The Yahoo Fantasy Football squad shares their most audacious predictions for Week 8. Let’s see what Scott Pianowski, Matt Harmon, Ray Garvin, Justin Boone and Joel Smyth are thinking.
J.K. Dobbins concludes the week as a top-five fantasy running back
Despite starting the season with touchdowns in four of the initial five weeks, Dobbins is positioned as RB21 in fantasy points per game, following two quieter performances where he didn’t reach the end zone. Fortunately, his Week 8 opponent, Dallas, has been a boon for running backs, conceding the fifth-most fantasy points to the position. Prior to last week’s contest against a depleted Commanders lineup, the Cowboys permitted five of the six starters they encountered to achieve notable fantasy results, including Rico Dowdle (239 scrimmage yards, TD), Breece Hall (155 yards), Josh Jacobs (157 yards, two TDs), Cam Skattebo (59 yards, TD) and Saquon Barkley (84 yards, TD).
Dobbins is poised to deliver his standout performance of the season, in a match where the Broncos are favored at their home venue, and which boasts the highest anticipated point total on the schedule. — Justin Boone
Bijan Robinson amasses 200-plus scrimmage yards against Miami
This week, Bijan Robinson reminds everyone of his exceptional abilities. After being contained by San Francisco for a mere 40 rushing yards on 2.9 yards per attempt, Robinson encounters the most favorable matchup possible against a Miami Dolphins defense that struggles to halt ground plays. The Dolphins are relinquishing nearly 160 rushing yards per game and exceeding 5.0 yards per carry — both the worst statistics in the NFL. They’ve conceded 34 runs of 10-plus yards, the only team yielding more than 2.0 yards before contact and exceeding 3.0 yards after contact.
This presents a challenging scenario against a back possessing Bijan’s agility, vision, and equilibrium. Miami frequently stacks the box with defenders, but when employing eight defenders and still failing to make tackles, the result is the creation of explosive plays.
This is the ideal opportunity for a rebound. Robinson performs exceptionally well, accumulating over 200 scrimmage yards and securing the RB1 position in Week 8. — Ray Garvin
Week 8’s top-five WR rankings will include Zay Flowers (contingent on Lamar Jackson’s return)
Despite the Ravens’ 1-5 record, they remain near co-favorites with the Steelers to claim the AFC North title. There is still time for improvement, provided Lamar Jackson remains healthy. If Jackson is healthy, Zay Flowers will benefit significantly.
Passes from Jackson to Flowers have achieved 10.9 YPS and a 121.3 rating this year, which are outstanding figures. This week, Flowers faces a struggling Chicago secondary that was recently exploited by Chris Olave. While it might require some faith in Jackson’s condition and sharpness, if he is playing, Flowers has the potential to excel.
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Expect over 100 yards and at least one touchdown for Flowers, positioning him among the top five receivers for the week. — Scott Pianowski
Alec Pierce enters the top-20 receivers
Regardless of my personal view on Pierce as a player, it seems somewhat strange that a player who is frequently on the field for one of the NFL’s most effective offenses is only rostered in 25% of Yahoo leagues. This is particularly relevant as we approach a week filled with bye weeks. I recently noted that Pierce has made substantial improvements. Pierce’s air yards per target remains above 21 for the second consecutive year, which I believe distracts from his development. He’s receiving downfield opportunities that involve more in-breaking routes, instead of solely relying on low-percentage go routes near the boundary. Pierce has achieved a career-high average of 25 yards per game on receptions between the numbers this season.
In Week 8, he will compete against a Titans team that permits the most yards per target on passes between 10-19 air yards (11.3) and the fifth-most on passes of 20+ (17.5). Pierce is among only five wide receivers with over 300 yards who have not scored a touchdown (along with Ricky Pearsall, Kendrick Bourne, Jakobi Meyers, and Stefon Diggs). That situation will change in Week 8, aiding fantasy managers through a week with several key receivers on bye. — Matt Harmon
Aaron Rodgers finally targets DK Metcalf near the goal line again
Ultimately, Aaron Rodgers acts according to his own preferences. It wasn’t always Matthew Stafford throwing numerous one-yard TDs to Davante Adams; it was Rodgers. How often did we observe the MVP QB altering plays at the goal line to quickly pass to his WR1? We have seen less of it this season, with Metcalf only having one goal-line target this year, a TD against the Seahawks, his former team.
Now, Rodgers faces his former team, which excels in defending against the run. If the Steelers advance inside the five-yard line, it will be intriguing to witness Rodgers changing the play at the line of scrimmage and throwing to Metcalf, ideally for a TD. — Joel Smyth
Courtland Sutton ranks within the top 12 for Week 8
Amidst the Broncos’ remarkable comeback, Courtland Sutton’s significance within the offense should not be overlooked. While his performance has been inconsistent, Sutton leads Bo Nix’s receivers in targets during clear passing situations (30.9%), when Nix is under pressure (27.3%), and ranks second in red-zone opportunities (22.0%). No other Denver receiver runs more routes, and Sutton operates in the area of the field where fantasy points are most frequently scored.
Through seven games, the Cowboys have conceded the second-most passing TDs (16), with 12 of those going to receivers. Additionally, Dallas allows the fourth-most receiving yards to perimeter receivers. CB Trevon Diggs, whom Sutton is likely to face despite Dallas primarily employing zone coverage, has allowed the fourth-highest reception rate and is tied for the fourth-most TDs allowed. Sutton leads Denver in yards per route run against zone coverage and has the necessary rapport with Nix to exploit the matchup. Despite Nix’s inconsistencies as a passer, Sutton has a favorable path to a top-12 finish in Week 8. — Chris Allen
