Fantasy Football Week 8 Mailbag: Dez Bryant, T.Y. Hilton, Amari Cooper Advice

The fantasy season is coming down to the wire, but that doesn’t mean the questions are subsiding.

You have submitted your mailbag questions ahead of a pivotal week in most fantasy leagues. We answered some of the best below.

(Stefon) Diggs, (Brandon) LaFell, Dez Bryant, or (James) Jones for flex this week? — Austin via Facebook 

Let’s start by eliminating two players right off the bat. LaFell showed some signs of improvements during his second game back from injury, but he would be a gamble to start over your other options. Jones would also be a gamble, especially with his declining targets in the Green Bay Packers’ passing attack.

As for Diggs and Bryant, both players have some injury questions. Diggs, who has been on fire of late, has been limited in practice this week with a hamstring issue. Bryant is still trying to find his footing with the Dallas Cowboys after returning from his Week 1 injury. And he still has Matt Cassel, not Tony Romo, as his quarterback. You probably invested a lot in drafting Bryant, so he is the smart bet for you. But if you have room at FLEX and Diggs does play, consider starting him there.

Should I start Demaryius Thomas or Amari Cooper this week? — Jimmy via Facebook 

Well, that’s certainly a good problem to have. Many fantasy owners would love to have just one of those wide receivers. So my initial advice is to find a way to get both players into your starting lineup. But for the sake of argument, let’s look at who has the most potential this week.

First of all, both players are facing favorable matchups. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Indianapolis Colts rank 26th and 27th, respectively, in pass defense this season. Thomas is coming off a huge week thanks to the resurgence of Peyton Manning at quarterback. Cooper, meanwhile, is coming off one of his worst performances of the season, although that New York Jets’ secondary was a big reason why.

Thomas is probably the safer bet, but you should really try to get both in your lineup.

Martavis Bryant over (T.Y.) Hilton? Hilton against Denver scared me after last week. — Matthew via Facebook 

Bryant has been declining in fantasy numbers ever since his two-touchdown performance in his first game back from suspension. However, that shouldn’t keep you from starting him over Hilton, who has some major injury concerns this week.

Hilton was reportedly not seen at Colts’ practice on Thursday, and he was seen with a walking boot after Indianapolis’ Monday night. Even if he does play, though, the numbers favor Bryant.

Buffalo or Jets defense? — Mike via Twitter 

Defense questions! Got to love it. Although this one is pretty simple. Yes, the Jets had a rough time stopping the Oakland Raiders’ offense last weekend, but they still have one of the best defenses in the league. Oh, and New York is facing the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday.

The Bills, meanwhile, are facing a potentially favorable matchup with the Miami Dolphins, but the likelihood of Buffalo getting more defensive fantasy points than New York is slim.

Thumbnail photo via Kevin Jairaj/USA TODAY Sports Images