Taj Spears and dfs.

[Field Yates]

After I said that Josh Downs or Kate Otten at the Flex. Full ppr.

[Heath Cauthen]

I would, I, I would go with Otten I think Downs has more upside.

[Field Yates]

Well, this one's easy. Should I start Algeria alongside Bijan Robinson? My other running backs are on a buy.

[Heath Cauthen]

Algeria over the buy.

[Field Yates]

T. Higgins or George Pickens? Oh, now we're getting the good ones.

[Heath Cauthen]

That'd be Pickens for me.

[Field Yates]

Dowdle or Flowers? Ppr.

[Heath Cauthen]

I'm gonna go Doubtle.

[Field Yates]

What about Mason Taylor? Good call, Eddie. I think I may have skipped that one. Sorry. What about Mason Taylor?

[Heath Cauthen]

He's the wide receiver one. He's the tight end one. I'm not sure if it's great for him that all the wide receivers are out though he is currently tight end 12. If Najoku's back, I would start Taylor over both Najoku and Fanon. I've got him ahead of Earth, ahead of Ingram, ahead of Henry. But the back end of the rankings.

[Field Yates]

It is a the best matchup you can find. We're gonna start Drake May over Caleb Williams and we'll do this one. Zay Flowers, Josh Dobbs or Jakori Crosky? Merit in ppr.

[Heath Cauthen]

I think that's Romeo Dobbs. Yes. Okay. I would go with Flowers.

[Field Yates]

Okay, thanks everybody.

[Heath Cauthen]

A lot of backup quarterbacks starting today, but I don't think that's Josh Dobbs.

[Field Yates]

No, not yet. Thanks for watching everyone. We'll talk to you at 11am Eastern for a two hour edition of Fantasy Football Today to answer your starter sit [e-mail] fantasy football today. See ya. Paramount Podcasts.