13 insights fantasy football managers need to know ahead of Week 8

I cannot recall this much collective fantasy football enthusiasm over a quarterback returning from injury in fantasy football than Tua Tagovailoa this week.

Typically, when a QB misses time, at least some pieces of the offense remain functional.

With Miami , that wasnt the case.

No skill position player thrived, with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle failing to finish as a WR2 or better in Tuas absence.

Advertisement The Dolphins are currently averaging 11.7 PPG.

If the season ended today, Miami would finish with the fifth-fewest PPG of any team since 2000, and the worst average since the 2018 Arizona Cardinals (14.1).

To compare Tuas return to a historical event, this is the fantasy football equivalent of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Frustration has been replaced by hope and joy.

There is a collective sigh of relief from every single fantasy manager rostering DeVon Achane, Waddle and Hill.

Hill put it best with some fantasy football advice of his own.

Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill tells those who have him in fantasy football, Were back, baby! Strike up the fing band! Start me this week! pic.twitter.com/tQT16V8sRI David Furones (@DavidFurones_) October 23, 2024 Here are a few other things fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on this week and beyond.

The NFL arms race continues.

Last week, Buffalo ( Amari Cooper ) and the New York Jets ( Davante Adams ) both made their moves.

This week, it was the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs are 6-0 despite injuries to key players like Rashee Rice and Isiah Pacheco .

They have next-man-upped their way to this perfect start.

However, there has been a smoke-and-mirrors element to Kansas Citys success, with a concerning lack of pass-catching weapons and Patrick Mahomes struggling with turnovers (8 interceptions the most in the NFL to only 6 touchdown passes).

Enter DeAndre Hopkins.

The five-time Pro Bowler arrives in Kansas City seeking his first Super Bowl ring and potentially a heavy target share from Mahomes.

Andy Reid wasnt shy about discussing Hopkins role: #Chiefs HC Andy Reid on DeAndre Hopkins role: Hell work in those spots that JuJu [Smith-Schuster] and Rashee [Rice] did.

pic.twitter.com/4hHVE4OeF5 The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) October 24, 2024 The Rashee Rice role is an ideal fantasy role for Hopkins to step into.

Rice had a first-read target rate of 33% and a TPRR (targets per route run) of 35% before his injury.

JuJu Smith-Schuster filled that role in Week 5 with a 31% TPRR and finished with 20 fantasy points.

Rice has averaged 16.2 PPG this season.

Advertisement Hopkins leaves quarterback Siberia (Tennessee), where his target share had dropped to 11.5% this year a shockingly low figure, even in Tennessees anemic offense.

Last season, Hopkins posted a 26.9% target share 10th among all WRs.

Yes, Hopkins is 32 years old, but he still averaged 13.2 PPG in 2023 and 16.9 PPG in 2022.

Theres no reason to believe he cant produce somewhere in that range for the rest of this season.

Hes also sure-handed, a crucial trait for an offense that has struggled with drops (2.6 per game in 2023, the most in the NFL).

Two areas DeAndre Hopkins instantly makes the Chiefs better: red zone and third down.

Hes a reliable, consistent playmaker who can make tight-window catches and has a career drop rate of less than 4%.

Yeah, Im fired up about this.

Matt McMullen (@KCChiefs_Matt) October 24, 2024 In typical Chiefs fashion, they didnt overpay for this move.

Theres little downside.

Kansas City sent Tennessee a 2025 fifth-round pick, which could become a fourth-rounder if the Chiefs make the Super Bowl and Hopkins plays 60% of the snaps.

Last season, DJ Moore had a pretty good game against the Washington Commanders .

Last time DJ Moore was in Washington, he had 230 yards and 3 TDs.

pic.twitter.com/zHKOEnwNFC Just Another Year Chicago : Bears (@JAYChi_Bears) October 24, 2024 Moores 49-point outburst was the fourth-most fantasy points scored in a single week by any player in 2023.

The Chicago Bears return from their bye week with a 4-2 record and are gaining momentum on both sides of the ball.

Caleb Williams is playing well, with back-to-back 300-yard passing performances.

Moore has only one WR1 finish this season, and getting him off to a fast start post-bye could be a priority for the Chicago offense.

The former Maryland Terrapin still holds the all-time school record for most receptions in a season with 80.

He now has a chance for another massive performance a little over 11 miles down the road at Northwest Stadium.

Bears fans, and Moores fantasy managers alike, are hoping history repeats itself this Sunday.

Advertisement The highly anticipated Caleb Williams vs.

Jayden Daniels showdown is clouded with uncertainty.

Daniels exited Washingtons blowout win over Carolina in Week 7 with a ribs injury.

After getting in a very limited practice on Friday (his only one of the week), Washington is being understandably cautious with this one.

Jayden Daniels: I want to play but not my decision...They wouldnt put me in any position they wouldnt feel comfortable in for my future, and I wouldnt put myself in that predicament either pic.twitter.com/VAMmxHQpjF JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) October 25, 2024 Fantasy managers are hoping that this injury does not linger and Daniels can return on Sunday.

But Washington showed no signs of slowing down with backup Marcus Mariota .

The Commanders are averaging 31.1 PPG the second highest in the NFL.

I was very excited, and possibly too excited, about Tank Dells increased role during Houstons first game without Nico Collins in Week 7.

I may have written about it and used the headline Tank Dell is back.

C.J.

Stroud passed for three TDs including one to Dell in Houstons Week 6 cruise-control victory over New England .

With a road game in Green Bay against Jordan Love and the high flying Packers last week, fantasy managers were hoping for even more.

They did get an incredible fantasy performance...

from RB Joe Mixon .

Joe Mixon went NUCLEAR in todays loss against Green Bay.

pic.twitter.com/imy2HwznwM SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) October 20, 2024 Unfortunately, there was little production from the passing game.

Dell finished with 4 targets and 0 catches.

Stroud had his lowest passing yardage total as a pro (86).

It is not quite panic time for Stroud managers, but only two QB1 finishes all season long is not exactly what those who drafted him aggressively this offseason signed up for.

OC Bobby Slowik leaned almost exclusively on the run game.

Houston finished with 33 rush attempts to only 21 pass attempts their most run-heavy game by far this season.

Was this a sign of things to come, or a one off? It may be difficult for Slowik to resist the temptation to feed Mixon early and often this week.

Houston faces off against Indianapolis .

The Colts allow 159.9 rushing yards per game, second most in the league.

There has been a great deal of fantasy football content this week dedicated to discussing the Brandon Aiyuk injury fallout.

Most of it was centered around a debate between Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall .

And while there is certainly fantasy value in that conversation, they have been burying the lead.

How about a whole lot of Deebo Samuel? Deebo Samuel has run 182 routes with Brandon Aiyuk off the field since the team drafted Aiyuk.

Samuel on those plays: 37.4% target rate per route run 73.5% catch rate 4.73 yards per route run 17.2 yards per catch Unsustainable big picture, but hilariously wild numbers.

Rich Hribar (@LordReebs) August 5, 2024 The sample size is small, but extremely promising.

Samuel has 28 TDs in 32 games (including the playoffs) since Brock Purdy took over in 2022.

He has scored 18 or more PPR points in eight of his past 13 regular-season games.

With no Aiyuk, expect Samuel to provide strong WR1 production for the rest of the season.

And about that bout of pneumonia that caused Samuel to head to the hospital.

A mere blip on the radar for Samuel, who recovered about as quickly as humanly possible.

He was back on the field on Thursday and is set to play this week against Dallas .

Deebo Samuel, hospitalized earlier this week with pneumonia, is back out at 49ers practice and looking like his usual self.

Samuel appears on track to play against the Cowboys pic.twitter.com/OT0KvXJzI1 David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) October 24, 2024 Looking back on this past offseason, the best draft strategy was to select free agent running backs early and often.

There is someone reading this article who selected Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry in the early rounds, along with maybe a Mixon, Aaron Jones or DAndre Swift selection later on.

Free agent RBs are dominating the fantasy win rates.

Derrick Henry, Joe Mixon and Saquon Barkley are all averaging 22 or more fantasy PPG.

Aaron Jones and DAndre Swift both average 15+, with J.K.

Dobbins and Tony Pollard not far behind.

Only Josh Jacobs has been somewhat uninspiring, and he is still averaging 13.1 PPG.

Advertisement I did not even include Kareem Hunt due to his limited sample size, but he is off to a red-hot start as well.

Hunt is averaging 17.2 PPG.

Speaking of free agent running backs, the much anticipated Saquon Barkley revenge game exceeded even the most enthusiastic Barkley managers expectations.

Barkley went wild.

He finished with 176 rushing yards and a TD on only 17 carries.

He reminded Giants fans just how special a talent he is, and displayed plenty of textbook explosiveness with a 21.93 mph run.

Saquon Barkley on Sunday: 176 rushing yards: 2nd most by any player in NFL history in a game against his former team 187 total yards: 68 more than the entire Giants team Reached 21.93 MPH ( @NextGenStats ) on this run, the fastest of his career pic.twitter.com/ydIxMbKB9d Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 21, 2024 Barkley could have had even more, but he chose not to re-enter the game with the Eagles cruising.

There will be plenty more opportunities for Barkley smash games.

He is currently averaging 6.1 yards per carry the highest average of his entire career.

Philadelphias next three opponents ( Cincinnati , Jacksonville , and Dallas) rank among the Top 12 in points allowed.

I just cant help myself.

Ben Johnson and the Lions won a thrilling 31-29 NFC North showdown over Minnesota in Week 7.

They put up 391 yards of total offense their third straight game with 370+.

The Lions are averaging 411 yards per game, trailing only the Baltimore Ravens (461.4 not a misprint).

The Lions offense is the best in the league at producing explosive big plays (runs of 10+ yards, and passes for 20+).

Explosive play rates through Week 7 pic.twitter.com/itqi0bS2zE Football Insights (@fball_insights) October 22, 2024 This past weeks win was not any different, with multiple Lions scoring on big plays.

Jahmyr Gibbs ran for a 45-yard TD (and added a second) and Amon-Ra St.Brown caught a 35-yard TD pass.

This weeks game will present further challenges with big-play threat Jameson Williams (tied for eighth in the league with 7 catches over 20 yards) serving a two-game suspension.

Advertisement Last week, I barely touched on the Davante Adams and Amari Cooper trades.

These moves could result in multiple players increasing their fantasy value for the rest of the season.

One of those players is David Njoku.

In Clevelands first game without Cooper, Njoku tied a career high with 14 targets.

He finished with 10 catches for 76 yards and a TD.

Per Fantasy Points Data, over the past two games, Njoku has averaged a 28% target share and a 32% targets per route run average.

He is the top target on the team and the focal point of the passing game.

Expect more of the same this week with Jameis Winston taking over behind center.

David Njokus route participation has increased in three-straight games, and he hit a season-high 82% in Week 7 82% route share = elite TE involvement Njoku has earned 31% of the first-read targets over the last two weeks.

That trails only Brock Bowers (37% FR target share) pic.twitter.com/ywjlKyIQgf Graham Barfield (@GrahamBarfield) October 22, 2024 Njoku was not the only TE to thrive this week.

Ok, maybe I cant call him that just yet, but he seems to be on a collision course with history.

He tied Njoku with 14 targets in Week 7 the most by any player for the week.

Bowers is averaging 14.6 PPG the second-most at the TE positionand in nearly every other category, he is dominating.

He has 15 more targets, 13 more catches and 102 more receiving yards than any other tight end.

Bowers is on pace to shatter the record books for every rookie TE category with plenty of room to spare.

Brock Bowers is now 15th all time in catches by a rookie TE in a season with 47.

He is 40 catches away from the all time rookie record.

Bowers is averaging nearly 7 receptions per game.

Bowers is 21 years old.

He is the chosen one.

pic.twitter.com/hUWieUTlAN TheOGfantasyfootball (@TheOGfantasy) October 21, 2024 Bowers is performing at such a high level that TE records are almost a given at this point.

He is chasing all-time WR records as well.

Most Receptions for a WR/TE Through First 7 Career Games All-Time 1.

Puka Nacua (58) 2.

Brock Bowers (47) 3.

Eddie Royal (46) Scott Barrett (@ScottBarrettDFB) October 21, 2024 He is currently on pace for 114 catches, which would leave him just two shy of Zach Ertz s all-time record for TE receptions in a season.

It would also break Puka Nacuas rookie reception record of 105.

Bowers is only 21 years old.

If you drafted him in redraft, you have a potential league-winner.

If you have him in dynasty, congratulations on securing generational wealth.

Advertisement Bowers is one of several rookies delivering in a major way in fantasy.

But not all of them are delivering ADP wins.

Harrison had a historically high ADP.

He was the highest rookie WR fantasy selection ever, routinely being selected in the early second round or higher all summer long.

So far, he is only averaging 10.6 PPG hardly what drafters had in mind.

He has one of the worst ROIs at ADP of any player at the position.

The past three weeks have been truly abysmal, with MHJ combining for 10.7 points, including a 0-point outing in Week 6.

To quote a Matt Harmon term, MHJ has oftentimes been a sacrificial X, and hardly the alpha WR1 we were expecting.

There are many issues at hand, with blame being cast on Kyler Murray , OC Drew Petzing and certainly MHJ himself.

Just watched a bunch of Marvin Harrison to see what is going on.

I think there are 4 problems: 1.

37 yards on 48 go routes.

Not a burner.

2.

18-of-46 targets are contested.

33% catch rate on them.

3.

Probably not enough breaking routes.

4.

Timing is off with Kyler.

Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) October 23, 2024 There have been plenty of rookies who increased their scoring and production over the second half of the season.

With MHJ, we have already seen what a boom week looks like (29 points in Week 2), but we need way more of them.

With rookies like Bowers, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.

all providing massive ADP wins, MHJs slow start is further amplified.

Russell Wilson took over at QB this past week, and Pittsburgh proceeded to dominate the New York Jets in resounding fashion, 37-15.

I could easily discuss how Pittsburgh has money-balled its way to four out of five weeks of QB1 finishes through two shrewd and cheap offseason moves.

But my focus is on George Pickens.

Wilsons primary target had a big week, finishing with 111 receiving yards the most by any WR this season against the Jets while adding six catches, including a touchdown.

His 22.1 points were a season high.

The underlying metrics were terrific and quite promising.

Jets @ Steelers Najee Harris with back-to-back efficient performances George Pickens with Russell Wilson: 33% Target share 69% Air yards share 31% Targets per Route Run Even with Davante Adams, Garrett Wilson led all Jets WRs in usage value (11.7 xFP) [13] pic.twitter.com/Vst0nK5ptk Marvin Elequin (@FF_MarvinE) October 24, 2024 Pickens has little WR target competition and looks completely locked in.

It is difficult to fully trust an Arthur Smith pass-catcher, but Im willing to bet this wont be the last Pickens smash performance this season.

He is trending up.

Todd Downing, you had such a bad rap in Tennessee.

We take back any bad thing we ever said.

Let me assure you, you now have universal praise and love from the fantasy football community especially Breece Hall managers.

Since Todd Downing took over playcalling duties in Week 6 Breece Hall ranks: -1st in Expected Points (39.6) -1st in Weighted Opportunities (41.1) -1st in Targets (15) -2nd in Snap Share (84.2%) -4th in PPR Points (48.0) (among RBs) RB1 Rest of SZN Ron Stewart (@RonStewart_) October 23, 2024 Hall is in store for another smash game.

Over his past two games against New England, Hall has averaged 23.6 PPG.

(Top photo of Brock Bowers: Patrick Smith/Getty Images).

This article has been shared from the original article on theathleticuk, here is the link to the original article.