Week 8 Monday Night Start Decisions

Breaking down Monday night's matchup between the Giants and Steelers and ranking the contest's fantasy players.

Week 8 of the NFL season ends with a match between the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

For those of you still looking for starting/sitting help for week 8, I'm here to help you and give some advice. Let's go over the top fantasy options for both teams.

Are you looking for a starting/sitting aid? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.

Quarterbacks

and are the starting quarterbacks for this competition.

Wilson made his first start for the Steelers last week. He completed 55.2% of his passes for 264 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Wilson rushed for three yards and another touchdown.

Jones has 1,442 passing yards and 184 rushing yards this season. He has six touchdown passes, four interceptions and no rushing scores. Jones failed to reach double-digit fantasy points in Week 7, which was the second time this season that happened.

Wilson's matchup is slightly above average as New York allows opposing quarterbacks to score 18 fantasy points per game. The battle for Jones is tough, Pittsburgh only allows 12 points per game.

But in the Week 8 projections, Wilson and Jones are each projected to score 14 points.

I hope you don't have to choose between these two quarterbacks (outside of deeper leagues and two-QB formats), but I definitely like Wilson more in this game. I liked what he showed in Week 7 and I think he will deliver again this week. I would try to avoid Jones in his more difficult match.

Running backs

is Pittsburgh's best defender and will support him. and Jr. will lead the Giants.

Harris has 131 touches this season, ran 117 times for 478 yards and scored two scores. He added 135 receiving yards on 14 catches and 20 targets. Harris has scored in double figures in the last five games, with his best two games coming in the last two weeks.

Warren has struggled with injuries but has had 23 touches of the ball in the last two weeks. He has 105 rushing yards on 32 attempts and 54 receiving yards on 10 grabs and 11 targets this season.

Singletary returned from injury last week and only got six touches of the ball. He has 239 rushing yards and two scores on 61 attempts while adding 75 receiving yards on 11 receptions and 12 targets.

Tracy had nine touches last week. He has 231 rushing yards and a score on 53 attempts this season, as well as 108 receiving yards on 14 catches and 17 targets.

This is a better matchup for the Steelers defensemen as New York allows opposing defensemen to score 22 points per week. Pittsburgh's defense gives up 20 points per week.

Harris is projected to score 14 PPR points and Warren to score nine. Tracy is at eight points, Singletary checks in at six.

I also like Harris the most in this contest and I like to see him continue his recent resurgence.

I think Warren will get enough touches to be the No. 2 fantasy player in this game. Tracy is just behind Warren, but the tough battle and uncertain workload means I can't push him any further. That leaves Singletary in last place – I'd try to avoid him, Warren and Tracy in standard leagues if I could; All three are good starting options in deeper leagues.

Wide receiver

There are a few decent wide receiver fantasy options in this competition.

is the clear leader of the Steelers. and are the only other wideouts on the team to score more than 10 goals this season.

leads the Giants while and Clay are solid additional options.

Pickens has 474 yards and one touchdown on 31 receptions and 53 targets this season. He has scored at least seven goals in the last four games.

Austin has 203 yards and scores on 11 catches and 21 targets. He has scored nine goals in the last two weeks.

Jefferson has just 77 yards and one touchdown on 10 catches and 16 targets. He had three targets last week with Wilson throwing the ball.

Nabers has 427 yards and three scores on 39 catches and 60 targets in five games played. He scored eight goals in his first game after missing two games due to a concussion.

Robinson has 303 yards and two scores on 43 catches and 67 targets. He had nine goals in last week's game.

Slayton has a rush of up to 213 yards and a score of 25 catches and 40 targets. Last week with Nabers back in the picture, he only had three targets, but he played the most snaps among receivers.

The Pittsburgh receivers have a slightly more favorable matchup tonight. New York's defense allows 31 fantasy points per week while Pittsburgh allows 29 points.

In the Week 8 projections, Nabers is projected to score 16 PPR points. Pickens has 13 points. Robinson had 12 points and Slayton checked in with six.

I also like Nabers best in this game. The matchup isn't great, but the volume he'll get makes him the safest fantasy option.

After that I would want Pickens. I think he will remain a solid starting option across all leagues for the rest of the season, and tonight's game is solid enough to have a fair amount of confidence in him.

Then give me Robinson. He probably won't get a lot of yards, but he does post solid fantasy totals in PPR leagues.

I think I would also choose Slayton over any other Pittsburgh wideout. I expect the Giants will have to pass to keep up, and that makes Slayton a good option – I would only want to use him in deeper leagues.

Austin and Jefferson are major league options just for me, but last-minute options. Becoming a good fantasy performer requires a big play, and I don't like relying on that from players who are rarely used.

Tight ends

leads Pittsburgh's tight ends, including some behind. is the only New York TE over 10 targets.

Johnson has 115 yards on 11 catches and 16 targets. He has had a zero-goal game.

Freiermuth has 245 yards and two scores on 24 catches and 29 targets. Washington had 91 yards and a score on 10 catches and 11 targets. Freiermuth had three targets last week, Washington had four.

It's a favorable game for Johnson as Pittsburgh's defense allows opposing TEs to score 12 points per game. New York's defense only gives up eight points per game to TEs. Freiermuth is the only TE in this game in the Week 8 projections. He's set for eight PPR points.

Freiermuth is the only TE in this game that I would consider starting in a standard league. In deeper leagues he is a slightly safer option. Washington is another deep league option, but only in a pinch.

Johnson is an intriguing sleeper in deeper leagues this week. The matchup is good, but I wouldn't rely on him with all the wideouts and running backs available. I would choose Johnson over Washington.

Kicker

Kicks for the Steelers while he kicks for the Giants.

Joseph is 9 of 12 on his field goals and has made all six of his extra points in five games. Boswell is 19 of 20 on field goals and has hit all 14 of his extra points.

The predictions favor Boswell, and he is projected to score six points. Only three points are predicted for Joseph. I also like Boswell better in this competition and would only use Joseph if I absolutely had to.

Defense/Special Teams

The Steelers defense allows just 298.3 yards and 14.4 points per game. Pittsburgh has 13 takeaways and just four giveaways.

The Giants defense is giving up 317.6 yards and 21.3 points per contest. There are six food stalls and eight giveaways in New York.

The predictions love the Steelers' D/ST and expect nine points. The Giants only have six points. I also want the Steelers' D/ST from this match, and it's not really that close.

Offensive Overall Rating (OP or Flex Spots)

1. Malik Nabers

2. Najee Harris

3. Russell Wilson

4. George Pickens

5. Wan'Dale Robinson

6. Pat Freiermuth

7. Daniel Jones

8. Jaylen Warren

9. Tyrone Tracy

10.

11. Devin Singletary

12. Calvin Austin

13. Theo Johnson

14. VanJefferson

15. Darnell Washington

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