2016 Fantasy Football: Week 8’s Last-Minute Decisions





By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Posted Oct. 29, 2016.
Follow @walterfootball for updates.

Jerick McKinnon has been ruled out for Monday night’s game against the Bears. This will give Matt Asiata the start and push him into fantasy starting lineups. The Bears’ defense has been decent, but still a less than good group against the run, ranking 20th in DVOA and they are allowing the eighth-most goal-line looks to running backs this year. He should be in your redraft lineup and is worth a DFS play.

Jamaal Charles is out, but he wouldn’t have taken much away from Spencer Ware anyway. Ware gets a great matchup with the Colts, and despite his less that bell cow usage, he’s got tremendous upside in this matchup and is high on my list of DFS plays for the week.

Terrelle Pryor practiced in full on Friday and is no longer on the injury report. He should be Josh McCown’s main target in a good matchup with the Jets. I like Pryor and Gary Barnidge this week for DFS consideration with McCown back from his injury.



Doug Martin is still out and could be missing for a few more weeks, so Jacquizz Rodgers will get the start once again, this time against a weak Oakland run defense. Rodgers may start seeing fewer carries if they think Martin will be out much longer, but so far he’s averaged 31 touches in his first two starts and even a dip in that number makes him a top play this week.

C.J. Anderson is out for the rest of the regular season, so Devante Booker is next in line, and he’s already shown how well he can play in limited work. I especially like his receiving ability, and the Chargers have allowed a league-high 61 receptions to running backs and they are second-worst in receiving yards allowed.

Jeremy Langford is questionable, but should play Monday night in a tough matchup against the Vikings. Add in Jordan Howard and Ka’Deem Casey, and you have yourself a situation to avoid like a toxic waste dump littered with zombies.



Martellus Bennett didn’t practice on Friday, but did make the trip to Buffalo. The Friday absence is considered a maintenance day for Bennett and he should play. He’s still startable in most redraft leagues, but I’d probably shy away in DFS.

Lamar Miller is questionable, but hopes to be a “full go” against the Lions. Coach O’Brien says Miller will be a game-time decision, but it does appear he will be able to go and since it is an early game, we will know before lineups lock. In redraft, I’d be fine with keeping him in there, but will still be avoiding in DFS.

Donte Moncrief will return this week, and he gets a good matchup for his first start back, as Kansas City has allowed the most fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season. This is also a decent boost for Andrew Luck, who makes for an interesting DFS play this week.



Tevin Coleman will not play this week, which will elevate Devonta Freeman into a great role in what should be a high-scoring affair. The Packers have been tough on running backs, but haven’t faced too many good ones, and Freeman will be heavily involved in the passing game.

Tyler Eifert should play close to a full complement of snaps according to a Bengals beat writer, and Washington can be beaten by tight ends. Josh Norman looks like he will play, so he could slow down A.J. Green and give Eifert even more looks. He’s risky, but his upside is getting higher.

Dez Bryant is back and will play against the Eagles on Sunday. The matchup isn’t ideal for DFS, but I’d feel fine playing him in redraft this week.



The Bills will be without Marquise Goodwin, but they haven’t added a new wide receiver to their roster, so Robert Woods should make his return to the field after missing last week. It’s not the greatest matchup, but he again will be the No. 1 receiver for the Bills.

LeSean McCoy won’t be able to go against the Patriots, so Mike Gillislee will get the start for real this time. He does have some upside, and as their every-down back in a run oriented team, his price on DFS sites is low enough for him to be a good cost saver. He also may be a bit contrarian, as there are plenty of good, low-cost options at running back this week.

Matt Jones has been ruled out against the Bengals in London, so Rob Kelley will get the start and early-down/goal-line work, while Chris Thompson works in hurry up and passing downs. Both have startability, but I like Thompson’s upside in PPR leagues the most of the two.

Hunter Henry, Tyrell Williams and Travis Benjamin will all be able to play in Denver this week. That’s great news for the team, but this matchup is not great news for your teams. All are startable, but I won’t go near them in DFS this week.

Russell Wilson and Tyler Lockett both will be able to play in New Orleans after being limited some this week. Wilson is in a prime spot to break out of his injury-induced funk, but Jimmy Graham and Doug Baldwin should be the main DFS plays in the receiving game.

Randall Cobb is in a prime spot to put up good numbers, but has been limited in practice all week with a hamstring injury. With Desmond Trufant on Jordy Nelson, Cobb is a good start, but I do hate dealing with hamstring issues that come up in play. I might boost Ty Montgomery and Devante Adams a bit and use Cobb more in GPPs and of course redraft.

Eric Ebron and Theo Riddick will both be able to play against Houston. I don’t love the matchup for either, but they are there for desperate redraft players. This does help Matthew Stafford enough that I could see throwing him in a GPP to see what happens, but the Texans defense is stout against the pass.

Michael Floyd will be a game-time decision, while John Brown should be able to play. In the end, this will likely help funnel a few extra targets Larry Fitzgerald’s way, which is where I’d lean my DFS hopes on in this passing attack.

Eddie Royal is doubtful against the Vikings.

Cordarrelle Patterson should be able to play and hasn’t been horrible this year.

Bilal Powell is no longer on the injury report.

Dwayne Allen remains out. Jack Doyle will start.

For more recommendations, check out WalterFootball.com’s Fantasy Football Rankings.








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