Jason’s HOT or NOT: Week 8 Sit/Start (2020 Fantasy Football)

HOT or NOT (Sit / Start)
Written By Jason Shallcross

As always, here’s my weekly list of players I’m higher and lower on this week in fantasy football. I try to involve as many fringe players as possible in case you need a plug-and-play flex player or a viable end-of-the-bench stash as we move into bye weeks.

HOT Quarterbacks in Week 8

Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina Panthers vs. Falcons

Teddy Bridgewater torched the Falcons for 313 yards and a pair of scores in week five. The Falcons, who are giving up the most yards per pass attempt in the league (8.5), will be taken advantage of again Thursday night. I expect Teddy to finish inside the top 12, weather-permitting. He makes a great streaming candidate in week eight.

Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders @ Browns

Derek Carr, or ‘Mr. Reliable’ this year, should finish with 20+ points against the Browns this weekend. Carr has put up 19 or more points in all but two of his games through the first seven weeks of the season and has put up double-digit scores every week. He goes up against the Browns this weekend, who are giving up the second-most pass attempts per game (40.9) and the third-most opponent passing yards per game (288). Carr should finish with 250+ passing yards and a pair of scores.

There’s gonna be a whole lot of this:

Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers @ Seahawks

I have one rule in fantasy football this season, and it’s to start whoever faces the Seahawks. That means fire up Jimmy Garoppolo. Seattle is horrendously bad at defense, giving up the most passing yards per game (368.7), the most completions per game (30), and the fifth-most yards per pass attempt (7.7). He’s currently QB29 and rostered in 23% of leagues.

Honorable Mentions

You can do a lot worse than streaming Baker Mayfield this weekend, who threw for five touchdowns last week against the Bengals.

NOT Quarterbacks in Week 8

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions vs. Colts

What a down year for Matthew Stafford. Pegged as a top-12 quarterback by Alex and I going into the season, it doesn’t look like he's going to make it happen. He faces the Colts this weekend, who are giving up the fewest FPPG to quarterbacks (11.7). Not so fun stat: Stafford has produced more than 20 fantasy points in just one game this year. Look elsewhere.

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints @ Bears

Fade the quarterback facing the Chicago Bears, even if it’s future Hall of Famer Drew Brees. The Bears are giving up the second-fewest FPPG to quarterbacks (12.42) and the 4th-lowest amount of yards per pass attempt (6.2). Brees, averaging 18.8 FPPG so far this season, will be lucky to hit that mark against Chicago while missing Thomas, Sanders, and Callaway.

Daniel Jones, New York Giants vs. Buccaneers

What a rough year so far for Danny Jones, who has gone for more than 20 fantasy points just once this season. Jones is facing the Bucs this week, who are giving up the 3rd-fewest FPPG to quarterbacks. Sterling Shepard should return, but that won't be enough to move the needle. He’ll be lucky to put up 15 points this weekend.

You thought I could write a paragraph on Daniel Jones without showing this?

Honorable Mention

Big Ben just goes up against arguably the league’s best defense in the Ravens, who just added Yannick Ngakoue. Hard Pass.

HOT Running Backs in Week 8

Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings @ Packers

HE’S BACK, HE’S BAAAAACK! Dalvin Cook is baaaaack! Still RB5 after missing two weeks (one injury, one bye), Cook returns to lineups this weekend against the Green Bay Packers, who are giving up the most fantasy points to running backs. The ‘Chef’ is going to Cook the Packers and is my #1 ranked RB this weekend. Giddy up.

James Conner, Pittsburgh Steelers @ Ravens

Yes, the Ravens have a great defense as they have given up the sixth-fewest FPPG to running backs, but hear me out. They allow the most yards per rush attempt in the league (5.4). If any team is going to keep up with Baltimore, it’s the Steelers. Sustained drives mean a lot of James Conner, who has ran well since his week one injury scare. I think he gets into the end zone this weekend.

Man has Conner looked good this year.

Todd Gurley, Atlanta Falcons @ Panthers

Todd Gurley is RB8 (RB11 in average FPPG). Unbelievable. With the Panthers on tap this week, who are giving up the third-most FPPG to running backs, look for Gurley to keep the good times rolling. Can you believe he’s had 20+ carries in back-to-back weeks? Arthritis what?

Honorable Mentions

There’s a world where Andy Reid gets Le’Veon Bell multiple scores against his former team this weekend.

NOT Running Backs in Week 8

Justin Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers @ Broncos

A split backfield with a beat up offensive line against the Broncos, who are giving up the third-fewest FPPG to running backs (17.5), makes me lower expectations for Justin Jackson this week. He averaged a whopping 2.4 yards per carry against the Jaguars last week. It isn’t going to get much better against the Broncos.

Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys @ Eagles

How far the mighty have fallen. The Dallas offensive line is filled with replacements, Andy Dalton probably won’t play (listed as doubtful for week eight), and Ben DiNucci, a rookie seventh-round pick out of James Madison, hasn’t inspired anyone on offense. Put that together and place it in front of the Eagles, who have a top-five rated defensive line according to Pro Football Focus, and I think Zeke amounts to a flex play this weekend. Oof.

I have to show this hit one more time.

David Montgomery, Chicago Bears vs. Saints

Don’t expect much from David Montgomery this weekend with the Saints coming to town. New Orleans, allowing the third-lowest yards per rush attempt (3.5) and eighth-fewest FPPG to running backs, will be all the Bears and David Montgomery can handle this weekend. Montgomery, currently RB20, should be on your benches.

Honorable Mentions

You spent all that FAAB on Carlos Hyde just for him to go up against the 49ers, who are giving up the fewest FPPG to running backs in the league. Congratulations.

Edit - Deejay Dallas.

HOT Pass Catchers in Week 8

Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals vs. Titans

This is going to be a fun game to watch. The Titans are giving up the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers (46), the fourth-most completions per game (26.2), and the seventh-most passing yards per game (272). Meanwhile, Cincinnati is averaging the second-most pass attempts per game (42) and the 12th-most passing yards per game (262.3). They are going to absolutely feast on the Titans secondary and are one of the few teams that have three viable wide receivers in fantasy.

Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers vs. Vikings

Davante Adams has 26 targets in his last two games, including 16 against Houston last week that he was able to turn into a 13/196/2 line. Incredible. The guy is a week winner and a league winner. This week he and the Packers take on the Vikings, who are giving up the fourth-most passing yards per game and the third-most yards per pass attempt. I am drooling.

WOW

Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers @ Seahawks

The Seahawks are giving up the fifth-most yards per pass attempt (7.7) and the most FPPG to receivers (60.1). As someone with a ton of Deebo shares, it breaks my heart to write about Brandon Aiyuk this week. So it goes. With Deebo leaving early last week against the Patriots, Aiyuk was able to manage six receptions for 115 yards on seven targets. Imagine what that could mean for him this weekend. I have Aiyuk ranked as a top-15 play and am starting him everywhere this weekend.

Honorable Mentions

Start Kendrick Bourne if you’re desperate. The Seahawks are that bad. And Richard Rogers should excel against the Cowboys this weekend as Dallas is giving up the 10th-most FPPG to tight ends.

NOT Pass Catchers in Week 8

Tre’Quan Smith, New Orleans Saints @ Bears

I’m staying away from Tre’Quan Smith even with Michael Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, and Marquez Callaway ruled out this weekend. The Bears defense is that good, currently tied for third in fewest yards per pass attempt (6.2) and allowing the fourth-fewest FPPG to receivers. Nope.

Kenny Golladay, Detroit Lions vs. Colts

The Colts defense is getting it done this season and has been great against the pass. They’re tied with the Bears in allowing the third-fewest yards per pass attempt (6.2), and the Lions have continued to turn to the run on offense. Hope for WR2 production from Golladay this weekend.

DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins vs. Rams

With Jalen Ramsey staring him in the face and a rookie quarterback making his first start in Tua Tagovailoa, I’m not expecting much out of DeVante Parker this weekend. The Rams are allowing the fewest yards per pass attempt (5.9) and are giving up the second-fewest FPPG to receivers. Sit DeVante this weekend and watch what lefty can do before reinserting Parker into your lineups.

Honorable Mentions

Tyler Higbee’s mediocre season continues against the Rams this weekend, who are giving up the second-fewest FPPG to TEs. I’d drop him to pick up Richard Rogers and Dallas Goedert if they’re available.

Jason Shallcross
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