Each week there are some obvious starts and sits in fantasy football. Other decisions are not quite so simple. Here are some of my picks for Week 8 in the latest edition of Studs, Duds & Sleepers.
STUDS
QB: Jared Goff (DET vs. TEN): Goff doesn’t offer the rushing upside fantasy managers salivate over, but he is very consistent, especially of late. Over his last three matchups he’s eclipsed 280 or more passing yards per outing with two or more TD’s in each game during that span. Tennessee is a bit banged up which should help the Lions’ captain remain a backend fantasy QB1.
RB: Joe Mixon (HOU vs. IND): Has scored at least at 26 PPR points in each of the three complete games he has played a full game in this season. In Joe Mixon games Houston has run the ball 61% of its plays in the red zone compared to running the ball 41% of its plays in the red zone when Mixon has been out.
WR: Jayden Reed (GB at JCK): The Jags have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game (42.7- PPR) to wideouts on the year. Reed has been spectacular, but he’s dealing with a sore ankle and coming off his quietest performance of the year last week vs. Houston. I’m betting on a big bounce back as Green Bay travels to Jacksonville assuming he doesn’t suffer a setback with the injury.
TE: David Njoku (CLE vs. BAL): It’s great to see Njoku finally getting healthy. Last week in the first week without Amari Cooper in the mix the tight end was targeted 14 times while pulling in 10 catches for 76 yards and a TD. With gunslinger Jameis Winston now under center for the injured DeShaun Watson and the Browns a nearly 10-point underdog vs. the Ravens look for plenty of targets again this week for Njoku.
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Get ready for kickoff to Week 8’s action w/Dan Clasgens & James Adams on the Fantistics Insider Football Podcast…
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DUDS
QB: Patrick Mahomes (KC at LV): Mahomes has thrown two more INTS than touchdowns (6:8) this season and eclipsed 20 fantasy points once all year and has yet to finish as a top 10 quarterback in any single week of the season. Now he gets to face a Raiders’ D on the road that has held him under 240 yards and 1 TD in two of his last three meetings.
RB: Rhamondre Stevenson (NE vs NYJ): It remains to be seen how much the foot issue is still bothering Stevenson, but the fact he has yet to see more than 56% of the snap share since Week 2 is holding him back a bit. The Jets have been run on a bit of late, but still are allowing the 10th fewest fantasy points to running backs on the year. Stevenson is a low-ceiling FLEX play in Week 8, but I am sitting him in many of the lineups where I have him rostered.
WR: Diontae Johnson (CAR at DEN): No stats needed here. Andy Dalton is out after a thumb injury suffered in a car accident on Tuesday. That means Bryce Young is back. Playing in Denver vs. a tough Broncos’ D will be no easy task for the young quarterback. That has me looking elsewhere at WR this week.
TE: Isaiah Likely (BAL at CLE): Outside of a handcuff situation Likely can be safely dropped in most regular redraft formats. After exploding in Week 1 he’s now gone six straight games without eclipsing four targets or three receptions.With the Ravens likely to be playing from the lead this week, targets will be very limited in the Baltimore passing attack as a whole.
SLEEPERS
QB: Caleb Williams (CHI vs. WAS): Williams projects as a top six play among quarterbacks on my board, especially if Jayden Daniels (ribs) is able to go on the other side of this matchup and this game turns out to be the shootout we all hope for. If Daniels sits, he’ll fall down my board a bit but should still be in the QB1 conversation for Week 8.
RB: Chase Brown (CIN vs. PHI): After reaching 14 PPR points in three straight games, Brown left fantasy managers disappointed a week ago vs. Cleveland. This week he should bounce back against Philly, who is decent vs. the run, but has shown the ability to give up chunk plays. I like the over in this contest and Brown should have plenty of chances to make big plays. Lock him as upside backend RB2.
WR: Ladd McConkey (LAC vs. NO): The rookie wideout has been making some nice progress here and the matchup vs. New Orleans is just what the doctor ordered for a Chargers’ offense that has sputtered as of late. With seven or more targets in three straight contests a breakout game is coming for McConkey and this week could be it.
TE: Cade Otton (TB vs. ATL): Otton will need to be leaned on more than expected with both Chris Godwin and Mike Evans missing from action. He still has a fairly limited ceiling, but his fantasy floor has never been higher.
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