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Mike Fanelli gives his fantasy football bold predictions for Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season. Should you start or sit Jordan Love, Javonte Williams, George Pickens?
Week 8 is here, and I’m back with another edition of fantasy football bold predictions. This week’s list of bold predictions will include Jordan Love, Javonte Williams, Jordan Mason, George Pickens, and Travis Kelce.
Every week, I will provide some fun and bold fantasy football predictions. While these bold predictions aren’t the most likely outcomes, they are things I believe could happen this week.
Let’s look at my five bold predictions for Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season.
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Jordan Love…
Has four passing touchdowns
Love has been outstanding this season, averaging 20.6 fantasy points per game. The star quarterback has 15 passing touchdowns, the second-most in the NFL. While Baker Mayfield leads the way with 18 passing touchdowns, Love has played in two fewer games.
The former Utah State star leads the league in passing touchdowns per game, averaging three per contest. Furthermore, he has averaged 3.3 passing touchdowns per game since returning from the knee injury. Love has thrown at least two touchdowns in every game this season.
More importantly, the star quarterback has thrown four touchdowns in half of his games since returning from injury, including against a talented Minnesota Vikings defense in Week 4. Love leads the league in four-passing touchdown performances (two) despite averaging only 35.8 pass attempts per game this year.
Jordan Love goes long to Dontayvion Wicks for the TD!
📺: #HOUvsGB on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/eLnOkAep8p— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
Meanwhile, Love faces a Jacksonville Jaguars defense this week that has surrendered the most passing touchdowns in the NFL (16). They have given up three passing touchdowns per game to quarterbacks over the past five weeks. More importantly, the Jaguars gave up four passing touchdowns twice in those five games, including to Caleb Williams two weeks ago.
Javonte Williams…
Has his second consecutive 20-point fantasy performance
Williams struggled to start the season, averaging 6.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the first six weeks, totaling nine or fewer in all but one contest. While the Denver Broncos running game got off to a rocky start, the former North Carolina star had his best fantasy performance this year in Week 7.
The veteran running back had 14 rushing attempts, his second-highest total in 2024. More importantly, Williams had 88 rushing yards, a season-high. He scored his first two touchdowns this year, totaling 24.6 fantasy points in the win over the New Orleans Saints.
Many have called Williams a must-sell candidate after his massive Week 7 performance. He scored 37.2% of his fantasy points for the season last week. By comparison, the veteran running back had 41.6 fantasy points over the first six games. However, Williams has top-five upside against an awful Carolina Panthers run defense on Sunday.
Carolina has surrendered 30.2 fantasy points per game to running backs, the most in the NFL. Furthermore, their run defense has been horrific over the past month. They’ve surrendered 139.8 rushing yards, 2.3 touchdowns, and 33.8 fantasy points per contest over the past four weeks, giving up three touchdowns in a game twice.
Jordan Mason…
Sets a career-high in fantasy points
Fantasy players have been frustrated with Mason over the past two weeks. The former Georgia Tech star suffered an AC joint sprain in the Week 6 win over the Seattle Seahawks, playing only one snap in the second half after totaling 65 rushing yards on eight attempts before halftime.
Last week, Mason played despite the injury, accounting for 87.5% of the backfield rushing attempts. However, he only had 7.9 half-point PPR fantasy points, a season-low, despite earning 14 rushing attempts against the Kansas City Chiefs. Unfortunately, the third-year pro had two goal-line opportunities stolen away from him.
Brock Purdy had three career rushing touchdowns heading into last week’s game. He had 26 rushing attempts over the first six weeks but totaled zero touchdowns. However, the star quarterback had eight rushing attempts against the Chiefs, including two at the goal line, resulting in 12 fantasy points that should have gone to Mason.
Purdy Sneaky! @brockpurdy13
📺 #KCvsSF on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4nCVJ pic.twitter.com/2ChFQdnI0J— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) October 20, 2024
Meanwhile, the veteran faces a Dallas Cowboys defense that has surrendered 25.8 fantasy points per game to running backs, the fourth-most in the NFL. They’ve given up over 150 rushing yards and two touchdowns in half of their games. The Cowboys surrendered 169 yards, two touchdowns, and 33.7 fantasy points to the Detroit Lions backfield in their last game before the bye week.
George Pickens…
Scores a season-high in fantasy points for the second consecutive week
Despite having a 4-2 record, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a quarterback change last week. Justin Fields went to the bench, with Russell Wilson making his first start this season. While some criticized Mike Tomlin for making the switch, Wilson got the Steelers’ passing game rolling.
Pickens was the WR46, averaging 7.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in the six contests with Fields under center. The third-year receiver averaged 7.3 targets per game, totaling seven or more in every contest. However, he had a breakout performance with Wilson in Week 7 against a talented New York Jets defense.
Last week, the former Georgia star had five receptions on nine targets for 111 receiving yards and a season-high 19.6 fantasy points in the win, scoring his first touchdown this year. More importantly, Wilson repeatedly gave Pickens chances to make contested catches downfield. The third-year receiver would have scored more fantasy points if not for multiple penalties.
Meanwhile, the New York Giants have struggled to slow down opposing No. 1 wide receivers. They’ve given up an average of 5.6 receptions on 7.6 targets for 80 receiving yards and 15.4 fantasy points per game to opposing top receivers over the past five weeks. Don’t be surprised when Pickens has a second-consecutive season-high setting performance.
Travis Kelce…
Finishes the week outside the top 15 tight ends
Kelce is arguably the greatest tight end in NFL history and a clear-cut first-ballot Hall of Famer when he retires. However, even the greats eventually fall off a cliff and see their production significantly decline. Kelce is the TE16, averaging 6.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game this season.
The veteran has posted a lower fantasy points per game average than several average tight ends, including Jonnu Smith (6.7) and Pat Freiermuth (6.6). Kelce showed signs of superstar production after the Kansas City Chiefs lost Rashee Rice to a season-ending knee injury, totaling 12.4 fantasy points in Week 4 and 11.5 in Week 5.
Unfortunately, the veteran severely struggled coming off the bye last week despite the team losing JuJu Smith-Schuster early in the game to a hamstring injury. Kelce had only 3.7 fantasy points against the San Francisco 49ers, his second-lowest total this season. More importantly, his upside is limited after the Chiefs traded for DeAndre Hopkins.
Sources: #Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins is being traded to the #Chiefs in exchange for a 5th rounder that can get to a fourth rounder. Deal is being finalized.
A key veteran who could be the final piece, Hopkins name has been hot in the trade market. Now, he lands with the champs. pic.twitter.com/GRvRbUwux6
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 23, 2024
This week, Kelce faces a Las Vegas Raiders defense that has held tight ends to 6.7 fantasy points per game, the eighth-fewest in the NFL. They’ve given up 4.9 fantasy points per game to tight ends over the past three weeks. More importantly, Kelce has had fewer than 45 receiving yards in four of his past five matchups against Las Vegas.
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