Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Smash Starts for Week 8 Include Tee Higgins, Kyle Pitts, Romeo Doubs, Cedric Tillman, Elijah Moore

I need to emotionally recover from Week 7. With a multitude of WRs going down to injury and illness, the WR position has all of a sudden flipped on its head. 

Last week’s injuries likely put many playoff teams in jeopardy and gave hope to those at the bottom of the table. After all, there is still plenty of time as we approach the halfway mark of the fantasy regular season. 

My name is Ellis Johnson and this is my weekly Smash WR Start article. Last week, two selections were impacted by injury, one was wildly disappointing (Demario Douglas), and the other popped off (Rashod Bateman). I’m hoping this week we get some more calls that turn into the Bateman selection. Here are my selections for Week 8.

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Tee Higgins (WR, CIN)

Let’s start with the biggest name of the selections this week. Although the record does not show it, this offense is a blast to watch. The game plan is to let Joe Burrow run the offense through Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Pair this with a terrible defense, and that’s a perfect recipe for fantasy success.

This week, the Bengals take on an Eagles team that is coming off a massive divisional win against the Giants. If the Bengals want a chance to win this game, Burrow will need to be on top of his game. Considering he is third in completion percentage, fourth in passing touchdowns, and sixth in yards, this should be a big game for both star WRs.

Over his last three games, Higgins has three scores, 242 yards, and 29 targets. If he can continue this usage against an Eagles team that is allowing the 11th-most fantasy points to the WR position, he should be in business. Plus, Darius Slay will likely be focused on Chase, leaving rookie Quinyon Mitchell on the 6-foot-4 Higgins. Even though Mitchell has been good, that’s a matchup I like Higgins to win.

My only concern is that this Eagles defensive front obliterated the Giants. Although the Bengals have a better offensive line than the currently injured Giants, if they can get after Burrow, this could be a long day for Bengals fans.

“You got a problem with that?” 😏#RuleTheJungle pic.twitter.com/BGV9jjJRDU

— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) October 22, 2024

Cedric Tillman and Elijah Moore (WR, CLE)

We’ll move now to the team that the Bengals just beat, who now has a new QB under center. Not only do the Browns have a new QB, they now have a gunslinger under center who is going against the worst passing defense in the league, the Ravens.

The Ravens are looking like the best team in football and are doing a lot of things right; however, their secondary is a clear weakness. Averaging a league-high in fantasy points to the WR position, this game is primed for Jameis Winston to play catch-up right from the start.

The issue is that this team does not have Amari Cooper, leaving 2023 third-round pick Cedric Tillman and fourth-year disappointment Elijah Moore to fill in. Of course, David Njoku becomes this team’s top target and Jerry Jeudy is the other big name. However, Jeudy has not been very impressive. I like the chances of these two WRs having a nice day over Jeudy.

Specifically, I am most excited for Tillman. Tillman is a big-bodied WR who immediately filled in the role left vacant by Amari Cooper. Meanwhile, Moore is arguably the more talented of the two but will play more of a slot and designed play threat on this team.

Last week, Tillman and Moore had 12 and seven targets for eight and six receptions, respectively. I don't see why they wouldn't repeat this great usage in a game where they should be passing all day. This whole game might be “garbage time,” benefiting these deeper WRs. I think Tillman is a top-30 option and Moore can sneak into the top 40.

Cedric Tillman

- 18.1 Fantasy Points Week 7
- Career High 81 Receiving Yards
- Career High 12 Targets
- 15% FAAB

Tillman has taken over the Amari Cooper role in Cleveland.

Before being traded to Buffalo, Cooper ranked 8th in total targets.

New CLE WR1.pic.twitter.com/5UY7E9gaf0

— Joe Orrico (@NoExpertFF) October 22, 2024

Romeo Doubs (WR, GB)

I’m unsure what was going on with Doubs’ character concerns two weeks ago. However, whatever it was, he has returned with a vengeance. In Week 6, Doubs caught two scores on his four targets and followed it up with 10 targets and eight receptions for 94 yards last week.

Although Jayden Reed is the more explosive player and top WR this season, we heard that Jordan Love and Doubs had a connection all offseason. It’s a clear four-WR cluster; however, Doubs seems to be the most consistent behind Reed. 

This week, the Packers take on a Jaguars team that is returning from their second home in London. The Jaguars have been abysmal on defense this season, especially against the pass. Averaging over 285 passing yards and two passing touchdowns a game, Jordan Love should be in for a massive week.

It’s always a bit of a gamble betting on this WR quartet because Love is great at finding the open guy regardless of who it is. As a result, there is a world all the others eat, leaving Doubs the odd man out. However, based on his recent involvement and connection with Love, I think he is a top-25 player this week.

Romeo Doubs put on a clinic against the Texans...

Slant after slant after slant, executed perfectly.

Unstoppable. pic.twitter.com/r2WIQpeq32

— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) October 22, 2024

Kyle Pitts (TE, ATL)

I’m calling my own audible here and selecting a wide-receiving option that is listed as a tight end. Don’t look now, but Kyle Pitts has finally strung together three straight top-12 fantasy performances. With seven receptions in two of his last three games, he has started to overtake some of the looks that were going to Ray-Ray McCloud III at the start of the season.

This Buccaneers team has been a secondary to target for fantasy football players. Tampa Bay is currently allowing the fourth-most passing yards and eighth-most passing touchdowns to opponents per game. This is a perfect get-right spot for a Falcons team that was just dominated by the Seahawks in Week 7.

My only concern is that without Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, the Bucs offense may not be able to keep up. However, I like what Baker Mayfield has been doing this season and will give him the benefit of the doubt to continue to play great even without his top weapons.

Last week, this offense gave up massive chunk plays to Rashod Bateman and two touchdowns to Mark Andrews. It’s no surprise this is one of the areas the Ravens found success, as the Bucs are allowing the fifth-most yards per play and eighth-most fantasy points to TEs. This season, Pitts has been no stranger to big plays, and if the Bucs stay in this one, I think he will open the Pie Shop and find his eighth career touchdown.

Kyle Pitts is the TE5 on the season.

In his last 3 games:

7 REC + 88 Yards
3 REC + 70 Yards
7 REC + 65 Yards

ARE WE BACK?! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ozepCgTIaY

— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) October 22, 2024

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