SuperFlex & 2QB Rankings for Week 8 (Fantasy Football)
Buonasera, FootClan!
Welcome to Week 8 of our SuperFlex & 2QB discussion.
Outside of the absolute collapse of Andy Dalton (in all seriousness, wishing him the best), we can hold our heads high with another solid week of QB2 projections:
| Player Highlighted | Week 7 Ranking | Week 7 Finish |
| Jared Goff | 13 | 10 |
| Andy Dalton | 14 | 35 (LOL) |
| Drake Maye | 17 | 7 |
Two new QBs joined our ongoing list, and yes, they are exactly who we all thought they’d be: Russell Wilson and Marcus Mariota! That marks 32 different QB1 performances through the first seven weeks of the season:
Josh Allen, Baker Mayfield, Jalen Hurts, Jayden Daniels, Anthony Richardson, Lamar Jackson, Derek Carr, Geno Smith, CJ Stroud, Tua Tagovailoa, Jordan Love, Matthew Stafford, Kyler Murray, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, Kirk Cousins, Joe Burrow, Deshaun Watson, Aaron Rodgers, Dak Prescott, Brock Purdy, Malik Willis, Andy Dalton, Justin Fields, Jared Goff, Joe Flacco, Caleb Williams, Bo Nix, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye, Russell Wilson, Marcus Mariota.
Week 8 has already begun to deliver, thanks to the long-awaited return of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, and despite no games on the slate reaching the vaunted O/U of 50, we can expect one of the most unpredictable weeks in terms of fantasy (and DFS) finishes.
With zero teams on bye, the QB2 range is flourishing with value, and today we’ll identify three QBs (ranked outside the Ballers’ top 12) who display QB1 upside in Week 8. To reference the Ballers Week 8 QB Rankings, be sure to click the attached link, and don’t forget to check for updates before kickoff!
13. Tua Tagovailoa
For whatever reason, Tua Tagovailoa is one of those guys who will just never earn the respect of the fantasy community:
- “He’s a system quarterback.”
- “He doesn’t show up in the playoffs.”
- “He can’t play in cold weather.”
Maybe these sentiments are right. Maybe he is a product of Alabama and Miami weather and when the playoffs are on the line, he’s unable to perform in the frigid temperatures of Buffalo or Kansas City. But one thing we’ve learned these past few weeks is that Tua is undoubtedly a legit NFL QB, and he is critical to the offensive success in Miami.
🎥 Tyreek Hill on having Tua Tagovailoa back in practice: “It was so beautiful… I just had a big cheese on my face because it just felt so good. Y’all don’t know what it does to me.” (@MiamiDolphins) #GoFins pic.twitter.com/gHcCAu4uLS
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) October 23, 2024
The Cardinals’ defense is not one to fear and is already accruing a troublesome injury report, beginning with the loss of sack leader Dennis Gardeck to a torn ACL. Alongside him, starting DT Roy Lopez has been a DNP on Wednesday and Thursday, and CB Sean Murphy-Bunting has yet to participate in practice due to a neck injury suffered in Week 7.
None of this is promising for a team that already ranks 27th in PPG to opposing QBs, and just allowed 349 passing yards (to nine different receivers) to Justin Herbert last week. Imagine what this highlight reel of an offense could do.
DEVON ACHANE 67-YARD TD
THE DOLPHINS HAVE 70 POINTS.
📺: #DENvsMIA on CBS
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/UQdQ05hqXN pic.twitter.com/bZOSLxVaoa— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2023
While you should be starting all the Dolphins’ skill players, it’s also worth noting that Jonnu Smith is quietly TE15 on the year. This week, he is projected to be covered by LB Kyzir White, who currently ranks dead last (of 73 qualified players) in coverage. There are a lot of mouths to feed in Miami, but Jonnu has seen 15 targets over the past two weeks and should be in streaming and DFS consideration this week.
Being his first game back, I’m expecting a fast-paced, quick-hitting game plan from Mike McDaniel. This will likely look like the Dolphins of last year, getting the ball out of his hands and into those of the elite speedsters around him. Look for heavy doses of misdirection, quick pitches, and screen passes, and once the defense starts to commit, then we’ll see the home run ball.
We, of course, know the risk with Tua, so let’s not dive down that well, but he’s got the perfect matchup to return from in Arizona. The Dolphins come in ninth with a team-implied total of 25, and with a healthy cast of weapons, I’m betting on them getting right back on track. Although we’re excited to see Tua return for fantasy purposes, we’re more importantly rooting for him to have a healthy, safe, and prolonged career.
Godspeed, Tua.
*Tua is also Andy’s Start of the Week, which I did not know before writing this.
“I appreciate your concern, I really do. I love this game and I love it to the death of me.” – Tua Tagovailoa pic.twitter.com/8mpJc7sY94
— Bobby Shouse (@B_Shousejr) October 21, 2024
15. Bo Nix
I’m admittedly late to the Nix train, but it’s probably time I hop on.
There is a reason I’m late. It’s because I don’t trust the Broncos’ offense, but more importantly, I don’t like Sean Payton.
Sean Payton suggests that he baited the #Vikings into trading up for JJ McCarthy when Bo Nix was his guy the entire time 👀pic.twitter.com/3Vgy62hgBl
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) April 26, 2024
I don’t like how he thinks he’s smarter than everyone, even though he’s been hovering at .500 since the day Drew Brees left. I don’t like how he “retired,” leaving the Saints’ roster in shambles thanks to ridiculous contracts like $40m to backup TE Taysom Hill. I don’t like how he is viewed as an offensive genius, even though his team has no money because he’s paying Russell Wilson a record-setting $85 million to play in Pittsburgh.
I also don’t like how smug he was about the Vikings trading up for JJ McCarthy (see tweet above) when there was literally zero concern of anyone taking Bo Nix that high. I definitely don’t like that he was caught paying his players to injure other team’s stars (which some of you youngins may not even know about). And lastly, I don’t like how he helped turn those terrible actions into a “feel-good family flick” starring Kevin James. What a marketing team he must have.
Anywho.
Let’s set the record straight. We now know that Nix was Payton’s guy all along, but it’s yet to be seen if he’s truly the guy in Denver. He has certainly been serviceable in this early portion of his career, but Denver’s 4-3 start can be attributed more to their outstanding defensive play, not necessarily to his arm.
Bo Nix somehow over threw and under threw a wide open receiver on the same play pic.twitter.com/sofYKSntVF
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) October 18, 2024
Through the first seven weeks, Nix is averaging 178 passing yards/game (22nd), with five touchdowns (25th) and five interceptions. That comes with a ceiling of 246 yards in a loss against Pittsburgh, and a floor of just 60 yards in a win against the Jets.
This is not all on Nix, of course. While his offensive line is playing well (currently PFF’s 10th-ranked), his supporting cast of skill players leaves plenty to be desired for a rookie QB. This leaves it up to him to make plays with his athleticism, which he has leaned on heavily, at least in terms of fantasy finishes. Nix is currently fourth among all QBs with 255 rush yards and (fourth once again) with three rushing touchdowns. These numbers have escalated over the past two weeks with 75 and 61 yards on the ground, respectively.
Quarterbacks with 250+ rushing yards:
Lamar Jackson: 403
Jayden Daniels: 322
Kyler Murray: 261
Bo NIx: 255 pic.twitter.com/CfFPhrpFav— ESPN BET (@ESPNBET) October 18, 2024
With 19+ fantasy points in three of his last five games, Nix appears to be gaining perfectly timed confidence to take on the lowly Panthers, who have already faced a myriad of defensive injuries and rank bottom four in both PPG to QBs and RBs.
The only negative for Nix this week would be the potential game script. Assuming this plays out how Vegas is projecting, we could very well see a run-heavy second-half installment from Payton and Co., given that Denver’s offensive line is top three in both (PFF’s) rushing and passing advantage this week.
We’ve targeted the Panthers for weeks and will not be stopping in Week 8. Denver holds the fourth-highest team-implied total on the slate (26), and as 10.5-point favorites, is expected to stomp all over this Carolina rebuild. Sean Payton is basically Biff in coaching form, so I’m very much expecting to see him on the sideline at the end of the game, smirking and patting himself on the back for bullying and beating down a team that literally everyone else in the league has done the same.
Ever since this occurred:
Nix has blown this game out of the water and this offense has scored
A pissed off Bo is one hell of a Bo 🔥 pic.twitter.com/sZGK2nuxIg
— Jordan Lopez (@JordanTLopez) October 6, 2024
18. Aaron Rodgers
Unless you’re into the TMZ side of professional sports, Aaron Rodgers has been nothing short of disappointing in his first (true) season with the Jets.
Despite a solid offensive line (currently ranked eighth via PFF) and some of the league’s premier young skill players in Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson, this offense has not taken the significant leap that fantasy analysts or Jets fans have been waiting for.
The volume has been there, with Rodgers coming in second in pass attempts (36.6/game), second in red zone attempts (5.1/game), and third in protection rate (92.3%), but this has all translated to just 10 touchdowns, seven interceptions and the QB19 in PPG, at 15.1 (removing Russell Wilson and Joe Flacco for low sample size).
But wait!
The 2-5 Jets are making moves. They fired their head coach, convinced Haason Reddick to show, and after what felt like years of dragging their feet, have finally traded for Aaron’s best friend: Davante Adams.
#Jets QB Aaron Rodgers: “I love Davante Adams. I can’t wait to play with him … again.” 🤔
(🎥 @VegasSportsTD)pic.twitter.com/8wF3XKyOAG
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 11, 2024
Now on to the matchup. After being embarrassed by Russell Wilson last week, this looks like an obvious get-right spot for all of the Jets, starting with Rodgers. We just watched a very weak Jaguars team embarrass the “soft” Patriots defense, and I think we can all agree that the Jets are a far more talented team. Jabrill Peppers is still out in the Patriots’ secondary, and outside of CB Christian Gonzalez (projected to shadow Davante Adams), there isn’t very much to fear on the defensive side of the ball.
Last week wasn’t pretty in Davante’s first week as a Jet, but that was predictable against a stout Pittsburgh defense. Now with a full week to recover and learn the playbook, I’m expecting a much more efficient passing attack against the Patriots.
Me looking at Davante Adams lose to the Steelers twice in the span of 7 days pic.twitter.com/SNS5f0HwII
— HereWeGo 💛🤍 (@NiajeeHarris22) October 21, 2024
The Jets’ offensive line comes in with the biggest statistical mismatch in pass protection (via PFF), which should allow Rodgers all day in the pocket. They are seven-point favorites at home and have the 12th-highest team-implied total at 24.25. If I’m Rodgers, I’m using this as an opportunity to get my entire offense on the same page and put as many points on the board as possible against my division rival.
Let’s be honest. Aaron has been handed the keys to this city in the same way Tom Brady was in Tampa Bay. The only difference? Tom won championships, which Aaron hasn’t done since 2011.
With that said, the Jets’ brass are making moves like they’re contenders. Could this actually be their year?
Nah. But could it be their week!?
Sure.
I wonder if Aaron Rodgers is going to tell Jets fans to relax pic.twitter.com/UGOakgeGMS
— John Justis (@Justis15) October 21, 2024
*Rodgers has been limited in practice with knee and hamstring injuries. He is fully expected to play, but his status should be monitored. Even if his mobility is affected, there is no reason to believe this offense can’t put up 24+ points.
Honorable Mentions:
- 14. Patrick Mahomes
- 16. Dak Prescott
- 20. Russell Wilson
- 21. Trevor Lawrence