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Week 8 NFL Fantasy Football Prep, and Which RBs Could Move Up?

Week 8 NFL Fantasy Football Prep, and Which RBs Could Move Up?

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Last night, Baltimore sailed while the Bucs suffered serious injuries (more on that below) while the Cardinals handed the Chargers a resounding loss.

Now, to celebrate 2024 as the unofficial return of the running back, today’s newsletter begins with the engine of the offense before moving on to Tua Tagovailoa’s return and key receiver news:

Fantasy reset: Week 8 renounces, buys and sells

Hopefully you’re over the Week 7 injury streak that ended last night with Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin – the highest-scoring receiver entering the week – suffering an ankle injury that would likely cost him the season.

At least we have fantasy football to fall back on. With everyone hurting, this morning is the perfect time to push for a title (or save your season). First, make a claim on 49ers WRs Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall.

My must-add running backs before Week 8if Tyrone Tracy and Alexander Mattison are unavailable:

No. 1: Falcons RB Tyler Allgeier. If Bijan Robinson ever takes a seat, Allgeier storms into the mandatory area. He’s also capable of playing in blowouts, as he completed 18 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown in a Week 6 win over the Panthers. He is the best handcuff to hide.

No. 2: Bills RB Ray Davis. Starter James Cook has impressed, but Davis earned a bigger role after a week of averaging 8.2 yards per carry against the Titans’ strong front, having 23 touches for 152 yards. At 5-8, 220 pounds, he has the bellcow, 20-touch build that Cook lacks (at 5-11, 190 pounds) and should at least dominate goal-line touches.

No. 3: Colts RB Tyler Goodson. Originally the third-line runner, he used his explosiveness to average 5.9 yards per carry while Jonathan Taylor was sidelined. He took advantage of Trey Sermon’s (2.8 YPC) ineffectiveness to step into the lead role whenever Taylor – who has yet to practice – misses time. Add him, and you might have found a new starter in Week 8.

No. 4: Cardinals RB Trey Benson was selected by the team in the third round to replace James Conner and will step up if the starter misses time (Conner has missed at least one game in each of his seven previous seasons). Benson had five carries for 26 yards in Week 6, but didn’t see any touches last night.

Lower leagues:

  • Chargers RB Kimani Vidal reminds many of Austin Ekeler and should beat out Gus Edwards for the RB2 role when Edwards is healthy. Jaguars RB D’Ernest Johnson is the team’s preferred runner due to negative plays (basically when he’s behind) and should see a lot of it against the Packers with Travis Etienne (shoulder) sitting again. Jaylen Wright is the explosive RB3 in Miami, where De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert could provide opportunities at any time.

I buy:

  • Both Seahawks running backs. Kenneth Walker is quietly the RB2 in points per game (22.3 PPR), behind only Derrick Henry. Despite starting Week 7 questionable with an illness, he threw for 15 touchdowns for 83 yards and two rushing touchdowns. And I’m not worried about Zach Charbonnet passing Walker (33 to 28) this week, but I’m targeting Charbonnet as an insurance partner for the oft-injured Walker.

I’m selling:

  • Packers RB Josh Jacobs. He is still rated a notch too high. Despite having more rushing attempts (120) than Kyren Williams (116), Jacobs has one rushing touchdown to Williams’ nine. Why? Because Jordan Love is the red zone option and Jacobs is tied with Trey Sermon for 20th among players for goal-to-goal rushing attempts. He doesn’t catch enough passes (2.2 per game) to make up for it.

I drafted an underperforming QB (last name: Rodgers, Mahomes, Herbert or Richardson). Help. Luckily, KC Joyner used four quarterbacks to find immediate replacements. Notes on two of them:

  • Russell Wilson: 24.8 fantasy points in his first start last weekend — and potentially more with a favorable schedule ahead. The Steelers have been quietly scoring 27.5 points per game since Week 3 and face a Giants defense that allows opposing quarterbacks 19.8 fantasy points per game.
  • Bo Nix: As KC writes, “Nix has scored 19 or more fantasy points in three of his last five games and ranks 14th in QB points during that span.” The key to Nix’s success is speed. He has posted a rushing PPG of 6.3 since Week 3, a pace just behind Lamar Jackson (7.9), Jayden Daniels (7.2) and Jalen Hurts (7.0).” He is my preferred destination.

Brandon Aiyuk is gone for a year. Who benefits the most? Assuming Deebo Samuel returns soon from the pneumonia that hospitalized him, he should put up monster numbers for the remainder of 2024. As Dwain McFarland of Fantasy Life noted, Samuel’s target rate for the team jumps to 38 percent when Aiyuk is sidelined. For comparison: Justin Jefferson leads the NFL with a margin of 33.3 percent. I would buy Samuel and, as mentioned, stockpile Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall – who scored the team’s most goals (four) in the second half on Sunday – as insurance.

Chris Godwin and Mike Evans will miss time. Should I add Buccaneers receivers? The athleteJake Ciely, fantasy guru at , said: “Given the ceiling and skill set, I would choose rookie Jalen McMillan over Sterling Shepard. McMillan hasn’t done much since Week 1, but he’s a smart receiver who knows how to exploit space and get open. He can be No. 1 until Evans is ready and No. 2 after that (if Godwin’s injury ends the season).” In deeper leagues, Shepard and Trey Palmer are worth speculative additions.

Lions WR Jameson Williams is expected to be suspended for two games. Both Kalif Raymond (three catches for 39 yards) and Tim Patrick (2-25) should see increased usage, but the biggest beneficiary could be Sam LaPorta. Williams’ breakout campaign came at the expense of the second-year tight end’s performance, as LaPorta is averaging 2.3 catches and 37.3 yards per game with just one touchdown in 2024. With Williams sidelined, LaPorta should return to the third receiving option behind St. Brown and Gibbs.

Week 7 PPR Ratings Leaders:

For more: Read Jake Ciely’s Week 8 Waiver Wire column for the must-have receivers, quarterbacks and tight ends.

What Dianna hears: Upon Tua’s return

On Saturday, I reported that Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told his team this Tua Tagovailoa is expected to practice this week. Barring any setbacks, Tua will start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Team sources told me he no longer has any ongoing issues after being diagnosed with a concussion for the third time in two years.

On Tuesday’s episode of the Scoop City podcast, my co-host Chase Daniel, who played 14 seasons as a backup quarterback in the NFL, and I had a lengthy conversation about his unique perspective on what has become a difficult situation in Miami.

Chase: “It’s really easy for anyone who hasn’t played before to say, ‘What is he doing?’ Stop playing.’ It’s not nearly easy to say once you’ve played. And I sat in that position. I was injured, but when I played I knew how much the game meant to me and how blind I was to everyone else telling me what to do.

“There is so much more to life than just football. And it’s almost impossible to see that as a football player because that’s all you know. It takes so much effort, time and sacrifice to play the game… (But) how many concussions is too many? When do you finally leave the game? Where do you draw the line?”

Listen to the full episode here.

Back to you, Jacob.

Must reads

I spent this morning thinking about what The SportyThe NFL staff released it and it is excellent. Here’s a quick look at four articles you’ll like, with a quote for each:

Week 8 Power Rankings: “The Ravens defense is struggling. Unusually, Baltimore ranks 26th in the league in points allowed (25.7 per game). That may not matter in this offense.”

What every team should do at the trade deadline: “Chiefs GM Brett Veach needs to trade for a receiver as soon as possible. There are plenty of options available including Diontae Johnson, Demarcus Robinson and Darius Slayton. Compensation shouldn’t be an issue either, as the Chiefs have two 2025 third-round picks.”

NFL QB Stock Report: “[With Russell Wilson at quarterback]“The Steelers had five plays of 30 yards in one game (four passes, one run) for the first time since Week 4 of 2016.”

The best and worst coaching decisions of Week 7: “Many assumed the Vikings would have a high blitz rate on third down, but they actually lead the league in blitz rate on second down by a wide margin (39.5 percent). Knowing this, the Lions were more aggressive on second downs than they have been all season…Goff was 13 of 14 against the blitz.”

Most clicked yesterday: The athleteMike Sando discusses the Deshaun Watson situation and the 49ers’ shrinking window.

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(Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)