Saturday, October 31, 2020

Fantasy Football Week 8 TE Start'em, Sit'em

The decision on which player to start, or sit, largely comes down to the options on your roster (and/or possibly the players available on your league's waiver wire).

As an example, Dallas Goedert is listed below as a "start" for Week 8. And I'd certainly be comfortable going into Week 8 with him as my starting tight end.

Then again, Goedert may be a "sit" for your team.

In other words, if you own both George Kittle and Goedert, you should start Kittle and, in turn, bench Goedert.

For a more direct answer on whether we would start Player X over Player Y, check our Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings. Instead of making those direct comparisons, the goal here is to highlight players that we like, or dislike, for the week.

Week 8 Fantasy Football TE Start'em

Rob Gronkowski, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at NYG)

Earlier in the season, Gronkowksi joked that "I came here to block, baby."

Over his past five games, however, he's been much more involved as a receiver. With a season-high eight targets in back-to-back games, Gronk has 10 catches for 140 yards and a pair of touchdowns in those two games. In addition, he has a minimum of six targets in four of his past five games with a total line of 20/269/2 on 32 targets over that span.

With Chris Godwin (finger) out this week and Antonio Brown not making his Buccaneers debut before Week 9, Gronk should be the recipient of six to eight targets once again. Meanwhile, Mike Evans has been playing at less than 100 percent and has only four targets over the past two games combined.

Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans (at CIN)

Smith has back-to-back one-catch performances with a total of 22 receiving yards over his two most recent games. Before his two-week stretch of duds, Smith had five touchdowns in his first four games this season. Smith is an ideal spot to bounce back.

The Bengals have allowed the second-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. In addition, the Titans have the second-highest implied total this week.

Jimmy Graham, Chicago Bears (vs. NO)

Graham has finished with 34 receiving yards or less in all but one game (Week 3 at Atlanta). That said, he has five or more targets in five consecutive games and a total of 23 catches over that five-game stretch. Like when he faced the Falcons in Week 3, Graham gets another favorable matchup this week against his former team. The Saints have allowed the third-most fantasy points to the position this season.

Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. DAL)

Goedert has been activated from IR and is expected to play on Sunday night against the Cowboys. Before sustaining an injury in Week 3, Goedert had 8/101/1 on nine targets and 4/30 on eight targets in Weeks 1 and 2, respectively. With Zach Ertz still sidelined, Goedert has a chance to put up big numbers in a soft matchup against their division rivals. The Cowboys have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season.

Week 8 Fantasy Football TE Sit'em

Evan Engram, New York Giants (vs. TB)

Against the Eagles in Week 7, Engram had six catches, which tied a season high, for 46 yards on nine targets. While Engram has three games with six receptions, he also has three games with two or fewer. Engram has yet to score a touchdown and he's averaging career lows -- by a considerable margin -- in YPG (31.9) and Y/R (8.6). The only positive for Engram is the Giants are nearly two-TD underdogs and should be throwing often.

Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys (at PHI)

Since the Cowboys lost Dak Prescott for the season, it'd be reasonable to sit all Cowboys players not named Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper. In addition, expectations for Elliott and Cooper should be tempered as both become weekly bust candidates. Over the past three weeks, Schultz has 7/63/0 compared to 17/208/2 in the three games before that.

Eric Ebron, Pittsburgh Steelers (at BAL)

Ebron has at least five catches in three of his past four games. He also has at least 43 receiving yards in four of his past five games. Then again, he has scored only one touchdown (Week 3 vs. Houston) and that's the only week this season that he's finished as a top-12 fantasy tight end. Given the tough divisional matchup against the Ravens, Ebron is a TD-dependent play and more of a mid to back-end TE2.

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Fantasy Football Week 8 WR Start'em, Sit'em

The decision on which player to start, or sit, largely comes down to the options on your roster (and/or possibly the players available on your league's waiver wire).

As an example, Justin Jefferson is listed below as a "start" for Week 8. And I'd certainly be comfortable going into Week 8 with him as one of my starting wide receivers.

Then again, Jefferson may be a "sit" for your team.

In other words, if you own both Tyreek Hill, Tyler Lockett and Jefferson and only start two receivers, you should start Hill and Lockett and, in turn, bench Jefferson.

For a more direct answer on whether we would start Player X over Player Y, check our Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings. Instead of making those direct comparisons, the goal here is to highlight players that we like, or dislike, for the week.

Week 8 Fantasy Football WR Start'em

Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers (at SEA)

While the 49ers are a run-first team that ranks in the bottom 10 of the league in pass attempts per game, things could be different this week if the team is forced to keep pace with Russell Wilson and the high-flying Seahawks offense. No team is averaging more points per game (33.8) than Seattle.

Aiyuk set career highs with six catches for 115 yards last week against the Patriots. The rookie now has either 100-plus scrimmage yards and/or a touchdown in four of five games. With Deebo Samuel out, Aiyuk could get a larger share of a larger pie.

No team has allowed more fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers than the Seahawks this season. While the 49ers are a small home underdogs, this week's game has the highest over/under (53.5).

Travis Fulgham, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. DAL)

Fulgham now has three consecutive games with double-digit targets. Over his four games this season, Fulgham has 23 catches for 357 yards and three touchdowns on 37 targets. Even though first-round rookie Jalen Reagor and tight end Dallas Goedert will be active on Sunday night, Fulgham is still the best bet to lead the team in receiving in a soft matchup against the Cowboys. Dallas has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.

Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings (at GB)

Before the bye, Jefferson had a blowup game with nine catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns against the Falcons. The rookie wide receiver now has more than 100 yards in three of his past four games. In a game where the Vikings could trail big, there could be plenty of opportunities for both Adam Thielen and Jefferson in Week 8.

Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. TEN)

It was another productive week for Higgins in Week 7. The rookie out of Clemson finished with five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown and added a seven-yard run. Since Week 3, Higgins has 24 catches for 375 yards and three touchdowns plus 22 rushing yards. The Titans have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.

Week 8 Fantasy Football WR Sit'em

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers (at BAL)

If you drafted Smith-Schuster, you drafted him to be a (high-end) WR2 and he's been anything but. His only top-24 (half-PPR scoring) performance this season was in Week 1 against the Giants. While JJS set season highs last week in targets (14), receptions (nine) and yards (85) against the Titans, he actually finished second on the team in targets (Diontae Johnson, 15) last week. With talented receivers like Johnson and rookie Chase Claypool competing for targets and a difficult matchup on tap, you can likely do better than Smith-Schuster if you only start two receivers.

T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts (at DET)

Through six games, here are Hilton's weekly finishes in half-PPR scoring: WR50, WR90, WR52, WR75, WR34 and WR86. Hilton has barely averaged three catches (3.33) and 40 scoreless yards (40.33) per game this season. Even in a favorable matchup (the Lions have surrendered the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers), it's difficult to have the confidence to put Hilton into your lineup.

Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos (vs. LAC)

With Courtland Sutton out for the season, Jeudy was expected to step up as the team's No. 1 receiver and he started the year with four consecutive outings of 55-plus yards. Over the past three games, however, Jeudy has exactly two receptions per game and a total of only 13 targets during that stretch. Meanwhile, teammate Tim Patrick has a total of 13 catches on 19 targets for 258 yards and a touchdown over the past three games. The Chargers are one of the 10 stingiest defenses when it comes to limiting fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, so Jeudy isn't any better than a WR4 in Week 8.

Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys (at PHI)

Gallup broke out in his sophomore campaign (66/1,107/6 in 2019). Through the first five games with Dak Prescott, Gallup had a minimum of 50 yards in four of those games and averaged nearly 70 yards (69.6) over that span. Since then, however, Gallup has 2/23 on six targets and a goose egg on two targets. With rookie Ben DiNucci expected to make his first start of the year, there's no reason to believe that things will get any better for Gallup. In fact, it's difficult to trust Amari Cooper or CeeDee Lamb either.

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Minnesota Vikings Week 8 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Minnesota Vikings rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 24.8 (24th)
  • Best ranking: 21st (The Athletic)
  • Worst ranking: 27th (CBS Sports)

Below you will find a Week 8 roundup for the Vikings in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 21

They come off the bye week in bad shape. My one issue with the Yannick Ngakoue trade: Why didn't the Vikings show more patience and try to tag and trade him after the season if they weren't going to get at least a second-round pick now? In 2019, the Chiefs gave up a first-round pick and a second-round pick for Frank Clark, who was on the franchise tag. The 49ers gave up a second-round pick for Dee Ford on the tag that same offseason. Given how young Ngakoue is, it seems like the Vikings could have gotten similar compensation, rather than the third-round pick they received from Baltimore. There are two possible explanations. One is that the Vikings save money and cap space by trading Ngakoue now. And two, moving on from him now makes them a worse team, which likely means a better first-round pick in the spring.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 27

They come off their bye seemingly in a look-to-the-future mode after trading Yannick Ngakoue to the Ravens. The defense also won't have pass rusher Danielle Hunter the rest of the way, which means a lot of high-scoring games.

USA Today -- Rank: 26

Wondering who their starting defensive ends are the rest of the way? Try Jalyn Holmes and Ifeadi Odenigbo. They've combined for 2½ sacks in 2020.

ESPN -- Rank: 24

Who needs to step up: QB Kirk Cousins

The Vikings' QB was brutally honest after throwing three interceptions in the first half of Minnesota's fifth loss of the season. "The reality is, if the pace I'm on in terms of the interceptions, if that were to continue, I won't finish the season," Cousins said. He is tied for the league lead in interceptions (10) after throwing just six last season. If Cousins' poor play continues, the Vikings will need to make a decision about his future. Yes, it would be financially catastrophic to move on from the QB who has two years (basically guaranteed) left on his contract, but if Minnesota is going to try to rebuild and Cousins continues to play poorly, his status will be debated. -- Courtney Cronin

NFL.com -- Rank: 26

When the Vikings acquired Yannick Ngakoue via trade in late August, it was a clear signal the organization was going all-in on a Super Bowl run. His trade last week tells us management now sees the 2020 Vikings as broken beyond repair, a 1-5 team that's as bad as its last-place record indicates. Regaining draft capital for a veteran on an expiring contract makes sense, even if it puts head coach Mike Zimmer in the difficult position of motivating a locker room that knows the bosses are already looking ahead to 2021 with 10 games to play.

Previous update: Minnesota Vikings Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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Los Angeles Chargers Week 8 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Los Angeles Chargers rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 19.6 (20th)
  • Best ranking: 17th (NFL.com)
  • Worst ranking: 22nd (USA Today)

Below you will find a Week 8 roundup for the Chargers in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 18

I am not seeing nearly enough hype around Justin Herbert. He threw for 347 yards and rushed for 66 in the Chargers' win over the Jaguars. Players who have hit those marks in a single game in NFL history: Mike Vick, Deshaun Watson, Russell Wilson, Alex Smith, Kyler Murray and Steve Young. It's happened seven times -- in NFL history! Herbert is legitimately one of the five most exciting players in the league. I'm not going to make any wild declarations after five starts, but I am really enjoying the Herbert experience.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 21

Justin Herbert won his first game on Sunday and continued the impressive start to his career. He looks legit, which is the good thing for the future. Justin Herbert won his first game on Sunday and continued the impressive start to his career. He looks legit, which is the good thing for the future.

USA Today -- Rank: 22

The race for offensive rookie of the year currently features quite a pack ... but QB Justin Herbert looking like a breakaway candidate. No other rookie in the Super Bowl era has at least 250 passing yards in each of his first five starts.

ESPN -- Rank: 20

Who needs to step up: The defense

Melvin Ingram is back from IR and is the leader of the group. In his absence, the D gave up 17-point leads to Tampa Bay and New Orleans and lost both games. The defense also was in danger Sunday versus the Jaguars, losing a 16-point lead at one point. Justin Herbert might be all that, but if the defense doesn't step up, it won't matter. As Ingram said, "We can't keep making the same mistakes. We come in, we look at each other in the eye as men and say, 'It's got to stop somewhere, so why not today?'" The close losses have to stop, and Herbert can't do it on his own. -- Shelley Smith

NFL.com -- Rank: 17

The Justin Herbert Show continues. The rookie quarterback put together another stellar performance against the Jaguars, setting career highs in passing yards (347) and rushing yards (66) in a 39-29 win. Those 66 rushing yards also represented a franchise record. (It's possible Philip Rivers didn't have 66 rushing yards total in 16 years with the Bolts.) The Chargers jumped out to an early lead, then fell behind in the third quarter before the Herbert-led attack exploded for 20 points in the final 5:34 of the period. The defense put the clamps on Gardner Minshew after that, and Herbert finally had his first career win. Beat the Broncos in Denver this week, and people are going to start seeing the Chargers as a playoff contender. I'm already there.

Previous update: Los Angeles Chargers Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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Fantasy Football Week 8 RB Start'em, Sit'em

The decision on which player to start, or sit, largely comes down to the options on your roster (and/or possibly the players available on your league's waiver wire).

As an example, Giovani Bernard is listed below as a "start" for Week 8. And I'd certainly be comfortable going into Week 8 with him as one of my starting running backs.

Then again, Bernard may be a "sit" for your team.

In other words, if you own both Alvin Kamara, Jonathan Taylor and Bernard, you should start Kamara and Taylor and, in turn, bench Bernard.

For a more direct answer on whether we would start Player X over Player Y, check our Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings. Instead of making those direct comparisons, the goal here is to highlight players that we like, or dislike, for the week.

Week 8 Fantasy Football RB Start'em

Boston Scott, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. DAL)

With Miles Sanders (knee) out in Week 7, Scott carried the ball 12 times for 46 yards and added three receptions for another 46 and a touchdown on five targets. That performance was good enough for him to finish as a top-10 weekly running back across all scoring formats.

Once again, Sanders will be out and Scott is set up for another outstanding performance. The Eagles are double-digit home favorites and have one of the week's highest implied totals based on Vegas odds.

In addition, the Cowboys, who have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, have allowed a top-14 running back in four consecutive weeks. More recently, Kenyan Drake (20/164/2 rushing, weekly RB2) and Antonio Gibson (20/128/1, RB5) really gashed this defense in Weeks 6 and 7, respectively. On the season, the Cowboys have allowed running backs to average 5.00 YPC (only three teams have allowed more).

Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. TEN)

Like Scott, Bernard stepped in for an injured workhorse (Joe Mixon) and delivered for fantasy owners that started him. While the rushing numbers (13/37/0) weren't all that inspiring, Bernard was productive as a receiver with five catches for 59 yards and a touchdown and he finished the week as fantasy's RB7. Mixon (foot) will get another week of rest before the team's Week 9 bye, which makes Bernard a viable RB2 in Week 8.

Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers (vs. MIN)

The theme continues as Williams will get one more week as lead back with Aaron Jones (calf) ruled out. Williams handled 23 (82.1%) of the backfield's touches with Jones out last week and turned those opportunities into 114 scrimmage yards and a touchdown.

After allowing Jonathan Taylor (101) and Derrick Henry (119) to eclipse the 100-yard rushing mark in Weeks 2 and 3, respectively, the Vikings rush defense has been better. Over the past three weeks, they have limited running backs to 3.69 YPC. Even so, Williams will get the vast majority of work for what should be one of this week's highest scoring offenses, which makes him a back-end RB1 this week.

Myles Gaskin, Miami Dolphins (vs. LAR)

One of the biggest surprises of the season, Gaskin has become Miami's workhorse back. Not only does Gaskin have at least 13 touches in every game, but the former seventh-round pick out of Washington has more than 20 touches in consecutive games and three of his past four. Gaskin's volume and production has led him to churn out consecutive top-10 fantasy performances.

The Dolphins are home underdogs as Tua Tagovailoa makes his first-ever NFL start. Even though the matchup isn't favorable for Gaskins and the team's backs, his role as a receiver boosts his floor. Through the first six games of the season, Gaskin is averaging 4.5 receptions per game.

Week 8 Fantasy Football RB Sit'em

Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills (vs. NE)

In a week with four teams on a bye, Singletary isn't a terrible play, but he's outside of my top-24 running backs (albeit barely at RB25), which makes him a flex option. That said, Singletary has been inefficient as a runner (3.78 YPC) and has averaged 3.1, 2.3, 3.2 and 3.6 YPC over his past four games, respectively. Last week, Singletary played only 54% of the offensive snaps and had only 10 touches, both of which are season lows.

The Bills used a third-round pick on Zack Moss, who has played only four games this season but is healthy again. Last week, it was an even split with Singletary and Moss and the rookie was more effective (seven carries for 47 yards and three receptions for 25 yards). It wouldn't be surprising if the duo continues to get an even split and it also wouldn't surprise me if Moss is more effective than Singletary the rest of the way.

Wayne Gallman, New York Giants (vs. TB)

Devonta Freeman (ankle) has been ruled out for Monday night. With Freeman leaving Week 7 early, Gallman had 10 carries for 34 yards and a touchdown and five catches for 20 yards against the Eagles.

The matchup this week against the Buccaneers is one of the most difficult for running backs. The Buccaneers have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs, but no team has limited opposing running backs to a lower YPC average (2.72) than the Bucs. The Eagles (3.30) are the next closest team. Outside of the Jets, no team has a lower implied total than the Giants this week.

Adrian Peterson, Detroit Lions (vs. IND)

Peterson had 12 touches for 30 scoreless yards against the Falcons in Week 7. With limited work as a receiver (six catches all season), Peterson now has 40 rushing yards or less in three consecutive games. The Colts have limited opposing running backs to only 3.48 YPC and the fifth-fewest fantasy points this season. Meanwhile, rookie D'Andre Swift should continue to be more involved than Peterson and the former Bulldog is a top-20 option in our Week 8 rankings.

Damien Harris, New England Patriots (at BUF)

In a game where there were almost no bright spots, Harris carried the ball 10 times for 58 yards and added a 12-yard reception against the 49ers in Week 7. The second-year back is averaging 5.4 YPC in his three games played this season, but taking a cautious approach with the generally anemic Patriots offense makes sense.

Especially if he leads the backfield in workload and production again in Week 8, it's possible that Harris lands on the "Start'em" side of this post with a matchup against the woeful Jets in Week 9. But for now, keep him (and the team's other backs) on your bench.

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New England Patriots Week 8 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the New England Patriots rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 19.2 (19th)
  • Best ranking: 18th (Multiple)
  • Worst ranking: 21st (USA Today)

Below you will find a Week 8 roundup for the Patriots in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 19

EPR had them lower than I did last week and still does. New England has scored a total of 18 points in the last two games. And the defense had no answers against the 49ers, allowing 467 yards and 26 first downs. The Patriots travel to Buffalo on Sunday. A loss would put them 3 1/2 games out of first place in the AFC East.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 20

It looks like it's going to be a long season. In fact, they face a major win-or-else game this week with Buffalo.

USA Today -- Rank: 21

Time to start chiseling dynastic gravestone? Worst home loss under Bill Belichick. First three-game losing streak in 286 games. Tom Brady thriving in Tampa. Buffalo now up three games in AFC East win column. Grim.

ESPN -- Rank: 18

Who needs to step up: QB Cam Newton

Would the real Cam Newton please stand up? Is it the QB who electrified New England in the first weeks of the season? Or the struggling QB who hasn't looked the same over his next three games? The contrast is striking. Fewer interceptions and better accuracy and decision-making are where the improvement starts. -- Mike Reiss

NFL.com -- Rank: 18

It's difficult to find positives for the Patriots as they attempt to regroup from the worst home loss of the Bill Belichick era. New England was blown out on Sunday because the defense made Niners reserve running back Jeff Wilson look like a young Gale Sayers, and Cam Newton remains completely lost at sea since his return from the COVID-19 list. Newton threw three interceptions and managed just 98 passing yards before being benched in favor of Jarrett Stidham early in the fourth quarter. After the game, Belichick said Newton will "absolutely" remain the starter, but that may speak more to the coach's lack of a better option than to a belief that Cam will turn it around. That this is all happening while Tom Brady thrives in Tampa serves as an extra twist of the knife.

Previous update: New England Patriots Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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Chicago Bears Week 8 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Chicago Bears rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 14.8 (15th)
  • Best ranking: 12th (ESPN)
  • Worst ranking: 17th (USA Today)

Below you will find a Week 8 roundup for the Bears in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 15

I wish I loved anything as much as Matt Nagy loves giving the ball to Cordarrelle Patterson in short-yardage situations. Over the past two seasons, Patterson has six short-yardage carries that have netted 2 yards. He picked up the first down on two of them. Patterson was stopped on fourth-and-1 at the end of the third quarter against the Rams. Chicago's offense went 11 drives without a touchdown in a 24-10 loss.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 14

The offense is awful. Nick Foles isn't good. They can't move the ball. They can't win games playing the way they do.

USA Today -- Rank: 17

The Bears are who we thought they were ... and we're not letting them off the hook.

ESPN -- Rank: 12

Who needs to step up: QB Nick Foles

Chicago is positioned for a playoff run. The Bears have a championship-caliber defense and a better-than-expected kicker, Cairo Santos, but the offense is suspect. Coach Matt Nagy benched Mitchell Trubisky in favor of Foles to smooth out the rough edges and play a more consistent brand of football. The results have been average. The Bears are winning, but the offense under Foles doesn't look a ton better than it did when Trubisky ran the show. Foles is under pressure to elevate his game. The season hinges on it. -- Jeff Dickerson

NFL.com -- Rank: 16

The Bears had an opportunity on Monday night to show America their fast start wasn't a fluke. Instead, a 24-10 loss to the Rams reinforced everything the doubters assumed: This is an average team with a very good defense and a deeply mediocre offense. That combination was good enough to get Chicago to 5-1, but all the team's deficiencies are laid bare when the competition jumps up. Nick Foles was a sitting duck all game, pressured into a series of low-percentage throws and pointless checkdowns. His inability to make plays with his legs jumps out in the modern NFL -- if the Bears can't scheme anyone open and his receivers don't win one-on-one, darkness descends. Matt Nagy deserves some flak for an unimaginative attack, as well -- this is just a drab offense. The surging Saints are up next.

Previous update: Chicago Bears Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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Fantasy Football Week 8 QB Start'em, Sit'em

The decision on which player to start, or sit, largely comes down to the options on your roster (and/or possibly the players available on your league's waiver wire).

As an example, Carson Wentz is listed below as a "start" for Week 8. And I'd certainly be comfortable going into Week 8 with him as my starting quarterback.

Then again, Wentz may be a "sit" for your team.

In other words, if you own both Russell Wilson and Wentz, you should start Wilson and, in turn, bench Wentz.

For a more direct answer on whether we would start Player X over Player Y, check our Week 8 Fantasy Football Rankings. Instead of making those direct comparisons, the goal here is to highlight players that we like, or dislike, for the week.

Week 8 Fantasy Football QB Start'em

Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans (at CIN)

Last year's NFL's Comeback Player of the Year, Tannehill has picked up where he left off in 2019. Starting a combined 16 regular-season games for the Titans, the former first-round pick has now thrown for a total of 4,188 yards, 37 touchdowns and seven interceptions in those starts while adding 263 rushing yards and five more scores.

Currently fourth in the NFL in passer rating (112.3) in 2020, Tannehill has thrown for multiple touchdowns in all but one game this season. On the year, he has compiled a 15-to-two TD-INT ratio. Tannehill has a pair of top-three fantasy performances in his past three starts and he's set up for a big outing in Week 8 as well.

The Bengals secondary has allowed a total of eight passing scores by Philip Rivers (three) and Baker Mayfield (five) over the past two weeks. Only the Green Bay Packers have a higher implied total than the Titans based on Vegas odds in Week 8.

Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. DAL)

Wentz threw for a season-high 359 yards against the Giants last week and he now has three consecutive games with multiple passing scores. Before that stretch, he had thrown only four touchdowns in his first four games of the season. More impressively, Wentz has been scoring a significant portion of his fantasy points on the ground with 185 rushing yards and five touchdowns this year.

Not only does Wentz have 29.42-plus fantasy points in back-to-back games, but he now has more than 22 fantasy points in four of five games and the exception was a 19.42-point performance. The only concern with Wentz's outlook is that this game won't be close as Philadelphia is a double-digit favorite. In the past two weeks, where the Cowboys have lost by a combined 50-point margin, they have limited both opposing quarterbacks in those games to less than 200 yards.

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (at DEN)

Before the season, I wrote that Herbert could be Josh Allen-esque once he earned an opportunity to start. In other words, even if he weren't a good "real" quarterback early in his career, his mobility and arm strength could generate useful fantasy production once he became the starter. That said, he's exceeded expectations across the board since becoming the unexpected starter in Week 2.

Herbert has more than 300 passing yards and/or multiple touchdowns in all five of his starts. Scoring a minimum of 23.24 fantasy points in four of those five weeks, Herbert has been playing even better recently. The No. 6 overall pick has 10 passing touchdowns to only one interception over his past three games and finished as fantasy's QB1 (40.48 points) in Week 7.

Derek Carr, Las Vegas Raiders (at CLE)

While Carr has never been an elite fantasy quarterback (and still isn't), he's been more productive than most have realized as he's never finished worse than fantasy's QB20 (2014, rookie season). Since Week 2, Carr has averaged 297.4 passing yards per game and thrown multiple touchdowns every week. During that five-game stretch, the veteran quarterback has compiled a 12-to-two TD-INT ratio.

Carr has now scored 20-plus fantasy points in three consecutive games and four of his past five. To help maintain his current hot streak, the Raiders quarterback gets a favorable matchup in Week 8 against the Browns, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game this season. In addition, they have allowed four games of 24-plus fantasy points to opposing signal-callers in 2020.

Week 8 Fantasy Football QB Sit'em

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (vs. IND)

Stafford threw for a season-high 340 yards against the Falcons last week and his lone touchdown (for the last-second victory) was a dagger in the hearts of Falcons fans. Despite the yardage total, however, Stafford only managed to finish as fantasy's QB15 in Week 7.

This season, there have been 23 quarterbacks that have finished with top-12 performances in multiple weeks, but Stafford is not one of those quarterbacks. Aside from his QB9 outing in Week 4, Stafford has finished as fantasy's QB15 or worse in every other one of his starts this season.

With a matchup against the Colts, who have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, it's possible that Stafford delivers another middle-of-the-road performance for his fantasy owners.

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (at CHI)

On a positive note, Brees has scored 22-plus fantasy points and has finished as a weekly top-10 fantasy quarterback in three of his past four games. Coincidentally, the future first-ballot HOFer has yet to finish any better than QB10 this season. Despite having zero rushing yards this season, rushing touchdowns in back-to-back games have buoyed Brees' fantasy production recently.

Brees will be without top receiver Michael Thomas, who hasn't played since Week 1. In addition, the Saints won't have receivers Emmanuel Sanders or Marquez Callaway either. Meanwhile, it's a challenging matchup for Brees as the Bears have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (at BAL)

Not only are the Steelers the last remaining unbeaten team in the NFL, Roethlisberger has thrown multiple touchdowns in all but one game this season. That said, his virtually non-existent rushing production (six rushing yards in six games) means he's been a mediocre fantasy quarterback this season. While Brees has yet to finish any better than the weekly QB10, Big Ben has yet to finish higher than QB11 in any week. In fact, he's finished outside the top-20 fantasy quarterbacks in each of the past two weeks and draws a tough matchup against the Ravens in Week 8.

Cam Newton, New England Patriots (at BUF)

Newton has three top-12 weekly performances in his five starts this season. That success has been tied to his rushing production as all three of those games came when he rushed for a touchdown (or two). That said, Newton has thrown for 162 yards or less in four of five games and he had only 98 passing yards before getting benched last week.

The Patriots have one of this week's lowest implied totals and Newton will be without Julian Edelman and N'Keal Harry. While Buffalo allowed three 300-yard passers in their first four games, they have limited the three most recent they've faced to 225 yards or less -- Tannehill (195), Patrick Mahomes (225) and Sam Darnold (120).

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Friday, October 30, 2020

Indianapolis Colts Week 8 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Indianapolis Colts rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 13.0 (13th)
  • Best ranking: 12th (USA Today)
  • Worst ranking: 14th (NFL.com)

Below you will find a Week 8 roundup for the Colts in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 13

EPR continues to be higher on the Colts than I am. They got some help during their bye week with the Titans losing. Indianapolis is just one game back of Tennessee in the AFC South. The two teams square off twice during a three-week span in November.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 13

They face a tough road game as they come off their bye and go to Detroit to face a resurgent Lions team. They better hope Philip Rivers can continue his hot play from the game before the bye.

USA Today -- Rank: 12

Hope you got your rest, fellas. Next five opponents are all .500 or better, a murderers' row including Ravens, Packers and Titans (twice).

ESPN -- Rank: 13

Who needs to step up: WR T.Y. Hilton

Hilton is on pace for the least-productive season of his nine-year NFL career. He has 20 receptions for 242 yards and no touchdowns through the first six games. What makes Hilton's lack of production even worse is that the soon-to-be 31-year-old will be a free agent at the end of the season. -- Mike Wells

NFL.com -- Rank: 14

This stat, from ESPN's Mike Wells, provides a neat summation of the start of the Philip Rivers era in Indianapolis: In the Colts' four wins, Rivers has thrown for 992 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions. In their two losses, he's passed for 662 yards with one TD and four picks. If you look at the landscape of veteran QBs who changed teams in 2020, he sits somewhere in the middle: He hasn't made the impact of Tom Brady in Tampa, but he's not the liability that Cam Newton has become in New England. He's ... pretty much the same Phil Rivers. Can Frank Reich help Rivers weed out his everlasting penchant for game-changing turnovers? If not, this Colts season will likely end up like so many of Rivers' years in San Diego and L.A. High points, low points, ultimately unfulfilled promise.

Previous update: Indianapolis Colts Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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Los Angeles Rams Week 8 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Los Angeles Rams rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 10.6 (11th)
  • Best ranking: 8th (The Athletic)
  • Worst ranking: 16th (USA Today)

Below you will find a Week 8 roundup for the Rams in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 8

EPR loves the Rams. I've been impressed but want to see more. They rode defense and special teams to a dominant Monday night victory against the Bears. The Rams limited Chicago to 14 first downs and improved to 5-2. Los Angeles is now fourth defensively and first against the pass. The Rams' plus-52 point differential is third in the NFC.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 10

The defense is impressive. That is the part of the team that is so much better than expected. They dominated the Chicago offense, bouncing back after their bad loss to the 49ers.

USA Today -- Rank: 16

Seriously, we need to start talking about Johnny Hekker as the greatest punter ever. All five of his punts Monday landing inside the 10. Appreciate his genius ...

ESPN -- Rank: 10

Who needs to step up: K Samuel Sloman

It could be too little, too late for Sloman, a seventh-round pick from Miami (Ohio), after the Rams signed veteran Kai Forbath to the active roster from the Bears' practice squad ahead of Week 7. Sloman has lacked consistency, especially on PATs and kickoffs, while his field goal range remains somewhat of a mystery because of the Rams' ability to score touchdowns. A ninth-year pro, Forbath could take over the job at any moment. -- Lindsey Thiry

NFL.com -- Rank: 9

Jared Goff and the Rams' offense are in a tentative place right now, but Los Angeles continues to stack wins because its defense is doing the job. The Bears couldn't get anything going on Monday night, held to just 279 yards with little hope of success on the rare occasion they entered the red zone. Leonard Floyd, a former first-round pick in Chicago, had two of Los Angeles' four sacks, and Jalen Ramsey came down with the game-sealing interception in the fourth quarter. But if you're looking for a star of the game, check out the punter who might be headed to Canton someday. Johnny Hekker had five punts, each downed inside the 10-yard line. In a low-scoring, field-position-driven game, Hekker was a nuclear weapon.

Previous update: Los Angeles Rams Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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Buffalo Bills Week 8 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Buffalo Bills rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 9.2 (8th)
  • Best ranking: 8th (Multiple)
  • Worst ranking: 12th (The Athletic)

Below you will find a Week 8 roundup for the Bills in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 12

Not the most inspiring showing in Week 7. The Bills drove inside the Jets' 35 on all nine of their possessions, but they didn't score a touchdown, instead settling for six field goals in an 18-10 win. The Bills host the Patriots and Seahawks the next two weeks.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 8

It wasn't a dominant showing against the Jets, but they found a way. Now they have a big one with the Patriots.

USA Today -- Rank: 10

Among their vexing flaws is inability to run ball. If not for QB Josh Allen, Buffalo would average league-worst 67.9 rushing yards per game.

ESPN -- Rank: 8

Who needs to step up: LB Tremaine Edmunds

To his credit, Edmunds has played through a shoulder injury that he suffered in Week 1 and caused him to miss the Bills' following game. But when he has been out there, the third-year linebacker hasn't looked like the Pro Bowler we saw last season. His reactions seem slower, he has missed tackles and he has difficulty shedding blocks. Buffalo's defensive struggles represent the team's biggest surprise this season, and if the Bills are going to turn it around in pursuit of an AFC East title, Edmunds needs to lead the charge. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques

NFL.com -- Rank: 8

The Jets did indeed prove to be a get-right opponent for the Bills, but an 18-10 win didn't exactly follow the expected game script. Buffalo fell behind 10 points in the first half and failed to score a touchdown -- instead relying on six Tyler Bass field goals across eight (!) attempts to account for all their scoring. Sunday was about the long-delayed rise of the Bills defense, which dominated the second half to snap a two-game skid. Buffalo's defense allowed just 4 yards in the second half -- not a typo -- and was led by Jerry Hughes, who wreaked havoc in the backfield and came down with the game-sealing interception on a deflection in the final minutes.

+ Previous update: Buffalo Bills Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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Seattle Seahawks Week 8 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Seattle Seahawks rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 5.0 (T-4th)
  • Best ranking: 3rd (ESPN)
  • Worst ranking: 6th (Multiple)

Below you will find a Week 8 roundup for the Seahawks in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 6

Normally the Seahawks are on the other side of games like the one they lost Sunday night to the Cardinals. But that was not a panic-worthy loss. They produced 572 yards -- second most for a team in a game this season. Russell Wilson is not going to throw three interceptions on most weeks, and they're still 5-1. Now, here's that DK Metcalf play again since it will never get old.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 4

The defense just isn't good enough. They can't rush the passer, which is a major problem. That unit faces a tough challenge this week against the 49ers.

USA Today -- Rank: 6

They lost at Arizona, but WR DK Metcalf served a fresh reminder that Seattle never quits -- stamping himself onto all-time hustle team.

ESPN -- Rank: 3

Who needs to step up: S Jamal Adams

It's not that Adams has underperformed when he has been on the field. It's that he hasn't been on the field enough, missing the past three games while the Seahawks' defense has been gashed at a historic rate. Adams was arguably their most impactful defender before he hurt his groin in Week 3. Part of his impact was as a pass-rusher: His two sacks remain tied for the team lead as Seattle has only nine sacks total. All the draft capital the Seahawks gave up for Adams will make it difficult to trade for another impact defender before next week's deadline. They need their All-Pro safety to get back on the field and start making plays. -- Brady Henderson

NFL.com -- Rank: 6

The Seahawks have relied on their offense to bail them out on a weekly basis, a formula that worked across five straight wins because Russell Wilson played like a demigod. But Sunday night was a reminder Seattle needs to be more well-rounded to make this season special. Wilson and the offense sputtered out in the final quarter and overtime against the Cardinals, and the defense -- unable to rely on the safety net it had enjoyed all year -- failed to rise to the occasion in a 37-34 loss. This one was every bit as painful as the Week 5 prime-time comeback against the Vikings was exhilarating. Kyler Murray wasn't sacked once as the Cardinals rolled up over 500 yards of offense and wiped out a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation. Seattle's defense needs serious help.

+ Previous update: Seattle Seahawks Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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Baltimore Ravens Week 8 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2020 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Baltimore Ravens rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 3.2 (3rd)
  • Best ranking: 2nd (The Athletic)
  • Worst ranking: 4th (Multiple)

Below you will find a Week 8 roundup for the Ravens in our consensus 2020 NFL Power Rankings.

The Athletic -- Rank: 2

I loved the Yannick Ngakoue trade for them. It's the type of high-ceiling, high-floor move more teams should aim for. If Ngakoue plays well, the Ravens have a better pass rush and can afford to blitz less often if they think that's their best chance for success. They can then extend him or tag him after the season. If Ngakoue doesn't play well, they can tag and trade him and very well could get compensation that is similar to what they gave up. Having said that, the key for the Ravens to make a Super Bowl run will be getting their offense on track after the bye. Baltimore ranks 25th offensively through six games.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 3

They come off their bye with a big one against the Steelers. It will be the unveiling of the new-look defense with Yannick Ngakoue.

USA Today -- Rank: 3

Typical Baltimore larceny, adding a difference-maker like pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue for fairly cut-rate compensation. Could be a Lombardi move.

ESPN -- Rank: 4

Who needs to step up: WR Miles Boykin

Boykin has failed to step up into the No. 2 wide receiver role for the Ravens, totaling 11 catches for 122 yards (ranking 104th among NFL wideouts). Boykin has struggled to develop any chemistry with Lamar Jackson and his increasing miscommunication with the quarterback has become a hot topic in Baltimore. With defenses loading up the box to stop the run game, Boykin can make teams pay with some big plays on the outside. The Ravens need a third option because teams are focusing their coverages to stop wide receiver Marquise Brown and tight end Mark Andrews. -- Jamison Hensley

NFL.com -- Rank: 4

How could you not love the win-now move by Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, who pulled the trigger on a trade last week to import Pro Bowl defensive end Yannick Ngakoue from the Vikings for a pair of draft picks? Ngakoue gives John Harbaugh a bookend pass rusher to line up opposite Matthew Judon, bringing more ferocity to a defense that entered the Week 7 bye tops in football in points allowed per game (17.3) and tied for second in sacks (22). Ngakoue's ability to win one-on-one battles and cause havoc adds another dimension to a Baltimore D that typically relies on blitzing to get to the passer. The next five weeks will bring matchups against Ben Roethlisberger (Week 8 and 12), Philip Rivers, Cam Newton and Ryan Tannehill. Baltimore's defense should be ready for the challenge.

Previous update: Baltimore Ravens Week 7 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

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