Fantasy Football Week 8 Start Decisions Involving Chargers: Keenan Allen, Quentin Johnston, Kimani Vidal and More

The eighth week of the NFL regular season opens with a game between the Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings. Let's go over some start/sit decisions involving players from that game.

We'll begin with Chargers' players. Check back for a story on Vikings' players.

Having trouble deciding who to start? Let the FantasySP start/sit tool help you make a decision.

Should You Start Keenan Allen or Quentin Johnston?

Allen and Johnston are part of several trending start/sit decisions.

Allen is compared against Jaylen Waddle, Tetairoa McMillan, George Pickens, Michael Pittman and teammate Kimani Vidal. Johnston is up against Vidal and Tez Johnson.

To start, I wanted to share my top-30 PPR wide receiver rankings for week 8, as it includes several of these players. 

If you roster both LA wideouts and only want to start one, fantasy owners are choosing Allen over Johnston, although both are starting 58% of the time.

They are close in my book, but I like Johnston over Allen. Johnston ranks 21st, while Allen is 24th.

When it comes to Johnston or Johnson, fantasy owners prefer Johnston heavily, but are starting both 29% of the time. I don't have Johnson in my top 30, but he isn't super far off it either, so while I prefer Johnston, it's fairly close.

Fantasy owners prefer Waddle over Allen barely, but are starting both guys 66% of the time. Waddle ranked 23rd for me, so he's just barely ahead of Allen - I'd try to get both guys in my lineup if I could in most situations.

Fantasy owners are torn on whether to start Allen or McMillan, but both are starting 68% of the time. McMillan ranked 22nd for me, so again, I prefer the other guy, but not by much. I'd again try to start both guys in week 8.

Allen is preferred over Addison, while both are starting just 47% of the time. I also have Allen over Addison, as the Vikings' wideout is ranked 27th for me - his tougher test against the Chargers holds Addison back, although he's certainly capable of going off against anyone, so starting both is a solid choice in my eyes again.

Fantasy owners like Allen over Pittman, while both start 69% of the time. Pittman ranked 20th for me, so I like him over Allen in week 8 if you need to choose between the two. Both are solid options and worthy of starting together, if your other options are not better.

Pickens is preferred by fantasy owners over Allen, while both start at a 69% clip again. Pickens ranked 15th for me this week, so I like him comfortably over Allen, which could mean you are sitting Allen if these two are your second or third fantasy starting options at wide receiver.

Receivers or the Team's Lead Back?

I decided to break the start/sit decisions between Johnston and Allen and Vidal into a separate section.

I have Vidal ranked 22nd among running backs for week 8. That puts him in the same territory as Johnston and Allen.

Fantasy owners prefer Johnston over Vidal when it comes to a flex spot, but both guys are starting 52% of the time. Fantasy owners like Allen over Vidal, with both starting 74% of the time. 

While Vidal could be the workhorse back for the Chargers tonight, I agree with fantasy owners and would take Johnston and Allen over Vidal if you are determining a flex spot. All three players have tougher matchups on paper, but I'd trust the passing game over the running game, so Johnston and Allen get the edge over Vidal.

More Vidal Start Decisions

Along with his trending decisions against his teammates, Vidal is part of start/sit decisions against Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Romeo Doubs, Chuba Hubbard, Rico Dowdle, Alvin Kamara and Chase Brown. Let's break those down.

Fantasy owners like Croskey-Merritt over Vidal, but it's very close. They are starting both backs 48% of the time. While Vidal ranked 22nd among backs, I had Croskey-Merritt at 25th, so I like the Chargers' back a touch more. You might be forced to start both, but I'd try to only start one of them this week.

Vidal is preferred over Hubbard, with both starting 41% of the time. Hubbard ranked 23rd for me, so Vidal is my pick, but barely. Again, I'd try to only start one of them.

Dowdle is the favorite over Vidal, with both starting 47% of the time. Dowdle ranks 18th for me, so I like him over Vidal by a decent amount. I'd probably sit Vidal if I had both these backs, but it also depends on your other options.

Kamara is the favorite over Vidal, with both guys starting 45% of the time. I'm high on Kamara this week, as he ranks 10th for me, so this would be an easy choice for me. Again, I'd sit Vidal if I could.

Fantasy owners are taking Brown over Vidal, but starting them both 42% of the time. Brown ranks 20th for me, so again, I'm taking another back over Vidal, and trying to sit the Chargers' lead back.

If you are debating a flex spot, fantasy owners like Doubs over Vidal, with both starting 36% of the time. Doubs was my No. 30 receiver this week, but these two are very evenly matched. It's honestly a coin flip, but if forced into a choice right now, I'd lead toward using Doubs.

Decisions Involving Justin Herbert

Herbert is involved in trending decisions against Bo Nix, Jaxson Dart, Daniel Jones, Dak Prescott, Baker Mayfield and Drake Maye.

I ranked every starting quarterback for week 8 here, but we'll discuss what fantasy owners are doing.

Fantasy owners like Nix over Herbert. I have Nix ranked fifth and Herbert 10th, so I like the Denver QB more this week.

Owners are taking Herbert over Dart. The Giants' rookie ranks 11th for me, so Herbert ever so slightly gets the nod.

Fantasy owners like Herbert over Jones. The Colts' QB ranks sixth for me, so this is another decision I'm going against the Charger QB in.

Fantasy owners are taking Prescott over Herbert this week. I'm not, as Prescott came in 12th on my weekly ranking list.

Owners are choosing Mayfield over Herbert. I'm doing the same, with Mayfield ranked ninth.

Fantasy owners like Maye over Herbert, although it's close. Maye is eighth for me, so I also am barely taking him over Herbert.

Start Decisions Involving Oronde Gadsden

The breakout Chargers' rookie tight end is part of decisions with Hunter Henry, George Kittle, Travis Kelce and Dallas Goedert.

Gadsden ranked eighth for me in week 8, so he sets up pretty well.

Fantasy owners like Gadsden over Henry, and it's not all that close. I agree, as Henry is ranked 13th for me.

Kittle is heavily preferred over Gadsden, although it's notable that 38% are starting both guys. Kittle ranks fourth for me, so I'm taking him over Gadsden, but I'd be trying to start both guys in week 8.

Kelce is the preferred starting TE over Gadsden, with just 14% starting both guys. Kelce is the slot before Gadsden, but I'd prefer to only start one of them, so Gadsden would probably sit if I had him, depending on my other options of course.

Goedert is preferred over Gadsden, with fantasy owners starting both guys 36% of the time. Goedert is ranked sixth for me, so I prefer him too. Again, I'd probably be sitting Gadsden, as Goedert is not a high-end fantasy starter.