Fantasy Football: The Things I Learned – Week 8, 2016

By Chet Gresham – @ChetGresham
Follow @walterfootball for updates.

Below, check out my fantasy-centered recaps of key players from this week’s contests. For instance, did a player come back to earth after an aberrant breakout, or were they simply affected by something like game flow?

Derek Carr needed 513 yards passing and four touchdowns to beat the Buccaneers on Sunday, but he was actually facing the Bucs and his own team, who were flagged 23 times for 200 yards, which are both team records in futility. Carr has helped the Raiders to a 5-0 record on the road and is quickly moving up the charts as a top quarterback in this league.

Aaron Rodgers threw four touchdown passes on Sunday – one each to Jordy Nelson, Jeff Janis, Trevor Davis and Geronimo Allison. Yes, those last two people play wide receiver in the NFL and their first receptions in the NFL were touchdown passes. I think Rodgers is still pretty good.

Rob Kelley started in place of the injured Matt Jones and played well, rushing 21 times for 87 yards and a touchdown. Kelley isn’t LaDainian Tomlinson, but he was productive and would be a useful fantasy piece if Jones were out long term, but that doesn’t appear to be the case and the Vikings loom after the bye.

The best news for Washington was the return of Jordan Reed, who looked his normal self, catching 9-of-13 targets for 99 yards and a touchdown. He’s truly an elite tight end, but his concussion history is extremely scary for him and his fantasy prospects moving forward. Live each day to the fullest!

Gio Bernard and Jeremy Hill both scored a touchdown, but Jeremy Hill led the way with 21 touches to Gio’s 12, whereas Bernard had been leading the way in touches recently. That might have been due to Hill’s nagging injuries, so the coming bye week is probably a good thing for Hill to get healthy and continue getting a good amount of work.

Tyler Eifert finally made his full-time return and it was glorious! Well, it was pretty good at least. He caught 9-of-12 targets for 102 yards and a touchdown, and is firmly back in the top-tight end tier. His return does hurt Brandon LaFell, who only saw two targets in this game.

Julio Jones was held to three receptions on five targets for 29 yards. Jones did tweak his ankle, but came back in and played close to a full game. Jones has dealt with minor injuries this season that have caused down games, but he should be okay for a great matchup for Tampa Bay next week.

Spencer Ware and Alex Smith both left their game against the Colts with concussions. Nick Foles took over for Smith and Charcandrick West for Ware. Foles actually looked a bit better than Smith, but it was against a poor defense and Smith doesn’t really have any job-security issues right now. The Chiefs face the Jaguars at home next week, so there is a chance West and Foles would have some value if Ware and Smith can’t be cleared in time.

Mark Ingram lost a fumble in the first quarter and was never heard from again. Tim Hightower got the rest of the lead back work and did okay, with 26 rushing attempts for 102 yards, but he was stopped often near the goal line. Sean Payton says Ingram will bounce back, so I guess that means he will get the start next week in a great matchup against the 49ers, but it will be tough to trust him.

After a pitiful first half completing just 3-of-14 passes for 30 yards, Ryan Fitzpatrick had a nice second half, completing 13-of-20 passes for 198 yards and a touchdown and a win. This was against the Browns, but Fitzpatrick lives to start another day.

Brock Osweiler had the best matchup of the week against the Lions and completed 20-of-29 passes for 186 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was awful for the most part and in a game where DeAndre Hopkins could have waltzed to 100 yards and a touchdown with any of the hot-garbage quarterbacks the Texans have had recently. Instead, Hopkins caught 4-of-7 targets for 44 yards and saw the same amount of targets as the tight end.

Andrew Luck was under constant pressure from Kansas City and was sacked six times as he completed 19-of-35 passes for 210 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Last week, Luck was able to get off quick-hitters to avoid pressure, but Kansas City was tougher underneath in coverage and T.Y. Hilton was slowed by a hamstring injury.

Quincy Enunwa caught 4-of-11 targets for 93 yards and a touchdown while leading the Jets in targets. It wasn’t efficient, but the 11 targets were a great sign after he hadn’t topped seven targets over the last four weeks. The Dolphins’ poor pass defense is up next.

Russell Wilson has zero touchdowns over the last three games, and his latest zero came against the Saints’ pitiful defense. I think we can blame his numerous injuries on his poor numbers, but that doesn’t make his fantasy owners feel any better. At this point, I think we have to wait until he turns things around before we can feel good about the pieces in this offense.

J.J. Nelson was a bright spot in a dark day for the Cardinals, catching 8-of-12 targets for 79 yards and two touchdowns. Carson Palmer put up good numbers, but took eight sacks and did most of his damage in garbage-ish time. I’d expect Nelson to continue getting targets after their bye.

Tom Brady completed 22-of-33 passes for 315 yards and four touchdowns. Brady, through four games, has completed 98-of-134 passes (73.1 percent) for 1,319 yards, 12 touchdowns and no interceptions. He’s truly remarkable.

Brady’s favorite target again this week was Rob Gronkowski, who caught 5-of-7 targets for 109 yards and a touchdown. He set a franchise record for tight ends with his 69th touchdown, which happens to be Gronkowski’s favorite number.

Eric Ebron returned from his ankle and knee injuries, and led the Lions in receiving, catching 7-of-10 targets for 79 yards, which is actually a career high for him. The Texans have been tough against tight ends this year, so this is a great sign for him going forward this year.

Jacquizz Rodgers finally got into the end zone this week, but didn’t have the big rushing numbers of the previous two weeks. You still have to be pretty happy with his output as a waiver-add this year, but he did leave the game with a foot injury and didn’t return. That doesn’t sound great for his availability Thursday night against the Falcons. If he can’t go, Peyton Barber and Antone Smith would be the main backs in a committee. Barber has the most upside, but Smith saw most of the backup work after Rodgers left.

DeSean Jackson exited this week’s game with an undisclosed injury, which allowed Jamison Crowder to see a team-high 13 targets, which he caught nine of for 107 yards and a touchdown. Keep an eye on Jackson’s status moving forward, but next week, Washington faces the Vikings’ top defense and the whole passing game is going to be depressed statistically – and possibly mentally.

Mike Gillislee rushed 12 times for 85 yards and a touchdown, plus caught all three of his targets for nine yards. He looked good and would have had a huge day if the game script had called for more running plays. Unfortunately for Ol’ Gill, LeSean McCoy should be back next week for the unenviable start against Seattle.

Devontae Booker scared most of the DFS community when he left early with a shoulder injury, but he was cleared and returned to put up decent numbers, as he rushed 19 times for 54 yards and a touchdown, plus caught 5-of-6 targets for 30 yards. Nothing overly great, but it sure feels better than a big fat zero. He’ll get the Raiders next week for another good matchup.

Melvin Gordon didn’t score a touchdown, which is outside the norm, but he did have one of his best rushing games ever, rushing 23 times for 111 yards and catching 4-of-7 targets for 44 yards against a great Denver defense. He seems to be getting stronger.

Antonio Gates saw nine targets and caught four for 33 yards and a touchdown. He’s also moved back ahead of Hunter Henry in the pecking order. I don’t know how long Gates can stay healthy, but we’ll have to adjust expectations for Henry for now.

For more thoughts, check out Walt’s updated NFL Power Rankings, which will be posted Tuesday morning.

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