Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout going into Week 8

And like that, we’re at the halfway mark! Here’s the fallout going into Week 8 of the NFL season…

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Broncos – 45 @ Cardinals – 10

 

• Royce Freeman suffered an ankle injury on Thursday and will have an MRI this week to assess the damage. If he can’t go, Phillip Lindsay will have a field-day against the Chiefs this week.

 

• Emmanuel Sanders is putting his best foot forward as the trade deadline approaches(217 yards and 2 TDs over the last 2 games), and teams are noticing. He’s receiving interest from multiple organizations, and one can only speculate as to what kind of production he can have with a more competent QB. Case Keenum seems to only be able to really support one receiver in any one contest, so things would open up for Demaryius Thomas should Sanders move.

 

• Courtland Sutton is basically operating as a TE in Denver, garnering few targets but making them count. He hasn’t topped 3 receptions once this season, but he’s scored in 2 of his last 3 games. Unless Sanders or Thomas is traded, Sutton offers little upside outside of dynasty/keeper formats.

 

• OC Mike McCoy was fired after Thursday night’s debacle, and rightfully so. He didn’t seem to know how to best help Josh Rosen maximize his or any of the other skill players’ strengths. QB coach Byron Leftwich is taking over as OC, so maybe there’s a chance we’ll get some life out of the Cardinals offense yet.

 

• Josh Rosen escaped what was thought to be a somewhat serious injury(toe), as he was seen in a boot on Friday. He should be good to go for Week 8 in a winnable matchup with SF.

 

• Larry Fitzgerald scored for the first time this season(40 yards, 1 TD), but chances are you didn’t use him. Perhaps Leftwich will be able to dial up some better plays for him, but nagging injuries and an inconsistent rookie QB make him extremely difficult to trust moving forward.

 

Titans – 19 @ Chargers – 20

 

• Tajae Sharpe(7 rec, 101 yards) has led the Titans in receiving 2 straight weeks. The Titans have a bye in Week 8, but he’s someone to stash in hopes of a second half boom.

 

• Marcus Mariota‘s elbow seems to be doing better(275 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT), and as that elbow goes, so does the Titans offense. The Titans have underperformed over the last several weeks, so now might be a good time to pick up dropped Tennessee skill players going into their Week 8 bye.

 

• Melvin Gordon was a late add to the injury list with a hamstring injury. He gets the bye to mend up, and he was close to playing on Sunday, so I think it’s safe to assume he’ll be back for Week 9.

 

• Tyrell Williams(4 rec, 118 yards, 1 TD) is on a bit of a tear, operating as San Diego’s deep threat on a consistent basis. I thought maybe he’d regress some when Travis Benjamin returned, but Philip Rivers continues to stretch the field with him. With a decent floor and a sky high ceiling, he’s worth a flex in standard and deep formats.

 

Bills – 5 @ Colts – 37

 

• It might be first game jitters, but it doesn’t look like Derek Anderson(175 yards, 3 INTs) is much if any improvement on a green Josh Allen or hilariously erratic Nathan Peterman. Allen is still healing and Peterman is likely broken, so Anderson may very well start against the Pats this week. It probably doesn’t need to be mentioned that New England’s defense is a strong streaming option in Week 8.

 

• LeSean McCoy may have been concussed on Sunday and looked to have injured his ankle on the same play. Even if he’s ready to go this week, he’s a poor option against a Pats team that stifles your best weapon, which McCoy obviously is for the Bills.

 

• Kelvin Benjamin(4 rec, 71 yards) may not be a terrible option this week, as he and Derek Anderson have a rapport going back to their time together as Panthers. With the Pats likely to focus on stopping McCoy, if he plays, Benjamin could be the recipient of the majority of Anderson’s targets.

 

• I hope you guys took my advice on Marlon Mack(159 yards, 2 TD) and added him last week. He’s guy in Indy’s backfield, and it’s not even close.

 

• T.Y. Hilton got the Tre’Davious White treatment in Week 7, and though his lackluster day was saved only by 2 short TD receptions, Hilton didn’t have any injury setbacks after missing 2 weeks. He’ll be a safe option against the Raiders this week.

 

Browns – 23 @ Buccanneers – 26

 

• Nick Chubb stepped in after the Browns traded Carlos Hyde to the Jags last week and went right to work with 15 carries, 80 yards and a TD. He had 18 touches to Duke Johnson‘s 5, so there’s no issue there. Almost a carbon copy of Hyde in stature and weight, Chubb will produce in a like manner, meaning he’ll be TD dependent to some extent. Even so, he’s an automatic RB2 going into Week 8.

 

• Antonio Callaway(1 rec, 14 yards) is talented but unfocused. You can drop him outside of dynasty leagues.

 

• I know Alex hates Adam Humphries, but Jameis Winston sure doesn’t. Humphries was the no.2 WR in Winston’s book as his 8 targets were second only to Mike Evans and O.J. Howard. Humphries isn’t good enough in fantasy to warrant much consideration outside of PPR formats, and his presence just complicates things for Chris Godwin and DeSean Jackson.

 

• Peyton Barber(11 tou, 30 yards) injured himself in the 3rd quarter, after which Ron Jones(7 tou, 28 yards, 1 TD) entered the game and Barber never returned. His activity this week should probably be monitored, but neither Barber nor Jones make for anything other than middling flex options in Week 8.

 

Lions – 32 @ Dolphins – 21

 

• The Lions and Kerryon Johnson have hopefully turned a corner. Johnson blew up on Sunday with 179 yards on 21 touches, and out-touched LeGarrette Blount by 11. The Lions are better when he stays in the game, and though Blount is an effective goal line option, KJ should see much more action going forward.

 

• TE Michael Roberts scored for the 3rd time in 2 weeks and seems to have the lead at the Lions’ TE spot. There are still many mouths to feed in Detroit, but he’s worth a look in deep formats as a streaming option you’re hoping catches a TD or two.

 

• Kenyan Drake outgained Frank Gore 87 yards to 33 yards, but Gore still out-touched him 11 to 10 on the day. Both will remain close to equally involved moving forward, sapping each other’s fantasy value at every turn.

 

• Both Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson doubtful to play in the Thursday night game with the Texans this week. Wilson may actually be lost for the season(hip), while Stills may just miss this contest. In any case, Danny Amendola and Jakeem Grant should be added going into the matchup. DeVante Parker was a healthy scratch going into Week 7 and is a strong trade candidate, as he and the Dolphins are at odds. If a trade doesn’t happen, he would start opposite Grant on the outside.

 

Patriots – 38 @ Bears – 31

 

• Sony Michel injured his knee on Sunday, but seems to have avoided structural damage. Even so, he’s a long shot to play this week, leaving James White and Kenjon Barner to man the backfield. Barner will be a hot pickup this week.

 

• The absence of Rob Gronkowski has left enough targets for Josh Gordon( 4 rec, 100 yards) and Chris Hogan(6 rec, 63 yards) to thrive. Hogan will be on the flex radar as long as Gronk is gone, which will probably be for another week. They won’t push him to play against the Bills in what should be an easy win.

 

• Allen Robinson(1 rec, 4 yards) went missing on Sunday. It’s hard to tell whether his groin injury was bothering him or if Mitch Trubisky just couldn’t sync up with him. If you look at his catch total this season, you had to expect a game like this at some point though. He’s only topped 4 receptions twice this season, and his last two weeks were sweetened by TDs. The fact that Taylor Gabriel(3 rec, 24 yards) also had a stinker indicates that perhaps Trubisky was relegated to attacking the middle of the field with short passes, as Trey Burton(11) and Tarik Cohen(12) were the top 2 target getters.

 

Texans – 20 @ Jaguars – 7

 

• Lamar Miller had his best game of the season on Sunday in conjunction with his most touches(23). He out-touched Alfred Blue 22 to 8, so maybe the win will help make that kind of workload a trend. His good game may have something to do with the fact that D’Onta Foreman is close to returning, and Miller wants to keep his job. Either way, he should be a solid start in Week 8 against the Dolphins, who just got lit up by Kerryon Johnson.

 

• Keke Coutee aggravated his hamstring on Sunday, and he’s expected to miss Week 8. Vyncint Smith would man the slot in his absence. Smith showed promise in the off-season, so he could be a fantasy asset for the length of time Coutee will be out.

 

 

• Cody Kessler was a slight improvement over Blake Bortles on Sunday, posting a 79.3 QB rating to Bortles’ 64.9. Kessler was at least able to throw a TD, a feat that eluded Bortles during his time under center in Week 7. While this might be a boon for the Jags, fantasy owners are wincing, as Kessler is a game manager who doesn’t have half the arm strength Bortles posessess. Expect a dink and dunk offense as long as Kessler is starting.

 

 

• One Jags player that did have a decent game was Donte Moncrief(7 rec, 76 yards), who I predicted would benefit from the Jags not really having a TE on Sat night’s show. As long as Niles Paul and James O’Shaughnessy are out, Moncrief could serve as a safety blanket for the conservative Kessler.

 

Vikings – 37 @ Jets – 17

 

• Stefon Diggs(8 rec, 33 yards) was stymied by Mo. Claiborne most of the day, and couldn’t get anything after the catch. With 33 yards in each of his last 2 games, he makes for a nice trade target, as his target share is still high and he faces the Saints this week.

 

• Latavius Murray is playing well in Dalvin Cook‘s stead(73 yards, 2 TDs), and Cook’s return is not imminent. Murray is still unowned in over 25% of leagues, so go get him.

 

• Jermaine Kearse had a nice fat goose egg on Sunday after leading the Jets pass catchers in targets and yards in Week 7. Sam Darnold only completed 40% of his passes, so that doesn’t help. It’s going to be difficult to trust any Jets receiver against Chicago this week.

 

• TE Chris Herndon(4 rec, 41 yards, 1 TD) seems to be a Darnold favorite, scoring in consecutive weeks now. With Darnold having little success downfield, it might be prudent to stream Herndon this week against the Bears.

 

• If Bilal Powell(neck) can’t go this week, Trenton Cannon could play a big part in New York’s Week 8 scheme. He had 4 receptions for 69 yards once Powell left the game on Sunday.

 

Saints – 24 @ Ravens – 23

 

• All was right in the world in Week 7 for Alvin Kamara‘s(75 yards, 1 TD) owners who were losing their minds after his disappointing Week 6. The Saints wanted a strong welcome back for Mark Ingram before getting their 1A back to the forefront. Both will get double digit touches moving forward, but Kamara remains the focal point of the offense.

 

• Tre’Quan Smith(3 rec, 44 yards) played ahead of Cameron Meredith in Week 7 getting 6 targets to Meredith’s 0. Smith could have a major Week 8 if Xavier Rhodes plays through his ankle injury and plots to take Michael Thomas out of the game plan.

 

• Alex Collins out-touched Buck Allen again this week(14 to 6) but couldn’t get much going on the ground. In fact, Collins hasn’t topped 68 rushing yards yet this season. The Ravens o-line is ailing right now, and the Ravens have a been a pass first team in recent years anyways. Temper expectations for a Collins breakout anytime soon.

 

• We were expecting a Willie Snead feast after his inspiring 10 target Week 6,  but he wasn’t able to do much with his 7 in Week 7(3 rec, 23 yards). He was tied for second on the team in looks with Michael Crabtree, but couldn’t get much after the catch. Go figure that his best matchup this season brought about his worst game. He’s only an option in PPR formats.

 

Cowboys – 17 @ Redskins – 20

 

• Just when you thought the Cowboys roster was chock full of consistently inconsistent receiving options, they went and added Amari Cooper to the mix this afternoon. I can’t say that this is marked improvement for the Cowboys offense or for Cooper’s fantasy outlook, as Cooper’s production, or lack thereof, is all in his own head/hands. What I can tell is that I’m hands off any of their other pass catchers at this point, as I’m not sure the Cowboy’s offense can support more than one primary target.

 

• The news of Cooper’s addition outshines what otherwise be a coming out party for Michael Gallup(3 rec, 81 yards, 1 TD). Gallup had been coming on in recent weeks, but Cooper relegates him to dynasty hold status once again.

 

• Kapri Bibbs(56 yards, 1 TD) seems like a sexy add this week, if Chris Thompson can’t go, but he only had 2 touches on the ground on Sunday, in addition to his 4 receptions. I guess that’s pretty solid for an Alex Smith led offense, but it’s a dicey play in fantasy this week.

 

Rams – 39 @ 49ers – 10

 

• Don’t get caught up in Malcolm Brown‘s 13 carries to Todd Gurley‘s 15. The Rams played with a comfortable lead all day, so Gurley’s services weren’t necessary for the duration of the game.

 

• Josh Reynolds(1 rec, 19 yards) wasn’t called to do much except block on Sunday, even with Cooper Kupp absent. He can be dropped even if Kupp misses Week 8.

 

• Alfred Morris led the 49ers backfield in carries(9), but Raheem Mostert out-touched him and Matt Breida 11 to 9 and 5 on Sunday, having the best fantasy day in the process(78 yards). Breida was in and out after aggravating his ankle and may sit out in Week 8, making Mostert a flex-worthy play in all formats, even with Morris involved.

 

Bengals – 10 @ Chiefs – 45

 

• The Bengals were simply out-matched in this one. Tyler Boyd(3 rec, 27 yards) has fallen back to earth after a strong start to the season. It lends some credence to the argument that he was an extension of the running game while Joe Mixon was out, as his yardage has dropped precipitously since Mixon returned from injury. He’s more of a flex than a WR 2 currently.

 

• All cylinders were firing for the Chiefs on Sunday night. There’s nothing interesting to be gleaned other than that Spencer Ware(89 yards) makes for a sneaky DFS play in weeks were the Chiefs have good matchups and may be playing with a big lead.