It’s that time of week, ladies and gentlemen! We will breakdown each of the outside matchups, as well as my 10 favorite matchups out of the slot. Then, below the charts in this article, I break down my five absolute favorite matchups by price in DFS, as well as likely ownership in seasonal formats. This article is critical to seasonal and daily players, as this will help you gain a competitive advantage when setting your lineups.
Remember, the No. 1 wide receiver doesn’t always matchup against the No. 1 cornerback. This isn’t a game of Madden! Seriously, it’s not!
Follow me on Twitter (@colbyrconway) as well!
| Left WR | Right CB | Analysis |
| Chad Williams ARI | Ahkello Witherspoon SF | In terms of DVOA, the 49ers are the worst team in terms of defending passes to the left side of the field, per Football Outsiders. Williams did see eight targets last week, which is a positive, but take it with a grain of salt, as he accumulated just 15 targets in the four games before that. However, combining all that with the fact that Witherspoon has allowed two touchdowns and a 122.9 passer rating the past four weeks, Williams is a super contrarian GPP play in Week 8. |
| ATL | ATL | |
| Michael Crabtree BAL | Donte Jackson CAR | Carolina has the 11th-worst DVOA on passes to the left side of the field, according to Football Outsiders. Jackson has been decent in coverage this season, and Crabtree's drops are always concerning. John Brown is gaining more and more steam in the offense, but Crabtree remains in the high-end WR3 realm. |
| Kelvin Benjamin BUF | Stephon Gilmore NE | Benjamin caught four balls for 71 yards last week against the Colts, which was easily his best game of the year. In fact, it's the first time all season that the former first-round draft pick eclipsed 10 fantasy points in a PPR setup. Yikes. Another good matchup for Benjamin here, but he's a low-end flex option at best. |
| Devin Funchess CAR | Brandon Carr BAL | Funchess has scored in back-to-back weeks, catching at least five balls for 62 yards in each of those outings, but neither of those matchups was as difficult as this one will be with Brandon Carr and the rest of the Ravens secondary. Funchess is shaping up to be a volume-dependent flex option this week. |
| Taylor Gabriel CHI | Morris Claiborne NYJ | Claiborne is still playing good football of late, allowing just an 82.3 passer rating when targeted over the last three weeks, but it's worth noting that he ranks inside the top 20 corners in terms of yards allowed during the aforementioned span.* Gabriel has been getting plenty of work in recent weeks, averaging five receptions per game over the last three weeks, but the tough matchup with Claiborne bumps him down to low-end WR2/high-end WR3. |
| A.J. Green CIN | Ryan Smith TB | Poor Ryan Smith , as A.J. Green is coming into town and the former will have his hands full with the latter. Over the last four weeks, Smith has allowed 10 grabs on 11 targets, good for two receiving touchdowns on his watch and a 148.3 passer rating when targeted.* Green could end up as the highest scoring receiver on the entire slate, as his upside is immense in this matchup. |
| Damion Ratley CLE | Artie Burns PIT | Pittsburgh is slightly below average in defending passes to the left side of the field, per Football Outsiders, and Burns has allowed four touchdowns on 17 grabs this season.* Ratley has been good filling in this season for the departed Josh Gordon and injured Derrick Willies , catching nine of 11 targets for 105 yards through his first two games. Want a super deep dart throw for a GPP? Here he is. |
| DAL | ||
| Courtland Sutton DEN | Steven Nelson KC | Sutton has struggled this season, but if there is a note of positivity for Sutton, it's the fact that Nelson has allowed some long receptions of late. Over the last three games, despite allowing a passer rating of 44.1 when targeted, Nelson has allowed an average reception of just over 19 yards! It's looking like a boom-or-bust week for Sutton this weekend, but at least the game script should be in his favor with Kansas City scoring at will. |
| Marvin Jones DET | Tre Flowers SEA | Flowers has been exceptional of late, allowing a 47.9 passer rating when targeted and a mere 0.08 yards per coverage snap over the last three weeks.* He'll have his hands full with Marvin Jones this week, even though the veteran receiver has yet to really click with quarterback Matthew Stafford this season. f his 36 targets, 13 have come in the red zone and 10 have come in the actual end zone, but he's only been able to bring in three of those balls.* Jones topped 50 receiving yards in each of his first four games of the season, but he's totaled just 37 yards and a touchdown on eight targets over his last two games. |
| Davante Adams GB | Marcus Peters LAR | Over the last three weeks, Peters has allowed a passer rating of 157.8 when targeted, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers has a passer rating this season of 128.8 when targeting Adams this season.* See the excitement here? Peters has allowed a league-high five touchdowns in coverage this season and Adams is a red zone monster, racking up 12 red zone grabs this season.* Start Adams with supreme confidence as a WR1 this week. |
| DeAndre Hopkins HOU | Xavien Howard MIA | Things will be tense here, due to the fact of Hopkins saying "Who's Xavien Howard ?" when asked about a comment made by Howard about Hopkins pushing off. This will be a fun battle, but you have to roll with Hopkins in all formats. Hopkins ranks inside the top 5 in the NFL in receptions (47) and receiving yards (707) through the first seven weeks of the season. Hopkins = WR1. |
| T.Y. Hilton IND | Daryl Worley OAK | Worley hasn't been targeted much in the team's past two games, but when he has been targeted, the results have been great for the opposing receiver. On his last five targets, the opposition has hauled in four balls for 100 yards, good for 3.85 yards per coverage snap allowed.* Hilton is a must-start in all formats, and with Andrew Luck slinging it all over the damn field, Hilton makes sense in cash lineups in DFS. |
| Keelan Cole JAX | Ronald Darby PHI | Like his teammate Jalen Mills , Ronald Darby is vulnerable in coverage, but Blake Bortles hasn't inspired much confidence out of late. Cole is a dart throw in your flex position, as he's mustered just six grabs for 62 yards over the last two weeks. |
| Tyreek Hill KC | Isaac Yiadom DEN | Hill had plenty of volume in the first matchup against the Broncos, but he didn't put up the majestic stat line that one would expect when Hill catches nearly 10 passes. However, Hill is in a great matchup and Patrick Mahomes keeps on slinging that football. Hill's speed is a fantasy game changer and he remains a WR1 without question. |
| LAC | LAC | |
| Brandin Cooks LAR | Tramon Williams GB | In his last three games, Williams has allowed a catch rate of 70 percent and a passer rating of 120.4 when targeted.* With Cooper Kupp likely out of action, expect the passing targets to be funneled through Cooks, Robert Woods , Todd Gurley , and some Josh Reynolds sprinkled in. Cooks is one of my favorite plays this week, as he's surpassed 60 receiving yards in all but two games this season (one due to injury). Start Cooks as a low-end WR1 this week. |
| DeVante Parker MIA | Johnathan Joseph HOU | With Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills out of action, Brock Osweiler will be relying on Parker to live up to his potential on Thursday Night Football. I've been burned by Parker too many times before, and this Houston secondary is starting to gel. Parker is very risky in Week 8. |
| Laquon Treadwell MIN | Marshon Lattimore NO | I wrote up Treadwell in the DFS WR Coach being a bargain bin play this week. With everyone zigging on Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs , why not zag with Treadwell in a GPP? Sure, volume will be hit or miss, but Lattimore hasn't been the type of corner he was last season. Sure, he's been better in recent weeks, but that doesn't ignore the fact that he's allowed 1.33 yards per coverage snap and two touchdowns in coverage.* Treadwell is a super sneaky dart throw in a GPP, but yes, the volatility is extremely high. |
| Chris Hogan NE | Phillip Gaines BUF | Hogan has been a tough one to predict, as he has just 284 receiving yards on the season and nearly half (141) have come in the last two weeks! His usage hasn't increased all that much, although it's encouraging that he did see seven targets last week. Game script is against him here, but avoiding coverage from Tre'Davious White certainly helps. I like Hogan in the flex this week. |
| Michael Thomas NO | Xavier Rhodes MIN | Thomas has slowed down a bit of late, but he found the end zone last week against a tough Baltimore secondary. Listen, the dude is still catching a league-best 91.4 percent of his targets (among receivers with at least 17 targets).* Start Thomas. Don't get cute. It's that simple. |
| Bennie Fowler NYG | Greg Stroman WAS | Fowler still needs to get familiar with the playbook, but even when he does, he's going to be buried on the totem pole. He'll easily slot in behind Saquon Barkley , Odell Beckham , and Evan Engram . Stroman has allowed a 149.1 passer rating when targeted over the last four weeks, but Fowler won't see more than three or four targets in this matchup. Leave him off your roster and certainly out of your lineups for the time being. |
| Rishard Matthews NYJ | Prince Amukamara CHI | Amukamara, despite playing through injuries that has limited practice time, has given opposing receivers fits, to the tune of an 80.4 passer rating when targeted and 0.78 yards per coverage snap allowed in his last two games.* Matthews has had just a handful of days to learn the playbook and will be limited in his effectiveness in his team debut. Leave Matthews on the bench for this week, but he'll enter the flex conversation as he establishes himself in this offense. |
| Jordy Nelson OAK | Quincy Wilson IND | Wilson has been pretty good in coverage for the most part this season, but with Amari Cooper being traded, I envision Nelson seeing a few more targets. If you remove the 16 targets he saw between the Browns and Dolphins games, Nelson is averaging less than four targets per game! While many will jump on Nelson as "the guy" with Cooper out of town, quarterback Derek Carr will spread the ball around, so the loss of Cooper may only add up to an additional one or two targets for Nelson. I'm fading him this week. |
| Jordan Matthews PHI | Tre Herndon JAX | I was never on Matthews when the Eagles signed him and aside from a 56-yard touchdown grab back at the end of September, Matthews has been useless in fantasy football this season. Not a bad matchup with A.J. Bouye out of the mix, but still avoiding him. |
| Antonio Brown PIT | Denzel Ward CLE | Despite being a rookie, Cleveland has sent Ward to shadow in recent weeks, including primary coverage against Baltimore's John Brown and Los Angeles' Keenan Allen .* Antonio Brown is a different beast and will see plenty of volume per usual, and let's be honest, you're not benching Brown in any seasonal format. He still makes for a good DFS play, because he carries unique upside every given Sunday. |
| Tyler Lockett SEA | Teez Tabor DET | Tabor has allowed just 86 receiving yards over the last three weeks, but I'm looking more at the 134.5 passer rating allowed when targeted.* With enough volume, there is production to be had against Tabor. Lockett has found the end zone in all but one game this season, and he's scored or eclipsed 50 receiving yards in every game this season. I like Lockett as a back-end WR2 in this positive matchup. |
| Marquise Goodwin SF | Bene Benwikere ARI | Week 6 was a Goodwin week. I thought Week 7 would be, but it wasn't quite in the cards. Well, we're back again with Goodwin in Week 8, and I'm confident that this is the week that Goodwin gets loose behind the secondary. Avoiding coverage from Patrick Peterson is key, and his speed will give Benwikere fits. Start Goodwin. He's finding pay dirt. |
| DeSean Jackson TB | William Jackson CIN | This will be a fun matchup to watch, as Tampa Bay boasts three solid wide receivers that will Jackson likely see throughout the course of the game. Jackson is fantasy point per opportunity darling and quarterback Jameis Winston is looking for this dude down the football field. He'll need the splash play to be fantasy relevant, and while William Jackson is a solid corner, DeSean Jackson should still be started in at least your flex. |
| TEN | TEN | |
| Michael Floyd WAS | B.W. Webb NYG | The 28-year-old veteran won't attract a large enough target share from Alex Smith to warrant any serious fantasy consideration, unless you're in a deep league with ample starting spots.. There's not much to see here with Floyd, so continue on. |
| Right WR | Left CB | Analysis |
| Christian Kirk ARI | Greg Mabin SF | I mentioned Chad Williams as a super sneaky GPP play in Week 8, because I expect everyone to be on Christian Kirk this week. The new Offensive Coordinator, Byron Leftwich, has to be an improvement, and Kirk has really developed a strong rapport with rookie quarterback Josh Rosen . Kirk is averaging six targets per game over the last five weeks, and in a PPR format, Kirk has reached double-digit fantasy points three times during that span. Kirk is a high-end WR3 in Week 8. |
| ATL | ATL | |
| John Brown BAL | James Bradberry CAR | John Brown continues to be on my radar, and I love it. Bradberry has allowed the ninth-most receiving yards over the last three weeks and Brown is coming off a monster performance against the New Orleans Saints.* With Joe Flacco under center, I like Brown as a WR2 yet again in Week 8. |
| Zay Jones BUF | Jason McCourty NE | If there was ever a week for Zay Jones to do something fantasy relevant, it's right here in Week 8 versus the Patriots. I feel like I've said this before, but oh well, back to the well! Only three cornerbacks have allowed more receiving yards in coverage over the last three weeks than McCourty and he's certainly been the corner to target in the New England secondary.* Sure, he's held the opposition to a catch rate of roughly 50 percent, but when a receiver catches it, he's doing damage. Jones is a sneaky contrarian play. |
| Torrey Smith CAR | Jimmy Smith BAL | Smith has 11 targets over the last two games, hauling in nine of them for 104 yards. He's not getting the deep receptions and in his eighth-season, his downfield prowess isn't quite as strong as it used to be in his younger years. Fade Smith against Smith. |
| Kevin White CHI | Darryl Roberts NYJ | With Allen Robinson out of action, White will draw extra snaps out wide for the Bears. I expect to see a ton of Anthony Miller and Taylor Gabriel , with White sprinkled in. Unless you're super desperate, White shouldn't be in any of your lineups. |
| Alex Erickson CIN | Brent Grimes TB | With John Ross on the shelf for a few weeks, Erickson will continue to get extended run out wide for the Bengals. However, his main contributions to the team are his abilities in the return game, not necessarily as a wide receiver. Grimes has allowed a 91.3 passer rating over the last four weeks, but Erickson won't get enough work to warrant fantasy usage in Week 8, unless your league values return yards, of course. |
| Antonio Callaway CLE | Joe Haden PIT | There are certainly some things to love about Callaway, like the fact that 16 percent of his targets come in the end zone.* However, the rookie out of Florida has yet to connect with Baker Mayfield and is catching just 43.2 percent of his targets on the season. However, the Pittsburgh defense has allowed 10 touchdowns to opposing wideouts this year, keeping Callaway in the flex conversation, as well as being a GPP option. |
| DAL | DAL | |
| Demaryius Thomas DEN | Orlando Scandrick KC | Thomas is a good receiver who has bouts of the drops and inconsistencies. In his last five games, he has one 100-yard outing, but three games with under 60 receiving yards. Furthermore, he's averaging a hair over five targets per game, that's it! Case Keenum is relying on other options, primarily Emmanuel Sanders in the passing game, but with positive game script, it's feasible that Thomas could get some garbage time production. I wouldn't bank on it, however. |
| Kenny Golladay DET | Shaquill Griffin SEA | Over his last three games, Griffin is allowing a catch rate of 84.6 percent, which is a bit high if you ask me. During that span, opposing quarterbacks have a 118.8 passer rating when targeting Griffin, and now he has to square off against an emerging star in Detroit's Kenny Golladay . The second-year receiver's receiving grade of 85.2 is the ninth-best among qualified receivers and his catch rate in the red zone of 62.5 percent is pretty good. Golladay is emerging and the rapport with Stafford continues to grow, making him a solid WR2 in Week 8. |
| Geronimo Allison GB | Troy Hill LAR | Hill has had all sorts of problems in coverage over the last three weeks, allowing 208 receiving yards and a 106.3 passer rating when targeted.* This is certainly a plus matchup, placing the Green Bay wideout in flex territory at the least. |
| Will Fuller V HOU | Torry McTyer MIA | Will Fuller has been his most productive when Keke Coutee hasn't been on the football field. Coutee is likely to miss this Thursday night tilt, and with Fuller avoiding coverage from Xavien Howard for the majority of the evening, I'm all in on Fuller this week. This is the week he and Deshaun Watson connect for a big one, as the Miami pass rush is one of the weaker units the Texans offensive line has faced in recent weeks, giving Watson enough time to let Fuller get down field. Start Fuller with confidence. |
| Zach Pascal IND | Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie OAK | Pascal should see some additional targets with Ryan Grant out of commission, and as a dart throw in a GPP, I like Pascal against a porous Oakland defense. |
| Donte Moncrief JAX | Jalen Mills PHI | I love attacking Mills, as he has proven to be quite vulnerable yet again in 2018. He's at-risk for being burned by a double-move by at any point, however, Blake Bortles . Bortles is good in London, but I'm not sure if I want to buy into that narrative after being pulled last week and coach Doug Marrone already starting that Bortles' leash is very short. Moncrief is a risky flex play in Week 8. |
| Sammy Watkins KC | Bradley Roby DEN | Roby has allowed the 11th-most receiving yards in coverage over the last three weeks, and he draws a tough matchup with Watkins. Denver ranks in the bottom 10 in covering the opposition's No. 2 wideout, per Football Outsiders. |
| LAC | ||
| Josh Reynolds LAR | Kevin King GB | It's been a no-fly zone when targeting King in recent weeks, as he's allowed a mere 53.7 passer rating when targeted and 0.69 yards allowed per coverage snap over his last two games.* Reynolds will see some additional run with Cooper Kupp likely out of the mix, but with better matchups elsewhere for the Green Bay offense, I'm more inclined to look else where in Sean McVay's offense in Week 8. |
| Jakeem Grant MIA | Kareem Jackson HOU | Grant has game breaking speed and is a valuable asset in any fantasy setup that values return yardage. With no Albert Wilson or Kenny Stills , Grant should see additional usage in the passing game. While Jackson has been excellent in coverage in recent weeks, he's not the fastest guy, and speed will give him some problems. I love Grant in GPPs and super deep seasonal formats. |
| Stefon Diggs MIN | Ken Crawley NO | While Eli Apple will see some snaps for the Saints in his team debut this weekend, Crawley will still be involved as Apple needs to get familiar with the playbook, verbiage, communication, etc. The Saints are the worst team in covering the opposition's No. 2 receiver, and No. 1 for that fact, but things are looking up for Diggs. The more time he sees on Ken Crawley the better, as he's allowed four touchdowns and 2.21 yards per coverage snap this season.* Start Diggs in season long formats. |
| Josh Gordon NE | Tre'Davious White BUF | With Gordon's role growing in the New England offense, I wouldn't be surprised if White traveled with Gordon for the majority of the afternoon. White has played some good football this season, but Tom Brady can beat even the best of coverages. Game script could be a problem here, but it's hard to ignore the freakish talent Gordon possesses. Gordon should be started in all formats. |
| Tre'Quan Smith NO | Trae Waynes MIN | With Thomas dealing with shadow coverage from Rhodes, look for Smith to pick up the slack in the passing game. Thomas is still a must-start in seasonal formats, but Smith will be a popular DFS option, as he's in a decent matchup at a valuable price point. He caught three balls last week, but his Week 8 outlook is much more positive than Week 7 against that stingy Baltimore secondary. |
| Odell Beckham Jr. NYG | Josh Norman WAS | Here we go, as these two "friends" will square off for the first time this season. Norman has struggled in coverage over the last four weeks, allowing a catch rate of 84.6 percent and two touchdowns on 11 receptions.* Washington has a below average DVOA on passes to the right side of the football field, per Football Outsiders, and as if you needed to be told this, you're starting Beckham in all seasonal formats. In DFS, Beckham is firmly on my radar for both cash and GPP lineups. |
| Andre Roberts NYJ | Kyle Fuller CHI | This would have been a nice spot for Robby Anderson , but he's out of the action. Roberts is a middling fantasy asset at this point and should only see a handful of targets from rookie gunslinger Sam Darnold . I'm fading here against Fuller and the rest of the Bears defense. |
| Martavis Bryant OAK | Pierre Desir IND | Bryant has just 14 grabs all year, but with the departure of Amari Cooper , he's line for more work. However, unless he scores, he's a tough play, but in a GPP lineup, his big play ability could be key to a profitable Sunday. The Colts have been better against receivers than many want to give them credit for, but if you feel inclined to some exposure to Bryant in a GPP, I wouldn't hold it against you. In seasonal formats, he's incredibly risky and simply cannot be trusted. |
| Alshon Jeffery PHI | Jalen Ramsey JAX | Jeffery is getting it done of late, while Ramsey and the entire Jacksonville defense have not. Over his last two games, Jeffery is averaging 7.5 receptions for 81 yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game. Despite the tough matchup, Jeffery's prowess in the red zone leaves him in WR2 consideration, despite going up against the fearsome Jalen Ramsey . |
| James Washington PIT | Damarious Randall CLE | Washington gets the occasional target here and there, but with just five grabs on the year, he simply cannot be trusted in any format. Playing him in DFS with his current role in the offense is equivalent to lighting money on fire. Not kidding. |
| David Moore SEA | Darius Slay DET | In Seattle's two games before the bye, Moore caught five balls for 85 yards and three touchdowns. He's finding the end zone with regularity and is growing presence on the outside could help free up attention from the likes of Tyler Lockett and Doug Baldwin . Slay has allowed three touchdowns in his last three games, not to mention a 133.0 passer rating when targeted. So, let's get this right: Moore is scoring, and Slay is allowing touchdowns? Sign me up for some exposure to Moore this weekend. |
| Kendrick Bourne SF | Patrick Peterson ARI | Unless Peterson is traded before kickoff on Sunday, Bourneis going to be a risky play. Opposing quarterbacks are better just throwing the ball away rather than trying to throw at Peterson. The star corner desperately wants out of Arizona, but that shouldn't distract him once the lights are on. Avoid Bourne in all formats. |
| Mike Evans TB | Dre Kirkpatrick CIN | After two rather quiet games, Evans responded in a big way against the Browns, hauling in seven passes for 107 yards. Evans is averaging nine targets per game over his last four games, and with that sort of volume from quarterback Jameis Winston , Evans is a WR1 on a weekly basis. |
| TEN | ||
| Josh Doctson WAS | Janoris Jenkins NYG | Short and sweet: I love Doctson this week. Jenkins has allowed the fifth-most receiving yards in the league over the last three weeks and those five touchdowns he has allowed gives Doctson even more fantasy appeal this weekend. Start Doctson, especially if any of the other Washington receivers are limited in any way. |
Now, here are my 10 favorite matchups in the slot in Week 8.
| Slot WR | Slot CB | Analysis |
| Adam Thielen MIN | P.J. Williams NO | 100-yard game after 100-yard game after 100-yard game. It's like clockwork for Mr. Thielen. Williams is vulnerable in slot coverage and Thielen is absolutely dominating out there. Start Thielen everywhere and then some. |
| Tyler Boyd CIN | M.J. Stewart TB | No corner has allowed more yards in slot coverage this season than Stewart and the opposition has caught 84 percent of their targets against him.* Simply put, start Boyd with confidence and make him a staple in your cash game lineups. |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster PIT | T.J. Carrie CLE | Over the last three weeks, Carrie has been victimized in slot coverage, allowing 11 receptions on 14 targets for 117 yards.* Smith-Schuster went for over 100 yards against the Cleveland defense in the team's first meeting this season, and I see no reason why he won't do it again in Week 8. Start JuJu, even though he didn't win the lottery. |
| Doug Baldwin SEA | Nevin Lawson DET | One might presume that Baldwin is a little high on this list given some of his recent performances. However, I, Colby Conway, believe it's completely justified. He had his best game of the year before the team's bye last week, and a week of rest should have done wonders for his knee. Call me crazy, but Baldwin catch seven balls on nine targets for 107 yards in this game. Cash game lock in DFS! |
| Robert Woods LAR | Josh Jackson GB | When Jackson has allowed yardage, it's come in bunches. Hi last four receptions have gone for 99 yards, which is nearly an average of 25 yards per grab.* Robert Woods continues to be one of Jared Goff 's preferred targets and he'll move all around the field on Sunday. Week 8 is just another Sunday where Woods will slot into your lineups. |
| Jarvis Landry CLE | Mike Hilton PIT | FINALLY! We got the good Jarvis Landry game with Baker Mayfield under center. Landry has seen double-digit targets in every game but one this season, including a season-high 15 looks from Mayfield last week, in which he caught 10 of those balls for 97 yards and a score. Regardless of matchup, the slot man is going to continue to get his looks in the offense, and he should catch at least seven balls in this matchup. Start Landry. |
| Emmanuel Sanders DEN | Kendall Fuller KC | Fuller has allowed the third-most receiving yards out of the slot over the last three weeks and a whopping 149.1 passer rating when targeted.* Sanders has been one of the most pleasant fantasy performers this season, and despite Case Keenum 's struggles, Sanders remains a WR1. |
| Julian Edelman NE | Taron Johnson BUF | Johnson has been playing better of late, but he had some early season struggles in coverage. He's allowed two touchdowns out of the slot this year and 21 receptions across six games.* Edelman is Tom Brady 's boy, meaning he will continue to get plenty of looks. Edelman will score this week. BOOK IT. |
| Danny Amendola MIA | Tyrann Mathieu HOU | Not the most ideal matchup here, but volume and opportunity are key in fantasy football. Amendola is averaging nine targets per game over the last two weeks and with no Albert Wilson or Kenny Stills , Amendola is poised for an eventful evening. The big yardage totals haven't been there, but with enough targets in a positive game script, Amendola is a sneaky good play, especially in a PPR format. |
| Golden Tate DET | Justin Coleman SEA | Tate is averaging seven targets per game over the last three weeks, but outside of his 132 yard outburst against the Cowboys at the end of September, it's been tough-sledding for the veteran from Notre Dame. However, the game script is favorable for Tate, placing him in the back-end of the WR2 realm. |
Elite
DeAndre Hopkins vs. Xavien Howard
While I really like Will Fuller this week, I love Hopkins in this matchup. Howard won’t travel with him throughout Thursday night’s contest, but after the indirect back-and-forth between these two, there will be some heated action on the field. Hopkins’ targets have gone down in recent weeks, but that is due to Houston relying more on the running game to alleviate the number of hits Deshaun Watson is taking. However, in this matchup, Hopkins should see close to 10 targets, and he’s been efficient this season with his looks. Oh yeah, he’s also scored three times in the past four games.
I mentioned briefly before and I’ll state it again. Boyd is a staple in all lineups this week, and you really cannot go wrong with any Cincinnati Bengal against this porous Tampa Bay defense. Boyd just might have the best matchup, as Stewart has been a complete liability for the Bucs in coverage this season. No corner has allowed more yards than Stewart in the slot and Boyd has firmly established himself as Andy Dalton ’s second option, behind A.J. Green . Again, Boyd is a cash game staple.
Affordable
My love for Baldwin this week stems more so from my belief in him and his connection with Russell Wilson , not necessarily because of Lawson being a bad slot corner. Lawson has actually been pretty decent in slot coverage, allowing just 0.85 yards per coverage snap.* However, that 113.7 passer rating when targeted isn’t as nice.* Here are my thoughts with Baldwin:
- He should be well-rested and healthier following a bye week.
- He showed signs of better health and mobility in the team’s last game before the bye.
- He is far and away Russell Wilson ’s most reliable target.
I’m all in on Baldwin across the board in Week 8.
Bargain Bin
Danny Amendola vs. Tyrann Mathieu
With Brock Osweiler under center, Amendola’s fantasy value has rekindled, and honestly, in PPR formats, Amendola is a high-end WR3 this week. Over the last two weeks, Amendola is averaging seven receptions on nine targets for 76.5 yards and 0.5 touchdowns per game. With Albert Wilson and Kenny Stills out of action, Amendola is line for a similar workload. If Houston gets up early, which my Texans-loving self believes will happen, the game script is in favor of Amendola receiving double-digit targets. Amendola is a great option to gain exposure in the Thursday night game in Week 8 DFS action.
*Information gathered from research done at Pro Football Focus.