Keoni's Spicy Week 8 Starts and Sits
We are entering the just about halfway point through the season where wins become even more crucial to establishing a great run to the playoffs or as an effort to fight back from the unenviable under .500 start to a season. Similarly, losses can create a stumble on an otherwise positive run or absolutely destroy any hopes for a championship title down the line. Regardless of how your record is right now, I am here to make the calls that fall along the razor’s edge to help you win your matchups. It’s all for you fantasy readers. It’s all for you!
Starts of the week
QB
Daniel Jones: NYG Giants vs SEA Seahawks
I’m gonna get a little bit spicy this week since it’s starting to get into the do or die part of the season. Bye weeks can be rough and if you are the Patrick Mahomes or Justin Herbert managers you might want to pull an Eli and go to New York this week to stream a QB. Have you met Danile Jones? He’s a New York socialite who has a 66.7% completion rate which is 7th among QBs who have played in 7 games in 2022, he can run the ball apparently having 343 yards on the ground which is third among QBs this season and is tied for 2nd among QBs with 3 rushing touchdowns.
The team is finding ways to win, and he has 5 touchdowns to just 1 turnover since game 4. The Giants face Seattle which is 22nd vs the position, and while they can be stingy, they have allowed a touchdown in every game except one. I may have to fall on this sword, but Jones is a top streaming guy in week 8.
RB
Tony Pollard: DAL Cowboys vs Chicago Bears
With Ezekiel Elliott likely out for the game vs the Chicago Bears on Sunday, that leaves the backfield open for Pollard who is averaging 5.6 yards per carry which puts him 7th among running backs with at least 60 carries. He has had over 80 yards three times this season including last week. He has gotten at least 13 touches each of the last two weeks and that was with Elliott on the field.
The Bears also have a bad run defense allowing 3 more fantasy points to running backs per game compared to the rest of the league. They have allowed 4 100 yards games this season and have allowed 6 touchdowns to backs so far. All of this points to Pollard having a good if not great game. We also can’t forget Dak is still easing back into things, so they might rely on Pollard to move the ball in this game.
WR
Marquise Goodwin: SEA Seahawks vs NYG Giants
DK Metcalf is going to be out for an undisclosed amount of time and the Seahawks are at the top of their division thanks to the work done by Goodwin in this last game. He caught 4 of 5 targets for 67 yards and 2 touchdowns. This guy is athletic and was an olympic long jumper. They face the Giants which is a tough matchup ranking 3rd vs receivers, but the Giants are coming off a game where they allowed over 214 yards to receivers, the most they’ve allowed all year. They have also allowed 5 games over 100 yards to receivers.
They have been tough on giving up touchdowns but I think Goodwin is athletic enough to find his way across the goal line this week. The matchup may be bad but the opportunity is too good to pass up on Goodwin who will be used more while Metcalf is out.
TE
Greg Dulcich: DEN Broncos vs JAX Jaguars
I talked about him last week as a bye week fill in guy, and he paid off getting 6 catches out of 9 targets for 51 yards. In PPR leagues, that's a pretty good day for a tight end. Whether it's Brett Rypien or not so Dangerruss, they want to get him the ball, and they face Jacksonville this week so there should be another opportunity there.
This is another tough matchup on paper, but in his short time playing, Dulcich has been a reliable guy not only for the Broncos but for fantasy managers as well. For fantasy, you need a tight end you can rely on, and Dulcich hasn’t shown otherwise. Hopefully, he can provide another solid game across the pond and help bring back a souvenir in the form of a fantasy victory in your matchups this week.
Sits of the Week
QB
Dak Prescott: DAL Cowboys vs CHI Bears
Let’s be honest, Dak Prescott hasn’t played great this year. Obviously his sample size is very minimal but in those two games, he has an average of just over 170 passing yards, an equal number of touchdowns to interceptions with one each. The Cowboys do have the weapons on their team to go far this season, but all the offense has to do is rely on their defense to keep the score low enough and get turnovers. They don’t need to put up a lot to win so the bad fantasy value in Dak gets a little swept under the rug.
They face the Bears this week who are a top 10 defense vs QBs, have had 3 games allowing under 200 passing yards, have had 4 games allowing less than 10 fantasy points to quarterbacks (depending on your scoring), and have allowed only 5 touchdowns to the quarterback. Those are impressive numbers and while Dak might facilitate good fantasy players, he will not be one of them this week.
RB
Aaron Jones: GB Packers vs BUF Bills
I said I would get spicy and this might be the hottest take so far. I know you start your studs, but this has “bad game” written all over it. First off, the Packers are playing really bad and Aaron Rodgers just doesn’t seem like he cares anymore with him throwing people under the bus left and right. Jones is coming off a great game, but it was against the Commanders who are not good and the Packers still didn’t win. They face the Buffalo Bills this week who have had the bye week to extra prepare for the Packers knowing Jones is going to be one of their main weapons.
The Bills also rank as the number 6 defense vs the run, allowing 4 fewer fantasy points per game to the running back position compared to the rest of the league. They have also allowed more than 50 rushing yards in 2 games this season and no 100 yards games (all under 90, actually). I think the Bills are also going to get up quick on the Packers forcing them to pass down the field, and while Jones is a definite target, I think the Bills will have counters for this.
WR
Michael Pittman: IND Colts vs WAS Commanders
This is a game of backup QB vs backup QB except Taylor Heinecke has actually thrown a pass in the NFL while Sam Ehlinger, the replacement for Matt Ryan, has 3 rushes for 9 yards in his short career. Things are not looking good for the Colts, unfortunately, given that the previous QB in Ryan had the most turnovers (12) with 3 lost fumbles out of 9 and 9 interceptions so far this season. Their O-line is bad and who knows how Ehlinger is going to play. The Colts games have hit the under in 6 out of 7 games this season with them scoring more than 20 points only once.
This is a bad offense and this is going to hurt the receivers on this team including Pittman. This may very well be another defensive led game with neither team scoring a lot of points or it could easily get out of hand and the Commanders offense spends all the time on the field due to Colts three and outs and long drives. There is too much uncertainty around Ehlinger for me to comfortably say Pittman is a lock this week.
TE
George Kittle: SF 49ers vs LAR Rams
He’s coming off two great games in a row, but Christian McCaffrey is there and has had a full week to be part of the team. I know this didn’t affect Kittle vs the Chiefs, but McCaffrey will take away targets regardless. The Rams rank 1st vs tight ends this year allowing just under 4.5 fantasy points per game to the position compared to the league average of 11.5. Much like the Bills, they are also coming off a bye and should have Kittle scouted.
He also may be forced to pass block a lot given Aaron Donald’s presence and the Rams pass rush in general. The Rams have also allowed 0 touchdowns to tight ends and have allowed 1 game over 25 yards to the position with 2 of those games allowing 5 and 0 yards. I think Kittle stalls this week vs a tough divisional opponent that has tight ends’ numbers.
May my potentially wild decisions be the bad Omen for your opponents as you bring in the victory and look like a mad genius in the process. Good luck and stay dreamin’!
