Fantasy Football Saturday Mailbag for Week 8
Good Morning, FootClan, and a very warm welcome to Week 8 of The Fantasy Footballers’ Saturday Morning Mailbag! It’s Saturday, it’s early, and as always, I am here to select a handful of your questions from The Fantasy Footballers’ Discord server, answer some of the hot topics that didn’t quite make it to that week’s edition of The Footcast. The Ballers’ Discord is home to the biggest and best online fantasy football community in the world, and is your go-to if you’re looking to talk about all things fantasy football. Head over today and get involved with thousands of members across dozens of dedicated channels for start/sit questions, trade advice, and waiver wire insights, as well as exclusive areas which are only available to members of the Footclan.
Week 7 saw us say a huge “welcome back to fantasy relevance” to the pass-catchers in both Cincinnati and Philadelphia, with Ja’Marr Chase (WR1), DeVonta Smith (WR2), A.J. Brown (WR3) and Tee Higgins (WR12) all finishing inside the top-12 at the WR position – who would have thought that all the Bengals needed to do to revive their season was sign a competent QB…even if it was in the form of 40-year-old Joe Flacco. Jonathan Taylor TDs continued his dominance as the league’s lead rusher, scoring his 8th, 9th, and 10th TDs of the year in the Colts’ comfortable 38-24 road victory over the Chargers at SoFi…undoubtedly making Jim Harbaugh weep in the process at just how High-T that Indy offense is. Quinshon Judkins also found pay-dirt on three occasions…but let’s be honest, that feels like the norm now against what is an entirely hapless Miami defense. Superstar of the week, however, went to Christian McCaffrey, who once again proved to the world that he simply isn’t human.
In this week’s mailbag, we’re looking at the season-long value of a quartet of WR2s, the panic level on Brock Bowers, and just what do we do with TreVeyon Henderson after his pre-season anointment as the best RB in football? We have all this and loads more…so without further ado, let’s dive in!
Question #1 – Season-long Strategy (WR2 Edition)
Master Pokeballers! Would you trade any of Tetairoa McMillan, Keenan Allen, or Quentin Johnston for Zay Flowers? If so, which of the three would you prefer to trade, or do you think gets it done if you had more than one of them? – It’s Pukachu!
Answer: I’m going to put this in terms you can relate to It’s Pukachu! Of the four WRs you mention, we’ve got a Bulbasaur, a Charmander, a Squirtle, and a Slowbro…in other words – three solid starters with super effective upside and a guy who you can transfer to BILL’S PC at any time. If you’re not a Super Nerd like me and are struggling to follow this analogy, then I’ll make it somewhat clearer – Keenan Allen is the odd man out in this quartet of pass-catchers, and the one you can release back into the wild…well, trade for decent value at least.
Despite all being vastly different WR archetypes, Tet (WR19), Quge (WR18), and Zay Flowers (WR16) all rank incredibly close to one another in The Baller’s Rest of Season Rankings (available on The Ultimate Dashboard). Keenan Allen – unbelievably still currently sitting as the overall WR8 on the season thus far – is the consensus wild-card, with Andy, Mike, and Jason considering him no more than a low-end WR3 from here on in. Don’t hear what I’m not saying, the former Charger-turned Bear-turned Charger again is still putting up some huge fantasy numbers in this, his thirteenth season in the league…but with team-mates Ladd McConkey and rookie TE Oronde Gadsden both coming into some form, and Quentin Johnston returning from his recent concussion – Ol’ Man Allen could be the one to make way in the pecking order as the Chargers continue their High-H approach on the offensive side of the ball.
The Baltimore Ravens (10th) currently project to have the best strength of schedule at the WR position for the remainder of the year, and as the team’s clear No.1 Guy, Flowers should see plenty of opportunities as the Maryland outfit plays catch-up in their quest to recover from their 1-5 start and make the postseason. If Lamar Jackson misses Week 8, you can expect Flowers to once again be an afterthought for fantasy, lowering his price further. Wait until the week is over and dangle Keenan in front of the sure-to-be frustrated Zay manager for a straight swap. Not only will you inherit the best WR of the four you mention, but you will also lower your exposure to the Chargers’ passing game, maximizing your weekly upside in the process. Keenan Allen, I choose you…to be traded away. Good luck, trainer!
Question #2 – Season-long Strategy (Diamond in the Rough TE Special)
What is Brock Bowers’ outlook when he is back to full health? I’m worried Geno Smith will tank his value even further – ghosty
Answer: Seven Days! I hope Raiders fans are fans of Mike’s pop-culture references on the pod, as it’s the only Ring that they or their superstar sophomore TE will be seeing in the near future. Much like the 2002 movie, this season has been somewhat of a horror show for the men in silver and black, with their most recent defeat – a 31-0 shutout on the road to divisional rivals Kansas City – perfectly encapsulating their 2-5 season thus far.
It’s been tough sledding for everyone in Sin City, but it could be argued that nobody has had it harder than last year’s overall TE1 – Brock Bowers (well, perhaps apart from those who spent a first-round draft pick on him back in August). After starting the year where he left off last season – as the overall TE1 back in Week 1 – Bowers has disappeared off the fantasy radar, plagued by PCL and PCQB issues…that’s Posterior Cruciate Ligament (Knee) and Pretty Crappy QB for those of us who aren’t doctors. It would be harsh to put all of the blame for Bowers’ shortcomings on Geno Smith, but with the thirteen-year veteran currently on a 17-game pace of 3,441 yards, with 17 TDs and 24 INTs…it’s not too hard to point the finger at last year’s overall QB12 for Bowers’ Houdini impression.
It is clear from the cumbersome knee brace that the 13th overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft has been sporting that Bowers was nowhere near 100% when he returned to action back in Week 2, with three consecutive finishes outside the top-12 at the position only further cementing any concerns fantasy managers had relating to the former Georgia Bulldog’s health.
Looking to the future, Las Vegas have the 4th worst strength of schedule for the remainder of the season at the TE position once they return from their Week 8 bye – which coupled with Geno’s lacklustre level of play – could give Bowers’ managers the heebie-jeebies as we approach All Hallows’ Eve…but as the famous wordsmith Ray Parker Jr. once said: “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts”. With another full week to recover, Bowers should be back to full fitness as Vegas hosts Jacksonville in Week 10. He may not be The TE1 every week, but he’s a lock to be a top-5 guy at the position from here on in. Don’t sweat it.
Question #3 – Waiver Wire (Rookie RB Cut Edition)
Is TreVeyon Henderson a drop candidate in a redraft league, or do I hold just in case Rhamondre Stevenson gets hurt? – Andy’s queue button
Answer: Remember when TreVeyon Henderson was going as the overall RB19 in drafts? Remember when he took his first touch as an NFL player all the way to the house for a 100-yard kickoff return TD? Remember the almost daily exponentially growing hype the 38th overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft was getting as we approached the start of the regular season? As nice as it is to reminisce on the good times, it speaks volumes for the rookie’s impact so far this year that the highlight of his young career to date was the 51 combined rushing and receiving yards he accumulated back in Week 1 against the Raiders, on his way to a *checks notes* RB26 finish.
To say Henderson has been a disappointment would be an understatement – sure, I understand that not every rookie can be an Ezekiel Elliott or Alfred Morris (remember him) and come straight into the pro leagues, setting the heather alight on the way – but the former Buckeye’s stuttering start to his career has immediately started the red flags waving from all directions, and suggesting that maybe…just maybe, he isn’t quite the superstar we all thought he was going to be.
So far on the year, Henderson has taken a back seat to veteran rusher Rhamondre Stevenson – perhaps unsurprisingly so when we consider that the New England Front Office gave their 27-year old battering ram a 4-year, $36m extension just last summer – but it is the manner of how the fifth-year back has dominated in this blossoming Pats offense that is the real story here. The Round Mound of TD has seen almost exactly half of all RB snaps this season so far in the Patriots backfield, with Henderson seen just 30%…but what is most alarming for TreVeyon truthers is that share percentage is going down, plummeting to a season-low 8% of attempts in last weekend’s 31-13 blowout win on the road to the struggling Titans.
Henderson’s 3.6 Y/A is good enough to see him tied as the RB71 on the year so far in rushing efficiency (ironically alongside his running mate Stevenson), but with less than 60% of the workload and almost no goal-line work, the path to fantasy relevance for the once-heralded debutant seems long and potentially non-existent. If you are in a 10-team league, feel free to cut him – but with this New England offense being reborn with Drake Maye under center – and with Antonio Gibson being done for the year – Henderson is just one injury away from being a potential league-winner. Hold on to him if you have the space, but with the Bye-pocalypse upon us, I understand if you do need to let him go.
Question #4 – Trade Advice (Buy-Low QB1 Special)
Is Lamar Jackson a “trade for” candidate given his end-of-season schedule? – Sharknado
Answer: Let’s get things straight – Lamar Jackson is a trade-for candidate simply given that he is Lamar Jackson…regardless of how good or bad the strength of schedule may be for the Ravens.
It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster ride for fantasy managers who drafted the 2023 NFL MVP in the early rounds. Through three weeks, that third-round investment looked to be paying dividends with Lamar comfortably sitting as the overall QB1 for fantasy following a trio of consecutive top-5 finishes at the position to open the year. Despite Baltimore sitting 1-2, Jackson was thriving, posting league-leading numbers, putting him on a 17-game pace of over 4,000 passing yards and 51 TDs – and that’s not including the nearly 700 yards and half a dozen TDs on the ground. As with all rollercoasters, you have to take the ups with the downs, the rough with the smooth, the exciting with the terrifying…or in Lamar’s case, the potential 60 total TDs with the season-derailing hamstring injury.
Jackson left the Week 4 encounter with the Kansas City Chiefs during the 3rd quarter and hasn’t been seen since. With the score already at 30-13 in favor of the hosts, Lamar’s disappearing act was seen by some as strategic – saving their franchise QB for better days, in a game that was already a lost cause. Others, however, weren’t as compassionate, claiming that the Ravens’ signal caller had quit on the team and potentially could have returned. The latter, it seems, were proven to be wrong, as Lamar proceeded to sit out Baltimore’s next two games prior to their Week 7 bye, seeing his charges slip to a lowly 1-5 and their playoff hopes disappearing fast.
Entering Week 8, all signs point to the all-time rushing leader at QB taking the field once again as Baltimore desperately tries to claw their way back into postseason contention. Much like the Ravens, there’s a good chance fantasy managers who have been without Jackson’s services may also be getting a little hot under the collar and be willing to sell off their prize asset for a more stable selection of performers. Outside of Josh Allen, there’s not another QB in the league I would rather have from here on in – if you can acquire Lamar for any other QB straight-up, or even a WR2/RB2, you’re setting yourself up well for a #FootClanTitle.
Question #5 – Way Too Early 2026 Draft Advice
Hey Ball Dudes! If you had to place a bet today on who is the consensus 1.01 pick in next year’s draft, who would you go for? It feels like there are maybe 5 or 6 players that you could advocate for at this point. – Tee V Trey’s
Answer: At this stage of the season, forecasting exactly who will go with the first overall pick in 2026 is no easy task…especially when you consider some of the elite-level performances we are seeing from players at the apex of the rankings heading into the halfway point of the season.
As we enter Week 8, there are a few familiar faces at the tippy-top of the scoring charts – Jonathan Taylor (24.0), Christian McCaffrey (22.9) and Bijan Robinson (21.7) are all averaging over 20 FPPG, with Jaxon Smith-Njigba (18.6), Puka Nacua (18.6) and Amon-Ra St. Brown (17.4) right behind them – and there’s certainly a case to be made for each and every one of those guys as the 1.01 in re-draft leagues next time out.
It would be remiss to forget superstars such as CeeDee Lamb (WR42), Justin Jefferson (WR9), or Saquon Barkley (RB15) just because they haven’t quite hit the ground running just yet – but they, too, will all be worthy of consideration once the first team is on the clock come next August.
If I had to make my pick right now, I just couldn’t let anyone else in my league get their hands on Christian McCaffrey. Sure, he’ll be another year older; and yes, he’s on pace for 486 total opportunities this year…but I simply don’t care. CMC is a fantasy cheat code, and until his body says otherwise, he’s my 1.01 this and every season.
It’s time for Rapid Round…
Cleveland Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) runs after a catch against Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Dax Hill (23) during the second half at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images” width=”1700″ height=”884″ />
Would you start Jordan Addison over guys like Jaylen Waddle or Jaylen Warren in tough matchups…how about DeVonta Smith? Full-PPR – The Princess McBride
Answer: Addison has been balling out since he returned from his suspension back in Week 4 with weekly finishes at WR14, WR20, and WR10…but I still have him behind both Jaylen’s this week, particularly with the Vikings heading to a Chargers D that ranks 5th against WRs. J.J. McCarthy is due to return in Week 9, so I’ll be keeping Addison on my bench until I see if his chemistry with the sophomore is as good as it is with Carson Wentz.
Start one in the Megalabowl, Jonnu Smith or Harold Fannin Jr.? – RugbyIsaac
Answer: I am all in on the Browns’ do-it-all rookie this week as they head to Foxborough…especially if David Njoku fails to be cleared for action. Fannin is a borderline TE1, Smith is just an afterthought and well behind D.K. Metcalf and Pat Freiermuth…go with the rookie.
Penix or Mariota this week? 4pt passing TD scoring – Puka Kupp-a-Coffee
Answer: Assuming he is healthy and good to go – I’m starting Penix. The matchup at home to Miami is enough to see the sophomore rank just outside the QB1 range, especially if Darnell Mooney returns to the fold, giving Penix another weapon. This might be a Bijan Robinson game, so temper expectations…but the upside for Penix is much higher than the Commanders’ back-up at Arrowhead.
Tony Pollard, Woody Marks, or George Kittle in the FLEX this week? – Racoonaholik
Answer: Ignore the goose-egg; Kittle is your start here. Pollard not only has the ferocious Indianapolis Colts defense to contend with, but he will likely split time with healthy-again Tyjae Spears. Marks saved his fantasy week with a late receiving TD last time out, but this papered over the cracks of an otherwise underwhelming day. Kittle will be healthier and raring to go on National TEs Day – book him for some decent yardage and at least one TD.
That will do it for this week, FootClan – good luck in Week 8!