It’s now or never, virtual GM friend or friend. Kicking off the final part of the first phase of fantasy football, wins are even more important and losses are more and more painful for those who don’t have 5 wins or more after week 7.
Therefore, it is essential to know how to identify more or less favorable situations depending on the opponents and other circumstances that your players will face from now on.
Of course, after the week 7 nightmare with six teams in bye with our rosters missing, there’s more relief when it comes to checking out our roster options. However, greater abundance generates a greater number of doubts and, in order to resolve them, the The Playoffs is here to help you again.
But, before we list the hot and cold names of the time, some clarifications are needed.
Stars like Josh Allen, Derrick Henry, Cooper Kupp and Travis Kelce will not be mentioned as they are pretty obvious choices at this point in the season.
In addition, it is important to note that the tips are based on the scoring format that left the old “standard” behind, consolidated itself as the most popular and is now the standard on all the main platforms: the PPR, which is the one that assigns a point by reception.
With the usual clarifications done, it’s time to check out the week 8 thermometer for NFL fantasy football!
Photo: Disclosure / Twitter Tennessee Titans
hot quarterbacks
Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings vs Dallas Cowboys) – Although he is not exempt from turnovers against the aggressive defense of the Cowboys – quite the contrary – the number 8 shirt has as its main factor to bring him a good horizon of statistical production this week the fact that the Sunday Night Football of which he will be a part brings the highest aggregate score expected by bookmakers in week 8. That’s no less than 55 points total, with the Vikings underdogs down to just 1.5, which indicates their QB will have to keep pace with Dak Prescott and co. Another encouraging circumstance, albeit more superstitious: Cousins did not fall below 22 fantasy points in matches in which Dalvin Cook was 100% healthy, bringing natural concern to opposing defenses.
Ryan Tannehill (Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts) – Not coincidentally, when the excellent AJ Brown finally “debuted” the season, the pitcher’s performance matched his good performance. Although Tennessee’s TDs continue to be scored in somewhat curious ways – Derrick Henry passed for one and Tannehill ran for another against the Chiefs -, no matter how fantasy points are scored, shirt 17 should remain productive in week 8, when being part of a divisional clash that promises a lot of points on the scoreboard – it’s 50.5 projected by the bookmakers.
Other hot QBs: Carson Wentz (IND vs TEN), Trevor Lawrence (JAX @ SEA), Daniel Jones (NYG @ KC)
cold quarterbacks
Sam Darnold (Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons) – Even facing a “generous” defensive unit, the shirt 14 continues in a vertiginous drop in performance, which even caused him to be placed on the bench during the last period of the game against the Giants in the last round. As long as Darnold doesn’t show any signs of resuming the good performances he had in the first few weeks of the season, it’s impossible to trust him for fantasy.
Taylor Heinicke (Washington Football Team @ Denver Broncos) – Similar to what happens with Darnold, the “brewer” from Washington, if he was not winning so many victories in real life for his team, he was having good statistical performances for our game within the game, including good terrestrial production – were 95 yards on the ground against the Packers last Sunday, for example. However, without a consistency that is still reliable in this sense – he had zero race attempts a week earlier, against the Chiefs –, it is difficult to have complete confidence in shirt 4, even more so in one of the games with the lowest score expected by bookmakers and in which Washington, mirroring what the Browns did last Thursday, must use and abuse their running backs, counting on the Broncos’ linebacker corps embezzlement.
Other cold QBs: Ben Roethlisberger (PIT @ CLE), Baker Mayfield ou Case Keenum (CLE vs PIT), Mac Jones (NE @ LAC)
Running Backs quentes
Kenneth Gainwell (Philadelphia Eagles @ Detroit Lions) – After weeks in which he seemed to be falling out of the Eagles’ offensive game plan, the rookie scored a touchdown early in the game against the Raiders, with Miles Sanders still healthy. Minutes later, however, the starter was injured, making room for more opportunities for the freshman, who faces the third defense that yields the most points to RBs in fantasy this week 8.
Alex Collins (Seattle Seahawks vs Jacksonville Jaguars) – After facing the wall represented by the Saints’ strong defensive unit last Monday Night, the “Irish dancer” has a very different opponent this Sunday. Playing at home against the vulnerable Jacksonville defense, shirt 41, like what happened in week 6, in the first game without Russell Wilson, has everything to be quite activated, preserving Geno Smith and making the clock consume at the same time. in which it produces yards and points for fantasy.
Other hot RBs: Zack Moss (BUF vs MIA), Khalil Herbert (CHI vs SF), Joe Mixon e Samaje Perine (CIN @ NYJ)
Running Backs frios
Mike Davis (Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina Panthers) – Not even the narrative of the “revenge game” seems to be able to give hope for the resumption of good performances on the part of shirt 28. If, not even coming off a week off and having faced the Dolphins in week 7, Davis was able to produce good numbers – the surprise Cordarelle Patterson continued much more prominently and, for the first time this year, had more snaps than him – it is very difficult to believe in an immediate comeback on the part of the veteran, even more so against the defense that gives fewer fantasy points for runners.
Myles Gaskin (Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills) – Unless he is very involved in the aerial game, which still cannot be taken for granted for the inconsistent shirt 37, Gaskin should find difficulties in a likely very unfavorable gamescript and playing away from home against a division rival rested after his week of day off.
Other cold RBs: Devin Singletary (BUF vs MIA), Rhamondre Stevenson (NE), Phillip Lindsay (HOU vs LAR)
Wide Receivers quentes
Michael Pittman (Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans) – Facing a questionable secondary in a match that promises leadership changes and many points on the scoreboard, the second year has everything to follow his climb to the professional level and be highly targeted by his QB who is also on the rise, resuming the good performances of yesteryear.
Marvin Jones (Jacksonville Jaguars @ Seattle Seahawks) – Also on the path of improvement for his signal caller, the veteran who wears the Jaguars’ number 11 arrives for week 8 with good prospects after a 100-yard, 1-TD performance followed by bye week. The Seahawks’ secondary doesn’t cause too many worries and the game promises to be more open than imagined after their team finally showed clearer signs of greater competitiveness.
Other hot WRs: A.J. Green (ARI vs GB), Diontae Johnson (PIT @ CLE), Darius Slayton (NYG @ KC)
Wide Receivers frios
Tyler Boyd (Cincinnati Bengals @ New York Jets) – The fledgling eruption called Ja’Marr Chase has consequences. And the main one is perhaps the lesser involvement on the part of the good slot receiver who wears the Bengals’ 83. If Tee Higgins, listed as a “buy” option in our latest trade text, did not have their numbers – at least peripheral ones – so affected, the same cannot be said about Boyd. So, while the scenario doesn’t show signs of changing and with your team tending to focus on the race in this round in which they face the Jets, it’s better to look for other options to climb.
Tim Patrick (Denver Broncos vs Washington Football Team) – Even if he faces a defense that has been very generous to the opponent’s aerial game, the pessimism regarding Patrick stems from the fact that the second year Jerry Jeudy will return to the pitch in this match, a circumstance that tends to considerably reduce the shirt’s opportunities 81 to produce receptions, yards, touchdowns and fantasy points.
Other cold WRs: Robby Anderson (CAR @ ATL), Allen Robinson (CHI vs SF), Tyler Lockett (SEA vs JAX)
Hot Tight Ends
Robert Tonyan (Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals) – Contrary to what happens with Patrick, the main TE of the green and yellow franchise of Green Bay should be much more involved in his team’s game plan due to the absence of receivers Davante Adams and Allen Lazard – placed on the Covid list – of this game that promises to be one of the best of the season so far and has 50 points of total score projected by bookmakers.
Tyler Higbee (Los Angeles Rams @ Houston Texans) – One of the rare TEs that provides a minimally safe scoring floor for fantasy, Higbee has everything to find his roof against a defense that has been bleeding points for players of his position in recent rounds.
Other hot TEs: Ricky Seals-Jones (WAS @ DEN), Mike Gesicki (MIA @ BUF), Dalton Schultz (DAL @ MIN)
Tight Ends frios
C.J. Uzomah (Cincinatti Bengals @ New York Jets) – Recalling the trend of greater concentration of the offensive strategy of this round in the land game by the Bengals, Uzomah still has against him the fact that his statistical explosions occurred in a low number of targets and receptions, which is not usually very sustainable.
Mo Alie-Cox (Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans) – If the Titans have shown themselves to be quite generous to opposing wide receivers, the same cannot be said for tight ends. So at least a little bit of caution is suggested when putting “Gigantor” in your starting lineup.
Other cold TEs: Pat Freiermuth (PIT @ CLE), Tommy Sweeney (BUF vs MIA), David Njoku (CLE vs PIT)
hot defenses
Los Angeles Chargers (vs New England Patriots) – Although Mac Jones had his best performance of the season in the last round against the Jets, the good defense led by Brandon Staley, who arrives refreshed from bye, welcomes the freshman with favoritism at his side and after he and his team have to face one of the longest trips that can be made in the United States – from Boston to Los Angeles. Good opportunity to extract some turnovers.
Other hot defenses: Cincinnati Bengals (@ NYJ), San Francisco 49ers (@ CHI), Chicago Bears (vs SF)
cold defenses
New Orleans Saints (vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – Despite the quality of the Saints’ defense, facing the defending champions and a very experienced QB and averse to turnovers is never easy. Betting on less qualified defenders, but with more inviting opponents, might not be a bad idea.
Other cold defenses: Green Bay Packers (@ ARI), Indianapolis Colts (vs TEN), Minnesota Vikings (vs DAL)
hot kickers
Tyler Bass (Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins) – Considering that one of the best and most reliable kickers in the pro league may have been dropped in their fantasy league due to the fact that the Bills were in bye in week 7, looking for him is a great idea and putting him in a game where your team plays at home and has a lot of favoritism, even better.
other hot kickers: Matt Gay (LAR @ HOU), Greg Zuerlein (DAL @ MIN), Ryan Succop (TB @ NO)
cold kickers
Cairo Santos (Chicago Bears vs San Francisco 49ers) – Despite having the longest active streak in the NFL in terms of non-wasted shots, our countryman has his ability to produce for fantasy limited by the dysfunctionality of the offense commanded by Matt Nagy. Couple that with the fact that the game he is in in week 8 has the lowest estimated total score of the round, we have little reason to be optimistic about shirt 2.
Other cold kickers: Mason Crosby (GB @ ARI), Jake Elliott (PHI @ DET), Ka’imi Fairbairn (HOU vs LAR)
