The Ervin Santana Jersey big storyline heading into the Week 8 Thursday Night Football game is whether the Panthers will activate running backChristianMcCaffrey, who hasn't played since hurting his ankle in Week 2, from injured reserve. IfMcCaffreycan play, it's a sumehe would get his normal workload of touches with Mike Davis returning to a limited backup role. Either way, fantasy football owners won't have much of a start 'em, sit 'em decision, but there are plenty of other players on both the Panthers and Falcons who might be causing some to seek lineup advice.Let's break down who's worth starting in tonight's NFC South showdown.WEEK 8 PPR RANKINGS: | | | | | UPDATE:McCaffrey is officially OUT.Falcons: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday nightStart: QB Matt RyanRyan threw for 226 scorele s yardsin the first meeting with an interception. When Julio Jones was hurting in Week 4 at Green Bay and mi sed Week 6 vs. Carolina, he was a different, bad QB. He's been boom or bust with two four-TD games and four games with zero-to-1 TDs. The Panthers' pa s defense has a good young rush and secondary, but the Jones-Calvin Ridley combination is too much and can help Ryan have a solid QB1 night.Start: RB Todd GurleyThe Panthers give up the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs. Gurley rumbled for 140 yards from scrimmage and a score in the first meeting. He leads the league with seven combined TDs in seven games and is averaging 80 Brandon Guyer Jersey yards from scrimmage per game.MORE TNF: | | Start: WR Julio JonesSince his return from injury, Jones has caught 16-of-19 targets the past two weeks for 234 yards and two TDs. He's locked in and dominating again. He has a history of destroying the Panthers, too.Start: WR Calvin RidleyWithout Jones, Ridley caught eight-of-10 targets for 136 yards in the first meeting. If you throw out that weird catch-le s game against the Packers, Ridley's average in six games is 103 yards and a TD. He finds a way to get his digits every wee, and is only helped by Jones.Sit: TE Hayden HurstThe Panthers have allowed three TDs to tight ends, but they are built to contain the position well. Hurst had had just catches for eight yards in the first game, so no.Sit: WR Ru sell GageGage has done a lot more again in the past Ivan Nova Jersey two weeks with Jones back, catching 10-of-11 targets for 119 yards. You still should be able to better for your WR3 or flex.Start: K Younghoe KooKoo was a major disappointment last week and didn't get his sure shot at a late field-goal that would have won the game for the Falcons, thanks to Gurley scoring. But he is capable of monster games and banged home three field goals in the first meeting. Check the weather, with some wind and rain in the forecast, but his leg and accuracy make him a good weekly option.Sit: Falcons defense/special teamsIn a word, no.WEEK 8 STANDARD RANKINGS: | | | | | Panthers: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday nightStart: RB Christian McCaffrey or Mike DavisUPDATE:McCaffrey is officially OUT.If McCaffrey (ankle) is back in there, you need to run with himbecause the Panthers wouldn't play him on a short week if he was ready to contribute like he normally does. There's a chance McCaffrey'sworkload would be scaled back, but not to the point Davis can be used as even a flex. That said, if CMC doesn't play, Davis remains locked in as a high-end RB2/borderline RB1. He abused the Falcons for 149 yards from scrimmage, nine catches, and a TD in James Shields Jersey the first meeting.Start: QB Teddy BridgewaterLike a bridge over trouble water, he will ease your mind if you've got injury i sues or Kyler Murray or Deshaun Watson on a bye this week. He dropped 313 yards and two TDson the Falcons in the first meeting.Start: WR Robby AndersonAnderson has had one disappointing game, a five-catch, 55-yardeffort against the Chargers. He's cooled a little again the past two weeks against the Bears and the Saints, but he roasted the Falcons for eight catches and 112 yards on 12 targets the first time.Start: WR D.J. MooreHe was a little underwhelming in the first month with only one big game, but he's made for it in October with exactly 93 receiving yards in each of the past three games, also scoring thrice in that span off 13 catches on 21 targets.Sit: WR Curtis SamuelSamuel found the end zone for the first time in 2020 on a five-yard rush against the Saints. He's been a limited-use option in the pa sing game behind Anderson, Moore and either Davis or McCaffrey.Sit: TE Ian ThomasHe's talented, but he's still an afterthought in the offense.Start: K Joey SlyeHe justmi sed a potential Luis Robert Jersey record-breaking65-yard attempt against the Saints. He has a big leg and is accurate on a good offense, much like Koo. A suming the weather is reasonable, he's a strong play.Sit: Panthers defense/special teamsIn another word, no.WEEK 8 DFS: | | Falcons-Panthers DraftKings Showdown lineup for Thursday nightCaptain: RB Todd Gurley $12,600FLEX: WR Calvin Ridley $10,200FLEX: WR Julio Jones $9,800FLEX: WR D.J. Moore $8,200FLEX: WR Curtis Samuel $5,400FLEX: K Younghoe Koo $3,800Full disclosure: This writer likes the Falcons to win in a upset because of Jones' return having a big impact. It only makes sense to load up on Falcons here in a contrarian approach. Regardle s of CMC playing or not, it's hard to pay for him. So, here's going with the Falcons' big three, the Panthers' big playmaker and for DFS purposes, a wild-card third receiver vs. Gage. Koo was whom could afford with the money we had left.