Start Rashod Bateman or Efton Chism III? Week 8

Our Week 8 call

Start Efton Chism III over Rashod Bateman in Week 8.

Market-based projections have Efton Chism III at 4.7 points and Rashod Bateman at 4.4, a gap of 0.3. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. No player market is posted for Efton Chism III this week yet, so his 4.7 is the average of his market-based projections in Weeks 5, 6 and 7 (6.2, 3.5 and 4.4); the call is rebuilt when his market posts. No player market is posted for Rashod Bateman this week yet, so his 4.4 is the average of his market-based projections in Weeks 5, 6 and 7 (4.0, 4.7 and 4.5); the call is rebuilt when his market posts.

What the market projects

No Week 8 player market is posted for Efton Chism III yet. His market-based projections were 6.2, 3.5 and 4.4 points in Weeks 5, 6 and 7, an average of 4.7, which stands in until his Week 8 market posts.

No Week 8 player market is posted for Rashod Bateman yet. His market-based projections were 4.0, 4.7 and 4.5 points in Weeks 5, 6 and 7, an average of 4.4, which stands in until his Week 8 market posts.

That puts Efton Chism III 0.3 points ahead of Rashod Bateman on these projections.

Week 8 matchups

Efton Chism III and NE visit MIA on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET.

MIA allowed 23.8 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 6 games, the 3rd fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 116 yards and 0-1 touchdowns a game against MIA.

Rashod Bateman and BAL visit BUF on Sunday at 1:00 PM ET.

BUF allowed 42.3 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 6 games, the most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 174 yards and 1.8 touchdowns a game against BUF.

By points allowed to the position, Rashod Bateman has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Efton Chism III is not on the injury report.

Rashod Bateman is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 8

Through Week 7, Efton Chism III played 63 percent of NE snaps, drew 3 percent of the targets, earned 1 percent of the air yards and had 0 percent of the red zone chances.

Efton Chism III, Week 7 against CHI: 34 of 54 snaps, 1 target and 1 catch for 16 yards.

Through Week 7, Rashod Bateman played 70 percent of BAL snaps, drew 13 percent of the targets, earned 22 percent of the air yards and had 4 percent of the red zone chances.

Rashod Bateman, Week 4 against TEN: 30 of 64 snaps, 2 targets and 2 catches for 46 yards.

Rashod Bateman, Week 5 against ATL: 61 of 76 snaps, 6 targets and 5 catches for 62 yards.

Rashod Bateman, Week 6 against CLE: 17 of 57 snaps, 1 target and 0 catches for 0 yards.

Rashod Bateman, Week 7 against CIN: 49 of 67 snaps, 4 targets and 2 catches for 33 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Efton Chism III played 8 games for NE and scored 16.5 PPR points, 2.1 a game.

He caught 3 of 3 targets for 75 yards and 1 touchdown, with 1 red zone target and 35 air yards.

He was on the field for 14 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Efton Chism III, Week 18 of 2025 against MIA: 1 target and 1 catch for 35 yards, 4.5 PPR points.

Efton Chism III, Week 17 of 2025 against NYJ: 41 of 66 snaps, 2 targets and 2 catches for 40 yards, 1 touchdown, 12.0 PPR points.

In 2025, Rashod Bateman played 13 games for BAL and scored 55.4 PPR points, 4.3 a game, finishing WR102.

He caught 19 of 38 targets for 224 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 8 red zone targets and 185 air yards.

He was on the field for 69 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 8 calls

• Start Brian Thomas Jr. over Efton Chism III.
• Start Efton Chism III over Cody White.
• Start Efton Chism III over Elic Ayomanor.
• Start Brian Thomas Jr. over Rashod Bateman.
• Start Rashod Bateman over Cody White.
• Start Rashod Bateman over Elic Ayomanor.