College Football Start vs. Sit: Players to Start, Players to Bench for Week 8

If you want proof that you can never be sure what will happen during a college football season, look no further than James Franklin getting axed before Week 8. Speaking of Week 8, we have plenty more big games, plenty more enticing matchups for all matters fantasy related, and even more coaches on the hot seat. Here are my players to start and sit for college football's Week 8 of action.

AAC Starts and Sits

START

 Jay Ducker, RB, Temple at Charlotte

Ducker came with KC Keeler from Sam Houston (a program that has swiftly fallen apart without Keeler) to be the lead back for Temple. While he only has one 100-yard game, Ducker has averaged 5.0 yards per carry and scored four touchdowns. Charlotte offers an opportunity to Ducker for a second 100-yard outing. The 49ers are last in the AAC, having given up 224.0 rushing yards per game.

SIT

 Devin McCuin, WR, UTSA at North Texas

McCuin has 31 catches for 341 yards and four touchdowns, though two of those touchdowns did come against Incarnate Word. He's gone from secondary option to number-one guy, but he hasn't broken out such that he seems matchup-proof by any means. I know the Mean Green just got throttled at home by South Florida, but they have still only given up 158.8 passing yards per game.

ACC Starts and Sits

START

 Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson vs. SMU

Klubnik's ankle is hurting him, but all indications are that he will take the field in Week 8. Dabo Swinney and company aren't above piling it on when they get a chance, but this week the Tigers might need all the Klubnik they can get. He's thrown 11 touchdowns against five picks, but also added two touchdowns on the ground. The Mustangs have a good run defense and haven't allowed a ton of points, but they have given up 315.8 passing yards per game. Klubnik threw the ball 60 times against Syracuse. Clearly, Clemson isn't afraid to air it out if need be.

SIT

 Yasin Willis, RB, Syracuse vs. Pittsburgh

Willis stood out in Week 1 when he ran for three touchdowns against Tennessee, but since then, things have fallen off a bit. I did note SMU has a good run defense, but Willis only managed 2.7 yards per carry against that defense in Syracuse's last game. Pitt is even better against the run, having only allowed 83.5 rushing yards per contest.

Big Ten Starts and Sits

START

 DeJuan Williams, RB, Maryland at UCLA

The defensive outlier in the Big Ten is UCLA's run defense. No team has been terrible against the pass, and while Nebraska has been poor against the run, it isn't anywhere near UCLA on that front. The Bruins have given up 195.8 rushing yards per game, over 40 yards more than any other program. Williams and Nolan Ray share the load for the Terrapins, but Williams has gotten double-digit carries in every game and added 13 catches as well.

SIT

 Nicholas Singleton, RB, Penn State at Iowa

Let's see. James Franklin has been fired. Drew Allar is out for the season so opponents no longer need to worry about the passing game. And now, the Nittany Lions have to visit the Hawkeyes, a team that has played stout defense year in and year out. Yeah, seems like it may be a bummer of a day for Singleton. The Hawkeyes, to the surprise of nobody, have held opponents to 79.0 rushing yards and 13.0 points per game.

Big 12 Starts and Sits

START

 Cyrus Allen, WR, Cincinnati at Oklahoma State

Allen is coming off a terrible game against UCF, but he still has 27 catches for 294 yards and five touchdowns on the season. This is a great matchup to get right, as well. Conceptually, you have likely internalized that the Cowboys have a terrible defense. To get specific, though, the Cowboys have allowed 298.7 passing yards and 36.7 points per game.

SIT

 Raleek Brown, RB, Arizona State vs. Texas Tech

The massive financial outlay various boosters (mostly that one guy) have provided to Texas Tech's NIL coffers has yielded, first and foremost, an elite defense. Texas Tech has given up a meager 67.0 rushing yards and 12.2 points per contest. Brown has averaged an impressive 6.3 yards per carry, but that includes averaging 8.3 yards per carry against the trio of Northern Arizona, Mississippi State, and Texas State. This is a trickier matchup.

Conference USA Starts and Sits

START

 Kenny Odom, WR, UTEP at Sam Houston

Ugh. Conference USA games this week are Tuesday and Wednesday, and I wanted to focus on Wednesday, but here we have an atrocious offense facing a woeful defense. Odom started the season well, but things have trailed off. He might be okay, though. Malachi Nelson can't hurt us anymore (unless the UTEP coaching staff is trying to get fired). With Skyler Locklear under center, Odom may look like the guy who opened the season with nine catches for 97 yards and a touchdown (it took 15 targets, but that's a Nelson problem). The Bearkats have allowed the most passing yards per game among Conference USA teams, but also 39.5 points per game.

SIT

 Kyre Duplessis, WR, Delaware at Jacksonville State

I wanted to stick to Wednesday, and Jacksonville State has admittedly been more good than great against the pass. The Gamecocks have allowed 211.5 passing yards per game. Delaware is on the road, though, and Duplessis' overall numbers may be a bit misleading. Sixteen of his catches, 250 of his yards, and both of his touchdowns came against the combo of Delaware State and UConn.

MAC Starts and Sits

START

 Tucker Gleason, QB, Toledo vs. Kent State

Gleason hasn't looked fully like the guy who threw for 24 touchdowns against eight picks last year while adding 364 yards and seven scores on the ground. However, he did that last year, and he does have eight passing touchdowns and three rushing scores this year (though with a mere 57 rushing yards). This is the game for Gleason to look like his 2024 form, though. Kent State remains as woeful as ever. The Golden Flashes have given up 466.5 total yards per game as well as 37.7 points per game.

SIT

 Dru DeShields, QB, Kent State at Toledo

I'm flipping this one around, and also realizing what an absolute in-conference blowout this could be. The redshirt freshman DeShields has thrown nine touchdowns against one pick, though four of those touchdowns came against UMass in a game where he completed only 10 passes. Kent State clearly has the worst defense in the MAC, and Toledo clearly has the best. The Rockets have held opponents to 224.2 total yards and 15.0 points per contest.

Mountain West Starts and Sits

START

 Chris Durr, WR, Wyoming at Air Force

Durr has at least three catches in every game this season, though he has only hit 50 yards three times in six outings. You can practically ink in at least 50 in this game, though. Air Force shortens games with its offense. It has played Bucknell and Navy. The Falcons have allowed an incredible 323.2 passing yards per contest. I do believe Air Force, funnily enough, has the worst pass defense in the FBS.

SIT

 Jaden Bradley, WR, UNLV at Boise State

The Mountain West's best defense, San Diego State, is off this week. That leaves the second-best defense in the conference, Boise State, to offer a threat. The Broncos are also at home. Bradley has 493 yards and two touchdowns through six games, but 250 of those yards came against Idaho State and Sam Houston. It's possible to keep him in check, as he only had one catch against UCLA, and UCLA isn't exactly a lockdown defense.

SEC Starts and Sits

START

 Germie Bernard, WR, Alabama vs. Tennessee

Bernard has a touchdown in four of his games this season. In one of the games where he didn't score, he had eight catches for 146 yards against Florida State. With a new coach in Arkansas, Tennessee may be the worst defense in the SEC. The Volunteers are last in passing yards allowed per game in the conference, and they have given up 29.3 points per contest as well.

SIT

 Seth McGowan, RB, Kentucky vs. Texas

The passing game for Kentucky is a mess, and Mark Stoops buyout murmurings are being murmured, but McGown has been a good add in the transfer portal. He's tallied 431 yards and seven touchdowns through five games. However, in his last game, he was held to 40 yards on the ground with no touchdowns by Georgia. The Bulldogs have an excellent defense, but the Longhorns have an even better defense. Texas ranks first in defensive SP+.

Sun Belt Starts and Sits

START

Rashad Amos, RB, Georgia State at Georgia Southern

Nobody has really stepped up for Georgia State in the run game, but Amos seems to be at the top of the pecking order. He's had stints at South Carolina and Ole Miss to little avail, but in one season with Miami (OH) he had 1,075 yards and 13 touchdowns. He's only been given double-digit carries once this season, but it would behoove the staff to do so in this game. Georgia Southern has allowed 249.5 rushing yards and 37.5 points per game.

SIT

 Colton Joseph, QB, Old Dominion at James Madison

Joseph has been dynamic. He has 13 passing touchdowns and six rushing touchdowns. He's also loosey and goosey with the ball. He has thrown six picks and lost two fumbles. Visiting James Madison is never easy for any quarterback. Within the conference, the Dukes lead in passing yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, and points allowed per game.