Have you been tired of the sub-par scoring in the NFL as a whole so far this season? If you have, you’re not alone. Red zone scoring percentage is at its worst level since 2009, and we’ve definitely felt it on our fantasy teams. It’s been a roller coaster of start/sit agony with several of our studs, and it was starting to look like some of them would never pan out. Boy, did Week 8 have a surprise in store for you! Like the Lightning Rod at Dollywood, the early slate delivered a pure jolt of adrenaline, with everyone aboard the hat trick trolley. Alvin Kamara, Christian McCaffrey, AJ Brown, Tony Pollard, and even D’Onta Foreman scored three touchdowns apiece, and the thrills didn’t stop there, with Jalen Waddle, Derrick Henry, and Travis Etienne close behind. 


But, for some, roller coasters just aren’t their thing. Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams (really, the Raiders as a whole), and Raheem Mostert were just some of the names who decided the line was too long and opted for the ferris wheel instead. Each massively underperformed in matchups they should have crushed, leaving their fantasy managers with an acute case of motion sickness from their sharp downturn. So what do we do with this ever changing information? We fire up the hot take machine to eleven like a carnie running the Tilt-a-Whirl, of course! Now, if you’re new around here, these aren’t for the kiddies. We’re talking Drop Tower levels of intensity, so buckle up, keep your hands inside at all times, and enjoy the ride!

 


 

Terry McLaurin Will Finish the Season as a WR1

The Washington Commanders were (mercifully) granted a reprieve from the Carson Wentz Experience after he was placed on injured reserve with a thumb injury and were left with Taylor Heinicke under center. Surely Terry McLaurin would see a dropoff in fantasy production, right? Not so fast. McLaurin has been one of the most consistent fantasy wide receivers this season, with only two games under double digits so far. His ceiling isn’t necessarily sky high, but he has “commanded” the bulk of the target share, and has proven to be a deep threat. He currently ranks second in deep targets and is averaging almost 17 yards per catch and also ranks 11th in unrealized air yards. So what, you ask? 


Since Taylor Heinicke took over under center two weeks ago, McLaurin has vaulted from WR33 to WR18 in PPR leagues, and he has done so with only two touchdowns on the season. Next week, McLaurin has a date with an anemic Minnesota Vikings secondary that has allowed an average of 272 passing yards per game, and Patrick Peterson, in particular, has been a shell of his former self. McLaurin should feast like a platinum member at Golden Corral. The Texans and Falcons are on deck for Washington, so McLaurin should finally get over the hump and become a bonafide number one fantasy wide receiver.

 

Green Bay Trades for Elijah Moore to Right Their Sinking Ship

Can we just quit tip-toeing around the elephant in the room? Aaron Rodgers and the Packers need wide receivers like my lungs need air. Rodgers, in an act of Kardashian-level branding, has refused to take any responsibility for Green Bay’s offensive woes, instead blaming his rookie receivers, but he might be onto something. When you’re throwing touchdowns to Samori Toure, it’s as big of a red flag as you can wave. Elijah Moore, on the other hand, has been shunned to the subterranean levels of the Jets’ depth chart, only playing ten offensive snaps in Week 8 after being inactive in Week 7. Something’s gotta give before the trade deadline. 

The Packers aren’t exactly flush with draft capital, but we know how they love their second round receivers, and Moore fits the mold. I can tell you about his 4.4 speed, route-running ability, etc., but let’s just cut to the chase and say that he’s #goodatfootball. He would add some much-needed explosiveness to this offense, and a trade would free him from Zach Wilson. It’s a win-win. The Packers are desperately hoping to climb out of the hole they’ve dug themselves in the NFC North, and this is the move to do it.

 

Greg Dulcich Will Finish as a Top-Two Tight End in the Second Half of the Season

Maybe all Broncos Country needed to be saved from the mediocrity of Russell  Wilson was a long haired country boy by the name of Greg Dulcich. The rookie tight end out of UCLA has been nothing short of spectacular since he was activated from injured reserve in Week 6, recording a team high 87 yards on four receptions in Week 8. Nathaniel Hackett clearly had a plan when he drafted him in the third round of this year’s draft, and that plan has temporarily quieted calls for Hackett’s firing after a win in London Sunday.

I’ve touched on this before, but the tight end position is an absolute wasteland a la Mad Max style for fantasy managers. If you need an example, Zach Ertz is the current TE3 in PPR leagues, and he’s only averaging 12.3 fantasy points per game. Ouch! Dulcich has everything we want in a fantasy tight end with his target share and ability to gain yards after the catch, so if you haven’t picked him up, put out a bid NOW. This kid is a star in the making and could help you cruise to a fantasy football championship.
 

D’Onta Foreman is a Must Start RB1 Option Even When Chuba Hubbard Returns

It’s easy to say that today’s earth-shattering stats are a result of fellow running back Chuba Hubbard being inactive, but D’Onta Foreman is the real deal, and will be for weeks to come. In Week 8, Foreman saw 26 carries, more than Christian McCaffrey had in any game so far this season (insert mind blown emoji), and he found the end zone three times. “But Atlanta’s defense is terrible.” Okay, fine. Let’s look at last week. Against Tampa Bay’s supposed vaunted run defense, Foreman played only 54% of the snaps but still ended up with over 110 yards and almost eight yards per carry. In fact, since he was activated, Foreman is the RB4 in PPR formats. I don’t know about you, but that’s what I like to see in my running backs.

The Panthers have made a marked change for the better on their offense since Matt Rhule got the boot, and they should continue to improve down the stretch. Over the next few weeks, they have a rematch with the Falcons, then the Seahawks and Lions, the latter who rank in the bottom three in rush yards allowed per game. Foreman is a bonafide stud and a Zero-RB enthusiast’s dream, and he will be an integral part to a championship roster.

 

Jamaal Williams Will Outscore D’Andre Swift the Remainder of the Year

It’s easy to root for Jamaal Williams as a player, especially after his appearance on “Hard Knocks” and the Hingle McCringleberry touchdown celebrations, but his consistent fantasy points just add a little cherry on top to his eccentric personality. The guy has a nose like a bloodhound for the end zone, and it looks like Dan Campbell and the rest of the Lions coaching staff have taken notice. Through just seven weeks, Williams has scored eight touchdowns, making him the most efficient red zone backs in the league.


If you think D’Andre Swift is a threat to his production, think again. In Week 8, Swift saw just a 26% carry percentage, compared to Williams’ 53%, and he also just played seven more snaps than Williams in a neutral game script situation. If the Lions expect to remain competitive through the rest of the season, look for Williams to be heavily featured in red zone packages. He may be this year’s James Conner, and although he’s not the fantasy messiah we expected, he’s the one we need.

 

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