New

Week8 · 2026

Starting1

Scoring

Pass TD

New comparison

Toss-up

Cousins

QB · LV @ NYJ

Kickoff Sun 1:00 PM ET

Projected points14.9pts

First out

Mahomes

QB · KC @ DEN

Kickoff Sun 4:25 PM ET

Projected points15.8pts

Toss-up

Bench

Kirk Cousins or Patrick Mahomes: Who Should I Start in Week 8?

Toss-up. Kirk Cousins gets the nod over Patrick Mahomes.

Confidence: Lower; Toss-up
Started: 50%; of leagues

Case for Mahomes

The case for Mahomes is more points with his legs (1.7 a game to 0.1) and more upside (a ceiling of 23.8 to 19.0).

Flips if

Start Patrick Mahomes instead if you need a big week: he has more big weeks (26% of his games to 0%).

Risk

The risk: Mahomes faces a Broncos defense without linebacker Jonah Elliss.

Highlights

Injuries as of Fri 1:00 PM ET

CousinsToss-upQB · LV @ NYJUsually 18.8−3.9pts this week

Helps him

39.1dropbacksHe drops back 39.1 times a game.
steadyHis weekly scores stay close to his average.

Hurts him

−3.1ptspass TDsHis lines put him at 1.50 passing TDs, below his usual 2.29.
−1.1ptspass yardsHis lines put him at 239.5 passing yards, below his usual 268.1.
12.5floorA quiet week could drop to about 12.5 points.

MahomesFirst outQB · KC @ DENUsually 16.7−0.8pts this week

Helps him

OutEllissEdgeHe faces a Broncos defense without linebacker Jonah Elliss.

Hurts him

−0.9ptspass yardsHis lines put him at 223.5 passing yards, below his usual 245.7.
4th toughestper passEdgeDEN allows plenty of QB chances because teams throw a lot against them; per pass they’re tough (0.40 pts, 4th toughest).
23%pressureEdgeThe DEN pass rush gets pressure on 23% of dropbacks.

Points are what each line adds to or takes off his usual week. EdgeFrom the game around him.

Stat comparison

Every player you picked, stat by stat, most important first.

Scoring

Projection14.915.8

Rush TD pointsof the projection0.20.9

Rush TDs expectedthis week0.040.15

Projected team points22.020.8

Goal line carriesper game0.00.0

Red zone carriesper game0.00.3

Pass attempts / game36.731.8

Role

Snap share98%100%

Touch share4%7%

Touches / game2.13.2

Yards per attempt7.37.7

Pass TD rate6%5%

Rush yards / game0.611.8

Points from rushing0.3%13%

Rushing points / game0.1 pts / game2.2 pts / game

Rushing floor0.1 pts / game1.7 pts / game

Designed runs / game0.30.2

Scrambles / game0.72.0

Dropbacks / game39.135.2

Designed runs inside the 10 / game0.00.0

Sacks per dropback4%3%

INT rate1.9%2.1%

Pass aDOT8.16.0

High value touches / game0.00.2

Goal line carry share0%0%

Red zone touches / game0.00.3

Rush success rate14%54%

Breakaway rate (20+ yd runs)0%0%

Range

Floor12.511.6

Ceiling19.023.8

Points from TDssteadier when lower0%6%

Big weeks (25+ pts)0%26%

Dud weeks (under 12 pts)lower is better0%28%

SteadinessVery steady±3.7 pts · 7 gamesVery steady±8.4 pts

Matchup

Matchup gradevs his position · 2026, 7 gmB-C-

Game scriptExpected to trailExpected to lead

Opp takeaways / gamelower is better1.11.4

Defense funnelNeutralNeutral

Opp pass yds allowed5th (tough)17th (average)

Opp sacks / game2.73.0

Opp defender outNone listedElliss (LB)

Roof / surfaceOpenturfOpengrass

Rest / scheduleNormalNormal

Opp pace28th (slow)30th (slow)

Opp pressure rate21%14th (average)23%8th (tough)

Pressure faced25%24%

Opp rush yds allowed24th (soft)28th (soft)

Opp stuff rate14%26th (soft)18%14th (average)

Opp yards per carry allowed4.317th (average)4.724th (soft)

Opp deep targets allowed / game2.64th (tough)3.715th (average)

Opp catch rate allowed65%9th (tough)62%3rd (tough)

Form

Last 3 avg17.511.2

Last 5 avg19.515.7

vs season−1.2 (Steady)−5.5 (Cooling)

Yards per carry0.33.7

Carries / game2.13.2

Pass volume trendRisingSteady

Crowd

Started in leagues50%59%

Nuvela position ranklower is betterQB20QB15

Yards linepassing239.5223.5

Deciding on someone else?

Choose 2 to 5 players for any week.

Sit or start?