Start Malik Washington or Ladd McConkey? Week 8

Our Week 8 call

Start Ladd McConkey over Malik Washington in Week 8.

Market-based projections have Ladd McConkey at 9.6 points and Malik Washington at 10.1, a gap of 0.4. That is inside the noise of a single catch, so treat it as close to a coin flip. Ladd McConkey still gets the call because it also weighs where drafters take each player, ADP 39 against 165, and that outweighs a gap this size.

What the market projects

Player markets imply 10.1 fantasy points for Malik Washington, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market-based projection for Malik Washington is 41 receiving yards, 4-5 receptions and 0.3 touchdowns (7, 9 and 13 market sources).

Player markets imply 9.6 fantasy points for Ladd McConkey, with 100 percent of the markets a WR needs posted.

The market-based projection for Ladd McConkey is 43 receiving yards, 3-4 receptions and 0.3 touchdowns (10, 9 and 9 market sources).

That puts Malik Washington 0.4 points ahead of Ladd McConkey on the market projections.

Week 8 matchups

Malik Washington and MIA host NE on Sunday at 4:25 PM ET.

NE allowed 32.1 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 7 games, the 13th most in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 150 yards and a touchdown a game against NE.

Ladd McConkey and LAC visit LAR on Sunday at 4:05 PM ET.

LAR allowed 26.8 fantasy points a game to WRs this season over 7 games, the 5th fewest in the league.

Receivers caught passes for 106 yards and 1.1 touchdowns a game against LAR.

By points allowed to the position, Malik Washington has the softer matchup.

Injury status

Malik Washington is listed as questionable with a knee injury.

Ladd McConkey is listed as questionable with a concussion injury.

Usage before Week 8

Through Week 7, Malik Washington played 84 percent of MIA snaps, drew 26 percent of the targets, earned 30 percent of the air yards and had 10 percent of the red zone chances.

Malik Washington, Week 3 against KC: 63 of 73 snaps, 2 carries for 5 yards, 10 targets and 5 catches for 56 yards.

Malik Washington, Week 4 against MIN: 34 of 39 snaps, 2 carries for 3 yards, 5 targets and 5 catches for 67 yards.

Malik Washington, Week 5 against CIN: 53 of 66 snaps, 1 carry for 18 yards, 8 targets and 6 catches for 43 yards.

Malik Washington, Week 7 against NYJ: 52 of 65 snaps, 2 carries for 8 yards, 3 targets and 3 catches for 27 yards.

Through Week 6, Ladd McConkey played 46 percent of LAC snaps, drew 12 percent of the targets, earned 19 percent of the air yards and had 5 percent of the red zone chances.

Ladd McConkey, Week 2 against LV: 31 of 68 snaps, 3 targets and 3 catches for 35 yards.

Ladd McConkey, Week 3 against BUF: 61 of 69 snaps, 5 targets and 4 catches for 66 yards.

Ladd McConkey, Week 4 against SEA: 24 of 71 snaps, 2 targets and 0 catches for 0 yards.

Ladd McConkey, Week 6 against KC: 8 of 68 snaps, 1 target and 1 catch for 17 yards.

Their 2025 seasons

In 2025, Malik Washington played 17 games for MIA and scored 116.7 PPR points, 6.9 a game, finishing WR54.

He caught 46 of 65 targets for 317 yards and 3 touchdowns, with 11 red zone targets and 64 air yards.

He was on the field for 56 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

In 2025, Ladd McConkey played 16 games for LAC and scored 180.9 PPR points, 11.3 a game, finishing WR30.

He caught 66 of 106 targets for 789 yards and 6 touchdowns, with 14 red zone targets and 479 air yards.

He was on the field for 78 percent of the offense's snaps in the games he played.

Their other Week 8 calls

• Start Malik Washington over Adonai Mitchell.
• Start Carnell Tate over Malik Washington.
• Start Chris Godwin Jr. over Malik Washington.
• Start Ladd McConkey over Adonai Mitchell.
• Start Ladd McConkey over Carnell Tate.
• Start Ladd McConkey over Chris Godwin Jr..