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As Halloween approaches, fantasy football managers are in for a thrilling twist to their weekly lineup decisions. Week 8 of the NFL season is about to unfold with a spooktacular array of matchups that promise both tricks and treats for fantasy owners. In this special Halloween-themed start-sit guide, we'll delve into the eerie and enchanting side of fantasy football, unveiling the players who might just be your game-day monsters or magical aces.
This week, the gridiron transforms into a haunted battlefield where players aim to bewitch their opponents with exceptional performances or spook them with underwhelming efforts. In the spirit of the season, we'll explore matchups that seem like dark, uncharted woods where fantasy fortunes can take a mysterious turn. Whether you're chasing the phantom points to secure your playoff spot or facing the chilling specter of a losing streak, this guide will illuminate the path ahead, revealing who to start and who to sit on the eve of Halloween.
Join us for this chillingly fun and informative journey into the world of fantasy football as we unmask the ghoulish tricks and delightful treats that await in Week 8. The moon is full, and the stakes are high, so make sure you're equipped with the right spells and incantations to summon fantasy success. With your league standings on the line, our Halloween-themed insights will help you separate the spectral studs from the fantasy frights.
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Week 8 Woos - Fantasy Football Booms
C.J. Stroud - QB, Houston Texans @ Carolina Panthers
In what can be considered a treat to begin the 2023 season, C.J. Stroud has provided fantasy managers with bags of points to enjoy in a season where many were expecting the Texans offense and Stroud to work with a bit of a learning curve that is typical amongst rookie quarterbacks. That learning curve seemed to disappear rather quickly after a tough Week 1 matchup against the Ravens, which has been his only game to date without a touchdown.
On the season, Stroud ranks very well in many of the analytical categories. He sits inside the top 12 at the position in passing yards (1,660), touchdowns (nine), and yards per attempt (7.8). With the benefit of a Texans defense that puts the offense in a trailing game script, the team ranks inside the top 10 in pass plays per game (35.7), helping Stroud reach 17.3 FPPG (QB13).
Coming off of two subpar games, Stroud returns from the bye to what looks like on paper to be a tough matchup against the Carolina Panthers. But looking deeper into it, this Panthers defense may not be so spooky after all. Over the previous four weeks, they have allowed 18.96 FPPG to opposing quarterbacks, which ranks in the bottom third in the NFL.
In fact, over the last two games, that number has increased to 20.08 FPPG and shows that this secondary can be taken advantage of. Coming out the bye, Stroud will have a healthy collection of weapons as well, which should help open up the field for the rookie. I expect to see Stroud come out of Week 8 with a QB1 finish for fantasy managers looking for upside at the position.
Gus Edwards - RB, Baltimore Ravens @ Arizona Cardinals
Splitting the backfield with Justice Hill since the injury to J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards has been the "thunder" in this committee. He has double-digit rushes in each game since Week 2, but the production just simply hasn't been there. Aside from the surprising 80-yard touchdown reception last week, Edwards has found paydirt on only one other occasion.
On the season, he ranks as RB20 in rushing yards (346) due in large part to being on an offense that is third in the league in run plays per game (32.6). But outside of that, there has been little production to be had for fantasy managers, which is explained by his 8.8 FPPG (RB34). His lack of involvement in the passing game (four receptions) has always been a detriment to Edwards, leaving him as a touchdown-dependent player in fantasy.
But fantasy managers looking for a Halloween treat in Week 8 could find a full bag of goodies for Edwards given his matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, a defense that has been giving up points in bunches to opposing running backs on the season (25.81 FPPG). They have surrendered a whopping 782 yards on the ground to go along with five rushing scores.
With the Ravens laying the most points out of any matchup in Week 8, the implication is that they will be grinding out the clock in the second half. That is right up Edwards' alley as he should find no problems piling up yardage and finding the end zone for the third time this season. I expect to see Edwards return RB2 fantasy production for fantasy managers this week and should be started in all lineups.
Kendrick Bourne - WR, New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins
Although he has been stuck in the Patriots' mediocre offense, Kendrick Bourne has quietly put together a solid season. Coming off of back-to-back WR2 finishes on the strength of 18 targets, 16 receptions, and a touchdown, Bourne now finds himself ranked as WR32 on the year with 12.5 FPPG.
The Patriots have finally figured out that the passing attack is better with Bourne on the field as his routes run percentage has exceeded 90% in each of the last three games. In fact, over the last two games, he has been in the top 10 in FPPG (18.3). If he and the Patriots offense can remain somewhat consistent over the remainder of the season, Bourne could find himself entering the discussion as a weekly starter and WR3.
That consistency could easily be achieved in Week 8 as the Patriots will be on the road facing the high-octane Dolphins offense. Currently a nine-point underdog, you could say that the game script for Bourne to pile up the receptions is achievable. Averaging nine targets over the last two games, look for him to hit that number yet again on Sunday.
That should put Bourne on pace for six to eight catches in this matchup and I believe that one of those will put him in the end zone. With the Dolphins' defense allowing 40.90 FPPG to opposing receivers over the last four games, this is a game where fantasy managers should look to get Bourne into their starting lineups.
Jake Ferguson - TE, Dallas Cowboys vs. Los Angeles Rams
Although he has been silent over the previous two games, Jake Ferguson has been a fairly solid option at tight end for fantasy managers in 2023. His 7.7 FPPG ranks as TE15 on the season, far exceeding his draft capital that was paid. The key to Ferguson's appeal is the fact that he has been involved in the Cowboys' passing attack pretty consistently.
His 21.2% target share ranks as TE11 on the season, but the eye-popping stat with him is the 11 red zone targets through six games, which currently leads all tight ends. Even though that has resulted in just one touchdown so far, if the positive regression hits, we will be talking about a stud tight end who will stay in fantasy managers' lineups each week.
Coming out of the bye week is typically a good thing for the Cowboys' offense as they have been pretty sharp from a production standpoint in recent years. Also, add in the fact that this offense has been hard to stop at home over the last year. Dating back to the 2022 bye week (Week 9), they have had only one game under 27 points scored. Something that Las Vegas is factoring in as well with the third-highest implied total on the week for the team (25.75).
With all these points to be had, someone has to benefit from it, and I believe that to be Ferguson this week. He will be facing a Rams defense that ranks in the bottom third in the league in points allowed to the position (13.24 FPPG). Look for Ferguson to get back into the routine of racking up targets on the way to a TE1 finish in Week 8.
Week 8 Boos - Fantasy Football Busts
Jordan Love - QB, Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings
There have been mostly treats and little tricks provided by Jordan Love to fantasy managers to start the 2023 season. A player who was largely an afterthought during the draft season, Love has gone on to produce four QB1 finishes in six games. While that does look good from the surface level, once you look deeper into the numbers, Love's performances have been somewhat frightening.
Although his 18.8 FPPG ranks as QB8 on the season, in many of the analytical categories he ranks well outside of the top 10. He has been riding the lightning so far, as indicated by the number of dangerous plays (15) and interceptable passes (13). If those were to catch up to him, his season from a fantasy perspective could flip at the drop of a hat.
Going into Week 8 will be a very tough test for Love as he will be facing a Vikings defense fresh off of dismantling the 49ers on Monday Night Football. After a rocky start to the year, the Vikings have rebounded nicely over the last four games, allowing just 12.46 FPPG to opposing quarterbacks.
Add in the fact that Love's weapons around him (Aaron Jones, Christian Watson, and Luke Musgrave) are all battling injuries, which could leave the Packers shorthanded. If that remains to be the case come game time, I expect to see Love struggle in this contest and finish outside the top 12 at the position, making him a player that fantasy managers should look to pivot from for a better option.
Derrick Henry - RB, Tennessee Titans vs. Atlanta Falcons
My how the mighty have fallen? Derrick Henry for years has been considered to be a monster-like figure at a position similar to Frankenstein. Being able to withstand the constant pounding on his body as he racks up carry after carry. Even though he still ranks inside the top eight at the position (98 carries), it feels as though he is not as involved as we are accustomed to seeing.
Factor in the issues with the subpar offensive line and fantasy managers find themselves with a disappointing player from a production standpoint. He ranks as the RB15 (14.5 FPPG) to this point, but with only three rushing scores on the season and a putrid 0.79 fantasy points per opportunity, there is not much light at the end of the tunnel for Henry in this Titans offense.
With trade rumors swirling around Nashville after the trade of Kevin Byard, uncertainty follows Henry going into Week 8. Add in the fact that the Titans will be turning to rookie Will Levis to start, and you have all the makings of a horror movie for Henry's fantasy managers. He will be facing stacked boxes against a Falcons defense that has been one of the best in the league over the last four games in points allowed to the position (15.33 FPPG). Although Henry is a player who stays locked in starting lineups in fantasy, tempering expectations and planning for a low-scoring output can lessen the blow to fantasy managers in Week 8.
Marquise Brown - WR, Arizona Cardinals vs. Baltimore Ravens
Playing in this Arizona Cardinals offense was enough to scare away many people during the drafting season as no one was expecting much from this passing attack. But through the season's first seven weeks, Marquise Browns' production has been the epitome of finding a full-sized candy bar in your trick-or-treat bag.
Although he ranks currently as the WR28 (13.0 FPPG) on the season, he sits at WR11 in targets (60) and WR5 in air yards (773). This shows a player that is seeing a lot of unrealized potential that is being left on the field. With Kyler Murray on the verge of returning, these plays could start clicking. If they do, Brown could see his stock rise to that of a WR2.
Even though this is a revenge game week for Brown as he faces his old Ravens team, expecting that narrative to hit could be a bit of a stretch. Receivers have found it nearly impossible to produce numbers from a fantasy perspective on the season, but over the last four weeks, opposing receivers have been only able to muster 21.13 FPPG.
If you look at the spread (+9.5), the game script could be in Brown's favor as the Cardinals could be throwing a lot in the second half. But what separates this Ravens defense from others is the fact that they rarely let off the gas. The constant pressure will make this game for Brown more like fright night and fantasy managers should look for another option to play in their starting lineups in Week 8.
David Njoku - TE, Cleveland Browns @ Seattle Seahawks
Much like the rest of the Browns offense, the 2023 campaign for David Njoku has been scary. As the team continues to wonder each week whether or not Deshaun Watson will feel like playing football, the Browns have struggled to find consistency. This has hurt Njoku's fantasy production as he ranks as TE19 on the year (7.3 FPPG).
His 24 receptions (TE13) on the season is the closest he ranks to the top 12 at the position, but the fact that he has yet to find the end zone has left fantasy managers frustrated. Coming off his first TE1 finish on the season in Week 7 (five receptions for 54 yards), you could make the argument that he could be turning the corner. But in this offense, fantasy managers may prefer to see some consistency before trusting Njoku as a weekly starter again.
Hoping for that consistency may be a lost thought as the Browns head into Week 8. Njoku will be going on the road to face a Seahawks defense that has been one of the best in the league over the last four games in points allowed to the position (6.80 FPPG). They have yet to allow over 100 total yards to opposing tight ends over that stretch. With P.J. Walker set to make another start at quarterback for the Browns this week, it makes Njoku a very shaky start in what could be a must-win game for some fantasy managers.
With plenty of other options available to pivot to, leaving Njoku on the bench would be the best bet in Week 8.
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