Hello everyone, and welcome to another Wednesday, Rankings Day! Hopefully you guys had a great Week 7 filled with fantasy goodness, food, family and most importantly, our articles and projections. It’s crazy to think we are almost at the halfway point of the NFL season, but I just wanted to let you guys know how much we appreciate your readership. I really do love it when you guys love what we do!
Alright, enough chatter, let’s get to Week 8!
Players I’m High On
Tyrod Taylor vs. OAK
Taylor had a pretty decent week against Tampa Bay, finishing with 268 yards and a touchdown, but now I’m back on the hype train for this week’s matchup against Oakland. The Raiders secondary has been struggling, with Alex Smith just recently lighting them up for 342 yards and three scores on Thursday Night Football. Granted, they do get some extra rest and prep against this Bills offense, but the pieces are there for Taylor to have a nice game, especially now with Jordan Matthews back in this offense.
Andy Dalton vs. IND
Ever since Bill Lazor took over as the OC, this offense has been performing better, with Dalton playing pretty well over the past couple of weeks against Cleveland, Buffalo and Pittsburgh. Although the INT total is a bit high for my liking, I really do like Dalton this week as a streaming option against the terrible Colts defense that ranks as the 30th-best defense against the pass according to Football Outsiders, giving up nearly 22 fantasy points per game to the QB position.
The Saints haven’t been so hot against the run, giving up 131 rushing yards last week to Aaron Jones, ranking 29th against the run according to Football Outsiders, and give up nearly 25 pts per game to the position. Howard is an incredible bell cow due to the fact that John Fox won’t let Trubisky throw it very often. I am loving Howard this week against the Saints with a huge workload coming to him.
At home as a large favorite against a weak team, everything is pointing to Mixon for having a good game this week. Only the 49ers give up more production to the running back position this season than the Colts, and Mixon should be in line for a nice stat-line when everything is said and done. He hasn’t been producing as much as we would like through seven weeks, but you have to love the matchup in Week 8
Alshon Jeffrey vs. SF
I understand he’s been very disappointing to this point, but this offense is firing on all cylinders and against the very weak 49ers defense, it’s the perfect opportunity to buy low on Jeffrey if you don’t have him, and if you do, put your faith in him one last time. If it can’t happen against the Niners, it’s likely not going to happen this year.
Against the 32nd ranked pass defense according to Football Outsiders, this is a prime spot for Funchess and Benjamin. Razzball is pretty high on Funchess this week as he’s in the Top 10 in our WR rankings. Funchess is a great start this week against the Bucs.
The Browns are struggling against opposing TE’s this year, and Rudolph, if he’s available in your league or otherwise, is a great start this week against Cleveland.
Players I’m Not High On
A lot of people are convinced Rivers is a great candidate this week against the Patriots, but I’m not one of them. I talked about this on the podcast and it turned out to be true, but I think Belichick knows how bad his defense is, and won’t continue to sell them out like they have been all season, up until Sunday night. I really do believe their new gameplan on the defensive side of things is to control the clock on offense, slowly pounding the football with Dion Lewis or whoever it will be in the week, and not allowing the opposing offenses on the field. This is a trap game for Rivers. I would much rather have other QB’s on my team this week
Ajayi has been very frustrating as of late, this offense may struggle a bit under Moore, and on a short week against a pretty good Ravens front seven, I don’t want anything to do with Jay Ajayi this week.
Tyreek Hill vs. DEN
The Broncos CB’s have regressed a bit, but it’s still a pretty tough matchup for Hill and the rest of this offense. If you can find another option, I think you should try to leave Hill on the bench.
Alright guys, that about does it for me. Again, my apologies for having to publish this on Thursday morning As always, leave your questions and comments below and I will answer them in a timely manner. Take it easy.
You Can Follow Zach on Twitter @razzball_zach.
no need for the thursday thing, i guess jay put it out earlier than you thought.
@Joey Jo Jo Jr Shabadoo: Oop, typo. The rest of my family are good people
@Zach: Zach is actually adopted.
Sent From My IPhone
@Mb: Shhhh
Would it be silly to trade my Jarvis Landry for Cousins, 1 point PPR 12 team. I have some decent depth at WR with D. Hopkins, Demaryius, Thielen, Fuller, Funchess and Corey Davis. The QB’s I am rostering right now are Stafford and Tyrod. Would you just stream QB’s for ROS or make that trade?
@morgan: Honestly you could but Tyrod has an AMAZING schedule ROS. He’ll end up being a QB1 I think
@Zach: Thanks!
@Zach: that’s why the rudy bot loves him so. and also he ranks pretty highly in many of the FP ROS rankings as well.
Josh McCown is my current QB and I have Jack Doyle and Jimmy Graham as my TEs. Would you trade Jimmy Graham for Stafford or Tyrod Taylor? Which one?
@TheeHen4: I wouldn’t give up Graham with your only other option being Doyle. I would ride it out with McCown
Aye Zach! Been coming to Razz for baseball for the past 4 years, but this is my first year to spend more than a minute on the football side.
Got a 10 team standard scoring (6 pts for pass TDs) league. My Wentz and Ajayi for his Antonio Brown? He had Rodgers and is now streaming and I’ve got Wentz and Cousins. My team without them:
Cousins
Fournette
D Lewis
J Allen
Montgomery
Mack
A Morris
Keenan
Agholor
Diggs
Martavis
Whatcha think?
@K-Rich: What’s happening K-Richy??? Glad to have you! I honestly would stay put. Wentz is looking like the MVP of the fantasy year and Ajayi still could work out being the bell-cow in Miami. Your team looks pretty darn good even without trading
@Zach: Dude, preciate the response. He just threw in McKinnon. it’s pretty tempting…..
@K-Rich: I would still stay put
Howdy man! Man oh man already week 8!!
.5 PPR league I’ve been streaming at TE all season & haven’t really been successful there- this week I added Ryan Griffin who gets Seahawks, they let up a big game to Evan Engram last week.
Stay with Engram or drop for either: OJ Howard who’s home vs panthers, Vernon Davis who gets cowboys home in Washington but cowboys seem to be decent vs TE but Davis has been getting his looks.
If Tate doesn’t go for Detroit on SNF thoughts on either ebron or Darren fells?
—
Hold onto my Burkhead or drop for depth for one of these: Deandre Washington, Jalen Richard, foreman, or cuff my Gordon with ekeler? Or add either mike Williams, Golladay, benni fowler, or doctson?
My RBs are Gordon, hunt, mcaffery, Aaron jones, AP, McKinnon, Burkhead. David Johnson on IR
My WRs we start 3 could be 4 with flex: Keenan Allen, hogan, Parker, tyreek hill, Baldwin, fuller, Sanu.
TE: Griffin
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Since my streaming at TE hasn’t been great would you look to deal my hogan to get Jimmy graham? That owner proposed that to me last week my hogan for his graham + Kupp. I could see if he’ll do it with either Derrick Henry or Tevin Coleman or kearse?
Or try a bigger trade my hogan + McKinnon for Ertz?
Thanks man!
@Bobby: SUP BOBBY!!! If Tate doesn’t go I’d go Fells, but if he does I’d rather have Griffin this week than the other names you mentioned. I’d keep Burkhead. I’d also keep your WR’s the same too. I’d keep Hogan because he’s your best or second-best WR so far this year, and should continue to produce. Let me know if you have any further questions. Thank YOU!
Morning! .5 PPR league. Would you trade my Melvin Gordon to acquire shady McCoy? Which RB do you like better ROS?
Gordon’s upcoming schedule:
Week 8 at pats
Week 9 bye
Week 10 @ Jacksonville
Week 11 vs bills
Week 12 at Dallas on thanksgiving
Week 13 vs Browns
Week 14 vs redskins
Week 15 @ KC
Week 16 @ jets
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McCoy’s schedule
Week 8 vs raiders
Week 9 @ jets
Week 10 vs saints
Week 11 at chargers
Week 12 at KC
Week 13 vs pats
Week 14 vs colts
Week 15 vs Dolphins
Week 16 at pats .
Or keep Gordon & package tyreek hill + Mcaffery for McCoy?
@Tic tab: If you could do Hill+McCaffrey for McCoy I’d do it, but I obviously lean McCoy ROS
@Zach:
Thanks! Would you flip Gordon at that point for a top flight WR? AJ green?
@Tic tab: Sure, that doesn’t seem like a bad idea
Hey Zach,
For Week 9 need a QB filler:
Siemian vs Eagles
McCown vs Bills
Moore vs Raiders
Beathard vs Cards
Flacco vs Titans
@Fizz: I’d go with Siemian
Trade question:
Trade K. Benjamin and T. Coleman for L. Miller? About right?
Thanks
@SR: To get Miller, sure
Dynasty league, who do you like better. Agholor or Kamara? How close is it?
@Jensen: Kamara, and it’s a little close but I think I’d go Kamara
Need to drop one to pick up a receiver.
Alex Collins or Kyle Rudolph
Other RBs are CJ Anderson,Joe Mixon, Mike Gillislee, and Darren McFadden
Other TE is Gronk
@Blaster: I’d drop McFadden for this week to be honest.
with OBJ out for the year and his owner barely hanging onto a playoff spot, if i offered julio jones or mike evans for him do you think i can land him?
thanks
@slimbo: Why would you offer Mike Evans or Julio for Odell? He’s out for the year
@Zach:
Dynasty league opps
@Slimbo: Oh. Well still, no, because I don’t think Odell is THAT much better than Mike Evans for the next few years. I’d stay put
What are your thoughts on Mariota for the rest of the season? I still want to hold out hope that he turns it around, but he’s still the 22nd rated QB in my league. 12 team, PPR, 3 keepers. We are in 1st place and the third highest scoring team (only 15 pts away from 1st). 1 Flex spot, but we have a DEEP bench with 9 spots.
Mariota, Keeper
Josh McCown
Aaron Rodgers* (We picked him up as a possible Keeper for next season)
David Johnson, Keeper
Carlos Hyde
Doug Martin
Matt Breida
Alfred Morris
AJ Green
Antonio Brown, Keeper
Tyrell Williams
Danny Amendola
Mike Williams
Eric Decker
Cameron Brate
We just picked up McCown for Mariota’s bye week. Is it worth trading for a QB or should we weather the storm and hope that Mariota plays better after the bye week and Corey Davis returns?
@JC: I think Mariota will turn it around with the return of Corey Davis and when Delanie Walker gets back to full health. I think you should stay put with McCown for this week and then roll with Mariota
Asked others as well. Looking for many opinions.
My RBs- L Miller/ Gillislee/ D Lewis/ Collins/ Breida
My WRs- Svans/ Dez/ T Hill/ Fuller/ C Davis
Trade Hill/ Collins for Mixon/ Watkins?
PPR punt return TDs don’t count for Hill
@Chicken Dinner: No I would keep onto Hill and Collins
0.5 PPR ROS, Watkins or Funchess? Also, drop Smallwood to cuff Lamar Miller w/ Foreman? I could be without Zeke for a while so “HOU RB” may be needed as a starter.
@Steve Stevenson: Funchess, and yeah, that’s not a bad idea
Would you trade D. Martin and D. Baldwin for Freeman?
Thanks
why isn’t anyone writing about rod smith? he’s gonna be the starter if zeek is suspended.
@fizz: Zeke is playing this week
10 team ppr league(2wr,2rb,1flex). Im in need of a qb badly, i picked up siemian(mccown is available thats about it).
rb isnt bad (Gordon, L. Miller, and c. thompson)
wr is great (Brown, Hill, Crabtree, funchess, snead, fuller and Pryor)
What wr should i trade and for what tier of qb? the top 3 all have favorable matchups come playoff time. Nice write up
@chisoxx22: I’d trade away Pryor pretty easily. In terms of buy low candidates at the QB position I think a perfect target is Tyrod or Philip Rivers to an extent. I like their ROS schedule. Thank you! Let me know if you have any further questions
Which Q would you stRt, Jameis Winston, Philip Rivers, or Tyrod Taylor?
@Bobbo: Tyrod