Author: Jake Ciely, Senior Writer
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don’t make the playoffs, as that means we’re already past the halfway point. We want to prevent that being the case though, and with six teams on byes the next two weeks, things are going to get tough. Quick tip… if you’re in contention and have a piece or two to spare, attack those 2-5 and 3-4 teams with players on a bye the next two weeks. Those teams cannot afford another loss and could part with talents such as Le’Veon Bell, Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham, etc. for less than typical cost to make sure they can get their happy, happy, joy, joy on for one more week.
Now, let’s deal up the Week 8 Fantasy Football rankings, sleepers and DFS picks.
As a reminder, if you missed this week’s Waiver Wire and Quarterback Streamers piece, click over to find help at every position, including quarterback streamers.
Week 8 QB Sleepers
Tyrod Taylor, BUF – Don’t look now, but after Taylor’s abysmal Week 1 performance, he’s posted at least 15 Fantasy points in every game, including a 16.6 outing against the Patriots on the road. The rushing yards and touchdowns have boosted his value as expected, but Taylor also has at least one touchdown pass in each of the last four games. The Patriots are middle of the pack against quarterbacks, which makes Taylor a strong play, as he’s finished inside the Top 15 at the position each of those last four games.
Week 8 RB Sleepers
Matt Asiata, MIN – As mentioned in the waiver wire column, Asiata would be a great option if Jerick McKinnon missed Week 8 to injury. Even if McKinnon plays, Asiata is still a good option given his touchdown potential. Most weeks, Asiata would be a risky option, even in your flex. However, the Vikings won’t overwork McKinnon at less than 100 percent, adding to Asiata’s touches and increasing those touchdown odds.
Chris Thompson, WSH – In case you haven’t noticed, Matt Jones is still struggling to hold on to the ball, and the Redskins decided it didn’t make much sense to keep letting Jones cough up the ball.
Enter Thompson, who already had deep PPR value and averaged 6.1 yards per carry against the Lions. Rob Kelley will be in the mix and Jones won’t go away completely, but Thompson is still a strong play with a heavier workload. In addition, the Bengals have given up 335 receiving yards and three touchdowns to running backs already. That’s right in Thompson wheelhouse.
Devontae Booker, DEN – Did you enjoy the performance by the Denver Falcons on Monday night? Yep, we’re now looking at the Broncos very own Devonta Freeman (what a coincidence in first names) and Tevin Coleman situation. Booker actually out-snapped C.J. Anderson, but that could easily swing the other direction in more pass-heavy games due to Anderson’s ability in the passing game. Either way, both running backs now have value in a six-team bye week, especially with the Chargers allowing 23.33 FPPG, including 10 touchdowns so far.
Week 8 WR Sleepers
John Brown, ARI – Obviously, this is contingent on Brown’s health, but Michael Floyd is banged up and Jaron Brown is done. Brown was getting on track with two good games before getting nicked up, as he had 16 catches and 214 yards in Weeks 4-5. The Cardinals receivers can be tough to predict outside of Larry Fitzgerald, but with two down and two main options left (no, we’re not counting J.J. Nelson as a top option), you can feel safe with Brown being a must-start.
Will Fuller, HOU – Yes, Brock Osweiler is killing the offense and DeAndre Hopkins’ value, but Fuller still has that same potential that had everyone going gaga earlier this year.
And to be fair, look at the three losses for the Texans: Patriots, Vikings and Broncos… all on the road. The Lions have given up 1,260 yards and nine touchdowns to receivers already with 22 plays over 20 yards and five over 40, both ranking in the Top 10.
Cordarrelle Patterson, MIN – As I said with the waivers, no, I don’t really want to trust Patterson, as he’s burned us all already… more than once. It’s tough to ignore what Patterson has done of late though, as he saw 61 percent of the snaps before the bye and still had 67 percent last week with Stefon Diggs back and on the field for 80 percent himself. Patterson has also scored in each of the last two games with six-plus targets in each of the last three. The Bears pass defense is awful, making Patterson an intriguing fill-in… even though I know you still don’t want to see him in your lineup.
Week 8 TE Sleepers
C.J. Fiedorowicz, HOU – Psst, the Lions are terrible at stopping tight ends. Oh, you heard? They lead the league with seven touchdowns allowed and have given up at least eight Fantasy points every week outside of the Eagles game. Fiedorowicz has 27 targets, 19 receptions, 228 yards and two touchdowns over the last four games, and finds himself as a fringe TE1 in the Fantasy Football rankings given the matchup.
Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings | Week 8 Flex Rankings
Week 8 Blind Spot Players
In case you’re new to this, the Fantasy Blind Spot refers to players that you want to target in tournaments, such as the Millionaire Maker, etc… contrarian players if you will. They usually have one of the following characteristics:
1) have been performing well but haven’t had a breakout game or big enough numbers to get Fantasy players talking, and/or
2) are in a price range of other more popular option, and/or
3) have frustrated with disappointing performances but have a great matchup to finally break through
DraftKings Week 8 Sleepers
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FanDuel Week 8 Sleepers
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Photo Credit: St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire
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