Start 'Em Sit 'EM
Alright gang, we are getting into the thick of it. Teams in your league are beginning to separate and the playoffs are starting to peak over the horizon! Believe me, I'm right there with you guys. A bit of panic is starting to set in. A lot of my fantasy leagues are close. And I mean, "uncomfortably breathing on the back of your neck" close. In one of my leagues, the difference between the third seed and the 10th seed is just one game. This is how the fantasy season is going right now and the closer we get to Week 15, the more each lineup is going to weigh.
Stop me if you've heard this one before. "Our top performing guys aren't putting out the big performances as we need them to this season", and that's the truth. Patrick Mahomes for example, heads into Week 8 as the QB22! Mahomes is averaging just 13.8 fantasy points per game! This is insane but these are just some things that fantasy managers are dealing with this season. And don't even get me started on the injuries mounting. There are some prime matchups for Week 8 that fantasy managers should take advantage of.
Start 'Em
Quarterbacks
CJ Stroud vs. IND
CJ Stroud had one of the worst games against the Green Bay Packers and, by far, one of the worst fantasy performances this season. Stroud mustered just 21 pass attempts and completed only 47,6% of his passes against a stingy Packers defense (currently fourth in interceptions). They completely shut Stroud and the Texans' passing attack down. I think Stroud is missing his big-play receiver Nico Collins, who's still two games away from returning as he was placed on IR with a hamstring injury. But this week against the Indianapolis Colts could provide the bounce-back game the Texans need to get right. The Colts allowed the ninth-most passing yards heading into the matchup and 7.1 yards per pass attempt. Stroud is averaging 7.3 yards per pass attempt over the first seven games of the season.
Aaron Rodgers vs. NE
Rodgers has his buddy back in Davante Adams but the Jets offense didn't take off as expected with the reunion. But that's OK. That may still take a little time with Adams coming over during the middle of the season and getting used to another offense. But Rodgers did look better against the Buffalo Bills a couple of games ago as he finished with 17.8 fantasy points and threw two touchdowns with 294 yards through the air. Now he gets the New England Patriots and a passing defense beat on by Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. While he didn't go completely HAM on the Patriots' defense, Lawrence did finish the game with a 75% completion percentage and 17 fantasy points. Rodgers should be able to handle the Patriots' defense with even better weapons in Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson.
Running Backs
JK Dobbins vs. NO
While some fantasy managers are looking at Dobbins's downturn over the last few games with disappointment, they should understand that Dobbins and the Chargers rushing offense has faced off against some tough run defenses over the last three games. PIT, KC, and DEN are all top-12 against the run allowing just 4.1 yards per attempt or lower to opposing run offenses so far this season. And while the Arizona Cardinals defense was a good opponent to get back on track against, it wasn't meant to be that week. But with the New Orleans Saints heading into Week 8 and recently getting ran on by Broncos running back Javonte Williams, Dobbins might find himself with another game to get back on track. Dobbins is currently averaging five yards per carry and tied for 11th in rush attempts. With Gus Edwards still on IR, Dobbins will continue to get the rock.
Kenneth Walker vs. BUF
Kenny Walker has been HOT over the last three games since coming back from injury and he is just beating on opposing defenses. From weeks 4-7, Walker is averaging 23.1 fantasy points per game among fantasy running backs. The only running back better than Walker over that span... Derrick Henry. Walker and the Seahawks take on the Buffalo Bills, a defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to running backs at nearly 30 fantasy points per game. Walker is just too hot not to keep in your lineups.
Wide Receivers
Garrett Wilson vs. NE
There might be some panic with the presence of Davante Adams now with the Jets but that may be overblown a bit. Garrett Wilson sits at the WR12 heading into Week 8 and will still be a key figure in the Jets passing attack. There are still some adjustments to be made after the Jets brass opted to make some coaching changes so fantasy managers should keep that in mind. But Wilson still sees a ton of work in that offense and it can only improve as the season goes on. Wilson's 76 targets lead all wide receivers heading into Week 8 but his 60.5% catch rate needs to improve. The Patriots are allowing the eleventh-most fantasy points to wide receivers at just over 35 FPPG. Lock Wilson into your lineups.
Darnell Mooney vs. TB
I'm going back to the well with this one. Mooney had a great game in their first meeting earlier in the season. Mooney finished with 105 yards and two touchdowns (31.5 FP) in that game and the Falcons will look to get that thing going against the Bucs again. Mooney is 14th among wide receivers in targets and sees a 23.2% target share. Cousins will continue to get the ball to his deep threat and playmaker in Mooney against the Bucs' defense. The Bucs' defense allows nearly 40 fantasy points per game against wide receivers, the fifth-most among fantasy defenses heading into the new fantasy week.
Tight Ends
Cade Otton vs. ATL
Otton may not have the best matchup this week but it might not matter. The Falcons are one of the tougher defenses when defending tight ends in fantasy football. The Falcons are allowing the 10th fewest fantasy points to tight ends at just nine points per game to the position. So why should you consider putting Otton in your lineups this week? Who else is Baker Mayfield going to throw the ball to? Mike Evans may miss multiple games behind a hamstring injury and Chris Godwin is done for the season after dislocating his ankle late in the game against the Baltimore Ravens. There's a wealth of targets now available and they have to go somewhere. Otton is the most reliable pass catcher still on the active roster.
Sit 'Em
Trevor Lawrence vs. GB
Lawrence played a bit better against the New England Patriots but it might come to a stop against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. The Packers packed up CJ Stroud, giving him one of the worst fantasy performances of the season with just five fantasy points for the second-year quarterback (and if the Packers defense is on waivers this week, you might want to pick them up). Lawrence has been on the inconsistent side of fantasy quarterbacks, averaging just 14.6 fantasy points per game. The Packers are allowing 14.7 to the position. Skip this one.
Zach Moss vs. PHI
Zach Moss is losing carries to Chase Brown and being outperformed by his fellow Bengals running back heading into Week 8. The RB33 over the last three weeks, Moss is no longer the preferred option out of the backfield with Chase Brown stealing his shine. Moss is averaging just 8.4 fantasy points over the last four games. The Eagles managed to beat down some bad teams in the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants, stuffing their respective rushing attacks in back-to-back weeks. With the Eagles allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, Moss can have a seat on your bench and let Brown handle this one.
Marvin Harrison Jr. vs. MIA
I like Marvin Harrison Jr but the struggles of he and Kyler Murray continue to be a thing. MHJ was left out in the cold against the Los Angeles Chargers game as he finished with just 21 yards on three catches. The next matchup doesn't get any easier as the Miami Dolphins and Jalen Ramsey are on the docket. The Dolphins are allowing the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers at 23.2 per game. That's crazy considering the offense's struggles, but the Dolphin's backend is still handling business out there. The Dolphins have allowed just three passing touchdowns over the first seven games. That's also crazy.
Zach Ertz vs. CHI
Two things give me pause when considering Zach Ertz for my lineups this week. One, the Chicago Bears defense is really like that right now. The Bears are allowing just 10.4 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. The second thing is Jayden Daniels may miss a game or two due to a rib injury he sustained during the Commanders/Panthers game. If Daniels does miss the game, I'm not as confident in a Marcus Mariota-led Commanders team against a tough Bears defense. I'll look for other options this week.
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