The Fantasy Footballers’ Week 8 Starts
Wow, we’re already half-way through the fantasy football season. Hopefully, you’re still pushing for that #FootclanTitle. Here are The Footballers’ Week 8 Starts from today’s episode and be sure to hang on for the bonus segment:
Andy’s Starts
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick @ Cleveland
The job is his and he gets Cleveland’s atrocious defense. It looks like McCown may also be back which should drive up the score of the game. Fitz still has Marshall and Forte.
RB Spencer Ware @ Indianapolis
I’d start him over everyone but DJ and Demarco this week. He’s my #3 RB this week.
WR Davante Adams vs Atlanta
I’m buying in and staying in the Embers with Adams. This should be a target bonanza in Atlanta and the game should require more of the same from Rodgers. I like all the receiving options, but Adams gets my SOTW cause he’s going to be the most trepidatious pick. He had a monster week last week and I think he’ll have another great opportunity.
TE Gary Barnidge vs New York Jets
The options are limited in Cleveland and the Jets are 24th vs TEs. Whether Kessler or McCown, Barnidge has consistent targets and is a top 12 TE right now.
Mike’s Starts
QB Jameis Winston vs Oakland
OAK has given up some monster games to QBs that have legit WR weapons. Mike Evans is averaging the most WR fantasy points per game in Half PPR. Raiders stayed on road for the week.
RB Devontae Booker vs San Diego
It’s his time. CJ is now out for at least this game and maybe multiple weeks. We’ve seen the talent and he has a 4.8YPC so far this year. Chargers are among the best fantasy matchups for RBs.
WR Will Fuller vs Detroit
He has torched every bad secondary he’s played and Detroit has given up 9 WR TDs in 7 games. WRs had 170+ yards in 4 of those games. Flex that Fuller. This is a good matchup to have another big game.
TE Jimmy Graham @ New Orleans
I love revenge game narratives. REVENGE GAME!! He’s back to finish what he started. Plus, the last 4 games his worst was 5/53 against the best fantasy TE defense in the league against Arizona. We already saw Greg Olsen get fully loose against this defense.
Jason’s Starts
QB Carson Palmer @ Carolina
Tough week to pick one. This is the first week that seems like all the “big names” are actually the guys I think finish at the top. Carolina run defense is good and David Johnson has got to be tired. John Brown should be back. Carolina has terrible DBs right now. If Carolina can score, I think Palmer will have to throw and will be able to succeed against Carolina.
RB ‘The Woke One’ Christine Michael @ New Orleans
Pumped the breaks for last week, but I’m hitting the gas this week. I don’t see how he doesn’t score at least 1 TD and he already has two multi-TD games this year.
WR Ty Montgomery @ Atlanta
Going back to the well, because this guy should not be sat. He should be played over good options. He’s caught 20 balls in 2 weeks-not targets-receptions. He’s playing RB snaps and he can play RB in ESPN. He’s playing the perfect team for his skill set with a floor that is high as anyone out there.
TE Tyler Eifert vs Washington (In London)
It’s time. He should be worked in more and be a big part of the offense. More importantly, he’s a big target around the goal line. I think at this point he has as good a chance at a TD as your Barnidge, Clay, Julius Thomas, Fleener, etc. They’re calling for his role to expand from last year. I’m looking for the upside.
Eric’s Starts
QB Brock Osweiler vs Detroit
I admit I would take all of the other QBs the Footballers mentioned, but there are reasons to like Osweiler this week. He has looked terrible during some high profile games and his stats are horrendous, but he’s faced MIN, NE, TEN, KC, and DEN. This week he gets a far easier matchup against a Detroit defense that has given up 300 or more passing yards or 4 TDs in five out of seven games this year. Lamar Miller is banged up and I bet Houston will want to get as many targets to their superstar WR DeAndre Hopkins as possible. Will Fuller is always a threat to break a big play, which makes Osweiler palatable this week.
RB Matt Asiata @ Chicago
Asiata and Jerick McKinnon have been eating into each other’s production, but McKinnon was clearly hobbled and in pain with some nasty shots to his ankles during their loss to Philadelphia last week. Asiata has increased his touch count in each of the last four weeks and could be in line for a lot of touches against a weak Chicago rush defense if McKinnon is limited or ruled out. Sam Bradford and the Minnesota offensive line were terrible last week, which may encourage more focus on the run game.
WR Terrelle Pryor Sr. vs New York Jets
Pryor is dealing with some injuries, but he should be good to go this week against the New York Jets who are highly susceptible to big plays from WRs. Looks like Josh McCown will get the start this week helping all Cleveland receiving options especially their best playmaker.
TE Cameron Brate vs Oakland
Brate has been up and down this year, which makes him risky. The Oakland defense has been shredded through the air including two games where they gave up over 100 yards to TEs. This is a volatile start, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see a 5-75-1 type line out of Brate this week.
Bonus: Jason’s ‘Boom Boom Kicker of the Week’
From the 9th most accurate fantasy analyst in the world and under protest Jason is going to give us his Boom Boom Kicker of the Week. Jason is taking the low hanging fruit and going with one of the most accurate kickers of all time. The guy has more kicks in a row at field goal than his age at 43. With Indianapolis going up against Kansas City in a game with a high over/under, the Boom Boom Kicker of the Week is Adam Vinatieri.
Be sure to check out all of Episode #295: Starts of the Week, Week 8 Matchups, and News.