Week 8 Fantasy Football Studs
It’s that time of year. A time when people, young and old, don outfits and other costumes pretending to be someone, or something, else. I assure you the players listed in this article are not pretenders. These are the studs from Week 8. They put on their superhero costumes and, armed with a map of all of the houses in town giving out king-sized candy bars, brought home the goods for your fantasy team.
Editor’s Note: Get the full breakdown on today’s podcast, and read up on the Week 8 Duds.
Quarterbacks
Russell Wilson vs HOU
452 passing yards, 4 TDs, INT, 30 rushing yards
My goodness did the Seahawks and Texans put on a show. Who knew the best weather of the weekend would come courtesy of the Pacific northwest? Without much of a running game or blocking up front, Wilson persevered and kept the Seahawks streak alive. They haven’t lost to a rookie QB at home since 2011.
Deshaun Watson @ SEA
402 passing yards, 4 TDs, 3 INTs, 67 rushing yards
Russell Wilson said after the game that you can just go ahead and give Watson the Rookie of the Year award. It’s tough to argue. Between Watson and Wilson, this game pretty much cornered the market on QB Stud performances.
Runningbacks
LeSean McCoy vs OAK
27 carries, 151 rushing yards, TD, 6 receptions, 22 receiving yards
The Bills offense looked more robust than it has in some time and McCoy was the centerpiece. This was a prototypical game for the Slippery Fish. Quick moves, big games, and occasionally looking like he had suffered a season-ending injury.
Ezekiel Elliott @ WAS
33 carries, 150 rushing yards, 2 TDs, 1 reception, 4 receiving yards
This may be the last we see from Elliott in a while. This article is penned Sunday nights, so you may know Elliott’s fate as you are reading this. But don’t tell me! I want to bask in the glow of all of my fantasy points for one more day.
Jerick McKinnon @ CLE (London)
14 carries, 50 rushing yards, TD, 6 receptions, 72 receiving yards
McKinnon owners said, “Bon Jour!” to bunches of fantasy points in London early Sunday morning. McKinnon is finally paying off all of the promises and flashes of physical talent from early in his career. A true dual-threat, McKinnon is close to a must-start going forward.
Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Lamar Miller @ SEA
21 carries, 54 rushing yards, TD, 3 receptions, 19 receiving yards, TD
The real-life efficiency isn’t great but the fantasy point efficiency is there. Miller was heavily involved in the smorgasbord of scoring in Seattle.
Melvin Gordon @ NE
14 carries, 132 rushing yards, TD, 1 reception, 7 receiving yards
Gordon absolutely gashed the Patriots defense… once. 87 of his yards came on one play. It was a fantastic run, but this was very close to being a very disappointing performance against one of the most generous defenses in the league.
Wide Receivers
DeAndre Hopkins @ SEA
8 receptions, 224 receiving yards, TD, 11 targets
No really. I checked. Two Hundred and Twenty-Four receiving yards.
Will Fuller @ SEA
5 receptions, 125 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 8 targets
Will Fuller has played in 4 games this season. He has 7 touchdowns. He has found the magic secret for success…
I’ll be right back. I am going to go and break my collarbone.
Paul Richardson vs HOU
6 receptions, 105 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 6 targets
Richardson is a human highlight reel. Of course, just about everyone in this game absolutely overfilled the box score, but Richardson made some spectacular plays when the Seahawks needed them the most.
Robby Anderson vs ATL
6 receptions, 104 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 6 targets
When it rains, it pours… fantasy points.
Adam Thielen @ CLE (London)
5 receptions, 98 receiving yards, TD, 10 targets
Some cold water was thrown on the Thielen fire earlier this week when Stefon Diggs made a positive turn and would be active for the game in London. But owners who are hooked on a Thielen knew that you’d have to be off your trolley to bench Thielen.
JuJu Smith-Schuster @ DET
7 receptions, 193 receiving yards, TD, 10 targets
Who has two thumbs, is a better WR than Martavis Bryant, got his bike stolen, is 19 years old, has the best TD celebrations in the league, is bucking the USC WR narrative, and scored a boatload of fantasy points Sunday night?
You get the idea.
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Marvin Jones Jr. vs PIT
6 receptions, 128 receiving yards, 11 targets
You’d love to see a score with yardage like this, but Jones Jr. put on a show against a Steelers defense that isn’t accustomed to giving up big plays to WRs.
Tight Ends
Jack Doyle @ CIN
12 receptions, 121 receiving yards, TD, 14 targets
Because, why not?
Jimmy Graham vs HOU
4 receptions, 39 receiving yards, 2 TDs, 5 targets
Step right up! Get your TEs here! We’ve got the best TE who scored twice this week that you’ll find anywhere! No hassle! No strings! It’ll only cost ya a nickel starting left tackle.
Honorable Mentions
Josh McCown vs ATL
257 passing yards, 2 TDs
Andy Dalton vs IND
243 passing yards, 2 TDs, 10 rushing yards
Case Keenum @ CLE (London)
288 passing yards, 2 TDs, INT
Isaiah Crowell vs MIN (London)
11 carries, 64 rushing yards, TD, 4 receptions, 54 receiving yards
DeAndre Washington @ BUF
6 carries, 26 rushing yards, 8 receptions, 62 receiving yards, TD
Jamison Crowder vs DAL
9 receptions, 123 receiving yards, 13 targets, 12 rushing yards
Mohamed Sanu @ NYJ
6 receptions, 74 receiving yards, TD, 7 targets
Travis Benjamin @ NE
5 receptions, 64 receiving yards, TD, 9 targets, 14 rushing yards
Alshon Jeffery vs SF
2 receptions, 62 receiving yards, TD, 8 targets
Rob Gronkowski vs LAC
5 receptions, 57 receiving yards, TD, 9 targets
Austin Hooper @ NYJ
4 receptions, 47 receiving yards, TD, 6 targets
Kyle Rudolph @ CLE (London)
6 receptions, 27 receiving yards, TD, 7 targets
Zach Ertz vs SF
4 receptions, 34 receiving yards, TD, 6 targets