Fantasy football Week 8 inactives: Lamar Jackson, Brock Purdy, Michael Penix Jr., Bryce Young all sitting

Who should you start with? Who should you sit? To help you figure out your fantasy football lineups and avoid starting an offensive player who won’t make the roster, we’ll post Fantasy-relevant updates and analysis here as NFL teams release their official inactive lists.

Official Sunday inactives should begin arriving approximately 90 minutes before the scheduled kickoff time: around 11:30 a.m. ET for early games and 2:30 p.m. ET for late afternoon games.

Update often for the latest information.

Don’t forget to check these out: Mike Clay’s Playbook | Buzz of week 8
Week 8 Rankings | Panel discussion (noon to 1 p.m. ET)

What we watch late

Status still pending (SNF game)

• Brandon McManus, K, GB (quad): He attended limited practices this weekend. If he can’t go, Lucas Havrisik would get a kick.

• Matthew Golden, WR, GB (hip): With Golden as a weekend addition to the injury report and Dontayvion Wicks (calf), expect Romeo Doubs to be targeted early and often. Golden, however, is expected to play.

• Christian Watson, WR, GB (knee): The team has officially activated Watson from the PUP list. He’s scheduled to make his 2025 debut this week, but he’ll likely be on some sort of “pitch account.”

Excluded before Sunday

• Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL (hamstring): Tyler Huntley will start this game as the Ravens now consider Jackson’s return next Thursday night against Miami.

• Joshua Palmer, WR, BUF (knee): Elijah Moore and Curtis Samuel would be potential replacements (although unimpressive for fantasy purposes).

• Cole Kmet, TE, CHI (return): Colston Loveland is hoping for his third straight week with multiple catches.

• Nico Collins, WR, HOU (concussion): Christian Kirk (hamstring) is also out, leaving Xavier Hutchinson and Jayden Higgins as the most likely WR options to start this week for Houston. Jaylin Noel and, to a lesser extent, Braxton Berrios will also get some looks.

• Julian Hill, TE, MIA (ankle): Darren Waller (pectoral) was placed on IR, so the Dolphins will be down to Tanner Conner and Greg Dulcich at tight end.

• Garrett Wilson, WR, NYJ (knee): With Josh Reynolds (hip) Also out are Arian Smith and Tyler Johnson as the two best WR options for the Jets. You can do better for fantasy.

• AJ Brown, WR, PHI (hamstring): Darius Cooper (shoulder) was activated from IR. However, beyond DeVonta Smith, there really isn’t a reliable WR option to rely on for Philadelphia this week.

• Brock Purdy, QB, SF (toe): Mac Jones will start again for the 49ers. San Francisco is 4-1 this season with Jones at the helm.

• Ricky Pearsall, WR, SF (knee): Jauan Jennings will be the team’s No. 1 pick on Sunday. Brandon Aiyuk’s 21-day window to return from a knee injury could begin next week.

• Bucky Irving, RB, TB (foot): Rachaad White continues to be the Buccaneers’ best RB.

• Chris Godwin Jr., WR, TB (leg): The team now looks to Week 10 for Godwin’s return. Emeka Egbuka (hamstring) was not listed on Tampa Bay’s final injury report, so expect him to play. Tez Johnson and Sterling Shepard will also be in the WR mix.

• Calvin Ridley, WR, TEN (hamstring): With Bryce Oliver (knee) also out, the Titans will roll with the WR trio of Elic Ayomanor, Van Jefferson and Chimere Dike.

What we were watching for early

Active for today’s match

• Tyler Allgeier, RB, ATL (hip): Bijan Robinson might get more touches than usual, even with Allgeier active. Nathan Carter is the only other RB option on the roster.

• Dalton Kincaid, TE, BUF (oblique): Even with a week off to recover, practice was limited for Kincaid heading into Week 8. Kincaid is activebut Dawson Knox might still be the safest TE play in Buffalo.

• Cairo Santos, K, CHI (thigh): He’s had a few full workouts this week, so he’s active and will take over the kicker duties from Jake Moody.

• From Andre Swift, RB, CHI (groin): Swift was always expected to star, so it’s no surprise to see him active. Roschon Johnson (back) is out, so Kyle Monangai should once again handle the majority of the backup touches.

• David Njoku, TE, CLE (knee): He attended limited practice all week, but active for this one. Even so, there should be plenty of TE targets for Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr.

• Tua Tagovailoa, QB, MIA (illness): This is especially notable because the Dolphins announced it early Sunday morning. Although Tagovailoa is active and still waiting to start this game, it is therefore much riskier to use it in fantasy. If he’s not exactly 100%, we might just see Zach Wilson at some point today.

• Graham Gano, K, NYG (groin): Gano trained all week and was activated of the IR. Considering what happened to Jude McAtamney last week in Denver, Gano’s return is welcome.

• Bree Hall, RB, NY (gender): The room is active and he is expected to play, if only as a showcase for a potential trade. If Hall should stumble, with Kene Nwangwu (concussion), Isaiah Davis is next in line for RB touches.

• Mason Taylor, TE, NYJ (quad): Taylor was injured earlier this week, but he active and appears to be online to begin with. Smart Stone (quad) is out, leaving Jeremy Ruckert as the most likely potential pivot TE for the Jets, if needed.

Deemed inactive for today’s match

• Michael Penix Jr., QB, ATL (knee): Penix is inactive for this one. Kirk Cousins ​​has been working with the first-team offense all week, so expect the veteran to be in charge of Atlanta’s group on Sunday.

• Drake London, WR, ATL (hip): He was demoted on Saturday, which is never a good sign – and indeed, he is inactive Today. Darnell Mooney (hamstring) was removed from the injury report and is expected to play.

• Bryce Young, QB, CAR (ankle): Andy Dalton will lead Carolina’s offense against the Bills, along with Young inactive. The team is hoping Young can return in Week 9.

• Tyrod Taylor, QB, NYJ (knee): With Taylor inactiveJustin Fields has another chance to start for the winless Jets, but unless he does something spectacular, it will likely only be a one-week reprieve.