RADIO
Just because a half-dozen teams have a bye this week does not mean there will be fewer under-the-radar booms and busts.
Six teams have the week off, so the pool of boom and bust candidates is a little shallower than usual. My column will not be any shorter, though, fantasy folks. There are still plenty of players to choose from.
Here are some under-the-radar booms and busts for the eighth week of NFL action to help you set a winning lineup. Good luck RotoBallers!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Week 8 Under-the-Radar Booms
Devin Funchess (WR, CAR) at TB
Funchess has played the best ball of his young career this year, thriving while tight end Greg Olsen is sidelined and No. 1 receiver Kelvin Benjamin has been banged-up himself. Carolina’s offense has been sputtering the past two weeks, though, and QB Cam Newton is feeling more heat than a brick oven pizza. Funchess has only had 77 receiving yards and no scores over his last two contests, but he is primed to bounce back against a Tampa Bay defense that is ranked 30th against the pass and only has generated 10 sacks on the season. Look for Funchess to have fun running routes against the Bucs this weekend.
Mike Gillislee (RB, NE) vs. LAC
Gillislee has not made Patriots fans or fantasy owners forget about LeGarrette Blount. He has not scored a touchdown or rushed for over 55 yards in any of his past five games and has not caught a pass all season. The fallacy that he would rack up touchdowns because Tom Brady and Co. would set up him up with countless scoring opportunities has proven as false as the idea that the McRib would always be available at McDonald's. If Gillislee ever had a chance to salvage his season (and his fantasy value), though, it is this week against Los Angeles’ 31st-rated run defense. If Gillislee cannot find a way to pound out 60 yards and a score against the Chargers, we may see more Rex Burkhead, Dion Lewis and James White on early downs and inside the red zone from here on out.
LeGarrette Blount (RB, PHI) vs. SF
Blount is back sharing the ball with Wendell Smallwood now that the latter has returned from injury, plus he has rookie Corey Clement stealing some carries from him, too. That is why Blount is an under-the-radar play against a 30th-ranked San Francisco run defense that has made every tailback from Todd Gurley to Marlon Mack look like they are the next Gale Sayers. The Eagles should jump out to an early lead and dominate the game (as long as they do not suffer a letdown). Look for Blount to dominate the second-half rushing attempts once Philly is salting the game away, and also for him to be fed the ball near the goal line -- when QB Carson Wentz is not targeting best buddy Zach Ertz on pass plays.
Week 8 Under-the-Radar Busts
Jalen Richard (RB, OAK) at BUF
Richard is the biggest beneficiary of Marshawn Lynch’s temper tantrum last Thursday. But while he might technically be ahead on the depth chart, Richard will probably be splitting the touches and playing time with DeAndre Washington this Sunday. Fantasy owners who picked up Richard on the waiver wire will be doubly perturbed to know that Richard will be sprinting into a Buffalo defense that is ranked seventh against the run and has not allowed any back to run for 80 yards in a game yet this season. He has a better chance of finishing with 20 yards on eight carries than he does running for 80 yards on 20 carries.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TE, NYJ) vs. ATL
A.S.J. has turned his career around after almost being drummed out of the NFL during his time in Tampa Bay. Getting his life straight off the field has led to great success on it, and he has caught touchdown tosses in each of his past three games. While Atlanta sometimes is spotty covering wide receivers, the Falcons have locked down tight ends this season. They have not allowed a TD to a tight end, and only Buffalo’s Charles Clay has had more than 60 receiving yards in a game against them. If New England's Rob Gronkowski only managed 51 yards versus the Falcons, it's hard to see Seferian-Jenkins stomping over their secondary for his fourth-straight big game.
Jack Doyle (TE, IND) at CIN
With six tight ends on bye this week, chances are Doyle will get started in more fantasy leagues than usual. That does not sound like an awful idea considering he has been targeted at least seven times in four of his past five games, and has 13 receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown over the past two weeks. But the Cincinnati secondary has stymied tight ends all season long. The most production the Bengals have allowed to a tight end was when Green Bay’s Vance McDonald had 52 yards and a touchdown in Week 3. He is the only tight end to have scored and/or broken the 50-yard barrier against the Bengals this year, and I do not expect Doyle to be the second - especially when Andrew Luck is not the quarterback throwing to him.
