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Nick Mariano's Week 8 fantasy football rankings analysis for the 2018 NFL season. ECR comparison for running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, quarterbacks, kickers.
Howdy, and welcome to the weekly column that puts my rankings under the microscope and compares them against the Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR). My hope is to help you understand why I’m significantly higher or lower on players than the expert crowd. Do note that the ECR will shift!
Who am I and why should you care? I was the ninth-most accurate in-season expert on FantasyPros (out of 125) last season and sit at 20th (out of 130) so far in ‘18. You deserve the best and I want to objectively be among the sharpest out there. I'll be examining my own ranks against the ECR on a position-by-position basis, as the overall and flex tabs can simply get insane. I focus on QB, RB, WR, TE and this week I'm bringing in a little kicker section.
Below you will find my rankings and analysis, separated by position. If anything strikes a chord, I’m always available for questions via Twitter: @NMariano53. But enough chit-chat, let’s get to it.
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Week 8 Quarterbacks - Rankings Analysis
I don’t love any QBs at more than two slots beyond the ECR, but the three that do and nestle their way into my top-12 are worth mentioning. Kirk Cousins (No. 2 vs. 4), Tom Brady (5 vs. 7) and Mitch Trubisky (11 vs. 13).
The Saints pass defense has recovered from the brink of destruction but is still beatable with Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, and Kyle Rudolph. Meanwhile, no Dalvin Cook only enhances New Orleans’ advantage as the stingiest run defense against the Vikes. Minny is favored by a point at some Vegas books with a game total of 52.5, so I’ll take their QB over anyone not named Patrick Mahomes.
Brady could be missing a true run game if Sony Michel sits against Buffalo, which means a statline akin to Andrew Luck’s four-TD show in Week 7 is possible, which made Luck the QB4. If he gets Rob Gronkowski back then I may have to edge him up another slot.
Brady’s Week 7 opponent, Trubisky, has passed for at least 316 yards with a combined 11 pass TDs over his last three games. Not only that, but he delivered a 6-81-1 rushing line. The Bears are favored by seven over the Jets and I don’t expect Jordan Howard to suddenly wake up -- the Jets have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher in ‘18.
On the other side of the top-12 discussion are Cam Newton and Deshaun Watson. I know Cam can turn it on and become Superman at any point, but Baltimore’s defense is frightful and just held Drew Brees to a QB17 ranking. Frankly, I’m avoiding this BAL-CAR game on all fronts. The Ravens have allowed the second-lowest average fantasy score to QBs in ‘18 and there are simply better matchups to chase.
Watson and the Texans don’t have one of those said matchups on Thursday night. Not only is the second-year QB dealing with a bruised lung and rib, but he’ll be without slot man Keke Coutee. Houston is favored by 7.5 with a 44-point total and I see little reason for the Texans to put their star in harm’s way when Miami’s offense is in shambles. I expect a heavy dose of the run game and the defense to carry the Texans to victory, leaving those who started Watson out in the cold.
| Rank | Player Name | Team | Position | ECR | vs. ECR |
| 1 | Patrick Mahomes | KC | QB | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Kirk Cousins | MIN | QB | 4 | 2 |
| 3 | Jared Goff | LAR | QB | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Aaron Rodgers | GB | QB | 2 | -2 |
| 5 | Tom Brady | NE | QB | 7 | 2 |
| 6 | Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | QB | 5 | -1 |
| 7 | Andrew Luck | IND | QB | 6 | -1 |
| 8 | Drew Brees | NO | QB | 8 | 0 |
| 9 | Jameis Winston | TB | QB | 9 | 0 |
| 10 | Andy Dalton | CIN | QB | 10 | 0 |
| 11 | Mitch Trubisky | CHI | QB | 13 | 2 |
| 12 | Russell Wilson | SEA | QB | 14 | 2 |
| 13 | Cam Newton | CAR | QB | 12 | -1 |
| 14 | Matthew Stafford | DET | QB | 15 | 1 |
| 15 | Deshaun Watson | HOU | QB | 11 | -4 |
| 16 | Carson Wentz | PHI | QB | 16 | 0 |
| 17 | Baker Mayfield | CLE | QB | 17 | 0 |
| 18 | Blake Bortles | JAC | QB | 24 | 6 |
| 19 | Case Keenum | DEN | QB | 19 | 0 |
| 20 | C.J. Beathard | SF | QB | 22 | 2 |
| 21 | Joe Flacco | BAL | QB | 18 | -3 |
| 22 | Alex Smith | WAS | QB | 21 | -1 |
| 23 | Derek Carr | OAK | QB | 20 | -3 |
| 24 | Eli Manning | NYG | QB | 23 | -1 |
| 25 | Josh Rosen | ARI | QB | 26 | 1 |
| 26 | Brock Osweiler | MIA | QB | 25 | -1 |
| 27 | Sam Darnold | NYJ | QB | 27 | 0 |
| 28 | Derek Anderson | BUF | QB | 28 | 0 |
| 29 | Taysom Hill | NO | QB | 30 | 1 |
| 30 | Lamar Jackson | BAL | QB | 29 | -1 |
| 31 | Nathan Peterman | BUF | QB | 32 | 1 |
| 32 | Brandon Weeden | HOU | QB | 35 | 3 |
Week 8 Running Backs - Rankings Analysis
The most notable RB that I’m higher on is my outlier from that PHI-JAX tilt, as I have Wendell Smallwood at 23 compared to an ECR of 32. The Jaguars have given up rushing line of 22-87-1, 24-106-1 and 22-100-1 over the last three weeks. On the one hand, two of those were against Kareem Hunt and Ezekiel Elliott, but the third was Lamar Miller so it evens out to a league-average RB, right?
The Eagles are favored by three on the road and Smallwood looked better than Corey Clement in Week 7, posting 32 yards on nine carries compared to Clement’s six yards on eight totes according to the box score. What the stats don’t tell you is how a holding penalty took away a 50-yard screen pass. It is a platoon, but Smallwood has logged snap counts of 62% and 52% compared to Clement’s 37% in each of their last two games.
It looks like I’m attending the Player Hater’s Ball with Kerryon Johnson (18 vs. 12), Chris Carson (25 vs. 19) and Latavius Murray (26 vs. 20). Before you Kansas fans jump on me for going against Johnson after his fantastic Week 7, we need to accept Johnson’s lower ceiling due to limited touches and the presence of LeGarrette Blount at the goal line.
As far as Carson goes, his snap share reached a high of 72% in Week 3 before he missed Week 4. He was then in on 58% in Week 5 and 42% in Week 6, which is when Rashaad Penny touched the ball 11 times to Carson’s 14. Part of that may have been Seattle winning 27-3 over a toothless Raider squad, but Penny is a first-rounder and Mike Davis, who had seven touches in Week 6, isn’t going away either. I can’t put Carson in my top-20 with a realistic three-RB committee unfolding. Plus, the Lions just scooped DT Damon Harrison, perhaps the best run defender in the NFL, to shore up their ailing rush D.
And then there’s Murray, who will get Minnesota’s backfield to himself again with Dalvin Cook out. He’s been fantastic in Cook’s stead, but I’m fading him for the same reason I faded Collins in Week 6 -- the Saints run defense is terrifying. They haven’t yielded more than 50 yards to a rusher since Week 1 when Peyton Barber(!) tallied 69. Mix in that Minnesota’s offensive line ranks a paltry 28th per FootballOutsiders’ adjusted line yards metric with 3.67 and I’m out.
| Rank | Player Name | Team | Position | ECR | vs. ECR |
| 1 | Todd Gurley | LAR | RB | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Kareem Hunt | KC | RB | 2 | 0 |
| 3 | Saquon Barkley | NYG | RB | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | James Conner | PIT | RB | 4 | 0 |
| 5 | Joe Mixon | CIN | RB | 5 | 0 |
| 6 | David Johnson | ARI | RB | 7 | 1 |
| 7 | James White | NE | RB | 8 | 1 |
| 8 | Alvin Kamara | NO | RB | 6 | -2 |
| 9 | Phillip Lindsay | DEN | RB | 11 | 2 |
| 10 | Marlon Mack | IND | RB | 9 | -1 |
| 11 | Christian McCaffrey | CAR | RB | 10 | -1 |
| 12 | Nick Chubb | CLE | RB | 14 | 2 |
| 13 | Adrian Peterson | WAS | RB | 13 | 0 |
| 14 | Mark Ingram | NO | RB | 18 | 4 |
| 15 | Jordan Howard | CHI | RB | 15 | 0 |
| 16 | Tarik Cohen | CHI | RB | 16 | 0 |
| 17 | Lamar Miller | HOU | RB | 17 | 0 |
| 18 | Kerryon Johnson | DET | RB | 12 | -6 |
| 19 | Isaiah Crowell | NYJ | RB | 22 | 3 |
| 20 | Kenyan Drake | MIA | RB | 23 | 3 |
| 21 | Alex Collins | BAL | RB | 21 | 0 |
| 22 | T.J. Yeldon | JAC | RB | 24 | 2 |
| 23 | Wendell Smallwood | PHI | RB | 32 | 9 |
| 24 | Kenjon Barner | NE | RB | 40 | 16 |
| 25 | Chris Carson | SEA | RB | 19 | -6 |
| 26 | Latavius Murray | MIN | RB | 20 | -6 |
| 27 | Matt Breida | SF | RB | 48 | 21 |
| 28 | Aaron Jones | GB | RB | 30 | 2 |
| 29 | Corey Clement | PHI | RB | 31 | 2 |
| 30 | Doug Martin | OAK | RB | 25 | -5 |
| 31 | Ronald Jones II | TB | RB | 35 | 4 |
| 32 | Jalen Richard | OAK | RB | 27 | -5 |
| 33 | Frank Gore | MIA | RB | 36 | 3 |
| 34 | Chris Ivory | BUF | RB | 28 | -6 |
| 35 | Chris Thompson | WAS | RB | 29 | -6 |
| 36 | Raheem Mostert | SF | RB | 26 | -10 |
| 37 | Duke Johnson | CLE | RB | 34 | -3 |
| 38 | Carlos Hyde | JAC | RB | 33 | -5 |
| 39 | Peyton Barber | TB | RB | 37 | -2 |
| 40 | Javorius Allen | BAL | RB | 39 | -1 |
| 41 | Jamaal Williams | GB | RB | 45 | 4 |
| 42 | Royce Freeman | DEN | RB | 38 | -4 |
| 43 | LeSean McCoy | BUF | RB | 56 | 13 |
| 44 | Rashaad Penny | SEA | RB | 47 | 3 |
| 45 | LeGarrette Blount | DET | RB | 42 | -3 |
| 46 | Nyheim Hines | IND | RB | 41 | -5 |
| 47 | Sony Michel | NE | RB | 71 | 24 |
| 48 | Ty Montgomery | GB | RB | 46 | -2 |
| 49 | Mike Davis | SEA | RB | 43 | -6 |
| 50 | Kyle Juszczyk | SF | RB | 53 | 3 |
| 51 | Deandre Washington | OAK | RB | 64 | 13 |
| 52 | Trenton Cannon | NYJ | RB | 52 | 0 |
| 53 | Alfred Blue | HOU | RB | 50 | -3 |
| 54 | Devontae Booker | DEN | RB | 54 | 0 |
| 55 | Mark Walton | CIN | RB | 60 | 5 |
| 56 | Spencer Ware | KC | RB | 51 | -5 |
| 57 | Theo Riddick | DET | RB | 61 | 4 |
| 58 | Malcolm Brown | LAR | RB | 59 | 1 |
| 59 | Chase Edmonds | ARI | RB | 63 | 4 |
| 60 | Wayne Gallman | NYG | RB | 62 | 2 |
| 61 | C.J. Anderson | CAR | RB | 55 | -6 |
| 62 | Marcus Murphy | BUF | RB | 49 | -13 |
| 63 | Josh Adams | PHI | RB | 65 | 2 |
| 64 | Alfred Morris | SF | RB | 44 | -20 |
| 65 | Kapri Bibbs | WAS | RB | 57 | -8 |
| 66 | Gus Edwards | BAL | RB | 75 | 9 |
| 67 | Tyler Ervin | HOU | RB | 69 | 2 |
| 68 | Jordan Wilkins | IND | RB | 58 | -10 |
| 69 | Samaje Perine | WAS | RB | 79 | 10 |
| 70 | Anthony Sherman | KC | RB | 74 | 4 |
| 71 | James Develin | NE | RB | 81 | 10 |
| 72 | Alex Armah | CAR | RB | 91 | 19 |
| 73 | Andy Janovich | DEN | RB | 84 | 11 |
| 74 | Jacquizz Rodgers | TB | RB | 66 | -8 |
| 75 | Ameer Abdullah | DET | RB | 73 | -2 |
| 76 | Damien Williams | KC | RB | 82 | 6 |
| 77 | Roc Thomas | MIN | RB | 70 | -7 |
| 78 | Mike Boone | MIN | RB | 68 | -10 |
| 79 | Tommy Bohanon | JAC | RB | 92 | 13 |
| 80 | Benny Cunningham | CHI | RB | 78 | -2 |
| 81 | CJ Ham | MIN | RB | 72 | -9 |
| 82 | Patrick DiMarco | BUF | RB | 87 | 5 |
| 83 | Ryan Hewitt | IND | RB | 97 | 14 |
| 84 | Kalen Ballage | MIA | RB | 83 | -1 |
| 85 | Zach Line | NO | RB | 98 | 13 |
Week 8 Wide Receivers - Rankings Analysis
No WR stands out to me in the top-30, but I will say that I currently have Will Fuller at 19 against an ECR of 22. The only thing holding me back is the aforementioned worry about Watson’s passing volume, but I can’t ignore Fuller’s potential with Coutee out. DeAndre Hopkins is a monster and can rarely be pulled out of the weekly top-10 no matter what, but I’m sure most of you have seen Fuller’s splits with/without Coutee in the lineup by now.
In case you haven’t noticed, Fuller hasn’t eclipsed 70 yards with Coutee in versus two 100+ yard performances with a touchdown in two games without. Plus, Hopkins will draw Xavien Howard so that Fuller can routinely burn the slower Bobby McCain.
On the other side of the ball, most will be drawn to Danny Amendola’s safe floor on the inside against backup Houston fill-in Shareece Wright, but I’m most interested in Jakeem Grant (my WR38 against ECR WR57). Grant flashed on radars with a 2-70-2 line in Week 3 but had been pushed out by Albert Wilson in most three-wide sets. With Wilson (and Kenny Stills) out, it’ll be Grant, Amendola and Devante Parker for Miami. Grant turned in a 70% snap count last week and no Houston DB can keep up with his wheels.
It’s become popular to rag on Jacksonville’s defense and pick on star DB Jalen Ramsey after he was sonned by DeAndre Hopkins (that helmet-slap inside move, oy), but Hopkins, one of the best WRs in the game, still only posted a 3-50-1 line on eight targets. Anyway, the point here is that Alshon Jeffery is at 31 for me against an ECR of 25.
I love what Jeffery’s done so far and am very happy with drafting him in season-long leagues, but Ramsey and A.J. Bouye are big bodies on the perimeter. Jeffery’s only poor game of ‘18 came against Minnesota when Xavier Rhodes held him to 2-39-0 on eight targets. Again, this isn’t a start/sit article and most of us don’t have three or four other top-30 WRs to plug in, but I don’t see a top-25 setup in Week 8.
| Rank | Player Name | Team | Position | ECR | vs. ECR |
| 1 | Antonio Brown | PIT | WR | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Adam Thielen | MIN | WR | 1 | -1 |
| 3 | Tyreek Hill | KC | WR | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | A.J. Green | CIN | WR | 3 | -1 |
| 5 | DeAndre Hopkins | HOU | WR | 5 | 0 |
| 6 | Odell Beckham Jr. | NYG | WR | 8 | 2 |
| 7 | Davante Adams | GB | WR | 6 | -1 |
| 8 | Michael Thomas | NO | WR | 7 | -1 |
| 9 | Robert Woods | LAR | WR | 9 | 0 |
| 10 | Juju Smith-Schuster | PIT | WR | 10 | 0 |
| 11 | Brandin Cooks | LAR | WR | 11 | 0 |
| 12 | Mike Evans | TB | WR | 13 | 1 |
| 13 | Stefon Diggs | MIN | WR | 12 | -1 |
| 14 | Jarvis Landry | CLE | WR | 16 | 2 |
| 15 | Tyler Boyd | CIN | WR | 17 | 2 |
| 16 | Emmanuel Sanders | DEN | WR | 14 | -2 |
| 17 | Golden Tate | DET | WR | 18 | 1 |
| 18 | Kenny Golladay | DET | WR | 19 | 1 |
| 19 | Will Fuller | HOU | WR | 22 | 3 |
| 20 | T.Y. Hilton | IND | WR | 15 | -5 |
| 21 | John Brown | BAL | WR | 20 | -1 |
| 22 | Josh Gordon | NE | WR | 21 | -1 |
| 23 | Doug Baldwin | SEA | WR | 24 | 1 |
| 24 | Julian Edelman | NE | WR | 23 | -1 |
| 25 | Tyler Lockett | SEA | WR | 26 | 1 |
| 26 | Demaryius Thomas | DEN | WR | 27 | 1 |
| 27 | Marvin Jones | DET | WR | 28 | 1 |
| 28 | Allen Robinson | CHI | WR | 31 | 3 |
| 29 | Sammy Watkins | KC | WR | 33 | 4 |
| 30 | Michael Crabtree | BAL | WR | 29 | -1 |
| 31 | Alshon Jeffery | PHI | WR | 25 | -6 |
| 32 | Taylor Gabriel | CHI | WR | 35 | 3 |
| 33 | DeSean Jackson | TB | WR | 30 | -3 |
| 34 | Sterling Shepard | NYG | WR | 34 | 0 |
| 35 | Jordy Nelson | OAK | WR | 36 | 1 |
| 36 | Devin Funchess | CAR | WR | 32 | -4 |
| 37 | Donte Moncrief | JAC | WR | 48 | 11 |
| 38 | Jakeem Grant | MIA | WR | 57 | 19 |
| 39 | Christian Kirk | ARI | WR | 40 | 1 |
| 40 | Chris Godwin | TB | WR | 38 | -2 |
| 41 | Geronimo Allison | GB | WR | 37 | -4 |
| 42 | Marquise Goodwin | SF | WR | 41 | -1 |
| 43 | Robby Anderson | NYJ | WR | 39 | -4 |
| 44 | Tre'Quan Smith | NO | WR | 42 | -2 |
| 45 | Nelson Agholor | PHI | WR | 47 | 2 |
| 46 | Larry Fitzgerald | ARI | WR | 43 | -3 |
| 47 | Jermaine Kearse | NYJ | WR | 53 | 6 |
| 48 | Dede Westbrook | JAC | WR | 46 | -2 |
| 49 | Danny Amendola | MIA | WR | 45 | -4 |
| 50 | Courtland Sutton | DEN | WR | 50 | 0 |
| 51 | Keelan Cole | JAC | WR | 44 | -7 |
| 52 | Devante Parker | MIA | WR | 65 | 13 |
| 53 | Martavis Bryant | OAK | WR | 51 | -2 |
| 54 | Randall Cobb | GB | WR | 52 | -2 |
| 55 | Willie Snead | BAL | WR | 56 | 1 |
| 56 | Chris Hogan | NE | WR | 49 | -7 |
| 57 | Kelvin Benjamin | BUF | WR | 55 | -2 |
| 58 | Antonio Callaway | CLE | WR | 58 | 0 |
| 59 | Chester Rogers | IND | WR | 54 | -5 |
| 60 | Cameron Meredith | NO | WR | 62 | 2 |
| 61 | Damion Ratley | CLE | WR | 69 | 8 |
| 62 | Anthony Miller | CHI | WR | 60 | -2 |
| 63 | Pierre Garcon | SF | WR | 66 | 3 |
| 64 | David Moore | SEA | WR | 64 | 0 |
| 65 | Seth Roberts | OAK | WR | 68 | 3 |
| 66 | Ryan Grant | IND | WR | 72 | 6 |
| 67 | Josh Doctson | WAS | WR | 59 | -8 |
| 68 | Zay Jones | BUF | WR | 67 | -1 |
| 69 | Josh Reynolds | LAR | WR | 70 | 1 |
| 70 | Paul Richardson | WAS | WR | 75 | 5 |
| 71 | Adam Humphries | TB | WR | 74 | 3 |
| 72 | Marquez Valdes-Scantling | GB | WR | 63 | -9 |
| 73 | Maurice Harris | WAS | WR | 73 | 0 |
| 74 | D.J. Moore | CAR | WR | 61 | -13 |
| 75 | Laquon Treadwell | MIN | WR | 88 | 13 |
| 76 | Torrey Smith | CAR | WR | 80 | 4 |
| 77 | Chris Conley | KC | WR | 76 | -1 |
| 78 | Andre Holmes | BUF | WR | 91 | 13 |
| 79 | Chad Williams | ARI | WR | 81 | 2 |
| 80 | Andre Roberts | NYJ | WR | 84 | 4 |
| 81 | Jordan Matthews | PHI | WR | 83 | 2 |
| 82 | Zach Pascal | IND | WR | 95 | 13 |
| 83 | Jarius Wright | CAR | WR | 87 | 4 |
| 84 | Sammie Coates | HOU | WR | 109 | 25 |
| 85 | Brian Quick | WAS | WR | 103 | 18 |
| 86 | Demarcus Robinson | KC | WR | 90 | 4 |
| 87 | D.J. Chark | JAC | WR | 93 | 6 |
| 88 | Trent Taylor | SF | WR | 78 | -10 |
| 89 | Jamison Crowder | WAS | WR | 79 | -10 |
| 90 | Alex Erickson | CIN | WR | 98 | 8 |
| 91 | Equanimeous St. Brown | GB | WR | 102 | 11 |
| 92 | Aldrick Robinson | MIN | WR | 92 | 0 |
| 93 | Brandon Marshall | SEA | WR | 89 | -4 |
| 94 | Cordarrelle Patterson | NE | WR | 71 | -23 |
| 95 | Michael Floyd | WAS | WR | 97 | 2 |
| 96 | Phillip Dorsett | NE | WR | 77 | -19 |
| 97 | TJ Jones | DET | WR | 99 | 2 |
| 98 | Breshad Perriman | CLE | WR | 101 | 3 |
| 99 | J.J. Nelson | ARI | WR | 107 | 8 |
| 100 | Curtis Samuel | CAR | WR | 85 | -15 |
| 101 | Khadarel Hodge | LAR | WR | 120 | 19 |
| 102 | Austin Carr | NO | WR | 100 | -2 |
| 103 | Brandon LaFell | OAK | WR | 116 | 13 |
| 104 | Daesean Hamilton | DEN | WR | 114 | 10 |
| 105 | Kendrick Bourne | SF | WR | 108 | 3 |
| 106 | Charone Peake | NYJ | WR | 104 | -2 |
| 107 | Russell Shepard | NYG | WR | 122 | 15 |
| 108 | Chris Moore | BAL | WR | 105 | -3 |
| 109 | Dontrelle Inman | IND | WR | 118 | 9 |
| 110 | Josh Bellamy | CHI | WR | 115 | 5 |
| 111 | Nick Williams | LAR | WR | 126 | 15 |
| 112 | Victor Bolden Jr. | SF | WR | 134 | 22 |
| 113 | Kevin White | CHI | WR | 112 | -1 |
| 114 | Richie James | SF | WR | 129 | 15 |
| 115 | Josh Malone | CIN | WR | 135 | 20 |
| 116 | Tim Patrick | DEN | WR | 119 | 3 |
| 117 | Kamar Aiken | PHI | WR | 139 | 22 |
| 118 | Shelton Gibson | PHI | WR | 130 | 12 |
| 119 | Deandre Carter | PHI | WR | 132 | 13 |
| 120 | Cody Core | CIN | WR | 125 | 5 |
| 121 | Bennie Fowler | NYG | WR | 124 | 3 |
Week 8 Tight Ends - Rankings Analysis
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense is quickly becoming a flowchart team, which means if the answer to “Is this player going against Tampa Bay?” is “Yes!” then you play them. Uzomah has played on at least 92% of Cincinnati’s snaps since Tyler Eifert went down in Week 4 with at least 40 yards or a touchdown in each of those. Mix that with how the Bucs have given up the most fantasy points to TEs in ‘18 -- “good” for a collective 40-538-4 across six games -- and now they’ve lost middle linebacker Kwon Alexander to a torn ACL
The biggest TE fade for me is Jordan Reed, who I have at 13 against an ECR of 10. This takes him out of starting territory in 12-teamers, though I recognize most won’t want to sit him. I’d rather play Vance McDonald over him, for what it’s worth. Washington had Chris Thompson, Jamison Crowder and Paul Richardson out in Week 7, yet Reed saw just four targets in a tight game against the Cowboys. He hasn’t topped 50 yards since Week 1 and I’m trying to unhinge from those amazing top-three TE days from 2015.
| Rank | Player Name | Team | Position | ECR | vs. ECR |
| 1 | Travis Kelce | KC | TE | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | Rob Gronkowski | NE | TE | 11 | 9 |
| 3 | Zach Ertz | PHI | TE | 2 | -1 |
| 4 | George Kittle | SF | TE | 3 | -1 |
| 5 | Jared Cook | OAK | TE | 6 | 1 |
| 6 | David Njoku | CLE | TE | 5 | -1 |
| 7 | Eric Ebron | IND | TE | 4 | -3 |
| 8 | Jimmy Graham | GB | TE | 7 | -1 |
| 9 | Trey Burton | CHI | TE | 8 | -1 |
| 10 | O.J. Howard | TB | TE | 9 | -1 |
| 11 | C.J. Uzomah | CIN | TE | 15 | 4 |
| 12 | Vance McDonald | PIT | TE | 13 | 1 |
| 13 | Jordan Reed | WAS | TE | 10 | -3 |
| 14 | Kyle Rudolph | MIN | TE | 12 | -2 |
| 15 | Evan Engram | NYG | TE | 14 | -1 |
| 16 | Greg Olsen | CAR | TE | 16 | 0 |
| 17 | Benjamin Watson | NO | TE | 17 | 0 |
| 18 | Ricky Seals-Jones | ARI | TE | 18 | 0 |
| 19 | Charles Clay | BUF | TE | 20 | 1 |
| 20 | Mike Gesicki | MIA | TE | 28 | 8 |
| 21 | Jack Doyle | IND | TE | 31 | 10 |
| 22 | Chris Herndon IV | NYJ | TE | 22 | 0 |
| 23 | Dallas Goedert | PHI | TE | 21 | -2 |
| 24 | Cameron Brate | TB | TE | 19 | -5 |
| 25 | Jeff Heuerman | DEN | TE | 23 | -2 |
| 26 | Nick Vannett | SEA | TE | 27 | 1 |
| 27 | Nick O'Leary | MIA | TE | 32 | 5 |
| 28 | Jesse James | PIT | TE | 24 | -4 |
| 29 | Jordan Akins | HOU | TE | 38 | 9 |
| 30 | Vernon Davis | WAS | TE | 25 | -5 |
| 31 | Demetrius Harris | KC | TE | 34 | 3 |
| 32 | Mark Andrews | BAL | TE | 26 | -6 |
| 33 | Gerald Everett | LAR | TE | 29 | -4 |
| 34 | Michael Roberts | DET | TE | 35 | 1 |
| 35 | Luke Willson | DET | TE | 39 | 4 |
| 36 | Hayden Hurst | BAL | TE | 33 | -3 |
| 37 | David Grinnage | JAC | TE | 36 | -1 |
| 38 | Neal Sterling | NYJ | TE | 42 | 4 |
| 39 | Blake Bell | JAC | TE | 65 | 26 |
| 40 | Erik Swoope | IND | TE | 30 | -10 |
| 41 | Jordan Thomas | HOU | TE | 43 | 2 |
| 42 | Tyler Higbee | LAR | TE | 41 | -1 |
| 43 | Jermaine Gresham | ARI | TE | 46 | 3 |
| 44 | Matt LaCosse | DEN | TE | 49 | 5 |
| 45 | Jason Croom | BUF | TE | 44 | -1 |
| 46 | Nick Boyle | BAL | TE | 40 | -6 |
| 47 | Josh Hill | NO | TE | 37 | -10 |
| 48 | Maxx Williams | BAL | TE | 45 | -3 |
| 49 | Eric Tomlinson | NYJ | TE | 51 | 2 |
| 50 | Dwayne Allen | NE | TE | 57 | 7 |
| 51 | Levine Toilolo | DET | TE | 59 | 8 |
| 52 | Jordan Leggett | NYJ | TE | 47 | -5 |
| 53 | Logan Thomas | BUF | TE | 50 | -3 |
| 54 | Antony Auclair | TB | TE | 68 | 14 |
| 55 | Mo Alie-Cox | IND | TE | 56 | 1 |
| 56 | David Morgan | MIN | TE | 58 | 2 |
| 57 | Dion Sims | CHI | TE | 64 | 7 |
| 58 | Scott Simonson | NYG | TE | 70 | 12 |
| 59 | Joshua Perkins | PHI | TE | 77 | 18 |
| 60 | Durham Smythe | MIA | TE | 75 | 15 |
| 61 | Chris Manhertz | CAR | TE | 78 | 17 |
| 62 | Brian Parker | DEN | TE | 76 | 14 |
Week 8 Kickers - Rankings Analysis
I’m testing this out to see if anyone cares, but those of you who utilize kickers might enjoy my being ranked fourth in K rankings per FantasyPros. I do believe it’s an art form and that streaming both kickers and defenses are extremely important (where applicable).
I wish FP counted kickers and defense into the overall accuracy ratings, but oh well. Anyway, I just want to point out that I’m three slots higher on Randy Bullock (5 vs. 8), seven on Adam Vinatieri (6 vs. 13) and two on Chris Boswell (7 vs. 9). The only real sinkers are Justin Tucker (8 vs. 4) and Wil Lutz (10 vs. 6).
If this proves at all interesting to anyone then let me know and we can expand this section, or maybe kickers are just kickers and no one’s here to read about it. You tell me!
| Rank | Player Name | Team | Position | ECR | vs. ECR |
| 1 | Harrison Butker | KC | K | 2 | 1 |
| 2 | Greg Zuerlein | LAR | K | 1 | -1 |
| 3 | Stephen Gostkowski | NE | K | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Dan Bailey | MIN | K | 5 | 1 |
| 5 | Randy Bullock | CIN | K | 8 | 3 |
| 6 | Adam Vinatieri | IND | K | 13 | 7 |
| 7 | Chris Boswell | PIT | K | 9 | 2 |
| 8 | Justin Tucker | BAL | K | 4 | -4 |
| 9 | Matt Prater | DET | K | 7 | -2 |
| 10 | Wil Lutz | NO | K | 6 | -4 |
| 11 | Ka'imi Fairbairn | HOU | K | 10 | -1 |
| 12 | Mason Crosby | GB | K | 11 | -1 |
| 13 | Cody Parkey | CHI | K | 12 | -1 |
| 14 | Dustin Hopkins | WAS | K | 17 | 3 |
| 15 | Sebastian Janikowski | SEA | K | 20 | 5 |
| 16 | Daniel Carlson | OAK | K | 25 | 9 |
| 17 | Robbie Gould | SF | K | 15 | -2 |
| 18 | Chandler Catanzaro | TB | K | 16 | -2 |
| 19 | Jake Elliott | PHI | K | 14 | -5 |
| 20 | Brandon McManus | DEN | K | 18 | -2 |
| 21 | Phil Dawson | ARI | K | 22 | 1 |
| 22 | Graham Gano | CAR | K | 19 | -3 |
| 23 | Josh Lambo | JAC | K | 23 | 0 |
| 24 | Aldrick Rosas | NYG | K | 21 | -3 |
| 25 | Greg Joseph | CLE | K | 26 | 1 |
| 26 | Jason Sanders | MIA | K | 27 | 1 |
| 27 | Jason Myers | NYJ | K | 24 | -3 |
| 28 | Steven Hauschka | BUF | K | 29 | 1 |
More Fantasy Football Analysis
Check out all of RotoBaller's fantasy football rankings. Staff rankings are updated regularly for all positions and include standard formats, PPR scoring, tiered rankings and dynasty leagues.
