NFL Takeaways – Week 8 - Razzball Fantasy Football

Can you mark that you were safe during the Week 8 Bye-Maggdeon? I think 50% weren’t so lucky. Let’s review my Week 8 takeaways as we look forward to Week 9.

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Quarterbacks

Player: C.J. Stroud
Game: vs. 49ers
Stats: 30-39, 318 passing yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT & 30 rushing yards

In his best performance of the season, Stroud’s stellar play was without his best playmaker, Nico Collins, and veteran Christian Kirk. Amid the BTJ trade rumors, maybe the Texans should look for a trade partner for Collins? I kid, I kid. But should they? Stroud connected with nine pass catchers against a banged-up San Fran defense. This is the ability many in the fantasy community believe Stroud has, but lacks consistency. He’ll have a stiff test against Denver in Week 9.

Notables:

Jalen Hurts didn’t need his top receiver to throw for a season-high four TDs against the Giants, who allow the third-most points to QBs. Hurts is now up to a 7/0 TD-INT ratio over his last two games. Interestingly, he has eight rushing attempts for 12 rushing yards and no rushing scores in that same span. He’ll get an off week before facing the Packers in Week 10.

In the most curious twist under the sea, Tua Tagovailoa tossed a season-high four TDs after posting six interceptions in his prior two games. Entering the day, Atlanta allowed just seven passing TDs and gave up the second-fewest points to QBs. Tua will get his best matchup of the season against the Ravens.

Drake Maye was able to abuse the third-stingiest defense to QBs with three passing TDs and 50 rushing yards. Maye threw his first pick since Week 3 and has an 8/1 TD-INT ratio since Week 4. Maye gets another tough matchup on paper against Atlanta, but look at what Tua did to them.

Josh Allen wasn’t relied upon in Carolina but was able to record three TDs (one passing and two rushing). Allen has consecutive games throwing under 200 yards and faces the Chiefs in Week 9, who permit the third fewest passing yards (182.4) to QBs.

Joe Flacco provided a valiant effort in keeping the Bengals’ offense humming despite allowing the Jets’ first victory of the season. Cincinnati scored 38 points, while Flacco was responsible for three TDs and was one of three QBs to tally a rushing score in Week 8. Until we see otherwise, Flacco is a low-end QB1 with a favorable rest of season schedule.

Bo Nix tied a career-high with four TD passes against the Cowboys. For the first time this season, Nix has multiple passing TDs in back-to-back weeks and looks poised for a strong second half of the season. His next three matchups are not ideal, but Nix has proven to be a fantasy asset with his arm and legs.

Caleb Williams was disappointing against the Ravens, who give up the second-most points to QBs in his second consecutive game without a TD with one interception. His next two opponents rank in the top 10 as the most advantageous to QBs.

Tampa Bay’s defense and special teams game-scripted Baker Mayfield and the Bucs offense. Mayfield threw for a season-low 151 yards, and no skill position player produced more than 43 yards on the ground or in the air. These pirates will look to secure some tea against the Patriots in Week 10.

Running Backs

Player: James Cook
Game: at Carolina
Stats: 19 carries, 216 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs

Cook is ensuring his contract extension was justified with a career-high in rushing yards. Cook has scored TDs in all but two games this season, with five games over 100 all-purpose yards and four games over 100 rushing yards. He’s an elite RB1 in the Bills’ high-powered offense. Next up is against the Chiefs, where he has averaged 46 rushing yards and 30 receiving yards.

Notables:

Saquon Barkley was finally able to get over the century mark, recording two TDs, one on the ground and one in the air, against his old team. In light of his best game of his season, he departed with a groin injury and hopes to play in Week 10 following the Eagles’ Week 9 Bye. Tank Bigsby rushed for 104 yards on nine carries, becoming a priority add everywhere.

Jonathan Taylor leveled the Titans with three rushing scores, increasing his league-leading 11th and 12th rushing TD, while adding his fifth game over 100 total yards. JT is a force to reckon with, and will give the Steelers defense all they handle in Week 9.

Against the most-adventurous defense to RBs, Breece Hall scored his first two TDs of the season, while rushing for a season-high 133 yards. Hall has three games over 100 yards this season, increasing his trade value. His teammate, Isaiah Davis, added 109 all-purpose yards on 12 touches. The Jets will face the Browns’ stout rushing defense in Week 10.

Chase Brown (two TDs) and Samaje Perine (one TD) each went over 100 yards in the scoring affair with the Jets. Brown only had seven more snaps and five more touches than Perine. Maybe it’s nothing, but something to keep an eye on next week against Chicago.

RJ Harvey scored all three RB TDs, on eight touches, against the Cowboys’ atrocious defense, while JK Dobbins led the way with 17 touches for 121 all-purpose yards. This backfield is frustrating from a fantasy perspective as it’s a coin toss whether Harvey will make an impact on the box score. The Texans’ middling rush defense is next.

Christian McCaffrey totaled just 68 yards in his matchup with the Texans, snapping his seven-game streak of 100+ all-purpose yards to open the season. CMC will look to restart a new streak in Week 9 against the Giants that allowed two Eagles RBs to over 100 yards.

D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai were nearly at a 50/50 snap split in Week 8. Swift managed six more touches and the lone TD. Monangai’s value is steadily increasing, but hard to know if his playtime was due to Swift’s lingering groin injury. The jury is out on this backfield in Week 9 against the friendliest defense to RBs in the Bengals.

TreVeyon Henderson finally led the Patriots in rushing yards on 10 touches, but lost a fumble along the way. However, Rhamondre Stevenson out-snapped Henderson 50-14 with 15 touches with a minimal yardage output. Everyone is hoping for the Henderson breakout, but I am not so sure it’ll be this season.

Quinshon Judkins exited Week 8’s contest against New England with a shoulder injury, leading to Dylan Sampson leading the Browns’ backfield in snaps. If Judkins is set to miss extended time, Sampson appears to be the next man up.

Pour one out for Cam Skattebo. We’ll ponder the what-ifs.

Wide Receivers

Player: Troy Franklin
Game: vs. Cowboys
Stats: 6 receptions, 89 receiving yards, 2 touchdowns on 8 targets

This bucking Bronco couldn’t be broken in by the Cowboys’ secondary. Franklin was a favorite start this week if you checked out my Slot vs Wide article this week. He’s now scored all four TDs this season when facing defenses that rank within the top three in allowing the most points to WRs. His teammate, Courtland Sutton, dropped a TD and had a TD called back, which could have affected Franklin’s afternoon. The Texans are on tap next, who fall within the average range against WRs.

Notables:

Rome Odunze was the ONLY WR to go over 100 yards in Week 8. Oddly enough, I think we all expected more against the Ravens’ lifeless defense. It was his second 100-yard game of the season. We should expect a few before seasons end, especially with the Bengals and Giants next on the schedule.

Michael Pittman Jr. made a spectacular grab, scoring his sixth TD through eight games. Pittman is emerging as a high-end WR2 with a set-and-forget aura. He has a top 10 matchup against the Steelers in Week 9. Could this be the week he lets us down?

For how incredible Drake Maye has been, his WRs have been volatile for the fantasy community. Mack Hollins generated the most targets, produced the most yardage, and ran the second most routes behind Kayshon Boutte, who was second on the team in targets and yardage. Boutte and Stefon Diggs scored TDs, while DeMario Douglas with third on the team with receiving yards. It’s hard to predict this WR bunch, but we know one of them will be fantasy relevant with Maye throwing passes.

After a one-week hiatus, Jaylen Waddle returned to form with 99 yards and a one score. This appeared to be his norm post-Cheetah, and with the Ravens next week, he should do more!

The Bills’ Khalil Shakir is the most reliable WR to start on a weekly basis, even though it doesn’t feel rewarding. He has four games with at least five receptions, with three of them over his last four games, while adding two scores. He’s a must-start in the AFC showdown against the Chiefs in Week 9.

The Texans were without Collins and Kirk, and the young fellas stepped up as all three drew at least six targets. Jayden Higgins and Xavier Hutchinson paced the way with the most snaps as the outside WRs, hauling in both of Stroud’s TDs. Jaylin Noel was used in the slot but rotated with Barton Berrios. With the Denver defense, it’s hard to trust this WR corps until we know the injury report.

Ja’Marr Chase drew a ridiculous 19 targets against the Jets but managed just 93 yards on 12 catches. Chase has recorded the most targets (23, 19 & 16) in three different games this season.

The Cowboys’ WRs had the perfect game script playing from behind all game, but fell short in Mile High as George Pickens and CeeDee Lamb failed to score a TD or go over 80 receiving yards.

Tight End

Player: Tucker Kraft
Game: at Pittsburgh
Stats: 7 receptions, 143 yards, 2 touchdowns on 9 targets

On National TE Day, Kraft stood out in a great matchup against the Steelers, which allows the third-most points to TEs. He put up career-highs in receptions and yards, while becoming the only TD in Week 8 to go over the century mark. Kraft has four TDs over his last three games and is emerging as the number one pass catcher in the Packers’ high-octane offense. It’s a Love thing. The Panthers give up the fifth most points to TEs and will have the challenge of slowing him down in Week 9.

Notables:

Dallas Goedert recorded two TDs with AJ Brown out for the Eagles against the Giants. Goedert has seven TDs over his last six games. He’ll look to add to his tally in Week 10 against the Packers, who have allowed five TDs (third-most) to TEs.

Harold Fannin Jr (6-62-1) and David Njoku (4-37-1) are the only reliable options for Gabriel and fantasy shareholders in this offense. They’ll face the Jets in Week 10.

Tyler Warren posted his sixth game with at least 50 yards in a difficult matchup against the Titans. He’ll get a plus matchup against the Steelers’ third-ranked defense to TEs.

In a less-than-ideal matchup for National TE Day versus the Texans’ bottom-five defense to TEs, George Kittle posted his second TD of the year with a modest 43 yards. The Giants, a bottom-third defense to TEs, is next for Kittle.

Kyle Pitts was Kirk Cousins’ only option, snatching nine balls for 59 yards with Drake London sidelined for Week 8. Pitts’s upcoming schedule should keep him in the TE1 mix.

Bye Week Update

Week 9 Byes include the Browns, Jets, Eagles, and Buccaneers. Adjust your lineups accordingly!

🚨 Red Zone TD Scoring 🚨

Philadelphia leads the NFL at 85%. Rounding out the top 10 are Washington (78%), Pittsburgh (74%), Detroit (74%), Denver (70%), Green Bay (70%), Indianapolis (68%), Cincinnati (68%), Seattle (68%), and Kansas City (66%).
The bottom five teams with Red Zone TD Scoring Percentages are the Las Vegas (38%), Houston (42%), New Orleans (43%), Atlanta (45%), and Baltimore (46%).

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