Week 8 is here already and Fantasy Football is fun again after struggling to navigate Byemageddon in Week 7. Here are my 4 favorable wide receiver matchups for Week 8 of the 2021 fantasy football season!
Quez Watkins – Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts is dropping DIMES. 91 yards to Quez Watkins. pic.twitter.com/I9h9rSudB7
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 19, 2021
The Philadelphia Eagles take on the Detroit Lions this week, and that means we’re starting our Philly pass-catchers in FF. Detroit is still comfortably the worst secondary in the NFL at covering receivers, and whilst DeVonta Smith should spring to mind, let me introduce you to a player who’s being a little overlooked heading into this matchup. Quez Watkins was a sixth-round draft in 2020 for Philadelphia, and whilst his rookie year was quiet, he’s impressed on the field during his sophomore campaign as a pro. Watkins has played in every game so far this year and even has a 100+ receiving yard game to his name. He’s seen the field on at least 70% of the Eagles’ offensive snaps throughout the last three games, and against a talent deprived Lions secondary Watkins should have every chance to find the Endzone for the first time in 2021.
Laviska Shenault – Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville is coming off their bye week and faces an off-the-ball Seattle Seahawks defensive unit, one that’s graded inside the bottom 10 in coverage vs receivers by PFF. Laviska Shenault had his second double-digit targets game in Jacksonville’s London game win over Miami in Week 6. The powerful pass-catcher should be in line for another 10+ target day as the Jags look for back-to-back wins and similarly to Watkins, will be looking for his first score of the season as well.
Kendall Hinton – Denver Broncos
Not a name you’re likely to see on many a FF roster, but Kendall Hinton could be a sneaky successful waiver wire addition in Week 8 as the Denver Broncos face a Washington side who grade 31st in coverage vs receivers. Whilst Washington’s general performance against pass-catchers has been far from impressive, it’s been their inability to cover receivers working out of the slot that has been most noticeable. Hinton is the primary slot WR for Denver, and whilst he hasn’t exactly been lighting it up this season, he does a 100% catch rate in his last two outings and his season-high in receptions and yards, as well as his first TD of the season all in his last three games. Hinton could be the pick up that wins you a close FF matchup this week.
Kadarius Toney – New York Giants
This route by Kadarius Toney on Trevon Diggs is disgusting pic.twitter.com/9DPAeblznx
— SeanG (@poundempanthers) October 27, 2021
This rookie WR wowed us with his display against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 5 as he caught 10 passes for 189 yards and gave Trevon Diggs fits. The next week he caught all three of his targets before leaving the game injured, ultimately playing less than 10% of the Giants offensive snaps. He then missed last week’s upset win against the Panthers, but is in contention to play on MNF against a Chiefs defense that is ready-built for Toney to destroy. KC grade in the bottom half in defensive coverage vs receivers, and 31st in overall defense according to PFF. The Giants are expected to be playing from behind for a lot of this game and that means they’ll be throwing the football, hopefully, to this explosive rookie.
