Quick hits week 8 2017

By Chad Stapley
Chad Stapley What a wild finish to the Thursday night game with the Raiders coming out on top of Kansas City. Alex Smith did everything he could possibly do to try and earn a victory, he threw for 342 yards and three TDs but still couldn’t get it done.

Kareem Hunt continued his stellar play by running the ball for 87 yards and catching four passes for 30 yards, he is a threat to score each play and is a RB1 easily.

Kansas City is trying to get the ball to Tyreek Hill as often as possible, this week he caught six passes for 125 yards and a TD. He also ran the ball twice and returns punts, he is an easy starter at either WR position or FLEX position.

Derek Carr shook off the rust and threw for 417 yards and three TDs. When healthy he is easily a top five QB in the NFL and is easily a QB1.

Everyone was worried about the lack of production from Amari Cooper, and he shut them up in a huge way by catching 11 passes for 220 yards and two TDs. He absolutely tormented the “vaunted” Kansas City DBs.

Looking for a quick week eight fix at the FLEX position? Jalen Richard is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball, and with Marshawn Lynch out this week he should get the ball more often. Richard ran the ball nine times for 31 yards and caught four passes for 45 yards. Even when Lynch comes back look for the Raiders to get him more involved in the game.

Jameis Winston didn’t look to be bother by a should injury, he threw for 384 yards and three TDs. It’s a shame he can’t play defense because the Bucs D allowed the Bills to score 30 points on them.

O.J. Howard is becoming the Red Zone threat the Bucs envisioned when they drafted him, he caught six passes for 98 yards and two TDs this week. Look for him to get more targets moving forward. He is a nice TE2 option.

Mike Evans has proved that he is a no brainer to start each week in any fantasy football league. This week he caught seven passes for 88 yards and a TD.

The Bills will live and die through LeSean McCoy. McCoy ran the ball 23 times for 91 yards and two TDs to go with five receptions and 31 yards. If you are lucky enough to have him on your fantasy roster start him each week.

If you are in a deeper fantasy football league, Deonte Thompson could be a sneaky good FLEX option when the Bills are playing weaker defenses. This week he beat up the Bucs defenders by catching four passes for 107 yards.

The Browns haven’t won a game. They have a rotating door at QB and their best offensive lineman is now out for the season. The only thing consistent about the Browns is that Duke Johnson Jr. is a playmaker and they need to get the ball in his hands more often. Johnson Jr. is a good FLEX option each week as he runs the ball, catches the ball, and is a big play threat.

The Saints need to continue to ride the Mark Ingram/Alvin Kamara combo to victories. This is one of the most lethal RB combos in the NFL. Ingram ran the ball 22 times for 105 yards to go with four receptions and a TD. Kamara ran the ball nine times for 57 yards and caught five passes for 50 yards. Ingram is an RB1 and Kamara is a FLEX option and both should be started in any fantasy football league.

The Packers don’t have a lot going right for them lately, but finding the diamond in the rough Aaron Jones at RB has been a pleasant surprise. Jones ran the ball 17 times for 131 yards and a TD this week. If you happened to pick him up a few weeks ago he is now a capable FLEX option to start each week.

Todd Gurley is back to his dominant ways, this week he destroyed the Cardinals defense. Gurley ran the ball 22 times for 106 yards and a TD to go with his four catches for 48 yards.

The Rams signed Robert Woods this offseason and he has been a nice FA addition. This week he caught five passes for 59 yards and he ran the ball. He is a nice FLEX option in deeper fantasy football leagues.

The Jets keep losing but Josh McCown is having a resurgent season and keep them in contention each game. This week he threw for 209 yards and three TDs to add to his rushing TD.

Even when Jay Cutler comes back from injury the Dolphins should stick with Matt Moore at QB. Moore came in and threw for 188 yards and two TDs, but the offense in general looked much better.

Latavius Murray looks to be a nice fill in for the Vikings at RB, he is a nice FLEX option for fantasy football league as he ran for 113 yards and a TD this week. He is splitting the backfield so he isn’t a solid RB option.

Dak Prescott added another four TDs to his resume this season, and is looking better each week. He threw for three TDs and ran for another. Sit back and watch him lead your team to the playoffs in fantasy football.

Ditto for RB Ezekiel Elliott, if he stays unsuspended is a no brainer starter for any fantasy football team each week. Elliott ran the ball 26 times for 147 yards and two TDs, to go with one long reception for 72 yards and a TD.

The Bengals need to get the ball into Joe Mixons’ hands often and early, he ran the ball seven times for 48 yards in the first half then didn’t touch the ball at all in the second half. He is a threat to score whenever he touches the ball and the Bengals need to take the training wheels off and let him run.

Le'Veon Bell is in a league of his own, he seems impossible to tackle and he can catch the ball as good as a WR. Bell ran the ball 35 times for 134 yards and he caught three passes for 58 yards. Feed Bell, and start him each week in fantasy football as he leads you to victories.

Russell Wilson to Doug Baldwin is one of the most fun QB to WR relationships to watch on the field. Wilson threw for 334 yards and three TDs and Baldwin caught nine passes for 92 yards and a TD. Both are top flight options in fantasy football and should be started week in and week out.

The Giants don’t have a lot going right for them right now, but drafting Evan Engram at TE this year was a nice addition. Even though they aren’t winning he continues to perform and get better, this week he lead all Giants players in receptions and yards catching six passes for 60 yards.

The Falcons have two of the best playmakers at their respective positions in Devonta Freeman & Julio Jones. Freeman ran the ball 12 times for 72 yards and caught three passes, for one of the best RBs in the NFL you have got to get him the ball more than 15 times in order to win. Jones caught nine passes for 99 yards and a TD, the TD catch he absolutely embarrassed Malcolm Butler.

Tom Brady threw for 249 yards and two TDs in the beat down of the Falcons. Just another week at the factory for him.

Chris Hogan has quickly become Brady’s favorite WR target, and he is easily a no brainer to start at either the WR2 or FLEX position in any fantasy football league.

If you haven’t jumped on the Carson Wentz bandwagon then now is the perfect time. Wentz beat Washington by throwing for 268 yards and four TDs, he also ran the ball eight times for 63 yards. Wentz went from game manager with upside, to possible MVP in just two seasons.

Zach Ertz makes Wentz life a lot easier being so consistent and good at TE. This week he hauled in five passes for 89 yards and a TD.

If Kirk Cousins wasn’t going up against Wentz his game would have looked amazing as he threw for 303 yards with three TDs. Cousins continues to get better and is proving that Washington should pay him.

Chris Thompson found the end zone once again, this week he ran the ball seven times for 38 yards and caught five passes for 26 yards and a TD. He is easily one of the best FLEX options in fantasy football right now.