Trashman’s Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 8 of the 2023 NFL Season

Some new possible fantasy heroes have emerged in Week 8, and they’re probably not who you’re expecting. Here’s the fallout…

 

Jaguars – 31 @ Saints – 24

• Another stinker for Calvin Ridley(1 /4 on 4 tgt) makes him an unreliable fantasy asset. Seems like more than half the time now, you’re not getting what you paid for. He’ll have his best matchup of the season this week against the Steelers, so maybe you can buy him low in hopes of a week winning output.

 

• Looks like we may be waiting awhile for the Kendre Miller eruption. Jamaal Wiliams(5/14) has regained his spot as the no.2 behind Alvin Kamara(29/153), and even Taysom Hill(9/68/1) is getting more touches than the rookie. He can be dropped outside of dynasty and keeper leagues.

 

• Rashid Shaheed(4/28 on 8 tgt) didn’t convert his touches into much, but he had one more target than Michael Thomas(3/42/1 on 7 tgt) on Thursday. He should be owned in most formats.

 

Browns- 39 @ Colts – 38

• Deshaun Watson ruined a lot of fantasy lineups on Sunday with his tease of an appearance, completing 1 of 5 attempts and throwing a pick before exiting the game after a big hit. Apparently, he was just being protected and will actually start WK8. Hopefully he sees a full complement of snaps, but I’m a little wary moving forward.

 

• Kareem Hunt(10/31/2) had his best game of his short season Sunday, after Jerome Ford went down with an ankle injury. Ford was seen in a boot after the game, and his availability this week is in doubt. Hunt needs to be owned in all formats and Pierre Strong will be a hot pickup as the Browns face a middling Seahawks defense this week.

 

• Josh Downs(5/125/1) had a coming out party Sunday, despite it being a losing effort by the Colts. Leading the team in targets(6), Downs is obviously a favorite of Gardner Minshew and should be owned in all formats.

 

• Zack Moss(19/62) just won’t go away. His 19 touches were just 2 fewer than Jonathan Taylor, though Taylor(21/120/1) was more effective with his. It’ll be a tough pairing with the Saints this week, but Moss still offers flex appeal.

 

Bills – 25 @ Patriots – 29

• Dalton Kincaid(8/75) led the Bills in receiving in this one, a first for the rookie. It was a big step for Kincaid, but Dawson Knox is still favored in the red-zone it seems, as Kincaid has yet to find the end-zone this season.

 

• Zeke Elliott(11/31/1) continues to be a thorn in the side of Rhamondre Stevenson(15/85) owners, out carrying Stevenson and converting the only rushing score for the Patriots. Scoring in his last 2 games, Elliott is a flex option against Miami this week.

 

• Kendrick Bourne(6/63/1) is the Pats’ no.1 WR and needs to be owned going into this week’s matchup with Miami. Speedy Demario Douglas(4/54) is worth a look in DFS too.

 

Commanders – 7 @ Giants – 14

• Chris Rodriguez(7/31) was brought in the 2nd half to spark a tepid Commanders offense, leading Washington in yardage on the ground. Brian Robinson is still the lead back it would seem, but Rodriguez’s involvement does muddy the water a bit. In a barren RB landscape, it makes sense to add him if your bench is deep.

 

• Jalin Hyatt(2/75) had a splashy game, but with the Giants facing a top-notch Jets secondary this week, I have little hopes in any New York pass-catcher this week.

 

Lions – 6 @ Ravens – 38

• Finally, we got some decent usage out of Jahmyr Gibbs(20/126/1), albeit in a terrible loss for the Lions. He’s safe to start this week against a ho hum Raiders front.

 

• Jameson Williams(0/0) has been really hit or miss since joining the team in WK5. He’s unusable until maybe WK10, when the Lions face the Chargers’ league worst secondary.

 

• Gus Edwards(15/144/1) asserted himself as the Ravens back to own on Sunday, leading Baltimore on the ground and through the air. He’s still available in 35% of leagues, so grab him where you can.

 

Raiders – 12 @ Bears – 30

• The Raiders offense was pretty much a garbage fire until the last drive of the game, helmed by Aidan O’Connell. Jimmy Garoppolo is likely to be back under center in WK8, but O’Connell will probably get the start otherwise.

 

• D’Onta Foreman(19/120/3) scored a hat trick Sunday, running all over the Raiders. Even if Roschon Johnson can return this week, Foreman has earned a significant role in WK8.

 

• Tyson Bagent(21/162/1) was more of a game manager than anything on Sunday. If Justin Fields sits again this week, I expect the Bears to lean heavily on the run, even against the Chargers. Darrynton Evans(15/54) had 15 touches behind D’Onta Foreman and could see similar usage this week if Roschon Johnson can’t make it back.

 

Falcons – 16 @ Buccaneers – 13

• Bijan Robinson‘s(1 /3) unexplained headache situation doomed many a fantasy team on Sunday, with Robinson only getting one carry late in the 4th quarter. He’ll be available this week to be used per usual barring an unforeseen setback during the week. Don’t bank on Cordarrelle Patterson(10/56) logging double-digit touches this week.

 

• It seems obvious to me by now that Rachaad White(13/34 rushing) is not a 2-down back – 2.6 YPC. He’s a 3rd down back(6 rec/65 yards) and should be utilized as such. His use in the passing game keeps him viable, but I expect the Bucs to look for answers at the RB position sooner than later.

 

Steelers – 24 @ Rams – 17

• The absence of Pat Freiermuth opened things up enough in the Steelers passing game to allow both Diontae Johnson(5/79) and George Pickens(5/107) to thrive on Sunday. Pickens is the 1A though.

 

• Jaylen Warren (7/31/1) continues to produce just enough to keep him relevant in PPR formats

 

• Darrell Henderson(19/66/1) and Royce Freeman(12/66) had the exact same all-purpose yards, though Henderson was able to find the end-zone. Both owned in less than 30% of leagues, they should be owned with Henderson getting the higher priority. They’ll both be tough to trust against Dallas this week though. Zach Evans didn’t touch the ball.

 

Cardinals – 10 @ Seahawks – 20

• Emari Demarcado(17/75) went from getting just 3 touches in WK6 to leading the Arizona backfield on Sunday. Keaontay Ingram was a healthy scratch. No clue what’s going on here. Demarcado should be added, but HC Gannon could just be playing musical chairs until he finds something that sticks.

 

• Jaxon Smith-Njigba(4/63/1) had a season best line, and so did fellow rookie Jake Bobo(4/61/1). Chances are that DK Metcalf returns in WK8, and even if he doesn’t it’ll be hard to trust any Seahawks WR against Cleveland’s stingy secondary.

 

Packers – 17 @ Broncos – 19

• AJ Dillon(17/95) out-carried Aaron Jones(11/57) 15 to 8 on Sunday. It appears that Dillon is running ahead of Jones, though that could change as Jones gets healthier. They’ll both be flex options against a surprisingly stout Vikings run defense this week.

 

• Christian Watson(3/27) appeared to injure his knee on the next to last play of Green Bay’s last drive. He seems to be snake bitten thus far in the season. He’ll need to be monitored this week, and Jayden Reed(3/21/1) will be a solid play against Minnesota if Watson sits.

 

• Javonte Williams(18/96) was the clear lead back on Sunday, out touching Jaleel McLaughlin(6/46) 18 to 6. Williams gets closer and closer to his former self every week. McLaughlin should still be owned, but he needs to be benched for now.

 

Chargers – 17 @ Chiefs – 31

• Josh Kelley (7/75/1) had his best game since WK1, breaking off a 49 yard run in the first half. He’ll be a deep league flex option this week against the Bears.

 

• Josh Palmer(5/133) had a breakout in this one, pacing the Chargers in receiving. He’s still available in 40% of leagues, so go get him. Quentin Johnston has fallen off the face of the earth.

 

• Marquez Valdes-Scantling(3/84/1) had his best game of the season, though it did come against the Chargers. Don’t count on him going big again this week against Denver.

 

• Rashee Rice(5/60/1) had the 2nd most targets on the Chiefs Sunday. He continues to be the next best option behind Travis Kelce and should be owned in all formats.

 

Dolphins – 17 @ Eagles – 31

• Jaylen Waddle(6/63) injured his back on Sunday night, but was able to return to the game. If he can’t go for some reason this week, Cedric Wilson(2/48) looks like the next man up, though no pass-catcher other than Tyreek Hill is an advisable play.

 

• Kenneth Gainwell(8/16/1) scored on the Eagles final drive with the game well in hand. He’s still a bench stash in case Swift goes down.

 

• Julio Jones had 1 catch for 3 yards in his debut as an Eagle. With AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert all ahead of him in the depth chart, it’ll probably take an injury to one of them for Jones to see fantasy value.