FantasyPros Fantasy Football Podcast

Week 8 Lineup Advice: Starts, Sits, Player Debates, and TD Calls (Ep. 1793)

Date: October 23, 2025
Hosts: Ryan Wormley (A), Pat Fitzmaurice (C), Jake Seeley (B)

Episode Overview

Main Theme:
A packed Week 8 fantasy football episode focusing on start/sit advice, waiver adds, player debates, and touchdown predictions amidst a brutal “bye-pocalypse” with top teams and fantasy studs unavailable. The hosts provide actionable insights, player rankings, and heated debates to help fantasy managers navigate challenging lineup decisions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter: Brief Diversion on Sports & Horror Movies

• Short chatter about horror movies, company brackets, and sports (00:39–05:13).
• Noted as “fantasy football can be just as horrifying as any scary movie” during a tough bye week.
• Transition to football: “We've got fantasy football horrors this week, with six teams on bye.” — Pat Fitzmaurice (05:13)

2. Waiver Add Start/Sit Analysis

Kyle Monungai (Bears RB) vs. Ravens

• Consensus Ranking: RB29 (both Pat & Jake)
• Analysis:
  • “He’s RB29 for me as well. Right out of the gate. Boom, same number.” — Jake (07:32)
  • “If Lamar is back and healthy, the Ravens could wax the Bears. That’s the downside.” — Jake (08:20)
  • Hesitancy if Lamar Jackson (hamstring) isn’t 100%.

Brashard Smith (KC RB Committee)

• Consensus: Low-end RB3 / risky flex play
• “He’s in the RB3 range for me … He could be a Jerick McKinnon type, but not trusted near the goal line.” — Jake (11:07)
• “I’m not real excited. Worth a stash, but rolling him out? Ceiling’s limited.” — Fitz (12:16)
• Elevated only if Kareem Hunt is definitively out.

Rondae Gadsden II (Chargers TE)

• Hype: TE8 ECR, streamable
• “Ceiling’s there, but production has been volume/skewed: Chargers had to pass 55 times last week.” — Fitz (14:11)
• “Tight ends outside the top four/five are 50/50 every week. You’re chasing last week’s points.” — Jake (15:38)

3. Plant Your Flag: Confident Start Picks

Pat Fitzmaurice

• Isaiah Pacheco (KC RB):
  • “RB18 for me. Chiefs are 12.5-point home favorites. Should dominate touches and game script.” (18:22–19:03)

Jake Seeley

• Rico Dowdle & Chuba Hubbard (Panthers RBs):
  • “You can start both… Both likely to get 14+ touches. They’re the better version of the Seahawks backfield for fantasy.” (19:38–20:58)

4. Player Debates: Start/Sit Showdowns

RB: Chase Brown (Bengals) vs. Breece Hall (Jets)

• Pat: Slightly prefers Chase Brown (25:50–27:42)
  • “Jets might manage Hall’s workload to keep him healthy for trade deadline.”
  • “Hall still hasn’t scored a touchdown all year.”
• Jake: Slight edge to Hall, unless practice/injury reports indicate limitations (28:06–29:51)
  • “If Hall’s limited, I’ll flip to Brown, but full practice? Stick with Hall.”

RB: Crosby Merritt (Commanders) vs. Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots)

• Both: Stevenson slightly over Merritt—job security trumps volatility, even in a tough matchup (31:31–34:43)

Xavier Worthy (Chiefs WR) vs. Chuba Hubbard (Panthers RB)

• Jake: Hubbard is the safe play; Worthy’s for upside/“ceiling” rosters (54:12–55:07)
• Fitz: “I would prefer Worthy...explosive receiver in a high-powered offense.” (55:54)

DK Metcalf (Steelers) vs. Alvin Kamara (Saints)

• Fitz: Metcalf by “a wide margin” — Kamara looks dusted, not expecting more volume (51:10)
• Jake: Slight lean to Kamara (one spot ahead), trusting workload over Metcalf’s strange 2025 role (52:48)

Tyler Algier (Falcons RB) vs. D.J. Moore (Bears WR)

• Jake: Algier is the “ceiling” play; Moore the “floor” (58:23)
• Fitz: “Algier. Dolphins run D is atrocious, he’s getting double-digit carries.” (59:27)

TEs: Dalton Schultz (Texans) vs. Cade Otten (Bucs)

• Jake: Schultz, targets will be there, especially with Nico Collins out (64:02)
• Fitz: “I prefer Otten — better quarterback, better offense. Very close.” (65:01)

5. Quick Hitters & Rapid Fire Decisions

(Timestamps approximate due to rapid discussion style)

• Nick Chubb vs. Tyjae Spears (RB29/31): Spears, “one spot higher” for both (47:04)
• Juwan Jennings vs. Tez Johnson (WR31/38): Both now prefer Tez Johnson due to big-play ability and unclear 49ers targets (48:19–50:56)

6. Quarterback Debate: Caleb Williams (Bears) vs. Jackson Dart (Giants)

• Fitz: Caleb Williams, “I expect the Bears to lean on him. Dart’s situation is rough.” (61:04)
• Jake: Slight edge to Dart if you value rushing floor, but they are nearly tied for him (63:14)

7. Touchdown Calls (Week 8 TD Predictions)

• RB: Tyler Algier (Ryan Wormley)
• WR: T. Higgins (“I think T. Higgins scores again, thanks to Flacco at QB.” — Jake 66:57)
• TE: Dalton Kincaid (“Josh Allen just looks for his tight ends in scoring range.” — Fitz 67:31)

Memorable Quotes

• On the bye apocalypse:
  “It is a ‘bye-pocalypse’ here, which is scary in its own right.” — Ryan (05:18)
• On streaming tight ends:
  “Outside of four or five guys, you’re going to get 50/50. The bad games, especially at tight end, are going to be really bad.” — Jake (15:38)
• On coaching hot seats:
  “People in Baltimore… want Harbaugh gone. He’s saved his job once before; trying to do it again. Just get Lamar out there.” — Ryan (08:59)
• On the Chiefs backfield:
  “If Kareem Hunt plays, you have to drop Brashard Smith. I’m not real excited about him anyway.” — Fitz (12:16)
• On George Pickens’ matchup:
  “I worry about tough cornerback matchups less for Pickens than just about any other receiver. He makes plays.” — Fitz (45:03)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Segment | Timestamp (MM:SS) | |---------------------------------------|------------------| | Horror movies banter | 00:39–05:13 | | Bye week overview/waiver intro | 05:13–06:27 | | Kyle Monungai debate | 06:27–08:51 | | Chiefs backfield (Brashard Smith) | 11:07–12:55 | | Ronde Gadsden II (TE streamer) | 14:11–15:38 | | Plant your flag (Pacheco, Dowdle/Hubbard) | 18:22–21:36 | | Breece Hall vs. Chase Brown debate | 25:50–29:51 | | WR debate: McMillan vs. Higgins | 37:09–40:57 | | George Pickens vs. Stefon Diggs | 40:57–45:53 | | Tyler Algier vs. DJ Moore | 57:50–60:23 | | Touchdown Calls | 66:50–67:54 |

Tone and Style

Knowledgeable, lively, and slightly irreverent; the hosts bounce between sharp statistical analysis and friendly ribbing, occasionally diving into meta-fantasy and NFL talk. They don’t shy away from “hot takes” or contrarian calls, and the interplay is playful yet deeply informed by stats and trends.

Recap: Strategic Tips for Week 8

• Waiver pickups can be played this week—but tread cautiously, as most are risky RB3/flex types.
• Tight ends after the top four are a ‘stream and pray’ proposition.
• Monitor injury reports closely for RBs in committee situations or coming off injury.
• When in doubt, favor high-volume players, especially if their teams are missing key pass-catchers (e.g., Dalton Schultz, Tez Johnson).
• Bye-week chaos levels the playing field—don’t be afraid to roll with “ugly” lineups if you must.
• Trust your research, don’t over-index on defensive matchups, but be aware of the outliers (like the Denver pass defense).

“Good luck here in week eight. We’ll see you next time!”—Ryan Warmley (67:54)