As always, we’ll kick off this week’s look at fantasy’s toughest start/sit decisions by looking back at how we did last week. We advised to start Carson Palmer and although the matchup was on his side, David Johnson got all but one of the scores. We made up for it with tough start decisions on Terrelle Pryor and Lamar Miller, who had struggled in Week 5 but returned value in Week 6. Tavon Austin moved down the totem pole, so that was a bust, and Jamaal Charles had us fooled with his proclamation of 100-percent health.
We did much better with our advice on who to sit. Philip Rivers didn’t return much value and neither did the other four we suggested to sit — Tyrell Williams, Jeremy Hill, Matt Forte and DeVante Parker. They were all busts.
This week, we’re hoping to get closer to 100 percent on these calls. As always, the preference is to make this column interactive. Please feel free to reach out to me @DanSchneierNFL on Twitter with your toughest start/sit decisions in Week 8.
Let’s jump in.
Start
Kirk Cousins, QB, Redskins (vs. Lions)
You know your secondary is bad when you allow Case Keenum to complete 84.4 percent of his passes for 321 yards, three touchdowns and 10.0 yards per pass. When you also make Kenny Britt look like his 2010 self, it’s time to make a proclamation. Earlier in the season, we flirted with the idea of labeling the Lions’ pass defense the new Saints. Now we can safely say they are the defense to target on a weekly basis in fantasy football — especially when you can play them in the dome.
Cousins draws this reeling pass defense in Detroit fresh off of a four-game winning streak where he has thrown for eight touchdowns against just three interceptions. Cousins is an early favorite to be among the leaders in touchdown passes in Week 7 even if his price point on daily fantasy sites tells you otherwise. The Lions are currently ranked No. 32 in pass rush and No. 26 in pass coverage. All you have to do is avoid their top cornerback, Darius Slay, and you’re likely to dial up a big gain.
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