By Kyra Wiaterowski
Here we are, people! Three articles into the 2020 NFL season and I welcome you to number four– which happens to be Week 8 on the year! I think it is a small enough sample size now that it’s about time to see if I have been worth your time before reading any further. I’m going to recap how many hits and misses I’ve had because it’s only fair to be transparent with you. I’m not trying to waste our time, you know? We are going to count a hit as a fantasy game over double digits and a miss as a single digit game. I will not include my Deep Sea Dives quite yet (I just started those last week) but my honorable mentions can be thrown into the mix, as well. In terms of skill players, I’ve hit on 25 out of a suggested 38 skill players, while missing only 13 times. However, D/ST has been my Achilles’ Heel, hitting only four times while missing five. Anyone good at math? Short answer: I am hitting on 65.79% of my suggestions for skill players. Not too shabby! You should probably read these more often *wink wink*. D/ST though– um, 44.4% is, well, not great. Maybe consider looking elsewhere for D/ST suggestions? But stay here on http://www.clubfantasyffl.com! My buddy Ryan Weisse, also found here, is The Stream Master General, after all. But be patient with me! We’re going to improve that number!
Now that I have held myself accountable, let’s move on to the good stuff. When I first started writing the article for this week, I just wrote down the name Brandon Aiyuk. That’s all. So, if you want to know who I’m prioritizing this week, it is, without question, Brandon Aiyuk. Inject him into my veins, redraft squads, and DFS lineups. I am not leaving anywhere without him and you probably shouldn’t either. The next thing that popped into my head — the inevitable touchdowns being scored against the New Orleans Saints. Except maybe that thought process came back down to earth after the lackluster Ian Thomas came to town, crushing our hopes and dreams of keeping that train rolling. But I have not given up on the idea. Why, you ask? Because this week, we get the man, the myth, the legend, known as “Jimmy Graham-Pa”! Let us not lose hope because somehow, in the year 2020, Jimmy Graham is fantasy relevant again. This could be another “revenge game” storyline! Let’s face it — who else does Nick Foles really target outside of Allen Robinson? But I digress. (We’ll discuss him later in the article.) We have another solid slate of games on Sunday and these lineups are waiting to be set, so I will quit blabbing and get on with what you really came here for. Lets kash out!
Looking for more help building DFS lineups? We’ve put together our DFS Matchup Report for Week 8, showing who has the best (and worst) matchups.
QUARTERBACKS
Joe Burrow (DK: $6,200 / FD: $7,600)
Smokin’ Joe Burrow has thrown for over 300 yards in all but two games this season. One of those games was against a tough Baltimore Ravens defense, while the other was the first start of his career. He has himself some great playmakers in Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, and A.J. Green. You can tell he is getting more comfortable in the offense and the stats back that up. His upside is high on any given week and the price is right for Burrow here. The Titans are averaging 39.7 pass attempts per game, ranking 3rd highest in the league. The Bengals themselves are attempting 42 passes per game — the second highest in the league. It’s music to my ears. The game has a high over/under at 54.5. What more do I need to say to convince you that Burrow’s a great pick here? Oh, that the Tennessee Titans are giving up the 10th most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks? That’s nice too. But if that’s not enough, they also rank 6th in most fantasy points per game allowed to opposing wide receivers. Burrow is a great stack option with his receivers this week.
Jimmy Garoppolo (DK: $5,400 / FD: $6,600)
You want a sexy pick? You’ve seen Jimmy GQ, right? It doesn’t get much sexier than that. Something about the Seattle Seahawks defense just brings out the best in an opposing team’s quarterback. Every game against the Seahawks is going to call for a potential shoot-out. Between how bad of a defense the Seahawks have and how good Russell Wilson is, they’re challenging their opponents to step up and produce. This is another game with a high over/under, sitting at 53.5. The 49ers always seem to play up to the Seahawks and for this cheap, he is worth taking a shot on. The Seattle Seahawks have given up the 2nd most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season. I don’t see that trend stopping here. Should be a great game, so fire up Garoppolo!
Honorable Mention: Derek Carr (DK: $5,500 / FD: $7,300)
Deep Sea Dive: Drew Lock (DK: $5,300 / FD: $7,000)
RUNNING BACKS
Darrell Henderson Jr. (DK: $5,900 / FD: $6,100)
Does Darrell Henderson ever get tackled on the first try? The guy runs like a bull! I know Sean McVay is about as hard to trust as a Bill Belichick backfield, but I think Henderson is emerging as a safe play. He’s leading the team’s running backs in snaps and touches and we’ve basically witnessed Cam Akers disappear right before our very eyes as each week passes. Henderson has also been averaging 12 PPR points per game on the season. He offers the most upside in this Rams backfield. With the long-awaited start of rookie Tua Tagovailoa beginning on the other side of the ball for the Miami Dolphins, it’s likely the Rams have a chance to control this game on the ground. Henderson should see a high-volume type of day and with Miami allowing the 8th most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, that sounds like a pretty good deal for his price this week.
Zack Moss (DK: $4,400 / FD: $5,400)
Devin Singletary’s stock is trending down while we have Zack Moss’s stock trending up. Since coming back from injury, Moss’s snap counts have went from 25% to 47%. Yes, he’s coming back from injury, but he’s getting healthier each week and with that, I’m sure he’ll see more red zone opportunities — a place where Singletary has been inefficient. Who doesn’t like a guy that has touchdown upside every game? The reigning dynasty of the New England Patriots is crashing down before our eyes. This isn’t the defense we’ve seen in year’s past. The Patriots are allowing an average of 113 rushing yards per game and ranked 10th in fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season. Super cheap dart throw.
Honorable mention: Le’Veon Bell (DK: $4,600 / FD: $6,000)
Deep Sea Dive: Lamical Perine (DK: $4,300 / FD: $5,300)
WIDE RECEIVERS
Brandon Aiyuk (DK: $5,800 / FD: $5,900)
Opportunity can be everything in fantasy sports. This week, Brandon Aiyuk gets his best opportunity to date with the absence of Deebo Samuel. The Seattle Seahawks have given up the most targets, yards, receptions, and fantasy points to wide receivers this season. The 49ers are already thin at the wide receiver position and other than George Kittle, it is bound to be The Brandon Aiyuk Show. Aiyuk’s price does not reflect his upside in this favorable matchup and he is a no brainer pick at the position for me this week. Expect him to exceed expectations above anyone else around this price point. Unless you have been living under a rock this season, you know that Aiyuk is a hell of a player. His talent will be the reason he makes the most of this opportunity this week.
Rashard Higgins (DK: $4,200 / FD: $5,500)
Say hello to the Cleveland Browns leading red zone receiver. I love me a player that I can feel a breakout coming right before it’s about to happen. Higgins has made an impact in the small window of opportunity he has been given. Since winning the WR3 job in this offense over the last three weeks, he’s caught 10 of 11 targets for 149 yards and two touchdowns. That’s enough to perk up my ears for a guy completely off my radar. Now, he gets an even bigger chance to step up in this offense with the season-ending ACL injury to OBJ. Last week, after losing OBJ, he played a team-high 85% of offensive snaps. This could be a game where we see a lot of scoring and Higgins looks to be a beneficiary of that.
Honorable Mention: A.J. Green (DK: $4,500 / FD: $5,800)
Deep Sea Dive: Marquez Valdes-Scantling (DK: $3,800 / FD: $5,100)
TIGHT ENDS
Jimmy Graham (DK: $4,600 / FD: $5,400)
Oh yeah, finally a smash value play for tight ends against New Orleans! It’s not all too often you hear someone get that excited about Jimmy Graham anymore, but this week, we sure as hell are! The New Orleans Saints have given up the 2nd most fantasy points to TEs and up until last week, have allowed a score by a tight end in every matchup. (We will place that blame on Ian Thomas being Ian Thomas.) With Graham getting a 15.1% target rate on this Bears offense, he is bound to get his opportunities in this one, especially if Allen Robinson cannot go in this one after suffering a concussion in last week’s game. Look for the Bears to lean on Graham-Pa early and often. You can go with picking two Jimmy G’s this week — Garoppolo, and the sexy, older Jimmy G. I think he is ideally priced for the favorable matchup. Lock him in!
Jonnu Smith (DK: $4,100 / FD: $6,100)
Honestly, I like the tight end values in Jimmy Graham and Jonnu Smith more than any other position this week. All my lineups will have 1 of the 2 to build around. Jonnu Smith is also in an absolute smash spot as well against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals are still allowing a ridiculous target share to opposing tight ends and have allowed the 3rd most fantasy points per game to them as well. As I stated up above in Joe Burrow’s value play, this game carries a high/over under. I expect to see Jonnu Smith be heavily involved. After having a very meh game last week against a tough Steelers defense, and probably still a bit hobbled from injury, I look for him to get back to form in this one.
Honorable Mention: Trey Burton (DK: $3,500 / FD: $5,300)
Deep Sea Dive: Drew Sample (DK: $3,400 / FD: $4,600)
D/ST
Indianapolis Colts vs Detroit Lions (DK: $3,100 / FD: $4,800 *YIKES*)
Tennessee Titans vs Cincinnati Bengals (DK: $3,000 / FD: $4,600)
Honorable Mention: Cleveland Browns vs Las Vegas Raiders (DK: $2,600 / FD: $4,400)
Deep Sea Dive: Miami Dolphins vs Los Angeles Rams (DK: $2,400 / FD: $3,900)
Looking for more great Week 8 content? Check out Josh’s Confidence Plays and Ryan’s Streams of the Week!