Just a “few” thoughts on what’s what going into Week 8 of the NFL season…

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Game respects game. #NYGinUK 🏈🇬🇧

A photo posted by New York Giants (@nygiants) on Oct 23, 2016 at 11:20am PDT

Giants vs Rams

• With ODB’s underwhelming play (for the most part thus far) and a bye this coming week, now is a good time to buy “low” on him.

• Perkins is creeping up the ladder in the Giants backfield. Should something (else) happen to Jennings, Perkins would finally get his chance. Such an injury is likely.

• LA was a pass-happy team in Week 7 throwing the ball 53 times to 20 carries. They lost. Hopefully they’ve learned their lesson. That being said, they face CAR and NYJ in the weeks following their bye, so they could keep up the air assault. Quick, Austin, and Britt still make for decent pickups.

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Saints vs Chiefs

• Hightower had an insane 7.8 YPC against the Chiefs. It was a low sample size, but he could be working his way into more action as the season wears on.

• Thomas, Snead, or Cooks, it doesn’t really matter. All are worth starting any given week. Fleener seems to show the most fluctuation across games.

• Ware is doing everything for the Chiefs. Even with Maclin leading in targets, a meager 5, the middling WR is rarely worth starting at this point. I don’t have much hope for Maclin turning his season around or rather turning it on at all.

• Charles is a buy low that could pay off big come playoff time. He’s only worth trying for if you record is a winning one.

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Colts vs Titans

• Frank Gore is surprising everyone but Frank Gore. When will folks stop doubting him? I said he was a great value in drafts, and it’s showing. His relative unsexiness makes him a prime trade target.

• Moncrief is getting closer. Until he returns, only Hilton, Doyle, and maybe Allen (if he’s healthy) are worth the gamble. Former b-ball player Swoope may be worth scooping up in dynasty leagues…

• They’re not even sniffing around Henry these days. He’s purely a handcuff at this point.

• I still stand by Rishard Matthews having the most value of any Titans WR. He was second in targets on the team behind Walker with 7.

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Vikings vs Eagles

• As is true to form whenever AP gets injured, Matt Asiata works his way into the primary ball carrier role at some point or another. His cogent pass catching ability on a team of up and down WRs makes it hard to take him off of the field.

• Cordarrelle with the lead in targets? Could Byron’s dreams be finally coming true? I’d like to see it happen again before getting my hopes up too much, but it could be that Patterson has finally put it all together.

• Diggs is repeating his rookie season where he got hot and then tapered off as the season wore on. It might be prudent to ship him off for the second half. 

• Agholor led the Eagles in targets and did nothing with them. At least DGB is being used in the red-zone. The only reason to hold Agholor is in the case that he gets traded to SF in the speculative Torrey Smith trade that’s buzzing.

• All the preseason Ertz hype has fizzled. He’s a streamer at best these days.

• Wentz played pitifully, and the Eagles still stole a win. That Coach Gym Shorts defense is shaping up to be a league leader.

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Browns vs Bengals

• If Kessler can’t go in Week 8, the Jets make for a nice streaming defense. Hogan can’t do much besides run and throw INTs.

• Whatever chemistry Kessler had with Pryor is gone with Hogan. He’s a shaky play next week, even against the Jets suspect pass defense. Barnidge on the other hand would be in line for the bulk of targets.

• Gio got double the carries, but Hill was clearly the more effective runner with almost 170 yards on the ground. Both are worth starting against the ‘Skins.

• I want to get excited about Lafell’s 4th TD in 3 games, but the return of Eifert is going to throw a wrench in things. If you own him, you might try to find out what you can get for him on the trade market. (Editor’s note: you’re not getting jack shit for Lafell, what garbage)

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Redskins vs Lions

@showtimetate with the catch off the deflection. #WASvsDET

A photo posted by Detroit Lions (@detroitlionsnfl) on Oct 23, 2016 at 11:06am PDT

• Matt Jones’ butterfingers are going to lose him his job. It may have started as a punishment, but Thompson’s role as primary back may hold, at least for the next game. He needs to be on your roster come Wednesday.

• After leading the ‘Skins in targets last week, Garcon took a backseat to Crowder and virtually every other pass catcher on Sunday. His limited upside makes him too risky for fantasy purposes.

• Speaking of Crowder, he had almost as many targets(9) Sunday as he’s had in the last 3 games(10). I’m only giving him the benefit of the doubt this week if Reed sits again. Davis didn’t do half bad in his stead, by the way.

• Cousins seems to have lost confidence in his long ball, or he’s trying to limit turnovers. Either way, this has a negative impact on DeSean Jackson.

• Boldin has TDs in 4 out of 7 games. There are worse dart throws in deeper leagues.

• Ebron’s absences are postively correlated to Tate’s fantasy production. Coincidence maybe, but I’m not sure Tate’s value will get much higher than it is right now. If Ebron is slated to start this week…

• Forsett and Zenner split carries almost evenly, but if one is going to give way to Riddick when he returns, it’s Forsett. Zenner could see goal lines carries again in Week 8.

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Raiders vs Jaguars

• Don’t let Murray’s 2-TD day fool you. He still only averaged 3.3 yds on 18 carries. The good news is that he got 18 carries, including goal lines.

• The good news about good QBs is that they can usually salvage a decent fantasy day against good coverage. The bad news about good QBs is that they’ll do it by moving away from the WRs getting the most coverage. Such is the case with Carr and Cooper on too many days.

• Allen Robinson has had 1 game over 60 yds this season, against shoddy defenses. His schedule only gets worse from here on out. Might be time to move him.

• Lee is arguably the 4th option in Jacksonville, but a struggling Bortles is happy to target to the low hanging fruit that is his possession slot WR.

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Bills vs Dolphins

• The Bills aren’t helping anyone, other than opposing teams, by pushing Shady to play on an injured hamstring. They need to rest him a game or two and let Gillislee and Tyrod tote the rock. If that does indeed happen, Tyrod is an even stronger play than usual.

• Goodwin led the Bills in receiving, though Hunter played the most snaps. Neither is an advised play against the Patriots this week, but I’d probably lean Goodwin if forced, as the Bills will likely be playing from behind much of the game, and he’s got deep-threat wheels.

• My RW cohorts are going to have to finally get on the Ajayi train. Yeah, he’s injury prone, but he’s playing lights out as long as he’s healthy, and confident. With the sudden retiring of Arian Foster, Ajayi will remain unfettered.

• Stills is about as uneven as they come, but he could be in for another big day after the bye when the Dolphins face the Jets.

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Ravens vs Jets

• Yeah, West only got 10 yards against the Jets, but he out-touched the next closest back 8 to 1. He’s still the guy in Baltimore.

• The Jets ran the ball a ton, and look no INTs. Hopefully they stick to the formula for Forte’s owners’ sakes.

• Most of Enunwa’s tally came on one play. He’s not getting enough action to warrant weekly PPR consideration, though I don’t hate him against Cleveland this week.

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Buccaneers vs 49ers

• You have to put Russell Shepard on the radar. He was second in Tampa targets only to Evans.

• I expect Rodgers to go big on 26 carries, I’d expect most backs save Latavius Murray to do the same. I am curious about Peyton Barber who averaged 8 yards on 12 carries and scored a TD. He might be worth a desperation play against the Raiders this week if Martin continues to sit, which is likely.

• Of course DuJuan Harris would lead the 49ers backfield in carries after Davis and Draughn were named co-starters. No need to discuss further though, Hyde is due back after the bye.

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Chargers vs Falcons

• So I guess we’ve seen Henry’s floor. He out-snapped Gates, but the old man bested him in targets 10-3. Old habits die hard, and Rivers loves him some Gates.

• It appears like Williams is finally pulling away from Benjamin, who looked healthy on Sunday. I can’t endorse either against Denver, who shut them both down 2 weeks ago, in Week 8.

• Coleman had the better day on the ground, but Freeman gets the last laugh as Tevin will likely sit in Week 8 with a hamstring injury. Even against the Packers, Freeman makes for a solid play.

• Sanu couldn’t keep it up. Back to Julio being the only Falcons WR worth rostering.

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Patriots vs Steelers

• In the chance that Blount loses snaps to Dion Lewis upon his return, his nose for the end-zone should keep him afloat. He’s in a 3-way tie for the TD lead with 8.

• Edelman had a pedestrian day as far as yardage goes, but he led the team with 10 targets and is getting back into form as a top tier PPR WR.

• James White didn’t get a single carry in the game, but his pass catching saved his fantasy day. It’s a little scary, but he should continue to see consistent action as a receiver.

• Hogan was garb for a second week in a row, but he does get the Bills this week. Alex smells revenge.

• Coates is someone to look out for on your wire. His finger should be in much better shape after the bye.

• Jones was able to put together a decent line for Brown against a formidable defense, which is a pleasant surprise. Things will be much easier after the bye.

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Seahawks vs Cardinals

• Graham is maintaining his role as Wilson’s go-to target. He’s leaving nothing over the middle for Lockett.

• With Jaron Brown injured and Floyd nursing a hammy, J.J. Nelson could be another sneaky play in Carolina this week.

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Texans vs Broncos

• Well, Osweiler turned back into a pumpkin on Monday night with 131 yds on 41 attempts, wow. He’s killing Hopkins’ fantasy value. If he can manage a decent game against the Lions this week, I’d do my best to move Hopkins, though if you’ve made it this far with him, I don’t think he can drop much further.

• Miller should be fine for Week 8.

• Though he didn’t get much yardage, Fiedorowicz matched Fuller’s target count with 7. He could be worth streaming from here on out, as Osweiler shows no signs of long term improvement, and C.J. is his safety blanket.

• It finally happened. Booker out-touched Anderson. And while it was only by one carry, we now have a bonafide timeshare in Denver. Fortunately, there looks to be enough work to go around for the time being.