The Game Plan For Week 8 (#FantasyFootball)

Fine readers of the Going For 2 fanbase my name is @TheBLeagueSays and I am 100% grateful for the last year of the #ProsAndCons series. But as we evolve so should the information I bring to you, so I want to formally welcome everyone to the new article I will present for @GoingFor_2 called ‘The Gameplan of the Week’. Each week I will give to you some plays to make in regards to your Fantasy team’s weekly roster construction, DFS selections or Dynasty evaluations. 

So before we get started, Thank you, and enjoy!

What a mess this week was!

No really, the weather across the country was terrible, just like the officiating for another week. And maybe it’s just me, and that’s cool too. But everything felt flat. Underwhelming. Disappointing. But, it is what it is. It’s in the books and we move forward, thankfully on to Week 8.

Slant Route

Who is trending up this week?

The trade deadline that is coming up next Tuesday, that’s what’s up!

This week we have seen a few decent names on the move. Emmanuel Sanders now sees himself as (probably) the top wide receiver in the 49ers compound and could make an impact right away. Mohamed Sanu is now a Patriot, as Josh Gordon was placed on the IR. And as the deadline comes closer it somehow has everyone with the fantasy cap on and putting players in the landing spot of their choice. So, I’ll bite with a couple:

David Johnson to re-unite with Bruce Arians in Tampa would be kinda sweet. Johnson has been fine this year but the more Chase Edmonds plays the harder it will get to deny him more playing time; unless an even share of the workload pans out. I’d rather we see both of them in an ideal situation and ‘DJ’ on the move to the Buccaneers would be great.

Robby Anderson to the Oakland Raiders would be an electric move that John Gruden could make. They have had bad luck with their recruitment of receivers over the past year, but Anderson has been said to be shopped around by the Jets, and a compliment to Tyrell Williams and Zay Jones could be something that aides this short depth chart.

I’d also like to see A.J. Green to the Bills, Cameron Brate to the Patriots and Melvin Gordon anywhere but with the L.A. Chargers.

Flat Route

The bubble has burst on:

Philadelphia, who get the Josh Allen experience this week away to Buffalo, who tend to be kryptonite to opposition Quarterbacks. The Bills have stifled most teams at home, allowing touchdowns to only Joe Mixon with Andy Dalton attaining 250 passing yards, DeVante Parker with Ryan Fitzpatrick gaining 282 passing yards, and Tom Brady with 150 passing yards with no touchdowns this year. The Eagles do excel at third-down conversions, which is great. However, the Bills have the 9th best record at stopping third-down conversions and that to me is there this game will be won and lost.

Now, what I will also add is that Buffalo (at home or away) has only had one game this year go over 42 points which were against Miami (ironically, the worst team in the league) which clocked 52 total points. I can see the ‘Unders’ hitting in this one, which is set at (surprise, surprise) 42 already. And if this is the case, I can see Buffalo taking the win, further damaging Philadelphia’s playoff chances moving forward.

Comeback Route

Who will recover after a poor performance in the previous week:

Seattle was kept to 16 points at home to an inspired Baltimore Ravens outfit. And the cure for what ails all aches and pains at the moment is the Atlanta Falcons, who may have to resort to using Matt Shaub after Matt Ryan rolled his ankle. And although Ryan is yet to be ruled out for the week, any team that could potentially face Matt Shaub, well, that would be just dandy wouldn’t it!

On top of that, fan-favorite Mohamed Sanu was moved to New England mid-week for a 2nd Round Pick. 

And Devonta Freeman may face a suspension after his actions against Aaron Donald last week and the thought of that still makes me chuckle to the day.

They’re cutting bait on the season, as they sit 1-6, and have nothing but pride to play for. Seattle, on the other hand, is not only one game off the top spot but can keep the heat on San Francisco as they face a tough challenge against Carolina this week, although at home.

Expect a quick return to the winner’s column for Russell Wilson and his men.

Screen Route

The contrarian play of the week:

The last time we saw Tampa, Jameis Winston gave it up to Carolina on the road in London and Tampa has been licking their wounds on the Bye this week. They now travel on the road to Tennessee, who with Ryan Tannehill under center looked much safer in their approach.

Tannehill had the one Intercept on the day, but he had a 79% completion rate and had Corey Davis go 7-6-80-1 in his first start. He gave Jonnu Smith and A.J. Brown and Adam Humphries a fair share of the ‘opportunity pie’ and hey, Tannehill even connected with the forgotten man (who is quietly someone that qualifies for ‘thuther’ status with yours truely) Tarjae Sharpe for a Touchdown.

They responded to the change. 

And now the Titans get Tampa at home who have been giving up good stat days to pretty much anyone that steps on the field with them. Daniel Jones (in his debut), Kyle Allen, Teddy Bridgewater are not a murderers row of gunslingers you would think anyone would struggle with, yet these three combined for an average of 27.96 fantasy points against the Buccaneers alone.

Tannehill is floating at $5100 on Draft Kings, and as a cheap play, Jonnu Smith is someone you can plug in, as Tampa has given up the second-most points per game (18.1 ppg) to the Tight End position and at $2800 seems almost like a quiet play that no one is talking about.

Out Route

Who am I completely off this week:

I’m off Jacksonville this week. Again.

Jacksonville just got by a Cincinnati team who can barely put their socks on in the morning. 

They were also two weeks ago favorited at home against New Orleans (still, to the day I am shocked by this). And now they get a healthy Sam Darnold, a motivated Le’Veon Bell, and a high flying Robby Anderson without Jalen Ramsey to protect them?

I believe we have seen the best of them with Gardner Minshew under center, which is still fine, but I see Gregg Williams causing him enough headaches to get them to stop the Rookie from making a lot of strides this weekend. The Jets are sitting at +6.5 with the spread and I will take that without hesitation, and I’ll also throw a few sneaky bucks on the Jets and the Moneyline which also has them at $3.25.

The 9 Route

A straight forward confidence play of the week:

The Patriots at home against Cleveland are the chalk play this week. But where’s the fun in that? How about Mason Rudolph lead Steelers being a -14 point favorite against Miami after he had a few weeks off with concussion? It still feels easy.

How about the Lions who are averaging about 25 points per game on the back of a two-game losing streak? Yes, for me this right here is the play. I (being a Giants fan) don’t believe New York can keep up with Matt Stafford who may have to sling it more than normal without Kerryon Johnson by his side. Which is great for him because the Giants couldn’t stop a boat from sinking in the desert. The Lions are currently -6.5 against the spread and I can see a good day for Kenny Golladay and friends this week, and if they can do their part and play slightly above average I believe the ‘Overs’ set at 49.5 will get hit also.

Hail Mary Play Of The Week

San Francisco has been nothing short of sensational this year. However, I have a bone to pick with ‘the community’. Everyone is getting on the Patriots for beating ‘no one good’, yet can we really suggest that while seeing who the 49ers have taken on this year?

No.

But, if we are being honest, outside of the Rams, they haven’t had that big of a challenge yet, have they? And that challenge for me gets bigger pretty quick this week as Christian McCaffrey comes to town.

Now, San Francisco has one of the best run defenses in the league, and have barely given anything up in the air or on the ground to opposing running backs. But I’m feeling saucy. So, my Hail Mary Play For The Week is for Christian McCaffrey to go off. But not only is ‘CMC’ going to total at least 115 yards and a touchdown on the ground, but he’s going for at least 45 yards in the air with a touchdown too.

I know. I know. McCaffrey is a hail mary play, risky stuff right?!

Considering that the 49ers give up an average of 75 yards on the ground to opposing running backs and roughly 23 yards in the air too makes this seem a bit more out there, right? Well, what if I told you that they are also yet to concede a touchdown to the running back on the ground or in the air after 6 games?

Hail mary indeed!

And there you have it!

I want to thank you for getting this far and taking in everything I have presented. You can as always follow and find me at @TheBLeagueSays and offer any view or conversation about this. Don’t forget to check out the #GF2 weekly rankings which you can find https://goingfor2.com/2019-fantasy-football-redraft-rankings-gf2-consensus/, and to subscribe, rate, review, and share and listen to The Armchair Fantasy Show podcast.

Let’s all get better together!

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