Set Your Lineups For Week 8

Jorge Edwards

 

Hey #4EYEDfans,

 

Apologies for the late posting this week. I’ll do better to get it out earlier.

No quips.

No lesson of the day.

 

LET’S GET DOWN TO BUSINESS!

Here is a list of teams that are on a bye this week:

 

Here are your 4-EYED STARTS & SITS For Week 8!

 

Quarterback

Baker Mayfield vs. Las Vegas Raiders: START

With the loss of Odell Beckham Jr. during the Browns’ Week 7 matchup, I, like many fans and fantasy managers was VERY interested in seeing how Baker Mayfield would perform without him. Five touchdowns, 297 yards, and 30.8 fantasy points scored later we found out! This week he looks to carry on that momentum facing a Raiders team that has allowed 23.5 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks and also ranks in the bottom half of the league in quarterback pressures. Combine that with the fact that the Browns have the best pass blocking unit in all of football and I’d say Baker is in a great spot to have a repeat performance this week!

Lamar Jackson vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: SIT

Sit. Lamar. Jackson.

Words I never thought I’d utter.

15.4 fantasy points per game.

Words I never thought I would use to describe half of his games played from a fantasy point scoring perspective.

Look, I get it he’s Lamar Jackson. The reigning NFL and fantasy MVP from a season ago. Yeah, but that was a season ago. My guy Ryan Tannehill is even outperforming him this season in fantasy point-scoring. The fact of the matter is his rushing yards per game have gone from 80.4 to 57.6 and passing yards have gone from 208.4 to 189.2. That’s not going to cut it, folks. Not by a long shot!

This week he faces a Pittsburgh defense that’s allowing 17.1 fppg to opposing QBs, have applied the most sacks to opposing quarterbacks, and have applied the most pressures to opposing QBs. They rank 6th in fewest receiving yards allowed and 2nd in fewest rushing yards allowed. Even in their one previous matchup in 2019, with an underachieving Steelers defense and team overall, Jackson was held to 14 fantasy points. Grow a pair and pivot away from LJ this week.

Running Back

Boston Scott vs. Philadelphia Eagles: START

Ranking as the RB12 in Yards After Catch/Reception and coming off an impressive fantasy outing against the woeful New York Giants which saw him put up 16.1 fantasy points on 3 receptions, 92 yards, and 1 TD, Boston Scott has another enticing matchup against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday Night Football. The Cowboys are the worst team in giving up rushing yards to opposing teams and have given up the 7th most fantasy points to opposing running backs on the season. The wheels are falling off in Big D and given the offensive mismatches for the Eagles in this matchup look for Scott to “Fly, Scott, Fly” this Sunday.

Devin Singletary vs. New England Patriots: SIT

8 rushing attempts for 29 yards against the Jets.

Think about that.

It’s pretty, pretty clear that the Bills only have one running option that they trust and that’s QB Josh Allen. Until you see more usage from Devin Singletary consider him a non-starter going forward, even when talking about FLEX positions.

Wide Receiver

Tee Higgins vs. Tennesee Titans: START

Tee Higgins has a slightly difficult matchup against Johnathan Joseph this week. That being said, Joseph is allowing a passer rating when targeted of 111.6, 14.7 yards/completion, and given that Higgins has an aDOT of 13.3 yards combined with the fact that the Titans give up the 4th most points to wide receivers look for Higgins to be a sneaky play this week.

Darius Slayton vs. Tamps Bay Buccanneers: SIT

Lining up against Jamal Dean, Darius Slayton is in for a rough night on Monday Night Football. Dean, when targeted, has allowed QBs to have a passer rating of 85.2 and only 7.6 yards allowed per target. The Bucs are allowing the 9th fewest receiving yards per game and given the porous state of the Giants offensive line, QB Daniel Jones will likely not have enough time to find his big-play passing option on this team. Downgrade Slayton this week.

Tight End

Darren Waller vs. Cleveland Browns: START

With no frightening safety matchups heading his way and a linebacker in B.J. Goodson who is allowing 25 Yards After The Catch to receiving options on the season, look for Darren Waller slice and dice his way through the middle of this Browns defense on Sunday on his way to a BIG fantasy day.

Looking for a TIGHT END SIT?! Check out our PREGAME SHOW on Sunday morning to find out who NOT play this week!

IDP CONTENT

As we do every week, when discussing IDP players we reference their fantasy point production using the FantasyPros IDP scoring rubric:

 

Linebackers

Ja’Whaun Bentley vs. Buffalo Bills: START

Our newest IDP analyst, Doug, nailed it right on the head last week in suggesting Ja’Whuan Bentley be started against the 49ers. You can read his article here. Bentley who operates as middle linebacker put up 9.8 fantasy points on the week, close to his average on the season. Bentley has been the model of consistency at linebacker for the Patriots and will have Josh Allen in his sights when the Pats head to Buffalo in Week 8. Look for Bentley to have another solid outing.

 

Nathan Gerry vs. Dallas Cowboys: SIT

Michael Bower, of The Dynasty Rewind Podcast, has been riding the #CutNathanGerry bandwagon for some time now. He’s not the only Eagles fan to feel that way. Bower’s reasoning for that movement has been that Gerry has just been flat out awful as a “real” football defender. He’s not exactly wrong. As far as a fantasy option goes, however, his tackle volume and fantasy point production has been fantastic! Well, apparently the Eagles coaching staff finally listened and removed Gerry from playcalling duties on this Eagles defense. Now don’t get me wrong, when he’s on the field he’s a great tackler/IDP play. However, in recent weeks we’ve started to see his snap percentage take a dip. Given the abysmal state of this Cowboys offense look for Gerry’s overall production to slip due to lack of opportunity this week against a non-existent rushing attack by Dallas plus lack of playing time demotion as a result of his poor play.

Defensive Backs

Looking for a DEFENSIVE BACK START?! Check out our PREGAME SHOW on Sunday morning to find out who to play this week!

 

Jonathan Abram vs. Cleveland Browns: SIT

After his hot start to begin the season things have cooled down quite a bit for Johnathan Abram on the year. Against a Cleveland Browns team that has learned to employ a high volume passing game again, the tackle opportunities will more than likely just not be there this week for Abrams making him a sit.

 

Defensive Linemen

Malik Reed vs. Los Angeles Chargers: START

Playing alongside Bradley Chubb certainly has it’s advantages. Just ask Malik Reed who has posted two back-to-back games with 4 sacks total and has averaged 18.4 fantasy points during that stretch. Going against a Chargers team that ranks 27th in pass blocking look for Reed to be another solid play this week.

 

Yannick Ngokoue vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: SIT

I know he’s been impressive this season. Folks, he just GOT to Baltimore. Give Yannick Ngokoue another week to get acclimated to the defense. Sit him this week, but then be prepared to fire him up in Week 9!

Thanks for reading, #4EYEDfans!

Good luck in Week 8!

*References provided by:

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