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Halloween is just around the corner, but the sheer horror of overcoming the wide receiver position due to injuries makes fantasy managers scared. It's becoming a fantasy Frankenstein to put out a weekly lineup.
Just as we expect Cooper Kupp to return this week, we lost Brandon Aiyuk (knee), Deebo Samuel Sr., DK Metcalf, and JuJu Smith-Schuster. We also witnessed the Monday Night Massacre as Buccaneers receivers Mike Evans (hamstring) and Chris Godwin (ankle) suffered injuries that will sideline them for a significant period.
Luckily, every team in the NFL is active, so we have reinforcements among our ranks here in Week 8 with your RotoBaller Week 8 starts and sits at the wide receiver position.
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Week 8 Starts - Fantasy Football Booms
Cooper Kupp - Los Angeles Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings
I usually do not feature starts from the Thursday Night Football game, but I'll make an exception this week with the return of Cooper Kupp. Kupp has been subject to trade rumors, but they are just that, at this point—rumors. Kupp probably could have played last Sunday, but with two games in five days, Los Angeles played it safe.
McVay: Cooper Kupp (ankle) expected to play Week 8. pic.twitter.com/Gmf7zWoZPm
— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) October 20, 2024
Kupp has 27 targets in the two games he has played this season, including 21 in Week 1, when he also had 14 receptions and 110 yards. While the sample size is limited due to Kupp missing most of the season due to injury, when we last saw him in action, he commanded an astonishing 52% first-read target share.
When a receiver receives that high of a first-read target share, it bodes well for their fantasy outlook. It's even better when the same receiver faces a defense that allows a league-high 44.49 fantasy points per game.
When that team is the Minnesota Vikings, who have permitted 1,218 receiving yards to receivers and 112 yards on eight receptions to Amon-Ra St. Brown last week, that's like the final gem in the infinity gauntlet.
Jayden Reed - Green Bay Packers at Jacksonville Jaguars
Just when you think you have the Packers' pass-catching pecking order figured out, they mix it up on you. Last week against the Texans, Jayden Reed caught two of four targets while Romeo Doubs was targeted on 10 occasions, and Tucker Kraft, Dontayvion Wicks, and Josh Jacobs were recipients of receiving touchdowns.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have allowed 1,240 receiving yards and nine touchdowns to opposing receivers, leading to the fourth-highest fantasy points surrendered (40.59) per game.
After a disappointing week in which Reed finished with two catches and 10 yards, fantasy managers should anticipate a bounce-back performance in Week 8. The numbers are somewhat deceiving, considering Reed dropped what would have been a 43-yard reception, which would move his fantasy production from 3.0 PPR points to 8.3.
Even after a down week, Reed still has 452 yards this season on 29 receptions, putting him in the top 15. The cream always rises to the top. Look for Reed to rise again this week against the Jaguars.
Don't worry about Jayden Reed, the cream always rises. to the top. The Packers receiver just missed on a 43-yard reception which would have altered his stat line and this week gets a nice bounce-back game facing the Jacksonville Jaguars. pic.twitter.com/Xc5fW5dflR
— Matt Donnelly (@MattDonnellyFF) October 21, 2024
If Reed can't bounce back this week, there is reason for concern. If we pull the numbers out from Week 1, Reed averages just 2.01 yards per route run (22nd), 20.5% targets per route run rate (37th), and his 7.1% first down per route run is 43rd among 83 qualified receivers. Even cream can go bad.
Drake London - Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
While Bijan Robinson has been getting all the attention over the past two weeks, Drake London has remained very quiet yet consistent. London has seen at least seven targets and caught six passes in his last five contests while finishing with 63 or more yards in each game since Week 2.
London has also recorded five touchdowns in the last six games and has moved into the top 3 among fantasy receivers with 123.1 fantasy points in his season, thanks to 17 or more fantasy points in five of his last six outings.
Make that FIVE touchdowns for Drake London in his last SIX games 😳pic.twitter.com/w7v5sLSENj
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) October 20, 2024
It also helps that London has had a target share greater than 22% in every game this season, excluding that Week 1 disaster against the Steelers.
With a first-read target share around that 37% range and producing more than any other receiver in recent weeks, look for that trend to continue against a Buccaneers team that has been allowing 38.67 fantasy points per game this season, the fifth-most. Jacob Gibbs points out that since 2000, London's red zone target share has been the highest of any player through an initial three seasons.
Week 8 Sits - Fantasy Football Busts
Marvin Harrison Jr. - Arizona Cardinals at Miami Dolphins
I simply cannot trust this Cardinals passing game anymore. They are either inadequate or play well enough to make us forget how bad they have been, only to remind us again when we foolishly put our fantasy faith back into them.
This week, Marvin Harrison Jr. will, in all likelihood, draw Jalen Ramsey's interest. Miami has been as difficult as it gets on opposing wide receivers in fantasy, limiting them to a league-worst 22.67 fantasy points per game. Miami is allowing just 154.5 passing yards per game this season and has been better over the last three weeks, allowing just 126.3 per game.
A struggling offense against one of the most formidable fantasy defenses against quarterbacks and receivers means there is enough reason for me to fade Harrison this week.
Chris Olave - New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Chargers
Chris Olave still has yet to clear the NFL's concussion protocol at the time of this writing. However, whether he plays or not for the Saints on Sunday, he should not be in your fantasy lineups.
Derek Carr will once again be absent due to injury. Rashid Shaheed's absence will also be felt throughout the season, as there will be no other receiver to add balance to the Saints' passing game. New Orleans' offensive line is also reeling, making life difficult for Spencer Rattler.
If Olave returns to action this week, he should see plenty of Kristian Fulton and Cam Hart, who have helped this Chargers defensive unit limit fantasy production at the position to under 27 fantasy points per game this season, the fifth-best mark in the league.
Malik Nabers - New York Giant at Pittsburgh Steelers
This is one of those "temper-your-expectations" inclusions to this week's list. Pittsburgh did, after all, limit Davante Adams to just three catches and 30 yards while also containing Garrett Wilson to 61 yards on five receptions. I don't care who you are. That's impressive.
Joey Porter Jr. and company have turned the Steelers into a top-10 challenging matchup. They allow just 29.33 fantasy points per game and have yielded just four touchdowns and 1,029 yards receiving to the position in seven contests.
Porter vs. Nabers is going to be must-see television. Not only are they rising superstars, but they already rank among the elite at their respective positions. After his Week 7 game, Nabers may have told onlookers to "watch the tape; he was open." That may be the case this week. However, Daniel Jones will also have to deal with T.J. Watt, who will play a significant role in this one.
Malik Nabers is going to get some flack for his comments following yesterday's game, saying to "watch the target tape" and that he "was open."
But he isn't wrong. There are a few examples on that target tape.
Blame the OL/QB/HC, whoever you want. He was getting open. pic.twitter.com/UiD2YHNyQV
— Anthony Rivardo (@Anthony_Rivardo) October 21, 2024
Teams know how to defend T.J. Watt; sometimes, it doesn't work. This leaves Cameron Heyward and Alex Highsmith to hunt down the quarterback one-on-one. Jones may not have time to locate Nabers once again this week.
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