Fantasy Football Week 8 Wide Receiver Who Should I Start? Tez Johnson, Zay Flowers, and More

With Tampa Bay's receiving corps decimated by injuries since before the season even started, what looked like the deepest group in football has had to turn to guys down the depth chart who otherwise wouldn't have seen much of the field.

It's not a surprise that first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka has shined, but it was less expected that seventh rounder Tez Johnson would have any impact. Johnson has stepped up the last few weeks and produced, though, catching the attention of fantasy owners.

Johnson has been all over our FantasySP start/sit tool in the lead-up to Sunday's games, as owners try to figure out where he sits in the hierarchy among the moving parts in Tampa Bay.

Let's look at Johnson and four receivers who he has been matched up with often on the start/sit tool. We'll do a head-to-head quick-hit exercise to determine the best starter in each situation. Most stats are from NFL.com.

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Tez Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints

Johnson's past three games have all been productive, as he has averaged three catches and 54 yards per game while scoring two touchdowns. Chris Godwin missed two of those games, and Mike Evans only played 14 total snaps during that stretch; Johnson took advantage of the missing stars.

Evans is out long term, and Godwin is out for Week 8, so Johnson again will get chances next to Egbuka and veteran Sterling Shepard. That has him on the fantasy radar as a WR3/4/flex-type player.

The Saints have allowed the 10th-most yards per pass attempt, and they are right in the middle in fantasy points given up to wide receivers. I am happy to target New Orleans because of their poor reputation, but they are simply below average in many areas, not among the worst in the league.

Even with the matchup just good and not great, Johnson has a chance to do some damage again today. The opportunities will be there, so expecting another game with around three catches and 50 yards is reasonable; if he gets into the end zone, that makes for a good fantasy day.

Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens vs. Chicago Bears

Flowers is the top pass catcher in Baltimore, but he has been afflicted lately because of Lamar Jackson's absence. Jackson is again out for Week 8, dropping Flowers' floor and ceiling. He has been fine without Jackson for two games, combining for 11 catches and 118 yards.

The Bears have given up the eighth-most yards per pass attempt and the ninth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers. If Jackson were healthy, this wouldn't even be a conversation. Tyler Huntley brings down Flowers enough, though, to let Johnson into the picture here.

Advice: Start Zay Flowers over Tez Johnson. With the great matchup, Flowers is likely to have some room to move, and as the clear top option in Baltimore, he's going to find the ball by default. Johnson relies more on big plays, and if they don't come, he's likely to have a slow day.

Terry McLaurin, Washington Commanders @ Kansas City Chiefs

McLaurin returns for this one after missing the past four games with injury. Like Flowers, he is also missing his quarterback, as Jayden Daniels suffered his second injury of the season last week. While we know what McLaurin can be at his best, he's returning from a month off with a backup quarterback; that doesn't inspire the highest confidence.

The Chiefs have given up the ninth-fewest yards per pass attempt and the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Kansas City had a shutdown defense the past few years, and while they're not quite to that level, they are still a successful unit against the pass.

Advice: This is a tough one, as McLaurin would seem to be the easy answer, but the circumstances around him let Johnson creep in again. Since the matchup is against the veteran here, I'll say to start Tez Johnson over Terry McLaurin, but it's really close.

Tetairoa McMillan, Carolina Panthers vs. Buffalo Bills

McMillan is our third guy without his top quarterback in Week 8, as Bryce Young suffered an injury last week and is out for this one. Unlike in Baltimore and Washington, though, there's a chance that Carolina's passing game actually improves with Andy Dalton under center, as Young just hasn't shown above-average play often.

The matchup against Buffalo is a little tougher, as the Bills have given up the 12th-fewest yards per pass attempt and the ninth-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers. There's also a reasonable outcome where Buffalo is up most of this game, and the Panthers have to throw to keep up, which could help McMillan build volume, if nothing else.

Advice: Start Tetairoa McMillan over Tez Johnson. McMillan is by far the top option on his team and will see plenty of targets nearly every week, while Johnson is still fighting for the ball behind other guys.

Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins @ Atlanta Falcons

Waddle is one of the few positives remaining among the dumpster fire that is the Miami Dolphins. Tyreek Hill is out for the season, Darren Waller just hit IR, and the offensive line is dealing with multiple injuries, leaving this team depleted of both depth and top-line talent on offense.

Waddle had two really good games right away without Hill, combining for 12 catches, 205 yards, and a touchdown in Weeks 5 and 6. Last week against a tough Browns defense wasn't as fruitful, as Waddle had just one reception for 15 yards.

This is an even tougher opponent, as the Falcons have allowed the second-fewest yards per pass attempt and the second-fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Atlanta has been a consistently dominant pass defense this year, and the hapless Dolphins are likely to struggle all day.

Advice: Start Tez Johnson over Jaylen Waddle. Waddle will get his chances simply because of the dearth of talent around him, but this matchup is brutal, leaving Waddle at high risk of another anonymous game.