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So in last week’s Nostra-Dom-Us predictions I gave you two home runs and two strikeouts. If this were baseball, I would be proclaimed a hero for the day, so I’ll take my solace there. For a recap, here’s how my guys panned out: Julio Jones – 9 rec, 174 yds
Randall Cobb – 11 rec, 95 yds, 1 TD
Cameron Meredith – 1 rec, 12 yds
Adam Humphries – 1 rec, 6 yds
I’m feeling even better about this week, so bear with me while I give you full analysis in the table below, followed by my “highly anticipated “picks of the week.
| Off | Left WR | Def | Right CB | Analysis |
| ARI | Larry Fitzgerald | CAR | Daryl Worley | It's been a couple of weeks since Fitz has gotten into the end zone, but it's not for a lack of targets or receptions, he's just faced two top corners over the past two weeks, limiting his potential production. This week his matchup is more favorable, as he takes on a Panthers team that allowed 300 yards receiving to Julio Jones just a few weeks ago. I expect Fitz to take advantage here. |
| ATL | Julio Jones | GB | Ladarius Gunter | Speaking of Julio Jones, he has yet another favorable matchup, as he will be taking on an incredibly banged up Packers secondary. I expect him to produce at an incredibly high level in Week 8 while at home indoors with Matty Ice – who's been playing better football than he ever has in his career – throwing him the ball. |
| BUF | Marquise Goodwin | NE | Logan Ryan | I never bank on home run or bust receivers, especially against disciplined teams such as the Patriots. Pass on Goodwin here. |
| CAR | Kelvin Benjamin | ARI | Marcus Cooper | Benjamin is likely to draw the attention of Patrick Peterson rather than Cooper in this matchup, but if he does see Cooper more often on the off chance, I do like his chances for Week 8. As I said though, Peterson is likely to wander over to his side about 85-percent of the time at least, ultimately limiting Benjamin's potential on Sunday. |
| CHI | Alshon Jeffery | MIN | Xavier Rhodes | Jeffery was in the middle of some trade speculation over the past week, and for good reason, as Brian Hoyer had been unable to get him the ball with any regularity over the past few weeks. With Jay Cutler back under center this week, Jeffery has the chance to start anew, as he likely will return to being the Bears best offensive weapon. As for this particular week however, Xavier Rhodes has been playing some incredible football this season, as he has yet to let any receiver take advantage of him. At only $5,900 Jeffery may be worth the touchdown upside alone, but outside of that, I do not expect him to perform at an elite level again just yet. |
| CIN | A.J. Green | WAS | Josh Norman | This should be an excellent matchup to watch, as both players are currently at the tops of their positions and games. Typically I side with Norman in these types of situations, however Green may be just too talented not to get some of his numbers. Start Green if you have him, while he just may not be worth the elite DFS price this week. |
| CLE | Andrew Hawkins | NYJ | Buster Skrine | Skrine hasn't been anything special this season, however I do see him getting the best of Hawkins in this matchup on Sunday. Hawkins' build is similar to that of a slot receiver a position that Skrine had so much success against last season with the Jets. Bench Hawkins for Week 8. |
| DAL | Dez Bryant | PHI | Nolan Carroll | In Dez's return game, I do not see the Cowboys limiting him at all, so feel free to start him in all formats. |
| DEN | Demaryius Thomas | SD | Craig Mager | Thomas is quietly having himself a good statistical season once again, so to not play him any week is tough for me, especially at his favorable DFS prices. This week, I really like his matchup, as Craig Mager is rather inexperienced and has been burned a few times this season. Thomas should have a good week here. |
| DET | Golden Tate | HOU | Johnathan Joseph | Tate has finally heated up this season, as he has hauled in 14 pass for 258 yards over the last two weeks combined. While this may be inspiring to desperate fantasy owners, I don't see the success continuing throughout Week 8, as Tate and the Lions will be taking on the Texans and their second ranked pass defense. Bench Tate in most formats if possible. |
| GB | Jordy Nelson | ATL | Desmond Trufant | Nelson just doesn't look to be the same player that he once was, and while the Packers passing offense finally seemed to get back on track last week, Nelson essentially wasn't a part of it. It gets worse… In Week 8, Nelson will likely draw the matchup of Desmond Trufant – one of the league's best corners – who will give him fits all day long. Bench Nelson if possible this week. |
| HOU | DeAndre Hopkins | DET | Nevin Lawson | It's been such a disappointing season for Hopkins, and most of it is not of his own doing. I seriously cannot tell you to start D-Hop until this Texans passing game – Brock Osweiler in particular – gets their heads out of their asses. |
| IND | Donte Moncrief | KC | Phillip Gaines | Crief finally appears ready to return after fracturing his scapula back in September. Word is that he will ease back into the lineup with snap limitations. Even so though, he still has a chance for production considering Andrew Luck's love for him. At only $5,400 he may be worth a look considering the Chiefs are 31st in the league against opposing fantasy wide receivers. |
| JAX | Allen Robinson | TEN | Jason McCourty | I'm done giving Allen Robinson chances, in fact I traded him in my league just yesterday. You can start him at your own risk considering his talent, but I'm done holding my breath. The Titans have an excellent secondary and defense overall for that matter, so this is likely going to be another dud for Robinson. |
| KC | Jeremy Maclin | IND | Vontae Davis | Davis is still a top corner in this league and Maclin hasn't exactly been lighting up the stat sheet this season, so I would bench him this week if possible. |
| MIN | Stefon Diggs | CHI | Cre'von LeBlanc | Although he hasn't been healthy and hasn't produced well since Week 2, I actually like Diggs' matchup here in Week 8. He seems fully healthy now and has the chance to take on a banged up secondary in a game that I expect the Vikings to win easily. He should return to top-15 status again this week. |
| NE | Chris Hogan | BUF | Ronald Darby | Hogan just doesn't get enough looks to be considered a legitimate fantasy option. I'm not saying that Brady won't pick games here and there in which he will feautre Hogan, but it's simply too hard to figure out when that may be. You can consider him droppable in most formats going forward. |
| NO | Willie Snead | SEA | Jeremy Lane | As I said last week, I perfer Michael Thomas in terms of Saints receivers, however Snead didn't perform too shabbily last week in his own right. Likely facing the lesser of the two Seattle corners, you can start Snead at your own risk with some potential upside. |
| NYJ | Brandon Marshall | CLE | Jamar Taylor | Marshall will play, however he is battling a nagging injury at the moment which is keeping him limited in practice. Regardless, the veteran shouldn't be limited in the game come Sunday, so expect him to take advantage of a weak defensive matchup. |
| OAK | Michael Crabtree | TB | Alterraun Verner | Crabtree has been excellent this season and I don't expect anything different come Sunday against the Buccaneers. Start him in Week 8, regardless of who matches up with him. |
| PHI | Jordan Matthews | DAL | Morris Claiborne | The Cowboys secondary has been excellent this season, particularly Morris Claiborne, who will be joining the team once again in Week 8 after missing most of Week 6 with an concussion. Until they prove otherwise, I'm staying away from a defense that has completely shut down both Odell Beckham Jr. and A.J. Green so far this season. |
| SD | Travis Benjamin | DEN | Chris Harris | Starting any receiver against this elite Denver secondary is just a mistake. I like Benjamin, but this is just not the week. |
| SEA | Doug Baldwin | NO | B.W. Webb | This is the week for Baldwin and Russell Wilson to get back on track, as the Saints boast one of the worst secondaries and overall defenses in football. Without too much explination needed, just take my word for it here, as Baldwin appeared to be headed in the right direction towards the end of last week against a far better Cardinals secondary. |
| TB | Adam Humphries | OAK | Sean Smith | Humphries disappointed me last week, but I expect him to perform better this week against a Raiders defense that is dead last in the league against the pass. Operating out of the slot, Oakland has essentially no one to matchup with Humphries. |
| TEN | Andre Johnson | JAX | Jalen Ramsey | Ramsey may be the best defensive rookie this season, as he has shut down every receiver that has come his way through the first seven games. Andre Johnson's washed up frame will not be able to contend with the physically elite Ramsey. |
| WAS | Pierre Garcon | CIN | Adam Jones | Garçon has one touchdown and has yet to eclipse 100 yards in any game this season. Taking on Pacman Jones is not likely to change any of those narratives. Pass on Garçon this week. |
| Off | Right WR | Def | Left CB | Analysis |
| ARI | Michael Floyd | CAR | James Bradberry | Floyd was much more active on Sunday night last week, however unfortunately he pulled his hammy, putting his availability for Week 8 in doubt. As of now he hasn't practiced, but still may be a game time decision. Best if you pass on Floyd in Week 8. |
| ATL | Mohamed Sanu | GB | Demetri Goodson | What a terrible season it's been for Sanu, who has done exactly squat since his Week 1 breakout game. While the Packers secondary is in complete disarray, I fully expect the targets will be headed Julio Jones' way instead of Sanu's. |
| BUF | Robert Woods | NE | Malcolm Butler | Word is that Woods will play on Sunday, as he has been participating in practices all week, albeit in a limited capacity. Even so though, I would pass on him, as the Patriots defense and Malcolm butler are nothing to mess with. |
| CAR | Ted Ginn Jr. | ARI | Patrick Peterson | Luckily for Ginn, he is not likely to draw Peterson, but even so, his season numbers do not indicate in the slightest that he is fantasy viable. Pass on him every day and twice on Sunday. |
| CHI | Cameron Meredith | MIN | Terence Newman | Meredith disappointed fantasy owners everywhere last week, but most of that can be contributed to the fact that Brian Hoyer broke his arm early on in the game. With Jay Cutler back in the lineup, it is tough for me to project Meredith's place in this passing game. For now I would wait it out with him and make my decision based upon involvement in Week 8. |
| CIN | Brandon LaFell | WAS | Bashaud Breeland | While I never advocate for LaFell, I actually think that he may receive a high volume of targets this week because of the attention that A.J. Green will be drawing from Josh Norman. I like LaFell's chances around the goal line against Bashaud Breeland. |
| CLE | Terrelle Pryor | NYJ | Darrelle Revis | Pryor has been playing through a hamstring injury, which should only work in the favor of the now slower Darrelle Revis. If possible, stay away from Pryor this week because he will be limited in what he can accomplish down the field. |
| DAL | Terrance Williams | PHI | Leodis McKelvin | Williams has been playing well in the absence of Dez Bryant, however with Bryant's return this week, I fear a regression from T-Will. Add on top of that the fact that the Eagles have been pretty fearsome against the pass this season and you have yourself a matchup to avoid. |
| DEN | Emmanuel Sanders | SD | Brandon Flowers | ManSan continues to play well despite shoddy quarterback play, so I expect more of the same come Sunday. Around four catches for 80 yards and a touchdown should be on the docket. |
| DET | Marvin Jones | HOU | Kareem Jackson | Jones draws yet another tough matchup here, as the Texans boast the second best defensive unit against the pass this season. This may be the first week that I recommend benching Jones. |
| GB | Randall Cobb | ATL | Robert Alford | Cobb should have another nice week this week, provided he can get on the field. If he does, then consider him a full go in all formats against the Falcons. |
| HOU | Will Fuller | DET | Darius Slay | Slay is an excellent corner and is a guy who I would favor in this matchup, provided he can play on Sunday. He was injured at the end of last week's game and hasn't been given a status for Week 8 just yet. In any event, as I said earlier, I can no longer trust this Texans passing game in order to advise anyone to start their receivers. Pass on Fuller if you can. |
| IND | T.Y. Hilton | KC | Marcus Peters | 2016 has been an excellent campaign for Hilton, as he is 5th in the league in receptions, 3rd in yards, and 3rd in touchdowns. He's coming off one of his best games of the season against a good Titans secondary, so I expect him to continue surging though a talented Chiefs one. Keep in mind that KC is 31st in the league against opposing fantasy wide receivers this season. |
| JAX | Allen Hurns | TEN | Perrish Cox | Hurns has been a massive disappointment this season and I will not trust him until the Jags offense can prove half of what they did last season. Keep in mind that the Titans have been very good in the secondary this season. |
| KC | Albert Wilson | IND | Patrick Robinson | Wilson is arguably the worst starting receiver in football, so you know how I feel about starting him in any fantasy league… |
| MIN | Charles Johnson | CHI | Tracy Porter | Check that, Johnson may be the worst starting receiver in football if we are going by strictly production. Pass on him in every format possible. |
| NE | Julian Edelman | BUF | Stephon Gillmore | It was a better PPR performance for Edelman last week, which is a good sign, as he has started mighty slow out of the gates this season. I think it's fair to consider him a WR2 in PPR formats going forward because I expect him and Brady to really get things going in the second half of the season. |
| NO | Brandin Cooks | SEA | Richard Sherman | Sherman is still at the top of his game and Cooks struggles against good corners. Start Cooks only if you are tied to him in season long formats, as he will be a risky high-priced DFS own. |
| NYJ | Quincy Enunwa | CLE | Joe Haden | Enunwa is luckily unlikely to draw Haden, which should mean well for his production come Sunday. When targeted, he has produced, so the only thing holding him back would be Ryan Fitzpatrick's infatuation with Brandon Marshall. |
| OAK | Amari Cooper | TB | Brent Grimes | Grimes has been good this season, but I expect that Cooper will get the best of him in Week 8. No one has really been able to stop this Raiders passing attack all season long, so I won't start second guessing them because of a Buccaneers matchup. |
| PHI | Nelson Agholor | DAL | Brandon Carr | Carr has been great so far this season and Agholor has been inconsistent at best. It just makes sense to pass on him here considering the Cowboys ball control offense and Carson Wentz's recent struggles. |
| SD | Dontrelle Inman | DEN | Aqib Talib | Again, stay away from the Broncos secondary if possible. |
| SEA | Jermaine Kearse | NO | Sterling Moore | Kearse just doesn't receive enough targets in order to render him fantasy relevant. I don't expect him to all of the sudden break out, especially against the surprisingly solid Sterling Moore. |
| TB | Mike Evans | OAK | David Amerson | Evans is one of my top picks of the week. Jameis Winston loves to throw him the ball and the Raiders love to suck at stopping the pass. Considering his elite talent level, this matchup almost feels too good to be true. |
| TEN | Tajae Sharpe | JAX | Davon House | Sharpe is off my radar as I have said in previous editions. |
| WAS | DeSean Jackson | CIN | Dre Kirkpatrick | Jackson is a home run or bust candidate every week. Cincinnati has been good against the pass this season and I don't suspect that they will be beaten deep often this week in a game that they despreately need. |
NOSTRA-DOM-US PREDICTS
ELITE PLAYS
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Julio Jones ($9,600 on DraftKings) vs. Ladarius Gunter
The Packers currently sport the league’s most injured secondary, while Julio Jones is currently performing as the league’s best receiver. I’ll take Jones at home in the dome with the league’s hottest quarterback throwing him the ball.
Mike Evans ($8,100 on DraftKings) vs. David Amerson
Evans is second in the league in targets (only because the two players tied for the league lead have yet to serve their bye week like Evans already has) and is first in the league in receiving touchdowns. The Buccaneers offense is getting back on track over the last two weeks, while the Raiders currently are dead last in the league vs. the pass. Expect Evans to be one of the best value plays of the week, despite his decently high-priced tag of $8,100.
AFFORDABLE PLAY
Michael Thomas ($5,000 on DraftKings) vs. Jeremy Lane
Here are Thomas’ averages over the past four games: 6.5 receptions, 80.75 yards, and just under a touchdown per contest. At only a mere $5,000, sign me up for those numbers every week, especially considering he is coming off of arguably the best game of his young career in Week 7 against a good Chiefs secondary. In this matchup, while he may be taking on a tough defense in the Seahawks, Brandin Cooks is likely to draw the attention of Richard Sherman rather than Thomas. Playing at home in the dome with Drew Brees, I’ll take my chances with a hot Michael Thomas vs. Jeremy Lane at just $5,000.
FLYER PLAY
Marqise Lee ($3,300 on DraftKings) vs. TEN Slot Coverage
While the Jags offense has struggled mightily this season, one of the few bright spots has been the emergence of Marqise Lee. Lee is a former early second round pick, so while his talent is no secret, most people have forgotten about him during his three underwhelming NFL seasons thus far. Back to my point though… Over the last two weeks, Lee has not only been targeted at least seven times in each game, but he has also hauled in a total of 13 receptions and 168 yards. While I don’t love his match-up here, his mere $3,300 price tag (close to position minimum) is so incredibly affordable that Lee does in fact wield plenty of upside for Week 8. Give him a look if you are really strapped towards the end of your budget.