Coming off a weekend in which the top five at different positions saw Kirk Cousins, Darren McFadden, Nate Washington and others crash the party, positional rankings going into Week 8 are more important than ever.
It’s important for owners to refer to rankings, which take such outbursts into account while also looking at matchups, usage, weather and much, much more to put together a guide. Such a positional guide naturally covers both the top players and sleepers of the week
Let’s do so below with Thursday Night Football right around the corner.
Week 8 Schedule
Quarterbacks
Quarterback might be the easiest position to project on a week-to-week basis.
It’s not hard to figure out that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will perform against the Miami Dolphins, a divisional foe he’s accustomed to torching.
There’s also the really obvious matchup plays like San Diego Chargers leader Philip Rivers, who gets the Baltimore Ravens, owners of a defense that is allowing the most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Dual-threat players such as Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers will always rank highly, too. He’s scored 15 or more points four times already despite turnover woes and gets to engage in a shootout against the Indianapolis Colts next.
When it comes to sleepers, owners don’t have to look past Teddy Bridgewater of the Minnesota Vikings. He’s scored 18 points twice this season against the Detroit Lions, a divisional foe, and next gets another one in the form of the Chicago Bears, the defense allowing the fourth-most points to the position and four touchdown throws last week alone.
By now, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith qualifies as a sleeper too with Jamaal Charles out of the picture. He’s only gone for more than 20 points once, but a matchup against Detroit should work wonders; the Lions allow the seventh-most points to gunslingers and have let up multiple scoring tosses in a game four times already.
Running Backs
Opportunities equal production at running back, so owners shouldn’t freak out over Bridgewater‘s lead back, Adrian Peterson.
Peterson has mustered just 16 points over the course of his last two games, but the weak Chicago defense won’t have an answer for his bulldozing ways, nor will he have an issue being the first back to score on the unit in three weeks after a cupcake schedule.
It’s a similar story for Atlanta Falcons lead man Devonta Freeman, who only managed 12 points last week. He’ll have a turnaround against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a defense that is yet to play an elite rushing attack.
One guy making the most of his opportunities? Todd Gurley of the St. Louis Rams. He’s scored 15 or more points in three straight since taking over, and he’s done so in tough matchups.
Sleepers are guys who make the most of these touches, like the aforementioned McFadden for the Dallas Cowboys. He posted 22 points last week, and there’s little doubt he’s the new starter, so a large amount of touches should offset the fact he has to go against the Seattle Seahawks.
Smith’s new lead back, Charcandrick West, should also see plenty of chances. The Lions are allowing the eighth-most points to backs this year and have let up multiple touchdowns to backfields three times, so West breaking free wouldn’t be a shock.
Wide Receivers
The usual suspects line the list at wideout.
Falcons wideout Julio Jones once again looks to be in for a major day. He’s been iffy on a week-to-week basis thanks to Atlanta’s newfound emphasis on the run, but it’s impossible to ignore an encounter with a Buccaneers defense allowing the fifth-most points to the spot.
Not shaky by the week? Try the target master also known as Houston Texans wideout DeAndre Hopkins. He produces against anyone thanks to his role as the only pass-catching option on the offense, a reassuring situation as he also heads into a divisional matchup.
Pittsburgh Steelers wideout Antonio Brown used to boast a similar stature until an injury to Ben Roethlisberger saw him stumble to just 10 points over three weeks. Who lines up under center against the Cincinnati Bengals won’t matter much though, as the defense has had problems stopping No. 1 wideouts all year.
For a sleeper, don’t forget about Newton’s top target, Ted Ginn. He boasts nine points or more four times already and didn’t need a score to do so last week. Now he’s headed into a shootout with a Colts defense allowing the seventh-most points to the position.
It’s also easy to forget Tavon Austin of the Rams. The coaching staff has seemed to figure out how to use him this year, and he has scored eight or more points three times as a result. The San Francisco 49ers won’t figure out a way to stop him, not while still allowing the fourth-most points to the position.
Tight Ends
What else needs said about Rob Gronkowski?
At this point it’s more interesting to see who winds up right behind him. It’s Cincinnati’s Tyler Eifert this week thanks to a clash with the Steelers. Pittsburgh coughs up the third-most points to tight ends, and while some of that has to do with four touchdowns allowed to New England’s duo this year, if there’s one guy who compares well to Gronk, it would be Eifert.
Most interesting at a tough position is sleepers, where Larry Donnell of the New York Giants looks like an elite play as his team engages in a shootout with the New Orleans Saints, the team ranked right behind Pittsburgh in terms of points allowed on average.
Also in a good spot is Crockett Gillmore of the Ravens. He showed in Week 2 what he can do with an elite matchup when he posted 20 points, something he could do again with the Chargers in town, a team that has already allowed four scores to the position.
Defense/Special Teams
What’s not to like about the St. Louis Rams this year?
The elite defense has gone for double digits three times with five interceptions, eight fumble recoveries and two touchdowns. An encounter with the 49ers and the struggling Colin Kaepernick speaks for itself.
And while the Texans have been miserable this year, they’re the top sleeper at the spot this week thanks to a date with the Tennessee Titans. It’s hard to know who the offense will trot out under center, but it won’t change the fact the Titans let up the most points on average to opposing defenses.
Kickers
It’s time for Seattle’s Steven Hauschka to once again lead the way.
Hauschka sits as one of fantasy’s most reliable options, having scored in double digits five times already. An encounter with the Cowboys suggests he’ll have plenty of chances again, and it doesn’t hurt that the team allows the fifth-most points to kickers.
When it comes to sleepers, San Diego’s Josh Lambo leads the way. He’s posted double-digit outings just twice, but the Ravens happen to allow the absolute most points to the position.
If San Diego’s offense sputters on the road, it will just mean more chances for Lambo.
All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as is points-against info and ownership stats as of October 28. Statistics courtesy of ESPN.com. Buffalo, Philadelphia, Washington, Jacksonville on bye.
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