Week 8 gave us some great on field match ups that we were waiting for.  However, there were not too many breakout games out there like earlier in the year.  This happens when you hit the byes and not every team is playing plus the injuries start to pile up.

Week 8 Review:

  • Jameis Out, Fitz In – Tampa QB Winston has been chucking the ball a ton since getting his job back.  However, his reckless play has led to 10 INTs which leads the league (and that is with 3 less games and a bye).  After 4 INTs against the Bengals, Coach Koetter turned to FitzMagic who almost pulled it off.  He brought the Bucs back from a 34-16 deficit to tie the game with 1:05 to play.  They lost, but it’s pretty clear who is playing better this year.
  • Le’Veon Who? – Steelers RB James Connor has done everything he can to earn the starting job.  With Bell potentially returning in Week 9 (to collect his league year and 1st check), Connor went out and balled – 212 yards on 29 touches plus 2 TDs in the dominating win over Cleveland (who fired their coach).  Let this kid keep playing!
  • Room for 2 WRs in Twin Cities – WR Adam Thielen of Vikings did it again going over 100 yards for his 8th consecutive time (tying the mark by Megatron), but Cousins finally found WR Stefan Diggs early and often for a huge day – 10 catches for 119 yards and a TD.  So, they both can thrive in this offense at the same time.
  • AP Still The Man – RB Adrian Peterson has been moving around since his departure from MIN a couple years ago.  He was productive in AZ after NO let him go.  This year with the rookie out for the year, AP continues to deliver big games and is now 5th in Rushing for the Redskins.  He ripped the Giants for 149 yards and a TD on 26 carries.  Incredible at 33 years old.
  • Cam At Elite Level – QB Cam Newton of Panthers is doing it all – throwing for 219 yards and 2 TDs, rushing for 52 yards and a TD, and 0 TOs against the league’s best defense.  OC Norv Turner has him playing his best ball.
  • Key Injuries:  Will Fuller, WR, Texans is out for the year with torn ACL.  WR, Allen Robinson of Bears is still questionable with groin at BUF.  TE Geoff Swaim is questionable for Cowboys with MCL injury and new WR Amari Cooper is still in the concussion protocol.  Chiefs’ WR Tyreke Hill is questionable with a groin pull for next week at CLE.  Chargers’ RB, Melvin Gordon is questionable with the hamstring injury at SEA.  QB Ryan Tannehill, Miami is still questionable with AC joint sprain.  Tampa RB, Ronald Jones left the game in the 1st quarter with a hamstring injury and is questionable against CAR.

Week 9 Preview and 4 X 4

More great show downs that should be fantasy goodness:

  • Rams at Saints – This should be a complete shootout with the Vegas total at 60+.  Undefeated offensive juggernaut, Rams go to the Super Dome to face off against the New Orleans Saints who have rattled off 6 straight wins.  Probably an NFC Championship preview, the team with the ball last will likely win this one.  Start all your players in this one.
  • Packers at Patriots – QB Aaron Rodgers almost made some magic at the Rams in Week 8, but can he do it against the living legend TB12.  This is the first time the two future HOF QBs have faced off in Foxboro and will do it on Sunday Night Football.  The Pack played decent defense in LA, but still got gashed by Gurley.  Without RB Sony Michel, can the Pats follow that blueprint?  Hopefully, the Pats will have a healthy Gronk and this one can also be a shootout with all players being relevant.

Byes:  Eagles, Jags, Colts, Giants, Bengals and Cardinals

Waiver Wire Targets (60% Owned or Less)

  • Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bucs (7% Owned) – FitzMagic is back, and if Dirk Koetter lets Winston start again, then my bad, but Fitz is better than Jameis and that coaching staff needs to win now.  Fitz brought the Bucs back to a near win at Cincy.  It’s a tougher match up at Carolina, but they are middle of the pack, so nothing to fear.
  • DJ Moore, WR, Panthers (15% Owned) – The rookie finally had a big game.  The top WR off the board in April has been getting the ball in a variety of ways.  He gets TB, PIT and DET in the next 3 weeks.
  • Christian Kirk, WR, Cardinals (41% Owned) – The rookie Kirk has gotten 6 or more targets in 3 straight games.  He goes into his bye this week, but after he gets KC and OAK, so good match ups.
  • Chris Herndon, TE, Jets (20% Owned) – TE is a wasteland this year.  So, give me a guy who has scored TDs in 3 straight games at the position.  He is doing it on minimal targets, but the rookie is an athletic player with good hands.  Great for bye week replacements against MIA and BUF coming up.

Last Week:  Doug Martin got the most carries with 13 carries for 72 yards plus 2 catches for 17 yards. Jalen Richard got 8 catches for 50 yards plus 2 carries for 17 yards (that’s what I expected). Ronald Jones only got 2 carries for -3 yards and 1 catch for 4 yards – not his time yet continue to stash him.  Courtland Sutton led the Broncos in receiving with 3 catches for 78 yards, not great but good. Tre-Quan Smith didn’t do much with 3 catches for 18 yards on 4 targets (Brees only threw the ball 23 times in the game thought).

Trade Targets (Buy Lows)

  • Leonard Fournette, RB, Jags – The Jags need this dude back.  The whole team functions better with him in the lineup.  Plus, it’s their bye week, so he has less value this week.  He will be the man coming back.  Get him now.
  • Jordan Howard, RB, Bears – He’s been on this list before, but as the weather gets worse in Chicago, the Bears will turn to this guy.  He got 22 carries against the Jets and delivered with 81 yards and a TD.
  • Keenan Allen, WR, Chargers – Allen is a good route runner, and he has not been getting the ball in the red zone.  After a tirade in London before the bye, I would expect a change going forward.  He should be really good from here on out.
  • Evan Engram, TE, Giants – The 2nd year player has struggled with the injury and poor play at QB.  However, it was great to see him get 9 targets on Sunday.  With the bye week coming, you may see a change at QB, but either way, I expect more usage of the young TE and his value is low.

Last Week:  Alex Collins got 14 touches for 63 yards and a TD – game script hurt him, but he got the most carries by a lot.  Kenyan Drake finally out touched Frank Gore with 14 touches for 95 yards and 2 TDs (the window has closed). Doug Baldwin was not very involved just 2 catches for 26 yards on 3 target – SEA is a running team now. Josh Gordon had a report that he was late for meetings and would be benched for a quarter, but he still played only 4 catches for 42 yards on MNF.

Sneak Starts (Not Your Typical Starters This Week)

  • Dion Lewis, RB, Titans (FD $5800) – The Titans offense has been bad at best.  I’m hoping after the bye, that they will address some issues including getting the ball to Lewis more.  Dallas’ defense is pretty good and that pass rush should allow for lots of dump of passes and screens to Lewis.
  • Nick Chubb, RB, Browns (FD $6600)– After a crazy week of firing Hue Jackson and OC Todd Haley, I see a big game for the Browns at home against the high powered Chiefs.  Chubb should play really well in this spot (as should Baker and some WRs).  Chubb wasn’t great this past week, but he should get the start again.
  • Devin Funchess, WR, Panthers (FD $6400) – The Bucs come to town and they give up big yards to all WRs.  I’d say start Moore, who may go off, too, but I see Funchess getting a TD at least.
  • Jared Cook, TE, Raiders (FD $5900) – The Thursday night game is pretty awful with the Bay Area battle between OAK-SF, but Cook has been good this year.  I think this game could actually be high scoring and Cook can make it happen yet again.

Last Week:  Andy Dalton was great in the first half, but they took their foot off the gas pedal – 280 yards and 2 TDs with 0 INTs (mostly in the 1st half).  Nick Chubb was just ok with 20 touches for 70 yards (no TDs hurt).  Courtland Sutton (see above). Jimmy Graham did nothing with just one catch for 21 yards on 4 targets and worse yet fell on his bum a half yard short of a TD on that catch which would have paid me money in Daily Lineups.

Guys to Avoid (Usual Starters that Will Struggle)

  • Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons – The Falcons may play well out of the bye, and I don’t think the Redskins are all that great.  However, Matt Ryan is not the same on the road outside of dome.  He will not play like he has been lighting up the scoreboard and the Redskins are running AP a lot to milk clock.
  • James Connor, RB, Steelers – Sure, you may not have better options, but the Ravens stuffed Connor in their first meeting in Pittsburgh.  I see more of the same.  You have to beat the Ravens over the top and taking the ball away.  Connor will struggle again.
  • Tarik Cohen, RB, Bears – Not a sure fire starter ever, but Cohen has been more reliable than most this year.  I don’t like this spot at Buffalo for the Bears offense.  I think it could be a game where they score 17 points and get out of there.
  • Melvin Gordon, RB, Chargers – Gordon got dinged up and couldn’t go in London prior to the bye.  I’m sure he will be ready to play, but the Seahawks are playing really good defense especially against the run.  Gordon is better in PPR leagues as he will get some catches.  I am looking to others in the offense to shine.

Last Week:  Kerryon Johnson was stopped running for 22 yards on 8 carries, but he was very involved in the pass game 6 catches for 69 yards (that’s a big change).  Christian McCaffery only got 18 touches for 56 yards, but 2 TDs, so he got it done after all.  Antonio Brown did what he does catching 6 balls for just 74 yards but 2 TDs (he is back to unbenchable).  Michael Thomas was good not great with 5 catches for 81 yards.

Good luck in Week 9!

Wegs

About the author

I'm a 49 year old, twice divorced guy with a 20 year old. The blog has morphed a bit lately. Not just sports or dating, social commentary and now some stories from my past experience.