It was a quality week out of the B-Team once again. We didn’t get to the 100 point goal, but we had some quality performances, as five of our eighth plays went over double digit points. The goose egg laid by Amon-Ra St. Brown in our flex position was a big hit to our final score. We’ve still only reached our 100 point goal once this season, it’s time we do that again. Buckle up, because I have a feeling Week 8 is going to be a good one!
This is a series where I construct a hypothetical fantasy football lineup using players that are owned in less than 40-percent of Yahoo and/or ESPN leagues. The goal of the series is to top 100 PPR fantasy points using the make-shift team. The premise is to show that there is readily available value at all times across most waiver wires. You can find last week’s results below.
Carson Wentz led the Colts to victory on Sunday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers with his 150 yards and two touchdowns. Wentz added another touchdown on the ground. Devonta Freeman ran for a touchdown and caught all three of his targets. Mark Ingram II struggled, like the entirety of the Texans have all season, as he ran just six times for nine yards. Rashod Bateman had a decent NFL debut catching three balls for 80 yards. Russell Gage finally got into the endzone, adding 67 yards on four receptions to the touchdown. Evan Engram caught six balls for 44 yards and as previously mentioned, St. Brown scored zero fantasy points. The Raiders defense was decent against the Eagles, allowing just 22 points while recording two sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Week 7 Results
Carson Wentz (Indianapolis Colts) - 20.3 points
Devonta Freeman (Baltimore Ravens) - 12.9 points
Mark Ingram II (Houston Texans) - 5.7 points
Rashod Bateman (Baltimore Ravens) - 11 points
Russell Gage (Atlanta Falcons) - 16.7 points
Evan Engram (New York Giants) - 10.4 points
Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions) - 0 points
Las Vegas Raiders - 6 points
Total: 83 points
Week 8 Lineup
Quarterback
Daniel Jones (New York Giants) - Owned in 40% of Yahoo and 28.5% of ESPN leagues
Week 8 Matchup: @KC
Daniel Jones had a bounce-back performance a week ago after having back-to-back poor performances against the Cowboys and Rams respectively. Jones threw for 203 yards and a touchdown last week against the Panthers. The Kansas City Chiefs are a team that is struggling and have allowed the second most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Daniel Jones has had some quality fantasy performances this season, this week could be another one for him.
Runningbacks
Brandon Bolden (New England Patriots) - Owned in 13% of Yahoo and 10.7% of ESPN leagues
Week 8 Matchup: @LAC
I’ve played Brandon Bolden before in the B-Team, but it was the wrong week. After a week where Rhamondre Stevenson was a healthy scratch, Bolden caught six-of-seven targets for 79 yards and a score. It’s clear that Damien Harris will control and dominate the rushing game. That leaves the passing game work for Bolden, unless Bill Belichick get’s fancy with it and allows Stevenson to play. Who knows when it comes to the Patriots’ backfield, but all I know is that I’m taking a chance with Bolden this week.
Samaje Perine (Cincinnati Bengals) - Owned in 20% of Yahoo and 15.8% of ESPN leagues
Week 8 Matchup: @NYJ
Joe Mixon out carried Samaje Perine by just one carry a week ago against the Ravens. Both of the backs scored a rushing touchdown in the Bengals’ big win over the Ravens. Perine also caught his one and only target while Mixon was not targeted in the passing game. It’s obvious that the Bengals will continue to use Perine in the offensive game plan even with Joe Mixon healthy. The Bengals are playing some good football as of late and get the Jets this week, who have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing runningbacks.
Wide Receivers
Kalif Raymond (Detroit Lions) - Owned in 13% of Yahoo and 9.2% of ESPN leagues
Week 8 Matchup: vs. PHI
Kalif Raymond may be the Lions’ top receiver, which is weird to say. The 27 year-old journeyman is finding some success with Jared Goff. He has 15 targets over the last two games. He caught six-of-eight targets for 115 yards against the Rams last week. He had a two touchdown game earlier this season as well as a ten target game. This is a game that the Lions could win, which would finally put them into the win column for the first time this season. Look for the Lions to play with a purpose, so they can get a win on the season.
Jamison Crowder (New York Jets) - Owned in 19% of Yahoo and 18.7% of ESPN leagues
Week 8 Matchup: vs. CIN
The Jets are without rookie quarterback Zach Wilson for a few weeks and are rolling out Mike White. White went 20-for-32 for 202 yards and a touchdown last week against the Patriots, filling in for the injured Wilson. White will be looking for a sure-handed veteran to rely on throughout the game with the Bengals. Crowder has seen 21 targets over the three games he’s played thus far this season. Let’s hope my prediction of White targeting Crowder early and often is correct.
Tight End
Tyler Conklin (Minnesota Vikings) - Owned in 23% of Yahoo and 17.5% of ESPN leagues
Week 8 Matchup: vs. DAL
Tyler Conklin is criminally under owned across both Yahoo and ESPN platforms. Across the last four games, he’s seen at least five targets in three of them. He hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 3 but caught three balls for 71 yards last week. The Vikings are going to have to throw the ball often to keep pace with this high flying Dallas’ offense. Conklin should get his fair share of chances from Kirk Cousins this week.
Flex
Russell Gage (Atlanta Falcons) - Owned in 13% of Yahoo and 12.2% of ESPN leagues
Week 8 Matchup: vs. CAR
We played Russell Gage a week ago and that paid off for us. In his return to action, he caught four balls for 67 yards and a score. Gage is the third option in a pass-first offense who gets the Panthers this week, who were semi-torched by Daniel Jones a week ago. With the way the Panthers are playing, the Falcons could be the better team in this game. Let’s hope they use Gage in this one as they did last week.
Defense
Philadelphia Eagles - Owned in 10% of Yahoo and 14.5% of ESPN leagues
Week 8 Matchup: @DET
The Philadelphia Eagles haven’t recorded a sack in two weeks but have recorded an interception in those same games. They did play the likes of the Buccaneers and Raiders, who both are powerful offenses. This week, they get the struggling Detroit Lions. The Lions have allowed the 11th most fantasy points to opposing defenses.
Week 1 Results
Sam Darnold (Carolina Panthers) - 19.06 points
Kenneth Gainwell (Philadelphia Eagles) - 12.3 points
Ty Johnson (New York Jets) - 3.6 points
Terrace Marshall Jr. (Carolina Panthers) - 5.6 points
Tyrell Williams (Detroit Lions) - 3.4 points
Tyler Conklin (Minnesota Vikings) - 8.1 points
Bryan Edwards (Las Vegas Raiders) - 12.1 points
Jacksonville Jaguars - -3 points
Total: 61.16 points
Week 2 Results
Teddy Bridgewater (Denver Broncos) - 21.22 points
Tony Jones Jr. (New Orleans Saints) - 0.7 points
Kenneth Gainwell (Philadelphia Eagles) - 7.2 points
Tim Patrick (Denver Broncos) - 12.7 points
Bryan Edwards (Las Vegas Raiders) - 7 points
Cole Kmet (Chicago Bears) - 1 points
Jameison Crowder (New York Jets) - 0 points
Chicago Bears - 20 points
Total: 69.82 points
Week 3 Results
Teddy Bridgewater (Denver Broncos) - 11.8 points
Trenton Cannon (San Francisco 49ers) - 0 points
Peyton Barber (Las Vegas Raiders) - 23.2 points
Sammy Watkins (Baltimore Ravens) - 10.8 points
Emmanuel Sanders (Buffalo Bills) - 26.4 points
Evan Engram (New York Giants) - 2.1 points
Hunter Renfrow (Las Vegas Raiders) - 18.7 points
Las Vegas Raiders - 4 points
Total: 97 points
Week 4 Results
Sam Darnold (Carolina Panthers) - 33.54 points
Royce Freeman (Carolina Panthers) - 1.2 points
Kenneth Gainwell (Philadelphia Eagles) - 20.9 points
Sammy Watkins (Baltimore Ravens) - 8.9 points
Hunter Renfrow (Las Vegas Raiders) - 16.5 points
Tyler Conklin (Minnesota Vikings) - 5.8 points
Chester Rogers (Tennessee Titans) - 11.3 points
Dallas Cowboys - 8 points
Total: 106.14 points
Week 5 Results
Trey Lance (San Francisco 49ers) - 15.58 points
Samaje Perine (Cincinnati Bengals) - 18.3 points
Khalil Herbert (Chicago Bears) - 7.5 points
Kadarius Toney (New York Giants) - 29.6 points
Olamide Zaccheaus (Atlanta Falcons) - 4 points
Cameron Brate (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - 2.2 points
Jamison Crowder (New York Jets) - 8.4 points
Atlanta Falcons - 5 points
Total: 90.58
Week 6 Results
Taylor Heinicke (Washington Football Team) - 10.28 points
Brandon Bolden (New England Patriots) - 1.2 points
Jerick McKinnon (Kansas City Chiefs) - 2.5 points
Tim Patrick (Denver Broncos) - 3.6 points
T.Y. Hilton (Indianapolis Colts) - 12 points
Ricky Seals-Jones (Washington Football Team) - 15.8 points
Amon-Ra St. Brown (Detroit Lions) - 9.6 points
Jacksonville Jaguars - 3 points
Total: 57.98 points