Start Jalen Coker or Luther Burden III? Week 8

Our Week 8 call

Start Luther Burden III over Jalen Coker in Week 8.

Market-based projections have Luther Burden III at 12.2 points and Jalen Coker at 13.3, a gap of 1.1. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. Luther Burden III still gets the call because it also weighs where drafters take each player, ADP 51 against 126, and that outweighs a gap this size. No player market is posted for Luther Burden III this week yet, so his 12.2 is the average of his market-based projections in Weeks 5, 6 and 7 (11.1, 12.6 and 12.7); the call is rebuilt when his market posts.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 13.3 fantasy points for Jalen Coker, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market-based projection for Jalen Coker is 64 receiving yards, 4-5 receptions and 0.4 touchdowns (13, 10 and 13 market sources).

No Week 8 player market is posted for Luther Burden III yet. His market-based projections were 11.1, 12.6 and 12.7 points in Weeks 5, 6 and 7, an average of 12.2, which stands in until his Week 8 market posts.

The market-based projection for Luther Burden III is 0.4 touchdowns (6 market sources).

That puts Jalen Coker 1.1 points ahead of Luther Burden III on these projections.

Week 8 matchups

Jalen Coker and CAR visit GB on Thursday at 8:15 PM ET.

GB allowed 35.7 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 7 games, the 9th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 157 yards and 0.9 touchdowns a game against GB.

Luther Burden III and CHI visit SEA on Monday at 8:15 PM ET.

SEA allowed 20.9 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 7 games, the fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 92 yards and 0.6 touchdowns a game against SEA.

By points allowed to the position, Jalen Coker has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Jalen Coker is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury.

Luther Burden III is not on the injury report.

Usage before Week 8

Through Week 7, Jalen Coker played 67 percent of CAR snaps, drew 23 percent of the targets, earned 27 percent of the air yards and had 11 percent of the red zone chances.

Jalen Coker, Week 2 against ATL: 50 of 66 snaps, 9 targets and 8 catches for 66 yards.

Jalen Coker, Week 3 against CLE: 28 of 77 snaps, 4 targets and 2 catches for 18 yards.

Jalen Coker, Week 6 against PHI: 59 of 79 snaps, 13 targets and 6 catches for 97 yards.

Jalen Coker, Week 7 against TB: 37 of 56 snaps, 4 targets and 1 catch for 9 yards.

Through Week 7, Luther Burden III played 61 percent of CHI snaps, drew 13 percent of the targets, earned 13 percent of the air yards and had 17 percent of the red zone chances.

Luther Burden III, Week 7 against NE: 42 of 69 snaps, 1 carry for 7 yards, 4 targets and 4 catches for 130 yards, 1 touchdown.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Jalen Coker played 11 games for CAR and scored 90.4 PPR points, 8.2 a game, finishing WR69.

He caught 33 of 43 targets for 394 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 3 red zone targets and 292 air yards.

He was on the field for 68 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, Luther Burden III played 15 games for CHI and scored 127.9 PPR points, 8.5 a game, finishing WR48.

He caught 47 of 60 targets for 652 yards and 2 touchdowns, with 4 red zone targets and 318 air yards.

He was on the field for 39 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Luther Burden III, Week 18 of 2025 against DET: 1 carry for 10 yards, 4 targets and 3 catches for 35 yards, 7.5 PPR points.

Luther Burden III, Week 17 of 2025 against SF: 38 of 66 snaps, 9 targets and 8 catches for 138 yards, 1 touchdown, 27.8 PPR points.

Their other Week 8 calls

• Start A.J. Brown over Jalen Coker.
• Start Christian Watson over Jalen Coker.
• Start DK Metcalf over Jalen Coker.
• Start A.J. Brown over Luther Burden III.
• Start Luther Burden III over Carnell Tate.
• Start Luther Burden III over Denzel Boston.