Fantasy advice for Week 8's Falcons-Buccaneers tilt

The Falcons-Buccaneers game is a divisional game, and it features two offenses who at least have the potential to put a ton of points on the board. It's a good week for fantasy footballers, in other words.

Here's our thoughts on who to start and sit this week from both teams.

Start

QB Matt Ryan

I keep waiting for Ryan to snap out of his funk, and fantasy owners are probably starting to seriously consider shying away from him. Against a leaky Buccaneers defense and hopefully properly motivated after everyone questioned his cojones this week, I think Ryan can easily deliver a 300 yard, two touchdown game, good for a low-end QB1 play. If you somehow have a more reliable option, though, I won't blame you if you look elsewhere.

RB Devonta Freeman

One of the very best real life and fantasy running backs in the NFL gets a fine matchup at home, and you'd be a fool to sit him until he strings together several anemic performances. Locked and loaded RB1.

RB Doug Martin

Martin's running well enough to play despite Atlanta's stout run defense, and he's the goal line option in Tampa Bay. RB2.

WR Mike Evans

This is a fairly tough matchup for Evans, who will likely draw plenty of Desmond Trufant, but he'll get his opportunities to go against Robert Alford and Jalen Collins, and he's a very tough receiver to defend. I'd start him as a WR2 with confidence.

WR Julio Jones

It's been a relatively quiet few weeks for Jones, but relatively quiet is still close to 100 yards and score potential every single week. Roll with him.

TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins

Injury is the concern here, because I'm not 100% sure he's going to play. If he does, he's a potentially dangerous tight end against a defense that hasn't shown a knack for stopping tight ends at all. Speculative play, but he could pay off in a big way.

Sit

QB Jameis Winston

Winston has been way more impressive than I thought he'd be this early in the season, and he obviously has a very bright future. Against a pretty strong Falcons pass defense, and with his tendency to mix in a few ill-advised throws, I can't honestly recommend him outside of two QB leagues. There's always the chance the Falcons get zero pass rush and Winston avoids turnovers, but somehow I don't expect either of those things to happen, which makes him a risky play.

RB Tevin Coleman

I shouldn't even need to say this, but Coleman doesn't belong in your lineup unless Devonta Freeman is out for the game or he shows signs of cooling down considerably.

WR Roddy White

Broken record, here, but even if Leonard Hankerson is out, you can't roll with Roddy White. I keep waiting for that breakout game, but until it comes, you've got no business putting him in your lineup.

WR Vincent Jackson

He'll have big catches and the occasional big game, but Evans is the target to own, and V-Jax has been dealing with an injury. Pass.

Both Defenses

The Buccaneers should be able to muster points and yardage against the Falcons' defense, even if it continues to improve. The Falcons should definitely be able to muster points and yardage against the Buccaneers' defense. Avoid both units.