Fantasy Football: You Can’t Always Get What You Want

Week 8 was a complete Smash Spot NOT week there were several players who were in clear Smash Spots and well didn’t. We can’t always get what we want…but if we try sometimes…we just might get what we need.

IF YOUR NAME IS JONATHAN TAYLOR PLEASE TAKE A SEAT

Taylor was one of those players in a definite smash spot playing Week 8 against a Detroit Lions defense that was allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to the running back position while allowing 130 rushing yards per game. The good news is the Lions did surrender 119 rushing yards ( counting the negative two rushing yards by the quarterback Philip Rivers)… the bad news is JT wasn’t the one.  For all the hype there is a three-headed monster in the Colts backfield and it is used interchangeably. 

Jordan Wilkins led all running backs with 20 touches.  He also led in rushing yards with 89 and one touchdown. Nyheim Hines led all running backs in targets with five.  He also led all running backs (and receivers) with three receptions for 54 yards and two touchdowns. 

And then there was Taylor.  JT had 11 touches for 22 yards, incidentally, that is an average of 2.0 yards per carry.  He did have three targets.  He caught two for nine yards.  JT is not bringing sexy back in Indianapolis.

I GET BY WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS, TUA TAGOVAILOA

The Miami Dolphins came out of the bye week with a rookie quarterback under center going against the vaulted Los Angeles Rams defense with Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.  Ramsey got hurt and left the game early.  

Mike Gesicki was once again a non-factor, no problem, Tagovailoa has more friends.  The defense of the Dolphins was the one to shine this game.  In the first half alone the Dolphins put unending pressure on Rams’ quarterback Jared Goff.  That resulted in four first-half turnovers which led to three Dolphins’ touchdowns. The Dolphins defense accounted for two strip-sacks, eight quarterback hits, and five pass deflections.  

Tagovailoa for his part did not lose the game, even after an auspicious start.  He finished with 12 completions on 22 attempts, for 93 yards, one touchdown, one sack and one fumble.  He did scramble twice for zero statistical yards but hey, the Dolphins win and Tagovailoa survived Donald.  That’s a win-win.

WHAT’S GOING ON…JIMMY GAROPPOLO AND THE NINERS?

So…speaking of Smash Spot, Jimmy Garoppolo was going against an absolutely porous Seattle Seahawks’ secondary.  A secondary that was giving up the third-most fantasy points to the quarterback position (26.8), and the most fantasy points to the wide receiver position (36.4).  A defense that was last in opponents passing attempts per game (46.9), last in opponents passing completions per game (31.9) and last in opponents passing yards allowed per game (358.7).

Garoppolo did leave the game with an apparent ankle injury, in the second half.  But make no mistake he was bad before that.  Garoppolo was 11-for-16 for 84 yards, an interception, one fumble and three sacks.  He was bad.  Against what was before this game an absolutely horrendous defense.  Bad.  And when Nick Mullens came in to replace Garoppolo in the second half, it only highlighted how very bad Garoppolo was.  Mullens finished the game (half of the game) going 18-for-25, for 238 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions, zero sacks and zero fumbles.  

Keep in mind that Garoppolo stats were against the same bottom-feeding defense that Mullens played.  What’s Going On?

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS FREE FALLIN’

The Los Angeles Chargers were leading the Denver Broncos 24-10 at the end of the third quarter.  Can you guess what happened next? The Broncos had 60 yards in the first half, 58 in the air, two on the ground.  The Chargers were ahead by 14 points going into the fourth quarter.  Quarterback Justin Herbert was doing Herbert type things, except for the two interceptions.  But he did have 43 pass attempts for 278 yards and three touchdowns.  And oh yeah, his team went into the fourth quarter with a TWO TOUCHDOWN lead. 

So the Chargers once again blow a double-digit lead on their way to the “L” column.  This time it was the largest double-digit lead hence their free fall in the wrong direction.  This is the third loss for this season when they were ahead by double digits.  Last week they managed to eek out a win while attempting to blow a double-digit lead…but not being able to hold onto leads…well it’s certainly not Philip Rivers fault this year.  

Did you get what you need from Week 8? 

Talk at me on Twitter @neverenoughglt

ATTN Dynasty Commissioners: Do you want to do something cool for your league? How about a 1-hour live show dedicated to YOUR league? Team-by-team breakdowns, rankings, and more. For details and to book a show, visit: GoingFor2.com/plp.

The GoingFor2 Live Podcast