Believe it or not, but the fantasy season is half over and you can’t afford anymore roster blunders. That’s why we are here, bringing you our weekly Studs, Duds, & Sleepers. Check out who we do and don’t like in the Week 8 matchups.
Studs:
Todd Gurley, RB, LAR:
With just 311 yards and 3.8 ypc, Gurley is having one of the most disappointing fantasy seasons. In six games, Gurley has surpassed 65 yards just once, but he does have five touchdowns, and this week, gets to play the worst run defense in the league. The Bengals are giving up a staggering league worst 189 ypg on the ground at 5.2 ypc. I expect Gurley to surpass the 100 yard mark for the first time this week.
Matthew Stafford, QB, Det:
Stafford is averaging 291.8 ypg and has 13 touchdowns, ranking him sixth and fifth respectively in those categories. He is coming off his best game of the season – 364 yards and four touchdowns – against a tough Vikings defense and this week, he gets a weak Giants defense.
Russell Wilson, QB, Sea
Wilson is having an incredible season, completing nearly 70% of his passes and tied for the league lead with 15 touchdowns. After a down week against the Ravens, I expect a huge bounce back from Wilson against the Falcons. The Falcons rank 28th in pass defense (274 ypg) and are tied for last with 17 passing touchdowns surrendered.
Dalvin Cook, RB, Min:
Cook leads the NFL in yards (725) and is tied for the lead league with eight rushing touchdowns and gets the sixth worst rushing defense, at home, on a short week. The Redskins are giving up 134.4 ypg, and I expect a big day for Cook.
DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Hou:
Hopkins has yet to have a breakout performance in 2019, but this is looking like it could be the week. Hopkins gets the 31st ranked Raiders pass defense which is giving up 301.7 ypg and has surrendered 16 passing touchdowns in just six games.
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Duds:
Andy Dalton/Tyler Boyd, QB/WR, Cin:
Dalton is having one of his worst seasons and Boyd is coming off a three drop performance last week and will again be without running mate A.J. Green. Throw in the fact that the Bengals have the worst offensive line in the NFL and will be tasked with trying to block Aaron Donald, and Jalen Ramsey can focus on Boyd without Green in the lineup, and this is going to be a long game for the whole Bengals offense, but especially Dalton and Boyd.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Wash:
Peterson is 34 years old, has an ankle and knee ailment, and if he plays this week – listed as questionable – will be facing a tough Vikings defense, on the road and on short rest. That, my friends, is a recipe for a bad fantasy week.
Melvin Gordon, RB, LAC:
In the three games since ending the world’s most ineffective contract holdout ever, Gordon has yet to rush for more than 32 yards, has zero rushing touchdowns, has yet to win a game and is coming off a brutal finish last week. This week, he and the Chargers face the Bears 12th ranked run defense (94.3 ypg) on the road. Not a matchup which instill confidence.
Baker Mayfield/Odell Beckham, Jr., QB/WR, Cle:
For the second time this week, we have a duo in the ‘Duds’ category. Mayfield and Beckham are both having bad seasons and will now be facing the Patriots defense which looks to be a historically good defense…perhaps, at least statistically, the best NFL defense ever. Through seven games, the Patriots are surrendering just 148.4 ypg in the air and have held opponents to just one passing touchdown while pulling down an unbelievable 18 interceptions. Not a good week to start either of these two.
Derrick Henry, RB, Ten:
I don’t like this week’s matchup for Henry. He comes in averaging just 3.7 ypc and will be going up against the NFL’s top ranked run defense in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are giving up just 68 ypg at a 2.9 ypc clip. The Titans should be able to throw against the Bucs defense, but I don’t see them running the ball effectively.
Sleepers:
Golden Tate, WR, NYG:
Since returning from his four-game suspension, Tate has quickly gelled with his rookie quarterback Daniel Jones, posting 15 receptions for 195 yards and a touchdown in three games. Over the last two games, Tate has 12 receptions on 20 targets for 182 yards and a touchdown and this week gets the 30th ranked Lions pass defense – and may have a little bit of a hankering for revenge. Fun fact, in his second game back, Tate caught a touchdown pass against the Patriots…the only player in the NFL to catch a touchdown pass against the Patriots this season.
Derek Carr, QB, Oak:
Carr is having a solid season, but hasn’t contributed much from a fantasy standpoint. That could change this week against Houston. Surprisingly, the Texans pass defense is ranked 29th, giving up 275.6 ypg, and only Oakland, Miami, Atlanta and Arizona have surrendered more passing touchdowns than the Texans 15.
James Conner, RB, Pit:
With only 235 yards on the season and averaging just and 3.2 ypc, Conner has been a huge fantasy disappointment this year. However, with the Dolphins coming to town, he may be able to get back on track. Only the Bengals (189) give up more yard per game on the ground than the Dolphins 160.8.
Corey Davis, WR, Ten:
He was on this ‘Sleeper’ list last week and after pulling in six of his seven targets for 80 yards and a touchdown, he finds himself on this list again. With Ryan Tannehill at the helm, it looks like Davis may have a WR2/Flex value.
Luke Willson, TE, Sea:
After a week where he didn’t even catch a pass and saw only one target, we are going out on a limb with this one, but with Will Dissly out and Atlanta owning the league’s 28th ranked pass defense and tied for last with 17 passing touchdowns surrendered, I think Willson will cash in this week for owners.
