Hey all and welcome to week 8 of the NFL season!  If anyone wants to, I’m thinking about pulling a William Tecumseh Sherman and marching into Georgia to burn something. That something is named Art Smith. Imagine wasting high draft capital on a running back to not play him in week 7 nor have him with a rushing TD through the first half of the season. Also, imagine not telling anyone that he has a physical condition that is going to diminish his role significantly in a given game. Hate to break it to you Art, people only give a shit about your stupid team because fantasy football and gambling exist.

Now that my little tirade is over, onto the games. Should you desire to read my ownership breakdown on Gridiron, click here.

New England @ Miami

• This game is tied for the highest total on the slate at 47. I’m not really expecting a shootout though.
• Bad things typically happen to the Patriots in Miami, but Belichick reminded us all last week to never count them out.
• Raheem Mostert had over 100 yards and 2 TDs in this matchup earlier in the year. He may not play on Sunday as he has been limited in practice with an ankle issue.
• Tyreek Hill was contained last time, but he still found the end zone.
• Kendrick Bourne looks to be carrying ownership again this weekend. CB Jalen Ramsay make play in this game.
• Zeke looks to be the TD vulture in New England.

Atlanta @ Tennessee

• Did I mention that I hate Art Smith?

• For some psychotic reason, Bijan Robinson is carrying ownership this weekend. Not only is this a tough matchup for the Falcons, but Cordarelle Patterson, Tyler Algeier and Desmond Ridder will all probably have more rushing attempts than Bijan.
• The Falcons DST looks like the highest owned. No thanks.
• Drake London and all world TE Jonnu Smith probably have good days in this passing game.
• Derrick Henry is virtually unowned this weekend which makes for a nice contrarian play.
• Ryan Tannehill is likely to miss the game, which means we may see Will Levis make his first career start. If I were him I would lean heavily on Deandre Hopkins. Treylon Burks may play his first game since week 3. I’m also hearing that Malik Willis is in the game plan as well.

New York @ New York

• Breece Hall is likely to be the highest owned player on Sunday. The Giants are allowing 5 yards per carry.
• Many are expecting a low scoring game here, which is arguably a reason to fade Hall.
• Both Wan’Dale Robinson and Daniel Jones may miss this game, so it could be Tyrod Taylor SZN again.

Philadelphia @ Washington

• AJ Brown had 9 grabs for 175 yards and 2 TDs against these Commanders in week 4. The combination of Emmanuel Forbes and Benjamin St-Juste have continued to bleed production to opposing receivers since then.
• DeVonta Smith will be significantly less owned, so he makes for a great contrarian option if he becomes the focus of the passing attack on Sunday.
• Jalen Hurts looks to be one of the higher owned QBs this Sunday in DFS.
• The Commanders are allowing 125.7 rushing yards per game and 4.4 yards per carry.
• The Eagles are the best team in the league against the run in terms of yards allowed on the ground per game.
• Going back to last season Terry McLaurin has continually had good outings against the Eagles defense, including a 10 target game this past week 4.
• Curtis Samuel has been practicing, albeit in a limited variety this week. Should he sit, Jahan Dotson might piss some people off this week when he gets 2 TDs. This also means Logan Thomas’ target share could increase.
• Sam Howell is a sneaky GPP QB this week if he ends up playing catchup late.

LA Rams @ Dallas

• The Rams are allowing 4.1 yards per carry and 117 rushing yards a game. Tony Pollard is in a good spot.
• I’m back to not trusting the Rams RB stable at all. None of these guys have McVay’s confidence the way Kyren did.
• Cooper Kupp and/or Pakua Nacua will have a good game. Guessing which one that is from week to week is going to “fun.”

Houston @ Carolina

• The Panther defense is quite banged up, but they’ve also had 2 weeks to prepare for this game.
• Carolina is allowing 144 rushing yards per game, 2nd most in the league, and 4.9 yards per carry. If there was ever a get right spot for Pierce and the Texan run game, this is it.
• Devin Singletary’s snap share has been increasing too, he actually out snapped Pierce last game.
• Nico Collins and Tank Dell (if he plays) are also of interest to me since the Panthers’ secondary is still beat up. CBs C.J. Henderson and Donte Jackson are ranked quite low, 106th and 94th respectively, by Pro Football Focus.
• Miles Sanders is poised to make his return this Sunday. The Texans are not as bad as they used to be against the run.
• Adam Thielen is the WR1 until he gets hurt, then it will be Jonathan Mingo SZN.

New Orleans @ Indianapolis

• This is my favorite environment of the weekend. Over the last three weeks the New Orleans Saints are averaging the most amount of plays per game at 78.3.
• On the other side, the Colts come in 6th with 67.7 plays per game (they’re also 6th on the whole season).
• Check-downs to Kamara should be a plenty, and the Colts are still horrific against WRs so all the Saints WRs are in play. The only way this doesn’t work out is if Juwan Johnson catches 2 TDs.
• The Saints secondary is not an easy one to pick on. However, CB Alontae Taylor, Pro Football Focus’ 100th ranked CB. He’ll see a lot of Josh Downs on Sunday.
• New Orleans is also not particularly bad against the run, but Jonathan Taylor started looking like the RB we know and love last week. Zach Moss may not play on Sunday.

Jacksonville @ Pittsburgh

• The Steeler run defense has been a little better over their last three games, but they are still vulnerable to the run. Travis Etienne continues to be the clear RB1 in the offense.
• Trevor Lawrence has been dealing with a knee injury. He should play, but I like the Steeler defense to give him hell and for this game to hit the under.
• Allen Robinson Revenge Game.

Minnesota @ Green Bay

• Jordan Addison may not cost $5700 ever again.
• Careful stacking Kirk Cousins this week now that everyone thinks the Vikings are awesome again.
• Romeo Doubs has a nice matchup against the Vikings outside coverage.
• Aaron Jones is off the injury report despite Matt Lafleur saying that he’s “not 100% and we will be smart with him.”

How is he off the injury report if he isn’t 100%????? This is like Bijan last week, are there even reporting rules anymore??

Cleveland @ Seattle

• The RBs are dropping like flies in Cleveland. Seattle isn’t all that bad against opposing run games, but the Browns are committed to running the football. Kareem Hunt is where all the DFS attention is going, but he’s been dealing with a hamstring issue at practice this week. Risky for sure, but a low-owned, low-priced option such as Pierre Strong in this offense doesn’t come along often.
• PJ Walker is going to have to throw to someone. We’ve seen Cleveland backup QBs rely on Amari Cooper before.
• Tyler Lockett should play on Sunday, but he’s been dealing with a hamstring issue. DK Metcalf should return and will likely be less owned that Lockett. Proceed accordingly.

Cincinnati @ San Francisco

• The Bengals are allowing 143 rush yards per game and 5 yards per carry. Fire up CMC with confidence regardless of who the Niner QB is.
• Speaking of which, Brock Purdy has been in concussion protocol, so it may be Sam Darnold time. He’s already spent time playing with CMC in Carolina.
• When backup QBs have been inserted into 49ers games, Kyle Shanahan has rolled out the simplest version of his offense which features a lot of work for the RBs and TEs.
• Kirk Cousins and the Vikings just threw all over the Niners in week 7, so Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins are of interest to me here.

Baltimore @ Arizona

• Kyler Murray has been practicing this week, but he is now listed as Doubtful for Sunday.

• This feels like a letdown game for Baltimore after their big win against Detroit.
• Trey McBride is going to be highly owned in DFS this week with Zach Ertz hitting IR. He’s failed before when he’s been chalk.
• Zay Flowers is carrying a good amount of ownership, but don’t forget about the other receiving options for the Ravens.
• Lamar is going to be chalky after his performance last week. I don’t chase.

Kansas City @ Denver

• Denver is particularly bad against TEs. As such, Travis Kelce is getting ownership, but his price helps to keep those numbers a little lower than maybe they should be.
• Rashee Rice continues to be my preferred double stack as his role has continued to grow.
• Denver still sits atop the league as the worst defense against the run as well, so Isiah Pacheco’s ownership numbers look chalky again here in week 8.
• Javonte Williams can be hard to trust, but he’s the best back the Broncos have. The Chiefs are allowing 4.6 yards per carry.
• Courtland Sutton is proving to be the X in Sean Payton’s offense, which is where fantasy production has historically come from.
• Marvin Mims could catch a long TD here.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on the website formerly known as Twitter @Borisnow00. And join the Discord for updates on Sunday morning.