Tony Cutillo
The scenarios played out so far this year have left owners, players and analysts scratch their heads more than “Pigpen” from Charlie Brown. Many owners have hired search parties to help them find the talent their top draft picks seems to lack and the diamond in the rough buried in a heap of misfits. This has surely been a challenge we were all ready for, but still have trouble mastering.
With every fumble, injury and disappointing performance, new fantasy stars are risen. Guys like Hightower, Rogers, Hoyer and Henry have all been atop the point charts at one time or another over the first eight weeks. If you could have foreseen this, than you need to find a publisher and get your Nostradamus sequel ready for 2017.
We have now entered the part of the season where the risks should be at a minimum and your weekly starters should be locked in. Let’s take a look at the recap for week 8 below to see how some of the old reliables fared and how the rest of the “Big Name” guys disappointed again.
Standout Stars
QB
- Derek Carr.…513 yds 4 TD
- Aaron Rodgers……246 yds 4 TD, 60 Rush yds
- Tom Brady……315 yds 4 TD
RB
- Jordan Howard….153 yds…1 TD…..4 rec, 49 yds
- Theo Riddick……..56 yds…8 rec, 77 yds, 1 TD
- Jonathan Stewart…..95 yds…2 TD
WR/TE
- Amari Cooper…..12 rec, 173 yds, 1 TD
- J.J. Nelson.…..8 rec, 79 yds, 2 TD
- Jamison Crowder…..9 rec, 107 yds, 1 TD
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Substandard Stiffs
QB
- Russell Wilson….253 yds 1 INT
- Cam Newton…..212 yds
- Brock Osweiler….. 186 yds 1 INT/1 TD
RB
- Mark Ingram…..ZERO…BENCHED
- James White……15 yds…..2 rec 14 yds
- Spencer Ware…..19 yds….2 rec, 28 yds
WR/TE
- Greg Olson.…..1 rec, 5 yds
- TY Hilton…..1 rec, 20 yds
- Will Fuller……1 rec, 23 yds
Surprise Performers
Jamison Crowder – With an aging Pierre Garcon and a guy who pops a hammy just getting out of bed in Desean Jackson, the Redskins offense is looking for a reliable target. In his 2nd year, Jamison he showing why he was a value pick in the 4th round of the 2015 draft. He has scored in double digits in 6 out of 8 games this year and will exceed his target total of 2015 in the next few weeks. With the ability to be used all over the field, Crowder will be a fantasy asset for the rest of the year.
Tyler Eifert – It has been a long awaited arrival, but Tyler showed his owners it was worth it. Whether you drafted him or picked him up from the owner who couldn’t wait, your reward will be plentiful. In an offense that loves to spread the ball through the air, Eifert could very well out score Gronk from this point forward. No, I am not talking about the girls on his infamous parties either.
Statistical Busts
Greg Olsen – Olsen is having his best year as a pro and has rewarded fantasy owners with consistent production. Well that was up until week 8. I know everyone has a bad game, but how do you only receive 3 targets when your team scores 30 points? Up until now he has averaged 10 targets a game, so let’s count this game as a mirage.
Marvin Jones – Marvin was slated to replace the production left by Megatron and actually started off the season hot. His weekly average of 15.7 points per game is very misleading as he continues to drop lackluster games on his owners week after week. Golden Tate is back in form and Jones is nothing more than a deep threat who will be feast or famine for the rest of 2016.
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Week 8 Thoughts and Theories
-Tom Brady for MVP – Tom truly seems to live the perfect life. I think Gatorade should reinvent their commercial to “I wanna be like Tom.” The chants of MVP are already being heard throughout the NFL as he cuts up defense like a ninja on steroids. His face should be on the cover of every fantasy guide in 2016 as he breathes championships!
-Derek Carr will keep throwing in Oakland – Derek threw the ball a whopping 59 times and produced 51 fantasy points to show he is for real. In his third season as the signal caller in Oakland, he has established himself as a leader and he has all the attributes of a franchise quarterback. Behind one the NFL’s best offensive lines, he has supplanted himself as a top starting option for the foreseeable future.
-Jay Cutler could be a serviceable option – Jay Cutler has been forever tied to the world of average as he draws comparisons to a mediocre Jeff George. He will always frustrate fantasy owners with his unadvised throws and his Napoleon Dynamite facial expressions. However, with a remaining schedule that includes Tampa Bay, New York Giants, Tennessee and San Francisco, he could be a nice bye week option.
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My Skinny Post for Week 8:
Can we please stop worrying about a social media policy in the NFL and figure out how to get rid of tie games?…..I think if we just let the Jaguars play in London all year round, maybe they would win more games….Aaron Rodgers was discount double-checking in Atlanta, but Matty Ice showed he can do a better victory dance…..Jacquizz Rodgers hurt his foot and the Bucs are now looking into the status of Mike Alstott….Just when you thought Carey and Langford would get some play, Jordan Howard gets the ball 30+ times….With Coleman still nursing an injury, Freeman is gaining back his 2015 form….As Carson Wentz dinks and dunks more than the” time to make the donuts guy,” his days of fantasy prominence decreases…Guess who’s back, back again. No not slim shady, but instead it’s Percy Harvin….Jonathan Stewart has scored 4x in 2 weeks and is quietly having a productive season…Ryan Fitzpatrick played so well against Cleveland that Broadway Joe went to twitter to call for his head. Wow, Joe knows twitter…..Jamie Collins goes from 1st to last in 24 hours. Don’t piss off Mr. Belichick………Bring on week 9!!!!!!!!!!!
As always, you can stop by my Facebook page (Fantasy Sports Addiction) or tweet me (@TCutillo23) for questions or some nice fantasy debates. I can also be heard weekly via the internet stream live at WENG RADIO every Monday at 4:00 P.M. ET for a weekend sports wrap. But most importantly, you can catch me here at Pi!
For fantasy purposes, all my articles are predicated upon a PPR-based system.